Delia Derbyshire Delia Ann Derbyshire was a British composer who oversaw the BBC Radiophonic Workshop beginning in the 1960s . She was considered a visionary in her use of sound and voice and her early works are pioneering efforts in what is now known as electronica . Groups from this genre such as Orbital and Portishead have acknowledged her influence . Her best - known single work was her arrangements of the " Doctor Who " theme by Ron Grainer . While Grainer composed the basic melody , it is Derbyshire who provided the iconic sounds and form of the theme . Grainer attempted to secure co - writing credit for Derbyshire , but due to rules in place at the time she was not allowed to receive a songwriting credit , although the Workshop and she would be regularly credited on the series . Derbyshire created three theme arrangements . The first was used only for the pilot version of " An Unearthly Child " and was almost identical to the version used in the televised version , except for additional sound effects such as a thunderclap . The second version was the televised version used from " An Unearthly Child " to " The Moonbase " . When a new title sequence was introduced with " The Macra Terror " , Derbyshire revised the arrangement and , with some minor refinements over the years , this version was used through " The Horns of Nimon " ( it was to be used for the last time in " Shada " , and although that story was cancelled the 2017 release eventually did ) . In 1980 , Derbyshire ' s arrangement was retire d and replaced by a new one by Peter Howell . Elements of Derbyshire ' s arrangement have reemerged in the arrangements introduced by Murray Gold in 2005 and late 2007 . Derbyshire ' s original arrangement from 1963 has been brought back into service several times in recent years : in 2008 , it was used for the closing credits to the minisode " Music of the Spheres " , produced for the 2008 Doctor Who at the Proms concert . The televised and DVD releases of the concert and the minisode , however , omit the closing credits . The 2013 edition of the concert featured members of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop performing a live version of the theme incorporating Derbyshire ' s sound effects . Also in 2013 , the 1963 arrangement and original opening sequence was used to open the 50th anniversary special , " The Day of the Doctor " , giving Derbyshire her first televised on - screen credit of the revival era . In 2008 , the BBC announced the discovery of 267 tapes of experimental and demo recordings made by Derbyshire in the 1960s and 1970s . Their existence were not known until after her death . Among the recordings found were " Doctor Who " - like special effects , as well as an experimental electronic music track that has been noted for its astonishing similarity to the electronic dance music of later decades . Derbyshire also composed some pieces for the BBC ' s stock music library , some of which were eventually used in Doctor Who as incidental music . Such contributions to the stock library include " Chromophone Band " ( appearing in " The Macra Terror " ) , " Blue Veils and Golden Sands " and " The Delian Mode " ( both of which were used in " Inferno " ) .