Country Companions

Doctor Who
Current Doctor Who series intertitle
Created by	Sydney Newman C. E. Webber Donald Wilson
Starring	Various Doctors (currently David Tennant) Various companions
Opening theme	Doctor Who theme music
Ending theme	Doctor Who theme music (Reprise)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	737 (as of 30 June 2007) (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	25 min. (1963–1984, 1986–1989) 45 min. (1985, 2005–present) various other lengths
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC tv, later renamed BBC One
Picture format	405-line black & white (1963–1967) 625-line black & white (1968–1969) PAL 625-line colour (1970–1989) 720x576 16:9 (2005–present)
Chronology
Related shows	Torchwood The Sarah Jane Adventures
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Doctor Who Portal

Doctor Who is a long-running award-winning British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The series depicts the adventures of a mysterious time-traveller known as "the Doctor" who travels in his time ship, the TARDIS, which appears from the exterior to be a blue police phone box. With his companions, he explores time and space, solving problems and righting wrongs.

The programme is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television series in the world and is also a significant part of British popular culture. It has been recognised for its imaginative stories, creative low-budget special effects during its original run, and pioneering use of electronic music (originally produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop). In Britain and elsewhere, the show has become a cult television favourite and has influenced generations of British television professionals, many of whom grew up watching the series. It has received recognition from critics and the public as one of the finest British television programmes, including the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series in 2006.

The programme originally ran from 1963 to 1989. A television film/backdoor pilot was made in 1996 (from which a series was never made), and the programme was successfully relaunched in 2005, produced in-house by BBC Wales. Some development money for the new series is contributed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which is credited as a co-producer, although they do not have creative input into the show. Doctor Who has also spawned spin-offs in multiple media, including the current television series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The show's lead role is currently portrayed by David Tennant. A Christmas special will air in December 2007 with Kylie Minogue co-starring, and a fourth series, scheduled to air in 2008, has been commissioned. Catherine Tate will be returning to Doctor Who for the fourth series as the Doctor's latest companion, reprising her role of Donna Noble from the 2006 Christmas special. It has also been confirmed that Freema Agyeman will return midway through the fourth series to reprise her role of Martha Jones, following a multi-episode guest portrayal of the character in the Doctor Who spin-off series, Torchwood.

It has been confirmed by the BBC that after a 2008 Christmas special, Doctor Who will return for three specials featuring David Tennant during 2009 before a full length series five, which has been commissioned for 2010.