Fiction    From 23/11/1963 

Doctor Who

Television programme broadcast by BBC One since 1963. It was originally intended to be an educational programme using time travel as a means to explore scientific ideas and famous moments in history. With the introduction of the Daleks however, it moved into the realms of science fiction. Falling viewing numbers, and a less-prominent transmission slot contributed to the programme being axed in 1989. It 'regenerated' in 2005 with sharper scripts and special effects and has produced several spin-offs.

The programme depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extra-terrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the universe in a time-travelling space ship called the TARDIS. The TARDIS exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. 

The title character has been portrayed by the following actors (in sequence): William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Doctor Who

Commemorated ati

BBC Television Centre - Doctor Who - Jon Pertwee

Doctor Who - Jon Pertwee, 1919 - 1996. BBC and the Heritage Foundation

Read More

BBC Television Centre - Doctor Who - Patrick Troughton

Doctor Who - Patrick Troughton, 1920 - 1987. BBC and the Heritage Foundation

Read More

BBC Television Centre - Doctor Who - William Hartnell

Doctor Who - William Hartnell, 1908 - 1975. BBC and the Heritage Foundation

Read More

Jon Pertwee - E6

{The blue plaque reads:} Jon Pertwee, 1919 - 1996, Doctor Who, 1970 - 1974. T...

Read More

Jon Pertwee - SW19

Jon Pertwee, 1919 - 1996, actor, entertainer & Time Lord, worked here. Th...

Read More

Show all 7

Other Subjects

Peter Pan

Peter Pan

The character first appeared in print in Barrie's 1902 novel 'The Little White Bird'. Barrie had huge success with the 'Peter Pan' play, first presented on stage in 1904 at the Duke of York's Theat...

Fiction, Children, Fictional, Seriously Famous, Theatre

4 memorials
Scrooge

Scrooge

One of Charles Dickens characters from A Christmas Carol (1843).

Fiction, Fictional

1 memorial
James Bond

James Bond

Fictional spy created by Ian Fleming, who first appeared in the novel 'Casino Royale', but see Fleming's page for an alternative origin for Bond. Eleven further novels and two short story collectio...

Fiction, Espionage, Fictional, Seriously Famous

1 memorial
Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist

One of the best known novels of Charles Dickens, which follows the fate of an orphaned workhouse boy. It has been filmed several times, and was turned into the stage musical (and later film) Oliver...

Fiction, Fictional

1 memorial
Mother Goose

Mother Goose

The interment register at St Olaves Hart Street records Mother Goose being buried on 14 September 1586. This is extremely strange so we did some digging.  The story of a goose laying golden eggs ca...

Fiction, Animals, Fictional

1 memorial