An outlandish beat, a disquieting whistle, the sound of the TARDIS popping in and out of existence lingering in the back… The Doctor Who theme is by far one of the most unique tunes in the history of television. Originally composed by Australian musician Ron Grainer (and Delia Derbyshire, but we’ll get to that), the theme remains pretty much the same since the classic BBC sci-fi series aired its first episode in 1963, with some alterations made by later composers working on the show. This unique theme song has its own wild history behind it. In an era in which now run-of-the-mill synthesizers were still far from becoming a thing, the song was put together through the use of hands-on techniques, from recording jugs of water being poured to simply pressing play on multiple tapes at the same time in order to turn them into a cohesive piece. The result was a distinctive tune that basically introduced the world to the possibilities of electronic music. Add to that a whole in-house debate about who the actual composers of the theme are, and you have yourself a story that deserves to be told.

How Was the Original ‘Doctor Who’ Theme Created?

Back in 1963, the BBC had just created a new science fiction series that few could imagine would become the cultural juggernaut it is today, still making waves more than 60 years after its inception. Doctor Who follows an Earth-obsessed alien who travels through space and time, always with at least one lucky companion tagging along. Things were all set in motion for the show to kick off its very first season, which starred William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the titular Doctor, but among many matters that still needed solving there was the issue of what tune would introduce Britain — and, eventually, the world — to the adventures of the TARDIS crew.

The BBC commissioned Ron Grainer to write the opening theme to its newest show. The piece would then receive a new treatment by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, a sound effects project created in 1958 to produce new sounds for the British broadcasting company’s radio and TV stations. More specifically, the theme was to be reworked by the musician Delia Derbyshire, who would go on to become one of the greatest in the history of electronic music, influencing modern acts such as Aphex Twin, Portishead, and The Chemical Brothers. The final result would be something so different and so unique that Grainer himself would have trouble recognizing it as his original composition.

Delia Derbyshire Is Who We Have To Thank for ‘Doctor Who’s Iconic Theme

Grainer was very much aware that the crew at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop employed some very complicated techniques in their projects. Thus, he delivered them a very simple piece of sheet music, with just a handful of instructions such as “wind bubble” and “clouds.” In order to bring Grainer’s vision to life, Derbyshire employed techniques such as filtered white noise, plucking a single string, and hooking up a keyboard to equipment generally used to calibrate recorders.

In the absence of synthesizers and stereo equipment, Derbyshire and her team recorded the sounds in mono, putting them to tape “inch by inch by inch”, in her own words. An entire orchestra was built up from individual notes, as explained by Dick Mills, one of the sound engineers involved in the project. The notes were then cut out and merged together manually, as there was no digital editing software available at the time.

Mills goes on to explain, in an interview with the BBC, that most tunes are divided into three parts: the rhythm, the melody, and the “twiddly bits on top”. Thus, Derbyshire’s team recorded their sound onto three separate tapes that were then loaded into three different machines. In order to put these sounds together, the crew had to press play on the three devices at the same time. In case you’re a music buff and want to go into the specifics of how it all works, there’s a whole website devoted to breaking down the tune. It might sound simple enough, but only in theory: can you even begin to imagine how in sync they had to be for it all to work out in the end? Besides, this early form of multitracking was pretty much unheard of at the time, and Derbyshire and her team employed it for the first time.

The ‘Doctor Who’ Theme Became a Classic, But Derbyshire Was Never Properly Credited for Her Work

Image via BBC

The final result of this excruciating work went on to become the iconic theme of Doctor Who for the next seventeen years. Though some changes were made over the course of the series to match the new title sequences, it wasn’t until 1980 that the intro theme received whole new arrangements by Peter Howell, who used analog synthesizers to give the theme a new feel. From then on, composers like Murray Gold and Segun Akinola have also tried their hand at reworking Grainer and Derbyshire’s original composition. However, after all these changes, it is still hard to match the haunting melody of the original score.

But despite having been instrumental to the creation of the theme as we eventually came to know it, Delia Derbyshire was never properly credited for her work. Grainer tried to reason with the BBC to get her name recognized on the piece, but to this day, he remains the only musician credited for the tune. The story goes that this decision was made due to matters of anonymity: the BBC didn’t want the public getting acquainted with the members of the Radiophonic Workshop, wishing to keep it known simply as an ensemble. Nowadays, however, most dedicated fans of the show recognize Derbyshire’s essential role in the making of the series’ theme.

