A summary of the media coverage relating to the 50th Anniversary for a Celebratory Saturday!

(note: the BBC radio broadcasts are available worldwide, but video broadcasts may be unavailable outside the United Kingdom. BBC iPlayer programmes are generally available for seven days after broadcast)

Television

• Well there's only one thing that you really needed to remember to watch, and that was of course The Day of the Doctor. Broadcast simultaneously around many parts of the world on television (with other channels very close to tranmission, too) and in cinema, Doctor Who truly becomes global! If for some reason you managed to miss it in the United Kingdom then it is available on the BBC iPlayer (though maybe not immediately to enable the rest of the world to catch up)
  
• The lead-up to the anniversary programme kicked off with BBC Breakfast fielding reports live from the Doctor Who Celebration at the Excel Centre in London by entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba and in-studio discussion with TV critic Toby Earle. The programme also included the new edition of Newswatch, which featured a report on viewers' reaction to the coverage of the series over the last couple of weeks. (BBC iPlayer link for Newswatch)
  
• CBBC had a Doctor Who theme throughout the day, including the Blue Peter Doctor Who Party (BBC iPlayer) and a 12 Again special featuring cast and celebrity fan memories of Doctor Who (BBC iPlayer).
  
• Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty was broadcast on BBC Three straight after The Day of the Doctor was broadcast, with Zoe Ball and Rick Edwards presenting the response to the episode from host of celebrities and fans. (BBC iPlayer)
  
• There were two new items on the BBC's Red Button service during the evening; the first was a behind-the-scenes video of The Day of The Doctor (available on YouTube), and a Doctor Who skit by Peter Davison on how three former Doctors try desperately to be in the 50th Anniversary special.
  

Radio

• Graham Norton broadcast his BBC Radio 2 morning show live from the Doctor Who Celebration, including chats with some of the guest stars of the day, including Tom Baker. (BBC iPlayer)
  
• A very early start for Richard Latto on BBC Radio Solent as he engaged upon a look at the association between the South coast and Doctor Who. (BBC iPlayer)
  
• BBC Essex featured William Grantham, winner of Blue Peter's "Design a Monster" competition, who talked to Peter Holmes about his experience. (BBC iPlayer - from 2:41:05, plus other chat at 1:23:00)
  
• BBC Radio Norfolk broadcast their final two soundbites from the county's Doctor Who community, featuring Terry Molloy (BBC iPlayer) and Brian Hodgson (BBC iPlayer).
  
• Other coverage includes BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Jane Smith (BBC iPlayer), BBC Radio York's Julia Booth (BBC iPlayer), BBC Radio Devon's John Govier (BBC iPlayer), and BBC Radio 1's Matt Edmonson (BBC iPlayer)
  

Misc Media Items

• The Radio Times talks to Joanna Page on location for The Day of The Doctor.
• Brian Hodgson describes the creation of the TARDIS and Dalek sounds to BBC News.
• The Telegraph also had an item with Brian Hodgson.
• The Telegraph also lists 50 things you didn't know about Doctor Who ...
• Another Telegraph item, with Matthew Sweet explaining how to live like a Time Lord.
• Entertainment Weekly also believes there are 15 facts you probably didn't know.
• The Guardian presents Doctor Who in numbers.
• MTV list some of the connections between Doctor Who and pop band One Direction, who were also celebrating "1 Day" ...
• The East Anglian Daily Press talks to Peter Purves about his time on the show with William Hartnell.
• IP&TV News report on how The Day of the Doctor brings an end to the BBC's HD Red Button service.
• The Register looks at how the Doctor has changed "From Edwardian grump to Malcolm Tucker and back again".
• BBC News catches up with Julie Gardner.
• The Bournemouth Echo looks at Dorset's association with Doctor Who.
• Crave share what they feel are the 11 essential episodes to see.
• The Telegraph lists what it considers the show's best and worst moments.
• Forbes comments on why the show has lasted 50 years.

Highlights for Sunday

• BBC Radio Norfolk presents a collection of Doctor Who anecdotes from the county from midday.
• BBC Radio 6 has an item on the BBC Radiophonic Workshop from 8:00pm on Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone.
• UKTV in Australia and New Zealand premiere The Doctors Revisited: The Ninth Doctor, The Tenth Doctor and The Eleventh Doctor and An Adventure in Space and Time amongst others.

The BBC has released a video looking behind the lens on the 50th Anniversary episode.

Voiced by the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker, the video features Matt Smith, David Tennant and Jenna Coleman with Billie Piper and John Hurt, as well as lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, discussing their 50th Anniversary experiences.

The final episode in our series of features telling the story of the creation of Doctor Who, and the people who made it happen.

On Saturday 23rd November 1963, at 5.16pm, exactly 50 years ago, Doctor Who was first broadcast on BBC Television.

