Thanks by Antony Tomlinson 11/3/05
Well, I had to write this review really, even though I am no expert on Sydney Newman's impressive life and work. However, I have been surprised that since the Creators section of the site was set up, no one has written anything on the man said to have come up with our beloved series in the first place. Furthermore, I have to admit an interest in a mind that not only came up with Doctor Who, but also created the (equally in my view) brilliant The Avengers, discovered the likes of Harold Pinter and is credited with bringing British television to life.
Newman was a Canadian who came to the UK from Hollywood in the late 1950s. On his arrival, he found British television to be rather stale and snobbish ("Damn the upper classes" he once exclaimed, "they don't even own televisions"). He eventually took charge of certain "theatre" slots on British television, which he revolutionised - bringing in new writers to create drama specifically for the medium (rather than just reusing old stage scripts), with the aim of creating work that would appeal to the wider masses, rather than just the middle classes. He also promoted dynamic filming and directing techniques that he had encountered in North America. He described his role as a "creative midwife" - someone whose job it was to bring together talented people, who could then create groundbreaking TV.
However, what was Newman's contribution to Doctor Who? Well, it seems that Newman was something of a champion of TV sci-fi for several years before Doctor Who - despite general cynicism about this notion in the UK industry. He produced a number of children's sci-fi shows before joining the BBC (including the "Pathfinders" space adventure serials). Then, after becoming the BBC's Head of Drama in 1963, he saw the opportunity for a new family-oriented sci-fi show to fit into a particular slot in the Saturday schedule (building on suggestions for an educational sci-fi show already floating around at the BBC).
Newman brought together producers and writers to come up with a suitable format for the show. There were numerous suggestions. However, it was Newman's own vision that eventually triumphed. His inspired idea was that of a mysterious, senile old man, wandering through space and time in a time machine that he had used to escape from his own world. Thus the idea of Doctor Who was born. Newman also came to see the benefits of creating younger companions for this Doctor (to appeal to a wider audience). Thus a younger man, a woman and a teenager were added to the mix - creating the first TARDIS crew. Newman also insisted that the Doctor be played with a good deal of humour (as he would be until 1982), after seeing the slightly dour pilot episode.
Having introduced the show, and having created its fundamental format, Newman remained determined that something original and innovative would come into being. He encouraged Verity Lambert to seek the role of producer - his choice of a young, forward-thinking female producer in a male-dominated world, indicative of his pioneering attitudes. Newman also remained determined throughout, that the series would represent intelligent, thought-provoking science fiction, rather than B-movie cliches (thus putting a sanction on "bug-eyed monsters" - though fortunately he relented on this point). He even went so far as to insist that Lambert study science magazines to inform her thinking on the show. He also insisted on the central role of the "historicals".
"Creative midwife" Newman can also be thanked for bringing other major talents to the show. He persuaded John Lucarotti to write for the series - thus introducing the man who would write arguably the three best stories of the Hartnell era. He also chose David Whitaker as the series' script editor - the man who would ultimately create classics including The Crusade and Power of the Daleks. Of course once the series was up and running, and these talents were gathered together, Newman took a less hands-on role (though he fought for Doctor Who whenever the production team needed his weight at the BBC). However, after overseeing another BBC smash hit - The Forsyte Saga - Newman left the corporation in 1967.
Nevertheless, few people have greater claim to the long-running success of Doctor Who than Sydney Newman. His ongoing philosophy - across his productions - of bringing together innovative, exciting talent, and pushing into areas of television yet to be explored, laid the bases for the series that we all love. And his basic vision sits at its heart of the show to this very day (even into a new series).
So, it seems, all we can really say is "thanks".
[My sources for this article (I am afraid that I cannot guarantee their accuracy) include: Doctor Who Magazine - The Complete First Doctor Special (12 May 2004); www.theavengers.tv; www.museum.tv; www.who-central.co.uk; www.markjuddery.com; www.davidj.richardson.name].