Forum:'In character' appearances by the Doctor

Should 'in character' appearances by the Doctor on other programmes –  Billy Smart's Children's Circus, Blue Peter, Animal Magic, Jim'll Fix It, Disney Time and Children in Need to name but a few – be considered canonical or not?

Freddie R. Aldous talk to me 14:49, February 24, 2012 (UTC)

Whether they should or not they aren't.Boblipton talk to me 14:53, February 24, 2012 (UTC)


 * Freddie, the things you've mentioned aren't all equivalent there. We take things on a case-by-case basis.  Some of these, like Jim'll Fix It, have been discussed at length and positively decided against.  Others are considered to be valid narratives sometimes — like the Children in Need Special — and not valid other times — like Peter Davison dressed as the Fifth Doctor, talking to Terry Wogan and donating his jacket to the charity in 1983.


 * The starting point for us considering something "canonical" is that it must be an obvious narrative rather than a promotional gimmick. Though breaking the fourth wall is not always a disqualifier — we still count The Caves of Androzani] as a valid story after all! — it often can be.


 * Basically, it's a matter of common sense. If it "feels" like a natural narrative, it probably is. If it feels like an interaction between an actor in the Doctor's outfit and a television presenter, it probably is.


 * However, we have long had our list of valid television appearances sorted, since we've been open for business since 2004. Your questions was obviously one of the first things our original editors decided upon.  The modern day result of their deliberations is DWTV.  You may safely assume that if it's not on that list, it doesn't "count" as a valid narrative for in-universe citation.  03:18: Tue 28 Feb 2012