10 Biggest Doctor Who 'What Ifs'

It's difficult to contemplate a world without the Daleks. Ironically, they became the very essence that made Doctor Who popular. Sure, the creativity of the show's originality, and it's fantastical concepts certainly made it something worth checking out. But it wasn't until the Daleks arrival in the second serial that made Doctor Who a household name.

Their very presence has kept viewers coming back to Doctor Who for nearly six decades. For instance, everyone is always excited to see when a new Doctor will be pitted against the deranged pepper-pots, as this usually establishes what kind of Doctor we will be in for. It's almost like a rite of passage each incarnation must go through. Literally, each new actor who takes on the role await in anticipation for their chance at defeating the Daleks.

In another universe this may not have happened. Sydney Newman initiated Doctor Who when he was Head of Drama for the BBC, wishing to bring something new to the table, something that the corporation had never dared to do before. But he expressed that the newly formatted science-fiction series should avoid becoming dependent on bug-eyed monsters, straying away from the clichéd, and concentrate more on being an educational show that challenged the viewers.

Had Verity Lambert not been able to defend her case to allow Terry Nation's bold script to be produced, then the Daleks would never have seen the light of day. In turn, Doctor Who may not have held the longevity that it gained through the success of The Doctor's dreaded enemy.