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Ncuti Gatwa revealed the reason behind his exit from Doctor Who after its fifteenth season, which is concerning for Billie Piper in the future. The season finale revealed Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor regenerating again, this time into Piper, who played Rose in the initial seasons of the revival. There has been no explanation about the show’s future.

While Gatwa’s tenure was controversial and was filled with criticisms, from the storytelling to Gatwa’s casting as a queer Black man. However, the actor claimed that he was too old for the part and hence decided to step away (via Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg).

Because I’m getting old and my body is tired. I’ve now just started doing some ballet, so I’m making some good decisions here. It’s the most amazing job in the world. It’s a job that any actor would dream of. And because it’s so good,...

"Doctor Who" has famously set up a perfect system to keep going as long as the ratings allow. Thanks to the regeneration ability of the Doctor, the series can simply kill and resurrect the main character whenever the actor departs the role for one reason or another. This has turned out to be an excellent, periodic way to shake up the status quo, as new actors (and showrunners) bring their own spin on the long-living role while keeping the show's most familiar traits intact.

Sometimes, an actor occupies the role for quite a long time. For instance, Tom Baker, who played the Fourth Doctor from 1974 to 1984, appeared in no less than 178 episodes, and three other classic "Doctor Who" era actors also have three-digit episode counts under their belt. Other times, a Doctor's tenure is so short that it seems the fans barely got to know this version of the character.

Doctor Who and its fans’ obsession with David Tennant might as well be the death of the show. Since Tennant played the Tenth Doctor in the BBC revival of the series, every other actor has been compared to the star, who is a fan favorite. The actor has returned as the Fourteenth Doctor and has been associated with the franchise in various ways.

A recent podcast associated all Doctors in the ‘New Who’ era with David Tennant or the other, proving how obsessed the fanbase is with the actor’s iteration (via Come Along Pond Podcast).

Here’s who the New Who Doctors are: the guy who regenerated into David Tennant; David Tennant; the guy who regenerated out of David Tennant; and then the guy who featured in a David Tennant episode; the woman who regenerates into David Tennant; the guy who regenerated out of David Tennant, and he’s...

Jodie Whittaker is well known as the first woman to play the Doctor in the long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who, making her debut in 2017. But what many don’t realize is that she almost wasn’t the first female to take on the role.

In fact, the idea of a female Doctor was floated more than 30 years before Whittaker’s casting, with several well-known women considered for the part back in the 1980s.

When Whittaker was announced as the Thirteenth Doctor, it marked a historic moment for the show, which had been running for over 50 years without a female lead. She stepped in after Peter Capaldi’s departure, with Steven Moffat also leaving as showrunner. Whittaker’s casting broke new ground by being the first on-screen female incarnation of the Doctor, but interestingly, this change had almost happened decades earlier.

Back in 1986, the show was struggling. Colin Baker’s...

Jodie Whittaker made history in 2017 when she became the first woman to play the Doctor in the long-running British TV show Doctor Who. However, many people don’t know that she almost wasn’t the first female Doctor.

In fact, several women were considered for the role more than 30 years before Whittaker took the part.

The show first introduced the Doctor as a male character and kept it that way for decades. It wasn’t until Whittaker’s casting that fans saw the Time Lord as a woman on screen for the very first time. Even though recent storylines, like the reveal of the Timeless Child, hinted that the Doctor might have been female before, Whittaker’s role was the first real on-screen example. But before 2017, the idea of a female Doctor had already come up several times.

Back in the mid-1980s, after Colin Baker’s troubled run as the Sixth Doctor,...

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The rightfully beloved "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" anime follows two brothers — Edward and Alphonse Elric — chasing the Philosopher's Stone across the nation of Amestris. Their main obstacle in this task are the Homunculi, artificial humans with names and powers reflecting the seven deadly sins.

The Homunculi's Father wants to use the Elric brothers as "hitobashira" (best translation is "human sacrifice") for his evil plan. Hiromu Arakawa, the Fullmetal author, naming her bad guy "Father," feels influenced by her love for "Star Wars" and Darth Vader. The movie homages in the anime don't end there, including when it comes to Father's pride and joy.

"Fullmetal Alchemist" introduces the Homunculi gradually. The earliest episodes/manga chapters feature only Lust, Gluttony, and Envy. Then, near the end of the series' first cour, it introduces Greed, Sloth, and Wrath. The reveal of Wrath is especially...

Doctor Who is one of the most popular franchises in the sci-fi genre, but it, too, is not shielded from criticism. The series has often been the center of controversy, be it for the general direction of the franchise or its messaging. From the First Doctor back in the ‘60s, Doctor Who has fielded questions on how it is branded as a children’s show.