Delia Derbyshire Never Got To See the Revival of ‘Doctor Who’

Image via BBC

Still, it is sad to realize the BBC doesn’t extend the same kindness to Derbyshire as Whovians, especially considering how hard of a time she had before getting into the Workshop. Derbyshire once said that her love for abstract music came from the sounds of the air raid sirens during World War II, and she graduated from Cambridge with a BA in both Math and Music. In one of her first attempts to get a job in the recording industry, she was turned down by Decca because the company did not hire women. In 1960, however, she got a job as a trainee at the BBC, and, in 1962, one year before her work on the Doctor Who theme, she was transferred to the Radiophonic Workshop. Throughout her career, she collaborated with names such as Yoko Ono and The Royal Shakespeare Company. She eventually began getting credit for her BBC work, but only after the Doctor Who theme hit television sets.

Derbyshire left the BBC in 1973, feeling out of place in an environment that she perceived as more and more corporate and unfriendly towards creative work. Though she continued to work as a musician in private, she all but disappeared from the public eye. She died in 2001, at the relatively young age of 64, four years before her most famous creation made its way back to public introducing Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor.

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Release Date

1963 – 1989-00-00

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Network

BBC One, BBC Television

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Directors

Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Peter Moffatt, Richard Martin, Chris Clough, Lennie Mayne, Pennant Roberts, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Graeme Harper, Gerald Blake, Hugh David, Mervyn Pinfield, Rodney Bennett, Waris Hussein, John Gorrie

Writers

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Robert Holmes, Bob Baker, Malcolm Hulke, Dave Martin, David Whitaker, Brian Hayles, Robert Sloman, David Fisher, Dennis Spooner, Terrance Dicks, Eric Saward, John Lucarotti, Don Houghton, Chris Boucher, Ian Stuart Black, Louis Marks, Peter Grimwade, Henry Lincoln, Johnny Byrne, Mervyn Haisman, Jane Baker, Pip Baker, Robert Banks Stewart, Anthony Read

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  Barry Jackson

  Gordon Lowery

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The last several years have been challenging for Brandi Glanville, but things seem to be turning around for the mother of two.

While promoting her appearance on season 5 of Fox’s “Special Forces,” the former “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star spoke about her health and her rising medical bills.

During the interview, Brandi Glanville also thanked her “RHOBH” co-star, Kyle Richards, who publicly donated to the 53-year-old’s GoFundMe.

Brandi Glanville’s Friend Sets Up A GoFundMe To Help Cover Her Medical Expenses

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According to The Blast, Glanville’s friend, Gina Rodriguez, set up a GoFundMe page for the Bravo star to help cover her medical expenses related to a long-term illness causing facial disfigurement.

Rodriguez set the goal amount at $28,000 and encouraged Glanville’s supporters to “help Brandi on her journey to get her health back.”

“Brandi has been fighting this for years and still has months of costly treatments and surgeries ahead,” Rodriguez said.

Glanville revealed previously that her medical bills had reached upward of $7,000 per week.

‘Real Housewives’ Stars Rally Around Brandi Glanville

Kaia Gerber is reportedly stepping away from her packed professional schedule as she struggles to process the death of her older brother, Presley Gerber. The 25-year-old model and actress is said to be leaning on her parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, along with boyfriend Lewis Pullman and several longtime friends. Although Kaia has built a successful career of her own, those commitments are reportedly taking a back seat as she mourns the brother she considered her “best friend.”

Kaia Gerber Has Reportedly Delayed Work Commitments

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According to the Daily Mail, Kaia has postponed several professional obligations following Presley’s death at age 27. “Kaia had a packed schedule, and she has delayed a lot of her work stuff to deal with this. Everyone has been understanding,” a source close to the family told the outlet. “I don’t know when she will go back to work.”

Kaia has maintained a busy career in modeling and acting, but the insider said no timeline has been set for her return. The pause reportedly allows her to remain close to family while processing a loss that still does not feel real.

