Think you know everything about...
1
The first female Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker (pictured, next to outgoing Doctor Peter Capaldi), makes her debut in the show’s upcoming Christmas special. But which of the following descriptions of the Time Lord was not in a 1963 memo outlining the show’s premise?
A. ‘Frail-looking but wiry and tough like an old turkey.’ B. ‘He can regenerate, but is always male.’ C. ‘Somewhat pathetic.’ D. ‘He is about 650 years old.’
2
WHICH of these pop acts performed in an episode of Doctor Who in 1965?
A. The Beatles B. The Rolling Stones C. Lulu D. Cilla Black
3
True or false? elvis Presley almost became the Doctor.
4
WHICH of these following Doctor Who words is an acronym? A. Cyberman C. Dalek B. Torchwood D. Tardis
5
WHICH two of these are thought to have inspired the Daleks? A. The Spitfire C. Pineapples B. Ballerinas D. The Nazis
6
WHICH of these actors has not claimed to have turned down the role of the Doctor? A. Daniel Craig B. Benedict Cumberbatch C. Brian Blessed D. Bill Nighy
1) B. ‘He can regenerate, but is always male.’ The 1963 memo, co-written by sydney Newman, then head of BBC Drama, does not mention anything about regeneration and does not specify that the character must be a man. It adds: ‘Each story will have an informational core based on fact.’
2) A. The Beatles. The Doctor’s companion Vicki (played by Maureen O’Brien) uses his Time space Visualiser to tune in to the Beatles performing Ticket To Ride. when the machine is turned off, he exclaims: ‘You’ve squashed my favourite Beatles!’
3) False. But Michael Jackson nearly did. Paramount studios agreed to back a film of Doctor who in 1988 and wanted either MJ or comedian Bill Cosby to play the Doctor.
4) D. Tardis. The name of the spacecraft is an acronym for Time and Relative Dimension In space. ‘Dalek’ was made up by scriptwriter Terry Nation. ‘Torchwood’ is an anagram of ‘Doctor who’ and the title of a spin-off.
5) B. Ballerinas and D. The Nazis. Nation was inspired by the Georgian state Dancers, whose ballerina legs were hidden by long skirts, making them appear to glide along the floor. The Nazis are also thought to have inspired the Daleks, including their call of ‘Exterminate!’ and their raised right ‘arm’.
6) A. Daniel Craig. Cumberbatch said he declined as ‘I didn’t really like the whole package — being on school lunch boxes’. Blessed said he was approached while starring in Z Cars, but was too busy to accept. Nighy said: ‘It comes with too much baggage,’ adding: ‘You are not allowed to say you turned that job down because it’s disrespectful to whoever did it.’
The doctor Who Christmas special is on BBC1 at 5.30pm on Christmas day.