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Doctor Who is a [[BBC]] science fiction television programme originally created in 1963. It centres around a character named the Doctor, who travels around the universe in a [[time machine]] called the TARDIS ("Time and Relative Dimensions in Space"), which resembles a 1940s British Police phone box, but is considerably larger on the inside than it is on the outside.

Doctor Who is a [[BBC]] science fiction television programme originally created in 1963. It centres around a character named the Doctor, who travels around the universe in a [[time machine]] called the TARDIS ("Time and Relative Dimensions in Space"), which resembles a 1940s British Police phone box, but is considerably larger on the inside than it is on the outside.

The programme ran for twenty-six seasons between 1963 and 1989, at which point it was cancelled indefinitely. Various forms of the series continued after the cancellation, with popular series of novels published by Target and then BBC Books, along with audio serials and re-releases of past episodes on VHS and DVD. In 2005, a new series of Doctor Who hit television screens produced by BBC Wales.

The programme ran for twenty-six seasons between 1963 and 1989, at which point it was cancelled indefinitely. Various forms of the series continued after the cancellation, with popular series of novels published by Target and then BBC Books, along with audio serials and re-releases of past episodes on VHS and DVD. Since 2005, a "new series" has been produced by BBC Wales.

The Doctor has the ability to regenerate his body when mortally weakened, a useful plot device that has allowed the role to be played on TV by ten different actors so far.

The Doctor has the ability to regenerate his body when mortally weakened, a useful plot device that has allowed the role to be played on TV by ten different actors so far.

===[[Christopher Eccleston]] (2005)===

===[[Christopher Eccleston]] (2005)===

A far more successful attempt to rejuvenate the format came in 2005 from producer [[Russell T. Davies]]. Eccleston, already an actor of considerable repute ([[Shallow Grave]], [[Let Him Have It]]), brought an edge to the role rarely seen before, whilst sophisticated scripts by such writers as [[Stephen Moffat]] and [[Mark Gattis]] helped the program to appeal to a wide age range. Although regarded as an instant success, Eccleston had no desire to become tied to the role and left after a single series.

The first Doctor in the "new series" created by [[Russell T. Davies]], Eccleston's portrayal saw much of the eccentricity of the past integrated into the ninth regeneration of the Doctor. An indefinite amount of time has elapsed since he was last seen on television screens, and it is clear that the events of the Time War have scarred him: he is the last of the Time Lord race. His character reflected a manic unpredictability that saw him capable of both compassion and apathy while maintaining a love-hate relationship with humans.

===[[David Tennant]] (2006-)===

===[[David Tennant]] (2006-)===

==Political and social themes==

==Political and social themes==

Several stories in the series have been subtly or overtly political in their themes. For instance, ''The Green Death'' (1973) emphasised the dangers of [[Pollution]] and big business - while the following year's ''Invasion of the Dinosaurs'' featured a contrasting menace -pro-environment extremists. Other stories have taken their themes from current news stories of the time, such as the [[United Kingdom]]'s entry into the [[Common Market]].

Several stories in the series have been subtly or overtly political in their themes. For instance, ''The Green Death'' (1973) emphasised the dangers of [[pollution]] and big business - while the following year's ''Invasion of the Dinosaurs'' featured a contrasting menace -pro-environment extremists. Other stories have taken their themes from current news stories of the time, such as the [[United Kingdom]]'s entry into the [[Common Market]].

In a recent episode, the Daleks - Doctor Who's most dangerous enemy, a race of creatures who are physically shriveled and weak but contained within an armored tank-like body - take over Manhattan. They ruthlessly exploit workers engaged in construction and repair on the Empire State Building. This was reported in the British newspaper [[The Independent]] as a metaphor for the rampant abuse of capitalism. Writers on [[The Guardian]] have commented that this is evidence of the BBC pumping out "relentless socialist propaganda".  

 

In a recent episode, the Daleks - Doctor Who's most dangerous enemy, a race of creatures who are physically shriveled and weak but contained within an armored tank-like body - take over Manhattan. They ruthlessly exploit workers engaged in construction and repair on the Empire State Building. This was reported in the British newspaper [[The Independent]] as a metaphor for the rampant abuse of capitalism. Conservative writers in [[The Guardian]] have used this as supposed evidence of the BBC pumping out "relentless socialist propaganda".

==Transmission==

==Transmission==