1. Jon Pertwee, who played the Doctor from 1970-74, had trouble memorising dialogue peppered with technobabble, so cue cards were hidden on the set.

2. During the 1965 episode The Feast Of Steven, which was broadcast at Christmas, William Hartnell stepped out of character to give viewers a seasonal greeting.

3. Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies was producer of the BBC 1980s children’s show Why Don’t You…?

4. Verity Lambert, Doctor Who’s first producer, was also responsible for Rock Follies, Widows and The Naked Civil Servant.

5. Oscar-winning director Ridley Scott, then a BBC designer, was originally set to create an image for the Daleks.

6. Seven EastEnders stars have appeared in Doctor Who, including June Brown (Dot), Mike Reid (Frank) and Michael Cashman (Colin).

7. Tom Baker was once married to Lalla Ward, who had played the Doctor’s assistant, Romana.

8. At the age of 15, Tom Baker became a monk with the Brothers of Ploermel on Jersey; he left after six years.

9. In a 2003 survey, MPs chose Stephen Fry as the actor they most wanted to become the next Doctor.

10. In 2001, the series of Doctor Who books - numbering over 100 - was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest-ever book range based on a single main character.