10 Times Doctor Who Has Ripped Off Other Franchises

10. Quatermass

Nigel Kneale's tales of the resourceful Professor Bernard Quatermass are an obvious influence on Doctor Who. Quatermass was a scientist working for the British Experimental Rocket Group who faced alien invasions over three highly influential serials (Quatermass, Quatermass II and Quatermass and the Pit) over the 1950s (and like the Doctor, Bernard was played by different actors). Championing the cause of science and rationality, Quatermass is very much in evidence in the character of the Doctor. The series were remade as successful films, too. The UNIT era is the one that copies the Quatermass serials the most, with producer Derrick Sherwin admitting as much that grounding the Doctor on Earth was an attempt to recreate the feel of Quatermass. The UNIT team, with the Doctor as the clever scientist saving the day, quite obviously harks back to the 50s serials and some tales, such as Ambassadors of Death, can even be seen as partial remakes. Image of the Fendahl also borrows many elements from the third serial. NuWho's The Lazarus Experiment also does a cheeky homage to The Quatermass Experiment in its church conclusion while the British Rocket Group and Bernard get a name check in Remembrance of the Daleks, a tale that very deliberately evokes the series.