Editing Doctor Who (section)

===Public consciousness===
It has been claimed that the transmission of the first episode was delayed by ten minutes due to extended news coverage of the [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|assassination]] of US President [[John F. Kennedy]] the previous day; in fact, it went out after a delay of eighty seconds.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Howe |first1=David J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V075SAAACAAJ |title=The Television Companion: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who |last2=Walker |first2=Stephen James |publisher=[[Telos Publishing]] |year=2004 |isbn=1-903889-51-0 |edition=2nd |location=[[Canterbury]] |author-link=David J. Howe}}</ref> The BBC believed that coverage of the assassination, as well as a series of power blackouts across the country, had caused many viewers to miss this introduction to a new series, and it was broadcast again on 30 November 1963, just before episode two.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kenneth Muir |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qMKSCgAAQBAJ&q=doctor+who+unearthly+child+30+november+1963+jfk&pg=PA11 |title=A Critical History of Doctor Who on Television |date=15 September 2015 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9781476604541 |access-date=11 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116040141/https://books.google.com/books?id=qMKSCgAAQBAJ&q=doctor+who+unearthly+child+30+november+1963+jfk&pg=PA11 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who's First Episode: An Unearthly Child |url=http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/dw3.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015194327/http://televisionheaven.co.uk/dw3.htm |archive-date=15 October 2012 |access-date=6 September 2013 |publisher=televisionheaven.co.uk}}</ref>

[[File:Doctor Who Experience (13080763345).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|The [[Doctor Who exhibitions|''Doctor Who Experience'']] in [[Cardiff]]. The programme's broad appeal attracts audiences of children and families as well as [[science fiction fans]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leith |first=Sam |date=4 July 2008 |title=Worshipping Doctor Who from behind the sofa |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/07/05/do0502.xml |url-status=dead |access-date=7 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706030948/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fopinion%2F2008%2F07%2F05%2Fdo0502.xml |archive-date=6 July 2008}}</ref>]]

The programme soon became a national institution in the United Kingdom, with a large following among the general viewing audience.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Anthony |title=Doctor Who (1963–89, 2005–) |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/454592/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207192801/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/454592/index.html |archive-date=7 February 2007 |access-date=21 March 2007 |website=[[Screenonline]] |quote=The science fiction adventure series Doctor Who (BBC, 1963–89) has created a phenomenon unlike any other British TV programme.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tulloch |first=John |title=Doctor Who |url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/D/htmlD/doctorwho/doctorwho.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211080018/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/D/htmlD/doctorwho/doctorwho.htm |archive-date=11 February 2007 |access-date=21 March 2007 |website=[[Museum of Broadcast Communications]] |quote=The official fans have never amounted to more than a fraction of the audience. Doctor Who achieved the status of an institution as well as a cult.}}</ref> The show received controversy over the suitability of the series for children. Morality campaigner [[Mary Whitehouse]] repeatedly complained to the BBC over what she saw as the programme's violent, frightening and gory content. According to ''[[Radio Times]]'', the series "never had a more implacable foe than Mary Whitehouse".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who's most controversial episodes |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-08-07/doctor-who-controversial-episodes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116040155/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-08-07/doctor-who-controversial-episodes/ |archive-date=16 November 2020 |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=Radio Times}}</ref>

A BBC audience research survey conducted in 1972 found that, by their own definition of violence ("any act[s] which may cause physical and/or psychological injury, hurt or death to persons, animals or property, whether intentional or accidental"), ''Doctor Who'' was the most violent of the drama programmes the corporation produced at the time.<ref name="times-violence">{{Cite news |last=Howard |first=Philip |date=29 January 1972 |title=Violence is not really Dr Who's cup of tea |page=2 |work=The Times}}</ref> The same report found that 3% of the surveyed audience believed the series was "very unsuitable" for family viewing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 January 1972 |title=The Times Diary—Points of view |page=16 |work=The Times}}</ref> Responding to the findings of the survey in ''[[The Times]]'' newspaper, journalist Philip Howard maintained that, "to compare the violence of ''Dr Who'', sired by a horse-laugh out of a nightmare, with the more realistic violence of other television series, where actors who look like human beings bleed paint that looks like blood, is like comparing [[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]] with the property market in London: both are fantasies, but one is meant to be taken seriously."<ref name="times-violence" />

