Children in Need



Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Donations are usually collected during telethons in November. The BBC often commissions special episodes or other productions to air during this time.

Doctor Who has had a long association with Children in Need, and has produced no less than five original productions (four storyline-related, one concert) aired as part of the annual appeal.

The first and most extravagant of these was the ninety-minute special episode The Five Doctors. It aired in November 1983 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the series, which also coincided with that year's Children in Need Appeal.

In 1993, a two-part "mini-story", Dimensions in Time, was broadcast. It was introduced by a short skit with Jon Pertwee, in character as the Third Doctor, and Noel Edmonds. Dimensions in Time was a crossover with another popular series, EastEnders. It was originally broadcast in 3-D but could be seen without special 3-D glasses. All surviving Doctors (including Tom Baker) and many of the surviving companions appeared in this pastiche written by John Nathan-Turner, which asked viewers to choose which EastEnders character would "save the day" in the second episode. The special, produced to mark the programme's thirtieth anniversary in lieu of the cancelled The Dark Dimension, was not well received by some fans.

In 1998, the charity story Future Generations was released, featuring a large crossover of several series aired on the BBC, including Doctor Who. This was followed by an episode of Live & Kicking.

Five years later in 2003, when Doctor Who was announced to return, Children in Need featured a special Children in Need 2003 written by Nev Fountain, starring Jon Culshaw, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy as the Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors, with John Leeson reprising the voice of K9 and Culshaw's Dead Ringers co-star Jan Ravens portraying Anne Robinson alongside a Sontaran, a Cyberman and a Sea Devil. The prize was the chance to appear in the forthcoming revived series. After the first and only round, the Doctor (which one is unknown although the camera angle and lighting seemed aimed at Baker) was the strongest link and all of the monsters were described as the weakest link. During the vote off, the Fourth Doctor voted for one of 'his' fellow incarnations (which one is also unknown) and had a dispute with K9 over voting for him, thanks to the assistance of the Sixth Doctor writing for him, but ultimately the Sontaran was voted off. At the end of the sketch, the Seventh Doctor tried to appeal for the Sontaran to not get voted off, but to no avail as Robinson decided that none of the contestants (even the Doctors) were worthy of a place in the returning show.

Since the revival of the series in 2005, Doctor Who has several times presented mini-episodes for Children in Need. The first, known variously as the Pudsey Cutaway, Born Again, or simply Born Again, aired in November 2005 and served to introduce audiences to David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, providing a link between the end of The Parting of the Ways and The Christmas Invasion.

For 2006, the series presented a special televised concert of music from the series (which was later condensed into a special episode of Doctor Who Confidential.

In 2007, another mini-episode was produced to link Last of the Time Lords and Voyage of the Damned: Time Crash. It was a milestone production for the series revival. It featured the return of Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, making it the first multi-Doctor story of the revived series.

For the 2008 appeal, there was insufficient time for the production team to prepare an original production (according to Russell T Davies writing in Doctor Who Magazine), although there were subsequent media rumours of a potential reunion of the surviving Doctors. Ultimately, the show's contribution consisted of the pre-credits teaser from the upcoming Christmas special, The Next Doctor.

In early 2009, Davies, writing again in DWM, hinted about the possibility of a further mini-episode being produced for the 2009 appeal. Ultimately, this did not occur; instead, a "specially packaged" preview clip from TV: The End of Time was announced for broadcast during the 20 November appeal.

For 2010, a preview of the Christmas Special A Christmas Carol was shown.

The 2011 event saw an original mini-episode, The Naked Truth, featuring the Eleventh Doctor and written by Steven Moffat broadcast alongside a preview for the Christmas special The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe.

In 2012, both a prequel and trailer for the forthcoming Christmas Special were shown. The prequel was entitled The Great Detective, and both were introduced by Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman.

In 2013, a preview of The Day of the Doctor was shown.

In 2014, a preview of Last Christmas was shown.

In 2015, a preview of The Husbands of River Song was shown.

In 2016, a preview of The Return of Doctor Mysterio was shown, as well as Looking for Pudsey, which features the Twelfth Doctor.

In 2017, a preview of Twice Upon a Time was shown.

In 2018, Anna's Doctor Who Surprise was released, along with a preview of Kerblam!.

In 2023, was released.

Timeline
Note: The Doctor Who group, Hyde Fundrasiers, raised money for Children in Need and other charities throughout the year.
 * 25 November 1983 - The Five Doctors was broadcast during the night’s appeal. Also the Fifth Doctor landed in the studio and donated his coat to be auctioned.
 * 22 November 1985 - Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and producer John Nathan-Turner visited the Blackpool Doctor Who Exhibition to collect donations. Back in the studio, Terry Wogan and Patrick Moore welcomed a plethora of Doctors and companions as they emerged from the TARDIS to present a cheque.
 * 26 November 1993 - The first episode of the two-part 3-D mini story, Dimensions in Time, was broadcast during the night. The mini story was also produced to celebrate the show's 30th anniversary.
 * 21 November 2003 - The Dead Ringers team produced a sketch featuring the Fourth (Jon Culshaw), Sixth (Colin Baker) and Seventh (Sylvester McCoy) Doctors playing the Weakest Link. It also starred K9, a Cyberman, a Sontaran and a Sea Devil with Jan Ravans as Anne Robinson. It was written by Nev Fountain.
 * 14 October 2005 - The Doctor Who Production Team ran the "Doctor Who Galactic Dinner", featuring a black tie dinner, a memorabilia auction and the chance to meet David Tennant, Billie Piper and executive producer Russell T Davies.
 * 18 November 2005 - The Children in Need Special was broadcast, introducing the Tenth Doctor. David Tennant and Billie Piper appeared in three short appeal films.
 * 2006 - The Doctor Who Production Team hosted "Doctor Who a Celebration", special music concert held at the Wales Millennium Centre, featuring Murray Gold's music from the series. It was hosted by David Tennant. Also David Tennant and Freema Agyeman appeared in a short appeal film on the night.
 * 16 November 2007 - Time Crash was broadcast, featuring the Fifth and Tenth Doctors. There was also an eBay auction featuring signed props from the special.
 * 25 November 2008 - A preview of The Next Doctor was broadcast. The Doctor Who Production Team also held a competition for 400 people to win a tour around the Upper Boat studio. Winners also got the chance to meet John Barrowman and Eve Myles.
 * 20 November 2009 - A preview of The End of Time was broadcast.
 * 2010 - Two brothers were invited to the TARDIS set at Upper Boat Studios. Matt Smith and Karen Gillan surprised the pair with a tea party and a tour of the set. It was then followed by a trailer of A Christmas Carol. Also during the Doctor Who Props and Costumes Auction held at Bonhams between the Feb 21-24 had £5 from each £15 catalogue going to Children in Need.
 * 2011 - A trailer for the The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe was shown following a brief skit with the Eleventh Doctor.
 * 2012 - The Great Detective and a trailer for The Snowmen were shown.
 * 2013 - A preview of The Day of the Doctor was shown.
 * 2014 ( - A preview of Last Christmas was shown.
 * 2015 - A preview of The Husbands of River Song was shown.
 * 2016 - Looking for Pudsey and a preview of The Return of Doctor Mysterio were shown.
 * 2017 - A preview of Twice Upon a Time was shown.
 * 16 November 2018 - Anna's Doctor Who Surprise and a preview of Kerblam! were shown.
 * 2019 - Anastasia's Doctor Who Surprise was shown.
 * 17 November 2023 - Destination: Skaro was shown.