Sixty-two years ago today, a truly memorable and pivotal Doctor Who story first aired, fundamentally altering the course of the show. Doctor Who originally debuted on November 23, 1963, and after a 16-year hiatus between 1989 and 2005, it continues to captivate audiences. Now the longest-running science fiction series in television history, it’s widely considered one of Britain’s most popular and cherished TV programs, though its early beginnings could have looked very different.
The very first episode of Doctor Who, titled “An Unearthly Child,” featured the First Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions – his granddaughter Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford) and her teachers, Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) – encountering a tribe from the Stone Age. This initial story showed the show’s original goal: to teach children about history. But just one week later, on December 21, 1963, the second episode transported viewers to an alien planet and introduced the Daleks, completely changing the direction of Doctor Who.
How “The Daleks” Changed Doctor Who Forever
Originally broadcast between December 21, 1963, and February 1, 1964, the seven-part serial “The Daleks” recently celebrated its 62nd anniversary. Doctor Who was initially created as a family-friendly show that used time travel to educate viewers about history, and many episodes featuring the First Doctor focused on real historical events like the Aztecs, Marco Polo, the French Revolution, and the Roman Empire. However, “The Daleks” significantly changed this approach by introducing a completely fictional alien setting for the Doctor and his companions.
The introduction of the Daleks proved that Doctor Who could successfully combine educational historical adventures with exciting science fiction stories. This blend of past and future ensured the show’s longevity – it likely wouldn’t have survived if it had focused solely on history. Early alien creatures like the Daleks, Sensorites, Menoptra, and even the Time Lords laid the groundwork for the show’s massive expansion and enduring popularity.
Since first appearing in 1963, the Daleks have become Doctor Who’s most enduring and common enemies. Along with their creator, Davros, they’ve repeatedly challenged the Doctor, even battling all of the Time Lords during the Last Great Time War, solidifying their place as the Doctor’s most famous and frightening adversaries. This all began with Terry Nation’s work on the early Doctor Who story, “The Daleks,” which dramatically changed the show’s direction and ensured its future.
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2025-12-21 20:40