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Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition 01 - The Complete Fifth Doctor (2003) PDF
Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition 01 - The Complete Fifth Doctor (2003) PDF
CITRDEL OF DRERMS
BY SRVE STONE (COMING FEB 2002)
In the city-state of Hokesh, time itself is playing tricks; the present is
worried: his memory is failing and his city is falling apart. What is happening?
The Doctor knows - but he's not telling. As both world and time crumble,
Magnus and Joey will unearth secrets they could never have suspected...
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.Ml Blil
Hi
I Too Much Too Young?
Was Davison's Doctor the most
'heroic' of all? Philip MacDonald
thinks so
SEHSnn 20:
ZB In Production
know?
Better the devils you
The making of Season 20
* t1
3Z The Stories
In which the Doctor goes home,
Tegan is taken hostage, Nyssa
looses her skirt, and Turlough
talks to his hand
SEnsnn 21:
MZ ProductionIn
A lot of good people died. Some
of them during the making of
Season 21
IB The Stories
"/ wouldn't have missed it for anything." In which Davros is thawed.
That his three seasons are still held in such high esteem by so many fans is
BB The Fifth Doctor in books
testament to the success of Peter Davison's era; a time when Doctor Who Matt Michael pores over Doctor
celebrated two decades of time travel, went twice-weekly, made it big in f,
Five's novel escapades
institutions herein with those of any living or dead persons or institutions is intended and any
Design Peri Godbold Steve Roberts, Julie Rogers, Jan Vincent-Rudzki,
such similarity is purely coincidental. Nothing may be reproduced by any means in whole or part
Gary Russell, Stephen James Walker, Martin without the written pernrission of the publishers. This periodical may not be sold, except by
Production Mark Irvine Wiggins, BBC Worldwide and Big Finish authorised dealers, and is sold srjbjecttothe condition tfiat it shall not be sold or distributed
with any part of its cover or markings removed, nor in a mutilated condition. All letters sent to
Managing Editor Alan O'Keefe Vanessa lane at Essential
Display advertising this magazine will be considered for publication, but the publishers cannot be held responsible I
Managing Director Mike Riddetl Media on 020 7405 7577 for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Printed in the LJK. Newstrade distribution;
Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 020 7907 7500. Subscriptions: MRM, 01858 410510. ISSN 0957-9818
00 Mui
Too
The sense of danger and i;ulnerability in
)ung! this
Bidmead's
The
same scholarly,
Frontios.
precise impact
muddle-headed,
half-moon-spectacles-donning version
of the Fifth Doctor would
successor the same mentality was advanced a step Root, who dropped into the production
further, to the extent that Davison became the first office on his way to greater things and
L Doctor to be dressed in what always felt more like a stayed long enough to edit Four to
r uniform than a costume. Davison's cricketing garb Doomsday and The Visitation, is less easily
was unquestionably a gimmick - by far the least discernible - but Four to Doomsday, the
impromptu and most overtiy 'designed' costume of very first Davison story to be recorded,
any Doctor to date. Unkindly but memorably nonetheless offers a fascinating
referred to in an early
letter to DWM
as "Andy moment of transition both for Doctor
Pandy's demob Davison's costume also had
suit", Who and for Davison himself It's a
the unfortunate effect of undermining a certain curious and delightfijl rule of thumb
ineffable dignity that might be hoped to be a that the second broadcast story of each
prerequisite of the character. But the fact that the new Doctor is remarkably easy to
Fifth Doctor's Edwardian cricketing shtick coin- Off his own bat: the cricket gear suggested by Davison. ® bbc picture as a Hartnell adventure - it's
cided so obviously with the meteoric success of almost as though, having successfully
period dramas like Bndesh^ad Reuisitcd and Chariots of prefer to do it as me, as the person who plays navigated the stormy waters of the initial regenera-
Fire - all tank-tops, flannel trousers and pleasant Doctor Who." Sure enough, Davison's discomfort tion crisis. Doctor Who instinctively scutdes back to
open faces - went a considerable way towards soft- during his costumed Blue Peter appearance in its thematic origins to give the new incumbent a
ening the blow. In fact, Davison's costume prob- November 1983 to promote The Fiue Doctors was chance to stretch his legs. It's far easier to picture
ably looks more eccentric and incongruous now positively palpable - while his colleague Richard William Hartnell, in fuzzy black and white,
than in it did back then. Hurndall was happy to remain firmly 'in character' bumbhng his way around Nerva Beacon, or the
In April 1981, a photo-call saw Davison batting as the Doctor, Davison resolutely declined to follow Silurian caves, or even the lifts and corridors of
from a makeshift wicket chalked onto the TARDIS suit until the brief and obviously scripted verbal Paradise Towers, than it is to imagine him slotting
doors, and Her Majesty's press were informed that sparring match which concluded the encounter. into any of the other stories in those respective
The desire
tion
on the part of both produc-
team and actor to make a clean
break from Tom Baker's characteri-
sation (Baker is quite pointedly the only
previous incarnation not openly imperson-
ated during Davison's splendid rendition of
the Doctor's post-regenerative lapses in
Castrovdva) was inevitably assisted by the fact
that Davison was, by a considerable margin,
the youngest Doctor to date. "The imphcation
mal treachery, and Harry Sullivan's perilous might be said that there are essentially two kinds of
bungling with control panels and Cyber-bombs. actor who have played the Doctor - each type
Tom Baker had successfully revived some of the entirely vaUd and successfiil, but each quite
Doctor's former unpredictability, but Peter different nonetheless. On the one hand there are
Davison's characterisation signalled the point at
which, even more so than during the Pertwee era,
the Doctor finally became a straightforward action
hero. It's no coincidence that, during the Davison
seasons, the necessary potential for unreliability
was actively hived off onto more morally
of Pertwee-style fisticuffs: he tussles with villagers in particular, is nevertheless considerable. His the legendary role it was required to inhabit. But
and Terileptils alike in The Visitation, angrily roughs feigned displeasure at her rejoining the TARDIS time has proved the undoubted worth of Davison's
up Salateen in The Caucs of Androzani and chops crew in Amsterdam is turned on its head when he meticulous, thoughtful and impressively profound
down a Seabase Four guard with a rather callously sets the controls for the Eyeof Orion only a few performance as the Doctor. The blaze of desperate
007-esque "I'm so sorry" in Warriors of the Deep. and he is sufficientiy shaken by her
stories later; heroism that marks his departure in The Caues of
Speaking in die 50 Years in the TARDIS documentary abrupt deparmre to consider mending his ways. Androzani must surely belie any remaining suspi-
a decade later, Eric Saward went so far as to declare Much has been written over the years about the cions that this was a character who, as he once
flady of the Fifth Doctor: "He was James Bond." perceived sexual frisson between the Fifth Doctor suggested to the colonists of Frontios, came and
The gaping chasm between that analysis and and Tegan - again a phenomenon only made plau- went like a summer cloud. But then again, perhaps
Davison's own observation, back at his first press sible by the smaller than usual age-gap between that's a fitting epitaph for the Doctor who so
call in April 1981, that "I want the Doctor to be a Doctor and companion (although fictionally of passionately championed the ephemerals: after all,
reassuring figure but I would like the audience to course, she's still several hundred years younger in its very transitoriness and subtiety, a summer
become a litrie apprehensive about his ability to than him). Even more overt, at least by Doctor Who's cloud is a rather beautifiil thing, is it not? ®
an I be his companion?" squealced Sandra who had worked with Davison in All Creatures ... advised the young actor to
I^I^^^^^H^^H Dicldnson, American actress and then-wife of All have firn in and then leave - as he had done.
