From the Vaults: William Hartnell Era

Covering 23rd November 1963 to 4th November 1966.

Items in italics are audio-only. All items broadcast on the BBC unless otherwise noted.

1963

  • 21st November 1963: Radio trailer [2023 re-enactment] [1:10]*
  • 22nd November 1963: An Unearthly Child trailer [2013 re-enactment] [1:00]**
  • 23rd November 1963: An Unearthly Child 1 continuity [0:08]
  • 31st December 1963: It’s a Square World (Clive Dunn as The Doctor) [7:23, on The Aztecs:SE DVD]

* Generally we haven’t included any fan productions, however given the significance, we make an exception here. The original radio script survives, and was rerecorded by Stephen Noonan as William Hartnell for Vworp Vworp! magazine in 2023.

** The same radio script was re-enacted in 2013 by John Guilor (who portrayed the First Doctor in Day of the Doctor), reconstructed as a TV trailer from the memories of fan John W King. In truth, nothing is known about the TV trailer shown on this date, except that it ran to approximately 45 seconds and was broadcast at 5:59pm, with a voiceover by the staff announcer.

Script: “My name is William Hartnell and, as Doctor Who, I make my debut on Saturday the 23rd November at 5.15. The Doctor is an extraordinary old man from another world who owns a time and space machine. He and his grand-daughter, Susan (played by Carole Ann Ford) have landed in England and are enjoying their stay, until Susan arouses the curiosity of two of her school-teachers (played by William Russell and Jacqueline Hill). They follow Susan and get inside the Ship and Doctor Who decides to leave Earth, starting a series of adventures which I know will thrill and excite you every week.”

1964

  • 7th April 1964: Big Night Out 1.12 Dr Schmoo (ITV) [2:36]
  • 14th June 1964: The Student’s Dalek aka Robot Book Seller (Pathé) [0:49, plus 3:01 deleted scenes reel]
  • 4th September 1964: Information Please (Delia Derbyshire) (BBC Light Programme) [5:33, shorter clip on Doctor Who at the BBC: Lost Treasures CD]
  • 18th September 1964: BBC TV Enterprises Ident [0:13]*
  • November 1964: The Dalek Invasion of Earth trailer #1 [0:38, on BD]

* This ident was used on prints distributed in the 60s. Its first use on Doctor Who was presumably the first episode of An Unearthly Child, on CHTV-3, Christchurch, New Zealand, on this date.

  • November 1964: The Dalek Invasion of Earth trailer #2 [1:06, on BD]
  • 19th November 1964: Gallery continuity (Daleks return on Saturday) [0:33, on BD]
  • 11th December 1964: The Likely Lads 1.1: Entente Cordiale (Dad won’t miss his Doctor Who) [0:26]
  • 31st December 1964: Boys And Girls Exhibition, Olympia (British Movietone) [1:08]

1965

  • 1st February 1965: British Toy Fair (Dalek playsuits) (British Movietone) [8:37]
  • 7th March 1965: Round the Horne 1.1 Trends (Normal Hartnell-William Hartnell gag) [0:46]
  • 21st March 1965: Round the Horne 1.3 Outspoken Comment With Dates and Places (Doctor Who struck off) [0’30”]
  • 24th April 1965: The Space Museum 1 continuity [0:10, on BD]
  • August 1965 Dr. Who & The Daleks cinema trailer [3:04, on various releases of the movie]
  • 2nd August 1965: Jersey Battle of the Flowers #1 (Dalek) (British Movietone) [3:08]