The story so far... Since the spring of 1962, a new science-fiction series has been slowly, but sometimes surely, growing into life at the BBC. From the vague suggestion that the Corporation should look at making such a series, through brainstorming sessions, a new head of drama, script problems, re-made episodes, the threat of cancellation and constant arguments over budget and resources, the absolute determination of a small but determined production team has seen the new programme, called Doctor Who, at last ready to face the sternest test of all - the opinion of the British viewing public, on a day when world events have left most of them likely to be too shocked to take it in at all...

Despite events in Dallas, the schedules on BBC Television for Saturday were relatively unaffected by the news. It was the days before rolling news and continuous live updates. Grandstand, the long-running sports programme, was on air as usual, with live coverage of rugby union, where Cardiff were playing New Zealand, forming the bulk of the afternoon. A 1'47" news flash had been broadcast at 4pm, with Corbet Woodall bringing viewers up to date with events from America. Grandstand came off air just after 5.15pm and was followed by a 50-second presentation junction looking ahead to the evening's entertainment, which included Juke Box Jury, with Cilla Black, Sid James, Don Moss and Anna Quayle, the police series Dixon of Dock Green, the American series Wells Fargo and the Saturday film Santa Fe Passage.

It was at exactly 16 minutes and 20 seconds past five that the opening titles of Doctor Who ran and the nation was introduced to a brand-new science fiction series.

The ratings were sound, but not spectacular, with 4.4 million viewers tuning in. A power cut had hit a sizeable area of the country, meaning many people had been unable to watch, and for this reason executives agreed to repeat the first episode a week later, just before transmission of the second.

Press response, however, was favourable, as was the BBC's own audience research into the story. A Reaction Index of 63 was recorded, roughly the average for drama at the time. Detailed research, released in December, showed viewers in a research sample thought this a good start to a series that gave promise of being very entertaining.
BBC Head of TV Drama Sydney Newman was out of the country for the launch, staying in New York. On Wednesday Donald Wilson sent him the following telegram:

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When the series went on the air it had a very uncertain future. Just 26 episodes were confirmed, with an option for an additional 13 if it did well.

With hindsight, that future was secure and the series would flourish. The arrival of the Daleks at the end of the fifth episode would capture the imagination of the nation and push the series to the forefront of British consciousness. Ratings for the first year would peak at over 10 million viewers and the series would become an important weapon in the BBC's battle to win dominance of Saturday night against rival ITV.

The show would survive many changes: the loss of the first production team, the changing of the companions, and in 1966 the replacement of the lead actor. It would survive the transformation into colour and being shunted around the schedules. Ratings would veer from a disappointing 3.1 million to an astonishing 16 million. Most importantly, the series would beat cancellation in 1989, being reborn in 2005 for a new generation, having been brought back to life by those who had adored it in their youth, allowing fans across the world to experience the wonder of the show, just as their parents and grandparents had done before.

Today, Doctor Who celebrates its 50th anniversary with a global broadcast of the 799th episode The Day of the Doctor. The series is at the heart of the BBC's strategy for the future. It brings in millions of pounds for the Corporation through overseas sales and merchandise deals. It is at the centre of the BBC's Saturday night schedule and breaks all records for digital engagement. Eleven lead actors have now graced our screens as the Doctor, with the 12th lined up to take over next month. The series that started life as a vague idea from a working group in 1962 is now an international phenomenon. If all the episodes were shown back to back, the screening would last for 15 days, 10 hours and 9 minutes. It holds the Guinness World Records for "the world's most successful sci-fi series" and "the world's longest-running sci-fi series".

But more than all the awards and accolades, Doctor Who holds a very special place in the hearts of the people who love it. Something about Doctor Who touches the very soul, inspiring generations of fans in their love for the series. The first 50 years are complete. The story goes on.

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The BBC's Red Button service will be presenting Doctor Who: Behind The Lens from tonight, available after broadcast of The Day of The Doctor.


Also, as reported yesterday, the Red Button service will also see a special spoof produced by Peter Davison:

Showrunner Steven Moffat has recorded a special birthday message to Doctor Who.

The Day of the Doctor is screened worldwide in four hours time.

The Culture Show documentary on Doctor Who, Me, You and Doctor Who, achieved an overnight audience of 0.9 million viewers, a 4% share of the total audience.

The show was opposite top-rated programme of the day I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, with 9.8 million watching.

Thursday's showing of An Adventure in Space and Time achieved an Appreciation Index score of 88. The score is regarded as excellent.

A summary of the media coverage relating to the 50th Anniversary for a very busy Friday.

(note: the BBC radio broadcasts are available worldwide, but video broadcasts may be unavailable outside the United Kingdom. BBC iPlayer programmes are generally available for seven days after broadcast)

Television

• BBC Breakfast's coverage of the 50th Anniversary continued this morning with an article by BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz about 50 years of the show, plus the Doctor himself, Matt Smith, talked live from London as he prepares for the first day of the Excel Doctor Who Celebration. The item is available to watch via the BBC website.
  
