Did you see the fantastic trailer for Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary? Of course you did – you watched it, rewatched it and then freeze framed every one of its glorious 60 seconds to count the scores of references from the classic and current series.

Screwdrivers, Doctors, Daleks, The Master, Sarah Jane Smith, Turlough (no, not really… at least we don’t think he is) are all paid their dues. Here’s 60 things we noted – what did you find?

(BTW: This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it was exhausting trying to find them all).

The Totter’s Lane junkyard where it all began (Picture: BBC)

1. Totter’s Lane


The name of the Shoreditch junk yard, where the Tardis was parked in the very first episode An Unearthly Child from November 23 1963, can be seen written on the gate.

The junk yard stuffed with Doctor Who artefacts (Picture: BBC)

2. Fez



Ok, now pay attention because this is like the Generation Game. The 11th Doctor’s Fez (destroyed by River Song) is floating in mid air on the right. Easy spot, so no prizes for that one, I’m afraid.

3. Mask from a clockwork robot

Over on the left, near the shelving unit, tilted to the side, is the face of a clockwork robot from the 10th Doctor episode Girl In The Fireplace.

4. Sonic screwdriver

One of many floating screwdrivers and sonic gadgetry in the trailer – this one looks like Doctor 10’s version.

5. Yeti

Now this is the equivalent of the cuddly toy. On the shelf (you’ll have to be eagle eyed to catch this) there’s an outline of a mini model of a Yeti from The Web of Fear, which is used by the robot monsters as a tracking device to hunt their victims.

BLOG: Why The Web of Fear might be the best Doctor Who storyline ever

6. Pyramid from The Web of Fear

There’s a pyramid stashed behind the Yeti on the shelf – could this be one of the pyramids held by the Yeti in The Web of Fear?

7. The Mask of Mandragora

This is a hard one to make out – but the shadowy golden mask worn by court astronomer Hieronymous is hanging off the shelf – people with better eyesight than mine pointed this out. I’m still not convinced.

A fob watch and Tardis key float in mid air (Picture: BBC)

8. Fob watch

In the picture above, top left is a fob watch – possibly the Doctor’s fob watch used to hide No 10’s identity in Human Nature and The Family of Blood.

9. Tardis key

And a key to the Tardis next to William Hartnell’s hand.

The first Doctor (Picture: BBC)

10. William Hartnell

The first Doctor in glorious technicolour on the left.

11. The Key to Time tracer wand

That thing that looks like a stick you’d wave at a disco, that the Doctor and original Romana spent a whole series using to track down the Key to Time… only to lose again. Well that’s there next to the first Doctor. You might want to take this with you as it will be useful later on. Also, next to it, in red, is the parrot from the Pirate Planet also from the Key to Time series. Leave that, it’s rubbish.

12. Tardis

That big blue box.

Exterminate (Picture: BBC)

13. 1960s Dalek

Classic model – grey chassis/blue bumps.

14. Soldier being exterminated



X-ray extermination as first seen in Remembrance of the Daleks featuring the 7th Doctor and then used in the modern series – looks effective – but painful.

Patrick Troughton’s Doctor (Picture: BBC)

15. Patrick Troughton

Seen from behind, in silhouette with Tibetan mountains in the distance and what looks like the Detsen monastary doors from The Abominable Snowmen.

16. Another sonic screwdriver

The 4th Doctor’s sonic, surely. Don’t get upset if I’m wrong… there’s lots of them, and my eyes hurt from watching this trailer 332 times already.

Tom Baker’s Doctor (Picture: BBC)

17. Tom Baker

Floating in a most peculiar way – is the 4th Doctor. And THAT wonderful scarf. Do you know the story behind this scarf and a how the woman who knitted it… oh, you do know this story? Let’s move along then.

18. Jelly Babies

The Doctor’s preferred sweet, first enjoyed by Patrick Troughton in the Three Doctors (apparently), but perhaps most associated with Baker. Take these with you too – we’re only at No. 17.

19. Yet another sonic screwdriver

The third Doctor’s right?

It’s K9 (Picture: BBC)

20. K-9

Reliable robot dog

21. Sarah Jane Smith

Definitive companion her 70s glory holds a crystal ball.

Sarah Jane Smith (Picture: BBC)

22. Sea Devil

Tucked behind Sarah Jane on the left is a Sea Devil… so swears a friend. No, I don’t see it either.

23. Cybermen

From the 80s.

24. Dalek flying saucers

Dalek mode of transportation hovers in front of Big Ben.