the role for three years
Creatures Great and Small star Peter Davison as the Christopher Bidmead, Doctor Who's script editor, had now decided to
"
actor contemplated in amazement the offer which move on after a particularly demanding 12 months. After a failed attempt by
VHI^^P BBC producer John Nathan-Turner had just made Nathan-Turner to recruit Ted Rhodes, the script editor of All Creatures Great
over the telephone: "Would you like to be the new Doctor Who?" and Small, the job went to Antony Root, an enthusiastic employee on attach-
It was a Samrday evening October 1980. Nathan-Turner had suspected
in ment from the BBC Script Unit who was helping Bidmead sift through
since the start of the year that Tom Bal<er would be leaving Doctor Who at the storyhne submissions; Root joined the team in November. On Friday 14
end of his seventh season as the popular time traveller, so for the last few November, a new Writer's Guide for the series was issued, including a new
months, the producer had been sounding out some of his favourite actors. oudine about the incoming Doctor for prospective scripters. Root and
Scots actor Iain Cuthbertson - best known for Budflic and Sutherland's law Nathan-Turner emphasised not only the standard background to the Doctor
(and to Doctor Who fans as Garron in The Ribos Operation) - had been consid- (his alien origins, his two hearts) but emphasised his changing relationship
ered, and Nathan-Turner had visited the rotund Richard Griffiths (later to with his own people, the Time Lords. The team wanted Davison's Doctor to
star as the heroes of Bird oJPrey and Pie in the Sky) at the recording of an contrast with the almost invincibly strong and outrageously witty incarna-
edition of his LWT sitcom Nobody's Perfect, only to find that Griffiths would tion delivered by Baker; the new Doctor was to be "fallible and vulnerable
not be available to become the Fifth Doctor. Davison, at the age of 29, was a and only too conscious that life consists largely of things going wrong for
far more youthfiil Doctor than his predecessors; the actor was Icnown to well intentioned people hke himself". Alongside the Doctor would be three
Nathan-Turner from their work together on the popular period drama All young companions, aU arriving in Baker's closing serials. Adric, the 'Artflil
Crcatufes Great and Small, on which the now-producer had been a production Dodger' character from the planet Alzarius played by Matthew Waterhouse,
unit manager. Davison had played young vet Tristan Farnon from the start was just making his broadcast debut in Full Circle. Tegan Jovanka, a no-
of the series to its apparent conclusion earlier that year. nonsense Australian air hostess, had been cast in the form of Janet Fielding
Davison asked for 24 hours to consider the opportunity. He had watched and was due to start work in December on Baker's swansong Logopolis. A
Doctor Who grew up in the igSos, and had fond memories of
regularly as he late addition to make bridging the gap from Baker to Davison more palat-
William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton in the tide role; indeed, he had able for the audience was Nyssa, a refined lady from the planet Traken;
always felt he would like to appear in Doctor Who, but had never seen Actress Sarah Sutton was originally booked for just The Keeper o/Traken, but
himself as the lead. He also feared that Nathan-Turner wanted a 'person- found her contract extended for another three serials in November. The
ality' actor of the calibre of Jon Pertwee or Tom Baker whereas he consid-
, three young stars attended theirown publicity shoot on Wednesday 26
ered himself to be more of a conventional character actor. After talking over November to cement their images firmly in the public eye.
the idea with his agent and some trusted friends, Davison indicated that
perhaps the role was not for him when the producer rang back the next cripts for the new Doctor's debut season would be a mixture of
night. However, Nathan-Turner persuaded Davison to join him for lunch those specially commissioned for the new character, and items
the following week. Phed with drinks, Davison considered the offer for initiated by Bidmead primarily for Baker's Doctor. After months of
another week and - although the prospect of taking over a national institu- development, drafts of Xeraphin, a story about a missing Concorde by
tion from the long-running Baker daunted him - finally agreed with the Grimwade, were being delivered in early December.
director Peter
- producer that he would take over as the Doctor in the New Year. At this Breakdowns were commissioned from writers hke young Andrew Smith
time, Davison was already committed to two sitcoms: Holdincj the Fort for (the author of Full Circle, who now developed The Torson Triumuiratc), foraer (
LWT (the first season of which was just ending its run) and a new BBC actor Rod Beacham (an oudine called Hebos) and mainstream SF novelist
venture, Sink or Siuim, which had just started filming. Doctor Who would have Christopher Priest (who had delivered an abandoned Baker serial. Sealed
to fit in around these.
Davison was formally announced as Baker's successor on Wednesday 5
November, making an appearance on Notioniuide where he was interviewed
about his new role by Sue Lawley. He was formally contracted for 28
episodes as the Doctor on Tuesday
November. Over the next few weeks,
11
the actor seldom found himself out of the limelight. While waiting to
record an edition of Sink or Smim on Saturday 8, Davison soaked up the
hectic production atmosphere of BBC sci-fi by joining his wife on the set of
BBC bar (where the noise drowned out the few words of advice which Baker
gave his successor) and Patrick Troughton in the BBC car park. Troughton,
wanted a second season of Sink or Siuim to be recorded during the summer morning suit and hat was considered at one point. A sporting motif was
foran autumn transmission, which meant that recording in June and July suggested - perhaps a polo outfit witii boots, jodhpurs and striped shirt.
for Davison's third serialhad to be delayed, and the seventh serial bumped Davison suggested cricketing - he played
attire the game, and a photograph
back into early 1982. Because of the revenue generated from exhibitions of him wearing cricket whites at an All Creatures charity match was on the
and licence agreements related to Doctor Who, it was agreed that Season wall of the producer's office. By Tuesday 10 February, a period cricketing
Nineteen would be a co-production between BBC TV and BBC Enterprises. outfithad been decided upon; Nathan-Turner want the costume to be
With Logopolis completed, more stories for the new Doctor were hned up highly designed as a recognisable 'uniform', although Davison himself
in February as confidence in Project Zeta-Sigma faded amongst the produc- would have preferred a frock-coat with a more off-the-peg, thrown-together
mith Project
February,
abandoned on Thursday ig
Zeta-Sigma being
Bidmead was asked to contribute a freelance script
afternoon.
During April, Root departed the production office for an indefinite
to introduce the new Doctor; the notion for this serial devel- attachment on Juliet Brauo. However, both Root and Bidmead had been
oped from the dimension-distorting Uthographs of MC Esher, which the impressed by Saward's The Visitation,and recommended the author to
former script-editor recalled seeing in the office of Head of Serials Graeme Nadaan-Turner in February as a permanent script editor. Saward rapidly
McDonald, to whom he and Nathan-Turner had reported. Bidmead's The accepted the producer's out-of-the-blue offer, and arrived to inherit a
was underway in early March, with rapid scripting required to allow
Visitor it number of scripts and stories, including submissions by Terence Greer,
production in August as the fourth story before the cameras.
to enter Jack Gardner and an American writer called Lesley Elizabeth Thomas -
Nathan-Turner was pleased that this arrangement would allow Davison whose Way Down Yonder was being considered for shooting in the southern
time to settle into character before making his debut story. With the second states of the USA. Work was also underway on the IC9 pilot, with Nathan-
season of Holding the Fort recorded, Davison departed for a brief overseas Turner having roughed out a storyline entitled One Girl and Her Dot) for
holiday in March, prior to his first rehearsals at the end of the month. In the another writer to script; the serial would bring back the character of Sarah
meantime, a new set of opening same mould as the 'star field'
credits in the Jane Smith - who had accompanied the Third and Fourth incarnations of
sequence developed for Baker's final season, was being prepared by Sid the Doctor on their travels - and witness witchcraft in the English country-
Sutton of BBC Graphics. side being debunked. Subtitled A Girl's Best Friend, it had been fleshed out by
Rehearsals for the studio-bound Four to Doomsdai) began, and Davison got Root before leaving.
to know his fellow cast members. Waterhouse, a keen devotee of the series, Davison gave another radio interview on Sport on Four on Saturday 2 May,
was unintentionally clumsy in his welcoming of Davison to the show, just prior to starting filming on The Visitation, a script which he enjoyed
pointing out what the actor was doing wrong and how he could never immensely. Location shooting was also the first chance for members of the
follow Baker's record-breaking act. Sutton was far happier and more public to get a closer look at the new Doctor as the crew went out and
relaxed with Davison, finding that, unlike Tom Baker, she could talk to about. During a telephone interview, Davison was asked about the show
him. Fielding became concerned when a requirement for obtain a British going into a twice-weekly slot, and conveyed the question to Nathan-
work permit revealed to Nathan-Turner that she had hed about her age to Turner; although such a decision had indeed been taken, the producer
land the role. She disliked the way that she, Sutton and Waterhouse were denied that this was the case. Meanwhile, The Visitation saw the destruction
referred to as 'the kids' by the production team. Davison had hoped that the of the Doctor's trusty sonic screwdriver after 13 years - the prop being
script or his producer would give him clues as to his character, but found another all-purpose problem-solver which Nathan-Turner felt made the
none forthcoming and elected to apply the brave/gruff Tristan image to the central character too invulnerable.
