#100days - '63: Doctor Who debuts, November 23rd

The number 63 is the latest entry in this 100-day countdown to my 2000th blip, so I'm celebrating the first broadcast of science fiction drama series Doctor Who. Its debut broadcast was in 1963 - November 23rd, to be precise, the day after US President John F Kennedy was assassinated. [That strange quirk of fate helped inspire aspects for one of my Doctor Who novels, [url=https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2392653921022642167]Who Killed Kennedy[/url].]

The first episode of Doctor Who was and is unlike anything else, featuring a mysterious and unlikable lead character, a strange teenage girl and two gullible but curious teachers. Even now, many scenes from An Unearthly Child are impressive and intriguing, with an utterly eerie quality.

Doctor Who scared me silly as a child, and inspired me to become a writer. So I owe the show a lot, and have attempted to reply it by scripting audio dramas and writing novels based on the show. I'd love to have written an episode of Doctor Who for TV, but that's unlikely to ever happen.

Nonetheless, it maintains a special place in my affections!