The sixth in our occasional series marking the 50th anniversary of events leading to the creation of a true television legend.

The story so far . . .

In the summer of 1962, the BBC commissioned a report into identifying specific science-fiction stories suitable for adapting for television.

The report started events that would lead to the transmission of the first episode of Doctor Who. Today, we examine the career of the man who was to reinvigorate BBC television drama and sow the seeds for an icon of the genre.

If there is one man who can claim to be the true father of Doctor Who, one man without whose inspiration, guidance, and care the series would never have been made, then that man is Sydney Newman, who joined the BBC on Wednesday 12th December 1962, exactly 50 years ago today. A brash, outspoken Canadian, his arrival at the BBC was a shock for an establishment more used to employing products of the country's public schools and university system. He arrived with a distinguished track record of success in production on both sides of the Atlantic, and with a brief to shake up the Corporation's drama department and bring it into the 1960s.

The Early Years:

Sydney Cecil Newman was born in Toronto on 1st April 1917 to a Russian Jewish immigrant father. His interest in art and the movies led him to attempt a career designing film posters, before switching to working in the film industry itself. A trip to Hollywood in 1938 led to an offer from the Walt Disney Company, a role he was unable to take up because of work permit issues. He returned to his native country, and during the Second World War he joined the National Film Board of Canada, first as an editor and later as a producer. He produced many documentaries and propaganda films during the war, and continued to work for the NFB in the post-war era. By 1952 he had produced some 300 short films, many of which were for Canada's government.

His excellence in the field led to him being appointed Supervising Director of Features, Documentaries, and Outside Broadcasts for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in 1952, where he was involved in producing some of the earliest outside broadcasts on Canadian television, including early episodes of the iconic Hockey Night in Canada and the first Canadian Football League game to be shown on television. Despite having limited experience in drama, he was made Supervisor of Drama Production in 1954, and he used the role to encourage young writers and directors, including William Kotcheff and Arthur Hailey.

Among his productions for CBC was the highly successful Canadian Television Theatre presentations, and his work was being increasingly admired at home and abroad, including in Britain where several of his CBC productions were screened by the BBC. In an interview he explained that it was during a visit to the UK that he realised the kind of drama he wanted to produce when seeing John Osborne's play Look Back In Anger with then Head of BBC TV Drama Michael Barry. However, it was to be Howard Thomas - managing director of one of the new ITV network franchise holders, Associated British Corporation (ABC) - who decided Newman could provide him with the type of contemporary drama he wanted to broadcast, and recruited him to ABC in 1958.

Becoming Head of Drama at ABC, Newman took over the production of the popular Armchair Theatre anthology play series, networked nationally on Sunday evenings to huge audiences and which he insisted should use only original material that had been penned for television. He commissioned plays for the series by writers such as Alun Owen, Harold Pinter, and Clive Exton. Newman also devised a thriller series called Police Surgeon, starring Ian Hendry. Although not a success, Newman used elements from the series, including its star, to create The Avengers, a programme that would go on to achieve international success.

While at ABC, he also produced the children's science-fiction serial Target Luna and its three spin-offs - Pathfinders In Space, then Pathfinders To Mars, and finally Pathfinders To Venus. The four series, comprising 27 episodes, were written by Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice and centred on the space exploits of the Wedgwood family. Actors who appeared in the different series included Michael Craze, Bernard Horsfall, Gerald Flood, and George Coulouris. The shows aired between April 1960 and April 1961, with the last series being the most ambitious and whose complexity and need to keep videotape editing to a minimum saw the decision made to have live action performed in the electronic studio and visual effects done on film. During the summer of 1961, a sci-fi version of Armchair Theatre was proposed by story editor Irene Shubik, and between June and September 1962 the resulting anthology series Out Of This World was shown, consisting of 13 one-hour dramas, with an extra introductory one - entitled Dumb Martian, produced by Newman - shown in the Armchair Theatre slot six days before Out Of This World started.

