Doctor Who has had an expansive history, from what happens in the show to what happens outside the show. Coming up this fortnight, we have the birthday of Romana II (Lalla Ward), Short Trips, Jago and Lightfoot, and many episodes and audio stories, including the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee). We’ve also got the moral of BAD WOLF, meaning the end of the universe, and a couple of appearances of the Saxon Master (John Simm).
As we go through this 60th-anniversary special year, I’ll show you the key moments in Doctor Who’s history – every fortnight for the whole year. What better way to celebrate than that? We’re halfway through the year! It’s mental. I remember the first one of these.
Doctor Who History: Week Twenty-Five– 19th June to 25th June
In 1965, The Death of Doctor Who was first broadcast. Moving forward to 1971, we saw episode five of The Dæmons being broadcasted. In 2010, The Pandorica Opens aired on television. Big Finish released Iron Bright in 2018, and in 2019, they released God Among Us 3.
20th June
In 1964, the Doctor Who episode Strangers in Space was broadcasted. Moving on to 1970, episode seven of Inferno was first broadcast. In 2009, Big Finish released Worldwide Web: Part 2 as part of their Eighth Doctor Adventures Series 3. Fast forward to 2018, and Big Finish’s The Second Doctor: Volume Two was first released.
21st June
In 1964, David Morrissey, who played Jackson Lake in The Next Doctor, was born. Moving on to 1969, episode ten of The War Games was first broadcast, which concluded Season 6 and Patrick Troughton‘s run as the Doctor, before introducing the third Doctor, Jon Pertwee, who is my personal favourite Doctor. Just under 40 years later, in 2008, Turn Left was first broadcast, which featured a guest cameo by Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, who warns Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) about the ominous phrase “Bad Wolf”, leading to a series of events about the fate of the universe. Finally, in 2022, Big Finish released The Nine.
22nd June
In 1953, the composer Ian Levine was born. Levine composed the theme music for the only episode of K9 and Company. Paterson Joseph, who portrayed Rodrick, Rose’s opponent in The Weakest Link‘s final on Satellite Five in the episode Bad Wolf, was born in 1964. Sadly, in 2010, Pennant Roberts, the director of several Fourth (Tom Baker) and Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) episodes and the individual responsible for selecting Louise Jameson to play Leela, passed away. Moving on to 2021, Big Finish released Forged in Fire.
23rd June
In 1973, episode six of The Green Death was first broadcast. Fast forward to 2000, and Caitlin Blackwood was born. She is known for her role as young Amelia Pond in Doctor Who and the audio dramas. Caitlin is also Karen Gillan’s cousin. In 2003, Big Finish released Project: Lazarus, while 2007 marked the first air of The Sound of Drums, where the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) and Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) find out Harold Saxon (The Master) is the Prime Minister.
Continuing in 2016, The Second Doctor: Volume One was released by Big Finish, followed by The Horror of Hy-Brasil in 2017. Tragically, in 2021, actor Jackie Lane passed away, who played the First Doctor’s companion, Dodo Chaplet, passed away. Finally, in 2022, Big Finish released the Torchwood – Monthly Range audio story Dead Plates.
24th June
In 1967, episode six of The Evil of the Daleks first broadcast. Jumping ahead to 1972, episode six of The Time Monster aired. Born in 1991, actor Yasmin Paige brought life to the character of Maria Jackson in The Sarah Jane Adventures. 15 years later, in 2006, Fear Her made its debut. Fast-forwarding to 2017, the episode World Enough and Time first broadcast, returning John Simm as the Master, and revealing Pearl Mackie‘s character, Bill Potts, as a Mondasian Cyberman. Lastly, in 2021, Big Finish released The Torchwood – Monthly Range audio story titled The Five People You Kill in Middlesbrough.
25th June
In 1965, the movie Dr. Who and the Daleks was first released, bringing the Doctor’s adventures to the big screen. Moving on to 1966, episode one of The War Machines was broadcast, introducing viewers to a new and byte-citing storyline. In 1981, actor Sheridan Smith was born, who later portrayed the character of Lucie Miller, the Eighth Doctor’s companion, in Big Finish audio dramas. Big Finish released the audio story Invasion of the Daleks, having today two experiences with the Daleks in 2001. Finally, in 2013, Big Finish released Graceless III.
Doctor Who History: Week Twenty-Six– 26th June to 2nd July
26th June
The year 1965 witnessed the debut of The Planet of Decision, an episode that formed part of The Chase serial, featuring William Hartnell as the First Doctor and his companions. Stepping into 2004, Big Finish released The Harvest, an audio adventure that brought together Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, Sophie Aldred as Ace, and introduced Philip Olivier as Hex.
