The Doctor Who Production Diary: The Hartnell Years

In the first of a new series of books, noted Doctor Who historian David Brunt presents the most detailed and comprehensive day-by-day record ever published of the show’s production during the years 1963-1966 when William Hartnell played the Doctor.

Drawing on many years of research and an exhaustive study of BBC archive documentation – including files not previously accessed by any other Doctor Who author – the book includes a wealth of newly-discovered information and explodes some long-standing myths.

Some things you will discover in this book:

• Which future Doctor Who scriptwriter was the first person approached to write for the series?
• How major was the overhaul to the BBC Drama Department under Sydney Newman in 1963, and who first suggested the idea before he even joined the BBC?
• How did the series manage to get made, when several people inside the BBC tried to get it cancelled before it even went into production?
• How many people turned down the offer of becoming the series’ producer before Verity Lambert was hired?
• How long before he appeared as Steven Taylor was Peter Purves contracted for the role?
• Was Vicki going to appear in ‘The Daleks’ Master Plan’?
• Was Katarina originally going to survive that same story?
• When was Vicki planned to be burned as a witch?
• Was Anne Chaplet going to appear in ‘The Celestial Toymaker’?
• On what date was it first decided to write out William Hartnell as the Doctor?
• Exactly when was Patrick Troughton contracted to replace him?

And much more …

You think you know the background and history of the development of the show and the era of the First Doctor? Think again …

‘A must for anyone who wants to know more about the history of the show … a fantastic companion piece for those who have an interest in taking a deep dive into Who history.’ Steve Claringbold, Celestial Toyroom, Doctor Who Appreciation Society

‘Skewering fan myths along the way, it’s a truly impressive feat of contextualisation.’ Nick Setchfield, SFX

‘It’s the best book about the best subject, written in the best way, that I’ve ever read. And to be fair I’ve read a few.‘ Paul Jones

‘It’s a tremendous achievement. David copes well with the peaks and troughs in the source material – and lets us know in an appendix where all the gaps are. I have a clearer idea than before of how the handovers between Verity Lambert and John Wiles, and John Wiles and Innes Lloyd, worked. There is all sorts of new information which enriches our understanding of how television worked, both formally and through social connections. The proximity of Doctor Who to an early end is now much clearer, both in late 1963 and throughout 1966 – and Shaun Sutton emerges as a crucial defender of the series, and as one of its reinventors, at a crucial point. I await the next instalment eagerly, but with patience.’ Matthew Kilburn

‘I’ve pored over much of the original paperwork used here and thought I knew this stuff. This exhaustive diary tells a whole new story.’ Simon Guerrier

NB: This edition is up to date as far as any corrections and additions are concerned. The addenda and errata contained in the back of The Doctor Who Production Diary: The Troughton Years has been applied to this edition of the book.