Jon Pertwee’s Doc battles the Master (Picture: BBC)

25. Jon Pertwee

Third Doctor having a sword fight with…

26. The Master

The definitive Roger Delgado version can be seen duelling with Doctor No 3. I’m sure the Rani’s going to pop up any minute. Fingers crossed.

Clara (Picture: BBC)

27. Clara


The latest companion gets a look in.

(EDITED) 27 a. Susan Foreman

Nice spot by Glenn Csonka (who posted in the comments section below) but that looks like Susan’s face staring straight out of the crystal ball that Clara is holding. How did I miss that?

(UPDATED) A few of you saying it’s not Susan’s reflection – but Sarah Jane’s. I like the idea off it being Susan’s though, as fitting the first companion should get a look in.

28. Clara’s leaf

And that leaf too – that had so much significance in the Rings of Akhaten (yawn).

Everyone… practically (Picture: BBC)

29. Peter Davison

Now this is where you have to pay attention again because we’re running out of time and everyone and everything starts popping up at once. So here’s Doctor No 5 arm outstretched on the left.

30. Weeping Angel

Blink and you’ll miss it but she’s on the left too – poking her tongue out a la Miley Cyrus.

31. Voc Robot

Over to the right… D84 to be exact, from the Robots of Death a 4th Doctor classic.

32. Sylvester McCoy

The seventh Doctor is here with his distinctive question mark umbrella on the left at the front.

33. Colin Baker

And Doc 6 has his back turned to us.

34. Christopher Eccleston

Who No. 9 is centre screen.

35. Cricket ball

Peter Davison’s Doctor had a flirtation with cricket – the ball’s here in mid air as a nod to all that.

36. The Silence

Steven Moffat’s forgettable monsters (literally) from Matt Smith’s tenure – are zapping electricty at the bottom of the screen.


37. Tardis key

The fancy one.

More Doctors… more villains (Picture: BBC)

38. Digital clock

At the bottom, on the right. The date the very first episode was aired gets a mention via a digital clock. It reads 17162311 – which is apparently the time of transmission (17.16) and the date (November 23).

39. Dalek

A new series one on the left with blue eyestalk.

40. Ood

The peaceful/occasionally murderous Ood are represented.

41. Judoon scanner

By the Ood’s orb.

42. Auton

Shop dummy monsters that bothered Doctor No 3 originally and were the first baddies to return when RTD regenerated the series in 2005 are on the left.

43. Paul McGann

The face of Doctor No 8 is with us next to the Ood.

44. Rose Tyler

Another companion gets recognition and it’s rightfully Rose who will also be in The Day of the Doctor. (She’s got her back to us sandwiched between the Dalek and the Ood)

45. Racnoss

High on a hill was a lonely Racnoss. Spider villain from the Christmas special – The Runaway Bride is up on a hill at the back.

Bad Doctor and Doc 10 (Picture: BBC)

46. David Tennant

No 10. Everyone’s favourite Doctor, well, nearly everyone, is unmissable.

47. Bessie

Beloved open top motor of the third Doctor is parked up on the left.

48. Sontaran spaceship

Lattice covered dome looks like the Eden project but isn’t. It’s the Sontarans set of wheels. You can just make it out behind Bessie.

49. The bad Doctor

There’s a man with his back to us – he looks like he’s wearing some kind of holster very similar to one John Hurt is pictured wearing. We’ll bet it’s bad Who.

It’s Matt Smith! (Picture: BBC)

50. Golden Gate Bridge

Famous landmark that featured in the Paul McGann movie is on the left.

51. Shard

Cast your eyes to the right. The London landmark became just that bit more iconic when Matt Smith’s Doctor drove a motorcycle up it.

52. Gallifreyan writing

Gallifreyan symbols are carved into the cliff face – but what do they mean?

53. A face in the rock

It’s Turlough right? I knew it… I knew it. (Actually I have no idea what this is).

And his wig (Picture: BBC)

54. Matt Smith

You saw him right? He’s the one standing on the cliff doing a piece to camera.

55. The wig

Did you spot his wig (that deserves a number on it’s own). Whaddaya mean it’s not a wig?

And more stuff (Picture: BBC)

Ok, let’s wrap this up because it’s getting silly.

56. 11th Doctor’s sonic

57. Half moon specs

Belonging to the 5th Doctor.

58. Bits of the Key to Time

If you’d borrowed the disco stick waaay back at number 10 on this list you’d have got this easily. It’s behind Matt’s head, and on the right too. But which pieces, from which episodes?

59. The Master’s sonic laser

Up on the left – it’s the Master’s sonic laser screwdriver (are we done yet?)

60. And then there’s this graffiti (spotted earlier)

No idea what it means. Guess I better watch it again.

What the hell is this stuff? (Picture: BBC)