Doctor Who in 1996: Beyond the Television Movie

In the realm of Doctor Who, the television movie was not the only thing of note to happen for the franchise in 1996. History was also being celebrated.

This year, Whovians are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Doctor Who television movie, starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor. It debuted in May of that year. In August of the same year, Whostory that long predated the movie was being celebrated.

According to an article by Patrick Mulkern of Radio Times, the Doctor Who Appreciation Society was not only observing its 20th anniversary that month, but also the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the Cybermen to Doctor Who. Their first appearance was in the 1966 Second Doctor serial ‘The Tenth Planet,’ which, interestingly, was set in 1986.

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The Society’s festivities took place at at Longleat House in Wiltshire, England. Photographer Jamie Hughes of Radio Times was in attendance on Sunday the 18th and captured some fantastic pictures — thought to be previously unreleased — that Mulkern recently unearthed from the photo archive at the publication. Some images that were captured were of Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart) posing with Cybermen, and Tom Baker arriving in a 1930s Daimler, and producers John Nathan-Turner and Andrew Beech posing with memorabilia. Courtney also took part in a live performance of a dramatic sketch by Nathan-Turner, pictures of which can be seen in the set. There were even explosions!

Tom Baker arriving in a 1930s Daimler (credit: Jamie Hughes/Radio Times)

Also included are photographs of the long-running Doctor Who Exhibition at Longleat, which ran from 1974 to 2003.

fans gather at the entrance to the

Doctor Who

Exhibition in 1996 (credit: Jamie Hughes/Radio Times)

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Mulkern is asking for help in identifying people in the photos. See anyone you know who has not yet been named?

For a list of other things that happened in 1996 related to Doctor Who, check out the TARDIS Data Core.