An Adventure in Space and Time - A Celebration of Doctor Who's Origins

[@rosco31100]

I remember crying at the end of this. It was so sad to see Hartnell go. And his awkward interactions with Troughton got me cause instantly shows the difference in them as not only Doctors but actors. "I told them... only one man in England can take over." "Couldn't they get him?" The one bit that always stuck with, I think it plays during the credits, is the interview with his granddaughter (I think that's who it is) and she tells you about how happy he was to come back for the Three Doctors. He got to come back! And it meant the world to him, even if it was just for those little scenes on the scanner.

[@holodoc]

Me too... it was a different time in the true sense of the word. We were knee deep in the 50th anniversary with a barrage of best of's, reenactments, mini-movies and the like. When Smith showed up we had a moment, a moment I see from your review is out of place when this film is not viewed in context within the 50th anniversary mindset. Watching Hartnell soldier on during his illness was quite powerful. I'm also among those unmoved by Tennant's "I don't want to go," but yes, you sure felt it here.

[@adammyers7383]

I always thought the moment with Matt smith was meant to convey William Hatnell beginning to realize that just because he won’t be part of it anymore, he still matters far in the future. He may be gone, but his legacy will remain intact. Basically...it’s Matt Smith reassuring William Hartnell that he would be just as important 50 years down the line as he was the day the first episode aired. He could go, and he would still matter.

[@drjohnsmith5282]

One of my favourite lines is when you have Hartnell and Troughton together and you get this exchange Hartnell: There’s only one man in England who can take over this role Troughton: Oh - couldn’t they get him? I love Troughton’s humility in that line. Great film overall

[@rosco31100]

Facts Over Feels I loved that moment too! Thought it was great to see Troughton, even if it was sad to see Hartnell go. Funnily enough, after this, I used to think they'd do a follow up Docudrama about Troughton's era with the same guy.

[@weejas]

Plus, in that one line, Shearsmith captured Troughton's delivery *perfectly*!

[@CraigMurraysVids]

I love this drama. It's a love letter to Doctor Who so I don't mind the Matt Smith moment. I particularly like that there are cameos by the actors who played Ian and Susan, and some of the other old companions. And we get to see the set of Marco Polo. Supposedly Mark Gattis only half-joked "Could we just lock the doors and re-shoot it?"

[@scaper8]

I do kind of wish they did. It would be incredible! LOL

[@majkus]

I remember at one Doctor Who convention, Gatiss, when asked what he would like to do if he had a time machine, said that he'd go back in time and tell the BBC, "Don't burn them!!!!"

[@Silverwind87]

@@scaper8 They actually should reshoot at least one old episode.

[@Silverwind87]

I saw the Matt Smith moment as Hartnell imagining the future of Doctor Who. He didn't literally see Matt Smith or the Eleventh Doctor, he saw Doctor Who 50 years from now. This was also symbolized with the final scene, "One day I shall come back." The show, like the Doctor himself, will regenerate.

[@Adeodatus100]

Hartnell once said "If I live to be 90, a little of the magic of Doctor Who will still cling to me." He would've been 112 now(!) and arguably his name is better remembered now than it ever was. "An Adventure..." is a lovely piece of drama, captures the spirit of the times well, and is beautifully played by everyone in it. I'll add it to my re-watch list while we're in lockdown.

[@deebeedaydreamer]

This was the definitive special/event for the 50th anniversary for me. Loved Jessica Raine as Verity Lambert too.

[@alicec1533]

William Hartnell's "I don't want to go" was absolutely heart-breaking. Great performance from David Bradley.

[@marionbaggins]

That is the only, "I don't want to go" in any media broke me to tears!!!

[@lucasdolding6924]

I quite like most of Mark Gatiss' episodes, but this is definitely his greatest contribution to Doctor Who.

[@iceomistar4302]

No Invaders from Mars is his greatest contribution.

[@lucasdolding6924]

Icbeoaneistari of Chu I thought it was about as mediocre as a lot of his scripts, as is Phantasmagoria.

[@WiloPolis03]

Just like to point out that David Bradley played an actor that played the 1st Doctor, and he was so good at it that they just let him play the real 1st Doctor.

[@danielsleeper2307]

Honestly, I love the Matt Smith moment. I didn't know that Gatiss had been trying to make this for years, I thought it was just made for the 50th. I feel it works because of the acknowledgement of the 50th anniversary and I can appreciate the story taking two seconds to almost dip out and come back in after a brief nod to how far this show has made it.

