David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television is written by Simon Guerrier.
In time to celebrate Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary, publisher Ten Acre Films (The Long Game, Pull to Open) are releasing a book about one of the people who was instrumental in the show’s early success: David Whitaker.
Riffing on the title of his early Doctor Who novelisation, the book is titled David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television.
Written by Simon Guerrier, the 400-page book promises to tell Whitaker’s story. In post up until 1964’s ‘The Dalek Invasion of Earth’, he shaped Doctor Who‘s formative run. Whitaker wrote eight times for the show, both during and after his tenure as story editor, penning both of Patrick Troughton’s Dalek encounters. Later, he wrote novelisations and three Dalek books (with Terry Nation).
Here’s the synopsis for David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television:
Who, discover the extraordinary, little-known life of one of its chief architects, David Whitaker. As the show’s first story editor, he helped to establish the compelling blend of adventure, imagination and quirky humour that made – and continues to make – the series a hit.
David commissioned the first Dalek story, and fought for it to be made when his bosses didn’t like it. Regeneration, the TARDIS being alive, the idea of Doctor Who expanding to become a multimedia phenomenon in comics, books and films… David Whitaker was all over it. Yet very little was known about this key figure in Doctor Who history – until now. Why did he fall out with Irving Berlin? Was he really engaged to Yootha Joyce? And how did an assignment to Moscow badly affect his career?
David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television is published on 6th November 2023.
It’s available to pre order in softback from Ten Acre Films, priced £17.99 + P&P.
Special Hardcover Edition
Additionally, there’s a special hardcover edition in the style of that first Doctor Who novelisation.
It’s available exclusively via The Who Shop, priced £24.99.