However, criticism from fans and the general audience is one thing. But when it comes from the actors themselves, it becomes all the more scandalous. Many stars from the franchise have expressed their love for the show, with stars like David Tennant and Matt Smith defending it through all its iterations.

However, some actors have called out the way the show functions behind the scenes as well as its creative direction in the past. Here are the actors who have publicly criticized Doctor Who.

1. Doctor Who...

One of the great traits about The Doctor is that he's always been an animated character who likes to express himself through over-the-top verbal and physical mannerisms. Now, the BBC is taking that literal by turning him into an actual animated persona for a new Doctor Who kids show that's set to air on the pre-school channel, CBeebies. This won't be the first time The Doctor gets the animation treatment, but it will be the first full-fledged animated series for kids in the franchise's long history.

Per Deadline, the BBC is now on the hunt for a production company to produce the animated series, as Disney – who co-produces the flagship show – won't be involved this time around. It will be aimed at pre-school kids and feature The Doctor "solving mysteries and problems alongside their companions and other friends." Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children's and Education, released a statement to coincide with the news,...

This article contains spoilers for "Doctor Who" season 2, episode 7, "The Wish World."

The penultimate episode of "Doctor Who" season 2 is here, and it makes a spirited attempt to shatter all the records in the coveted "most Time Lords in an episode not set on Gallifrey" category. Apart from two different versions of a classic Time Lady antagonist, the Rani (Archie Panjabi) and Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson), there's the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) himself ... and arguably his mysterious granddaughter Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford), depending on which version of her numerous backstories the viewer chooses to believe. Oh, and if that list wasn't enough, the episode also wheels out a truly deep Gallifrey cut: Omega.

Originally played by Stephen Thorne, this particular Time Lord is most notorious for his role as the villain of the first multi-Doctor story arc ever: the 1972-1973 serial "The Three Doctors," which combined the might of the...

David Tennant played the Doctor from 2005 to 2010 and he was easily one of the most popular Doctors in Doctor Who history. He was the lead of hit episodes such as Midnightand his acting was considered top-notch.

He was replaced by Matt Smith in 2010, but even then he was never far from the show, appearing with Smith and John Hurt in the 2012 50th anniversary special The Day of the Doctor. Even as new Doctors took over and regenerated in turn, Tennant continued to be wildly popular, and many fans wished the show could find a way to bring him back.

And they got their wish. After Jodie Whittaker's run as the first female Doctor, she regenerated into Tennant in her final episode. He was no longer the Tenth Doctor... he was now the Fourteenth. And furthermore, showrunner Russell T. Davies had hit on a way to keep him around in case he was ever needed.

Former Doctor Who star Peter Purves has complained that the modern version of the Disney+ show is "too sophisticated." Purves played companion Steven Taylor between 1965 and 1966.

Purves' character was a memorable part of the First Doctor era of Doctor Who, before much of the mythology behind The Doctor had been developed. For example, the concept of regeneration had not yet been introduced during Steven's travels with the First Doctor, nor had there been much exploration of the Time Lord race.

Peter Purves Shares His Complaints About Modern Doctor Who

According to BBC News, Purves shared his thoughts on the current version of Doctor Who while attending an unofficial exhibit for the show at Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery. He called modern Who "far too sophisticated for [his] simple brain."

"We used to have stories that were very simple, you went from there to there, you had a cliffhanger at the end of an episode,...

Doctor Who star Anneke Wills has offered a health update following a 10-day hospitalization. The actress told social media followers that she is "humbled and grateful" after her health scare.

Wills, who played First and Second Doctor companion Polly Wright, revealed to fans via Facebook that she was "home again" for Easter Sunday, after a harrowing ordeal that started when she slipped in her garden.

Anneke Wills Shares Positive Update After Heath Scare

"Thank god the farmers heard me calling out for help and, wrapping me in blankets as I lay on the icy ground, we all waited some hours for the ambulance to come," she wrote. "I was whisked off to Torbay hospital with a broken hip and shoulder for ten days. I was lovingly cared for by the doctors and nurses this was my first experience of the immense patience and kindness of the NHS care teams. I was humbled and grateful.

Quick LinksBossk's Suit Appeared in One of Doctor Who's Most Important EpisodesBossk's Suit is Not the Only Connection Between Star Wars and Doctor Who

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire StrikesBack introduced several bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader to locate the Millennium Falcon. Alongside the famous Boba Fett stood Dengar the Demolisher, Ig-88, Bossk, 4-lom, and Zuckuss. Expanded universe material like K. W. Jeter's The Bounty Hunter Wars novels developed these mercenaries, and some even went on to become fan favorites. However, at the time of filming, they were just background characters meant to fill out the scene. Boba was the only one of the bounty hunters who even spoke in the film, aside from Bossk making some unintelligible growls towards the Imperial officers who insulted them.