[@chrispalmer7893]

Verity Lambert was innovative beyond being the first female producer. She pioneered a different approach to running a show. At the time you had your budget, you divided it by the number of episodes and you did each one for that. The way someone (I think Warris Hussain) once described it was, that most producers would be given £52,000 to make 52 shows and take that as £1000 per episode. Verity Lambert took a broader view and wasn't afraid to spend more on one episode if it warranted it and accepted that she'd have to spend less on another down the line as a result. Sounds simple enough, but was almost unheard of before she came along.

[@russwho1]

Bill was right. It was not only the last thing he did that mattered, but it was THE thing he did that mattered. Here we are in 2020 discussing... William Hartnell! Without Doctor Who, millions of people would have never known his name. And there are millions to come in future generations of Doctor Who fans. I'm not sure he realized this in 1966... But I'm pretty sure he'd be so proud of his work if he saw where we are now. He was brilliant in the role, and without his contribution I'm not convinced we'd be here now. God love him! I've gone through archives and have watched a few of his films, but none of them are memorable; apart from we, the fans, watching the first Doctor in other roles. Brilliant review, thank you as always.

[@chrisandersen5635]

Also everyone, if you haven’t seen it, you should really also watch The Five(ish) Doctors. It’s a film Peter Davison made for the 50th Anniversary that is quite amusing and another lovely tribute to Who. ❤️

[@Deathlygunn]

Five(ish) Doctors is criminally overlooked, it's a shame the sequel Davison had planned never came to fruition.

[@natsmith303]

The problem (at least Stateside) is that it's hard to find. I went out of my way to get the 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition specifically because it would include The Five(ish) Doctors, but a) that was a limited release, so not everyone's going to be able to get it, b) it's region-coded so most people here in America wouldn't be able to play it. It's supposedly up on the BBC website, but every time I've pulled it up it tells me it won't play in my country. I'm genuinely not sure why this wasn't simply a bonus feature on the normal Day of the Doctor release. That's the place where it makes the most sense. My best attempt at rationalizing is that the BBC figured American audiences wouldn't care about the Classic Doctors, but that seems like shooting yourselves in the foot since this could be a great way to get NuWho fans into Classic.

[@Attackontrashcan]

@@natsmith303 mabey try a VPN?

[@ishaandw]

Arguably, Mark Gatiss's best and biggest contribution to doctor who. It always makes me cry. The last scene is so beautiful

[@Seussenshmirtz]

Waris Hussein looks a little suspicious in this movie. Keep an eye on that guy y'all.

[@owenoastler101]

“oh...”

[@imafgc]

I wonder how many people won't even understand this and come to the wrong conclusions LOL

[@puckrobin1]

Well, if you’ve got to wait around for something like 80 years waiting to sync up again with your timeline, you might as well direct some TV to pass the time.

[@Ben-vf5gk]

Looking forward to the Waris Hussein Master boxset

[@fairycat23]

Don't you worry, I can't take my eyes off that guy 😍

[@Ben-vf5gk]

Ah, the only instance the sentence "I don't want to go" has ever made me cry.

[@ghostforthemost6027]

not even tennant regeneration? lol

[@WiloPolis03]

Are we counting when Tom Holland used that line in Infinity War? That was haunting

[@nightowl8477]

Same. Brilliant performance.

[@chrispalmer7893]

To be fair, even if the End of Time moment doesn’t work for you, it gave the line more power here. I agree that Matt Smith’s scene was self-indulgent, but I think they earned it. And shout out to how fabulous Reece Shearsmith was as Troughton. Would love to see more of him doing that.

[@Scroteydada]

I think being self indulgent was the entire point of this

[@Silverwind87]

The scene where Hartnell pretends to be "Doctor Who" around the kids was very wholesome. Hartnell said that he saw his character as a mix of the Wizard of Oz and Father Christmas, which describes the Doctor perfectly.

[@paulcurd7617]

Absolutely love this film, nostalgic and emotional. Plus it’s a wonderful love letter to the old Television Centre, I loved that building when I worked there and miss it very much!

