Channel 4 admit Doctor Who answer error

Channel 4 has admitted an answer given in an edition of Million Pound Drop was mistakenly said to be wrong.

The question was regarding the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who and fans of the series were quick to notice the mistake when two contestants on the show were incorrectly informed they had given the wrong answer.

The question was Who Played Doctor Who for the longest time?* There were four possible answers; Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston or David Tennant. The two contestants eventually opted for 7th Doctor actor Sylvester McCoy only to be told they were wrong and the answer was David Tennant. However, Channel 4 has since admitted they were wrong and the correct answer was Sylvester McCoy.

However, the question itself is rather misleading because the longest actor to play the Doctor on-screen was in fact Tom Baker between 1974 and 1981. Sylvester McCoy is the longest actor to play the role before handing over to a new actor as he played the role between 1987 and 1989 when the show was cancelled reprising the role for the 1996 television movie. Paul McGann however, while only appearing once on televisision in 1996 as the 8th Doctor continued in the role in the form of novels, audio dramas and webcasts until, in 2005, Christopher Eccleston officially became the 9th Doctor. Which means that McGann held the role for 9 years despite only appearing on-screen once in it – in fact McGann continues to record audio dramas as the 8th Doctor.

All rather confusing which is why it is important for television shows to get these questions right because they are open to interpretation in cases such as this. Other questions sure to get Doctor Who fans in a tizz include ‘How Many People have played the Doctor?’ Answer, a lot if you include Peter Cushing from the two 1960s movies, Richard E Grant from the webcasts and those who have played the role in various stage plays. Then there’s ‘What Does the word Tardis stand for’. Well depending on who you ask the D could mean Dimension or Dimensions – not such a subtle difference to some fans!

Channel 4 have apologised for the error and the two contestants will return to the show for a second chance.

 *Even more likely to cause an argument between Who fans is whether the character is called The Doctor or Doctor Who as he is sometimes credited in closing titles or by press articles.