WATCH LIVE! Watch BBC AMERICA's DOCTOR WHO 50th Anniversary Special Pre-Show at 2:30 EST HERE!

Watch today at 2:30 below for the kickoff to the celebration for the 50th anniversary of global phenomenon Doctor Who. Today, November 23, 1963, a Time Lord known as the Doctor landed on the BBC's airwaves, forever changing storytelling on television and how the world viewed the inside of a British police box.

In honoring the legacy of the longest-running and most successful sci-fi series in history, BBC America presents new programming dedicated to the iconic series, culminating in a groundbreaking television event - the global simulcast to more than 75 countries of Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special, Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor on November 23. Written by lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat (Sherlock), the special stars the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith (How to Catch a Monster), the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant (Broadchurch), companion Jenna Coleman (Dancing on the Edge), with Billie Piper (Secret Diary of a Call Girl) and John Hurt (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Alien). The global simulcast will air Saturday, November 23 at 2:50pm ET. BBC America will encore the special in Primetime at 7:00pm ET with exclusive Inside Looks with Matt Smith and David Tennant.

Announced today, BBC America will present a week-long Doctor Who Takeover starting Monday, November 18, at 9:00am ET with marathons of favorite Doctors leading into new specials including a look into the science behind the iconic series with rock star-turned-physicist Professor Brian Cox (Wonders of the Universe, Wonders of the Solar System). The Primetime specials will roll out throughout the week with Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS premiering Monday, November 18, 9:00pm ET followed by The Science of Doctor Who with Brian Cox at 10:00pm ET, Doctor Who Explained on Friday, November 22, 8:00pm ET, and a look back at Matt Smith's time on the iconic series, Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited -The Eleventh Doctor on Sunday, November 24, 8:00pm ET.

Doctor Who follows the Doctor, an alien from the planet Gallifrey, the last of the powerful Time Lords, on his adventures through all of space and time. Traveling in the TARDIS, the time machine resembling a vintage British blue police box that is bigger on the inside, the Doctor almost always side-steps danger armed only with his incredible intelligence and fix-anything sonic screwdriver. The Doctor routinely cheats death by regenerating - changing into a new, fresh body. Eleven actors have starred in the iconic role. First played by William Hartnell, the Doctor was portrayed by seven actors before the series went off the air in 1989, including Tom Baker, who held the role the longest, from 1974-1981. After being off the air for seven years, the Doctor regenerated again in a 1996 TV movie.

When Doctor Who returned to television with a new lead writer and executive producer, Russell T Davies, in 2005, the title character once again had a new face. The series was resurrected with Christopher Eccleston (Thor: The Dark World, Heroes) as the Doctor, and Billie Piper as his companion Rose. David Tennant took on the role in 2006. In 2010, Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Coupling) became lead writer and executive producer while Matt Smith, made his first appearance as the Doctor - the youngest actor ever to play the character. He is the first actor to be nominated for a BAFTA Award in the role. Last season Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) became his companion, the impossible girl who routinely appears when he needs the most help. The thrilling season finale ended on a cliffhanger with the closing shot saying Introducing John Hurt as The Doctor.

Matt Smith will hang up his bow tie at the end of this year after starring in the 50th Anniversary special and regenerating in the Christmas special. Having starred alongside companions, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan, Guardians of the Galaxy), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill, Broadchurch), River Song (Alex Kingston, NCIS, ER) and most recently Clara Oswald, Matt's Doctor has fought Daleks (mutated beings encased in a metal shell and bent on destruction) and Cybermen (humans who have been upgraded to soulless metal robots) as well as Weeping Angels (frightening creatures that are erased from memory the moment someone looks away) in New York. Regularly heard shouting 'run' and 'Geronimo', through Matt's Doctor fans have been introduced to a new culinary combination - fish fingers and custard.

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