Doctor Who has been one of the most popular science fiction programs on television for more than forty years, inspired 3 movies, and created an entirely new genre that has appealed to generations of children and adults alike. Since the show was cancelled in the 1990s, fans have been screaming for its return, and following on from a feature length movie in 1996 that introduced a new doctor in the form of actor Paul McGann, the show was reborn in 2005 starring Christopher Ecclestone and former pop star Billie Piper as his companion.

The renewed success of Doctor Who has brought it to an entirely new audience, and made it one of the most popular TV shows currently being shown in the UK. Most of the current success of the show has been down to the tenth incarnation of the Doctor, the actor David Tennant, who has brought an all new character to the screen, and truly made the role his own after two seasons.

The idea of traveling through time in order to have adventures means that the show need never be the same twice, and with the recurring villains such as the Daleks, Cybermen, and evil Master taking their place in the show, there is enough to keep fans entertained for years to come.

Most adults will remember the scary monsters and the old cliché of hiding behind the sofa when the Daleks made their terrifying extermination threats in their distinctive metallic voices. The new series of Doctor Who certainly features higher production standards and better effects than its predecessors, but what is remarkable about it is that it has lost none of its inventiveness and uniquely British charm.

As Doctor Who enters its fifth decade of entertaining families from the TV, is shows no sign of being past its sell by date, and may well continue to keep children hiding behind the sofa for another 40 years or more.