TT"
Sehbdii IB
from the series, the Cybermen; this use of an old enemy was approved of by As well as commissioning Snakedance - a sequel to Kinda - from Christopher i
Nathan-Turner. By now, Xeraphin had been scheduled as the final serial of from Bill Lyons (another Blake's 7 writer) The Time o/Neman
Bailey, Parasites ,
the season. Furthermore,on Saturday 27 June, The Sun confirmed that (about an anti-matter alien entering this universe in Amsterdam) from
Davison's debut would be seen in a weekday slot. Johnny Byrne and The Enlighteners (about a race between sailing ships in
space) from newcomer Barbara Clegg, Saward was also finding himself at
avison returned to the Doctor Who fold on Saturday 18 July for the loggerheads with Dudley over the pilot episode of Kg ond Company.
read-through on Kinda, another studio-bound story. However, he Before Black Orchid began filming, Davison recorded a pilot for a series of
would still be working on Sink or Siuim as well, meaning that he BBC 'French Programmes' on Saturday 3 October. The 1920s serial was
was rehearsing as Brian Webber in the mornings and the Doctor in the then filmed and recorded during October, and Saward's Cyberman story
afternoons, recording episodes of the sitcom on Sundays amidst his other was retided Earthshock shordy before shooting began at the end of the
work. An internal reorganisation meant that Nathan-Turner was now month. As with the previous season, Nathan-Turner reahsed that the return
reporting to a new boss, David Reid, Head of Series and Serials. His first of an old villain and an excuse to show chps from old episodes were ingre-
season deemed to have been a success and progress on his second satisfac- dients popular widi die die-hard fans, and so both the Cybermen's involve-
tory, the fledgling producer was now told that there was no longer any need ment and Adric's death were closely-guarded secrets. (News of the
for the more experienced Barry Letiis to act as his executive producer; the Alzarian'spermanent demise met with Waterhouse's initial displeasure.
since it meant he could not return to the show.) In the meantime, Steve (broadcast the following
Gallagher, author of Warriors' Gate, was commissioned to write a new serial, Monday) and then embarked
Terminus - about a space station where a ruthless regime is attempting to upon the freezing location
cure a form of galactic leprosy. filming for Time-Fli£)ht, as Xeraphin had become known. Both the use of a
From the start of November, BBCi ran The Five Faces qfDortor Who on real Concorde aircraft - the most expensive prop ever - and the fact that
Monday to Thursdays for five weeks; this showcased Hartnell in the orig- Doctor Who was the first drama series to be allowed to film at Heathrow
inal four-part story from 1963, Troughton in The Krotons from 1968/9, Airport attracted press attention.
Pertwee in Carniual oJMonstcrs from 1973, the tenth anniversary team-up of A feature on the realisation of Peter Howell's igSo arrangement of the
The Three Doctors and concluding with Lotjopolis to show Baker again meta- show's theme tune ran in the BBC Schools programme The Music Arcade on
morphosing into Davison. Blue Peter on Thursday 29 October and Did You Tuesday 2 February. As Four to Doomsday and Kinda were screened, the
See...? on Saturday 7 November both promoted the repeat run, and there problematic production of Time-Flight continued through to the start of
was press coverage from the Daily Mail and Daili) Mirror, with around five February igSz, and scripts for The Enlitjhteners, Terminus and Snakedance
million people tuning in on average. The repeats were prefigured in arrived. Nathan-Turner was now increasingly aware of the show's rich
October when Target managed to issue Terrance Dicks' hastily penned past, and The Time oJNeman was rechristened The Time of Omega to reflect
adaptation of the debut serial under the title Doctor Who and an Unearthly the fact that Nathan-Turner had asked Johnny Byrne to resurrect the
Child. 1<9 ond Company and Earthshock were in simultaneous production in legendary proto-Time Lord previously seen in The Three Doctors. Meanwhile,
mid-November, the former at Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham and the Saward started to experience problems with The Sonij of the Space Whale;
latter at London's Television Centre. On Saturday 14 November, Davison writer Pat Mills was unclear about the direction in which the BBC wanted
and Dickinson joined a group of fans him to take the story.
the voice of Kg - turned up on Woman's for them". Vernon explained that '.
^
Hour on the day of broadcast, with Kg also John Morell, Head of Programme
encouraging viewers to time into his pilot Planning for BBCi, said "the decision
on on Wednesday 23. A sneak
Pebble Mill hadn't been taken lightiy and when
preview of Black Orchid was shown on Blue the present run comes to an end in
Peter during a feature on costumes on Thursday 10, and an old-style
Cyberman played by David Banks joined Kg in a robot quiz on Larry HT Hn nmERicnn canuEiiTiDn,
Grayson's Generation Game on Saturday 12.
With numerous newspaper features, Doctor Who was now getting a very
nnuison urns hshed if he uihs
high profile. Davison had been associated with the show for over a year and UIORRIEO EBOUT BEinO SHBT
recorded all bar one story of his first season ... but by the end of igSi, his
only broadcast appearances as the Doctor had been in the closing moments late March, he'll think again very seriously where the TARDIS lands next
of Loflopolis and wishing viewers a Merry Christmas in a BBC trailer recorded time round". Morell was then heard explaining that "the series needed a
on the set of Earthshock. On Monday 4 January - as The Guardian bemoaned new lease of life. A new Doctor, a new placing and a new challenge,'"
*
the BBC's failure to understand the "essential Saturdayness" of Doctor Who - while pointing out that the viewing figures were an improvement of the
Peter Davison made his first full appearance as the Doctor in Castroualua Part previous year's Saturday slot. The following day, Joe Steeples of the Daily
at 3.30pm, and in Wales, where it ran at 7.45pm). The second episode Despite protests from the traditionalists, within weeks it was clear that
followed the next day, with Tuesday broadcasts generally going out at the new time slot - with opposition in the form of travel show Wish You
7.05pm (in Wales, these editions aired at 7.45pm on Wednesdays). Graeme Were Here and charades-fest Giue Us a Clue - had give Doctor Who a tremen-
McDonald wrote to Nathan-Turner on Tuesday 5 January commendng that dous ratings boost, with the later episodes of Castroualua attracting over
when he compared Castroualvo to Kg and Company, he felt that the latter had ten million viewers, as opposed to the five million who had stuck with the
more atmosphere to it. Indeed, the audience of eight million who saw Kg early broadcastsof Season Eighteen.
and Company (despite a power black-out hitting the Winter Hill transmitter With Season Nineteen, Doctor Who made an amazing recovery from the
in the North West) was an encouraging sign for the new season. Tom Baker's final season -
disastrous ratings plunge that had hindered
Davison joined Sandra Dickinson to record an appearance on the panel and Peter Davison's high media profile meant that the series was gaining
game So You Think You Knou; What's Good For You.' on Tuesday 5 January more attention than it had enjoyed in years.
