--- title: "An Adventure in Space and Time" year: 2013 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/an-adventure-in-space-and-time" fi1m_id: "an-adventure-in-space-and-time" imdb_id: "tt2663812" tmdb_id: 210024 wikidata_id: "Q4749729" fi1m_score: 80 critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 8 published: "2026-10-07T16:53:08.385821+00:00" updated: "2026-10-07T16:53:15.248479+00:00" region: "HR" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # An Adventure in Space and Time (2013) Directed by Terry McDonough · 1h 23m · Drama ## Identity An Adventure in Space and Time - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/an-adventure-in-space-and-time - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** an-adventure-in-space-and-time - **IMDb ID:** tt2663812 - **TMDB ID:** 210024 - **Wikidata ID:** Q4749729 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2663812/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/210024, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4749729 **Fi1m score: 80** · Critics 79 from 8 reviews *In a sentence:* David Bradley makes caring this much about a television job seem entirely reasonable > David Bradley gives this drama about the beginnings of *Doctor Who* enough warmth to reach beyond its devotees. The first half is thin, but his performance makes the affection feel earned. ## Synopsis In the early 1960s, William Hartnell (David Bradley) becomes involved in bringing *Doctor Who* to television. Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine) wants to get the programme made in a business dominated by men, with Waris Hussein (Sacha Dhawan) part of the undertaking. Hartnell’s prickly manner makes working together difficult, but there is warmth beneath it. Lambert presses ahead with her plans as the programme begins to take shape. For Hartnell, the venture offers work that starts to matter beyond the ordinary demands of a job. ## Review *An Adventure in Space and Time* is a warm, affecting drama with a rather thin account of how its television programme gets started. Written by Mark Gatiss and directed by Terry McDonough, it is most persuasive when William Hartnell’s investment in *Doctor Who* becomes its central concern. There is affection for the programme throughout, and sometimes that affection excuses scenes which need more friction or detail. David Bradley gives it the human interest that a dutiful recreation would lack. David Bradley lets William Hartnell be difficult without making difficulty his whole personality. The prickliness has weight, and the warmth does not arrive as an apology for it. We were moved by the affection for the job that shows through his bad temper; it makes his attachment to *Doctor Who* easy to understand, even without sharing it. There is enough going on in this performance to hold our attention when the writing takes a familiar route. Jessica Raine’s Verity Lambert gives the film another useful source of energy, with her determination set against a television business run largely by men. That difficulty is clear, but the first half could spend more time letting us understand how she thinks and works. Mark Gatiss gets the broad pressures across without always giving individual encounters enough substance. The opening stretch is watchable, but we kept wanting a more detailed account of her work. John Pardue’s cinematography and Dave Arrowsmith’s production design make the recreated early 1960s persuasive without requiring us to inspect every detail. The period setting gives these people a working environment we can accept, which matters in a drama so dependent on their attachment to the job. There is care here, and it helps. Terry McDonough keeps the performances central, so the reconstruction seldom becomes the only reason to watch. Philip Kloss keeps the 83-minute film brisk, though speed cannot give the thinner early scenes more substance. The rhythm grows more comfortable once William Hartnell becomes the main concern. Edmund Butt’s music gives the tenderness a little more emphasis than it needs, but the feeling is already present in the performance. David Bradley is doing enough for us to believe it. As a drama about the beginnings of a much-loved programme, it faces the usual temptation to treat everything as important because of what came afterwards. Mark Gatiss does not avoid that trap entirely, and familiarity with *Doctor Who* will supply some of the interest that the opening cannot generate for itself. Yet the attachment to work is plain enough to reach beyond the fans. We need not know the programme’s history to recognise the pleasure of finding a job that matters. Give the opening a little patience; David Bradley is worth waiting for. *Fi1m score 80, published 7 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics respond warmly to An Adventure in Space and Time, with praise centred on David Bradley’s portrayal of William Hartnell. The reviews repeatedly credit him with finding warmth beneath the actor’s irascibility and giving the Doctor Who origin story its emotional force. Several find the drama particularly affecting when it concentrates on the people invested in making the programme. The recreation of the early 1960s and the portrayal of Verity Lambert’s determination also draw praise. Reservations concern the storytelling and historical accuracy rather than the performances. Digital Spy acknowledges liberties with history but still finds the drama engaging and moving. Den of Geek is more guarded about a formulaic, thin first half, while remaining persuaded by Bradley and the film’s affection for its subject. The available verdicts differ chiefly in enthusiasm, with no strongly negative response; the supplied Time Out material offers no specific judgement to explain its lower score. ## Straight answers **Is An Adventure in Space and Time worth watching?** *An Adventure in Space and Time* is worth watching for David Bradley’s warm, affecting performance as William Hartnell, and we score it 80. The first half gives the beginnings of *Doctor Who* less detail than they deserve, but we find Hartnell’s growing attachment to the job moving without needing a fan’s investment in the programme. **How long is An Adventure in Space and Time, and what is it rated?