• Richard Arnold briefly reported on the weekend of celebration to come on ITV's Daybreak (ITV Player). This was then followed by a preview of The Day of The Doctor by showbiz journalist Dan Wootton. (ITV Player)
• Sunday Mirror critic Kevin O'Sullivan delivered his weekly Talking Telly on Channel 5's The Wright Stuff, feeling that there may have been a little too much coverage of the show over the last fortnight! (Demand 5)
  
• BBC regional news programme Look East delved into Doctor Who's association with the region, including interviews with Terry Molloy and Brian Hodgson. The programme is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer from 23:05
• BBC London News reported on Doctor Who activity in the capitol, including a visit to The Who Shop and participants for the Doctor Who mass wedding taking place this weekend. (BBC iPlayer)
  
• BBC South East Today celebrated 50 Years of the show from Herne Bay, home to its first credited writer Anthony Coburn - and also arranged a local screening of An Unearthly Child. (BBC iPlayer - from 12:34)
  
• BBC2 premiered Me, You and Doctor Who: a Culture Show Special, with Matthew Sweet taking us through the history of Doctor Who and how it has influenced the social life of Britain. (BBC iPlayer)
  
• Matt Smith and David Tennant were guests on The Graham Norton Show on BBC1 (BBC iPlayer)
  

Radio

• Matt Smith popped in to chat to Nick Grimshaw on BBC Radio 1. (BBC iPlayer - from 1:38:17)
  
• Lots of items from BBC Radio Norfolk! Brian Hodgson explains how he created the Dalek voices (BBC iPlayer link); scenic designer Spencer Chapman (link); writer David Fisher (link); Graham Cole on playing a Cyberman (link); Ken Caswell's father painted the TARDIS prop in 1963 (link); Mike Thomas remembers being at Doctor Who rehearsals as a child (link); and John and Gay Hodgson recall Tom Baker encounters (link).
  
• BBC Radio Scotland's The Culture Studio with Janice Forsyth features four super-fans - authors A L Kennedy and Jenny Colgan, TV critic Paul Whitelaw and comedian Charlie Ross. Also features Sylvester McCoy and David Tennant! (BBC iPlayer, throughout show)
  
• Ray Clark on BBC Essex met an Essex TARDIS owner and hears from former Doctor Who screen writer Donald Tosh. (BBC iPlayer - day overview at 51:52, TARDIS from 2:17:45, Donald from 2:52:01)
  
• Dave Monk on BBC Essex chatted to DWM editor Tom Spilsbury and county-born Deborah Watling. (BBC iPlayer - Tom from 52:04, Deborah from 2:35:56, and also more from Donald Tosh at 1:34:32)
  
• Mark Punter is next up on BBC Essex, exploring the world of memorabilia, and also chatting to author Jacqueline Rayner. (BBC iPlayer - memorabilia from 23:00, Jacqueline from 1:05:20)
  
• The final BBC Essex instalment comes with Drivetime, which features writer Victor Pemberton. (BBC iPlayer - from 49:10, plus Donald Tosh at 1:23:24 and Deborah Watling at 2:36:24)
  
• BBC Leicester's Jim Davis chatted to K9-vocalist John Leeson. (BBC iPlayer)
  
• The BBC World Service's Witness spoke to Carole Ann Ford (BBC iPlayer, also available as a podcast)
  
• Newshour on the World Service reflected on 50 years of the series. (BBC iPlayer - from 43:00 and 47:58)
  
• Sara James from the Oxford University Doctor Who Society featured on BBC Radio Oxford's Phil Gayle show dicussing the group and plans for tomorrow. (BBC iPlayer - from 03:41:30)
  
• BBC Leicester's Jonathan Lampon included special Doctor Who stories during the show. (BBC iPlayer - from 2:07:45)
  
• The theme for BBC Scotland's Get It On With Bryan Burnett for Friday is "songs about the Doctor's assistants, from You've Got a Friend in Me to It Takes Two." (BBC iPlayer)
  