As such, many of the bounty hunters' costumes were thrown together using existing materials. For example, Ig-88's head was originally...

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network: mystery box TV, kaiju monsters, new waves and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Illumination Above All

The most anticipated mystery box show on television is back and so is our weekly coverage of it, as hosts Ian Buckley and Sarah Applegate head back to the severed floor to unpack Severance 2×01, ‘Hello, Ms Cobel’, plus don’t miss their final overall Season 2 preview released this week…

Japan on Film

One of the most celebrated Japanese films in recent years, host Perry Constantine and guest Jason Kleeberg explore 2023’s Godzilla Minus One…

Frame to Frame

In one of their most anticipated episodes of the year, Andy Williams and Sean Wilson, joined by guest Bo Nicholson, come together for the second ‘spicy takes’ annual episode, as they unpack their own and listener surprising views on all things cinema. Plus, don’t...

Doctor Who has a rich, extensive history that reaches all the way back to 1963, often making it difficult for new audiences to know exactly where to start. While this long history is usually a great thing, as there are so many classic episodes that audiences can explore and learn about, it also means that certain episodes have either been lost over time or are missing parts. There have been plenty of bumps in the road throughout Doctor Who’s many episodes, and that’s resulted in a handful of frustrating gaps in the story.

One of the most noteworthy omissions from Doctor Who’s catalog is the Second Doctor’s unusual regeneration scene. At the time of filming, the producers didn’t have a replacement in mind for Patrick Troughton and couldn’t reliably film a regeneration as they had for William Hartnell. As such, they merely replaced him in...

Doctor Who executive producer Phil Collinson addresses why Patrick Troughton's final Doctor Who story "The War Games" was selected as the next classic story to be colorized. The 1969 storyline saw the Tardis materialize in a mysterious world whose inhabitants had plotted to abduct various soldiers from throughout human history in hopes of forming a powerful army. Released in ten parts from April 1969 to June 1969, "The War Games" saw the Second Doctor's forced regeneration and exile, bringing Troughton's Doctor Who era to a close.

Recently, Collinson sat down with Doctor Who Magazine to explain why Troughton's final story emerged as the next choice for a remastering. He stated that he held the original stories in great reverence, believing that the goal of the colorizations wasn't to replace the original stories but that they could still stand alongside what the revival had to offer. Ultimately, the goal of these projects is...

Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson has reassured fans over the availability of classic episodes. Collinson is responding after the BBC remastered the 1969 serial “The War Games” as a single 90-minute special.

BBC Four in the UK premiered an edited version of the four-plus-hour serial over the Christmas period, complete with colorization and new special effects. This remastered version of “The War Games” also directly nodded to a long-running fan theory that one character is tied to one of the most iconic villains in Doctor Who history.

"The War Games" Has Been Colorized and Remastered For a New Generation

Doctor Who: Joy to the World's Best Companion Wasn't the One Fans Were Expecting

The Doctor Who Christmas special paired Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor with Nicola Coughlan's Joy, but another surprise companion stole the show.

Some fans have been concerned that these condensed versions of classic Doctor Who serials...

Over the years, Doctor Who has introduced countless villains, from Daleks and Cybermen to Sontarans and even the Time Lords. But one antagonist has been quietly lurking in the background for two decades: the Villengard Corporation.

Created by Steven Moffat in the 2005 stories ‘The Empty Child’ and ‘The Doctor Dances,’ this intergalactic weapons manufacturer and tech giant has returned to take center stage in the latest Christmas Special, Joy to the World.

Villengard wasn’t originally planned to be such a big deal. Moffat himself admitted in the latest issue of the Doctor Who Magazine, ‘It was just a throwaway line about bananas.’ The Ninth Doctor casually mentioned that he’d already destroyed Villengard, suggesting it was a long-closed chapter.

Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor revisited the ruins briefly in ‘Twice Upon a Time,’ and the corporation also popped up in Boom with its shady medical schemes. But over time,...

One huge Doctor Who fan theory about the Master has been validated by a recent Doctor Who release. This theory constitutes a bit of a retcon to previous Doctor Who episodes, confirming that a popular fan theory about what was really going on is actually true. This newly proven theory makes the Doctor's long-standing relationship with the dastardly Master even more impressive. Going into Doctor Who season 15, this will be interesting, as the Master returns in a 2025 audiobook story that will sit nicely alongside the season's episodes.

The Master has been at loggerheads with the Doctor since he was originally portrayed by Roger Delgado in the 1970s. First appearing in 1971's "Terror of the Autons," the Master clashed with Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor, who was in the role between 1970 and 1974. This villain has caused the Doctor the most regenerations out of all the series' villains, by far. The success...

