The BBC is going all out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of TV series Doctor Who.nA schedule has been announced that includes a 75-minute special called The Day of the Doctor starring Matt Smith and David Tennant.
Matt Smith has already started filming his final scenes as the Doctor, due to be aired in this year”s Christmas episode. His replacement, Scots actor Peter Capaldi, was announced in August much to my disappointment.
Included in the anniversary schedule is a re-run of the first ever Doctor Who story starring William Hartnell, on BBC4. The four episodes are being shown in a restored format, not previously broadcast in the UK.
For newbies to the Doctor Who series there will be a handy primer called Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide. Other goodies include:
- Me, You and Doctor Who, with lifelong fan Matthew Sweet exploring the cultural significance of the BBC”s longest running TV drama.
- A 90-minute documentary on BBC Radio 2 will ask “Who Is The Doctor?” – using newly-recorded interviews and exclusive archive material to find an answer.
Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer on Doctor Who said: “50 years has turned Doctor Who from a television show into a cultural landmark. Personally I can’t wait to see what it becomes after a hundred.” I’d love to see that to Steven but I doubt either of us will be around by then.
If that isn’t’ enough commemoration, earlier this year the Royal Mail released stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the Doctor Who series. Plus, throughout this year the British Film Institute has been marking the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who with regular monthly events celebrating all the different Doctors throughout the show’s history. The events included guest appearances by some of the actors who have played the Doctor.
David Tennant is booked to appear at the Southbank on Sunday 29 September, when the BFI will screen The Stolen Earth and Journey’s End, the two-part season finale from 2008.nOn Saturday 5 October, eighth Doctor Paul McGann will appear in person for the screening of Doctor Who (The Movie) from 1996.
The 50th anniversary special will air on Saturday, 23 November across the globe.
I can’t wait for the 50th anniversary episode, can you?
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