Misc Media Items

• The Telegraph presents a timeline through the regenerations.
• BBC News asks how did Doctor Who reflect the real world?
• The Guardian looks at how important Doctor Who might be for the future of the BBC.
• The Guardian also reviews what the actors who played the Doctor did next.
• The Register talks to Neil Gaiman and Terrance Dicks.
• Den of Geek present their 50 great scary moments in Doctor Who.
• The British Film Institute reveal their own 50 best Doctor Who moments.
• Dance Today looks at Dance in Doctor Who, and talks to performer Paul Kasey.
• Metro asks if Tom Baker is still the ultimate Doctor.
• The East Anglian Daily Press chat to Terry Molloy.
• The BBC report on two MPs putting forward a motion to recognise the programme as bringing "pleasure and enjoyment to many generations of fans".
• Brand Republic looks at five lessons in brand management from the rise, fall and revival of Doctor Who.
• The Guardian provide a new version of the Doctor Who theme from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
• TV.com lists 50 fantastic reasons to celebrate 50 years.
• ABC (Australia) chat to Peter Davison about when he became the Doctor.
• The Australian Jewish News considers the show's Jewish roots.
• The Atlantic (USA) looks at how Doctor Who has survived for 50 years.
• The Huffington Post (USA) chats to Steven Moffat on the anniversary and casting a new Doctor.
• The National (United Arab Emirates) looks at the Doctor's 50 years of house calls.

Highlights for Saturday

• BBC Breakfast report from the 50th Anniversary Doctor Who Celebration at the Excel Centre.
• Graham Norton also presents his show on BBC Radio 2 live from the convention from 10:00am.
• Blue Peter celebrates the anniversary with a special party on CBBC from 9:30am.
• CBBC's 12 Again presents a Doctor Who special from 2:30pm, with cast and celebrities sharing their memories of growing up with the show.
• BBC3 will present Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty from 9:05pm.
• Peter Davison presents the mission of classic Doctors to be involved in the 50th Anniversary Special, from 10:05pm via the BBC Red Button.
• BBC Radio 4 Extra presents a three hour special, Who Made Who? from 9:00am, with audio from the archive, new interviews and extracts from audio versions of Doctor Who.
• For early birds, BBC Radio Solent's Richard Latto looks at Doctor Who's relationship with Southern England.
• BBC Radio Norfolk's David Whiteley presents the final two snippets of the county's relationship with the show, with interviews with Terry Molloy and Brian Hodgson.
  
  
• Oh, and a small matter of a 50th Anniversary celebratory episode, The Day of The Doctor, 7:50pm, BBC1 and simulcast around the world!

For further details on these and a number of other local radio broadcasts on Anniversary Day, don't forget to visit This Week In Doctor Who!

The Radio Times cover from April 2005 featuring a Dalek crossing Westminster Bridge has won the Professional Publishers Association's Cover of the Century Award. The win for "Vote Dalek!" was announced at the Association's centenary celebration event which took place in London yesterday evening. The cover was one of ten that were shortlisted as those British magazine covers that were the most memorable in the last hundred years.


Inspired by iconic image of the Daleks crossing Westminster Bridge from Doctor Who’s 1964 story, The Dalek Invasion of Earth (and seen re-enacted in last night's An Adventure in Space and Time), it was created by Radio Times Art Editor Paul Smith. He said:
Radio Times editor Ben Preston added:

Vote Dalek! received 38.5% of overall vote by over 36,000 participants; Barry McIlheney, CEO, PPA, said:

The cover previously won the PPA's Best Magazine Cover Of All Time poll back in 2008.


You can read more about the making of the cover on the Radio Times website.

The 50th-anniversary edition of Doctor Who Magazine has proved so popular it is being reprinted just a week after publication.

Issue 467 is the biggest edition of the magazine ever at 116 pages and includes 12 art cards, a spoof mini magazine that imagines how DWM would have celebrated the show's first birthday, and nine free audio downloads. Despite a larger-than-normal print run, it has been selling out around the UK.

Editor Tom Spilsbury said: Spilsbury told Doctor Who News that around 50,000 copies were initially printed, with another 15,000 now coming off the presses.

Also inside issue 467:

• Matt Smith and David Tennant – Two Doctors interviewed together
• The Day of the Doctor – A preview of the 50th-anniversary special, with exclusive new photographs
• Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald) interviewed
• An Adventure in Space and Time – Huge behind-the-scenes feature
• A feature on Anthony Coburn – Doctor Who's greatest unsung hero
• An Unearthly Child – The draft scripts of Doctor Who's very first episode revealed
• The Watcher's Guide to Anniversaries
• The Wonder of Who – A guide to Doctor Who's supposedly "indefinable magic"
• The Five Doctors – A guide to Doctor Who's 20th-anniversary adventure
• Mary Peach – The guest star of The Enemy of the World reacts to the story's recent recovery
• Production Notes – Showrunner Steven Moffat is joined by someone from his past . . .
• John Smith and the Common Men – A special anniversary comic strip
• The Time Team watch Last of the Time Lords and Time Crash
• The Watcher's 50th-Anniversary Quiz
• Competitions and puzzles

The 50th Anniversary Doctor Who convention, the Celebration is now under way, with the show taking over London's Excel Centre for some three days of panels, signings, and a host of other activities. The BBC have released a taster of the event this morning.



The Graham Norton show on BBC Radio 2 will be broadcast live from the Celebration tomorrow from 10:00am.