50 Fun Facts About Doctor Who

On what date did the very first episode of Doctor Who, 'An Unearthly Child', originally air?

The iconic science fiction series Doctor Who first premiered on BBC Television on November 23, 1963. Its launch was notably overshadowed by the assassination of John F. Kennedy the previous day.

What is the name of the Doctor's home planet?

The Time Lords, including the Doctor, originate from the planet Gallifrey, located in the Kasterborous System. It is known for its distinctive burnt orange sky and two suns.

Which of these companions was also a Time Lady from Gallifrey?

Romana (Romanadvoratrelundar) was a Time Lady from Gallifrey who traveled with the Fourth Doctor. Like the Doctor, she was able to regenerate and had two on-screen incarnations.

Which companion, a space pilot from Earth's future, was a regular alongside the First Doctor after initially stowing away on the TARDIS?

Steven Taylor, a space pilot from the future, became a companion of the First Doctor after he crash-landed on Mechanus and later stowed away on the TARDIS.

Which companion, a young numerical genius, died trying to prevent a Cyberman-controlled freighter from crashing into prehistoric Earth?

Adric, a brilliant mathematician from the planet Alzarius, was a companion to both the Fourth and Fifth Doctors. He tragically died trying to save Earth from a Cyberman ship.

Which famous author, known for 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', co-wrote the highly-rated Doctor Who serial 'City of Death'?

'City of Death', starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, was co-written by Douglas Adams under the pseudonym 'David Agnew'. It is considered one of the series' most well-regarded stories.

Which of these companions, portrayed by Matt Lucas, was a non-human employee of River Song before becoming a regular companion to the Twelfth Doctor?

Nardole, a humanoid extraterrestrial, initially served River Song before the Twelfth Doctor reassembled his body and he became the first full-time alien companion of the revived series.

Which companion, a warrior from the 'savage' Sevateem tribe, often relied on her primitive instincts and hunting skills during her travels with the Fourth Doctor?

Leela, played by Louise Jameson, was a warrior and huntress from a regressed human tribe. Despite the Doctor's attempts to educate her, she often reverted to her more violent instincts.

Which companion of the First Doctor was an orphan from the 25th century who eventually fell in love during the siege of Troy?

Vicki, an orphan from the 25th century, traveled with the First Doctor. She decided to remain in ancient Troy after falling in love with the warrior Troilus, adopting the name Cressida.

Which companion, a young astrophysicist with a photographic memory, had her memories of the Doctor wiped by the Time Lords after her final adventure?

Zoe Heriot, a highly intelligent astrophysicist, traveled with the Second Doctor. After 'The War Games', the Time Lords returned her to her own time and erased most of her memories of her travels.

Who was the first actor to officially play the titular role in *Doctor Who*?

William Hartnell originated the role of the Doctor in 1963, setting the stage for a long-running science fiction series.

What does the acronym TARDIS stand for?

The TARDIS is the Doctor's primary mode of transport, famous for being 'bigger on the inside' and often stuck in the form of a 1960s British police box.

Which species is known for its iconic catchphrase, 'Exterminate!'?

The Daleks, a race of xenophobic mutants encased in metal shells, were created by Terry Nation and first appeared in 1963.

Which actor held the role of the Doctor for the longest continuous period in the classic series?

Tom Baker played the Fourth Doctor for seven seasons, from 1974 to 1981, becoming one of the most recognizable incarnations.

Who was the first actress to officially portray the Doctor as a female incarnation?

Jodie Whittaker debuted as the Thirteenth Doctor in 2017, marking a significant milestone as the first woman to lead the show.

Which incarnation of the Doctor was the primary companion to Rose Tyler during her first season?

Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper, was the first companion of the revived series, traveling initially with the Ninth Doctor.

In which episode did the terrifying Weeping Angels first appear?

'Blink,' starring Carey Mulligan, is a critically acclaimed episode from the third series of the revived show, famous for its unique monsters.

