Opening thoughts

 

Few TV shows can boast the transgenerational success and standing in UK culture that Doctor Who can. Since 1963, over a dozen actors and actresses have played the fabled Time Lord.

 

The fact that a TV show has maintained an audience and grown a new fanbase through its 60-plus years of existence is testament to how well designed the characters are, the talent of the artists who have depicted Doctor Who, and how enthralling the storylines have been over the years.

 

But what does it take to craft a timeless legacy in the world of science fiction, and how has Doctor Who maintained its appeal both in the UK and internationally, even after all this time? Let’s have a look.

 

The importance of brand expansion

 

Whenever a TV show or movie begins to attract huge audiences, it’s crucial that those behind the hit idea strike while the iron is hot and branch into other areas, such as:

 

• Coffee mugs.

 

Many TV shows have developed this idea and have even ventured into the world of gaming. Some ideas turn into hit video games, while others are first trialled as smaller, niche ideas, like slot gaming. Film and TV ideas in slot gaming have become one of the fastest-growing themes.

 

While Doctor Who might not have branched into the slot gaming world with the sort of presence that other BBC shows like Peaky Blinders have managed, or command the esteem of some of the most popular slot gaming themes, like Legacy of Dead, which has a popular ancient Egyptian theme, there’s no denying that its incredible expansion into different brands and ideas have helped to maximise the potential of the story and keep the fanbase engaged for decades at a time.

Reinvention

 

When over a dozen people play a character, it can help keep an old idea fresh. Look at the success of the James Bond franchise – a lot of its continued success revolves around one actor playing the character for four or five movies, and then somebody else takes over and puts their own spin on it. Doctor Who works in a similar manner.

 

The iconic science-fiction character recently had its first female lead, Jodie Whittaker, in 2017. Currently, the Doctor is played by the first black actor to lead the series, Ncuti Gatwa, who has recently been working on The Importance of Being Earnest.

 

So, not only does Doctor Who consistently reinvent storylines and adapt to changing cultural attitudes and audiences, but it also champions diversity, which is one of the integral factors behind its ability to craft a timeless legacy. If the show didn’t have the flexibility to move back and forth through time and blend fictional and non-fictional concepts, then its reinventions might be more challenging to write and manage.

 

But the show is a great example for screenwriters looking to enter the business. The fact that it holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running science fiction show is another tribute to how effective it can be to reinvent characters with fresh ideas.

 

Audience adaptation

 

Although initially marketed and intended for a family audience, Doctor Who started tackling topics many science fiction programmes hadn’t, including travelling to landmark moments in history, breathing life into legendary artists and figures from centuries ago, and tackling more mature themes.

 

While this is part of its appeal, it also means the audience matured. Although still used as an educational tool, the science fiction elements and its ability to keep a pulse on changing social attitudes mean that it has been able to keep a fresh, engaged audience throughout its timeline.

 

 

The big relaunch

 

It might seem a bit misleading to suggest that Doctor Who has a timeline that spans over 60 years. While the first episode was in 1963, the BBC decommissioned it in 1989 and the show did not return for over 16 years.

 

The successful revamp with Christopher Ecclestone at the helm brought the show back into contention, and for those who remember watching Doctor Who around this time, episodes regularly exceeded 10 million viewers. In those days, long before Netflix and other streaming services, the show became a staple of our Saturday nights.

 

After spending 16 years away from our screens, the relaunch, with a few tweaks, proved to be an immense success. David Tennant is probably the actor best known for playing Doctor Who during this period, but Peter Capaldi became synonymous with the role around this time, too.

 

As the relaunch approaches its 20th year, there have been some whispers that the show is falling behind and not generating the same ratings it used to. Obviously, the elephant in the room here is that mainstream TV isn’t what it used to be – it no longer has the monopoly over entertainment the way it did in the 2000s.

 

Streaming services have swallowed up this demand, and with Doctor Who now broadcasting on Disney+, it has helped to push the show to a broader international audience once again, and demonstrates that it continues to adapt to changing customer appetites.

Final thoughts

 

Doctor Who has undoubtedly experienced ups and downs over the years, but 26 series in, it’s still going strong and remains a huge part of UK culture. Not only is it one of the greatest British TV exports, but as it continues championing diversity and looking for new ways to attract an audience, it stands the best chance of continuing a strong legacy.

 

The truth is that Doctor Who has already set its legacy in stone, even if the show were to end after this series. Take, for example, the Tardis, the Daleks and the magnificent standout scenes, such as the scene with Vincent van Gogh standing in his own gallery, or when two different versions of the character meet each other in crossover episodes. It’s this ability to push artistic boundaries but remain true to the original story that continues to make Doctor Who so compelling, even after all these years.