[@ospero7681]

Fully agreed on the emotional impact of "I don't want to go" here vs. The End of Time. This works so much better. "[Hartnell] looked older than he was." That made me do a bit of research, and hoo boy, is that ever true. Hartnell was 55 when Doctor Who first aired. David Bradley was 71 when this movie was made - older than Hartnell lived to see, in fact (Hartnell died in 1975, aged 67). My guess is that they wanted to keep putting other Doctors in at that final scene, hence the greenscreen. I vaguely recall reading something to that effect, though I can't remember more. Six and a half years is a bit of time. One scene I know didn't go down in real life as it did in this movie was the firing of Hartnell. IRL, Hartnell himself was the one to realize that he couldn't carry on. Weirdly enough, the movie actually keeps in the part about him suggesting Patrick Troughton as his successor, which did happen. I guess the emotional impact is stronger the way it's depicted in the movie, which is why I have no issue with it at all. And of course, seeing Sacha Dhawan in this is just all kinds of hilarious in hindsight, almost on a level with watching "Withnail and I" and expecting to see Jenna Coleman pop up somewhere in the background trying to defend Eight from the Great Intelligence.

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

Ospero The official story was that Hartnell left of his own accord, but a letter he wrote to a fan in the early 70s that was published about 7 years ago suggests that it actually wasn’t his choice, and he was pretty bitter about it.

[@IaMaPh1991]

This is one of my all time favorite pieces of Doctor Who media, and I make sure to give it a couple of rewatches every year. Nothing short of a masterpiece.

[@julieeverett7442]

I enjoyed this teleplay, it was beautifully done and was actually in tears watching it. I'm not old enough to have watched Dr Who from the beginning, I started in 1973 with Jon Pertwee, I watched the three Doctors and thought it was a fun story and it was nice to see the first two doctors. As I got older I went back and watched and collected the earlier stories, then came to realize just how precious the three doctors were. It was the first time we ever saw 1st and 2nd in colour and it was the LAST time we ever saw William Hartnell, he died shortly after. To be so ill he was unable to continue was heartbreaking. I'm glad he was able to choose his successor, he did a brilliant job! While William Hartnell gave us Doctor Who and gave us the BONES of his character, Patrick Troughton gave us THE doctor! Many of his ideas and stories started with 2nd

[@melanierhianna]

There’s one nice meta touch. At the end of The Tenth Planet story before Hartnell collapses and regenerates the TARDIS controls move by themselves. In this Matt Smith is toggling those switches.

[@julieeverett7442]

or we found out in the THIRD story that the TARDIS is alive

[@matthewbolitho-jones]

I like An Adventure in Space and Time

[@kevinmerchant2478]

The program is accurate in its historical themes but not necessarily exactly historically accurate. For example : Waris Hussein only directed the first story, not all the stories as depicted. But this compressing of several people into one character is obviously sensible for the storytelling. A great piece of television in my opinion.

[@BronyDanProductions]

kevin merchant He also directed 'Marco Polo'.

[@Ocsttiac]

One thing you may have missed were the cameos from the original cast. The parking officer asking for Sydney's pass is played by William Russel, aka Ian Chesterton, and the lady calling for her kids to come home before their tea gets cold is played by Carole Ann Ford, aka Susan Foreman. There's many others besides those two!

[@Merlynoflore]

That moment the Master helped create Doctor Who! Lol

[@DoctorWhoAdventures]

Awesome review! I find the episode so moving especially that scene where William sees all the kids playing Doctor Who in the park. It's just a wonderful episode full of charm :D

[@cappuccinocrafts2412]

I loved this when I watched it during the 50th anniversary year when it first aired. I cried so much towards the end, especially when Hartnell delivered that line, "I don't want to go." Precisely for the same reasons you said. I think the casting and performances were great. A great story of the beginning of Doctor Who and also of Hartnell.

[@Redboots]

my dad, who really isn't the biggest dw fan, liked it because I showed it to him since he's a fan of hartnell as an actor. and I always get really nostalgic watching it because I taped it when it first aired and kept watching it for like. three years on that one recording

[@lwaves]

Just as the main show features change without actually changing, this is essentially a Doctor Who story that isn't a Doctor Who story. I'm not one for historical accuracy when it comes to dramatisations of events. That's not what this type of show is for. If you want accuracy then go watch a documentary. This one was really well done as it highlighted all the troubles the show had and was also a great tribute to Hartnell and the show itself.

[@charliedawson6318]

I loved the Matt Smith moment, but I remember even then thinking in the back of my head _this isn't going to age well._

[@AtomicSim]

One day I will come back, yes, one day... Until then there shall be no tears, no regrets, no anxieties, just go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.

[@TurboTurds30]

The Matt Smith scene has grown on me because it reminds me that if they had stopped the show with Hartnell, I probably would have never discovered the show, meaning I would have never fallen in love with him as a legitimate character actor (and my favourite incarnation of Dr. Who).