  • 2nd August 1965: Jersey Battle of the Flowers #2 (Dalek) (British Movietone) [2:20]
  • 4th August 1965: Pardon the Expression 1.10: Little Boy Lost (‘Daleks Sold Out’ sign) (ITV) [0:24]
  • 22nd August 1965: Movie-Go-Round (review of Dr Who and the Daleks) [10:26]*
  • 23rd August 1965: Desert Island Discs (William Hartnell radio interview, only suviving extract) [16:05] Full coverage of this interview is available here.
  • 4th September 1965: The Wayne and Shuster Show – The Machine That Conquered the World (Dalek) [14:06, on The Chase BD]
  • 18th September 1965: RAF Finningley Airshow (William Hartnell, Daleks) (amateur footage) [0:32 used as part of (More than) Thirty Years in the TARDIS, but there are also two other sources available, totalling 1:44 of relevant material]
  • 29th September 1965: Dr. Who & The Daleks trailer (Radio London) [0:44]

* Researcher Richard Bignell also added visuals to this to create a mocked up video version.

  • 9th October 1965: Mission to the Unknown Continuity [1:09]
  • 23rd October 1965: The Avengers 4.4: Death at Bargain Prices (toy Daleks) (ITV) [1:15]
  • 19th November 1965: Daleks at Aldergrove Airport, promoting Belfast Christmas Grotto (UTV, Northern Ireland) [1:41]
  • 29th November 1965: I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again 2.8: Dr Why and the Thing [10:12]
  • December 1965: Remington Electric Shaver advert (Peter Hawkins as Dalek Voice) [0:31]
  • 9th December 1965: Tomorrow’s World (Delia Derbyshire demonstrates Radiophonic Workshop techniques) [5:52]

1966

  • 1966: Culdrose Air Day (Daleks) (amateur footage) [1:04]
  • 1966: Dalek ride at London Airport (amateur footage) [0:36]
  • 1966: Doctor Who play (Queen Street School, Thornaby on Tees) (amateur footage) [1:10]
  • 1966: Dr. Who & the Daleks cinema trailer (USA) [1:42]
  • 20th January 1966: Toy Fair Interlude (toy Dalek) [5:01]
  • 20th January 1966: Thunderbirds 1.20 The Man from MI.5 (TV Century 21 Dalek comic) (ITV) [0:18]

  • 29th January 1966: The Daleks’ Master Plan 12 continuity [0:50]
  • 3rd February 1966: Blue Peter (Dalek cakes) [7:54; a 7:03 edit is on The Dalek Invasion of Earth DVD, a longer sequence was shared by the BBC on their website and Facebook page and the final moments are in circulation as a timecoded copy]
  • 21st February 1966: Pardon The Expression 2.7: Big Hotel (I’ll tell Doctor Who you’re washing your hands) (ITV) [0:34]
  • 26th February 1966: The Massacre 4 continuity [0:20]

  • 16th March 1966: A Whole Scene Going (on set of Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.) [4:33, on The Aztecs:SE DVD]
  • 8th April 1966: The Lance Percival Show 2.5 (Dalek) [0:18]
  • 23rd April 1966: The Celestial Toymaker 4 continuity (Billy Bunter apology) [0:24, fan reconstruction from offair audio]
  • 24th April 1966: Round the Horne 2.7: Dobbiroids Theatre of the Air Presents… (TV Doctors gag) [0:39]
  • 22nd May 1966: Round the Horne 2.11: Bona Beat Songs Limited (Julian & Sandy write music for Doctor Who) [4:32]
  • June 1966: Dr. Who: Journey Into Time*
  • 19th June 1966: South Today (Dalek at BBC Week, Southampton Guildhall) [2:25, on the Power of the Daleks BD]

* An audio pilot starring Peter Cushing, recorded in June but never broadcast, and now no longer exists. Two noteable productions have used the surviving script to recreate it: Firstly in 2012 Bandril Productions (later known as Beermat Productions) produced a 25:49 version starring Jim Moon and a team of amateur actors; later in 2020 a team headed up by Cliff Chapman and featuring a professional cast produced a 25:47 version.

