Doctor Who, one of the biggest names in science fiction and television, turned 50 years old this past Saturday.
BBC reports that the average number of people who watched the special 75-minute episode totaled to be over 10 million in the UK alone.
The 50th anniversary episode, titled “The Day of the Doctor,” brought together three different generations and versions of the time-traveling lord, played by Matt Smith, David Tennant, and John Hurt.
The show’s premise focused on Hurt’s version dealing with decisions that he made, aided by future versions of himself, played by Smith and Tennant.
Critics praised the episode, some of whom gave the anniversary episode perfect scores. Jon Cooper, a reporter for The Mirror, gave nothing but admiration for the show’s writer, Steven Moffat, as the true star of the show, not just the actors.
“He’s put something together here than not only gives hardcore fans a beautiful reinvention of their favorite show but also gives casual viewers a stonking story and a reminder why we all love this show so much,” Cooper wrote.
The series’ next successor to the role of the doctor, Peter Capaldi, also made a cameo.
According to The Telegraph, with the release of the 50th anniversary episode, the series has also been awarded a Guinness World Record for largest ever simulcast of a television drama, with the episode being broadcast in 94 countries.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
