Doctor Who is a long-running award-winning British science fiction television programme (and a 1996 television film) produced by the BBC. The series shows the adventures of a mysterious time-traveller known as "the Doctor", who explores time and space in his TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space) time ship with his companions, solving problems and righting wrongs.
The programme is listed by the Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television series in the world and is also a significant part of British popular culture. It has been recognised for its imaginative stories, creative low-budget special effects during its original run, and pioneering use of electronic music (originally produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop). In Britain and elsewhere, the show has become a cult television favourite and has influenced generations of British television professionals, many of whom grew up watching the series. It has received recognition from critics and the public as one of the finest British television programmes, including the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series in 2006.
The programme originally ran from 1963 to 1989. A television film was made in 1996, and the programme was successfully relaunched in 2005, produced in-house by BBC Wales. (Some development money for the new series is contributed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which is credited as a co-producer, although they do not have creative input into the show.) Doctor Who has also spawned spin-offs in multiple media, including the current television series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Series 3 of the relaunched programme, starring David Tennant as the Doctor and Freema Agyeman as his companion Martha Jones, aired on BBC One from 31 March 2007 to 30 June 2007. A Christmas special, "Voyage of the Damned", will air in December 2007, with Kylie Minogue co-starring next to David Tennant. A fourth series has been commissioned and it is scheduled to air in 2008. It was confirmed on the July 4, 2007 that Catherine Tate would be returning to Doctor Who in her role as Donna Noble from the 2006 Christmas Special as the Doctor's latest companion in the fourth series.
The programme is listed by the Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television series in the world and is also a significant part of British popular culture. It has been recognised for its imaginative stories, creative low-budget special effects during its original run, and pioneering use of electronic music (originally produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop). In Britain and elsewhere, the show has become a cult television favourite and has influenced generations of British television professionals, many of whom grew up watching the series. It has received recognition from critics and the public as one of the finest British television programmes, including the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series in 2006.
The programme originally ran from 1963 to 1989. A television film was made in 1996, and the programme was successfully relaunched in 2005, produced in-house by BBC Wales. (Some development money for the new series is contributed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which is credited as a co-producer, although they do not have creative input into the show.) Doctor Who has also spawned spin-offs in multiple media, including the current television series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Series 3 of the relaunched programme, starring David Tennant as the Doctor and Freema Agyeman as his companion Martha Jones, aired on BBC One from 31 March 2007 to 30 June 2007. A Christmas special, "Voyage of the Damned", will air in December 2007, with Kylie Minogue co-starring next to David Tennant. A fourth series has been commissioned and it is scheduled to air in 2008. It was confirmed on the July 4, 2007 that Catherine Tate would be returning to Doctor Who in her role as Donna Noble from the 2006 Christmas Special as the Doctor's latest companion in the fourth series.