TARDIS Database | The TARDIS
| Introduction | |
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TARDIS is an acronym of Time And Relative Dimensions In Space. The TARDIS can travel anywhere in the Universe and to any point in time.
It has also travelled outside of time and space altogether. The first time that this occurred was when it became trapped in a lava flow in The Mind Robber (1969) when the fluid links overheated. In order to prevent the TARDIS being destroyed, the Doctor inserted the emergency unit and took it out of reality in order to repair the fault. |
| The TARDIS resembles a Mark II Metropolitan Police Telephone box from the outside. The TARDIS is supposed to change its appearance to suit the place that it is landing in by use of its Chameleon circuit, but after a trip to 100,000 BC, it stopped working and has maintained its shape for much of the time ever since. | |
| Design | |
| The Police Box design is because Anthony Coburn, who was the BBC Staff writer in 1963, spotted a Police Telephone Box on his way to work one day and decided that it would be a logical camouflage for it at the time. It has been suggested that the Police Box prop (which is made of Wood as opposed to the concrete of the original) actually came from a 1950s programme named Dixon of Dock Green. | |
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The TARDIS Console has changed many times during the history of the programme. At first, it contained a variety of levers, large meters and switches. The centre column was also far shorter and only stretched about half a metre from the console.
This original design was used up until the middle of the Tom Baker era (from 1974 until 1981). Later on, it was changed to include numerous buttons and smaller meters.
The current design is a mismatch of various components (including a |
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Bicycle pump). This is because the TARDIS is now over 700 years old and is in need of constant repair.
The centre column also stretches from the floor to the ceiling of the TARDIS.
The TARDIS is a unique and vast concept and is truly the icon of the show. The original Police Telephone boxes have long since gone, but the TARDIS remains one of the best known TV props. |
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| Function | |
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The TARDIS moves by dematerialising from one point, travelling through the time vortex and then materialising at its destination. This method of flight means that it isn't visible whilst in flight. However, sometimes it is able to travel outside the vortex, making it visible.
Its power comes from a black hole named 'The Eye of Harmony'. It also requires a Time Lord to "prime" the TARDIS at first in order so that it can be used. This is done by simply operating it for the first time. |
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After it has been primed, it can be operated by anyone (if they know how to).
The TARDIS is "Dimensionally Transcendental", which means that it is bigger inside than out. This is made possible because the inside is in multi-dimensional space. Because the interior is in a different place to the exterior, it can fit inside what would appear to be a small space. The TARDIS is also said to "be alive". This is shown in ' Boom Town' and in 'The Parting of the Ways' when 'The Heart of the TARDIS' is opened. Originally the TARDIS console contained a telepathic circuit, allowing the Doctor to communicate with the TARDIS and his people. It is not known whether this circuit still exists on the present console, but it was a rarely used feature - the Doctor preferred to pilot the TARDIS himself. |
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The TARDIS has other features. One commonly used one is the ability to translate languages to those who are around and inside it.
Two new TARDIS features have been introduced in the 2005 series. Firstly, the TARDIS is now able to project a hologram of the Doctor delivering a message and lastly it can reveal 'The Heart of the TARDIS', which is able to manipulate time - but is incredibly dangerous to use. |