The new Dr Who series would never have got off the ground without the sheer determination of principal writer and co-executive producer, Russell T Davies. He was born in the same year as the programme, 1963, which meant that when Jon Pertwee became the Doctor in the 1970 season, Russell was coming up to seven years old, just the right age to be hooked.
He became an avid fan, right through the five years of Jon’s time, and on into the Tom Baker era and beyond, staying faithful until it left the screen in 1989.
From that moment, he made up his mind that one day it would be revived, preferably with himself in charge; and when he’d acquired enough clout as a writer and producer, he bullied and badgered the BBC into letting him have a go.