Editing Doctor Who (section)

==Music==
{{See also|List of Doctor Who composers{{!}}List of ''Doctor Who'' composers}}

===Theme music===
{{Main|Doctor Who theme music{{!}}''Doctor Who'' theme music}}
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The [[Doctor Who theme music|''Doctor Who'' theme music]] was one of the first [[electronic music]] signature tunes for television, and after more than a half century remains one of the most easily recognised. The original theme was composed by [[Ron Grainer]] and realised by [[Delia Derbyshire]] of the [[BBC Radiophonic Workshop]], with assistance from Dick Mills, and was released as a single on Decca F 11837 in 1964. The Derbyshire arrangement served, with minor edits, as the theme tune up to the end of [[Doctor Who season 17|season 17]] (1979–1980). It is regarded as a significant and innovative piece of electronic music recorded well before the availability of commercial synthesisers or multitrack mixers. Each note was individually created by cutting, splicing, speeding up and slowing down segments of [[analogue tape]] containing recordings of a single plucked string, [[white noise]], and the simple [[harmonic]] waveforms of [[Tone generator|test-tone oscillators]], intended for calibrating equipment and rooms, not creating music. New techniques were invented to allow [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] of the music, as this was before the era of multitrack tape machines. On hearing the finished result, Grainer asked, "Jeez, Delia, did I write that?" She answered, "Most of it."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hebblethwaite |first=Phil |date=29 June 2016 |title=Surprising Facts about BBC Theme Tunes You've Heard Hundreds of Times |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/36b860f1-b3d5-4fcc-acdc-c2e95fb99176 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725043928/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/36b860f1-b3d5-4fcc-acdc-c2e95fb99176 |archive-date=25 July 2017 |access-date=12 January 2018 |website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Although Grainer was willing to give Derbyshire the co-composer credit, it was against BBC policy at the time. She would not receive an on-screen credit until the 50th-anniversary story "The Day of the Doctor" in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pidd |first=Helen |date=20 November 2017 |title=Doctor Who theme's co-creator honoured with posthumous PhD |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/20/delia-derbyshire-doctor-who-theme-co-creator-posthumous-phd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228115219/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/20/delia-derbyshire-doctor-who-theme-co-creator-posthumous-phd |archive-date=28 December 2017 |access-date=31 December 2017 |website=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Ben |title=Doctor Who theme co-composer honoured with posthumous PhD |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2017-11-21/doctor-who-theme-co-composer-honoured-delia-derbyshire-honorary-phd/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101030501/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2017-11-21/doctor-who-theme-co-composer-honoured-delia-derbyshire-honorary-phd/ |archive-date=1 January 2018 |access-date=31 December 2017 |website=Radio Times |publisher=Immediate Media Company Ltd}}</ref>

A different arrangement was recorded by [[Peter Howell (musician)|Peter Howell]] for [[Doctor Who season 18|season 18]] (1980), which was in turn replaced by [[Dominic Glynn]]'s arrangement for the season-long serial ''[[The Trial of a Time Lord]]'' in [[Doctor Who season 23|season 23]] (1986). [[Keff McCulloch]] provided the new arrangement for the [[Seventh Doctor]]'s era, which lasted from [[Doctor Who season 24|season 24]] (1987) until the series' suspension in 1989. American composer [[John Debney]] created a new arrangement of Grainer's original theme for the 1996 ''[[Doctor Who (film)|Doctor Who]]'' film. For the return of the series in 2005, [[Murray Gold]] provided a new arrangement, which featured [[sampling (music)|samples]] from the 1963 original with further elements added in the 2005 Christmas episode "[[The Christmas Invasion]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2006/01/10/28657.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114173247/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2006/01/10/28657.shtml|archive-date=14 January 2006|title=Hear the Christmas Song|publisher=BBC|date=10 January 2006|access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2006/01/03/28476.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117152809/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2006/01/03/28476.shtml|archive-date=17 January 2006|title=The New Theme|publisher=BBC|date=3 January 2006|access-date=22 April 2022}}</ref>