[@RichardM-kv4uu]

I love this, and seeing Matt Smith at the end was very moving, Mark Gatiss' best work.

[@njf1410]

But where would Doctor Who be without the BEMs? An example of Verity Lambert standing up to Sydney Newman.

[@The_Sober_One_LCM]

I haven't watched "An Adventure in Space and Time" since first US broadcast all those years ago, but as soon as you mentioned the scene of Bradley saying "I don't want to go" the emotions came rushing back to me. I had only been a fan of Doctor Who for a year when it aired, but Hartnell & Capaldi are MY Doctors - Hartnell's take on the Role in "An Unearthly Child" solidified me as a fan after being very hesitant to continue watching the series after someone showed me "Rose". Hartnell's Doctor holds a very special place in my heart. As someone who grew up never knowing what it was like to have a grandfather in some weird way The Doctor, especially his Doctor, has filled that role. William Hartnell may have passed away in 1975, but in 2012 he made a Doctor Who fan out of me. A Doctor Who fan that chooses again and again for him to be my "go to" Doctor and will never be able to forget how on a dime he can turn from shouting down a Dalek to comforting Susan, Vicki, Katarina, or Dodo (and Chesterton to for good measure!) in their times of need.

[@evancunningham]

I Would Love A Big Finish Boxset Of The Doctors Meeting Their Actors.I Don't Know How They'd Do It,But They'd Find A Way

[@dubbingsync]

Alternative dimensions most likely. Or do a sort of Fire Island Players thing from Avatar The Last Airbender. Show some episodes as performance pieces in some way.

[@puckrobin1]

Evan Cunningham I think Paul Cornell did a comic where Matt Smith met the 11th Doctor. And the Doctor looking at the TV covers and saying something like “It would have saved a lot of time if I’d known I were in an adventure called ‘The Android Invasion”. Of course, if the Third Doctor met Tim Treloar, he’d say “Good grief, we don’t look alike.”

[@LordQuixote]

www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-pier-pressure-244 There's a character called Billy who's supposed to be a young William Hartnell.

[@julieeverett7442]

considering 4gth through 12th is still alive, Bradley can replace 1st, SEAN Pertwee can replace 3rd, 2nd might be an issue, so its VERY possible! They could try something like time crash, dimensions merging!

[@Deathlygunn]

Little bit of context for the use of Green Screen during theMatt Smith scene, Gatiss had this idea that they could play the special once a year around Christmas and the green screen would allow them to add a shot of the current Doctor to keep the emotional impact of Hartnell starting this legacy, unfortunately the special was never shown again and we're left with an awkwardly composited shot of Matt Smith. It's a shame I'd have love to have seen this reair around the time of Twice Upon a Time and had Series 10 Capaldi flash a maniacal grin at Hartnell.

[@TexasTimeLord]

I agree with your "I don't want to go" comment. 10 saying that in the 50th Anniversary Special followed by 11 saying "He always says that" was more effective than it was in 10's last episode also. Thanks for doing this video. Sometimes you just nail it.

[@neilmcdonald4113]

Brief cameos for William Russell and Carole Ann Ford...blink and you'll missed from Jean Marsh and anneke wills at a party 🎩

[@bammyplays3106]

I cried when I saw William Hartnell crying and saying I dont want to go

[@marionbaggins]

Same!!!

[@LiseFracalossi]

So, I was watching your video about Idiot’s Lantern (which I 100% agree with, btw), and you mentioned this movie, and no lie, I stopped your video (sorry!), searched where to stream it, and watched it then and there. I actually just started getting into DW in the past few years - first new, then classic; still a lot to go - I watched the Hartnell years relatively recently, so all of this stuff was fresh in my mind. … and honestly I did not expect this movie to make me cry, but here we are. I also felt like… in the movie, and in your DW videos, this is the first time I really… felt like a Whovian? I often feel like I don’t have “real” cred because I just got into it a few years ago and there is still SO MUCH I haven’t seen. So I guess, thanks for giving me that? You’ve gained a subscriber ❤

[@bradleywillard2361]

