LONDON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The iconic British sci-fi show "Doctor Who", which has been much-loved across generations of viewers, celebrated its 60th anniversary on Thursday.
The first episode of the show was broadcast on BBC One on the afternoon of Nov. 23, 1963. It depicts the adventures of the Doctor, who travels through the universe helping people in the Tardis, a police box that acts as a time machine.
Fans of the iconic series took to social media to congratulate the show, sharing their cosplay photos of characters, drawings inspired by the show, and stories about how the show has influenced their lives.
"Doctor Who changed my personal and professional life," a fan said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "This show has given me peace, joy, and so many memories that I'll cherish for the rest of my life."
The show has been broadcast internationally since 1964, and has amassed over 800 episodes in total. Its special 50th-anniversary episode was watched in 94 countries and regions in 2013.
As the show has been made in Wales since 2005, its production has contributed over 134 million British pounds (about 168 million U.S. dollars) to the Welsh economy, according to the BBC. It has also generated thousands of jobs and led to the development of a broader industry.
To celebrate its diamond anniversary, three new specials will be released starting this weekend. The special episodes feature the return of David Tennant, who was the tenth incarnation of the Doctor from 2005 to 2010.
"To get to return to something that meant so much 15 years ago, and was such a huge part of my life, was something I never really imagined was likely," Tennant said.
Meanwhile, a special after-dark water-based projection in celebration of the anniversary will take place in Cardiff Bay, Wales, starting on Thursday and running until Saturday.