Quick Links A Simple Piece of Music Ignited a Wealth of Speculation The Classic Serial Added a Plethora of Modern Touches This Remastered Classic Foreshadows the Future of Doctor Who

While a lot of fans are probably more accustomed to the modern era of Doctor Who, there are a plethora of classic episodes that still stand the test of time. Though they may be hard to find and sometimes difficult to understand, a lot of fans still see them as a valid resource for learning more about the show's detailed canon. Plus, the grainy footage and low-budget props give them a charm that the more modern episodes just can't match up to.

As part of its festive programming schedule, BBC Four released a remastered version of "The War Games," a serial first released in 1969. At first glance, this episode may just seem like a space-age compilation of the world's most famous wars.

Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson addresses how editing decisions in the colorization of Patrick Troughton's final Second Doctor story "The Wars Games" may have established a new incarnation of rival Time Lord The Master. Created by Terrence Dicks and Barry Letts for Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor's era, the rogue villain Time Lord was first portrayed by Anthony Delgado in 1971's "Terror of The Autons". Concluding Troughton's Doctor Who tenure, 1969's "The War Games" saw the Tardis materialize on a mysterious world, where alien masterminds have abducted human soldiers from throughout human history to create a perfect army.

Following the release of "The War Games" colorization, Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson tells Doctor Who Magazine (via RadioTimes) how the use of The Master's musical motif from the revived series implies that the War Chief (Edward Brayshaw) is an earlier incarnation of the Master. For Collinson personally, he reveals that...

The Master may not have been part of Doctor Who from the beginning, but portents of their arrival were present as early as the First Doctor's era. Blessed with many great monsters Doctor Who may be, but few of them can hold a candle to the Master. As an evil Time Lord and the Doctor's personal rival, the Master is arguably - Daleks be damned - Doctor Who's defining nemesis. In official terms, the Master, played by Roger Delgado, first appeared in 1971's "Terror of the Autons," facing off against Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor.

It is remarkable in hindsight how fully-formed the Master was during his debut episode. From the smarmy arrogance to his barely-concealed envy of the Doctor, Delgado immediately laid the foundations of a character that has since been portrayed by a number of different actors. From Anthony Ainley to Sacha Dhawan, all actors to play the...

Despite rumors swirling for decades about a female Doctor happening in Doctor Who, the BBC avoided it until Jodie Whittaker's run as the Thirteenth Doctor. As the first female Doctor, Whittaker was failed by showrunner Chris Chibnall, whose controversial "Timeless Child" storyline drastically changed Doctor Who canon. Still, as the first woman to play the Doctor, Whittaker herself was praised for her fun, fresh take on the Doctor, her warm, lively personality bubbling through as one of the most empowering female TV characters of the decade. So to say the first run of a female Doctor was a mixed bag would be accurate.

That's not to say Doctor Who hasn't come close to a female regeneration - it has, a few times. But it never panned out, for various reasons, though arguably the real reason has never been given publicly. For a show that's as long-running as Doctor Who,...

A new teaser trailer has been released for Season 2 of the new Doctor Who with Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor. In his next season, Gatwa's Doctor will be joined by a new companion, as has previously been reported.

The first teaser, shared by Disney+ on Christmas, introduces Varada Sethu as the new companion for the Doctor. A brief scene in the teaser sees her shouting to the Doctor, "You need to get me home!" Notably, while a new companion is coming into the fray, Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday is sticking around, as she also makes an appearance in the video. This debunks the rumors that Gibson was being completely replaced by Sethu. The new season will drop in 2025, but for now, fans can check out the new trailer below.

Related The 20 Best Doctor Who Quotes From The Tenth Doctor

The Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant, is widely...

The Doctor Who season 15 trailer brings back Skaro at the height of its power, promising to show the Daleks at their most dangerous. Ncuti Gatwa is set to return in Doctor Who season 15, now accompanied by newcomer Varada Sethu as his new companion. The trailer promises a lot of thrills and excitement, as the Doctor tries to take his companion home - "the long way round," a very familiar line from the 50th anniversary.

As exciting as that may be, though, the trailer promises something even better. There's a glimpse of a golden city, one with domed spires reaching to the heavens, and spaceships shaped like flying saucers. The design will be very familiar to anyone who's familiar with the TV Century 21 "Daleks" comic strips - this is Skaro, the homeworld of the Daleks.

We've Never Seen Skaro Like This In Doctor Who Before This Is Skaro At The Height...

Doctor Who has completely rewritten the Second Doctor’s regeneration, in the most incredible way. The official launch of the “Whoniverse” was accompanied by an edited, recolorized version of “The Daleks,” a classic William Hartnell story. This time round, it was the turn of the 1969 epic “The War Games,” the final story of Second Doctor Patrick Troughton.