I completely agree with everything you said. 'An Adventure in Space and Time' is, for me, the best thing we got out of the 50th Anniversary, at least on television. It is a very cleverly constructed drama in it's own right, as opposed to just being a celebration of Doctor Who's origins. All of the cast fit into their respective parts so naturally; the narrative flows along at a steady and consistent pace; the emotional punches hit in exactly the right places; and the nostalgic nods are subtle and subdued, respecting the humble beginnings of Doctor Who without being a whopping great slap on the back. However, Matt Smith's cameo does ruin the sentimental impact of the final scene. It basically puts a massive sell-by date on the drama, turning what is meant to be a timeless and seamless moment into something incredibly dated and artificially crafted. David Bradley's performance is nothing short of outstanding - although I'm not a massive fan of his portrayal of the First Doctor, he captures everything that I assume William Hartnell was. The performance and the script aren't trying to diminish his legacy, it's a love letter to it, and the delivery of the "I don't want to go" line makes me cry each and every time. It was a pointless expression in 'The End of Time,' because the Doctor isn't dying. Whether you like it or not, regeneration doesn't end and seclude life, it prolongs and broadens it. And that, for me, is what segregates 'The End of Time' from 'An Adventure in Space and Time.' 'The End of Time' shuns the established history of the programme, or at least parts of it, and tries to make it into something it isn't, whereas 'An Adventure in Space and Time' embraces it with open arms, delivering a bittersweet ending which, although sad, is incredibly optimistic and celebratory.

[@kevin10001]

This movie is very well done and I have watched it a few times since getting the combo pack of it I will disagree with u on the Matt smith scene cause I never saw it as self congratulatory but in a way more of the first incarnation of the character accepting and approving of the current incarnation of the character at the time and it still is my favorite scene in the movie and I will watch the scene on KZbin from time to time

[@wolf1066]

This is friggin' *eerie* - I finally get round to watching _An Adventure in Space and Time_ and then, within *5 minutes* of watching it, see you'd done a review of it only 17 hours before I watched it! It's like: were we on the same wavelength or what!? Absolutely loved it. Found the bit with him seeing Matt Smith rather naff but loved the thing overall. Funny watching a guy I'd recently seen as the Master and an utter prick of an investigative journalist in _Being Human_ playing a likeable sympathetic character. I don't know how historically accurate it is, but - if it is accurate - the exchange between "Hartnell" and "Troughton" shows just how much of a professional Hartnell was. He's been told the show's going to go on without him, he doesn't want to give it up, and now this new actor is feeling nervous about taking on the role and Hartnell basically tells him he personally thinks Troughton's the best actor for the role.

[@kindamagicdotcodotuk]

And did anyone notice that the security guard at the beginning “That’s not the way we do things at the BBC!” Was played by William Russell - Ian Chesterton, one of the first companions?

[@CouncilofGeeks]

Oh my god I totally missed that!

[@kindamagicdotcodotuk]

Council of Geeks And Carole Anne Ford (Susan) was in a bit later, calling her kids in for supper! :-)

[@kindamagicdotcodotuk]

Waris Hussain directed one of my all time favourite movies, Melody (aka S.W.A.L.K.) starring Jack Wild and Mark Lester. (I’m considerably older than you and most of your audience!). :-D

[@nekusakura6748]

​@kindamagicdotcodotuk He also directed the criminal underrated Tudor period drama film 'Henry VIII and His Six Wives'.

[@njf1410]

Well it seems KZbin deleted my comment because I used a word that Waris used to describe himself in the film that is not now politically correct. Anyway, I think the film is a great recreation of the time. I am old enough that I watched the first episode on the day it was broadcast. I was 13 years old. After that, I had to be home every Saturday afternoon by just after 5pm to make sure I didn't miss the next episode. No VCRs or repeats in those days. (And not just 10 episodes every year or two either.) I can say i was there when the first Dalek appeared on our comparatively small black and white TV screen. We should all thank Verity Lambert, Waris Hussein and Sydney Newman for the start of nearly 60 years of something special.

[@williamcorpening6132]

Bradley was why I loved this. You gave me more reasons but essentially it was his performance that made that biopic.

[@jameskersey3035]

Watched it about 10 times, gives me chills every time. Has to be the best docu-drama about anything. It doesn't tiptoe around the negative things about some people, but it also helps you care about them. When Bradley begins to cry towards the end it's so sad.

[@pug_63]

Rewatching this in 2024. Just got to the bit about Matt Smith’s cameo. Love that this was updated in a later re-screening to include Ncuti Gatwa.

[@CulturePhilter]

I have exactly the same views of Mark Gatis as a Who writer. I’m not usually keen on his episodes, some are ok but none great. But LOVED this. Definitely his best Who work.

[@sigyn3976]

I loved this. It made me tear up watching him as he started to have more trouble on set and with his lines, and his desperation to keep playing the role he'd crafted so lovingly, was so devoted to, was heartbreaking. I also loved the fact that he gave the children watching so much more credit than a lot of others do.