  • 20th June 1966: Blue Peter (The War Machines) [3:04, on DVD]
  • 25th June 1966: The War Machines 1 continuity [0:30]
  • 27th June 1966: Blue Peter (viewers’ Daleks) [2:43, on The War Machines DVD]
  • August 1966: Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. cinema trailer [2:37, on various releases of the movie]
  • 11th September 1966: Candid Camera 7.1 (Dalek prank) (CBS, USA) [5:28]
  • 4th November 1966: The Power of the Daleks trailer, tomorow [0:50, on BD]

Beyond the TARDIS: Pre-Doctor Who

  • September 1927: The Wrong Bus (William Harnell) [4:34]
  • 21st November 1931: Frankenstein (clip used in The TV Movie) (movie, USA) [4:13]
  • 16th August 1935: Betty Boop and Grampy (clip used in Midnight) (cinema short, USA) [6:58]
  • 16th April 1939: Tutankhamen’s Trumpets (used in Marco Polo 6-7 & The Time Monster 5-6) (BBC Empire Service) [3:11]
  • 3rd November 1939: The Flying Deuces (clip used in The Impossible Astronaut) (movie, USA) [1:16′]
  • 10th September 1943: The Kansan (aka Wagon Wheels) (clip used in The Tenth Planet 2) (movie, USA) [2:06]

  • Somewhere between 1946 and 1952: Muffin the Mule (clip used in The Idiot’s Lantern) [0:20]
  • 1947: Film Garden Party (William Hartnell) (Pathé) [8:17]
  • 1947: Merry Go Round Gang (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [2:55]
  • 2nd June 1947: British Film Festival (William Hartnell) (Pathé) [1:30]

  • 1948: Opening of Warner’s Studio (William Hartnell) (Pathé) [3:22]
  • 1949: Daily Film Festival (William Hartnell) (Pathé) [1:13]
  • 31st July 1949: The Landing of the Vikings (clip used in The Time Meddler 2) (BBC newsreel) [4:12]
  • 24th March 1953: Robin Hood 1.2: The Abbot of St Mary’s (Patrick Troughton) [8:37, on the Power of the Daleks BD]

  • 18th January 1954: Waistcoat Club (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [1:23]
  • 29th October 1954: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral? (clip used in The Idiot’s Lantern) [4:36]
  • 28th March 1955: Waistcoats for Women (Jon Pertwee, Jean Marsh, Peter Cushing) (Pathé) [2:29]
  • 17th May 1956: Stars at the Fair (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [1:03]

  • 28 August 1956: Серый разбойник / Seryy razboynik / The Gray Robber (2 clips used in The Keys of Marinus 4) (movie, Soviet Union) [1:10]
  • 11th December 1956: Miliatary Miniatures (Peter Cushing) (Pathé) [2:13]
  • 10th October 1957: Stars at Premiere (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [1:02]
  • 1958: Dial 999 1.16: 50,000 Hands (William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton) (ITV) [25:08]

  • 22nd May 1958: The Stars Meet the Fans (Pathe, Jon Pertwee) [1:04]
  • 19th May 1960: Tobias and the Angel (Hartnell howlround origin) [TME does not hold, image from Toby Hadoke’s collection]
  • 26th May 1960: Funfair Reopens (Roy Castle) (Pathé) [0:59]
  • 22nd August 1960: Day at Brighton – What a Treat (Roy Castle) (Pathé) [1:30]

  • 22nd August 1960: Jon & Ingeborg Pertwee’s Wedding (Movietone) [0:47]
  • 24th October 1960: Circus For Charity (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [2:54]
  • 11th February 1961: Big Top Aids Charities (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [2:23]
  • 2nd March 1961: Premiere of ‘The Rebel’ (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [4:08]*

* This is the date of the premiere. It’s possible Pathé premiered the reel sometime later.

