1. William Hartnell (1963-1966)
In November 1963 a new science fiction series appeared on British television. It started with two teachers concerned with the wellbeing of one of their pupils. They followed her home, which happened to be a scrapyard, and confronted her grandfather, who seemed to have locked her in an old police telephone box. They forced their way in and found that both the police box and the grandfather were far more than they appeared. This was the first appearance of the Doctor and the TARDIS.
William Hartnell had a long career in theatre and movies. Initially playing comic roles, he mainly played police and army sergeants, including the first Carry On film. This carried over to his first TV appearance in The Army Game. He accepted the role of the Doctor partly as an attempt to get away from this type-casting.
The strenuous 48 weeks-a-year shooting schedule combined with Hartnell’s ill health meant that he had to step down from the role. The producers came up with the concept of regeneration to allow not only a change of actor but also a change in the Doctor’s character. The question was who could replace Hartnell.
Hartnell himself recommended Patrick Troughton. However the producers were looking at having the new Doctor be a more comical character and Troughton was wary of being type-cast in such a role. In what he would later describe as the worst decision of his life, Troughton turned down the part. Instead the second Doctor would be an actor known for playing in comedies.
Cheers,
Nigel.
In November 1963 a new science fiction series appeared on British television. It started with two teachers concerned with the wellbeing of one of their pupils. They followed her home, which happened to be a scrapyard, and confronted her grandfather, who seemed to have locked her in an old police telephone box. They forced their way in and found that both the police box and the grandfather were far more than they appeared. This was the first appearance of the Doctor and the TARDIS.
William Hartnell had a long career in theatre and movies. Initially playing comic roles, he mainly played police and army sergeants, including the first Carry On film. This carried over to his first TV appearance in The Army Game. He accepted the role of the Doctor partly as an attempt to get away from this type-casting.
The strenuous 48 weeks-a-year shooting schedule combined with Hartnell’s ill health meant that he had to step down from the role. The producers came up with the concept of regeneration to allow not only a change of actor but also a change in the Doctor’s character. The question was who could replace Hartnell.
Hartnell himself recommended Patrick Troughton. However the producers were looking at having the new Doctor be a more comical character and Troughton was wary of being type-cast in such a role. In what he would later describe as the worst decision of his life, Troughton turned down the part. Instead the second Doctor would be an actor known for playing in comedies.
Cheers,
Nigel.
Last edited: