10 Times Doctor Who Gave Fans EXACTLY What They Wanted (And They Hated It)

For those Doctor Who fans who stayed loyal through the poor treatment of the show in the 1980s and 1990s, RTD's 2005 revival felt like vindication.

So massive was the show's overnight success that it confirmed to Doctor Who fans what they knew all along: the show was brilliant, and all it needed was the love and support of the corporation behind it.

So when two spinoffs were announced to follow David Tennant's first series as the Doctor, it was further confirmation of the show's huge success. And then fans tuned in to the first episodes of Torchwood - a gritty, grown-up, sexy Scooby Doo. And the response was one of confusion.

From the opening f-word, to Owen using alien tech to date rape unsuspecting Cardiff clubbers, to the infamous sex gas, this was not what Doctor Who fans were expecting from a spinoff show. It's easy to forget these days, but Torchwood initially received a tepid response, only coming into its own with later series like the excellent Children of Earth.

Conversely, The Sarah Jane Adventures - a children's programme that skewed closer to the tone of Doctor Who - enjoyed a more positive reception overall.