Today in 1963, the BBC aired the first part of An Unearthly Child, the first Doctor Who serial. It starred William Hartnell as the First Doctor. Although initial reception was mixed, it didn't stop Doctor Who from becoming the longest-running science-fiction television series in history. It originally ran from 1963-1989 and was picked up again in 2005, from when it is still airing. The series has a large and devout fanbase; even people who have never seen it are usually aware of it. Among the many unique aspects that make the show stand out, the two most recognizable are the Doctor himself (who is a…