C. E. Webber

Cecil Edwin Webber (sometimes known by the nickname "Bunny";[1] 9 April 1909 – June 1969) was a British television writer and playwright. He is best remembered for his contribution to the creation of the famous science-fiction series Doctor Who while working as a staff writer for the BBC in the early 1960s. Although none of his scripts were eventually used in the programme—producer Rex Tucker felt he was not capable of 'writing down' to the level required—he participated in many crucial early development meetings, and co-wrote the first format document for the series with Donald Wilson and Sydney Newman. His draft script for the proposed first ever episode formed the basis of the broadcast first episode eventually written by Anthony Coburn. Webber received a co-writer's credit on internal BBC documentation for the episode, although not on screen.

C. E. Webber
Born
Cecil Edwin Webber

(1909-04-09)9 April 1909
England
DiedJune 1969 (aged 60)
Midhurst, Sussex, England
OccupationTelevision writer, playwright
Known forCo-creator of Doctor Who

His published stage plays included Be Good, Sweet Maid (1957), Out of the Frying Pan (1960) and The Mortal Bard (1964).

Other television shows he wrote or created for the BBC included the 1961 action adventure serial Hurricane,[2] the 1962 William children's comedy starring Dennis Waterman, based on the books by Richmal Crompton,[3] and in 1964 episodes of the Thorndyke detective series.[4]

"Nothing at the end of the Lane", and The Giants (Doctor Who)

Webber submitted a Doctor Who pilot entitled "Nothing at the end of the Lane", suggested in early May 1963 under the programs developing format guide. The story would feature Biddy, and her teachers: Lola and Cliff, would encounter Biddy's grandfather, "Doctor Who" and his time machine.[5][6][7]

"Nothing at the end of the Lane" was soon replaced by Webber's: The Giants, which would be a four-part serial to be directed by Rex Tucker.[6] The story would feature Lola and Cliff in search for their student Sue, and meet a old man in the fog. Calling him "Dr. Who", they find out that his home is a time machine disguised as a police telephone box. Unexpectedly, they are shrunken to an eighth of a inch in size. Then they went to Cliffs laboratory and are menaced by a microscope lens, spiders, a student's compass, and caterpillars. Cliff then manages to communicate with the students, and both return to Dr. Who's time machine.[6]

In Production, the names of the companions changed to Ian, Barbara and Susan, while The Doctor's name considered ‘Dr. Who‘ would go unused.[6] The Giants however was abandoned on June 1963, in favor of An Unearthly Child,[6] because Doctor Who creator, Sydney Newman, disliked the idea of putting caterpillars and spiders as monsters in the story, however.[6]

References
  1. An Adventure in Space and Time: Behind the Scenes — C.E. Webber (Accessed 21 August 2017)
  2. "Hurricane". Archived from the original on 19 October 2004.
  3. "Comedy – Comedy Archive". BBC. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  4. "Thorndyke". Archived from the original on 27 October 2004.
  5. Wholmes, Harbo. "A Comprehensive History of the First Doctor's Unmade Episodes (Part One)". YouTube. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  6. Sullivan, Shannon Patrick. "The Lost Stories (The First Doctor)". Doctor Who: A Brief History of Time (Travel). Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  7. Hearn, Marcus1994
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