Doctor Who - y'know for kids!

[WhiteCrow]

Doctor Who began life as a children's program - but has it been a childrens program ever since?

What elements in stories past have shown it to be a childrens TV program?

What elements do you find too adult for it to be just-for-kids?

Discuss ...

[Si Hunt]

I think Doctor Who is for both kids and adults - and that's probably it's biggest secret; it appeals to the child in every adult but also treats children as if they were a little bit grown up too.

So it doesn't patronise the kids by being silly, preferring to expand their minds instead - both of which they like, meanwhile it pleases the adults by not showing any guts or swearing. Which is what every mature adult wants really anyway.

Si.

[shada pavlova]

And nowadays, you have shows that appeal to both ends of the scale.

It's like a see-saw. Doctor Who is in the middle, The Sarah Jane Adventures is at one end, and Torchwood is at the other. This way, every age group gets a show that appeals to them.

Except very old people.

[WhiteCrow]

And nowadays, you have shows that appeal to both ends of the scale.

It's like a see-saw. Doctor Who is in the middle, The Sarah Jane Adventures is at one end, and Torchwood is at the other. This way, every age group gets a show that appeals to them.

Except very old people.

You've obviously never seen Driftwood ... "separate from the Post Office, beyond the bingo hall and outside the Oxfam".

[shada pavlova]

Or how about...

UNIT. Subject to the government, annoys the police. A useless part of the United Nations. The 20th century's when everything changed, and UNIT...wasn't ready.

Then do the slow-motion walking shot with the Brigadier, Benton, Yates, Jo & Liz Shaw.

[Perry Vale]

Doctor Who began life as a children's program

No, it didn't.

[SiHart]

It's always really been a family show. I think that's why it's done so well over the years because it's something you can sit down and watch as a family- not just for kids. As Si said there's somethign that appeals to adults in it too.

Si xx

[Antony Cox]

Ooh - I like the colourised still from An Unearthly Child!

I don't think it was ever made to be a childrens programme - the fact it was made by the drama department and not the children's department is quite telling in that respect.

I guess the glut of historical stories in the first few years was meant to be educational for kids, but I think that's about it.