An Adventure in Space and Time (2013)

In 1963, Sydney Newman, the visionary leader of BBC TV's drama division, perceives a gap in their Saturday tea-time roster. His solution? A show that would captivate the youth, centered around a venerable figure who embarks on thrilling time travel escapades. Newman entrusts this ambitious project to Verity Lambert, a young and relatively unseasoned producer. Battling against the tides of sexism and racial prejudice, Lambert and pioneering Indian director Waris Hussein convince the gruff and tenacious actor William Hartnell to breathe life into the titular doctor's character. Despite the looming shadow of the Kennedy assassination and a series of technical setbacks, the inaugural episode of 'Doctor Who' takes flight. As the show garners success, Hartnell becomes deeply intertwined with his character, to the point of obsession. However, after three years, health problems begin to impair Hartnell's performance, causing him to falter and forget lines. Newman informs him of the show's ingenious solution - Doctor Who will 'regenerate', and a younger actor, Patrick Troughton, will assume the mantle. Although Hartnell feels a profound attachment to his role, he graciously passes the torch to Troughton, marking the first in a long line of actors destined to portray a character who would become a timeless icon for the next half-century.

An Adventure in Space and Time is a drama movie featuring David Bradley and directed by Terry McDonough.

An Adventure in Space and Time is currently streaming on BritBox, BritBox Amazon Channel, Britbox Apple TV Channel and Hoopla.