Arrival at the BBC:

Newman's success at ITV led to him being head-hunted by the BBC, and in 1961 he was offered the role of Head of Drama by the Corporation's Director of Television, Kenneth Adam. Although he accepted the position, he was forced by ABC to fulfil his contract, finally leaving the commercial network to take up his new appointment in December 1962. In a later interview he stated:


He would spend five years with the BBC, but the influence of his tenure would ripple throughout the decades. While at the Corporation, he would oversee the arrival of new anthology series The Wednesday Play - a BBC equivalent of Armchair Theatre. He employed the likes of Dennis Potter, Jeremy Sandford, and Ken Loach, and under his watch seminal plays such as Cathy Come Home and Up the Junction were produced, tackling serious social issues of the day. Series produced under his aegis included the fantastical, Verity Lambert-produced Adam Adamant Lives!, the first two series of sci-fi anthology drama Out Of The Unknown (both produced by Shubik - now also working at the BBC), and legendary costume drama The Forsyte Saga - which became one of the most acclaimed and popular productions of his era, watched by 100 million people in 26 countries.

But it is for Doctor Who, now approaching its fiftieth anniversary, for which he remains best-known.

Future Head of Drama Shaun Sutton would comment in his book The Largest Theatre In The World:

Post-BBC:

Rather than having his contract renewed, Newman instead left the BBC to pursue a career as a film producer with Associated Film Producers, but no projects were to reach fruition and after being paid off when EMI took over in 1970 he decided to return to Canada.

Back home, he became Acting Director of the Broadcast Programmes Branch at the Canadian Radio-Television Commission, and later that year was appointed Government Film Commissioner and Chairman of the National Film Board of Canada. He continued to have a strong influence in the media, though more in an advisory rather than hands-on role. In 1981 he was awarded the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour.

After the death of his wife, Newman returned to the UK and worked for a time at Channel 4 - and was also asked by BBC1 Controller Michael Grade in 1986 about how to revamp Doctor Who, though this was never taken further. He formally retired back to Canada, where he died of a heart attack in Toronto on 30th October 1997.

BBC One launched "Christmas" this evening with a live display of festive show imagery projected onto BBC Television Centre during tonight's edition of The One Show, including a virtual TARDIS bursting its way out of the building!


The show was immediately followed by the second 'episode' of their festive campaign fronted by Rob Brydon and Sarah Alexander, featuring the Doctor being chased by Miranda Hart with mistletoe, and concluding with Mrs Brown returning in the TARDIS (seen dematerialising in episode one) to announce "Relax, I've just been to the future - it all turns out fine, Rob!". It's Showtime! The Doctor/Miranda segment will also be shown as a separate trailer as part of the publicity over the next couple of weeks.

BBC AudioGo have announced Destiny of the Doctor, the name for their series of brand new audio dramas to celebrate the Doctor during the 50th Anniversary year. Produced by Big Finish, there will be a story for each Doctor next year in the run up to the anniversary itself in November.

The series kicks off in January with Hunters of Earth, a story featuring the First Doctor and his granddaughter Susan in an adventure that takes place in Shoreditch prior to the events that unfold in the first televised episode, An Unearthly Child. Written by Nigel Robinson, the story is performed by Carole Ann Ford and Tam William, with sound design by Simon Hunt.

Details on further adventures will be announced during the course of 2013, which will feature a number of familiar Doctor Who related names lending their vocal talents to the range.

The BBC have released a further two interviews with stars of the Christmas Special, The Snowmen, as part of their Adventure Calendar. The short videos are with Richard E Grant, who plays Dr Simeon, and Dan Starkey who reprises his role as the Sontaran Strax.

Other interviews:

The Radio Times features the eponymous Snowman by Raymond Briggs on its cover for this year's legendary Christmas double issue; inside, however, it does feature interviews with Doctor Who's stars Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman about their similarly named The Snowmen!

Smith also discusses his plans to stay with the series for 2013 and its fiftieth anniversary - and how his mother doesn't want him to give up the role! Talking about the influences on his Doctor, the actor said:

Meanwhile, BBC America conducted an online Q&A with the duo during a promotional visit to the United States last weekend, featuring questions that were submitted by the Tumblr community and answered via their official Doctor Who page.

Entertainment Weekly have also recently interviewed Jenna, during which she discussed getting the role, and how she dealt with the two characters Oswin and Clara.

A PC system modelled on the TARDIS has been launched by a UK firm.

Bolton-based Scan Computers has been officially licensed by BBC Worldwide to produce the aluminium scale model, which has been finished in the Pantone blue of the Doctor's Ship.

It comprises 45 pieces of individually-cut brushed aluminium, all of them based on the prop model, and measures 205mm x 205mm x 430mm.

