Why is An Unearthly Child not on iPlayer?
In October 2023, the BBC announced that the classic Doctor Who episode “An Unearthly Child” would not be available on its iPlayer service next month, along with other Doctor Who episodes. This decision was made because the BBC did not have full copyright to the episode. The son of the show’s original writer, Stef Coburn, mentioned that he withdrew licensing rights due to disagreements over compensation.
In the past he had asked for recognition and compensation for his father’s work, but then he did not want to withdraw his rights. In 2023, Stef Coburn expressed her strong disapproval of the direction of the show and criticized the casting of certain actors, stating that his father would not be happy with the changes made over the years.
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Where to watch A Supernatural Child?
You can watch “An Unearthly Child,” the first Doctor Who story, in a few different places. Not available on BBC iPlayer. You can find it on BritBox and via an add-on to the service on ITVX. Additionally, you can purchase individual episodes from the Apple Store for £1.89 each, including “An Unearthly Child”, “The Cave of Skulls”, “The Forest of Fear” and “The Firemaker”.
It’s also available on Amazon’s Prime Video, where you can buy individual episodes for £1.89 each or the full season for £5.99. However, “An Unearthly Child” is not on Netflix, as Doctor Who content is not currently available on that platform.
A supernatural child
“An Unearthly Child”, also known as “100,000 BC”, is the first story of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It first aired in four parts from November 23 to December 14, 1963. The story, created by Australian writer Anthony Coburn, features William Hartnell as the First Doctor, along with his original companions: Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman, and Jacqueline Hill and William Russell as school teachers Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton.
The first episode reveals how Ian and Barbara stumble upon the Doctor and his time-traveling ship, the TARDIS, in a London scrapyard. The rest of the story takes place between warring Stone Age groups who have forgotten how to make fire. Doctor Who was created to bridge the gap between children’s and young people’s television programs by Canadian producer Sydney Newman, with contributions from Donald Wilson and CE Webber.
Verity Lambert was the show’s pioneering producer and Waris Hussein directed the series. Although the show faced challenges and delays during production, it eventually premiered, albeit overshadowed by the Kennedy assassination. Initial reception was mixed, but in retrospect, it is viewed more favorably, with adaptations and releases in local media over the years.
A supernatural children’s plot
In the plot of “An Unearthly Child”, teachers Ian and Barbara are worried about their student Susan, who seems different. When they visit her house, they discover a strange police box and hear Susan’s voice inside. An old man, Susan’s grandfather, prevents them from entering the police box.
However, they break in and find a large control room inside the small box. Susan reveals that the object is a time-space machine called the TARDIS, and that they are exiles from their own planet. The Doctor, as he is called, takes off in the TARDIS and it travels back in time to the Stone Age.
There, they encounter a primitive tribe led by Za, struggling to make fire. If you fail, another named Kal will become the leader. The Doctor is captured when he tries to help make a fire, and Ian, Barbara and Susan are also imprisoned. They manage to escape with the help of the Old Mother but are recaptured.
The tribe threatens to sacrifice them if they can’t make a fire. Ian finally succeeds and Za becomes the leader. Susan discovers a trick to make skulls appear alive with fire and they use it to escape to the TARDIS. They travel through time and space to a mysterious forest, unaware that the TARDIS’s radiation meter shows a “Danger” reading.
A Supernatural Child Review
The review for “An Unearthly Child” is mostly positive. Although it had a mixed reception when it first aired, many people now view it favorably. This first Doctor Who story features the iconic TARDIS and the Doctor’s time travel adventures.
While it faced some challenges during production and was overshadowed by historical events like the Kennedy assassination, it has become a treasured part of the show’s history. The story’s mix of a school setting, a mysterious time travel machine and a trip back to the Stone Age makes for a memorable and important start to the long-running Doctor Who series.
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