AN ADVENTURE IN SPACE AND TIME Cast Revealed

Have you ever thought what it's like to be wanderers in the fourth dimension?  Have you?

Well, if you don't know already, you're going to find out later this year in the documentary drama about Doctor Who's genesis, An Adventure in Space and Time.  The 90-minute BBC TWO special by Doctor Who writer and actor Mark Gatiss was announced last August as part of the 50th anniversary of the first Doctor Who story, "An Unearthly Child," that debuted on November 23, 1963.

Gatiss first pitched the idea to the BBC in 2003 for the show's 40th anniversary but was told there was no available budget or timeslot for the program.  "This is the story of how an unlikely set of brilliant people created a true television original," said Gatiss, "and how an actor, William Hartnell, stereotyped into hard-man roles, became a hero to millions of children.  I've wanted to tell this story this for more years than I can remember!  To make it happen for Doctor Who's 50th birthday is quite simply a dream come true."

The currently known cast for An Adventure in Space and Time are:

     William Hartnell (The First Doctor) -- David Bradley (Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films)
     WIlliam Russell (Ian Chesterton) -- Jamie Glover (Waterloo Road)
     Jacqueline Hill (Barbara Wright) -- Jemma Powell (Alice in Wonderland (2010))
     Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman) -- Claudia Grant
     Verity Lambert (Doctor Who's first producer) -- Jessica Raine (The Woman in Black)
     Sydney Newman (BBC Head of Drama) -- Brian Cox (X2: X-Men United, Troy)
     Waris Hussein (Director of "An Unearthly Child") -- Sacha Dhawan (The History Boys)
     Delia Derbyshire (Doctor Who theme music composer) -- Sarah Winter (Lovelorn)
     Harry -- William Russell (Doctor Who's Ian Chesterton!)

Bradley, who recently appeared as Solomon in the Doctor Who episode "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship," remarked on playing the role of William Hartnell.  "I first heard about this role from Mark [Gatiss] while watching the Diamond Jubilee flotilla from the roof of the National Theatre.  When he asked if I would be interested, I almost bit his hand off!  Mark has written such a wonderful script not only about the birth of a cultural phenomenon, but a moment in television’s history.  William Hartnell was one of the finest character actors of our time and as a fan, I want to make sure that I do him justice.  I’m so looking forward to getting started."

BBC America announced in late January that they will air An Adventure in Space and Time in the United States.  Although no specific date was provided, it will probably be shown sometime this November in time for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.