An Adventure in Space and Time ( TV story ) An Adventure in Space and Time , released in 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of " Doctor Who " , was a docudrama largely about William Hartnell ' s era as the First Doctor . Though marketed as the story of how " Doctor Who " was made , it was in fact much more of a limited biopic , giving much of its screentime to an investigation of Hartnell ' s portrayal of the Doctor . Because the script dealt with the entirety of Hartnell ' s reign on the programme , and ended with the regeneration in " The Tenth Planet " , Verity Lambert ' s struggles to produce the programme , though strongly featured , were a subplot . The show was a labour of love by writer and executive producer Mark Gatiss , who had been trying to make it since before the 40th anniversary in 2003 . Synopsis . A young producer frustrated by British television ' s glass ceiling , a new executive at the British Broadcasting Corporation , a young director of India n descent , and an older actor struggling for artistic legitimacy come together in 1963 to start a brand new television programme called " Doctor Who " . After initial difficulties , the show becomes a hit , leaving the actor alone to carry on the show ' s traditions — and to face his increasingly ailing health . Plot . When boisterous Canadian TV producer Sydney Newman joins the BBC , he finds himself needing to fill a timeslot on Saturday afternoon . He decides to commission a science - fiction serial with an educational element . To produce the serial , he breaks with convention and hires a woman named Verity Lambert , who had previously worked with him as an assistant . He also hires Waris Hussein , the BBC ' s first director of Indian descent to helm the first few episodes . Lambert encounters two challenges from the start : she isn ' t taken seriously by some of the " old boys club " at the BBC , and she has to find a suitable actor to play the lead character - a scientist known as the Doctor . She approaches William Hartnell , an esteemed character actor who , of late , has become frustrated with being typecast as military or gangster figures . Although sceptical at first , Hartnell agrees to take on the role . Initial production of the original episode is beset with problems , from the TARDIS doors malfunctioning to fire sprinklers going off in the middle of a scene . Even more concerning is the fact Hartnell is dissatisfied with how his character is written . Newman rejects the episode and considers firing Lambert and Hussein , but then opts to let them remount it after making improvements to the character of the Doctor . Lambert , however , refuses his order to replace the theme music . The revised version of the episode goes over much better , and the greenlight is given for more episodes to be made , although Newman is initially upset at plans to introduce an alien menace known as the Dalek s as it violates his No . 1 rule that there be no " BEMs " ( bug - eyed monsters ) in " Doctor Who " . The first broadcast is ultimately overshadowed by the assassination of John F . Kennedy , so much so that Lambert convinces Newman to authorise a rebroadcast the following week . The introduction of the Daleks launches the series into popular consciousness , and Hartnell finds himself the idol of children , at one point leading a group of children around a park , pretending to be on the hunt for Daleks . The blush of success begins to fade over time , however , as Hartnell finds himself - much as the Doctor does - having to move on as his companions and real - life friends leave the series . As Verity Lambert herself prepares to leave the series , Hartnell ' s wife informs her that William ' s health is fading due to arteriosclerosis brought on by smoking and drinking which , among other problems , has made it increasingly difficult to remember his lines . At other times , his condition makes him exhibit dementia - like symptoms . As Hartnell finds himself at the centre of an ever - changing parade of co - stars , Newman takes notice of the actor ' s failing health . Hartnell goes to Newman and asks that he be given a reduced workload , however Newman tells him that he has reluctantly decided that he should be replaced with the producers figuring out a way to keep the character of the Doctor going , but with a new actor : Patrick Troughton . Hartnell returns home and bursts into tears , devastated at leaving the role he has grown to love . Hartnell reports for his final day on the set , where he meets Troughton and prepares to shoot his final scene . As he does so , he has a vision of the future : a young man in a tweed jacket and bow - tie smiling reassuringly from across the TARDIS console , signifying a long life ahead for the character he originated . As the film ends , the real William Hartnell is seen delivering his farewell to Susan . Story notes . Ratings . 2 . 71 million Home video releases . DVD releases . " An Adventure in Space and Time " was released as both a single disc edition , and later as part of the 50th Anniversary Collector ' s Edition box set . Blu - ray releases . Although released as part of the 50th Anniversary Collector ' s Edition box set , the special did not receive its own individual Blu - ray release in the UK . In the US , the special was released on May 27 2014 as a Blu - ray / DVD combo pack , and also includes " An Unearthly Child " and its special features on DVD as bonus content . External links . " to be added "