Castrovdiva
The Dai^ Before You Came BHRB BILLHTT
DUim nncHiuE
DWM 258
0 For his first story, Davison had ^ Merchandise: the company View-
considered impersonating aspects of Master International issued its second The serial is now held as D3 tapes Unravelling: Adric wactches
|
his predecessors, apart from Tom Doctor Who title in April 1983. The taken from the two-inch broadcast as the unstable Doctor sheds
Baker -and had paid particular atten- Castroualva set contained three discs tapes. 60 minutes' studio footage the last vestiges of his former
tion to videotapes of old episodes each holding 21 special 'stereoscopic' exists on monochrome U-Matictape self. © BBC
Changes of costume for the regu- viewed as in '3D' through the View- Stuntman/Castroualuan Warrior; Doreen
lars were accounted for: in Part Two, Master toy itself Croft CasUouaivan Woman
Four to Doo
The land of Make Believe
DlUm nRCHlUE
DWM 21
discover it is not as deserted as it first appeared. Simple. Dec 80; delivered Mon 1 5 Dec 80
Characterisation was more of a problem. The Doctor had Tue 23 Dec 80 Day of Wrath
just changed and I had no idea what Peter Davidson would be [working title] scripts commis-
like. So I just wrote him as Tristram from All Creatures Great and sioned for Mon i2jan 81; deliv-
Small, though half the time he would still talk like Tom Baker. ered Mon 12 Jan 81
with one character trait each. Adric liked maths. Nyssa pointed PHonucTian
out what machines were called. And Tegan was unaccountably Mon 13 Apr 81 Television Centre
cross and thought everyone was mad. Studio 6: Space Ship SS Control;
This was, I felt, wrong. The baddy should be a green, slimy Studio 6: Surgery; Mobiliary
monster. Called something hke 'the Master' ... Monarch! Wed 15 Apr 81 Television Centre
Doctor Who facts were exciting. I loved them. So I had to stick Studio 6: Linkways lA, iS, 4B, 4A,
in mentions of Gallifrey, Artron energy, the Master, Rassilon 3B, 2A; Guest Quarters; Library
and the Eye of Harmony, even though they had nothing to do Tue 28 Apr 81 Television Centre
with the story. Someone had written in to Matrix Data Bank Studio 6: Linkway g; Models;
asking for a hst of rooms in the TARDIS - so Adric would Linkways 2A, 2B m
proclaim that the TARDIS contains "a power room, a bath- Wed 2g Apr 81 Television Centre m
room, even cloisters!" (to which Monarch would reply, "That's Studio 6: Recreation Room; Flora
^H
I I I I
hen I
ill^g't)'^
was
"^P
eight, I wrote Doctor Who
noteboolcs with page after page of
pencil. Originality was not my
stories,
"Well, I'd
to me."
never have guessed it - you look in the best of health
is
I I I I
t J strong point. Each story would consist of about people floating in space. Eventually I'd find myself a Recreational?
^^^^^^^Bi my favourite bits from the books, annuals, halfway down and it would be time to start
the 12th page Mon 25 Jan 82 Part Three: Will
comics and the TV show, plus the latest facts I had committed thinking about an ending. The monster could shrink, like in Bigon help the Doctor?
to memory from DWM. They would concentrate on the things The Sun Makers! Excellent. I had my story. Tue 26 Jan 82 Part Four: Will
which fascinated me - spaceships, robots and monsters. More Of course, it made no sense. Monarch needs to breathe air - Enlightenment and Persuasion
often than not, the result would be a lot like Four To Doomsday. except in the first episode, when he doesn't. The spaceship is destroy the Doctor?
Starting was easy. One of the first things I had learned from going back and for± to Urbanka to collect humans - but it
the books was that all Doctor Who stories begin with the TARDIS turns out that Urbanka was destroyed, and the baddies want to
landing somewhere which at first appears to be deserted. The invade the Earth. How do they intend to do this? They plan to
Doctor and his companions should then split up to explore and use Adric to persuade the people of Earth to let them take over.
Retitled Four to Doomsday late in Johns appear in the series, having Recording over-ran by 45 minutes
February 1981, the story was moved witnessed the actor's professionalism on Wednesday 15 April
forward in the production schedules to when working on Barloui at Large some
replace the original Serial
Zeta Sigma -a
5W, Project years earlier; Johns had been sounded ^ The opening spaceship shot was
i
nuclear disarmament out in 1969 by Drama head Shaun requested by Nathan-Turner as a
parable by Meglos writers John Sutton about replacing Patrick homage to Star Wars; the nacelles on
Flanagan and Andrew McCulloch. A Troughton as the Doctor, but had were made to glow with reflective tape
casting document for Project Zeta Sigma declined on the grounds that the role
listed the characters as the Doctor, would have been too demanding. In Thursday 30 April 1981: Stratford
Adric, Tegan, Nyssa, the Master/Sergo, rehearsals, Peter Davison worried that Johns did not like wearing his Monarch
Radzik, Meloka, Abulov, Tradfel, Kirtis, he wouldn't be able to match Johns' make-up, and was only too glad to
Stine, Glex and an Autogem - with presence; Nathan-Turner tried to allay remove it after recording;he was disap-
extras including Autogems, Aralians, his fears. Director John Black tried to pointed that he was not recognisable
stupid boy! Adric
Zetans and medics give Davison space to find his feet, but in the finished programme. During
(Matthew Waterhouse) was unconvinced by the new Doctor's recording, an less-than-tactful floor
finds his loyalties called Writer Terence Dudley made all his cricketing motif Black knew Paul manager allegedly told Johns that the
into question. @ BBC revisions very promptly, delivering Shelley (Persuasion) from university; crew in the gallery thought his
script editor Antony Root an extra lil<e Annie Lambert (Enlightenment), performance was over the top. The
scene almost instantly. The script indi- Shelley was selected for his good looks sketches apparently drawn by Tegan
cated that the recreation chamber came courtesy of a friend of John Black
should be adorned with artefacts from Rehearsals for the first block
the different Earth cultures on the ship
(Mayan
began around Monday 30 March 1981, ^ UK Gold screened Four to Doomsday
tapestries, for example). Most while those forthe second started in episodic form in June 1994 and has
of the rewrites had been made by around Monday 16 April. The photocall shown it as a compilation since August
Wednesday March 1981; the mate-
18 for Davison was held at Hammersmith 1994. Dutch viewers first saw
rial with Tegan and Kurkutji speaking Park on Monday 16. Recording took Davison's Doctor in this serial, which
in an Aboriginal dialect was rewritten placein the afternoon and evenings of aired as Monarch in September 1985
on Thursday 26 most studio days between 2.30 and
5.15pm, and then from 7.30 to Four to Doomsday is now held by the
9 Producer John Nathan-Turner 10.30pm; the only day with no after- BBC as D3 tapes taken from the two-
particularly wanted to have Stratford noon recording was Monday 13 April. inch broadcast tapes
Kindd
:-.Qo Wild in the Country BSIXmCE PRRKNI
* DUim HRCHIUE
OWM 226
Stupid boy (slight retiirn): thanks to Adric's meddling
cnmmissiomnB the Doctor finds himself at the mercy of the TSS. s bbc
Thu 10 Apr 80 The Kindo
[working
sioned for
ered Mon
Thu 24 Apr 80
Thu 25 Sep 80 The
title]
Mon
15 Dec 80
1
Kindo
scripts commis-
5 Dec 80; deliv-
T Kinda, but there are very few that are worse made.
Everyone remembers the snake, obviously, but
the papier mache snake with the wires
in its natural habitat
cables running across' its
- a jungle
showing is
that has
grey-painted floor, where the trees
camera
Studio 8:
81 Television Centre
Wed 12 Aug 81
Wherever
Television Centre
cheerful compared to modern film and TV drama.
Time has been a great leveller, and the stories that have
Studio 8: The Wherever; The
stood the test are the ones with entertaining scripts and
Windchimes; A Clearing; Forest
strong central performances. Unformnately, Kinda has the
Outside Dome; A Path hghtest of light entertainment casts and no-one, including the
Thu 13 Aug 81 Television Centre
regulars, really seems to understand the words they're saying.
Studio 8: The Windchimes; Small
Janet Fielding's performance as Tegan is always singled out as
Clearing; A Path; Forest Outside
a tour deforce, but watch it today The memory cheats. Whatever
Dome it is, it's not subtle or complex. You remember it because it's a
Fri 14 Aug 81 Television
bit different, not because it's any good. That said, even at die
littie more than try to explain what we're watching. It's easy to
see why the people who were about i6 when it was first on
championed it - Kinda is a story it's easy to write essays about.
It's got themes, you see. It's got symbolism. And the charac-
ters all have Buddhist names - that's got to be significant,
hasn't it? The symbolism really
Well, in the end, no, not really.
is straight out of Toytown - apples and snakes, machines
trundling through an idylhc garden. How is the end of time
expressed visually? By showing a load of exploding clocks.