[@_alex_merrick_]

I first started watching the show just after Series 7 had wrapped up, and it immediately took over my life. When I was back in school the following Fall, one of our first assignments was to write a research paper on any topic that interested us. I chose to write mine on the history of Doctor Who from the first steps behind the scenes to the end of the first season, which is what the majority of this feature depicts. I can confirm from researching for the paper that this special is EXTREMELY true to real events. There are a few embellishments, but they’re mainly used to move the plot because certain events have unclear real-world circumstances (the design of the TARDIS interior comes to mind). Seeing this made me feel so happy just from seeing my essay come to life. I genuinely think it’s a fantastic television special, and I’ve seen it more than most episodes of the actual show!

[@mattneff]

Screenwriting Student here. A writer who receives a "Story By" credit is responsible for writing the initial draft of the screenplay that was sold to the producers. Writers who received a "Written by/Teleplay by" credit are responsible for the final draft ofthe screenplay that is actually used for the production. The original writer may receive a "Written by" credit if the production script adheres to more than 50% of the original script that was sold (or if they've inked an agreement for a "Written by" credit as part of their contract). Similarly, a script doctor/additional writer will receive a "Written by" credit if their contributions to the finalized script are heavily reflected in the final production

[@nightowl8477]

Watched this for the first time the other month in a 50th marathon. Probably best addition to the celebration, and certainly Mark's best script, as he's admitted himself.

[@mindyp51d]

I so loved this!!!!!! Especially the ending with Matt!!!! I didn't read it as "self-congratulatory' at all. To me it was honoring Mr. Hartnell, it was Matt Smith, the latest Doctor at that time, saying "Thank you."

[@julieeverett7442]

agreed

[@ishaandw]

The Matt Smith scene is where I always breakdown in tears.

[@kennethlund9825]

It's a terrific piece of TV history and I agree with everything you said.

[@silverspike1]

Oh I dunno, i adore the Bradley/Smith scene. For me it was a nice little visual hand over that many people (myself included) wept buckets over when they saw it. Having worked on classic Who myself I really adored and appreciated what Gattis was attempting to do with this. In reality I loved this far more then the official 50th anniversary special as for me (barring Tom's appearance) It hit all the right emotional note.

[@Mrhullsie2]

I agree this was a very well written story and I enjoyed it immensely when i first saw it. I didn't have the issue at the end with the appearance of Matt Smith. Having had the "I don't want to go" moment, it gave me the sensation of a happier ending, with William Hartnell seeing how his legacy would go on. Not what really happened but I am a sucker for a happy ending.

[@ghlmk5931]

I need to rewatch this! I remember loving it when it first came out but you mention several scenes I’ve forgotten. Brilliant piece of TV about TV production. If Hartnell only knew how much his name would be honored nearly 60 years later. Because had he not done the the great job he did, we wouldn’t still be talking about this show. And that’s why I don’t see the scene with Matt Smith as self congratulatory but rather as an acknowledgement: “the adventure continues, thanks to you”.

[@maureenwhitmore9362]

Thank you for this. I had similar thoughts when I saw "An Adventure in Space & Time", but you expressed things so eloquently... just lovely.

[@ksaunders4362]

i watched it once on my own, and then with my partner and youngest son (who's a mad DW fan, both classic and new series) and we all ended up in tears at the end. Because we're all just like that. I love this movie and I watching this review is making me want to go watch it again.

[@samuelbarber4154]

You produce it, I'll wait. Someone get me knitting.

[@lucypreece7581]

I remember watching this first time around when it aired and i really loved it. i'm a big Doctor Who fan anyways so this was a lovely extra nugget that i thought was sweet and well made and the cast was great and yeah it is a great thing of it own accord and as a part of the Doctor Who Story.

[@raumaduth]

your analysis of "i dont want to go" is spot on.

[@fellatwou]

Agreed with your take on Tennants, "I don't want to go". Poor Hartnell... He knew he was just going to fade away.

[@iancossey105]

In defence of Tennant's version, I think most people who connected with it did so on the basis that it was also the actor himself saying goodbye to the role, not just an overly-dramatic 'death' scene. Plus, as Hartnell's departure was due to ill health and we know that he didn't go on to any more great acting roles, then any depiction of his situation is bound to have more emotional resonance than a young and subsequently successful actor being sorry to leave one of many roles (albeit a pretty golden one). Lastly, I think including it as a line for Hartnell only strengthens the feelings we have about both instances, and the line wouldn't be there at all but for 10's departure.