A new arrangement of the theme, once again by Gold, was introduced in the 2007 Christmas special episode, "[[Voyage of the Damned (Doctor Who)|Voyage of the Damned]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=phil_collinson_on_doctor_who|title=Phil Collinson on Doctor Who|publisher=SFX|first=Ian|last=Berriman|date=13 December 2007|access-date=16 April 2023}}</ref> Gold returned as composer for the 2010 series, and was responsible for a new version of the theme which was reported to have had a hostile reception from some viewers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blake |first=Heidi |date=18 April 2010 |title=Doctor Who: 'nasty' new theme tune angers fans |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/doctor-who/7603262/Doctor-Who-nasty-new-theme-tune-angers-fans.html |url-status=live |access-date=20 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530214525/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/doctor-who/7603262/Doctor-Who-nasty-new-theme-tune-angers-fans.html |archive-date=30 May 2010}}</ref> In 2011, the theme tune charted at number 228 of radio station Classic FM's Hall of Fame, a survey of classical music tastes. A revised version of Gold's 2010 arrangement had its debut over the opening titles of the 2012 Christmas special "[[The Snowmen]]", and a further revision of the arrangement was made for the 50th-anniversary special "[[The Day of the Doctor]]" in November 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Name of the Doctor |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-10-21/the-name-of-the-doctor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701083205/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-10-21/the-name-of-the-doctor/ |archive-date=1 July 2018 |access-date=1 July 2018 |website=Radio Times}}</ref>

With the arrival of new composer [[Segun Akinola]] for [[Doctor Who (series 11)|series 11]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Jeffery |first=Morgan |date=26 June 2018 |title=Doctor Who series 11 composer has been revealed |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/doctor-who/news/a860312/doctor-who-series-11-composer-music/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627034313/http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/doctor-who/news/a860312/doctor-who-series-11-composer-music/ |archive-date=27 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref> came a new version of the opening theme, which incorporated elements of Derbyshire's original arrangement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scoring Doctor Who Series 11: An Interview with Composer Segun Akinola {{!}} Doctor Who |url=https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/scoring-doctor-who-series-11-an-interview-with-composer-segun-akinola |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241205231040/https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/scoring-doctor-who-series-11-an-interview-with-composer-segun-akinola |archive-date=2024-12-05 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=www.doctorwho.tv |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who theme tune: new arrangement created from original 1963 recordings {{!}} Radio Times |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/the-new-doctor-who-theme-tune-includes-recordings-of-the-1963-original/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=www.radiotimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> Akinola also created a new arrangement of the show's closing theme to play over the end credits of "[[Demons of the Punjab]]" in the style of [[Music of Punjab|Punjabi music]].<ref name="RT">{{cite news|last=Fullerton|first=Huw|title=11 Burning Questions We Have After Watching Doctor Who: Demons of the Punjab|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-11-14/doctor-who-demons-of-the-punjab-question-plotholes-theories/|date=23 November 2018|accessdate=13 February 2025|website=[[Radio Times]]|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116085703/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-11-14/doctor-who-demons-of-the-punjab-question-plotholes-theories/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Versions of the "Doctor Who Theme" have also been released as pop music. In the early 1970s, Jon Pertwee, who had played the Third Doctor, recorded a version of the Doctor Who theme with spoken lyrics, titled, "Who Is the Doctor".{{efn|Often mistitled "I am the Doctor". Originally released as a 7" vinyl single, plain sleeve, December 1972 on label Purple PUR III}} In 1978, a disco version of the theme in the UK, Denmark and Australia by the group Mankind, which reached number 24 in the UK charts. In 1988, the band The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (later known as [[The KLF]]) released the single "[[Doctorin' the Tardis]]" under the name The Timelords, which reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in Australia; this version incorporated several other songs, including "Rock and Roll Part 2" by [[Gary Glitter]] (who recorded vocals for some of the CD-single remix versions of "Doctorin' the Tardis").<ref name="guardian music">{{Cite news |last=Peel |first=Ian |date=7 July 2008 |title=Doctor Who: a musical force? |work=The Guardian |publisher=[[Guardian News and Media Ltd.]] |location=London |url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/07/doctor_who_a_musical_force.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708223445/http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/07/doctor_who_a_musical_force.html |archive-date=8 July 2008}}</ref> Others who have covered or reinterpreted the theme include [[Orbital (band)|Orbital]],<ref name="guardian music" /> [[Pink Floyd]],<ref name="guardian music" /> the Australian string ensemble [[FourPlay Electric String Quartet|Fourplay]], New Zealand punk band [[Blam Blam Blam]], [[The Pogues]], [[Thin Lizzy]], [[Dub Syndicate]], and the comedians [[Bill Bailey]] and [[Mitch Benn]]. Both the theme and obsessive fans were satirised on ''[[The Chaser's War on Everything]]''. The theme tune has also appeared on many compilation CDs, and has made its way into mobile-phone ringtones. Fans have also produced and distributed their own remixes of the theme. In January 2011, the Mankind version was released as a [[music download|digital download]] on the album ''Gallifrey And Beyond''.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===Incidental music===
{{See also|List of Doctor Who music releases{{!}}List of ''Doctor Who'' music releases}}
Most of the innovative incidental music for ''Doctor Who'' has been specially commissioned from freelance composers, although in the early years some episodes also used [[stock music]], as well as occasional excerpts from original recordings or [[cover version]]s of songs by popular music acts such as [[The Beatles]] and [[the Beach Boys]].{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} Since its 2005 return, the series has featured occasional use of excerpts of pop music from the 1970s to the present day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heller |first=Jason |date=2017-10-17 |title=How Doctor Who's Use of Pop Music Echoes Through the Decades |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-doctor-whos-use-of-pop-music-echoes-through-the-decades-tvweek/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208204847/https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-doctor-whos-use-of-pop-music-echoes-through-the-decades-tvweek/ |archive-date=2024-12-08 |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Vice}}</ref>

