When Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, its success was far from guaranteed. Yet the debut episode was a triumphant return, kick-starting two decades of continuous production and putting the show back at the heart of British pop culture.

The Reality War examines how modern Doctor Who captured the imagination of a new generation, dominated the TV ratings, invaded toyshops, bookshops, concert halls and cinemas, sold over five million DVDs, and even conquered America. It’s also the story of Doctor Who’s transformative impact on television itself. 

Modern Doctor Who spans a period of unprecedented change within the TV industry. The show reinvigorated family viewing, trailblazed the BBC’s digital transition and lit the fuse of the Welsh creative economy. It popularised the role of the ‘showrunner’ and staged the biggest global simulcast ever for its 50th anniversary.

Drawing on dozens of new interviews – including directors Brian Grant and Rachel Talalay, plus producers Brian Minchin, Marcus Wilson and Tracie Simpson – along with extensive research, The Reality War celebrates the creation and impact of the Doctor Who revival, from modest beginnings at BBC Wales to its global partnership with Disney. Doctor Who will return. Until then, relive a golden age and discover what it can tell us about the future of television.

Written by Richard Marks this book will be available late October, and will be the Third, and presumably final(?), installment of Ten Acre’s examination of the television series’ production history with the BBC, looking at the legacy and impact of the revived 2005 series.

Previous installments are The Long Game – a thorough dissection of events behind the scenes through the 1990s and into the revived series in 2005 – and Pull To Open. The second part takes an in-depth look at the origins and reception of the series when it was devised in 1963

Priced £12.99, The Reality War is available direct from publisher Ten Acre Books.