[@IronSalamander8]

100% agree on the Gatiss scripts. I really enjoyed this one but his other stuff is largely below average. This was something I'm glad I watched, and I highly recommend it to all Doctor Who fans. I did love how Hartnell was so meticulous about the controls and other aspects of the show and character. It was odd watching these a couple of years ago for the first time as someone who started with Tom Baker and the stark differences between the show over the years. Also fully agree on the 'I don't want to go' line. When Tennant spoke those lines in End of Time, it came off as whiny and entitled and it lowered my opinion of his Doctor significantly. Here, it came off as a genuinely sad situation from a tired old man.

[@menwithven2862]

One of the three bits of media that has made me cry

[@harlandted]

Thank you. You not only gave your perspective on a BBC special I bought and rewatched many times, but it featured a needed diversion from self quarantine. I was in some ways surprised. In the TV movie, the character/real person, checking out a guy at the bar, Waris Hussein, a very, very slight hint that he may be gay in real life, prompted me while on 3 hour bus trip to my parent’s home, to google him. Yep. He is gay. I was very happy. It was not presented as a big deal, it was then, it is not as much now... but to have the first Doctor Who director to be both gay and of Indian decent. I thought it was worth mentioning on your kind, thoughtful channel.

[@BestBFam]

I love your enthusiasm. Thank you for the review. It has made me want to find this and watch it.

[@sbi168]

I know what you are saying about matt Smith scene, but I cried like a little school girl at the time and I still do! It was so amazing I can break it down and reason it but my heart doesn't care. It works (as you say) like gangbusters

[@ryanpollard1166]

Mark Gatiss' magnum opus! This along with The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, The Night of the Doctor and The Day of the Doctor provided the perfect 50th Anniversary celebration a show like Doctor Who could ask for.

[@rosco31100]

Ryan Pollard I know the BBC muck up sometimes in relation to Who, but your right, they put a lot into the 50th and it truly was a celebration. There was something for everyone in at least one of those specials.

[@KerstinMamma]

I cried and cried and cried, I might still be crying from this thing.

[@nekusakura6748]

I've read somewhere that Mark Gattiss is thinking of doing a Spiritual Sequel to this about the troubled production of 'Trial of a Time Lord' I wonder who'll be cast as Colin Baker....

[@kindamagicdotcodotuk]

It was amazing that Hartnell was only 49 when he started playing the Doctor. David Bradley was in his 80s!

[@ericschmincke1328]

Ian Ellery He was actually 55.

[@kindamagicdotcodotuk]

Yes, of course he was, i miss typed!

[@Tony_NZ]

#1 in my recommendations list. Thanks, KZbin!

[@drewnorbury8718]

Sydney Newman was the head of drama for ITV and Created the Avengers TV Series

[@chrisandersen5635]

I love this film to bits!! It’s my favorite thing from the 50th anniversary if I’m honest.

[@adrianhalpert1442]

I don't know - whenever you've done research for one of your videos you've been pretty good! Is that really Waris Hussein though? He looks familiar somehow...

[@fairycat23]

Heheheheh~

[@misterwillguitar]

I loved this too - I also was suprised to find Gatiss was the writer (for the same reasons as yourself sir!) - they did a great job of honouring the show and its origins - and the BBC "class" system of the time - how Dr Who and its team were not part of the "in group" as it were was very well portrayed. Given how Hartnell seems to have been smeared in recent times with the "classic" era seeming to be shown the same contempt by the recent showrunners (including Moffat!) as it was the by the original BBC "old boy network", this is such a great thing to see and have been made

[@spluff5]

I always cry at the end of this and I've seen it three times.

[@damnrapunzel8130]

I absolutely loved this when it was on in 2013. It was fantastic

[@eastlynburkholder3559]

For him it was not a silly children's show. Yeah some people are emotionally invested and some are justckerping the wheels going. It was not sacarine or self congratulatory, yes, like you said.

[@eastlynburkholder3559]

I liked seeing the reaction to the Daleks .

[@danielsleeper2307]

Yes! I've been waiting for this! I love this thing!

[@tonyjohansson7567]

A beautiful review of a very great story. Totally agree that this is Gattis Doctor Who Masterpiece!

[@ChristyAbbey]

I liked that David Bradley came back to play First Doctor in the one Christmas special. And since it was associated with the 50th anniversary, I thought the moment with Matt Smith worked very well. I took it as Matt Smith look at and being humbled by the history, which may not be what they intended. But I'd just spent 5 years watching every episode (recreations of the missing ones, natch). Also for the trivia minded, the very last episode of anything Verity Lambert produced guested Paul McGann (and the person who was playing his audio companion at the time).

