Dr Who to touch down on TV again

Published on 26/09/2003 01:00

THE classic sci-fi series Dr Who is set to make a return to the BBC.

The show’s creators have said the series is in the early stages of development and details of who will play the Time Lord will not be available for some time.

The new series will be written by Russell T Davies, creator of the Channel 4 drama Queer as Folk and the acclaimed ITV drama Second Coming. It may be back on TV screens in two years.

Doctor Who is the world’s longest-running science-fiction series and was screened from 1963 to 1989 with several actors playing the role over the decades, including William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.

Across television and film, it chronicled the adventures of eight Doctors and more than 30 companions against countless foes - human, alien and otherwise - throughout time and space.

In 2001 Sylvester McCoy reprised his role as the seventh Dr Who in an audio drama broadcast on the web.

Mal Young, the BBC’s controller of continuing drama series and co-producer of the new show, said:

"It’s time to crank up the Tardis and find what lies in store for the Doctor."