Plot

An actor tapped by a succession of hard-man roles and a wannabe producer frustrated by the TV industry's glass ceiling find unlikely hope and unexpected challenges in the form of a Saturday tea-time drama, time travel and monsters.

In 1963 Sydney Newman, progressive head of BBC TV's drama department, wants to fill a Saturday tea-time slot with a show with youth appeal and hits on the idea of an august figure, like a doctor, leading a group of companions on time travel adventures. He engages inexperienced young producer Verity Lambert to expand the idea. Fighting sexist and racial bigotry Verity and young Indian director Waris Hussein persuade crusty character actor William Hartnell to play the doctor figure and, despite technical hiccups and competition with coverage of the Kennedy assassination, the first episode of 'Doctor Who (1963)' is born. As the show becomes a success Hartnell displays an obsession with his character but, after three years, ill health catches up with him and he starts to forget lines. Newman tells him that Doctor Who will 'regenerate' and he will be replaced by younger actor Patrick Troughton. Though attached to the part and reluctant to give it up Hartnell wishes every success to Troughton, the first of several actors to play a part which will endure for years to come.—don @ minifie-1

In 1966, William Hartnell lingers outside in his car, lost in thought while staring at a Police Box. A policeman stops and asks if he is alright. In the studio, he delays putting on his costume and wig, before eventually making his way to the set, and taking in the feel of the TARDIS console.

In 1963, Canadian television producer and industry maverick Sydney Newman arrives at his post at the BBC offices in London. During a meeting, they discuss the need for a new show to bridge the gap between two Saturday evening programmes, and Sydney has his mind made up to introduce a science fiction show for children and families into the slot, against the advice of his peers. He contacts the young Verity Lambert, who worked with him as an assistant on one of his previous projects. He sells her his idea of "Dr. Who", a show about two teachers and a student that go on adventures, traveling through time and space with and older character, a doctor. Sydney wants the show to be fun and educational, but still be taken seriously, without cheap robots and what he describes as B.E.M.s (Bug Eyed Monsters). Verity is reluctant to stay stuck as an assistant again, but Sydney informs her she is to be the show's producer, the first female ever to hold the position at the BBC. Verity is taken aback, and accepts the position.

She arrives soon after for her first day of pre-production, having to strong arm her way around the temporary producer, Rex Tucker, who refuses to take her seriously, and attempts to sideline the young woman. Verity is assuaged by Mervyn Pinfield, an associate producer and technical aficionado whom Sydney has assigned to assist her for the time being. Mervyn convinces Verity to try and work with the experienced men at the BBC, and earn their respect in turn. Meanwhile, middle aged actor William Hartnell complains to his wife, Heather, about his continual typecasting as gruff, military type characters, insisting he can handle more serious work. Later, the BBC calls his house and asks to meet with him about Doctor Who. Bill is worried it might be just another throw away part, but Heather convinces him to hear what they have to say. Verity meets the director she will be working with, Waris Hussien, who is flustered at the lack of finished scripts, the low quality of the ones that are finished, and the revelation that the BBC have assigned the production of the show to the smallest, most primitive studio available. Verity's charm wins him over though, and they resolve to find a way to make it work. That evening, Verity helps Waris order a drink from a casually racist barman, and they discuss the precarious position they both find themselves in as the first woman producer and the first Indian director the company has ever had. Despite the gossip and rumors, especially regarding Verity's appointment, they agree to stick together and prove the naysayers wrong.

Verity and Waris meet with William, trying over dinner to convince him to take the part of Dr. Who. They describe the role as stern, but with a playful twinkle that will win the hearts of their audience. Bill is skeptical, but they persuade him to give it a shot. Meanwhile, a ragtag group of artists compose the theme song, pioneer new visual and sound effects, and start to piece the show together. William tells his young granddaughter about the part he's just taken, and is pleased with how enraptured she becomes at the description. With the cast assembled, including William Russell as Ian, Verity's friend Jacqueline Hill as Barbara, and Carole Ann Ford as the Doctor's granddaughter Susan, the company begin rehearsals in the cramped studio. Bill struggles to get a grip on the techno babble of the script without the set of the Doctor's ship, the TARDIS, the construction of which has yet to begin due to a disinterested designer continually brushing of Verity. Aside from that, the character of the Doctor is grouchy, mean, and even cruel, without the sparkle he was promised. Verity and Waris are unsure of how to reassure Bill, but are saved by Sydney visiting the studio and placating the aging actor with praise of his previous work. As the others return to rehearsals, Sydney tells Verity to step up, or admit she is in over her head. Verity goes to the designer and forces him to get started on the set design for the TARDIS. Exasperated, he throws together a simple, but striking diorama for the time and space machine. Verity is pleased, and the set is finally built in time for the first day of shooting. Waris deals with problem after problem in the fledgling production, including a hot set, old camera and editing equipment, Bill occasionally flubbing his lines, a malfunctioning set, and strict union rules tightening shoot time. Eventually, the day ends with the sprinkler system being triggered by the extreme heat, leaving the young director burnt out.

