The month of Doctor Who celebratings is in full swing, with lots of original programming planned for the long-running series’ 50th anniversary. Along with The Day Of The Doctor special, which will bring together familiar faces of Who past, comes An Adventure In Space And Time, a new BBC special starring David Bradley (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones) as William Hartnell, the first Doctor, and tell the real-life story of how the Doctor Who television series came about in 1963.

BBC has released a trailer for upcoming 90-minute special – watch it here below.

An Adventure In Space And Time will air on BBC America on November 22, 2013 at 9PM ET/PT and on BBC Two on November 21, 2013 at 9PM.

“An Adventure in Space and Time is principally a human interest story you can enjoy even if you know nothing about Doctor Who,” says writer and executive producer, Mark Gatiss. “You’ll see the story of some amazing people who come together under extraordinary circumstances to create this wonderful thing that is still with us today.”

An unlikely trio of misfits set out to create a genre series that all ages would love. A 55-year-old actor conceivably at the end of a frustrating career, a former production assistant fighting to make her mark in television, and a foreign born, novice director were tasked with bringing a vision for an exciting new science fiction story to life. William ‘Bill’ Hartnell, displeased with his career, was presented with a chance to break out of the hard-man roles he’d become known for. And with the instincts of first time producer, Verity Lambert and first time director, Waris Hussein, The Doctor was born.

As the success of the show grew, William went from unhappy curmudgeon to beloved television star who relished his career resurgence and found a new lease on life. But all good things come to an end. How will Bill face leaving behind the part that has made him a hero to millions of children? And can the show survive without him? Journey back fifty years through space and time to witness the exciting beginning and untimely end of the First Doctor in this touching drama.

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