[@dancingman1983]

I haven't watched it since the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who when it first aired. I remember liking most of it except for the appearance of Matt Smith. The whole idea of regeneration meant a whole lot more in the final moments of William Hartnell. Before then Gallefrey hadn't been mentioned. Hartnell didn't know if the show could continue 5 weeks without hime never mind 50 years. In those days it wasn't common to simply have different actors play the same character so he was working harder and harder to keep the show running to the point of coughing up blood. Finally they had to invent regeneration and bring in Patrick Troughton. Although actors would have a longer run it was easier for them to relax and regenerate when things were either becoming too much or just needed to refresh the series. Even when he was suffering with dementia William Hartnell still tried his best to appear in The Three Doctors before he died.

[@jaded6530]

An Adventure in Space and Time - A Making of! The Making of An Adventure in Space and Time - A Making of!

[@CrazySingingRabbits]

it is mostly accurate but gatiss himself said he took a lot of liberty with it. lambert was not the first female producer at the bbc for example. but its a better story if she was. gatiss is open abt this.

[@iamtheecho]

The idea with the Smith cameo like you said is to be a moment of look how far we have come. But its also meant to be a moment for William Hartnell of the show personified by current Doctor (at the time) Matt Smith saying we remember you. Everything started with you and it always will, you don't get forgotten. Also a cool thing about that cameo, 11's on green screen so if they air this story again say for the 60th anniversary, they can replace 11 with the current Doctor. So the meaning behind the cameo isn't lost, It started with William and its still going, The Doctor lives on and through the new incarnations so does Hartnell.

[@chrisrusso6541]

I watched both that and the documentary and I thought it was fairly accurate and I enjoyed them both but this made me cry more I guess it's different to see it happened than to just hear it

[@borjankosarac3645]

Waris Hussein was also a gay man - a gay, Indian man working in the 60’s alongside a Jewish woman... And people bit*h and moan about the left-leaning politics this show trends towards?

[@patrickt.6492]

The film alludes to this briefly when he checks out another dude at the bar. Warris Hussein told Gatiss not to make his sexuality a big part of the film because he had to keep it under wraps.

[@scaper8]

@@patrickt.6492 That's another thing that I think they did really well. It would have been so easy, and honestly, kind of understandable, to try/want to allude to it more. But he would have had to keep it quite. The world simply wouldn't have accepted him, so they kept it subtle to keep it fairly accurate.

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

scaper8 Not only would he not have been accepted, but he could potentially have been arrested and charged as it was illegal to practice homosexual acts until 1967. There were a lot of gays in British showbiz at this time who did a damn good job of hiding it. Not a great time in the history of British law.

[@julieeverett7442]

um the show has ALWAYS been political but it wasnt preachy in your face that it TRIES to be now!

[@DigiRangerScott]

Kinda surprised you're getting to this now instead of after Night of the Doctor in your Overdue Reviews, but I'm at the same time glad

[@samuelbarber4154]

I wonder if they just found Bradley on the set of Dinosaurs on A Spaceship and made him Bill Hartnell.

[@ikarikid]

Slight correction: Matt Smith was inserted via digital effects. There is a slip-up where his body is not behind the console as it should be.

[@SupernerdScrawl]

I like the moment with Matt Smith, but I wish they would have shot it in a way were they could replace him as the Doctor is replaced so he could have a moment with Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whitaker, and whoever comes next. I don't know many British actors.

[@ourphilosophyis9119]

I actually didn’t interpret that Matt Smith sce the same way at all. I interpreted that scene as the modern show congratulating the classic show. In other words, I took it as acknowledging that William Hartnell was the one responsible for setting the path in motion for there to even BE a modern show. That’s the way I took it.

[@evancunningham]

I Absolutely Adore This Special Its Absolutely Beautiful But, I Have One Thing I Think Would've Made It 10 Times Better A Post Credits Scene Hartnell Is In His Living Room, Sitting In His Chair, When The Phone Rings He Picks It Up And Says "Hello?" The Current Producer Of Doctor Who(I forget who it was) Answers Saying "Mr Hartnell? I'm (insert name here). I'm The Current Producer For Doctor Who And We Are Doing A 10th Anniversary Episode With Jon And Pat Throughton. We Were Wondering If You Would Like To Return, Just For Four Episodes?" Hartnell Starts Tearing Up, And He Says. "Yes" That Would've Added To The Tears