The colorization is absolutely incredible. The edit is a little more debatable; “The War Games” was originally ten episodes long, so a 90-minute cut was always going to be difficult. Still, the most remarkable thing of all is the regeneration - one enforced by the Time Lords. This version has been edited smartly, making it something completely new.

Modern Doctor Who Is Woven Into The Regeneration The scream I let out during Doctor Who: The War Games pic.twitter.com/KEEdU7xLwr— Lucy Crewe 🎬😻✨ (@CreativeCatFX) December 23, 2024

The regeneration sequence begins...

Doctor Who has basically just confirmed one of the franchise's oldest, most popular fan theories. First played by the late Roger Delgado, the Master is one of the Doctor's most terrifying foes. He's the Moriarty to the Doctor's Sherlock Holmes, driven by his ego to prove himself the Doctor's match and to conquer the universe.

The Master first appeared in the 1971 story "Terror of the Autons." Viewers soon learned the Doctor and the Master had studied together at the Time Lord Academy, but there were hints that they'd clashed after they both left Gallifrey, in unseen adventures where they'd gone head-to-head before. All this led to a popular fan theory that the Master was in fact the War Chief, another Renegade Time Lord who made his debut two years earlier. Now, it looks as though that theory has been proven true.

The War Chief Has Always Seemed To Basically Be...

In 1969, Patrick Troughton’s Second Doctor regenerated in an epic, 10-part Doctor Who story entitled “The War Games.” Originally recorded and broadcast in black-and-white, this over-four-hour-long story will soon be reimagined, 55 years after its first broadcast. After the success of 2023’s Doctor Who: “The Daleks in Color” comes “The War Games in Color.” The ten 25-minute episodes have been cut down to just a single 90-minute feature, with the story itself painstakingly restored and brought into full color from its original black-and-white sources.

“The War Games” was an important narrative within Doctor Who — it was the final serial broadcast in the 1960s, the last to be made in black-and-white, and the final story for Patrick Troughton’s Doctor, as well as his companions, Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury). With a vast array of locations and characters, the plot follows the Doctor and his companions as they battle the Doctor’s people,...

It's not uncommon for TV shows to take huge risks to keep up with the demands and requirements of the ever-changing landscape of television. When a series throws in a character change, plot twist, or unexpected shift in the formula, it can sometimes throw the entire project off balance. However, when executed correctly, these big swings can pay off enormously and serve to cement the show as a classic. While plenty of formulaic shows are popular and high quality, the pieces of TV that will be remembered for years to come are those that weren't afraid to stand out.

While some of these TV shows shocked viewers with great plot twists many times over, there are other ways for series to branch out other than story choices. A common risk that producers and studios are often hesitant to green-light is budget increases or any type of plot point that would alienate or upset audiences.

Doctor Who is a sci-fi series unlike any other, with a protagonist who not only travels through time and space, but who also regularly changes their face. To date, there have been 15 different Doctors leading the show, alongside a handful of others who have only appeared in supporting roles or flashbacks to the Doctor's forgotten past. Of course, any character who travels through time long enough is sure to eventually run into themselves, and a character who changes their appearance while could meet one of their past selves. The Doctor has run into their own past incarnations several times throughout Doctor Who history.

The tradition of multi-Doctor stories, which see multiple incarnations of the Doctor teaming up, began in 1973 with "The Three Doctors," as a way of marking the series' 10th anniversary. Since then, major anniversaries for Doctor Who have often featured appearances from multiple Doctors. A few other multi-Doctor...

The lost Doctor Who story The Savages, first aired in 1966 and starring William Hartnell, will be animated for release in 2025.

We’re edging ever closer to a time where we’ll be able to watch every missing Doctor Who story in animated form. The most recent release was 1966 story The Celestial Toymaker, which broke the mould by using a surrealist, 3D animated style befitting the Toymaker’s aesthetic.

The BBC’s sticking with the William Hartnell era for its next animated reconstruction, as the corporation has confirmed that the 1966 story The Savages will be the next episode to be animated.

The official description reads as follows:

In The Savages, the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his travelling companions, Steven (Peter Purves) and Dodo (Jackie Lane), arrive on an unnamed planet where they encounter two distinct people – the Elders and the Savages. They soon discover the Elders are the evil, draining the...

Christmas specials are normally a time for TV shows to spread some holiday cheer, although some festive episodes have leaned into the darkest sides of the season. While beloved classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas have become annual viewing for families around the world, other viewers would much rather watch a Christmas special that doesn’t shy away from the challenges of the holidays. While it can sometimes be jarring to watch a particularly dark Christmas special, it’s also important that TV shows don’t lose their individuality just because Christmas is considered a time of joy and togetherness.

