Forty-four years ago today BBC Television gave birth to a little science fiction series which went on to become a national institution. That show was, of course, “Doctor Who”. It was carefully constructed so that three generations were represented aboard the TARDIS. The Doctor was a Grandfather. This was so embedded on my consciousness that when the original Doctor, William Hartnell, requested a holiday, and a plea went out for someone to replace him for a couple of weeks, long before the concept of regeneration was introduced, I responded in keeping with the original concept. I wouldn’t dream of going so far as to suggest that I gave the Producer the idea of replacing dear old Bill but I wrote to “Junior Points of View” and naturally suggested my Grandfather take over at the helm of the console room. My letter was read out on the programme. There are records kept of these things at the Beeb and what I wrote, all those years ago, later resurfaced in an article in “Doctor Who Magazine”. In turn, the periodical of all things “Who” requested that if anyone who had featured on this comments show of the Sixties had stayed with “Doctor Who” would they please get in touch. I turned out to be their only respondent which probably means nothing other than that I need to get out more!
Anyway, I digress! Alongside the Grandfather figure of the Doctor were the two parental symbols in the guise of history and science schoolteachers Barbara and Ian. Clever idea that, to have figures of authority and learning to contrast the lead’s non-establishment outlook who could both look forward and back at events in time. Then there was the teenage girl, Susan, for all us children to relate to; a brilliant child in some respects while a typical transistor radio-listening teen at other times. And she was the paradox pivotal to hooking the viewer in “An Unearthly Child”, the opening episode of “Doctor Who”. Four characters providing the perfect model of how to root a fantasy show in reality. I’m told by my own parents that I watched the series from the beginning but my earliest memories are of the two stories, recorded as part of the first series but held over to open the second, “Planet of Giants”, with its oversized box of matches and rather large kitchen-sink plughole, and the disused warehouses at the start of “The Dalek Invasion of Earth”. It saddens me, more than a little, to think that the singular wise old sage has given way to the common young action hero but it is remarkable to think that the thirtieth series of travels in time and space will be on our television screens in 2008... A double Happy Birthday to “Doctor Who”!
Anyway, I digress! Alongside the Grandfather figure of the Doctor were the two parental symbols in the guise of history and science schoolteachers Barbara and Ian. Clever idea that, to have figures of authority and learning to contrast the lead’s non-establishment outlook who could both look forward and back at events in time. Then there was the teenage girl, Susan, for all us children to relate to; a brilliant child in some respects while a typical transistor radio-listening teen at other times. And she was the paradox pivotal to hooking the viewer in “An Unearthly Child”, the opening episode of “Doctor Who”. Four characters providing the perfect model of how to root a fantasy show in reality. I’m told by my own parents that I watched the series from the beginning but my earliest memories are of the two stories, recorded as part of the first series but held over to open the second, “Planet of Giants”, with its oversized box of matches and rather large kitchen-sink plughole, and the disused warehouses at the start of “The Dalek Invasion of Earth”. It saddens me, more than a little, to think that the singular wise old sage has given way to the common young action hero but it is remarkable to think that the thirtieth series of travels in time and space will be on our television screens in 2008... A double Happy Birthday to “Doctor Who”!
6 comments:
It's interesting to read that years ago careful planning was put into supplying balanced role-models representing each generation. I tend to think that many of society's problems today are because we've stopped respecting older/younger peer groups which only leads to alienation and belligerance. Maybe I'm over simplifying things? But the "jump" from grandfather figure to twenty-something (thirty-something) says a lot about our period in time!
That's a great story Tim - fairly put a smile on my face this freezing cold morning!
Thanks for the Birthday reminder and for your thoughtful reflection on the beginnings of Who. I think the eccentric grandfather characterization of the Doctor by Hartnell is only even approached on by Peter Cushing’s portrayal (this may be largely because the granddaughter character where present in their stories). I am not that familiar with Doctor #2 and #3 to know if any of the grandfatherlyness characteristics were present even remotely in their incarnations; though #3 physically meets the description. But by the time I started watching the Doctor with Tom Baker I never really seen the character that way. It may be interesting to perhaps bring this characterization full circle one day; perhaps one of the future incarnations of the Doctor might embody some of these grandfather like characteristics.
Peace,
James
Children certainly respected older folk a lot more when I was growing up than they do now, Steve, and I genuinely believe carefully-crafted television had its role to play back then, hence my equating Hartnell with my own Granddad!
Glad you enjoyed it, Stuart. I can tell you, I got the surprise of my life when I opened that issue of DWM only to find my letter to the BBC reproduced from all those years ago!
I think it highly unlikely that the series will ever return to viewing the Doctor as a Grandfather figure, James, especially while RTD remains at the helm, though I, for one, would welcome a portrayal from an actor in his mid-fifties!
That's such a touching story about you writing to Points of View, Tim! Perhaps you did inspire the concept of regeneraton, WHO knows...
It's interesting what you say about the generational role model thing. It's true that looking up to one's elders isn't held in such high esteem any more, certainly not as it was back when DW first started. Although if you look at the Dr's relationship with his companions there is still the sense that the companion is the "acolyte" and the Dr the sage/teacher, but with a much more modern "spin" e.g. the Dr and Rose's relationship. I think that's a sign of the times, as Steve says the fact the Dr is now so much younger says something about our current preoccupations too.
Glad you liked the "Junior Points of View" story too, Simon. To be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing the regeneration of characters in "Doctor Who" used a little more sparingly!
The original TARDIS crew just seemed to be so well thought out, though I'm not sure I'd have been too happy if I'd been stuck on board with my old French teacher, the rather appropriately-named Mr Smith!
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