The incidental music for the first ''Doctor Who'' adventure, ''An Unearthly Child'', was written by [[Norman Kay (composer)|Norman Kay]]. Many of the stories of the [[William Hartnell]] period were scored by electronic music pioneer [[Tristram Cary]], whose ''Doctor Who'' credits include ''The Daleks'', ''[[Marco Polo (Doctor Who)|Marco Polo]]'', ''The Daleks' Master Plan'', ''The Gunfighters'' and ''[[The Mutants]]''. Other composers in this early period included [[Richard Rodney Bennett]], [[Carey Blyton]] and [[Geoffrey Burgon]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The most frequent musical contributor during the first 15 years was [[Dudley Simpson]], who is also well known for his theme and incidental music for ''[[Blake's 7]]'', and for his haunting theme music and score for the original 1970s version of ''[[The Tomorrow People]]''. Simpson's first ''Doctor Who'' score was ''[[Planet of Giants]]'' (1964) and he went on to write music for many adventures of the 1960s and 1970s, including most of the stories of the Jon Pertwee/Tom Baker periods, ending with ''[[The Horns of Nimon]]'' (1979). He also made a [[cameo appearance]] in ''The Talons of Weng-Chiang'' (as a [[Music hall]] conductor).<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 December 2017 |title=Dudley Simpson: Composer and conductor who used synthesizers to create eerie music for Doctor Who serials |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London, UK |pages=33}}</ref>

