An Adventure in Space and Time

Dedicated to William Hartnell,

November 23rd, 1963.  Two school teachers follow one of their pupils into a junk yard in London and in the process set off a chain of events that produce the world's longest running program, Doctor Who.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, the BBC produced and aired a special docudrama surrounding the origins of the show, shining light on some of the principal players who have been well-regarded within the fan community, but who had not been as well noted outside.

Amongst them was the original actor to play the Doctor, William Hartnell... which the docudrama revealed had his ailing health to contend with.  It was the issues with his health that eventually led to his departure from the show, and the birth of the plot device which has ensured the program's longevity: regeneration.

The docudrama showed that Mr. Hartnell suffered for a role that he, by accounts, loved... and that struggle has been repaid by his now legendary association with Doctor Who, everything we know and have seen of the Doctor has built on what Hartnell created in those early days... and it was fitting that he was acknowledged as much as the show itself in this fiftieth anniversary year.

This one's for you, Bill.