Fast forward to 2010, when viewers were enthralled by the gripping episode The Big Bang, the climactic finale of the fifth series of Doctor Who‘s revival. In this episode, Matt Smith‘s Eleventh Doctor, along with Karen Gillan‘s Amy Pond and Arthur Darvill’s Rory Williams, faced the TARDIS being destroyed, and the destruction of the universe… oh and the Doctor wears a fez now, fezzes are cool.
27th June
Taking the TARDIS back to 1964, The Unwilling Warriors was aired. 27 years later, in 1991, the world bid farewell to Milton Subotsky, the talented writer and producer that worked on the Peter Cushing Dr. Who movies. Then, leaping forward to 2013, Big Finish released Counter-Measures: Series 2. Shaking things up in 2018, Goodbye Piccadilly emerged, expanding the always-evolving Torchwood universe. Finally, in 2019, Big Finish treated fans to The Same Face, a tale regarding some Time Lords.
28th June
In 1951, the talented actor Lalla Ward was born. She portrayed the character of Romana II, a Time Lady who went on thrilling adventures alongside the Fourth Doctor and K-9. Composer Malcolm Lockyer passed away in 1976. Lockyer wrote and conducted the music for Dr. Who and the Daleks. In 2008, The Stolen Earth was first broadcast, giving the best cliffhanger of the century, which was one of the many Tenth Doctor’s regenerations.
29th June
Born in 1943, Maureen O’Brien, known for her role as Vicki Pallister— the First Doctor companion, entered the world. Katherine Jenkins, who portrayed Abigail Pettigrew in the 2010 Christmas Special, A Christmas Carol, was born in 1980. In 2017, Big Finish released How to Win Planets and Influence People as part of the Short Trips series. The following year, Big Finish released another Short Trips audio adventure, The Siege of Big Ben. Continuing their productions, Big Finish released Jago and Litefoot: Series Fourteen in 2021. In 2022, fans were treated to the release of Silver and Ice with Mel, who is due to return in the 60th Anniversary, and Series 14. Also, in 2022, The Haunting of Bryck Place was released by Big Finish.
30th June
In 2007, the thrilling and gripping episode Last of the Time Lords was first broadcast, where we see John Simm’s Master singing along to I Can’t Decide by the Scissor Sisters. Three years later, in 2010, Big Finish released Jago and Litefoot: Series One. Another three years later, and Big Finish unveiled the captivating Out of the Deep for listeners to enjoy.
1st July
Born in 1956, Matthew Jacobs, a talented writer, came into the world. He made significant contributions to Doctor Who as the writer of the 1996 TV movie. In 1967, episode seven of The Evil of the Daleks was first broadcast. Moving on to 1972, BBC One aired the first showing of Dr. Who and the Daleks. Jumping ahead to 2002, Big Finish released the audio stories Excelis Decays, and the Bernice Summerfield audio story, The Plague Herds of Excelis. In 2006, viewers were captivated by the first broadcast of Army of Ghosts, mentally preparing us for the next week’s episode. Five years later, in 2013, Big Finish released the Seventh Doctor’s Destiny of the Doctor audio story, Shockwave. Finally, in 2017, audiences were treated to the first broadcast of The Doctor Falls, seeing the exit of both Bill and Nardole.
2nd July
In 1966, viewers watched as episode two of The War Machines made its television debut. Actor Peter Kay, born in 1973, graced the world with his presence. Mainly known for his comedic talent, Kay played the Abzorbaloff in Love and Monsters. In 2021, Big Finish unleashed Scourge of the Cybermen, with the Third Doctor and our Sarah Jane Smith.
Doctor Who History: Conclusion For This Fortnight
All, in all, this fortnight has been quite an eventful one in Who-istory, or Doctor Who history, if you prefer to put it that way. Iconic episodes like The Evil of the Daleks and The Time Monster were broadcasted. Birthdays of actors Yasmin Paige and Lalla Ward were noted, who played memorable characters in the show. We also had the death of Jacke Lane. Big Finish continued to delight fans with releases like The Second Doctor: Volume Two, and we had the birth of the writer Matthew Jacobs! We also had many Short Trips audio stories, with two seasons of Jago and Lifefoot.
I’ll be back in a fortnight to tell you more Doctor Who history… With many thanks to the work of the esteemed editors at Tardis Wiki – their work has been particularly integral to our fact-checking of Big Finish release dates.
Doctor Who will air in November 2023 with three special episodes as the show’s 60th Anniversary headliner event. David Tennant returns as the 14th Doctor alongside Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. Ncuti Gatwa’s first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will air over the festive period, while his series 14 will debut in 2024 with Millie Gibson. Disney+ will be the exclusive home for new seasons of Doctor Who outside of the UK and Ireland.
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