Many of the greatest Christmas specials of all time address dark subject matters and aren’t afraid to tackle terrifying themes or produce stories of sad sentimentality. While hopeful holiday specials have their merit, there’s something enjoyable about a Christmas special that pushes back against the conventions of the...

Time travel, a Bridgerton star, and two Ncuti Gatwas. These are just a few of the fun elements featured in the all-new trailer for the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special.

Titled "Joy to the World," the special is set to debut on Dec. 25 — Christmas Day — at 9:10 a.m. Pst (12:10 p.m. Est) on Disney+. The special is set in what's called the Time Hotel, a place where customers are able to visit particular points in history. With her role as the titular Joy, Nicola Coughlan of Bridgerton fame is also playing a big part in the story, as seen in the trailer. Fans can watch the video below.

Related Doctor Who's Best Season Finale Is Not the One Fans Celebrate the Most

Doctor Who has been back on TV for almost 20 years, but one early finale still stands out as the modern series' crowning achievement.

The synopsis...

Stars: Devin Stanfield, Patrick Troughton, Robert Stephens, Geoffrey Larder | Written by Alan Seymour | Directed by Renny Rye

When the BBC aired The Box of Delights in December 1984, it captured the imagination of a generation and cemented its place in British Christmas television tradition. Adapted from John Masefield’s 1935 fantasy novel, the series, with its six half-hour episodes, became a benchmark for festive storytelling. Nearly four decades later, it continues to resonate as a cultural touchstone for its rich blend of nostalgia, whimsy, and quintessentially British charm.

Set in the idyllic English countryside during the Christmas season, The Box of Delights follows young Kay Harker as he becomes the custodian of a magical box, pursued by the sinister Abner Brown and his gang. The story weaves elements of fantasy, suspense, and adventure with a heartwarming holiday backdrop. Through the box’s powers, Kay is transported to distant worlds and moments in time,...

The War Games, Patrick Troughton’s swansong as The Doctor, has had a re-edit. The vintage Doctor Who favourite is heading to iPlayer.

One of the most intriguing projects to emerge from Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary celebrations last year was the colourisation of the second ever serial The Daleks, which was re-edited down from six episodes to a 75 minute feature. The show split opinion amongst hardcore fans, but the general consensus seemed to be anything that encourages new and younger viewers to engage with classic Doctor Who should be encouraged.

Here we are at the 61st anniversary, and the BBC has announced that The War Games has been given the same treatment.

Patrick Troughton’s swansong runs to a whopping ten episodes at a total length of 250 minutes, written by Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks.

The new colourisation has edited the story down to a tight 90 minute feature. The...

A classic Doctor Who serial has been updated for a new era. Prior to 1978, the BBC did not concern itself with maintaining archives of its shows, which meant that many First (William Hartnell) and Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) episodes were missing. Others, still, have poor audio quality and dated special effects. The surviving episodes from these early seasons are also all black-and-white, which can make it difficult to perceive the nuances of the actors' performances. The BBC previously colorized the 75-minute First Doctor serial, "The Daleks", but no other episodes have received that treatment.

Decades after its release, the BBC has announced that the Second Doctor will be receiving a remaster of his own. The updated serial will feature full colorization, recovered footage that has not been seen since 1969, and updated audio. That means a new soundtrack, improved sounds, and better visual effects. The episodes will be released as a 90-minute special on December 23rd.

Unlike many other sci-fi shows, Doctor Who doesn't really focus on violence. This may be because of the show's mostly young demographic or the fact that The Doctor is the ultimate pacifist. Regardless, it's evident that The Doctor would rather use his words rather than his fists to solve a crisis.

That being said, the show does indulge in the occasional fight scene to help ramp up the tension even more. Though The Doctor doesn't use guns, he is known for using the art of sword fighting and often has a water pistol hiding somewhere in his jacket. Thus, it seems that modern-era Doctor Who isn't afraid to show a more passionate and unrefined side to the world's greatest time traveler.

The Doctor Forms an Alliance With Robin Hood Season 8, Episode 3, "Robot of Sherwood"

After The Doctor allows Clara to pick their next destination, the pair come face-to-face with the famous Robin Hood.

Doctor Who said goodbye to David Tennant for the first time in 2009 when the Tenth Doctor regenerated, but his iconic departure stands apart from that of his predecessors in a way that the show never openly acknowledges. Of all the actors to play the Doctor, Tennant's Tenth arguably experienced the most drawn-out version of the regeneration process. While preparing to change his face, he managed to hold off the ordeal long enough to visit all his old friends one last time. However, there's another reason beyond Ten's emotional farewell tour that makes his regeneration so unique.

Every Doctor Who regeneration sequence comes with consequences, but the main one is that the long-running sci-fi show's lead actor is replaced. The phenomenon has contributed massively to the franchise's 60-year history, as no single actor is required for the story to continue. That being said, there was a time when the Doctor's...

