Doctor Who's TARDIS has landed in Sunderland

Fancy taking a trip through time and space?
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Feb 2016, 10:32 BST
Updated 3rd Feb 2016, 10:39 BST
The 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi.The 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi.
The 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi.

Doctor Who’s TARDIS has taken up residency at the Bridges shopping centre, in Sunderland.

This particular time machine is just a replica, so while you may not be able to go on any real adventures, fans will be able to pose for a picture next to the famous police box.

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The original police box at Kayll Road.The original police box at Kayll Road.
The original police box at Kayll Road.

The TARDIS will stay in the Bridges until the end of February.

The city also has a lesser-known connection with Doctor Who -–as the first ever police box in the UK was put in place at Sunderland’s Kayll Road in 1923.

The replica was commissioned by Sunderland City Council for an event last summer which highlighted the heritage in the west of the city.

Andy Bradley, centre director of the Bridges, said: “Dr Who is such a massively popular programme with generations of people enjoying it over the years.

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The Mayor of Sunderland Coun Barry Curran and Mayoress Carol Curran join youngsters Chloe Maw, Emily Smith and Luke Richie as they enter Dr Who's Tardis in Barnes Park to step back in time to 1915The Mayor of Sunderland Coun Barry Curran and Mayoress Carol Curran join youngsters Chloe Maw, Emily Smith and Luke Richie as they enter Dr Who's Tardis in Barnes Park to step back in time to 1915
The Mayor of Sunderland Coun Barry Curran and Mayoress Carol Curran join youngsters Chloe Maw, Emily Smith and Luke Richie as they enter Dr Who's Tardis in Barnes Park to step back in time to 1915

“We’re sure fans of the show will love the opportunity to come and get their picture taken with it. It’s great for this iconic piece of TV history to be getting a second outing and we hope that lots of people will come and see it.”

10 facts about Doctor Who:

1. The character of the Doctor was inspired by Sherlock Holmes.

2. The distinctive TARDIS sound effect was originally created by rubbing the bass strings of a piano with a key.

The original police box at Kayll Road.The original police box at Kayll Road.
The original police box at Kayll Road.

3. Doctor Who is BBC Worldwide’s best-selling show.

4. There have been 13 doctors, including the War Doctor, portrayed by John Hurt in the 50th anniversary special.

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5. The TARDIS has a broken ‘Chameleon circuit’ which is supposed to enable it to disguise itself to blend into any environment. However in the first ever episode, An Unearthly Child, viewers discover that the circuit is broken and the TARDIS is stuck in the shape of a police box.

6. Doctor Who is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-running sci-fi series in the world.

The Mayor of Sunderland Coun Barry Curran and Mayoress Carol Curran join youngsters Chloe Maw, Emily Smith and Luke Richie as they enter Dr Who's Tardis in Barnes Park to step back in time to 1915The Mayor of Sunderland Coun Barry Curran and Mayoress Carol Curran join youngsters Chloe Maw, Emily Smith and Luke Richie as they enter Dr Who's Tardis in Barnes Park to step back in time to 1915
The Mayor of Sunderland Coun Barry Curran and Mayoress Carol Curran join youngsters Chloe Maw, Emily Smith and Luke Richie as they enter Dr Who's Tardis in Barnes Park to step back in time to 1915

7. TARDIS stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space. It is also bigger on the inside than on the outside.

8. The original Daleks were controlled from the inside by small operators who had to manipulate their eyestalks, domes and arms, as well as flashing the lights on their heads in sync with the actor’s voices.

9. The Doctor is from the planet Gallifrey.

10. The first episode was broadcast in 1963 – 40 years after the first police box was installed in Sunderland.

Related topics:Sunderland