There's some stuff about identity being a social construct, and
a bitof Jung, but it's barely explored, It's let alone subverted. the series. And at least it's not a lazy pastiche of old stories. A machine trundling
through an idyllic garden,
not clever - it just keeps telling you its writer has read books Doctor Who stories, at any rate.
yesterday. Bit of Jung not
by people who are. The sequel, Snakedance, one of those Davison stories like
is
shown, s BBC
Kinda's not a dead loss, of course. It has perhaps the most Castrovaha and Frontios which somehow ends up overlooked
intelUgent, visually striking use of video effects in the show's despite being genuinely well-written, made and acted. In that,
history. Peter Davison puts in an excellent performance, the we get a proper alien society, not off-the-shelf colonial stereo-
first one that marks him out as distinct: it's impossible to types; Tegan's possession connects with the main action and ^ Centre Studio 8: Forest
imagine any of his predecessors in his place, and it's a story is actually subversive; there's meaty stuff about tradition and Outside Dome; A Glade; Forest;
that would havebeen impossible in the Tom and Kg show of a leadership; the light entertainment guest stars play to their The Beyond; Panna's Cave
*
year before. Simon Rouse's Hindle is a portrait of real strengths; and it wasn't done a decade before, better, by TueiiNovSi Television Centre
madness, not just the scarred loonies that usually pass for it in Ursula K Le Guin. Ignore Kinda, go for Snakedance instead. Studio 8: Airlock [remount]
RHDID TimESS
Men 1 Feb 82 Part One: What is
chimes?
<i Writer Christopher Bailey was a 9 Originally, a plant-like creature run, Nathan-Turner vetoed the final TueiFebSz Part Two: Will
graduate in English from Cambridge appeared in one of Tegan's dreams scene, which showed Sanders and Dukkha release Tegan from his
University. Kinda was partly inspired early on. Visual Effects had designed Hindle walking arm-in-arm through power?
by Ursula K Le Guin's 1972 novel The and started to make the creature when the forest holding a flower, on the Mon8Feb82 Part Three: What
Word for World is Forest, In which a the dream sequences were shortened, grounds that it was too camp is the secret of the Beyond?
high-tech expedition lands on a and the prop was abandoned at TuegFeb82 Part Four: Will
primitive world to find that the natives considerable expense ^ Recording was scheduled to take Hindle succeed?
are more highly developed than place between 7.30 and lo.oopm each
expected and have a relationship via (3^ The singer Marti Webb, who had evening, with an additional session
their dreams enjoyed chart success with Take That between 2.30 and 5.15pm on the
Look Off'r'our Face in February 1980, was second and third days of each
Because The Kinda scripts had been first cast in the role of Todd around block
written for only two companions, the the start of June 1981; however, the
production team decided to drop one partwas finally given to Nerys ^ Thursday 30 July 1981: there were
of the girls and spotlight the other Hughes, with whom John Nathan- heated debates on the studio floor
one, rather than have them share Turner had worked on How Green Was about Hindle's motivation in Part
the material and weaken the story My Valley.'. Mary Morris (Panna) lived Four; actor Simon Rouse was unsure if
structure. Tegan was chosen to be in Switzerland in a mountain home the insane Hindle was worried about
highlighted - but Nyssa actress Sarah she had built herself, and had driven just his own well-being, or if he was
Sutton was not terribly upset when her across Europe in a wrecked Land concerned for the others, too
^ The read-through for Kinda took Recording was delayed by ten minutes
0 The Mara's manifestation as a place on Saturday 18 July. Peter due to a videotape breakdown.
snake was also a phallic symbol; this Davison was still involved in produc- Tempers flared between Grimwade
aspect, and other of Bailey's more Swim during late July,
tion of Sink or and a member of his production team
adult concepts, had to be toned down and would record two episodes during regarding the state of the forest set
for a family audience rehearsals for Doctor Who on Sundays
19 and 26July; during this time I) Thursday 13 August 1981: the
^ The Kinda was the first serial to be Davison was scheduled to work on the studio floor became visible while the
script-edited at time of production by sitcom in the mornings and Kinda in tumbling act performed by the
Eric Saward, and the first made for the afternoons. The cast noted with Trickster in Part Three was being shot.
which he would be credited (although amusement the young Matthew Several delays occured when time had
his first broadcast credit would be for Waterhouse giving veteran actor to allocated to sweep leaves back into
Castroualua). Saward enjoyed working Richard Todd some tips on how to act position on the jungle sets. As time
with Bailey; even though Antony Root on television; Todd felt he should play started to run out, Grimwade aban-
had done a lot of work on the scripts Sanders, a character inspired by the doned camera rehearsals and told the
at the start of the year, they still film Sanders of the Riuer, for laughs. actors simply to get to their marks and
Sanders (Richard Todd)
required attention when Saward Director Peter Grimwade toned down go for a take. The Kinda mask was
takes a shine to young
joined the production team in April some of the more sexual elements of required to break when stamped on in
Adric. Don't let him near
1981. The story was titled simply Kinda Janet Fielding's performance as the the script, but the visual effects assis-
your TSS, will you? e bbc
by mid-June possessed Tegan. At the producer's tant responsible for its construction
n7 (o)[UM
had used very thick plaster that incidental music score upon glass ited Production Assistant alongside
refused to shatter, much to the sounds Rosemary Parsons on Block Two, while
director's consternation. Recording Carol Johnson was the uncredited
over-ran by ii minutes,and by 13 Saward asked Bailey for four extra Vision Mixer on Block One. For the Part
minutes on the next and final day, minutes' material to pad out Part Four Four scenes remounted duringthe
Friday 14 August on Wednesday 30 September 1981 sessions for Earthshock, the additional
uncredited crew were as follows:
9 The gallery-only day for video ^ The serial is now held by the BBC Production Manager Geoffrey Manton,
effects took place in TC6 on Thursday as D3 tapes taken from the two-inch Elinor Carruthers. Production Assistant
20 August. The serialwas then edited broadcast tapes. Longer first edits of Jane Ashford. Assistant Floor Manager
between Saturday 22 and Monday 31 One to Three The TARDIS crew
Kinda Parts exist in Nicholas Laughland. Technical Manager
find that paradise isn't
August, and dubbed on Saturday 5, pravate collections on time-coded Alan Jeffery. Lighting Fred Wright.
half as nice as they were
Thursday 17, Friday 25 September U-Matic videotape Costume Designer Dinah Collin. Make-up
led to believe, s bbc
and Saturday 3 October 1981. Artist Joan Stribling. Designer Bernard
Composer Peter Howell based his ^ Credits: Sue Plumb was an uncred- Lloyd-Jones.
i
'a'
>• ~
-1 * . Ain't What You Do (It's the W&y That You Do It)
DUim HRCHIUE
DWM 275
tion shooting "the make-up artists in their brightly-lit base- Wedi Oct 80; delivered Wed 1
reveals that "ivy is the designer's friend" when it comes to Thu 20 Nov 80 Plague Rots scripts
disguising anachronisms on location. When an actor declines commissioned for Sun 18 Jan 81;
to wear a specially obtained hat in character, the exotically- delivered Mon 26Jan 81
more complex, more gruelling and far more pragmatic than Stage 2: London Street; Oven
I'd realised. Yet the real significance of absorbing those verbal Room; Back Room
and visual snippets probably didn't dawn on me until years Tue5May8i Black Park
later. When The Making of a Tcleuision Scries was published, I Country Park, Iver [Woods with
had just moved to London to attend university. I became Pod]
heavily involved in London-based Who fandom during my Wed 6 May 81 Black Park
college years, but the idea of working for the BBC after grad- [Woods]
uating - let alone being on the periphery of the production Thu 7 May 81 Black Park
process - would have seemed a remote possibility. [Woods with TARDIS]
Yet, in 1987, that's was offered a
exacdy what happened. I Fri 8 May 81 Tithe Barn, Hurley
lowly office job within Television Centre itself, working in the [Manor]; Monk's Barn, Hurley
their assistants and wardrobe crews, who were based in Wed 20 May 81 Television
London. Among them was Odile Dicks-Mireaux, who proved Centre Studio 3: Stable; Harness
to be as shrewdly practical as she was talented - and many Room; Escape Pod
others, like Colin Lavers, who had designed Peter Davison's Thu 21 May 81 Television Centre
ow that behind-the-scenes featurettes and original costume. Studio 3: TARDIS Girls' Room;
'Making of...' books are commonplace, it may My role, as it evolved over the years, was to liaise between TARDIS Corridor; TARDIS Console
be hard to imagine what was quite so illumi- producers (and their teams) and designers (and their teams) Room; Bakery Back Room; Barn
nating about Doctor Who: The Making of a during all the relevant stages of production - so, showing a Wed3Jun8i Television Centre
Tclcuision Scries. Yet this 60-page book by Alan grasp of what it took for a group of people to turn a script into Studio 3: Hall Window; Main
Road, concentrating on the production of The Visitation (first a programme was quite an advantage. (Incidentally, among Hall; Front Hall; Cellar ;jf
published in hardback in 1982) was something of a revelation the contacts I made later was Ros Parker,
to me - and, I suspect, quite a few others. who became a very approachable
Granted, the previous year A Doy in the Life oj a TV Producer Associate Producer.) I'd like to think it
had shown us the hub of the production process, and earlier did me no harm at all to have arrived
Terrance Dicks had described in some detail the making of with a head start in understanding the
Robot in the mid-ig/os The Making of Doctor Who. The slim process, and for that I'm very gratefitl to
volume about The Visitation, however, was something else Alan Road and his book on The Visitation.
