Doctor Who Pilot: An Unearthly Child
Story: Pilot: An Unearthly Child
Episodes: 1
Writer: CE Webber, Anthony Coburn
As with most television programs of the time, the producers of Doctor Who shot a pre-broadcast pilot for approval by BBC TV. While not intended for broadcast television, this pilot episode fortunately survived and was included on the video release The Hartnell Years and later packaged alongside The Edge of Destruction (UK May 2000 Release). The actual broadcast episode was entirely re-shot, and while almost identical to the pilot, some significant differences do occur. These include an obscure “ink blot” creation by Susan as she prepares to leave the classroom, which would be replaced with a reading and critique of a book about the French Revolution, and a reference made by Susan about being born in the 49th century. Some of William Hartnell’s characterization of the Doctor was softened for the broadcast episode as well.
| The Cast | . | The Crew | ||
| The Doctor | William Hartnell | . | Producer | Verity Lambert |
| Susan | Carole Ann Ford | . | Script Editor | David Whitaker |
| Ian Chesterton | William Russell | . | Director | Waris Hussein |
| Barbara | Jacquieline Hill | . | Designer | Peter Brachacki |
| Policeman | Fred Rawlings | . | Visual Effects | Peter Brachacki |
| . | . | . | Costume Design | Maureen Heneghan |
| . | ||||
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This is a kinda cool second/first look at the beginning of the series. In no way essential, but worth it to see some of the ideas that ended up getting dropped from the regular program.