Doctor Who An Adventure In Space And Time: 5 Things We Are Excited To See Again
1. David Bradley as William Hartnell
No I havent lost the plot, Im not repeating myself because I have covered the drama breathing life into the series characters, but most interestingly we will get to see more of the cast, the actors behind the characters and I welcome it. In current times we are spoiled by ubiquitous interviews with cast and crew (Doctor Who Confidential Im looking at you.). It in some ways shatters the illusion, but in retrospect it makes stars of the past something of an enigma. Heck, we dont even have a complete archive of William Hartnells stories never mind interviews or behind the scenes footage of him. Its ironic that William Hartnell is probably the most mysterious actor playing arguably the most mysterious Doctor.
It is going to be miraculous to witness David Bradleys portrayal of William Hartnell, the man behind the Doctor. At the time there was none of the mythology that we take for granted, the construction of the character of the Doctor came from Hartnell himself, and he paved the way for the series. He was truly a remarkable man and this drama will be a long overdue tribute to a legend. Of course the rest of the cast will be able to have a chance to share the spotlight 50 years on. As part of that, we will be able to see the relationships with the fellow cast members and the crew blossom and grow with the series. Stories are abound that Hartnell had a short temper, but I think over time that has become something of a caricature. It will be so reassuring to see a much more considered portrayal of Hartnell and how the Doctor Who family developed and changed.
I can see Hartnells departure being quite heartbreaking as his reason for leaving was illness. Doctor Who was a role he loved. I think a lot of people have forgotten a lot more about William Hartnell than they remember. This documentary could well be a revelation and I hope both David Bradley and William Hartnell as well as everybody involved in the conception of the series, get the recognition they deserve from it.
Have you been following the progress of An Adventure in Space and Time? What are you looking forward to seeing? Let us know in the comments below.