Troughton: The Second Doctor
The idea of a Second Doctor is really an innovation by Lloyd and story editor Gerry Davis. If I am the showrunner at this point, I am trying to find a way to keep the program going. The show is only three seasons old and the original actor is not able to carry on. William Hartnell’s battle with his health is very evident to Lloyd and Davis. So, they must figure out what to do. From what I can gather the ratings for the program are good. As a result, they don’t want to end the show because of Hartnell not being able to carry on.(1)
I really don’t think that these men knew what they had. They just want to continue the program. Therefore they choose to regenerate the First Doctor. This of course will mean that the next incarnation will be different. Why will the audience watch some similar to Hartnell. Because of this the choice will not be easy. They replace him with Patrick Troughton. Who does not take the role as seriously as Hartnell. his Doctor is a little more laid back and comical. But he does retain some of the characteristics of the original Doctor.(2)
From the information I read, there are some strains on the program. Of course the budget is always one because of the out of this world sets. Because the Doctor travels through time and space, he land son alien planets and battles aliens. The planets are costly to set up as are the inhabitants of those planets. So, money becomes an issue. But then issues arise when Lloyd and Davis leaves. This means a new crew is running the show. At the same time,, I believe this hurts the show. The viewership drops for some reason and the show is up for the axe. The BBC wishes to get rid of this iconic show. According the information I find, it is only going to run the 1970.(3)
The carries on after the original production crew leave with with Peter Bryant as producer and Derrick Sherwin as editor. Well, a move is made to move the show to earth rather than the Doctor travelling through time and space. This to me saves the show. The shows rating s were fallen and as I said earlier the budget is a problem.(4) These aren’t good years for the show. At this time Troughton is tiring from working on a regular series. So, the showrunner chooses to regenerate the Doctor again and exile hime to earth.
They use the narrative that the TimeLords try the Doctor for crimes of messing with time. The writers test this out in sixth story of the season The Invasion, introducing us to UNIT, the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. After a success of UNIT, they make it permanent by having the Doctor exiled to earth after being put on trial.(5)
This little choice saves the show and after The War Games, Doctor Who is shot in color. This is a milestone because they shoot the first six seasons in black and white.
