A Celebration

A Celebration was a Doctor Who reference book published by W. H. Allen.

Publisher's summary
With the benefit of hindsight it is difficult to see how BBC TV's Doctor Who series could possibly have failed. In fact, it had a most inauspicious beginning. Due to the extensive television coverage devoted to the assassination of President Kennedy the day before, the first episode of Doctor Who went out later than scheduled. Viewing figures were disappointing, but a decision was taken to give the program a second showing the following week. The response was tremendous and after a shaky start the series was all set to run and run ...

Peter Haining has compiled a fitting tribute to the success of this remarkable programme to mark its twentieth anniversary. His book reflects the rich diversity of talent and ideas that have invested doctor Who with its unique appeal to viewers of all ages and made it the vital and popular series it remains to this day - a popularity reinforced by W. H. Allen / Target's novelisations of the stories.

In addition to articles on key landmarks in the Doctor Who universe, this celebratory volume contains contributions from Verity Lambert, the first producer of the programme; Barry Letts, one-time director, producer and executive producer; Terrance Dicks, ex-script editor, editor, script-writer, and author of many of the Doctor who novelisations; John Nathan-Turner, the current producer; and all five actors who have played the part of the Doctor give their views on this epic phenomenon.

For those who first saw the program in 1963 to those who regularly watch it today, this W. H. Allen special will be a constant source of pleasure and a unique volume to treasure.

Subject matter
The first twenty years of Doctor Who - up to The King's Demons

Contents

 * Introduction: The Changing Face of Doctor Who
 * 1. The Arrival of a Time Lord
 * How We Created Doctor Who by Verity Lambert
 * 2. The Coming of the Daleks
 * "My God, What Is It?" The Daleks and Me by Terry Nation
 * 3. The Doctor Who File
 * William Hartnell:
 * "A Time Traveller with Long White Hair and Eccentric Clothes"
 * I Felt Like the Pied Piper by William Hartnell
 * Patrick Troughton
 * "The Cosmic Hobo"
 * Doctor Who Indulged my Passion for Clowning by Patrick Troughton
 * Jon Pertwee
 * "The Man of Action"
 * I Saw the Doctor as an Interplanetary Crusader by Jon Pertwee
 * Tom Baker
 * "Hello, I Am the Doctor - Have a Jelly Baby!"
 * I Liked Doctor Who Because It Was All Fun, Fun Fun! by Tom Baker
 * Peter Davison:
 * "A Sort of reckless Innocent"
 * I Thought I Was Too Young to Play the Doctor! by Peter Davison
 * Who's that? A Sixth Doctor!
 * 4. The Forgotten Doctor
 * 5. The Good Companions
 * 6. The Story of K9
 * 7. The TARDIS - and the Reality of Time Travel
 * 8. The World of Gallifrey: The Planet of the Time Lords
 * 9. The Two Regenerations of the Master
 * 10. Back with Who by Barry Letts
 * 11. Who and I by Terrance Dicks
 * 12. The Continuing Story of Who by John Nathan-Turner

The Whoniverse
 * The Twenty-Year Travel Log: The Doctor's Adventures and Their Background by Jeremy Bentham
 * The Doctor Who Library
 * The People Who Made Doctor Who
 * The Doctor Who Exhibitions
 * The Doctor Who Fan Clubs
 * The Doctor Who Film Archives

Publication history

 * Leather-bound slipcased limited edition from W. H. Allen priced £30 (UK)
 * Standard hardback edition from W. H. Allen priced £10.95 (UK)
 * Reprinted in 1983 and 1984 twice.
 * Large format paperback edition from Virgin Publishing priced £14.99 (UK)