Questions about 1963 Radio Trailer - An Unearthly Child

[Hugh Pearson]

"My name is William Hartnell and, as Doctor Who, I make my debut on Saturday the 23rd November at 5.15.

The Doctor is an extraordinary old man from another world who owns a time and space machine.

He and his grand-daughter, Susan (played by Carole Ann Ford) have landed in England and are enjoying their stay, until Susan arouses the curiosity of two of her school-teachers (played by William Russell and Jacqueline Hill). They follow Susan and get inside the Ship and Doctor Who decides to leave Earth, starting a series of adventures which I know will thrill and excite you every week."

1963 Radio Trailer - An Unearthly Child

Excuse my ignorance if the answer to this is widely know, but does the audio for this radio trailer still exist?

If not, is there any possibility that it might exist on off-air recordings of programming done in that time period?

So, are there any searchers willing to try to find it?

Thanks to Richard Bignell for the quotation -> p9 Issue 3, Nothing at the End of the Lane

[Richard Bignell]

No copy of the trailer is known to exist.

[Richard Tipple]

So now audio, just a script? Might be fun to recreate that..

[Hugh Pearson]

Maybe the BBC should do it using David Bradley as William Hartnell - and use the "new" trailer as a promo for the forthcoming dramatised account of Doctor Who‘s early years, An Adventure In Space and Time!

[John W King]

You will see on a different thread (Earliest memories) that earlier in the year I recalled having seen the TELEVISION trailer and it fits in with this account of a radio trailer. As soon as I read the scipt posted here it brought back the visuals and the words are closer than I previously posted (Obviously!) I do hope they try to recreate them for Adventures in Time and Space". I can remember seeing the trailer on TV at least twice. One time was on the thursday either at the end of or during "Tonight" with cliff Michelmore.
I personally find this report very exciting as it confirms my memory. I thought I was the only to recall this.
Any news then of my other unique memory - the use of the final Dalek battle sequence used in the Hospital "Meet the Kids" programme shown sometime (May bank holiday 1968?) between the initial transmission and the repeat after Wheel in Space?.
If only we could tap into our brains to replay our memories.........

[Richard Tipple]

Jul 15, 2013 9:18:39 GMT John W King said:

You will see on a different thread (Earliest memories) that earlier in the year I recalled having seen the TELEVISION trailer and it fits in with this account of a radio trailer. As soon as I read the scipt posted here it brought back the visuals and the words are closer than I previously posted (Obviously!) I do hope they try to recreate them for Adventures in Time and Space". I can remember seeing the trailer on TV at least twice. One time was on the thursday either at the end of or during "Tonight" with cliff Michelmore.
I personally find this report very exciting as it confirms my memory. I thought I was the only to recall this.
Any news then of my other unique memory - the use of the final Dalek battle sequence used in the Hospital "Meet the Kids" programme shown sometime (May bank holiday 1968?) between the initial transmission and the repeat after Wheel in Space?.
If only we could tap into our brains to replay our memories.........

Does ''Meet the kids'' survive in the archive?

Does the TV trailer exist? I'd love to recreate both the radio and TV trailers if I can get a confirmed script(s)!

Thanks for sharing your first hand account, it's so interesting. The 'earliest Dr. Who memories' is a superb thread.

[John W King]

Thank you for the compliment. For re-creating purposes the script quoted here is as close as my memory allows to be accurate.
The visuals I think began with Hartnell dressed as the Dr talking directly to camera Close up with slow zoom out to head and shoulders. I don't recall the background but think it was neutral, possibly dark.:-

"My name is William Hartnell and, as Doctor Who, I make my debut on Saturday the 23rd November at 5.15.

The Doctor is an extraordinary old man from another world who owns a time and space machine."

Beinning of opening titles (darkness with vertical beam of light opening out) cut to Head to thigh scene of Susan moving and dancing to radio and dressed as in Unearthly child (Probably a clip from that episode.

voice over - "He and his grand-daughter, Susan (played by Carole Ann Ford) have landed in England and are enjoying their stay, until Susan arouses the curiosity of two of her school-teachers - "

Cut to Ian Chesterton in his Chemistry lab in front of bench with test tubes, flasks etc. It may have been a clip from the first episode where he is takling to Susan about litmus paper etc.

voice over - " (played by William Russell..... "

Cut to Barbara Wright standing to Right of a Blackboard. Again possibly a clip of Barbara from the opening episode.

voice over - "and Jacqueline Hill). "

A close up of Hartnell's eyes slowly zooming out to his face.