entirely. By focusing on each area of production in turn, and Those brighdy-lit make-up rooms, the
illustrating these potted perspectives with informal pictures logistics faced by production teams,
unlike the regular posed shots of cast or crew, it opened my indeed the whole recording atmosphere,
eyes towhat all those job titles on the credits actually meant. probably wouldn't have seemed so
"A fascinating account of the co-operative effort required to familiar without it.
put the intrepid Doctor in orbit each week, " claimed its back I never did get the chance to attend a
cover - which, apart from the orbital aspect, was a fair sypher dub, as Peter Davison apparendy
The new face of Scottish
summary. Suddenly the practicalities of Doctor Who's produc- liked to do; but nowadays, interviewing actors just after
Widows? No, it's just the
tion were much more understandable in human terms. they've recorded a Big Finish drama, I suppose I do some- cunningly disguised
Some crucial observations stood out. Production Manager times get paid for talking to people in pubs. You win some, Terlleptil Leader. @ bbc
Ros Parker, for example, was "paid for talking to people in and you lose some . .
*
Thu 4 Jun 81 Television Centre
• Passage Way; Cellar; Laboratory; publicity shot of Peter Davison issued Robbins altered some of Mace's lines
Room; Corridor as a postcard by Larkfield later that in rehearsal. The Terileptil heads were
FrisJunSi Television Centre same year created by visual effects assistant
Studio 3: Laboratory; Cellar; Peter Litten
Room; TARDS Console Room 9 Friday 8 May ig8i: filming was
covered by both photographer ^ Merchandising: a shot of Davison
RHDin TimES Richard Farley for the book Doctor from this serial formed the basis of a
Moni5Feb82 Part One: Why Who: The Making of a Telei/ision Series jigsaw issued by Waddingtons in 1982.
are the villagers so afraid? and a reporter from the local news- A Terileptil piece featured in an expan-
Tue iS Feb 82 Part Two: Can paper, the Maidenhead Obseruer. Farley sion set for the chess set issued by
Richard Mace help? also attendedone rehearsal session MBI Incfrom 1992. FHarlequin
Men 22 Feb 82 Part Three: What and was present for the studio produced a number of metal figures
is the final Visitation? Producer John Nathan-Turner was recordings based on characters from The Visitation
Tue 23 Feb 82 Part Four: Will reluctant to cast actor Michael Robbins in 1998, including the Doctor, Adric,
Nyssa defeat the android? as Richard Mace, but was won over Peter Davison was very excited by Tegan, Nyssa, 'Death', the Android
by the persuasiveness of director the script for the serial when he and a Terileptil
Peter Moffatt arrived at rehearsals; he liked Eric
Saward's writing, and the idea of 1^ The serial is now held by the BBC
^ Thursday 7 May 1981: the photocall tinkering with history. Saward asD3 tapes taken from the two-inch
outside the TARDIS begat the standard was unhappy when Michael broadcast tapes
Orchid
.^Jomeone Sotneiuhere (in Summertime) B5I CDRIIELL
• DUimHRBHIUE
• DWM 298
delivered Mon 16 Feb 81 different to his predecessors. This Doctor can never be still.
He's always artificially doing something: talking to himself,
pnoDUBTinn singing, reacting. Because he often has to carry otherwise
Mon 5 Oct 81 Quainton Road, inexplicable narratives entirely on his own. Davison plays that
Quainton, Bucks [Road; Police with energy: moving from one mark to another and then
Station]; Quainton Road back. If we have to look at him all the time, we're going to get
Railway Station [Cranleigh something to look at! But what's going on inside?
Halt] Listen to the way he delivers the line "why do I always let
Tue 6 Oct 81 Buckhurst Park, my curiosity get the better of me?" as he's lost in the corridors
* Withyham, E Sussex [The of the house. Baker would have rumbled that as an aside, got
Hall/Roof] rid of it. Pertwee would have played it up with a smile.
Wed7-Thur80ct8r Davison means it. He says it with a frustrated sigh that's
Buckhurst Park [The Hall] almost a snarl. His arc through this story is that finally he gets
Frig Oct 81 Buckhurst Park to relax and fit in, but then he's tiresomely, awlcwardly, and
[The Hall; Cricket Pitch] finally dangerously accused of murder. He reacts to Ann's
Tue 20 Oct 81 Television first accusation with tired smiles. His hurt cry of "it wouldn't
Centre Studio 3: TARDIS; be cricket" is a plea that he's just like these people. But the
Drawing Room; Detention problem is there's something more complex inside, and he
Room; Corridor; Tegan and can't hide it. He fits in initially because he's the picture of
Nyssa's Bedroom; Landing; British Imperial aristocracy. He tells Lord Cranleigh that he's
Small Annexe) (when he's actually just medium paced) with
a fast bowler
I
. Wed 21 Oct 81 Television nose-up arrogance. But he doesn't look happy when
Centre Studio 3: Drawing presented with his harlequin costume. There's that wonderfiil
Room; Hall and Stairs; moment when he puts the mask over his face, looking sad
Doctor's Bedroom; Ann's and resigned. He knows he can't escape his own mask. The
Bedroom; Landing Harlequin costume echoes a similar cosmme once worn by
rom what Peter Davison has said about his Lord Peter Wimsey, the very opposite of the Fifth Doctor.
RnDID TimES years on Doctor Who, it's clear he spent a lot of Wimsey conceals his abilities himself. The Doctor has them
Mom Mar 82 Part One: What them feeling frustrated about the lack of time forcibly concealed by his appearance. He is, as Davison often
is the secret of the well- and money. That frustration informs his says, an old man in a young body This frusUrates him. The
furnished cell? performance. Watching him in a story during confidence of experience is let down by appearances. He's not
Tue 2 Mar 82 Part Two: Who is the production of which he felt content, we can see the tech- in charge, like Baker, because he thinks he should still auto-
the Unknown? niques he used to create his Doctor. matically be, and doesn't see why he has to try so hard. When
Davison's first step is to place himself in relation to Tom he gets the chance to show these silly humans that he's telling
Baker's portrayal. He takes just a couple of things from Baker. the truth, he folds his arms and looks triumphant at them as
His delivery of "there's a body through there", and the way he they stare at the TARDIS interior. Then, when they don't offer
holds up the TARDIS key, are veiy Tom. He also plays a the suggested apology, he gets angry at them. What does it
moment of Troughton clown angst, palms slapped on the take for them to take him seriously?! It's not there in the
sides of his face when suspected of murder. But these are dialogue, it's in Davison's choices.
asides, because he's functioning from a central idea radically That could have made for an abrasive, arrogant, character.
nnmnHnnnii
I) Scripts for Black Orchid were avail- had joined the BBC in 1974 as a on location on Wednesday 6 and
able for pre-production from mid- costume assistant and worked on Thursday 7 October 1981
June; the Visual Effects department series including Suruiuors; Black Orchid Davison's Doctor meets
was assured that there was minimal was her first Doctor Who after 4^ The planned studio crew changed someone else who doesn't
involvement compared to becoming a full designer in 1980
'
need for its before recording: originally, John Farr believe a word he says.
the other serials in the season was to have handled lighting, Laurie Queffe surprise!
