Doctor Who’s William Hartnell in rare photos from first ever episodes

As I delve into the captivating world of Doctor Who, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration for the pioneers who brought this timeless series to life. The first ever episode, An Unearthly Child, starring the iconic William Hartnell, marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that has spanned over six decades and continues to enthrall audiences worldwide.


On this special occasion known as Doctor Who Day, let’s take a fresh look at the series’ debut episodes using seldom-seen images from our unique archives at TopMob.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but reminisce about the historic debut of Doctor Who on November 23, 1963. The first episode, titled “An Unearthly Child – Part One,” introduced us to the timeless character of the Doctor, portrayed by the talented William Hartnell. Accompanying him were Barbara Wright, played by Jacqueline Hill, and Ian Chesterton, brilliantly brought to life by William Russell. Not forgetting the remarkable Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman, who was also along for this extraordinary journey.

Here you’ll find the initial episodes of Doctor Who from the TopMob collection, where the legendary cast was skillfully photographed by Don Smith, a talented photographer at RT, in 1963.

Other tidbits include the floor plan of the set of An Unearthly Child.

The initial Doctor Who tale, unfortunately inaccessible on BBC iPlayer because of rights complications, featured the Doctor and his companions being captured by a tribe living within caves, who were eagerly trying to unearth the long-lost secret behind igniting fire.

61 years ago, it embarked on a journey through space and time that continues today, and its role as The Doctor has served as a trailblazer for all subsequent actors in this iconic position.

He held a special place in my heart. To me, he was an incredibly kind individual and a joy to collaborate with. His unique humor was both entertaining for those who enjoyed it and perhaps a bit unexpected for others.

She added: “Bill used to say in the very beginning that it could go on forever. Because there’s no reason for it not to, because the Doctors can regenerate again and again and again, and they can go anywhere and do anything so it wouldn’t get stale.

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2024-11-23 12:05