Verity and Waris watch the finished pilot with Sydney, who is very disappointed with their work. He keeps his temper, and gives them notes on how to proceed, telling them to take away unnecessary exposition for the sake of mystery, and in particular, instructs them to soften the character of the Doctor. In a revolutionary and expensive move, Sydney orders the pair to completely redo the first episode from the ground up. He also tells them to change the opening title sequence to something less startling, but Verity refuses, telling him not to underestimate the interest of children, so Newman allows it to stay. Bill confides in Verity that he is unsure he can even play the Doctor the way he should be played, or keep up with the demanding shooting schedule. This time Verity is able to sincerely assure him, asking him to put more of himself into the role. He agrees to stay on, and they reshoot the opening episode. Verity and Waris show Sydney the completed story, with a promising cliff hanger, and Newman approves it for transmission. Lambert and Hussein are relieved, and Sydney asks them what they have up next for filming. The only other script is one from writer Terry Nation, though Sydney is upset that the story includes "robots". Verity promises it will be more than simple pop fiction, and he tells her to go ahead and send him the script. The day before the first episode is set to air, President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, to the shock of the world. The next night, the first episode of Doctor Who airs, but most of the country is busy watching news reports on the murder. A BBC executive comes to see Sydney and tells him that Verity has gone over budget, and is under qualified for the job. The studio is unhappy with the lukewarm reception to the first episode, and what they see as "silly robots" in the next, and orders Newman to shut down the production. He calls Verity to his office, and gives her the news. She defends the show, but Sydney himself is unimpressed by the cave man setting of the first story, and is formally against the idea of the Daleks in the unfilmed script. Verity stands by the quality of the writing, passionately explaining the plot and the potential the show still has. Sydney decides to give her one last shot to make the show a success, and agrees to pull some strings to keep it on the air, but warns her that her job is on the line. Verity demands the first episode be rerun before the second is shown, saying the show deserves a fair chance without the newsreels interfering. Her request is met, and they begin filming on the second story. The Daleks are wheeled onto set for the first time, the imposing monsters making a distinct impression when combined with the effects and script. Mervyn notes that they are surprisingly creepy on screen. The Dalek episodes air, and are an instant hit with audiences, including Bill's Granddaughter. Verity takes the bus to work and sees several kids playacting as the alien creatures, and is called in to see Newman upon arrival. He tells her that the episodes have brought in a remarkably large viewership, admitting he was wrong. Verity tells Waris, and the pair celebrate.

The next year, production on Doctor Who is in full swing, with the show a huge success. As they make episode after episode, Bill becomes closer with the crew and his co-stars, especially Carole. Eventually, Waris is offered a new job, and the cast and crew throw a party to say goodbye to their director. He and Verity thank eachother for their partnership, and the young man moves on. Doctor Who becomes more and more popular, with merchandise and expanded media being produced. Bill falls in love with the role of the Doctor, and enjoys the adulation it has earned him. In the park one day, Heather reads him fan mail sent in by dozens of children to "The Doctor", and he is approached by a young boy asking for his autograph, only for Bill and Heather to realize they are being watched by an entire school group. Bill leads them on an imaginary adventure before sending them back to their impressed teachers. Doctor Who earns enough to film on location in London, a huge achievement for their 'kiddie show'. During that story, Carole decides to leave the show, to Bill's disappointment. She is written out, and Bill, as the Doctor, delivers a heartfelt farewell speech. He seems to zone out after this, mistaking the director's name and calling him "Waris" absentmindedly. Jacqueline tells William that Bill has been making many such mistakes lately.

Another year on, and Doctor Who is still going strong, with a new cast member and a near-continuous streak of filming. The grueling schedule starts to take a toll on Bill's health, and he struggles to learn his lines. Heather tells him it might be time to consider leaving the role, but Bill refuses to let down everyone else who works on the show by quitting. Heather eventually goes to see Verity without Bill knowing, and informs her that Bill has contracted Arterial Sclerosis, a condition that will deteriorate over time if he isn't given a break. Verity promises to do what she can, but tells Heather that she is leaving the role of producer. Bill has an extremely hard time on set with his lines as of late, and Verity does her best to accommodate her friend and lighten the load on him. Later, at her farewell party, Sydney and the crew toast Verity and her unprecedented success, and wish her well. Bill slips away, and Verity goes to find him, alone on the TARDIS set. She thanks him for everything he's done, telling him his work has opened up innumerable opportunities for her. He expresses his regret that things always have to change, wishing they could go on as they are forever. They share a tender farewell, and she goes back to the party. The show continues the march of filming, with Bill now the only original cast member left, and with an inflated sense of importance amongst all the new faces around him. After having to show a crew member how to operate the mechanism inside the control console, Bill becomes confused by the absence of the people he's used to working with, and dazed by the heavy lights in the studio. He walks off set in the middle of filming.

As the year reaches 1966, Sydney has received countless internal memos from the studio reporting on difficulties working with Bill. Aside from that, Mervyn informs him that the aging actor is almost entirely unable to learn and deliver his lines anymore. Sydney is crushed that things have become so unmanageable, and Mervyn assumes that the show is finished, as Doctor Who can't continue without it's starring man. However, Sydney gets an idea. After hearing his granddaughter talk about her love for Doctor Who, and how much it means to her and her friends, Bill asks for a meeting with Newman, who gladly accepts. Bill tells him that he is fully committed to the part, and wants the show to go on, but he cannot keep up with the schedule, asking for more time off and lighter lines. Sydney listens patiently, and agrees that things cannot keep going as they are. But they already have a plan for Doctor Who to continue and thrive, without him. Bill is shocked, but takes the news with grace, and asks who they have in mind to replace him. He quietly approves of their choice; Patrick Troughton. Bill heads home but stops on the way, staring at a Police Box on the side of the road. The policeman inside comes to ask if he is alright, and excitedly recognizes him as "Dr. Who". Bill gets home, and informs his wife of the news. She is grateful he will be able to rest, and he tries to keep a brave face about it, but Bill soon breaks down, admitting he isn't ready to let go of the role that has meant so much to him.

Bill stands on the TARDIS set, ready to film his last shot. Patrick Troughton is there, and confesses to his predecessor that he is terrified of the responsibility that comes with becoming the Doctor. Bill assures him he will be magnificent, and starts up the console. As the cameras roll, Bill sees a vision of the future, of the latest actor to take up the mantle of the now legendary hero. Content that the show's legacy is secure, Bill performs his last scene.