The Unbelievable Resilience of Doctor Who: 8 Astonishing Times it Cheated Cancellation!

Summary

Doctor Who has survived multiple attempts at cancellation and has emerged stronger than ever, becoming the longest-running science fiction show of all time.

Fans may still have concerns about the potential cancellation of the show, but they fail to acknowledge Doctor Who's unwavering fortitude and resilience. Over the course of its existence, the series has encountered various difficulties, ranging from the departure of William Hartnell to enduring criticisms during Colin Baker's era. However, time and time again, Doctor Who has successfully regenerated and evolved, consistently surpassing previous heights to become even grander.

Doctor Who, spanning nearly six decades, has defied numerous attempts to cancel it, emerging stronger and cementing its status as the longest-running science fiction show of all time. The period between 1984 and 2005 was particularly tumultuous for devoted Doctor Who fans, who anxiously monitored overnight ratings after each episode. Despite now having a longer continuous run, there remains an underlying fear among fans that the show could be abruptly taken away.

Yet, fans tend to overlook the show's indomitable nature, echoing the words of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor. Much like the Doctor themselves, Doctor Who always perseveres, surviving countless challenges. From the early days, prior to the introduction of regeneration, to the recent era led by Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall, there have been pivotal moments where the show's existence hung in the balance. Rather than succumbing to its potential demise, Doctor Who reinvented its production team, format, and target audience, resulting in a remarkable growth and an enhanced experience for viewers.

8 William Hartnell's Doctor Who Exit Could Have Ended The Show

By 1965, William Hartnell's health had been deteriorating, and the demanding schedule of Doctor Who was exacerbating the situation. Feeling increasingly frustrated with his leading man, producer John Wiles made an attempt to replace William Hartnell in "The Celestial Toymaker". However, this notion was vetoed by the broader production team and the BBC. When Hartnell later confessed that he could no longer continue, it seemed like the end for Doctor Who. Anneke Wills, who portrayed Polly, one of the First Doctor's final companions, revealed to an audience (via Radio Times) that there were serious deliberations about discontinuing the show altogether. Instead, they decided to cast Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor and introduced the concept of regeneration, ensuring that the show could live on indefinitely, unless there were deliberate attempts to cancel it.

7 Jon Pertwee Was Doctor Who's Last Chance In The 1970s

As the Patrick Troughton era came to a close, Doctor Who faced a grim future with declining ratings. Producer Derrick Sherwin devised a bold plan to revitalize the show by reducing the budget and confining the Doctor to Earth. This innovative approach, further refined by Sherwin's successor Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks, along with the captivating narratives crafted by future Doctor Who legends such as Malcolm Hulke and Robert Holmes, ensured the show's longevity. Jon Pertwee emerged as the savior of Doctor Who, captivating audiences season after season. This prosperous era not only shaped the course of the show but also left an indelible mark on future showrunners like Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat.

6 Colin Baker Stood Trial For Doctor Who's Future In The 1980s

Colin Baker's era as Doctor Who brought much turmoil to the show, thanks to the disapproval of Michael Grade, the Controller of BBC1. Grade believed that the show no longer matched the exceptional standards of American TV science fiction. His unfavorable view of Doctor Who was reinforced by the disturbing and violent tone of Colin Baker's first season in the role. Episodes such as "Vengeance on Varos" and "Timelash" featured sadistic violence and sexism, leading Grade to question the competence of script editor Eric Saward and executive producer John Nathan-Turner.

Consequently, Grade ordered an 18-month hiatus for the show, which was met with strong opposition from Doctor Who fans and the tabloid media. To them, Grade's attempt to cancel Doctor Who was seen as a malicious attack on a beloved national institution, prompting the tabloids to stand in support of Colin Baker's Doctor. As a means of demonstrating solidarity and raising funds for Cancer Research, a poorly-advised charity single titled "Doctor in Distress" was written and released by Doctor Who fan and record producer Ian Levine. Following this highly publicized campaign, Doctor Who made its return to television with a series that literally put the Doctor on trial for their life.