** *An Adventure in Space and Time* runs 1h 23m. It is a drama film. **Where can I watch An Adventure in Space and Time in Croatia?** *An Adventure in Space and Time* is not on any streaming or rental service in Croatia at the moment. It is available in 1 other country; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily. **How does An Adventure in Space and Time compare to Ed Wood?** *An Adventure in Space and Time* is the better choice for a touching drama about finding work that matters; we recommend [*Ed Wood*](https://film.one/film/ed-wood) for a funnier, affectionate portrait of artistic failure. Both care about stubborn people making screen entertainment, though Bradley gives this film a strong centre after a thin opening, while *Ed Wood* runs long and sometimes gives Depp too little to play. **What should I watch after An Adventure in Space and Time?** After *An Adventure in Space and Time*, try [*Ed Wood*](https://film.one/film/ed-wood) (1994, Fi1m 84): Another affectionate portrait of stubborn people making screen entertainment under unpromising circumstances. Then [*Good Night, and Good Luck.*](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck) (2005, Fi1m 83): For more television history, with workplace pressures given a sharper political edge. ### Reviews we read (8) - **The AV Club**, Alasdair Wilkins (A-): The review finds the docudrama strongest when it centers on the people for whom Doctor Who was more than a job. It especially praises David Bradley’s portrayal of William Hartnell, capturing his irascibility and hidden warmth. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/an-adventure-in-space-and-time-looks-back-at-doctor-who-1798178756) - **Total Film**, Nick Setchfield (90/100, inferred): Setchfield finds the drama a magical, triumphant blend of history and fantasy. He particularly praises David Bradley’s soulful portrayal of William Hartnell and the meticulous recreation of the early 1960s. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/an-adventure-in-space-and-time-review/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Marc Bernardin (85/100, inferred): Bernardin praises the film as a heartfelt, lively origin story that pays tribute to Doctor Who. He especially singles out David Bradley’s warm, heartbreaking performance as William Hartnell. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/an-adventure-space-time-tv-659397/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Robert Lloyd (80/100, inferred): Lloyd finds the film potent and affecting, especially for Doctor Who fans. He singles out David Bradley’s portrayal of William Hartnell for its blend of triumph and tragedy. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-dr-who-review-20131121-story.html) - **The Guardian**, Sam Wollaston (75/100, inferred): Wollaston calls the drama a lovely way to begin the Doctor Who anniversary celebrations. He praises its portrayal of Verity Lambert’s vision and determination in a male-dominated television world. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/nov/22/him-and-her-tv-review) - **Time Out** (64/100, inferred): The available page metadata identifies this as a critical review, but does not reveal the critic’s verdict. No specific praise or complaint is available in the supplied page text. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/london/tv-reviews/an-adventure-in-space-and-time) - **Digital Spy**, Morgan Jeffery (5): Jeffery finds the drama engaging, uplifting and emotionally powerful, despite some liberties with history. He especially praises David Bradley’s portrayal of William Hartnell and the moving final exchange with Matt Smith. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a532672/an-adventure-in-space-and-time-review-a-gorgeous-piece-of-drama/) - **Den of Geek**, Seb Patrick (70/100, inferred): The critic finds it an affectionate, funny, and ultimately moving tribute, despite a somewhat formulaic and thin first half. David Bradley’s portrayal of William Hartnell, especially in the actor’s final year, is singled out for its emotional force. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/spoiler-free-an-adventure-in-space-and-time-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Terry McDonough - **Director:** Terry McDonough - **Writer:** Mark Gatiss - **Cinematography:** John Pardue - **Editor:** Philip Kloss - **Music:** Edmund Butt - **Production design:** Dave Arrowsmith - **Producer:** Matt Strevens - **Cast:** David Bradley as William Hartnell; Jessica Raine as Verity Lambert; Sacha Dhawan as Waris Hussein; Brian Cox as Sydney Newman; Lesley Manville as Heather Hartnell; Jeff Rawle as Mervyn Pinfield; Claudia Grant as Carole Ann Ford; Jemma Powell as Jacqueline Hill - **Runtime:** 1h 23m - **First release (the UK):** 21 November 2013 - **Genres:** Drama - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEwikIhEZrE ## Where to watch in Croatia Not streaming, renting or buying in Croatia at the last check. Also available in: GB. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Hugo Awards 2014: Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Ed Wood* (1994), Fi1m 84: Another affectionate portrait of stubborn people making screen entertainment under unpromising circumstances. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ed-wood.md) - *Day for Night* (1973): The working relationships behind a production receive their own patient, amused attention. - *The Dish* (2000): A small team’s technical work becomes a warmly comic piece of television history. - *Their Finest* (2016): A woman negotiates a male-dominated film business while trying to make worthwhile work. - *Good Night, and Good Luck.* (2005), Fi1m 83: For more television history, with workplace pressures given a sharper political edge. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/an-adventure-in-space-and-time