It's one of the great tragedies of Doctor Who that William Hartnell's final episode as the First Doctor is missing from the archives.

What's more, his final story – 1966's 'The Tenth Planet' – isn't much of a swansong. Hartnell's involvement was limited by illness and his final scripted lines before regenerating were cut for time.

But now, Doctor Who has a chance to rewrite history. With Hartnell having passed away in 1975, David Bradley plays the First Doctor in this year's festive special 'Twice Upon a Time' – and according to Bradley, the character will finally get "a proper exit".

BBC

"Of course, he wasn't well when it finished," Bradley told press including Digital Spy. "I think by doing this, it does give him a proper exit, and it's a way of honouring his performance, hopefully."

'Twice Upon a Time' sees the First Doctor run into his future self (Peter Capaldi), just as both versions of the Time Lord are facing regeneration.

BBC

"He's had enough," Bradley explained. "He doesn't want to regenerate. he's seen enough of the universe and everything in it to be disillusioned, and he's just having doubts. He leaves the TARDIS, wanders through the show, and he bumps into the twelfth Doctor, who's also having trouble."

BAFTA winner Bradley was the obvious choice to replace Hartnell, having played the man himself in 2013 biopic / Doctor Who origins drama An Adventure in Space and Time – but he never expected he'd get the chance to play the actual Doctor.

"If it hadn't been for Adventure, I suspect I may not have been asked to do the Christmas special," he said. "You never know, but I think the ground had been laid. If they'd asked someone else, I'd have been downstairs in the lobby knocking on the door!

BBC

"I played the actor, playing William Hartnell playing Doctor Who. But now I can say I've been the Doctor, and there's a figurine coming up to prove it. I've got a three-year-old granddaughter and she said, 'My granddad is Doctor Who!'

"Wow. It struck me. To be able to be Doctor Who for your grandkids is great!"

Doctor Who: 'Twice Upon a Time' will air this Christmas on BBC One.

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