Popular Culture Review Vol. 25, No. 1, Winter 2014 | Page 111

The Ever-Expanding Universe of Doctor Who: Narrative, Integrity, and Globalization This year marks the 50th anniversary of the beloved British science-fiction series Doctor Who. Since his first appearance in 1963, the time-traveling Doctor has been a staple of British culture, with generations of children and adults alike following his TARDIS through time and space. By creating and maintaining a strong dialectical relationship between the show’s content and contemporary British issues, the program went on to become the world’s longest-running sci-fi television series (Hicks). Back on the air in 2005 after a sixteen-year hiatus, the new adventures of Doctor Who quickly revived the show's prominence in British pop-culture. In the past few years, however, the audience has become more global; with cable providers offering more channels than ever, online streaming, and the ability to download series on iTunes, Doctor Who h