Presley died on September 20 after he was found unresponsive at Resolutions Living, a recovery facility in Santa Monica, California. His death is being investigated as a suspected overdose, although the official cause and manner remain undetermined.

Presley Gerber’s Death Reportedly ‘Isn’t Sinking In’ For His Sister

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The insider claimed Kaia is struggling to comprehend that her brother is gone. “Kaia is very sad; it’s hard for her to believe her brother is gone forever. It’s not sinking in just yet; it’s a lot to digest, understandably,” the source told the Daily Mail.

Those closest to the actress are reportedly concerned about how she will handle the loss as the initial shock wears off. “Everyone in the family is worried about Kaia; they fear she won’t be able to handle this, but she has a good network around her. She has old friends that are making her feel better,” the insider continued.

Kaia previously spoke about trying to be the “easy child” while growing up because Presley required significant attention from their parents. Crawford and Gerber had reportedly spent years attempting to help their son as he struggled with addiction that began during his teenage years in the modeling industry. Now, their attention has reportedly turned toward supporting Kaia through the devastating aftermath of his death.

Cindy Crawford And Lewis Pullman Are Among Her ‘Biggest Allies’

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Kaia is reportedly surrounded by a tight support system, including her parents and boyfriend, Lewis Pullman. “Her biggest allies are her parents and her boyfriend Lewis, even his dad Bill,” the source said.

The model is also said to have received support from friends she has known since growing up in Malibu. “She has plenty of Malibu friends, like a lot of old school pals that have reached out,” the insider shared. “She is well liked for sure.”

Members of Kaia’s celebrity circle have reportedly shown their support as well. “Kendall [Jenner] checked in on her and her mom Kris [Jenner] sent flowers,” the source claimed.

Kaia Gerber Considered Presley Her ‘Best Friend’

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The loss is reportedly especially painful because of the close bond Kaia shared with Presley. “She and Presley were best friends,” the family source said.

Both siblings began modeling as teenagers and faced the pressures of fame at a young age. However, their paths into the industry unfolded differently. Presley left high school at 15 to pursue modeling opportunities in New York City and Europe. He continued his education while working and graduated at 17. Kaia remained in high school in Malibu through the completion of her junior year before beginning to model full-time at 16.

“Kaia and Presley were seriously decent, nice kids from Malibu who were getting their first taste of fame at the time,” the source said. “They were new models in New York City, and everyone thought they were amazing. They were just learning the ropes, though, and were not used to the ugly side of New York City.”

The siblings eventually returned to California after spending time working in New York.

Presley Gerber’s Cause Of Death Remains Undetermined

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Presley reportedly checked into Resolutions Living approximately 12 hours before he was found unresponsive on September 20. The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating his death as a suspected overdose. However, the suspected overdose has not been confirmed as the official cause of death.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has completed an autopsy, but the cause and manner of death have been deferred pending toxicology results. Those tests can take several weeks or months to complete.

Police have stated that there is currently no indication of foul play. Investigators are reportedly working to determine the source and supplier of any substances that may have been involved.

Tia Mowry shared a sentimental birthday message for her boyfriend, Javoné Williams.

RELATED: Some Social Media Users Are Telling Tia Mowry To Spin The Block After Cory Hardrict Showed Off His New Smile (VIDEO)

Tia Mowry Shares Sentimental Birthday Message For Boyfriend Javoné Williams

Earlier this week, Tia Mowry took to Instagram to share a carousel post in celebration of her boyfriend, Javoné Williams’ birthday. Furthermore, the carousel featured various photos of them cuddled up together, posing, or sharing kisses. In the caption, she wrote, “Happy birthday, my love🤎 It’s the little things for me. The way you show up, make me laugh, and make it so easy to be myself around you. I could have made a whole dictionary of things I love about you, but I’ll start here. I’m so grateful I get to do life with you.”

Peep her full post below.

Social Media Reacts

Social media users entered TSR’s comment section to react to Tia Mowry’s post about Javoné Williams.

More On Tia Mowry & Her Boyfriend Javoné Williams

As The Shade Room previously reported, last month, Tia Mowry shared photos from her getaway to Joshua Tree with Javoné Williams. Furthermore, the photos showed them snuggling, enjoying the scenery, and sharing kisses.