In 1980 starting with the serial ''[[The Leisure Hive]]'' the task of creating incidental music was assigned to the Radiophonic Workshop. [[Paddy Kingsland]] and [[Peter Howell (musician)|Peter Howell]] contributed many scores in this period and other contributors included [[Roger Limb]], [[Malcolm Clarke (composer)|Malcolm Clarke]] and [[Jonathan Gibbs (composer)|Jonathan Gibbs]]. The Radiophonic Workshop was dropped after 1986's ''[[The Trial of a Time Lord]]'' series, and [[Keff McCulloch]] took over as the series' main composer until the end of its run, with [[Dominic Glynn]] and [[Mark Ayres]] also contributing scores.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

From the 2005 revival to the 2017 Christmas episode "[[Twice Upon a Time (Doctor Who)|Twice Upon a Time]]",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farnell |first=Chris |date=2023-04-28 |title=Why Did Murray Gold Leave Doctor Who? |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/why-did-murray-gold-leave-doctor-who/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US}}</ref> all incidental music for the series was composed by [[Murray Gold]] and [[Ben Foster (orchestrator)|Ben Foster]] and has been performed by the [[BBC National Orchestra of Wales]] from the 2005 Christmas episode "[[The Christmas Invasion]]" onwards. A concert featuring the orchestra performing music from the first two series took place on 19 November 2006 to raise money for Children in Need. David Tennant hosted the event, introducing the different sections of the concert.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Two - Doctor Who: A Celebration Concert |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007j11y |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> Murray Gold and [[Russell T Davies]] answered questions during the interval, and [[Dalek]]s and [[Cybermen]] appeared whilst music from their stories was played. The concert aired on [[BBC Red Button|BBCi]] on Christmas Day 2006. A [[Doctor Who Prom (2008)|Doctor Who Prom]] was celebrated on 27 July 2008 in the [[Royal Albert Hall]] as part of the annual [[BBC Proms]]. The BBC Philharmonic and the [[London Philharmonic Choir]] performed Murray Gold's compositions for the series, conducted by Ben Foster, as well as a selection of classics based on the theme of space and time. The event was presented by [[Freema Agyeman]] and guest-presented by various other stars of the show with numerous monsters participating in the proceedings. It also featured the specially filmed mini-episode "[[Music of the Spheres (Doctor Who)|Music of the Spheres]]", written by Russell T Davies and starring David Tennant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 July 2008 |title=BBC Prom 27 July 2008 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2008/whatson/2707.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718203226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2008/whatson/2707.shtml |archive-date=18 July 2008 |access-date=29 September 2008 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

On 26 June 2018, producer Chris Chibnall announced that the musical score for [[Doctor Who (series 11)|series 11]] would be provided by [[Royal Birmingham Conservatoire]] alumnus [[Segun Akinola]].<ref name=":0" /> His approach was described as more subtle and "understated" than Gold's work by critics,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-10 |title=Doctor Who Series 11: How did Jodie Whittaker's first series measure up? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/12/10/doctor-who-series-11-jodie-whittakers-debut-wasnt-the-train-wreck-we-feared-but-not-quite-the-triumph-we-hoped-for-8225242/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dillon-Trenchard |first=Pete |date=2018-10-07 |title=Doctor Who series 11: The Woman Who Fell To Earth review |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-series-11-the-woman-who-fell-to-earth-review/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US}}</ref> and Akinola remained composer throughout Chibnall's tenure, scoring all of the [[Thirteenth Doctor]]'s episodes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who composer confirms final Jodie Whittaker special is his last {{!}} Radio Times |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-composer-segun-akinola-exit-newsupdate/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=www.radiotimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

When Davies returned to produce the show in 2023, he rehired Gold to work on the series for [[Doctor Who specials (2023)|the 60th anniversary episodes]] and continuing into the [[Fifteenth Doctor]]'s tenure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitbrook |first=James |date=2023-04-24 |title=Doctor Who Is Re-Recruiting Composer Murray Gold |url=https://gizmodo.com/doctor-who-60th-anniversary-murray-gold-bbc-rtd-1850369623 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}</ref> Gold made a cameo in the 2024 episode "[[The Devil's Chord]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bibby |first=Daniel |date=2024-05-15 |title=Doctor Who Season 14 Revives A Great Cameo Trick Not Seen In 17 Years |url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-murray-gold-season-14-composer-cameo/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>