What tool, often used by the Doctor, can open most locks and scan objects, but cannot affect wood?

The sonic screwdriver has been a staple of the Doctor's arsenal since the Second Doctor's era, though its capabilities and design have varied over time.

What is the home planet of the Doctor's species, the Time Lords?

Gallifrey, a technologically advanced planet, is the ancestral home of the Time Lords, known for their ability to travel through time and space.

Who was the executive producer and lead writer responsible for reviving *Doctor Who* in 2005?

Russell T Davies successfully brought *Doctor Who* back to television in 2005, introducing it to a new generation of viewers and establishing its modern format.

What is the process by which a Time Lord, when critically injured or dying, can change their physical appearance and personality?

Regeneration is a unique biological process for Time Lords, allowing them to renew their body and mind, which has allowed the Doctor Who series to recast its lead actor multiple times.

On what planet did the Kaleds evolve into the Daleks?

Skaro is the desolate home world of the Daleks, where they were engineered into their iconic armored forms by Davros during a prolonged war.

The robotic dog companion, K-9, first appeared alongside which incarnation of the Doctor?

K-9, a faithful and intelligent robot dog, first joined the Fourth Doctor and Leela in the 1977 serial 'The Invisible Enemy'.

Which recurring character is known for the greeting, 'Spoilers!'?

River Song, an archaeologist and the Doctor's wife, often knows future events, leading her to frequently warn the Doctor with 'Spoilers!'

Which humanoid species, originating from Earth's twin planet Mondas, evolved into emotionless cyborgs?

The Cybermen are a race of emotionless cyborgs who replace their organic parts with artificial ones, originating from Mondas, Earth's long-lost twin planet.

With which two classic Doctors did Sarah Jane Smith primarily travel as a companion?

Sarah Jane Smith, one of the Doctor's most beloved companions, journeyed extensively with both the Third and Fourth Doctors.

What alien automatons, controlled by the Nestene Consciousness, famously invaded Earth using plastic mannequins?

The Autons, living plastic servants of the Nestene Consciousness, made their debut in the Third Doctor's first story, 'Spearhead from Space'.

What cataclysmic conflict, primarily between the Time Lords and the Daleks, led to the apparent destruction of Gallifrey?

The Last Great Time War was a devastating conflict that raged across time and space, with the Doctor ultimately ending it by seemingly destroying both the Time Lords and the Daleks to prevent further destruction.

Who was the first actor to portray the Doctor's archenemy, the Master, in the classic series?

Roger Delgado originated the role of the Master in 1971, becoming a memorable and recurring antagonist during Jon Pertwee's era.

Which of the following phrases is commonly associated with the Tenth Doctor?

David Tennant's Tenth Doctor frequently exclaimed 'Allons-y!', a French phrase meaning 'Let's go!', reflecting his energetic personality.

Which acclaimed episode, featuring the Weeping Angels, is notable for the Doctor having a minimal on-screen presence?

'Blink' is famous for its unique structure, primarily focusing on Sally Sparrow and the introduction of the Weeping Angels, with the Doctor communicating largely through pre-recorded messages.

What chilling question is repeatedly asked by the gas-mask-wearing child in the two-part story 'The Empty Child' / 'The Doctor Dances'?

The phrase 'Are you my mummy?' became an iconic and unsettling line from the critically acclaimed Ninth Doctor story set during the Blitz.

What microscopic, shadow-dwelling organisms can strip the flesh from bones in an instant?

The Vashta Nerada, whose name means 'the shadows that melt the flesh', are microscopic swarms that appear as living shadows and are native to many planets.

Which of these characters is NOT a member of the Paternoster Gang?

The Paternoster Gang is a recurring trio of Victorian-era investigators comprising Madame Vastra (a Silurian), Jenny Flint (her human wife), and Strax (a Sontaran nurse). Clara Oswald was a companion to the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors but not part of their detective agency.