During [[Jon Pertwee]]'s [[Doctor Who season 8|second season]] as the Doctor, in the serial ''[[Terror of the Autons]]'' (1971), images of murderous plastic dolls, daffodils killing unsuspecting victims, and blank-featured policemen marked the apex of the series' ability to frighten children.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC&nbsp;– Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide&nbsp;– Terror of the Autons |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/terrorautons/detail.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418002618/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/terrorautons/detail.shtml |archive-date=18 April 2013 |access-date=25 October 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Other notable moments in that decade include a disembodied brain falling to the floor in ''[[The Brain of Morbius]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide&nbsp;– The Brain of Morbius |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/brainmorbius/detail.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119031338/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/brainmorbius/detail.shtml |archive-date=19 January 2013 |access-date=25 October 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> and the Doctor apparently being drowned by a villain in ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'' (both 1976).<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC&nbsp;– Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide&nbsp;– The Deadly Assassin |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/deadlyassassin/detail.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330042451/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/deadlyassassin/detail.shtml |archive-date=30 March 2014 |access-date=25 October 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Mary Whitehouse's complaint about the latter incident prompted a change in BBC policy towards the series, with much tighter controls imposed on the production team,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Season 14 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/season14.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116040154/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/season14.shtml |archive-date=16 November 2020 |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=[[BBC Online]]}}</ref> and the series' next producer, [[Graham Williams (television producer)|Graham Williams]], was under a directive to take out "anything graphic in the depiction of violence".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=David J. Howe |title=Doctor Who: The Seventies |last2=Mark Stammers |last3=Stephen Walker |publisher=Dr Who |year=1994 |isbn=978-1852274443 |page=120}}</ref> [[John Nathan-Turner]] produced the series during the 1980s and said in the documentary ''[[Doctor Who: Thirty Years in the TARDIS|More Than Thirty Years in the TARDIS]]'' that he looked forward to Whitehouse's comments because the ratings of the series would increase soon after she had made them. Nathan-Turner also got into trouble with BBC executives over the violence he allowed to be depicted for [[Doctor Who season 22|season 22]] of the series in 1985, which was publicly criticised by controller [[Michael Grade]] and given as one of his reasons for suspending the series for 18 months.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Banks |first=David |title=Doctor Who: Cybermen |publisher=WH Allen & Co |year=1990 |isbn=0352327383 |page=126}}</ref>