5 Sylvester McCoy Brought Doctor Who Back From The Brink

Michael Grade remained unimpressed with "The Trial of a Time Lord" and urged John Nathan-Turner to dismiss Colin Baker as Doctor Who. Speculation suggests that Grade was hoping JN-T would resign in protest, but his loyalty to the show and Colin Baker likely ensured its continuation for another three years. If Turner had departed alongside Baker, it is highly unlikely that Grade would have initiated the process of finding their replacements.

Nevertheless, JN-T persisted in producing Doctor Who throughout the Sylvester McCoy era, which saw a significant improvement in quality thanks to the innovative approach of script editor Andrew Cartmel. However, despite the success of the acclaimed Seventh Doctor era, Doctor Who couldn't be completely salvaged due to its vulnerable position in the television schedule. The BBC pitted Sylvester McCoy's episodes against the rival network ITV's immensely popular soap opera, Coronation Street. As a result, the subsequent decline in ratings provided the BBC executives with the justification they needed to put Doctor Who on an unfortunate seven-year hiatus.

4 Paul McGann Reinvigorated Doctor Who For One Night Only

It's not true that the BBC abandoned Doctor Who in 1989. There were multiple efforts to keep the show alive, such as exploring the possibility of turning it into a movie, an animated series, or an international co-production. In 1996, Paul McGann introduced Doctor Who to the US audience through a co-production with Fox and Universal Television. Although the Paul McGann movie was well-received in the UK, it failed to attract the desired viewership on Fox, leading to its cancellation before it even started. Nevertheless, the introduction of a new Doctor breathed new life into spin-off media, and McGann's adventures eventually continued with Big Finish, setting the stage for the show's more successful resurgence.

3 Christopher Eccleston Brought Doctor Who Back From The Dead

Following the disappointing reception of the Paul McGann TV Movie, doubts arose regarding the future of Doctor Who, with speculation that its existence may now be confined to comic strips, novels, and audios, appealing only to a diminishing group of devoted fans. However, the BBC pleasantly surprised everyone by announcing a revival of the show for its 40th anniversary, spearheaded by highly acclaimed screenwriter Russell T Davies. Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper were cast, leading to the instant success of RTD's Doctor Who, captivating a new generation of fans. Despite a momentary setback when Christopher Eccleston's departure was announced, the addition of David Tennant to the cast propelled the show to even greater heights.

2 Matt Smith Proved There Was Life After David Tennant

Given the immense success of RTD's Tenth Doctor era, the BBC had significant concerns about the potential decline in interest following David Tennant's Doctor Who regeneration. There was even contemplation of concluding the show with Tennant's final story, "The End of Time." Fortunately, rationality prevailed, and the responsibility for Doctor Who was handed over to Steven Moffat and Matt Smith, who skillfully guided the series to even greater heights. It is not an exaggeration to state that the efforts of Moffat and Smith to captivate a global audience set the foundation for Doctor Who's forthcoming Disney+ era. Additionally, Matt Smith managed to win over supporters of David Tennant and attracted an entirely new audience from the moment he appeared in Amelia Pond's garden, his head poking out of the crashed TARDIS.

1 Jodie Whittaker's Era Was Almost The End Of Doctor Who

The decision to almost cancel the show by the BBC following Jodie Whittaker's remarkable portrayal of the first female Doctor Who should not be seen as a reflection on her performance. According to Russell T Davies, the BBC realized that they could no longer produce the show in-house and needed to transform it into a co-production in order to compete with other prominent pop culture figures. However, the challenge they faced was finding the right person to guide the show in this new direction, which led to their initial plan of putting Doctor Who on hold until a suitable candidate could be identified.

Russell T Davies, who had previously played a crucial role in the success of Doctor Who in the early 2000s, took the opportunity to approach the BBC about the possibility of a reunion between David Tennant and Catherine Tate. His extensive experience with the brand made him a perfect choice to lead a refreshed and more accessible version of the show with a worldwide audience. With the upcoming 60th anniversary celebration of Doctor Who, it is clear that the show is now in a stronger position than ever before, dispelling any concerns about its potential cancellation once and for all.