Six soundtracks have been released since 2005. The [[Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack|first]] featured tracks from the first two series,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 July 2006 |title=Who soundtrack soon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2006/07/17/33953.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813135617/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2006/07/17/33953.shtml |archive-date=13 August 2006 |access-date=4 August 2006 |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 November 2006 |title=Silva Screen announces Doctor Who CD release date |url=http://www.silvascreen.co.uk/news.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212205542/http://www.silvascreen.co.uk/news.htm |archive-date=12 December 2006 |access-date=4 December 2006 |website=Silva Screen |publisher=Silva Screen Records}}</ref> the [[Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack - Series 3|second]] and [[Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack - Series 4|third]] featured music from the third and fourth series respectively. The [[Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack - Series 4: The Specials|fourth]] was released on 4 October 2010 as a two-disc special edition and contained music from the 2008–2010 specials (''[[The Next Doctor]]'' to "[[The End of Time (Doctor Who)|End of Time Part 2]]").<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who&nbsp;– Series 4 – Murray Gold |url=http://silvascreenmusic.greedbag.com/buy/doctor-who-series-3/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902004830/http://silvascreenmusic.greedbag.com/buy/doctor-who-series-3/ |archive-date=2 September 2013 |access-date=6 September 2013 |publisher=Silva Screen Music}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who: Series 4-The Specials – Murray Gold |url=http://silvascreenmusic.greedbag.com/buy/doctor-who-series-4-the-specials-0/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119235042/http://silvascreenmusic.greedbag.com/buy/doctor-who-series-4-the-specials-0/ |archive-date=19 January 2014 |access-date=6 September 2013 |publisher=Silva Screen Music}}</ref> The [[Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack - Series 5|soundtrack for Series 5]] was released on 8 November 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who Series 5 Original TV Soundtrack (Music CD) |url=http://www.bbcshop.com/doctor-who/doctor-who-series-5-original-tv-soundtrack-music-cd/invt/silcd1345 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927162540/http://www.bbcshop.com/doctor-who/doctor-who-series-5-original-tv-soundtrack-music-cd/invt/silcd1345 |archive-date=27 September 2013 |access-date=6 September 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> In February 2011, a soundtrack was released for the 2010 Christmas special "A Christmas Carol",<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (Soundtrack) |url=http://www.bbcshop.com/doctor-who/doctor-who-a-christmas-carol-soundtrack/invt/silcd1360 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920232638/http://www.bbcshop.com/doctor-who/doctor-who-a-christmas-carol-soundtrack/invt/silcd1360 |archive-date=20 September 2013 |access-date=6 September 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> and in December 2011, the [[Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack - Series 6|soundtrack for Series 6]] was released, both by Silva Screen Records.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who: Series 6 (Soundtrack) |url=http://www.bbcshop.com/soundtracks/doctor-who-series-6-soundtrack/invt/silcd1375 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927162449/http://www.bbcshop.com/soundtracks/doctor-who-series-6-soundtrack/invt/silcd1375 |archive-date=27 September 2013 |access-date=6 September 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

In 2013, a 50th-anniversary boxed set of audio CDs was released featuring music and sound effects from Doctor Who's 50-year history. The celebration continued in 2016 with the release of Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection Four LP Box Set by New York City-based Spacelab9. The company pressed 1,000 copies of the set on "Metallic Silver" vinyl, dubbed the "Cyberman Edition".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coopee |first=Todd |date=2 March 2016 |title=Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection 4 LP Box Set |url=https://toytales.ca/doctor-who-the-50th-anniversary-collection-4-lp-box-set/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307025256/https://toytales.ca/doctor-who-the-50th-anniversary-collection-4-lp-box-set/ |archive-date=7 March 2016 |access-date=3 March 2016 |website=Toy Tales}}</ref>