The phrase "hiding {{visible anchor|behind the sofa}}" (or "watching from behind the sofa") entered British [[pop culture]], signifying the stereotypical but apocryphal early-series behaviour of children who wanted to avoid seeing frightening parts of a [[television program]]me while remaining in the room to watch the remainder of it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leith |first=Sam |date=4 July 2008 |title=Worshipping Doctor Who from behind the sofa |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/samleith/3560202/Worshipping-Doctor-Who-from-behind-the-sofa.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220124127/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/samleith/3560202/Worshipping-Doctor-Who-from-behind-the-sofa.html |archive-date=20 December 2008 |quote=The cliché about ''Doctor Who''—that it had us "hiding behind the sofa"—is more telling in its tone than its questionable factuality. It connotes nostalgia, and a pleasurable mixture of fright and fascination—but above all it connotes domesticity. It united fear and soft furnishings in the British mind.}}</ref><ref name="times">"Still, the Daleks are the boss space horrors, something to get the children hiding behind the sofa." {{cite news |title=The metamorphoses of Who |first=Stanley |last=Reynolds |work=[[The Times]] |date=9 April 1973 |page=15}}</ref> ''[[The Economist]]'' presented "hiding behind the sofa whenever the Daleks appear" as a British [[cultural institution]] on a par with [[Bovril]] and [[tea (meal)|tea-time]].<ref>{{cite news |date=14 September 2006 |title=The end of Olde Englande: A lament for Blighty |newspaper= [[The Economist]] |url=http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7912946 |access-date=18 September 2006}}</ref> Paul Parsons, author of ''The Science of Doctor Who'', explains the appeal of hiding behind the sofa as the activation of the fear response in the [[amygdala]] in conjunction with reassurances of safety from the brain's [[frontal lobe]].<ref>Parsons, Paul.  [https://web.archive.org/web/20060614222905/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2006/03/28/ecwho28.xml "Who believes in who"] ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''.  Tuesday 28 March 2006. (URL accessed 30 March 2006.)</ref> The phrase retains this association with ''Doctor Who'', to the point that in 1991 the [[Museum of the Moving Image (London)|Museum of the Moving Image]] in [[London]] named its exhibition celebrating the programme ''Behind the Sofa''. The electronic [[Doctor Who theme music|theme music]] too was perceived as eerie, novel, and frightening at the time. A 2012 article placed this childhood juxtaposition of fear and thrill "at the center of many people's relationship with the series",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charlie Jane Anders |date=25 December 2012 |title=If you weren't scared of Doctor Who as a child, you missed out on a crucial experience |url=https://gizmodo.com/if-you-werent-scared-of-doctor-who-as-a-child-you-miss-5971113 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217105100/http://io9.com/5971113/if-you-werent-scared-of-doctor-who-as-a-child-you-may-never-fully-understand-it |archive-date=17 February 2014 |access-date=8 February 2022 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref> and a 2011 online vote at [[Digital Spy]] deemed the series the "scariest TV show of all time".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wightman |first=Catriona |date=31 October 2011 |title='Doctor Who' named scariest TV show of all time: Your Top 10 revealed |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a348363/doctor-who-named-scariest-tv-show-of-all-time-your-top-10-revealed/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028014922/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/tubetalk/a348363/doctor-who-named-scariest-tv-show-of-all-time-your-top-10-revealed.html |archive-date=28 October 2014 |access-date=8 February 2022 |website=Digital Spy}}, ''Digital Spy'', Catriona Wightman & Morgan Jeffery, 31 October 2011.</ref>
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| caption1          = The [[TARDIS]] prop in front of the [[BBC Television Centre]] in 2010
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| caption2          = TARDIS interior (2005–2010) at the ''Doctor Who'' Experience, [[London Olympia]]
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The image of the [[TARDIS]] has become firmly linked to the series in the public's consciousness; BBC scriptwriter [[Anthony Coburn]], who lived in the resort of [[Herne Bay, Kent]], was one of the people who conceived the idea of a police box as a time machine.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 May 2011 |title=Doctor Who fan in tardis replica plan for Herne Bay |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-13411516 |url-status=live |access-date=31 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224182321/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-13411516 |archive-date=24 February 2014}}</ref> In 1996, the BBC applied for a [[trademark]] to use the TARDIS' blue [[police box]] design in merchandising associated with ''Doctor Who''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Case details for Trade Mark UK00002104259 |url=http://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00002104259 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118131332/https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00002104259 |archive-date=18 January 2016 |access-date=27 October 2013 |website=[[UK Patent Office]]}}</ref> In 1998, the [[Metropolitan Police Authority]] filed an objection to the trademark claim; but in 2002, the [[Intellectual Property Office (United Kingdom)|Patent Office]] ruled in favour of the BBC.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 September 2006 |title=Trade mark decision |url=http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/t-decisionmaking/t-challenge/t-challenge-decision-results/t-challenge-decision-results-bl?BL_Number=O/336/02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102901/http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/t-decisionmaking/t-challenge/t-challenge-decision-results/t-challenge-decision-results-bl?BL_Number=O%2F336%2F02 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |access-date=17 January 2007 |website=[[UK Patent Office]] website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Mike |title=In the matter of application No. 2104259 by The British Broadcasting Corporation to register a series of three marks in Classes 9, 16, 25 and 41 And in the Matter of – Opposition thereto under No. 48452 by The Metropolitan Police Authority |url=http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm//legal/decisions/2002/o33602.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925214943/http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm//legal/decisions/2002/o33602.pdf |archive-date=25 September 2007 |access-date=17 January 2007 |website=[[UK Patent Office]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 October 2002 |title=BBC wins police Tardis case |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2352743.stm |url-status=live |access-date=17 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213102735/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2352743.stm |archive-date=13 February 2007}}</ref>

