User:Bjwebb/Sandbox/Doctor Who
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[[Image:Dw2005logo.png|300px|thumb|right|The Doctor Who 2005 television series logo.]]
Doctor Who is a long-running British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC about a mysterious time-travelling adventurer known only as "The Doctor". It is also the title of a 1996 television movie featuring the same character. It is common to see the show's title abbreviated as Dr. Who, even by the BBC, although purists consider this form incorrect.
The programme is a significant part of British popular culture, widely recognised for its creative storytelling and use of innovative music (originally produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop). It is also known for its innovative use of low-budget special effects for most of its history. Elements of the programme are extremely well known and identifiable even to non-fans. In Britain and elsewhere, the show has become a cult television favourite on a par with Star Trek and has influenced generations of British television writers, many of whom grew up watching the series. Doctor Who was ranked third in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century, produced by the British Film Institute in 2000 and voted on by industry professionals.
After a long period off screen, a new series of Doctor Who started on March 26, 2005, continuing the original 1963–1989 run and the 1996 television movie. Produced by BBC Wales in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the 2005 series has concluded in the United Kingdom, and the programme will be returning for a Christmas special later in the year, followed by a second and third series (including a second Christmas special in 2006). The first new series (2005) will be repeated on BBC Three beginning on Sunday July 17, 2005 at 19:00.
As of 2005, it is being broadcast weekly in Canada (CBC), Australia (ABC) and New Zealand (Prime TV). The series has also been sold to Hungary's RTLKlub, a Danish station and South Korean station KBS — the first time a British drama series has been sold to a Korean public station.
