Doctor Who named longest-running sci-fi TV show

LONDON - The BBC's 'Doctor Who' has won a place in the record books as the longest-running science fiction television show.

You would need to go back in time in the Tardis to the first episode, which was screened on November 23 1963.

Forty-three years later, 723 episodes have been screened and 10 different actors have played the Timelord, allowing it to surpass rivals such as 'Star Trek', which over its five different series has also chalked up more than 700 episodes before its latest incarnation 'Enterpeise' was cancelled in early 2005.

BBC revived 'Doctor Who' last year, after 16 years off the screen, with Christopher Eccleston in the role. It is now gearing up for its third series with David Tennant as the Doctor. It is also set for two spin-offs with 'Torchwood' and 'The Sarah Jane Adventures'.

Russell T Davies, who wrote the revived series, said: "This achievement is all thanks to the remarkable production team who first created 'Doctor Who'."

He thanked the fans of the cult TV show, "who have kept it alive for all these years".

The category of longest-running science fiction programme has been newly added to the Guinness Book of Records for 2007.

US series 'Stargate SG-1', now in its 10th series, holds the world record for longest-running science fiction show (consecutive). It launched in 1997 and has run for 203 episodes without a break, although it has been cancelled this year by its makers the Sci-Fi Channel. However, its spin-off 'Stargate: Atlantis' is still running.

Hit US TV series 'The X-Files' held the previous record with 202 episodes.

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