The basic tech spec includes the following:

• Intel Pentium G2120 dual-core processor
  
• 8GB of Corsair Vengeance 1,600MHz DDR3 memory
  
• 500GB hard drive
  
• Blu-ray reader
  
• Microsoft Windows 7
  

The PC system, which has been developed with Dorset-based design house Head Cases, is also available to order with a variety of specifications.

Character have released details on five rare micro-figures that have been included within the regular range of Series Three packs that are now in shops.


The figures include only 500 of the Eleventh Doctor in tuxedo, 250 each of Rory in his nurse's uniform and River Song in a catsuit, and just 100 each of Amy with tally marks and a space-suited Tenth Doctor. Each also comes with a golden ticket of authenticity.

Mark Hunt, Brand Manager for Character, commented:

The presenter, writer, and astronomer Sir Patrick Moore has died, aged 89.

Born in Middlesex but brought up in Sussex, Moore became fascinated by astronomy at an early age. He joined the British Astronomical Association aged 11, and by the age of 14 he was running a small observatory in East Grinstead. During the Second World War he served as a navigator in the RAF, achieving the rank of flight lieutenant, and during his training in Canada he met both Albert Einstein and Orville Wright.

Returning to his love of astronomy after the war, Moore published his first book Guide to the Moon in 1953, followed by Guide to the Planets and a fictional book, The Master of the Moon. Eventually, over sixty books were to follow in both genres.

On 26th April 1957, the UK was introduced to the very first edition of The Sky at Night, a show Moore would continue to present up until his death - having only missed one show in July 2004 due to illness, he appears in the Guinness World Records as the world's longest-serving television presenter. Highlights of the show include many of the manned missions into space and reaching the Moon. Also, on 1st April 2007 a spoof 50th anniversary version was broadcast, featuring Moore presenting as a Time Lord with impersonator Jon Culshaw and guitarist/astrophysicist Brian May.

As well as The Sky at Night, Moore was a regular on news and other magazine programmes throughout the decades, seldom to be seen without the trademark monocle he'd worn since he was 16. As a presenter, he could be seen during the 1990s on the computer/video games programme GamesMaster. He was also not afraid to poke fun at himself, with light-hearted appearances in shows such as The Morecambe and Wise Show, The Goodies, and Have I Got News For You.

On 3rd April 2010, he appeared in Matt Smith's first full episode, The Eleventh Hour, playing himself as one of the experts contacted by the Doctor to help design a computer virus to alert the Atraxi to the whereabouts of Prisoner Zero.

As well as being one of the world's most famous astronomers, Moore was also a keen musician, regularly to be seen playing the xylophone, including appearances at the Royal Command Performance and The Royal Variety Performance. However, he had to give up performances in his later years as he suffered from arthritis, which had plagued him throughout his life. He was also a keen sportsman, playing cricket, golf, and chess.

Moore never married. His nurse fiancee was killed by a bomb that hit her ambulance in the Second World War, and he subsequently stated that "there was no-one else for me."

He received many honours thoughout his life, including - in 2001 - his knighthood for services to the popularisation of science and to broadcasting. The following year, Buzz Aldrin presented him with a BAFTA for services to television.

A statement from his family today said:

The first trailer for Doctor Who was broadcast on BBC One this evening - of sorts!

A brief teaser of the series logo appeared just before Merlin and after Casualty, promising the show for Christmas Day at 5:15pm - the first official confirmation on television of when The Snowmen will be broadcast.

The Radio Times preview of The Snowmen has revealed another very familiar special guest star will feature within the festive adventure.

With the first quarter of 2013 announced, speculation continues over which stories will be released over the course of the rest of the year in the lead-up to Doctor Who's Fiftieth Anniversary in November.

The currently confirmed stories include the final two complete adventures Terror of the Zygons (June) and the as-yet unscheduled The Mind of Evil. Also confirmed is a special edition release of Inferno - producer Dan Hall reported in September that four special editions were on the way, and with The Visitation recently revealed this completes those initial commissions (the others being February's The Ark in Space and March's The Aztecs). At least one additional (currently unnamed) special edition has now been commissioned, though whether this would be released next year has yet to be confirmed.

