An Adventure in Space and Time

In 1963, Sydney Newman arrives at the BBC with a plan to bridge Saturday night programmes by launching a family-friendly science fiction show. He envisions Dr Who as an educational yet entertaining adventure. He selects Verity Lambert as producer, making her the first woman to hold that role at the BBC.

Verity arrives for pre-production and must assert herself against Rex Tucker, who tries to sideline her. With support from Mervyn Pinfield, she wins enough room to lead the project and starts assembling the team. She realizes the task of steering a flagship show is bigger than she anticipated.

The BBC rings Bill Hartnell’s house to discuss his involvement in Doctor Who. He worries it may be a throwaway part but is persuaded to hear more. He contemplates stepping into a gruff, commanding role that could redefine his career.

That evening Verity and Waris Hussein share a drink and discuss their precarious positions as the first woman producer and the first Indian director at the BBC. They acknowledge their pioneering status and vow to stick together. They resolve to prove the naysayers wrong through their work.

Verity and Waris meet William Hartnell over dinner to pitch him on the Doctor. He remains skeptical about whether he can play the role and handle the demanding schedule. They persuade him to give the part a chance.

The cast gathers for rehearsals in a cramped studio as the actors wrestle with the script’s techno babble and the lack of a finished set. The Doctor character feels rough and Hartnell worries about his lines. Sydney Newman visits to steady nerves and urge Verity to rise to the challenge.

Verity pushes the designer to begin building the Doctor Who set, producing a striking but simple diorama to stand in for the ship. The crew starts to feel more connected to the project as the look comes together. Deadlines and budget pressures loom on the horizon.

The production encounters a series of issues—a hot set, aging cameras, tight union rules, and limited shooting time. Hartnell and the director struggle with the pace, and the sprinkler system is triggered by the heat, leaving Waris drained. The team muscles through day after day.

Sydney Newman watches the finished pilot and is disappointed with what has been produced. He orders a costly rewrite of the first episode to remove exposition and inject mystery, and demands the opening titles be softened. Verity fights to preserve the core idea while acknowledging the need to reach a broad audience.

Hartnell gains new confidence as Verity helps him bring more of himself to the Doctor. The team reshoots the opening episode and refines the tone. Newman ultimately approves the revised pilot for transmission, giving the project a real shot.

The day before the first episode airs, news breaks of John F. Kennedy's assassination. When the episode finally goes to air, the country is distracted by the breaking news and the network worries about reception and budgets. Despite the distraction, the transmission proceeds and the early response begins.

The second story introduces the Daleks, and their imposing presence makes a strong impression on screen. Viewers respond with renewed interest and the show’s ratings begin to climb. Mervyn notes the Daleks are unexpectedly creepy on film and the show gains momentum.

Over the next year Doctor Who becomes a national phenomenon. Waris Hussein moves on to a new job, and Carole Ann Ford leaves the show. Hartnell grows more confident in his role as the show evolves around new faces.

The grueling schedule begins to take a toll on Hartnell, and Verity informs Heather that she will step away from the producer role. She attends a farewell party and the door is opened for new leadership. Hartnell’s arterial sclerosis diagnosis underscores the pressures of aging under the spotlight.

With Hartnell stepping back, Sydney Newman plans to carry the show forward with a new Doctor, Patrick Troughton. Hartnell meets with Newman in a quiet moment of goodbye, recognizing the show’s enduring legacy. On the TARDIS set, Hartnell imagines the future as the baton passes to the next Doctor.