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The Dalek Invasion

A Dalek emerging from the River Thames near Hammersmith Bridge, as seen in The Dalek Invasion of EarthBBC Archives

A Dalek emerging from the River Thames in The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1964)

In the early 1960s a new craze swept over Britain, holding the nation’s youth in its grip. And this time it wasn’t the Beatles…

The Doctor (William Hartnell) faces the DaleksBBC Archives

The Doctor (William Hartnell) faces the Daleks (1964)

The Daleks first glided menacingly onto our screens in December 1963, as part of the second Doctor Who story. By the time that story ended, and despite their villainous intentions, they were proving to be just as popular as The Doctor and the TARDIS.

“No power in the universe can stop the Daleks” Dalek Supreme, 1965

Rather than being exterminated, the Daleks instead became the first of Doctor Who’s enemies to return, in 1964, cementing their place in British popular culture.

In this archive radio clip from 1972 writer Terry Nation, who had the initial idea for the Daleks, tells Brian Hoey how he came to write the original story.

He also explains how his Welsh identity drives his urge to write, and how the Daleks once beat the Beatles in the ratings…

Terry Nation discussing 1964’s The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1972)

The return of the Daleks was marked by their appearance on the cover of Radio Times, the first of many to feature Doctor Who. Despite the fact that The Beatles were appearing at the same time in the television schedules on ITV, the Daleks proved more popular, giving rise to what came to be known as Dalekmania.

Radio Times cover from November 1964 showing a montage of black and white photos of Daleks in LondonBBC Archives

Radio Times cover from November 1964

Actor William Russell recalls his memories of the Daleks, and how he knew their popularity was cemented when they featured in a newspaper cartoon in this archive radio clip.

William Russell discussing the Daleks, from Doctor Who: Thirtieth Anniversary (1993)

"We weren't prepared for the success, but we were astonished and delighted when it happened"

Daleks began to invade the airwaves, and not just on Doctor Who. Blue Peter regularly featured clips of the Dalek stories, and in 1966, presenter Valerie Singleton even showed viewers how to make Dalek cakes and sandwiches.

Valerie Singleton making Dalek cakes, from Blue Peter (1966)

Dalekmania even extended beyond television. They were a major merchandising success too, as this letter from writer Terry Nation's agent, Beryl Vertue, illustrates. Dalek cake moulds were among the suggestions for on-trend items. Extermin-cake!

Letter from Beryl Vertue (Terry Nation's agent) with ideas for Dalek merchandiseBBC Archives

Letter from Beryl Vertue (Terry Nation's agent) with ideas for Dalek merchandise (1965)

But toys were what people really wanted. They became so popular that they featured in this 1966 short film, known as an interlude, made to cover intervals in early BBC television programming.

Toy Daleks attempt to take over the toy shop in the Interlude film Toy Fair (1966)

So what was it about the Daleks that made them so popular? In this 2003 clip, former producer Verity Lambert explains how the BBC had tried to analyse their appeal, but no one could quite figure out the magic ingredient.

"You can't dissect that. If you could, you'd be right every time"

Verity Lambert describing attempts to dissect the appeal of the Daleks, from unedited interviews for The Story of Doctor Who (2003)

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