Over the years, there have been several Doctor Who stories that feature more than one version of the Doctor. Many of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time focused on the titular character crossing paths with themselves. However, some of these episodes or serials werent primarily concentrated on more than one Doctor together.

Some of these multi-Doctor stories only saw the Doctors overlap for a few scenes or even a brief moment, whereas others consumed the entire plot. While many of Doctor Whos best companions also appeared, the main focus was that there were one or more incarnations of the Doctor.

The Three Doctors Featuring: The First, Second, & Third Doctors

The Three Doctors was the very first multi-Doctor story in Doctor Who. This serial marked the tenth anniversary of the show, in which the Third Doctors exile to Earth finally came to an end, and he crossed paths with his first two incarnations.

Doctor Who is well-known for its celebratory multi-Doctor stories, but 1985's "The Two Doctors" shows just how not to do this kind of adventure. Most Doctor Who multi-Doctor stories come in anniversary years, a pattern set by 1973's "The Three Doctors" and still followed by the 2005 relaunch. Russell T. Davies went even further with Doctor Who's 60th anniversary, literally bringing back David Tennant as the main Doctor.

1985's "The Two Doctors," which aired during Colin Baker's tenure as the Sixth Doctor, is something of an anomaly. Producer John Nathan-Turner was keen to do another multi-Doctor story after the success of "The Five Doctors," but writer Robert Holmes produced one of the strangest scripts he ever penned for the classic series. A location shoot in Seville, Spain, turned into such a catastrophe that Doctor Who wouldn't film overseas again for decades. But, ultimately, the problems with "The Two Doctors...

Doctor Who's extensive legacy has seen many actors tackle the role of the Doctor, with incredible dialogue to punctuate every new Doctor's time on the Tardis. While the show had humble beginnings in 1963 as a brand-new sci-fi series from the BBC, no one involved at that moment could have predicted how far the time traveling show would extend into the future. Over time, it became essential family viewing for many people throughout the UK, before the general enthusiasm for the show appeared to die down in the late 1980s.

However, because of the influence the show had for more than two decades, there were plenty of lifelong fans who were keen to see it continue. Despite a failed reboot attempt in 1996, another effort was made in 2005 to bring the show back to its former glory. Thanks to the talents of incredible showrunners, and especially the actors who played the Doctor,...

Much-loved BBC drama The Box Of Delights is making its Blu-ray debut for its 40th anniversary. More on the release here.

Fully appreciating that some (younger) people will read this post and have no idea what it’s actually about, The Box Of Delights was a much-loved festive children’s television drama that first aired in 1984.

Based on the book by John Masefield, the BBC adapted it into a six-parter, that it ran in the run-up to Christmas. From its festive theme tune, to Patrick Troughton in a fine beard, wolves running and a wonderfully 1980s visual effects, the programme quickly became hugely popular. So much so that a relatively successful DVD release popped up too.

It’s not been in great shape though in terms of its presentation for some time now. Hence, the really rather excellent news that for its 40th anniversary, the BBC has remastered The Box Of Delights...

The second actor to lead Doctor Who is behind one of the show's silliest tropes, although the gag itself is often wrongly attributed to another Doctor. While every actor to play the Doctor has put their own spin on the character, the fact remains they're all embodying the same persona. As such, there are quite a lot of traits that cross over between Doctors as well as differences that emerge. Earlier Doctors, like Patrick Troughton's Second, helped build a solid foundation on which his successors could stand - even if he isn't correctly credited for all his contributions to the character.

Troughton played the Doctor in some of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time. His version of the Time Lord was known for being much more lighthearted than his predecessor, as well as his signature unkempt appearance. One of the harsh realities of Doctor Who's classic...

Star Trek and Doctor Who have deep-rooted connections dating back to the 1960s, sharing themes of hope and optimism for the future. Episodes like "Frontier in Space" and "The Aztecs" showcase the parallels between Doctor Who and Star Trek's storytelling and moral dilemmas. Modern Doctor Who episodes like "Dot and Bubble" and "Flux" offer a fresh take on sci-fi themes and are perfect for Star Trek fans looking for new adventures.

With a mobile game crossover and a joint panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Star Trek fans intrigued by Doctor Who may need a handy episode guide to get them started. Although Star Trek and Doctor Who's links have become more pronounced in recent months, the connections between two of the most beloved TV sci-fi franchises actually go back decades. Star Trek: The Original Series debuted on UK screens on July, 12, 1969, in the exact same Saturday evening slot...

