Doctor Who Comes To Royal Albert Hall For A Grand 50th Anniversary

One of the biggest events in television this year is the 50th anniversary of the beloved sci-fi drama Doctor Who and on Saturday, the occasion was marked by a special anniversary DW Prom, held at Royal Albert Hall. The event was massive, with a feeling of grandeur permeating every moment of the show. As with Doctor Who itself, the audience played a key part in the festivities. Many attendees expressed their love for Matt Smith’s Doctor by donning his signature red fez. Smith, who is, of course, set to leave the show at the end of the current season (after the 2013 Christmas Special) could not skip an appearance at the special event.

In a way, the event was a final hurrah for Matt Smith.

But first, there were a number of cameos from the “classic” series. Peter Davidson, who played the 5th Doctor, came on stage to introduce a suite of music from the original Doctor Who, while Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan way back in 1963 recounted some of her most amusing experiences on the DW set. While all these festivities were going on onstage, the audience was a constant participant, as the cybermen, wandering the isles, never let the tension drop. When Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman took the stage, the audience erupted in cheers.

This is 11's final season.

The introductory sequence showed Smith and Coleman running and trying to get into Royal Albert Hall, before the two magically appeared in the orchestra. After a quick cheerful note (“If Ludwig could see me now…”) the Doctor and his companion took the stage to introduce music from the current series, mostly the work of composer Murray Gold. The grand, surging themes of I Am The Doctor and The Rings Of Akhaten were two of the night’s highlights. However, for a true Doctor Who fan, it was an unforgettable experience throughout.

It ended up completely living up to fan expectations.