Did the Creators of Doctor Who Draw Inspiration from Star Trek or Star Wars?

The original episode of Doctor Who aired in 1963, predating the premiere of Star Trek (1966) and the first Star Wars film (1977). Thus, it is unlikely that the original creators of Doctor Who were influenced by these franchises when they were first coming up with the concept.

1963 - Doctor Who's Debut and the Assassination of JFK
When the original series of Doctor Who first aired on 11 November 1963, it was a significant cultural moment, occurring just weeks after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on 22 November 1963. At this time, the United States was also preparing for its first lunar mission in the following year.

The Reboot of 2005
However, the reboot of Doctor Who in 2005 could have been influenced by the later works of Star Trek and Star Wars, which emerged in the mid-to-late 1960s and 1970s. The revival of Doctor Who in 2005 was a massive success and brought the iconic series back to modern audiences.

Could the Creators of Doctor Who Have Been Influenced by Star Trek?

The production of the first episode of Star Trek, "The Cage," did not start until November 1964, and the show's known debut was in 1966. Therefore, the original creators of Doctor Who (primarily William Hartnell and the production team) would not have been able to take inspiration from Star Trek due to its much later emergence. The series did not air in the UK until the late 1960s, and by then, the second era of Doctor Who with Patrick Troughton had already begun. This further solidifies the idea that any potential influence from Star Trek would be minimal and not the original creators' work.

Could the Creators of Star Trek Have Been Inspired by Doctor Who?

Star Trek aired in the United States in 1966, and Doctor Who began airing in the USA in 1975. By then, the second era of Star Trek had concluded with the original series finale in 1969, and the subsequent continuation of Star Trek with The Next Generation began in 1987. Given these timelines, it is plausible to argue that the creators of Star Trek might have been influenced by Doctor Who, especially as it was growing in popularity and becoming a cultural phenomenon in the United States by 1975.

Could Star Wars Have Been Influenced by Doctor Who?

While Star Wars did not come out until 1977, it is a matter of speculation whether the original creators of Doctor Who could have influenced this later phenomenon. It should be noted that by the mid-1970s, Doctor Who was already a known quantity in the UK and had a significant following worldwide. The success of Doctor Who could have potentially influenced writers and producers working on Star Wars, although direct evidence of this is hard to find.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the original creators of Doctor Who (William Hartnell and the production team of the 1960s) did not draw inspiration from Star Trek or Star Wars in the 1960s. However, in more recent times, the shows have certainly influenced each other. The vast production libraries and cultural impact of these long-running series have undoubtedly had an impact on one another over the years, especially as they continue to evolve and remain popular.