With regard to animations, though there have been no formal announcements post January's The Reign of Terror, Hall had explained that stories with a maximum of two episodes missing were being considered as commercially viable: stories meeting this criteria are The Crusade, The Tenth Planet, The Underwater Menace, The Moonbase and The Ice Warriors. Of those, sound designer Brian Hodgson indicated in June that he'd recorded a commentary for The Moonbase (and possibly The Underwater Menace), and Frazer Hines told the audience at the Dimensions convention that he'd recorded a documentary for The Ice Warriors alongside Sonny Caldinez - the latter story also had a trailer passed by the BBFC on 5th December, suggesting this adventure might well be out sometime next year.

The Ark in Space (SE):

The BBFC have classified extras for The Ark in Space special edition, currently scheduled for the 18th February; as well as a brand new "Making Of", the release will also include the Omnibus version of the story, originally edited for a repeat broadcast on 20th August 1975.

Movie Version:
    01:09:48:01 DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK IN SPACE
DVD Extras:
    00:29:51:23 A NEW FRONTIER - MAKING THE ARK IN SPACE
    00:07:04:00 THE ARK IN SPACE - PHOTO GALLERY
    00:01:03:17 (THE ARK IN SPACE - CGI SEQUENCE A)
    00:00:22:22 (THE ARK IN SPACE - CGI SEQUENCE B)
    00:00:18:12 (THE ARK IN SPACE - CGI SEQUENCE C)
    00:00:16:03 (THE ARK IN SPACE - CGI SEQUENCE D)
    00:00:16:21 (THE ARK IN SPACE - CGI SEQUENCE E)
    00:00:07:11 (THE ARK IN SPACE - CGI SEQUENCE F)
Audio Commentaries

The Aztecs (SE):

The BBFC have classified extras for The Aztecs special edition, currently scheduled for the 11th March. As previously reported, this release contains the recovered Galaxy 4 episode Air Lock, and the extras reveal that reconstructions of the missing episodes (originally planned for The Time Meddler) will also be presented on this release. In addition, a 1969 episode of archaeology series Chronicle has been included which looks into the history of Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest.

Value Added Material:
    00:28:08:06 DOCTOR WHO - GALAXY 4 
    00:24:19:14 DOCTOR WHO - AIR LOCK 
    00:12:10:01 THE EXPLODING PLANET 
Special Edition - Added Material:
    00:49:49:14 CHRONICLE - "THE REALMS OF GOLD" 
    00:07:20:06 IT'S A SQUARE WORLD 
    00:04:31:07 (A WHOLE SCENE GOING) 
    00:22:33:15 DR. FOREVER! - THE CELESTIAL TOYROOM

A fresh set of production information text has been written for the episodes by Matthew Kilburn.

Terror of the Zygons:

Slated for June next year, extras for the DVD release were classified by the BBFC back in July; one of the items passed was a "director's cut" of episode one, of which more detail is now known. Originally filmed but then cut due to grading issues, the opening scene with the Doctor, Sarah and Harry arriving in Scotland by TARDIS was discovered amongst the collection of the story's film editor Ian McKendrick, consisting of partial colour, partial black and white footage and soundtrack. The clip, lasting around a minute and a half, has had the monochrome sections colourised for the DVD by Stuart Humphryes (aka Babelcolour), who also worked on the colourisation of episode one of The Mind of Evil. The finished scene, which also includes its incidental music as composed by Geoffrey Burgon (featured on the CD soundtrack of Terror of the Zygons and The Seeds of Doom released in 2000), has been incorporated back into episode one and viewers will be able to select which version of the episode they wish to watch.

As Restoration Team member Steve Roberts puts it:

Meanwhile, since original classification a couple of new developments have been announced for the two-disc release. Firstly, a contemporary interview conducted by the south coast regional BBC news programme South Today was recently rediscovered, and fortunately there has been time to include the three minute item on the DVD.

Steve Roberts also reported that the late inclusion of the above has meant that it should be possible to include a 35 second clip from Disney Time, presented by Tom Baker in character as the Doctor, onto the DVD as an Easter Egg (previously to be included on a different release).

The Visitation:

Confirmation of the commissioning of this story came via the latest edition of Vortex Magazine from audio producers Big Finish. In an interview with Fifth Doctor Peter Davison the actor mentioned filming the documentary, joking over titling the story The Re-Visitation:
The documentary is produced by a newcomer to the DVD range, Russell Minton.

Clarifying some of the restoration work on the episodes themselves, Steve Roberts explained that the picture quality of this release had already been greatly improved for the original 2004 release:
Nicholas Pegg confirmed that there will be a fresh set of production information text to accompany the episodes, too.