#waris hussein

[circular-time]

Waris Hussein unveils producer Verity Lambert's blue plaque.

While Anthony Coburn's son throws a hissy fit about a young Black man cast as Doctor Who, I'd like to celebrate director Waris Hussein, a young Black man (as British South Asians were then known) whose thankless task it was to turn Coburn's mediocre caveman script into a vehicle that would hold viewers' attention from the pilot, Unearthly Child, until The Daleks.

Above: Waris Hussein. Below: Sacha Dhawan and Jessica Raine as Waris Hussein and Verity Lambert in An Adventure in Space and Time.

Ten years ago, we got a historical docudrama paying homage to Doctor Who's difficult beginnings, when it was punted to a young minority producer and director expected to fail.

Last spring, the Radio Times published what I assume was one of its primary sources:

The 1963 Doctor Who diaries of Waris Hussein - part 2 - part 3

They're a fascinating read.

But while he's tactfully grateful to Doctor Who for helping launch his career, Waris Hussein has had a long, successful career since then, earning an Emmy, a BAFTA, and a slew of nominations, including one for the 1974 historical miniseries Shoulder to Shoulder (Youtube) on British suffragettes.

Here's a link to a good print interview with him. I also recommend listening to the beginning of this podcast interview, as his voice conveys the thoughtfulness he puts into everything:

(SNS Online is a podcast on all the usual platforms, if you want to look up pt 2.)

*Trivia note: Ian McKellan credits Waris Hussein with his first film role. The young director cut his teeth directing Cambridge peers McKellan, Derek Jacobi and Trevor Nunn (the token straight).

[pluralzalpha]

Two amazing photo edits by Tim Buckle for proposed pre-Hartnell "Morbius Doctors."

The first is based on Doctor Who's original producer, Verity Lambert:

The second is based on the series' first director, Waris Hussein:

I am very tempted to write some fanfic for these incarnations!

[helloeverything123]

[companion-showdown]

Whostory - Waris Hussein

Waris Hussein was the director of the very first Doctor Who story, An Unearthly Child. With this important role in the earliest days of Doctor Who, Hussein was able to push for Hartnell to play the first Doctor, and was one of a number of people to take the actor out to lunch to convince him to accept the role.

propaganda

A gay, Indian man who took the role of directing Doctor Who's first story, and a few other stories from the First Doctor's era. So he was one of the people that made Doctor Who come to life. The characterisations and acting choices are clear from the beginning, and I think it's just a shame that most of his work is either missing or not available for much of the public to watch. Despite, this I believe he has made a huge contribution to Doctor Who that cannot be underestimated. (@b4s1lwh0 )

[thirteens-pocket-watch]

Okay so I knew Dhawan!Master is my favourite Doctor Who character but I think I might just be autistic about Sacha Dhawan as an actor bcus I'm obsessed with him as Waris Hussein in An Adventure in Space and Time and I'm seriously considering watching everything this man has been in

[icedsodapop]

Me rolling my eyes at bigots who complain about Doctor Who being gay now. Like fellas, Doctor Who has been gay the very first moment Waris Hussein stepped on set to direct An Unearthly Child in 1963. Please get on with the program.

[nerds-yearbook]

In 1963, two teachers in England got concerned about one of their students and followed her home to what appeared to be a junkyard. They followed her into what appeared to be a police box, but in actuality turned out to be a time/space machine called the TARDIS. They learned that the girl, named Susan, and her grandfather, known as the Doctor, were not human at all but aliens. The Doctor (Doctor 1), upset by their intrusion took them back to 100,000 BC. ("An Unearthly Child", Doctor Who, vlm 1 TV)

[thedoctorwhocompanion]

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society's Celestial Toymaker and Adventure in Space and Time Event

The #DoctorWho Appreciation Society's Celestial Toymaker and Adventure in Space and Time Event

I was really upset and annoyed that I had to miss the previous screening of An Adventure in Space and Time and Episode 4 of The Celestial Toymaker (i.e. The Final Test), which was the last of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society‘s screenings at Riverside in 2023. Set for the 24th November, it coincided with a train strike and so I couldn’t make it. But I was really pleased when DWAS announced that…

[gallifreywhere]

The 1963 Doctor Who diaries of Waris Hussein – part one | Radio Times

[radiofreeskaro]

Radio Free Skaro #909 - I've Got A Feeling

Radio Free Skaro #909 - I've Got A Feeling - #DoctorWho missing episodes chatter! - Waris Hussein diaries! - The Timelash!

http://traffic.libsyn.com/freyburg/rfs909.mp3 Download MP3 It’s time for a Return of the Omnirumour as mysterious film canisters are pored over by specialists to see if heretofore undiscovered missing Doctor Who episodes have emerged or in fact it’s all just the same copy of Match of the Day over and over. Intriguing! Also Waris Hussein chronicles a trip to Moscow while Doctor Who’s debut hits…

[lost-carcosa]

[vintage1981]

Doctor Who on BBC Breakfast 23rd Nov 2023 | 60th Anniversary Celebration

A couple of items celebrating Doctor Who's 60th anniversary from BBC Breakfast on 23rd November 2023. Includes and interview with Nicola Bryant also interviews with Russell T Davies, Waris Hussein, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and David Tennant.

[hobgoblinns]

i’m gonna cry

[hibiscusbabyboy]

The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972, dir. Waris Hussein)

[companion-showdown]

Who is most important to the history of Doctor Who?

TOURNAMENT MASTERPOST

propaganda under the cut

Waris Hussein – directed An Unearthly Child

A gay, Indian man who took the role of directing Doctor Who's first story, and a few other stories from the First Doctor's era. So he was one of the people that made Doctor Who come to life. The characterisations and acting choices are clear from the beginning, and I think it's just a shame that most of his work is either missing or not available for much of the public to watch. Despite, this I believe he has made a huge contribution to Doctor Who that cannot be underestimated. (@b4s1lwh0 )

[edsonjnovaes]

Doctor Who, 61 anos

The Doctor as portrayed by the series leads in chronological order. Wikipedia Canal Who – Facebook Doctor Who estreou, originalmente, em 1963 e acompanha a trajetória de um alienígena que explora o universo com sua máquina de viagem no tempo e espaço. Um detalhe que marca a produção (e o elenco) é que quando o Doutor está à beira da morte, ele se regenera e “renasce” em um corpo completamente…