9 Photocalls of the regular cast in Taylor sound and Glenys Davies was to
Costume designer Rosalind Ebbutt their fancy dress costumes were held have been the production assistant
####
Mine's the combinadon of Cybergun (especially when the requested for Centcnal [sicj;'
music. I always love it when Tegan loses it, and her best one
is diving on the TARDIS console in Part Four; a demonstra- PRDDUGfTIDn
tion of irrationality that fits in very nicely with this story's Thu2gOct8i Springwell Lock
(and every Cyberstory's) theme of the loss of humanity. The Quarry, Rickmansworth, Herts
stakes are upped - all the regulars' emotional undercurrents [Gravel Pit Cave Mouth)
monsters are actually quite good, and someone dies. If Doctor Centre Studio 8: Adric's Room;
Who ever had what they now call a 'series finale', this was it. TARDIS Control Room
And next? "Cyberfleet dispersed. Crew of the freighter Wed 11 Nov 81 Television
returned to Earth." And Adric? Who cares - Concorde has Centre Studio 8: t*!ain Cavern;
been abducted. There's another ordinary (incredibly, luorsc Caves; Small Cavern
than ordinary) story to get involved in. So what was the point Thui2Nov8i Television
of putting real emotions into Doctor Who one week, only to go Centre Studio 8: Small Cavern;
back to square one (and beyond) the next? Normal service has TARDIS; Cyber Control
been resumed: cue Plasmatons on 'blasted heath'. Tue 24 Nov 81 Television
I don't know about you clever lot, but Earthshodc's also just Centre Studio 8: Freighter
about the only 1980s Doctor Who story I understand (yes, really Bridge; Corridor Outside
- I had to have Full Circle and Castroualua explained to me in Wed 25 Nov 81 Television
1993, and your guess is as good as mine about what Fenric Centre Studio 8: Hold;
was up to). The Cybermen want to blow up Earth, and when
their bomb goes wrong they bring in Plan B. So simple - no
time corridors (well, not really), no duplicates, no pulse
loops, no cross-tracing on the exponential time-space axis.
It's also actually funny in places. The Saturday matinee
I J If Doctor Who is about anything, it's about was 13. Being into Doctor Who was probably about the
I
^^I^^H shadowy tunnels with slow-moving monsters in most tragic hobby you could admit to at that sad, greasy age
them. Anything else is mere window-dressing. That's the (but then, reader, you know that).
If there's one set of viewers
bottom Une. And, every so often, lohn Nathan-Turner would that twee, sexless old Doctor Whowas never going to engage, it
seem to grasp that, in his odd wonky way, just for a litde was teenagers. To my was merely funny and
peers, Adric
while. appalling. To me, it was worse. The full horror of Adric as
I don't know why,
I belieued in those caves and that
but experienced by fans was that he was too much like us. He is
freighter - even when stomps in, searching for
Beryl the Peril exactly what a 13 year-old nerd would be hke as a companion
Sigourney Weaver's lines. The death of Professor Kyle really - pointing out continuity errors, knowing too much about
Beryl Reid, with space
upset me. Adric's "Just leave!" to Tegan and the Doctor was dull things, not really understanding girls. Kinda taught us
gun and space costume,
gut-wrenching - such venom from Matthew Waterhouse, that the one thing evil cannot withstand is its own reflection,
captaining a space ship.
nerdy outsider in life as in art. On Blue Peter they used to say and Adric proves as much about fans. I was cheering as those
Double bliss! e bbc
that everyone had their favourite Doctor Who sound effect. credits rolled. Were you?
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Writing the scripts, Eric Saward The aforementioned slow-
chose to ignore more detailed aspects moving monsters. 'Dying
ofCyberman continuity (such as Cybergroan' effect not far
established chronology) while off, probably, s bbc
adopting others as suited the plot
T
to for Fri 21 Mar 80; delivered
'lost' scenes of great import as tantalising extras. Perhaps such Dec, and Parts Three and Four
clips leave you wanting more? Wanting, well, eucrythina. on Thu 4 Dec
True, there's a certain frisson in seeing an icon like Pertwee
on the set of Death to the Da!el;s vainly adjusting his bouffant in PRODUCTIDn
the monitor or witnessing his perfectionist tendencies leading Wed 6 Jan 82 Terminal One,
to frustrated anger in studio for Vampire From Space. The actual Heathrow Airport, Hounslow,
moment Colin Baker sits in the space left by Peter Davison to Middx [Concourse]
regenerate into the Sixth Doctor holds an obvious lofty status. Thu 7 Jan 82 Terminal Three,
But what pleasure could anyone take from watching unexpur- Heathrow Airport [Car Park
gated footage from a 90-minute studio recording spool of Roof]
Time-Flight? Mon 11 Jan 82 BA
Short on dialogue and incident, plodess and confused - Maintenance Area, Heathrow
existing behind-the-scenes footage magnifies the flaws of the Airport [Concorde; Runway]
broadcast story a hundredfold. The particular tape DWM Tueigjan82 Television
viewed includes material shot in the Concorde hold, the cavern Centre Studio 8: Heath [Areas
corridors leading to the sanctum and the Xeraphin's Outer A,J,C, K, D, B, H]
Sanctum itself. Without the luxury of fast-forward, given the Wed 20 Jan 82 Television
scientific nature of this study, time does not fly by. Centre Studio 8: Heath [Areas
Those hoping for cheelq' footage of a grinning Davison E, F, I, G, F, A]; Control Centre
debagging his assistants or John Nathan-Turner goofily Office; Corridor; Air Traffic
Quarters; Sanctum scene gives way to palpable tension. After yet another firm,
efficient but increasingly stressed of "Quiet in studio,
call
What is the true destination of pranks. After an hour or so of watching cavern wall paint dry
Speedbird Concorde One Nine we become just as aware as the crew of the studio clock ticking
Two? towards ten.
Tue 23 Mar 82 Part Two: Who Here is final evidence of the old truism trotted out by many
controls the Plasmatons? a Doctor Who veteran: 'It's a very technical show ... sometimes
Mon 29 Mar 82 Part Three: you're secondary to the special effects.' Think of a contempo-
What is the power of the rary BBC videotape series, be it Juliet Brauo or Just Good Friends,
Xeraphin? and you realise that elsewhere actors simply played out contin-
Tue 30 Mar 82 Part Four: Will uous five-minute scenes as if in an electronic theatre.
the Master succeed this time? Doctor Who seems by comparison an interminable series of
ten or 20 second shots, the actors' focus constandy interrupted
by breaks for special effects work. Janet Fielding and Sarah
Sutton struggle manfully on through what is no more than a
walk down another corridor time and again as Adric, Melkur
and then the Terileptil leader are keyed into shot as CSO over-
lays ("Oh! Terileptil's fallen apart!"). Those who think Time-
Flight a shoddy piece of work by people clearly disinterested in
their work will be astonished to see five minutes devoted to
keying in an electronic piece of the Concorde hold floor over a
ttap door hole while the tape in the basement continues to
whirr and the clock ticks. The resultant establishing shot lasts
all of two seconds on screen prior to the TARDIS' materialisa-
Behind the 'magic': the Xeraphin receive a last-minute costume
tion.
check whilst the studio clock ticks on ... @ bbc video
The Time-Flight spool reveals the cold hard logistics of
production line television in the early 1980s. An unintentional
close up masking tape which holds
reveals the spray-painted Of course the contents of this tape will never officially see
the Doctor's time machine together and we also realise that the the light of day in its fijll format. Given the less than enthusi-
TARDIS of his arch enemy is backless and made of plywood. astic release of Time-Flight at the arse end of the BBC's VHS
The magic, could anyone be so misguided to think that Time- schedule, it could be 2018 before Adric's 'fart' - and little else
Flight possesses any in the first place, is not evident here. - is released as an added extra on DVD.
