The Independent have published the latest television survey,
which includes the second Doctor Who serial - the poll's oldest
entry. Dominated by British drama, the diverse list featured ER,
Cracker, The Simpsons, and It's a Sin, but is topped by This is
England '86. Culture reporter Chris Harvey writes:
31) Doctor Who - Series 1: The Daleks (1963)
"British TV had already experienced a science fiction phenomenon
with The Quatermass Experiment a full decade before this episode
of the fledgling [series]. But the opener to the second adventure
saw the introduction of an element that was crucial to the show's
success as it had been to the works of Shakespeare: enemies that
are more compelling than the forces of good. The Daleks were the
creation of Terry Nation, who had the Nazis in mind for his
merciless cyborg mutants, and the BBC's costume and special
effects' departments did him proud."