David Tennant played the Tenth and Fourteenth Doctors in Doctor Who, with his return for the 60th anniversary specials. Sylvester McCoy briefly played the Sixth Doctor in the regeneration scene for Colin Baker's character. Colin Baker didn't film his own regeneration scene due to a disagreement with the BBC over his return to the show.

David Tennant played two different Doctors in Doctor Who, but he wasn't the only one to do so. The first time Tennant was in the series was as the Tenth Doctor from 2005 to 2010. However, Tennant returned briefly in 2023 to play the Fourteenth Doctor for the 60th anniversary specials. During Tennant's lengthy original tenure, he was incredibly popular with critics and fans, and many lauded his fun and vibrant portrayal.

While, according to writer and producer Russell T Davies, there are no plans in the foreseeable future for Tennant to return to Doctor Who, the...

The First Omen reimagines Damien's origins, introducing Margaret as the mother of the Antichrist and breaking away from the original jackal myth. Filmmaker Arkasha Stevenson's new entry into The Omen franchise honors the past while expanding the mythology with a unique story. The eerie tale of Margaret and Damien's birth in The First Omen sets the stage for potential sequels exploring the consequences of their lineage.

Towards the end of Richard Donner's 1976 horror classic The Omen, Robert Thorn discovers that his son Damien is the Antichrist, born from the body of a jackal rather than a woman. This information about Damien's mother was considered canon for the next four decades; however, the franchise's newest film, The First Omen, dares to ask: What if Damien's mother wasn't a four-legged beast but a human being instead?

The First Omen is the eerie tale of a woman named Margaret, haunted by...

Rose Noble's return to Doctor Who as a member of Unit raises questions about her role and connection to Donna and the Fourteenth Doctor. Former companions like Mel Bush and Donna have joined Unit, suggesting a shift in recruitment tactics from the classic series to the modern. Rose's limited involvement in Season 14, Episode 7 highlights her friendship with Ruby and hints at potential future storylines for her character.

Doctor Who's Rose Noble (Yasmin Finney) returned for the penultimate episode of season 14, but it's unclear why she is working for Unit. Doctor Who's Unit organization has been a semi-regular part of the series since the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) first met the man who would become Brigadier Alastair Lethbridge-Stewart, and was especially important during the Third Doctor's (Jon Pertwee) run. Unit is currently run by the Brigadier's daughter, Kate (Jemma Redgrave), and the Doctor visited the headquarters because he needed help identifying a mysterious woman,...

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies explains how the Doctor has forbidden Unit from time travel experiments. Unit's latest time travel innovation sheds light on previously unexplored historical research. The Time Window chamber offers a unique way to look into the past without physically traveling through time.

Russell T Davies explains how Unit's latest attempt at crafting their form of time travel via the Time Window fits into the organization's long-running Doctor Who history. Debuting during the Second Doctor's (Patrick Troughton) era, Unit has safeguarded the Earth from extraterrestrial threat since 1958 and is currently headed by Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) from their London skyscraper HQ. After a brief appearance in "73 Yards'" alternate timeline, the organization returned in "The Legend of Ruby Sunday" as Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday use the Time Window to glimpse at the night of Ruby's abandonment.

Recently, Davies broke...

Ncuti Gatwa debuts as the first Black Doctor in Doctor Who, shaking up the show's iconic time traveler role with a fresh and modern twist. Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor is the result of a bi-generation, breaking the traditional regeneration process and introducing a unique new era for the character. With a fabulously fashionable and magically musical portrayal, Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor brings a strikingly modern and enigmatic presence to the long-running sci-fi series.

Doctor Who has remained a staple of British sci-fi TV for six decades, and examining its rotating cast of charismatic Doctor Who doctors in order reveals exactly why. After the likes of Tom Baker, David Tennant, Jon Pertwee, Matt Smith, and many others made the role iconic, Sex Education's Ncuti Gatwa has stepped into the role as the Fourteenth Doctor in Doctor Who season 14 and beyond. Starring as the new Doctor after David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor regenerated, Gatwa is...

Quick Links Who Are the Doctor's Many Faces in 'Rogue'? The Shalka Doctor's Doctor Who Debut Does the Shalka Doctor Exist Due to the Timeless Child and Bigeneration?

The following contains spoilers for Doctor Who, Season 1, Episode 6, "Rogue," now streaming on Disney+ and BBC iPlayer.

Doctor Who Season 1's sixth episode, "Rogue," sees Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor meet his match in more ways than one when he finds himself face to face with the time-traveling bounty hunter known only as Rogue (Jonathan Groff). While trying to track down a shape-shifting alien menace called a Chuldur, Rogue instead finds the Doctor, initially assuming he is the alien he's looking for. As the Doctor persuades Rogue he is not a Chuldur, the two embark on an adventure that takes them from enemies to allies to something more. The episode marks a major milestone for Doctor Who, featuring the Doctor's...