Here’s how the Beatles (almost) met Doctor Who
On May 22, 1965, children across England – and maybe some parents, too – finished their afternoon tea and took to the couch to watch the latest episode of the increasingly popular BBC 1 program, Doctor Who. A new storyline was beginning. Over six cliff-hanging episodes, “The Chase” would feature the Doctor and his friends being pursued across space and time by their arch nemeses, the Daleks.
Shaped like pepper pots, the Daleks were mechanical creatures that glided around on unseen wheels, barking out the word “exterminate!” in a nails-on-chalkboard screech and zapping people with electronic rays. They were terrifying and kids loved them. The Daleks had become a phenomenon. There were Dalek toys and books and board games. And, that summer, there would be a big screen Doctor Who and the Daleks movie, starring Peter Cushing as the Doctor. In color!
But, right then, on TV, the picture was still black and white and the Doctor was veteran character actor William Hartnell. The Daleks hadn’t shown up in the story yet and the Doctor – a kindly/crotchety man who looked to be in his early 60s – was in his time and space machine, the TARDIS, enjoying some down time with his onboard companions.
By: John Firehammer
Source: Something Else Reviews