“Sometimes you don’t realize how much you needed a reset until you finally slow down…Joshua Tree was exactly what I needed,” she captioned the post.

RELATED: Okay, Couple! Tia Mowry & Javoné Williams’ NEW Cozy Getaway Flicks Have Fans Split (PHOTOS)

Guillermo Rodriguez is putting in the work ahead of Dancing With the Stars week three — even when partner Witney Carson needs a rest.

“Anytime I sit down he keeps rehearsing,” Carson, 32, wrote over a Saturday, September 26, TikTok video.

In the clip, Rodriguez, 55, practiced his footwork in the rehearsal studio before blowing a kiss to the camera and continuing with his moves.

“Truly working so hard!” she wrote in the caption. “I’m so proud and I am so blessed to have the kindest partner ever.”

Related: Guillermo Rodriguez Says He’s Gained 10 Lbs During ‘DWTS’ Training

While many celebrities tend to shed pounds competing on Dancing With the Stars, season 35 contestant Guillermo Rodriguez said the exact opposite has happened to him. “It’s going good, Jimmy,” Rodriguez, 55, told Jimmy Kimmel of his DWTS rehearsals during the Tuesday, September 8, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! “It’s a lot of work. My […]

Carson and Rodriguez, who rose to fame as late night host Jimmy Kimmel’s sidekick, were saved from elimination during DWTS’ Viral Hits Night despite receiving low scores for their paso doble to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been.”

“I feel like we’re slowly winning them over,” Carson exclusively told Us of judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli after the Tuesday, September 22, live show.

“Yeah, little by little,” Rodriguez replied. “We didn’t hear [any] bad comments, nothing.”

Rodriguez, for his part, shared that he felt more confident performing on Tuesday than he did during the show’s premiere earlier this month.

“I feel way better. Last week, I was nervous a lot. This week I was nervous a little bit … but it was a great music [choice]. Witney chose it,” Rodriguez said, while Carson added, “Rihanna makes him feel confident. So I was like, ‘We’re going with Rihanna this week,’ absolutely. [He] had so much confidence this week.”

Related: DWTS’ Witney Carson Calls Guillermo Rodriguez’s Premiere Scores ‘Lame’

Guillermo Rodriguez may have been “Mr. Big Stuff” in his Dancing With the Stars debut, but he didn’t have the judges’ scores to match. “I think, [for] this cha-cha, we worked on so much,” Rodriguez’s pro partner, Witney Carson, exclusively told Us after the Tuesday, September 15, live premiere. “We really worked on the timing […]

Rodriguez continued, “The most challenging part is to learn the steps. … I gotta memorize the step[s] and everything. I never danced before, but listen, I’m enjoying [it]. I’m learning, having a good time.”

Carson, who is expecting her third baby with husband Carson McAllister, told Us ahead of the season that Rodriguez was feeling “really nervous” that they were partnered — but they’ve since formed a friendship.

“I told him I was pregnant, and he was like, ‘That’s actually really relieving because you’ll just take a lot of breaks for food then.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, OK.’ So he’s feeling a little bit more comfortable, I think, around me,” she said.

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And Carson, who won season 34 with partner Robert Irwin, is looking toward obtaining her second consecutive mirrorball trophy with Rodriguez.

“I always want to win, so I told Guillermo, ‘I want to win again. I just got the taste of it and now I want to do it again,’” she recalled to Us. “And he was like, ‘Let’s not be greedy, Witney.’ He’s like, ‘OK, you need to settle down, let’s just have some fun.’ I mean, he obviously wants to do well too.”

Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

Todd Meadows’ final moments were filmed for the Deadliest Catch season 22 finale.

Shortly before Meadows fell overboard the Aleutian Lady vessel in February, he spoke to his three young children via FaceTime call — a touching and heartbroken moment captured by the camera crew and featured on the Friday, September 25, episode.

“I hope you’re being safe. If you’re not being safe, you better be safe,” Meadows’ daughter told her dad during the conversation.

Meadows subsequently reassured his child, noting, “Oh, I’m being safe.” The pair then made plans for a family salmon fishing outing upon his return home.

