10 Lies About Doctor Who You Probably Believe
9. The Name 'Dalek' Came From An Encyclopedia Spine
How do you come up with the name for an iconic Doctor Who monster? By nicking it off a book spine, apparently.
At least, that’s the story Dalek originator Terry Nation gave, when asked how he devised a name for his most famous creations.
According to a 1964 interview, Nation took inspiration from an encyclopedia volume, which covered words beginning with ‘Dal’ through to words beginning with ‘Lek’, with a spine that literally read ‘DAL–LEK’.
But under scrutiny, this account began to fall apart, with some wondering whether such a spine could actually exist. After all, how many words in the English language begin with ‘Lek’?
In the end, Nation came clean, revealing that the encyclopedia anecdote was nothing more than a fabrication: a “profound explanation” to “satisfy persistent journalists”. And you’ve got to admit, it’s a pretty good one.
But the question remains: where did the name Dalek come from? Well, according to Nation’s revised account, it “simply rolled off the typewriter”.
Interestingly, the other key myth surrounding the Daleks’ creation – that they were inspired by pepper pots – is in fact true. So it's not all a lie!