10 Behind The Scenes Secrets From Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child

10. The Double-Filming

Two versions of the pilot episode were filmed. The original was recorded on 27th September 1963, after an entire week of rehearsing the script. It ran into production errors that are a little similar to day one of Disneyland, or the endorsement tour of Jurassic Park. Frankly, lots of things didn't work. The doors to the TARDIS refused to close properly, which were blatantly obvious on camera.

Executive Producer Sydney Newman ordered the show to be filmed again, not wanting to risk any poor reception where possible. In the intervening days between shooting, several changes were made. The original costumes, which in the Doctor's case was a simple suit and tie, were scrapped. They were replaced with Edwardian-style clothing, which he would wear for the majority of the episodes that followed.

Reviewing the relationship between the Doctor and Susan, Hartnell was advised to tone down his severity toward Carole-Ann Ford. The second attempt was the final product, recorded on 18th October 1963. The original pilot wasn't released until 1991, when it was included in the collection 'The Hartnell Years'.