The Doctor (Doctor Who) Big Finish Productions. Matt Smith made a brief "imagined" cameo seen only by actor William Hartnell (portrayed by David Bradley), in the movie dramatising the early years of Doctor Who "An Adventure in Space and Time". In early production documents, the Doctor was said to be 650 years old, although this was never stated on screen. By the time the Doctor did cite his age ("Let me see, in human terms, 400, yes, 450 years" in the serial "The Tomb of the Cybermen" (1967); he kept a 500-year diary), he had already regenerated to a younger form. The intention at
An Adventure in Space and Time with his emotional attachment to the character; with little choice, he reluctantly accepts the situation. He breaks into tears as he informs his wife Heather (Lesley Manville) of the news, admitting that he doesn't want to leave the role. Before his final scene, Hartnell shares a brief exchange with his successor, Patrick Troughton (Reece Shearsmith). As the cameras are about to record, Hartnell looks across the main console and sees Matt Smith, who will play the same role nearly 50 years later. Smith silently acknowledges Hartnell's legacy before disappearing as Hartnell begins the scene. For the thirtieth anniversary of "Doctor