To all fans, one of the most iconic elements of Doctor Who is it's theme tune, one of the most recognizable in television history. Composed by Ron Grainer, the theme has undergone several metamorphoses over the many decades of the show's history...
1963 - 1967
The very first version of the theme was realized by Delia Derbyshire of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Her version is regarded as an innovative electronic tune well before the development of commercial synthesizers. She achieved the signature "spooky" sounds by cutting and splicing, speeding up and slowing down analogue tape recordings of a single plucked string, also utilizing white noise and test-tone oscillators.
1967 - 1980
This was the second version of the Derbyshire theme, adding 'electronic spangles' and a reverb to the bass line. With slight modifications, this served the series through the rest of the 1960s and all through the '70s.
1972 'Delaware' Version
In 1972, an attempt was made by Brian Hodgson and Paddy Kingsland (with Derbyshire acting as producer) to update the theme using the Radiophonic Workshop's 'Delaware' synthesizer. The end result was not well received by the BBC and was abandoned, although it was not removed from some episodes sold to Australia, and has been included on the DVD release of Carnival of Monsters.
1980 - 1985
When producer John Nathan-Turner took over running the series, he implemented many ideas to update it as the program entered the 1980s. One of these big changes was a completely new arrangement of the theme, created by Radiophonic Workshop staffer Peter Howell on analogue synthesizers. This version of the theme began use during Tom Baker's final season, through Peter Davison's tenure, and finally through Colin Baker's first season. In 2007, a stereo/surround sound REMIX of the theme was done, and it is included in the Enlightenment Special Edition DVD.
1986
This version of the theme, arranged by Dominic Glynn, was used only during Season 23, Colin Baker's final season, the epic Trial of a Time Lord. It returned to a more mysterious sound, evoking the original Derbyshire arrangement. For the DVD release of Trial, Glynn created a REMIX of his theme, the only time in the series' history where a remix was done by the original version's composer.
1987 - 1989
This was the final version of the theme used in the original series during it's last three seasons, encompassing Sylvester McCoy's tenure, arranged by Keff McCulloch. It was also the only version (not counting the 'Delaware' arrangement) to use the 'middle eight' section in the opening as well as the closing of each episode.
1996
This version - arranged by John Debney and only used for the TV Movie starring Paul McGann - was the first fully orchestral version.
2005 - 2007
For the 2005 revival of the series, a new theme arrangement was created by Murray Gold, taking samples from the Derbyshire original and adding extra orchestral and electronic layers. While this version lasted as the opener for the first three seasons of the new series, two versions were used in the closing credits, one for the 2005 SEASON, and a second performed by the National Orchestra of Wales, first used in The Christmas Invasion and the 2006 & 2007 SEASONS.
2007 - 2009
When the BBC announced a new requirement for all shows to cut the length of their credits, Murray Gold arranged a third version of the theme, first used in the 2007 Christmas Special Voyage of the Damned and used through Season 4 and the 2009 Specials.
With the imminent departure of David Tennant and arrival of Matt Smith as the newest Doctor and another redesign of the series logo, it's a good bet yet another version of the theme will grace our televisions next year. When that time comes, I will be sure to find it and add it here.