"They follow Susan and get inside the Ship and Doctor Who decides to leave Earth,"

Closing segment of opening titles

Voice over - "starting a series of adventures which I know will thrill and excite you every week."

End of opening sequence as the words Doctor Who form.

Over a still of Hartnell as The Doctor announcer says:-

"Doctor Who begins on BBC Television this Saturday at 5.15."

It was all over very quickly nearly 50 years ago. The only bit that looked specially shot were the segments of Hartnell as the Doctor. I don't recall any music or sound affects in the background.


"Meet the KIds" probably doesn't exist as it went out live from a hospital. I think the host for this episode was Rolf Harris and he played virtually the entire Dalak battle for a sick boy. Over the final explosion he said something like " I hope you enjoyed that. I know I did. Anyway, if you went to see some more BBC1 are showing the whole story again in a few weeks time......"

[Richard Tipple]

Amazing, thanks John.

[rdenham]

Jul 14, 2013 17:08:47 GMT Richard Tipple said:

So now audio, just a script? Might be fun to recreate that..

You could ask John Guilor to recreate the voiceover

[Richard Bignell]

Or not.

[Richard Tipple]

Jul 15, 2013 16:21:57 GMT Richard Bignell said:

Or not.

I personally think John Guilor's Hartnell is very good indeed.

[Brad Phipps]

Jul 14, 2013 13:54:33 GMT Hugh Pearson said:

"My name is William Hartnell and, as Doctor Who, I make my debut on Saturday the 23rd November at 5.15.

The Doctor is an extraordinary old man from another world who owns a time and space machine.

He and his grand-daughter, Susan (played by Carole Ann Ford) have landed in England and are enjoying their stay, until Susan arouses the curiosity of two of her school-teachers (played by William Russell and Jacqueline Hill). They follow Susan and get inside the Ship and Doctor Who decides to leave Earth, starting a series of adventures which I know will thrill and excite you every week."

1963 Radio Trailer - An Unearthly Child

Excuse my ignorance if the answer to this is widely know, but does the audio for this radio trailer still exist?

If not, is there any possibility that it might exist on off-air recordings of programming done in that time period?

So, are there any searchers willing to try to find it?

Thanks to Richard Bignell for the quotation -> p9 Issue 3, Nothing at the End of the Lane

When did this air? Week before? Day before?

[adamjordan]

Jul 15, 2013 12:54:04 GMT John W King said:

Thank you for the compliment. For re-creating purposes the script quoted here is as close as my memory allows to be accurate.
The visuals I think began with Hartnell dressed as the Dr talking directly to camera Close up with slow zoom out to head and shoulders. I don't recall the background but think it was neutral, possibly dark...................etc

Brilliant post John. Thanks for sharing. That's a "cut out and keep" post for future reference!

[Brad Phipps]

Jul 16, 2013 3:16:22 GMT adamjordan said:

Jul 15, 2013 12:54:04 GMT John W King said:

Thank you for the compliment. For re-creating purposes the script quoted here is as close as my memory allows to be accurate.
The visuals I think began with Hartnell dressed as the Dr talking directly to camera Close up with slow zoom out to head and shoulders. I don't recall the background but think it was neutral, possibly dark...................etc

Brilliant post John. Thanks for sharing. That's a "cut out and keep" post for future reference!

It'll be on my website soon.

[Richard Tipple]

Jul 15, 2013 12:54:04 GMT John W King said:

Thank you for the compliment. For re-creating purposes the script quoted here is as close as my memory allows to be accurate.
The visuals I think began with Hartnell dressed as the Dr talking directly to camera Close up with slow zoom out to head and shoulders. I don't recall the background but think it was neutral, possibly dark.:-

Thanks for this John. Using your script, edit markers and visual memory I've recreated how this trailer may have looked as accurately as I can. Sadly no visuals exist for WH's piece to camera so I've had to recreate it using some facial animation and the voice work of John Guilor. I've tried to keep the cuts as you described, and even included the camera direction. The only liberty I've taken from your account is replaced the 'neutral, possibly dark' background with a shot of Totter's Lane. You said at the end that the BBC announcers voice came in over a still of Hartnell as the Doctor. I've used a publicity photo for this still.

I hope you like it,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=95W2XCRe6Vo&feature=player_embedded&noredirect=1