Clara Oswald first officially met the Eleventh Doctor in which episode?

While an echo of Clara appeared in 'Asylum of the Daleks', her primary introduction and first meeting with the Eleventh Doctor as the 'impossible girl' was in the 2012 Christmas special, 'The Snowmen'.

What was the title of the 50th-anniversary special episode of *Doctor Who*?

'The Day of the Doctor' was a multi-Doctor special that aired on November 23, 2013, celebrating five decades of the show.

What was the military rank of Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, a long-standing ally of the Doctor?

Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart was a prominent leader of UNIT (United Nations Intelligence Taskforce) and a recurring character throughout many classic and some new series episodes.

What insectoid alien species, resembling giant wasps, featured prominently in the episode 'The Unicorn and the Wasp'?

The Vespiforms are an ancient insectoid species, essentially giant wasps, capable of morphing into other forms, and were the antagonists in the Agatha Christie-themed episode.

The cute, marshmallow-like aliens, the Adipose, were created from what human bodily process?

The Adipose are sentient fat cells that detach from humans through a diet pill, forming small, innocent-looking creatures.

What gentle, telepathic species with exposed brains are known for their mournful chants and usually serve others?

The Ood are a highly intelligent, peaceful species that often find themselves enslaved due to their natural telepathic abilities and subservient nature.

Which rhinoceros-headed alien police force is known for its strict adherence to galactic law and its distinctive armor?

The Judoon are a highly militarized intergalactic police force that enforces strict laws, often appearing on Earth to apprehend fugitives.

The Sontarans are a warrior race known for what specific biological characteristic related to their reproduction?

The Sontarans are an entirely cloned race, bred for warfare, which explains their similar appearances and aggressive nature.

What recurring phrase, appearing as an ominous warning throughout the first series of the revived show, was linked to Rose Tyler?

The 'Bad Wolf' arc was a mysterious phrase and motif that culminated in Rose Tyler absorbing the TARDIS's energy, becoming the 'Bad Wolf' entity.

Who was the first companion to travel with the First Doctor in the debut episode 'An Unearthly Child'?

Susan Foreman, the Doctor's granddaughter, was his first companion and a fellow Time Lord, initially traveling with him in a junkyard on Earth.

The Valeyard, a dark future incarnation of the Doctor, appeared during the trial of which Doctor?

The Valeyard served as the prosecutor in 'The Trial of a Time Lord' and was revealed to be an 'amalgamation of the darker sides' of the Doctor's nature, from between his twelfth and final incarnations.

Which Doctor endured 4.5 billion years alone in a confession dial in the episode 'Heaven Sent'?

In one of the most acclaimed episodes of the Peter Capaldi era, the Twelfth Doctor faced an inescapable prison and a constantly regenerating monster alone for an immense span of time.

The 'Timeless Child' arc revealed that the Doctor is not a Time Lord in the traditional sense, but originated from where?

The controversial 'Timeless Child' storyline revealed that the Doctor is a mysterious being from an unknown planet, possessing infinite regenerations, who was adopted by a Gallifreyan and became the genetic source for all Time Lords.

Which of these was the first *Doctor Who* story to feature multiple Doctors from different eras interacting on screen?

The 1972 serial 'The Three Doctors' was the first time three incarnations of the Doctor (First, Second, and Third) appeared together to battle Omega.

Who portrayed the 'Fugitive Doctor', a previously unrevealed incarnation of the Doctor, introduced during Jodie Whittaker's era?

Jo Martin's portrayal of the Fugitive Doctor, initially disguised as Ruth Clayton, was a significant twist, revealing a hidden past for the Doctor.

What ancient, sentient weapon, containing the consciousness of Rose Tyler, did the War Doctor intend to use to end the Time War?

The Moment was a sentient weapon of mass destruction from the Time War, capable of ending all things, and it appeared to the War Doctor in the form of Rose Tyler.