The First Doctor

[Peri-Peri]

How great was it to see such a different and playful side to the Doctor in this story? There had been hints of it in other stories, but this was the first time he went all out with the comedy and I thought he was brilliant. It was also good, though a little odd, to see him to see him take the overall situation less seriously, though standing back and laughing as he watched Rome burn was perhaps a little dubious I also really liked how his relationship with Vicki developed throughout. I think he needed that bond with someone after Susan left and in some respects he often seemed closer to Vicki than he did Susan, though I think that might boil down to the fact that the character had mellowed a lot over the run of the series.

[Nyki]

Yes, he really showed his talent for comedy here.  I know what you mean about his reaction to the fire (a lot of people were killed in it, after all) but maybe he was viewing it as something that had happened, and that was that.

[Aneurin]

I get now the reference in the Pompeii episode about how he might have caused the burning of Rome. I do love how these things come together.

The Doctor for me was one of the highlights of this story and at the time it probably helped the character no end to be able to do this, as he had been quite stuffy up to this point I think, even if he had become less grouchy. It is something that I think they should have done more of with the first Doctor because William Hartnell could definately carry it. Some of my favourite funny moments from the era are courtesy of WH, like this story, or just little moments like when he pops his head out from inside the Dalek and things like this. He definately had a good comic timing, even if sometimes the humour wasn't even all that funny

[Nyki]

Incidentally, I don't know how many people are aware that William Hartnell played the main character in the first Carry On film.  I've never seen it, so I don't know how good he was in it, but it's a side of him that's often ignored.

[Aneurin]

Yea I read about that before. Was it Carry On Sergeant or something? I'm sure I read he played an Army type role, so perhaps that's why I am thinking of that one.

[Roranicus]

I always like the First Doctor, and this is one of my favourite appearances of his. I wish he was more fondly remembered than he is because when he was on form he was absolutely brilliant

[Dame Roger]

He showed a great knack for comedy in this story, which was sadly underused- not only in Doctor Who but in his career in general. Before he was cast as the Doctor he'd been typecast in military/tough guy kind of parts and was apparently delighted to get the part of the Doctor as it was a completely different type of part to what he usually got offered.

Even in Carry On Sergeant, although he was nominally the lead, he was (as far as I remember - long time since I watched it) pretty much the 'straight man', the tough no-nonsense sergeant in charge of a bunch of (supposedly) comically inept recruits.

And for those of you who haven't seen it, here's a clip:

[TheDoctorDonna]

He was a grumpy, cantankerous old git, but you sort of can't help but love him. There is something, for me at least, so endearing about William Hartnell's portrayal of the Doctor and he gets a lot of stick from certain areas of fandom, but I think he is great

[Saber]

He was a grumpy, cantankerous old git, but you sort of can't help but love him. There is something, for me at least, so endearing about William Hartnell's portrayal of the Doctor and he gets a lot of stick from certain areas of fandom, but I think he is great

I couldnt agree more. When I used to watch old videos as a kid I thought he was great and I like him even more now as an adult. He started the whole thing and he did a wonderful job of it I think. Definately one of my favourite Doctor's

[Oh-Wise-One]

I am sort of on the fence with him in this story. While I think William Hartnell has great comic timing, I like how straight the First Doctor is so I always sort of find when they add comedy elements to the character that it doesnt really work for me. His performace was as good as ever, but I would rather he played it straight, even in the funnier stories.

[Tardis-Console]

It was nice to see the playful and funny side to him, but I think I prefer it when he is being more serious. There was nothing wrong with his performance, it's just what I prefer out of the character