After the call ended, he tragically died in a fishing-related incident. The moments during and after Meadow’s rescue were captured on film but weren’t shown in the finale episode. Instead, information about his death was displayed on the screen.

“On February 25th, 2026, deckhand Todd Meadows went overboard,” the text read. “After six minutes and 26 seconds in the water, he was recovered unresponsive.”

Elsewhere during the finale, the ship’s captain, Rich Shelford, could be heard telling his crew, “Keep doing CRP! Keep doing CPR! Keep pumping!”

News broke of Meadow’s death in early March.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows,” a spokesperson for the Discovery Channel said in a statement, announcing Meadow’s death. “This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time.”

Related: ‘Deadliest Catch’ Star Todd Meadows’ Bunkmate Recalls Night of His Death

Deadliest Catch star Trey John Green III was bunkmates with Todd Meadows before his untimely death at sea. “Todd was an amazing human,” Green exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, March 3, after news broke that Meadow died while crabbing off the Alaskan coast on Wednesday, February 25. The late fisherman was 25. Green recalled […]

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The United States Coast Guard confirmed to Us that Meadows’ body was “recovered unresponsive by the crew” within 10 minutes of him going overboard.

Captain Shelford later called the incident “the most tragic day” in the ship’s history.

“Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family,” Shelford wrote via Facebook at the time. “His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away. His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always.”

He continued, “Todd’s love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did. He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him. Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express. We ask that you lift Todd’s children and family in prayer and keep them in your thoughts as they face the days ahead without him.”

Shelford further noted that Meadows ”will forever be part of this boat, this crew and this brotherhood.”

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“Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him,” his statement concluded. “Rest easy brother, till we meet again.”

Meadows’ bunkmate, Trey John Green III, later exclusively told Us how the late deckhand was an “amazing human” on and off the screen.

“Todd was doing a great job,” Green  added, believing the accident was “none of Todd’s fault.”

Like other major streaming services, Prime Video also makes original films. And just like its peers, some Prime Video’s movies are polarizing. Still, they are quite successful given the streamer’s extensive global reach, because they usually aren’t subject to the geographical restrictions that licensed films face. Prime Video usually succeeds with romance and crime thrillers, with its current top movies being two romance dramas — You+Me—Against the World and Drawn Together — and Gal Gadot‘s kidnapping thriller The Runner. October brings fresh stories, including romance and thrillers, and one of the streamer’s most anticipated is a wild heist thriller.

Think of this film as Berlin meets Ocean’s Eleven. At the center of the story is a seasoned thief putting together a massive job: stealing the Mona Lisa. But every thief needs a crew, and this guy enlists two young people: Italian cybercrime expert Chiara and a French explosives expert, Jay. However, this thief has a secret that comes out during planning: Chiara and Jay are siblings. It becomes a full family reunion when the thief reveals that he is actually their father. What could have been a straightforward heist is complicated by an unexpected family reunion, and the trio must learn to adjust to each other and work together to pull off one of the biggest heists in history.

Titled Masterplan, the thriller was directed by seasoned action director Thomas Vincent, known for working on shows like Prime Video’s hit thriller Reacher and Netflix’s 2019 thriller Bodyguard. Vincent co-wrote the script with Versailles‘ creator and writer David Wolstencroft. The duo previously worked together on Versailles. Stanley Tucci leads the crime thriller, joined by The White Lotus Season 2 breakout star Simona Tabasco as the sharp Chiara and Lie with Me‘s Victor Belmondo as the swaggering Jay. Masterplan debuts on Prime Video on October 16.

‘Masterplan’ Is a Chaotic Heist Thriller

Prime Video has already released a trailer that previews the film’s goofy, chaotic vibe. Tucci plays the irreverent thief with a touch of comedy while the situation between the three main characters creates plenty of material for jokes. And since this is a heist thriller, viewers can expect action, explosions, hacking, and police chases in the streets of Paris. It looks like the kind of movie that allows you to kick back and enjoy the ride without thinking too much about the plot.

Masterplan streams on October 16 on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

October 16, 2026

Director

Thomas Vincent

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Writers

David Wolstencroft, Thomas Vincent

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Producers

Marco Rosi

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Cast

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  Bruno Bilotta

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  Scary big roman

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