Dr Who - something old, something new
In 2005, the TV series Doctor Who returned to the BBC after a gap of several years.
The original series was aired every year from 1963 until 1989. By the end of this time, it had kept only a shadow of its former popularity, but in its heyday it had one of the largest audiences on British TV.
It was successful almost from its first broadcast in 1963, and its popularity increased until it reached a peak sometime in the mid seventies. It then became a cult show with a large fan base but less popular appeal, and drifted slowly towards oblivion.
An attempt to revive it in the mid nineties failed, and although it was repeated regularly on satellite and cable TV, attempts to revive interest by showing repeats on terrestrial TV also failed to stir up interest. Then in 2005 the show came back. Not only that, but it was hugely popular with a whole new generation.
More...
- Changes
- Right and wrong
- Science fiction for postmodernity
- Russel T Davies
- Sex and Doctor Who
- Family viewing?
- Religion and the new Doctor Who
- Conclusions
Dave Ferguson, July 2006