The 21st-century revival of the programme became the centrepiece of BBC One's Saturday schedule and "defined the channel".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=James |date=18 March 2007 |title=Television's Lord of prime time awaits his next regeneration |work=The Observer |location=London |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2036415,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320221526/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2036415,00.html |archive-date=20 March 2007}}</ref> Many renowned actors have made [[List of guest appearances in Doctor Who|guest-starring]] appearances in various stories including [[Kylie Minogue]],<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Press Association |date=3 July 2007 |title=Kylie lands Doctor Who role|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/03/bbc.musicnews |access-date=27 September 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Sir Ian McKellen]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Fitzpatrick |date=10 December 2012 |title='Doctor Who' Series 7 Casts…Sir Ian McKellen?! |url=https://screencrush.com/doctor-who-christmas-special-ian-mckellen/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |website=ScreenCrush}}</ref> and [[Andrew Garfield]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thapa |first=Shaurya |date=15 January 2023 |title=Andrew Garfield's Role In Doctor Who, Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-andrew-garfield-character-explained/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |website=ScreenRant}}</ref> among others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Jessie |date=28 September 2022 |title='Doctor Who': 16 Iconic Celebrities You May Forget Starred on the Show |url=https://collider.com/doctor-who-celebrities-you-forget-starred-on-the-show/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |website=Collider}}</ref> According to an article in the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' in 2009, the revival of ''Doctor Who'' had consistently received high ratings, both in number of viewers and as measured by the [[Appreciation Index]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pettie |first=Andrew |date=4 January 2009 |title=Casting Matt Smith shows that Doctor Who is a savvy multi-million pound brand |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4094067/Casting-Matt-Smith-shows-that-Doctor-Who-is-a-savvy-multi-million-pound-brand.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122183212/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4094067/Casting-Matt-Smith-shows-that-Doctor-Who-is-a-savvy-multi-million-pound-brand.html |archive-date=22 January 2009}}</ref> In 2007, [[Caitlin Moran]], television reviewer for ''[[The Times]]'', wrote that ''Doctor Who'' is "quintessential to being British".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moran |first=Caitlin |author-link=Caitlin Moran |date=30 June 2007 |title=Doctor Who is simply masterful |work=The Times |location=London |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article1989181.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=1 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013175631/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article1989181.ece |archive-date=13 October 2008 |quote=[''Doctor Who''] is as thrilling and as loved as ''Jolene'', or bread and cheese, or honeysuckle, or Friday. It's quintessential to being British.}}</ref> According to [[Steven Moffat]], the American film director [[Steven Spielberg]] has commented that "the world would be a poorer place without ''Doctor Who''".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dowell |first=Ben |date=23 August 2008 |title=Edinburgh TV Festival 2008: don't rule out Doctor Who feature film, says Steven Moffat |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/organgrinder/2008/08/steven_moffat_dont_rule_out_do.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827232557/http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/organgrinder/2008/08/steven_moffat_dont_rule_out_do.html |archive-date=27 August 2008}}</ref>

On 4 August 2013, a live programme titled ''Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor''<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 August 2013 |title=Doctor Who: Fans await announcement |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23567602 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805014306/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23567602 |archive-date=5 August 2013 |access-date=4 August 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> was broadcast on BBC One, during which the actor who was going to play the Twelfth Doctor was revealed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 August 2013 |title=New Doctor Who star to be unveiled |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23531724 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802034936/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23531724 |archive-date=2 August 2013 |access-date=3 August 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> The live show was watched by an average of 6.27&nbsp;million in the UK, and was also simulcast in the United States, Canada and Australia.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Glanfield |first=Tim |date=5 August 2013 |title=Doctor Who: Almost 7m watch Peter Capaldi revealed as 12th Doctor |work=Radio Times |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-08-05/doctor-who-almost-7m-watch-peter-capaldi-revealed-as-12th-doctor |url-status=live |access-date=5 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807224831/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-08-05/doctor-who-almost-7m-watch-peter-capaldi-revealed-as-12th-doctor |archive-date=7 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 August 2013 |title=From spin doctor to Doctor Who... star's childhood dream comes true |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13116923.spin-doctor-doctor-stars-childhood-dream-comes-true/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907224216/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/from-spin-doctor-to-doctor-who-stars-childhood-dream-comes-true.21792902 |archive-date=7 September 2013 |access-date=8 February 2022 |website=The Herald |location=Glasgow}}</ref>