  • 2nd January 1962: Z Cars 1.1: Four of a Kind (Three Guitars Mood 2) [2:12]*
  • 29th May 1963: Adventure: Travellers to Kurdistan (clip used in The Myth Makers 4) [2 clips, 6:03]**
  • 2nd June 1963: The Doll Factory’s Assembly Line (clip used in Spearhead from Space 2) (Pathé) [2:25]
  • 3rd June 1963: Dogs Aid Variety (Bernard Cribbins) (Pathé) [1:20]

* Officer Fancy talks about his fiance, standing in front of a nightclub playing the same piece of stock music (Three Guitars Mood 2) used in An Unearthly Child, credited then to John Smith & The Common Men. Re-use of stock music for incidental tracks was not uncommon in the 60s for the BBC; what makes this one especially interesting is that in the case of both Z Cars and Doctor Who, the track was ‘in universe’ source music that the characters were aware of, leading to the inevitable conclusion that Z Cars and Doctor Who are set in the same fictional universe, and that when Susan was enjoying The Common Men in November 1963, it was perhaps a re-release of a track issued two years prior under the name Chris Waites and the Carrollers.

** 8 seconds of this program, showing men riding horses, was used in The Myth Makers. We do not know which exact shots were used. All footage of men riding horses is included in the 6’03” extracts.

  • 10th June 1963: John F Kennedy – A Strategy for Peace (clip used in Remembrance of the Daleks 1) [0:20]
  • 26th June 1963: John F Kennedy – Ich bin ein Berliner (clip used in Remembrance of the Daleks 1) [0:20]
  • 28th August 1963: Martin Luther King Jr – I Have a Dream (clip used in Remembrance of the Daleks 1) [0:19]
  • 5th September 1963: Show Business Race Day (Bernard Cribbins) (Pathé) [1:41]
  • 10th October 1963: From Russia With Love (clip used in Enemy of the World 1 & Daemons 3) (movie) [3:16]
  • 22nd November 1963: BBC TV continuity (programmes rescheduled due to Kennedy assasination) [0:28]

Beyond the TARDIS: The William Hartnell Era

  • December 1963: Xmas For All 1963 (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [9:38]
  • 2nd January 1964: Boats For All (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [1:25]
  • 13th May 1964: Gala All Stars (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [2:09]
  • 21st June 1964: The Midnight Men 1.1: The Man From Miditz (Patrick Troughton) [33:45, made up of 27m transmitted material plus surviving unused material]
  • 22nd June 1964: Detective 1.13 The Loring Mystery (Patrick Troughton, Joseph Fürst) [50:11]

  • 27th September 1964: Water Ski Circus (Jon Pertwee) (Pathé) [2:14]
  • 20th November 1964 : First Men in the Moon (spacesuits reused in The Tenth Planet & The Wheel in Space) (movie) [4:30]
  • 10th December 1964: Carry On Cleo (Francis de Wolff wears same costume as in The Myth Makers) (movie) [4:07 clips]
  • 1965: Then and Now (Jon Pertwee) [9:29]

  • 16th August 1965: Adventure Zambezi 1.3: The Ancient Highway (clip used in The Wheel in Space 1) [0:44]
  • 1st November 1965: Out of the Unknown 1.5: Time in Advance (howlround SFX) [1:10]
  • 1966: Isle of Man tourism radio advert (Jon Pertwee) [1:15]
  • 1966: Peter Cushing on set of ‘Frankenstein Created Woman’ (Pathé) [3:56]
  • 1966: Stanmark Bruce Courage Flexidisc Promo [25:14]*
  • 9th September 1966: A Whole Scene Going (Lalla Ward) [5:01]

* This is a tenuous connection, but an important one: Stanmark produced the (now lost) Dr. Who: Journey Into Time audio pilot starring Peter Cushing. Very little of their recorded work still survives, but this flexidisc (with damage to the final section) has been shared by Richard Bignell on his YouTube channel and gives a flavour of the quality the Dr. Who series would have achieved.

The appearance of Frankenstein in the 1996 movie is an interesting one – not least of all because the material used was of a censored print (unsurprisingly, as the uncensored version was not widely available until 1999) but because of some unusual editing around the climax of the scene – the video below has the details…