Google Doodle sees Doctor Who game celebrate show's 50th anniversary

Google is today marking the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who with an elaborate 'Whodle' on its homepage.

The search engine has created one of its most detailed doodle animations to date as it prepares for the eagerly-anticipated 50th anniversary special tomorrow.

Allowing fans to play with any one of the 11 incarnations of the doctor from the show's history, the doodle reveals itself to be a multi-level platform game of unprecedented complexity.

Landing in the TARDIS, players navigate using their keyboard letters or mouse to reach the letters spelling out 'Google'.

But - somewhat predictably - Daleks are on hand to try to spoil players' fun by exterminating the nemesis the Doctor.

The game, which can be completed in around 11 minutes, has reportedly been dubbed the 'Whodle' at Google's headquarters, where it has been in the works for four months.

Pioneered by Google's in-house Doctor Who fan Matt Cruickshank, the doodle even features authentic sound effects from the BBC - including the 'whoosh' of the TARDIS.

He said: "I really wanted to get the feeling across that you could travel to different eras. I definitely didn't want you to just play one level and that is it. I love the idea of the Doctor being able zoom around the universe."

The 50th anniversary Dr Who special, The Day of the Doctor airs on BBC One at 7.50pm tomorrow.