^ when the story was first proposed Since observed by yours faithfully,
in March 1980, it was considered a God."
contender for the final serial of Season
Eighteen Director Ron Jones was disap-
pointed that the only scenes he could
I) Part One had the Doctor film were those set at the airport
misquoting the end of an anonymous scenes, since he was concerned that
limerick, while commenting upon the the scenes on the prehistoric heath
naive t8th century philosophy: "To be would lack authenticity in the studio
is to be perceived." The line of
thinking the Doctor scorned was ^ A new two-and-a-half inch model
derived from the Anglo-Irish bishop TARDIS was constructed by visual
and scientist George Berkeley, who effects designer Peter Logan using four
suggested that the spiritual existed colour photographs of a real Police Box
only so far as it was perceived by on each side and a flashing light
human senses. This had been the
subject of a humorous attack in the 9 In addition to the material held by
early 20th century by the Reverend the BBC, timecoded VHS recordings of
Ronald Knox, an English theologian much of the studio work exists - some
and chaplain of Trinity College, of which appeared in the closing
Oxford, who published the following credits for the November 1994 BBC
limerick: "There once was a man who Video release More Than 30 Years in the
said, 'God/ I^ust think it exceedingly TARDIS
odd/ If he finds that this tree/
Continues to be/ When there's no A postcard of an unused videotape
one about in the Quad.'" This cover painted by Colin Howard was
prompted the anonymous reply: "Dear issued by Slow Dazzle in 1999
Sir, Your astonishment's odd/ am 1
always about in the Quad/ And that's ^ Extras [additional]: Nigel Tisdall
why the tree/ Will continue to be/ Plasmaton
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Piansvfei
earnest
Doctor Who's 20th anniversary
in February 1982^ when the regular cast
season got underway in
of Peter
was made first to
of Nathan-Turner, who had arranged for the unsuspecting actor to attend Space Whale were insurmountable. With the nine-week break in production
the filming of a bogus special trailer for Australia, allowing the surprise to
for Season Three of Sink or Suiim looming in early June, tlie decision was
talcen to abandon Pat Mills' story and hurriedly commission a replacement
from Peter Grimwade. This new serial, Maujdryn Undcad, was delivered very
rapidly, and introduced Turlough as an alien youth incarcerated at a British
public school for reasons as yet unknown. The main plot revolved around
encounters in two separate time zones with a spacecraft containing a group
of scientists who craved an end to their immortahty. Again drawing upon
the show's past, Grimwade hoped to feamre the character of science teacher
Ian Chesterton - one of the Doctor's original companions from 1963 - in
his narrative, but when actor William Russell proved unavailable, the story
was rapidly rewritten around Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the former head
of UNIT last seen in the 1975 serial Terror of the Zy^ons.
Veteran actor Valentine Dyall was also booked to The Six Doctors. This was essentially a story featuring the
reprise his role as the Black Guardian in three Cybermen and the Master in which the Cybermen create a
linked serials beginning with Mauidryn Undead. duplicate of the First Doctor - the so-called 'sixdi' Doctor -
Seven 50-minute slots became unexpectedly as part of a plan to give them mastery of time. Anticipating
available when an American film series revival entided Bret Maucrick had Holmes' unease with the assignment, Saward arranged for another of his
ceased production prematurely in March. Nathan-Turner saw this as an predecessors, Terrance Dicks, to stand by witii an alternative. At the same
excellent opportunity to run more than the usual summer repeats - which time, the Christophers Bidmead and Bailey were commissioned for break-
were now considered essential, given that the twice-weekly formatmeant downs of The Wanderers (about a form of alien infestation with control over
the programme was off the air for nine months of the year. He proposed gravity) and May Time respectively Early in September, Saward informed
Doctor Who and the Monsters, a showcase for the series' three most famous Eric Pringle that War Game was being put on hold as being too expensive to
villains: the Ice Warriors in the 1972 Jon Pertwee story The Curse o/Peladon; produce.
the Daleks in the 1975 Tom Baker adventure Genesis o/the Daleks; and, During August and September, Nicholas Courtney reprised his role of
bringing things up to date, the Cybermen in Earthshock. When one of the Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart in Mawdryn Undead, and was soon invited to
slots was given over to a repeat of Star Trelc, Genesis of the Daleks was trimmed remrn for the anniversary special. On Thursday 15 September, a photocall
down into two 45 -minute episodes by veteran television director David was held to introduce Mark Strickson to tiie series and also to highlight the
Sullivan Proudfoot on Samrday 10 June. The Curse ofPeladon kicked off the imminent departure of Sarah Sutton. Scripts for Bailey's Manuiatch (formerly
broadcasts on Monday 12 June, and with the shows airing in a 7.20pm slot May Time) and Warriors qf the Deep by Johnny Byrne were commissioned. This
around five on average mned in for nostalgia value over the summer
million latter serialagain used returning foes - in this case, the Silurians from
- although these broadcasts were again not scheduled by BBC Cymru. 1970's Doctor Who and the Silurians and their aquatic cousins from its 1972
Sutton's deparmre from the series was announced by the press on sequel. The Sea Deuils.
Thursday 15 July, on the eve of the actress accompanying Nathan-Turner and With Mauidryn Undead's recording complete, Janet Fielding married jour-
Ainley to a massive Doctor Who convention in Chicago the following nalist Nicholas Davies in Wandsworth on Saturday 25 September - but her
weekend. On his retorn firom America, Nathan-Turner continued to sound the honeymoon was short-lived, as she started filming at Ealing on Terminus
out Patrick Troughton as to his availability for the anniversary special, which the following week. Meanwhile, on Wednesday 29 September, Davison took
had since been confirmed by David Reid as a 90-minute production. part in the production of an edition of Top Secret. On Wednesday 6 October,
WiUiam Hartnell having died in April 1975, the producer considered hiring actor lUchard Hurndall was contracted to feamre as die fake First Doctor in
character actor Geoffrey Bayldon (Catujeazle, etc) to portray the First Doctor. the problematic anniversary special; his casting was the result of Nathan-
Turner recalling the actor's resemblance to William Harmell in a repeat of a the exterior work on The King's
Blakf'5
7 episode during the summer. Demons (formerly The Android).
Industrial action at the BBC from the electricians' union the EEPTU Joining the cast at this
rumbled in the background during the troubled recordings for Terminus. A freezing venue was Gerald
number of problems accumulated to force a situation whereby on the final Flood, a prominent television
day of recording, Wednesday 27 October, there were still a number of and stage actor best known
scenes outstanding, which would require a remount; Sarah Sutton's depar- for the espionage series The
ture party went ahead, even al±ough it was premature. In the meantime, Flood was playing
Ratcatchers;
after a concerted attempt, Holmes reluctandy dropped out of the anniver- King John, who would be
sary project. Dicks stepped into the breach, delivering his breakdown for The revealed as the shape-
Fine Doctors, on Monday i November. The expensive-to-realise and over- changing robot Kamelion - the new robotic companion for the Doctor,
complex scripts for Warriors oj the Deep started to arrive during October, when whose voice Flood would also provide.
Philip Martin was commissioned to develop his scripts for Domain. During this trip to the south-east, Nathan-Turner was able to meet with
Filming at Ealing on Enlightenment began as planned in the first week of Tom Baker, who was acting in a play in Brighton, and sound him out about
November - but when rehearsals started the following week, cast and crew the possibility of appearing alongside the now-confirmed Patrick Troughton
learned that the EEPTU action had been stepped up, and as such the and Jon Pertwee in The Fiue Doctors. Baker was unsure about his involvement,
planned studio sessions later in the month had been abandoned. and was given as much of Dicks' script as had then been written. The
Production on Doctor Who entered a few weeks of limbo. By now, Saward had revised special saw the Doctors being drawn with their companions to a
written The Return, scripts for which had won the broad approval of Dalek Death Zone on Gallifrey where they encounter various old foes on their trip
creator Terry Nation, who was based in California. Nathan-Turner was also to Rassilon's tomb; the Fourth Doctor was to play a major role in the Time
starting the build-up to the 20th anniversary celebrations, which he Lord Capitol, uncovering the figure who aimed to gain the immortality of
announced at a convention on Saturday 13 November. It was hoped that Rassilon.
there would be a television documentary about the series to be shown
alongside The Fiue Doctors, and also a major Doctor Who event would be run by id-December saw the first day of The King's Demons' recording
BBC Enterprises at Longleat House, the stately home of Lord Bath - home block in the now strike-free Television Centre being allocated
to an exhibition of Doctor Who props and costumes since 1974. The Longleat to complete Terminus before the expiry of Sutton's contract. As
eventwas developed by Terry Sampson and Lorne Martin of BBC Enterprises it turned out, the two-day recording on The King's Demons also fell victim to
who, after many visits in 1982, secured use of six acres of the estate; a remount, when it became humanoid robot prop around
clear that the
Sampson's friendship with Tom Baker also meant that which the had been written did not fimction
serial
the former Doctor would be attending. Meanwhile, to correctly partiy because in the intervening months one
whet appetites for the new season, Davison appeared of its designers had been killed in an accident. Having
on BBCi's on Samrday 20 November
Sflturdaij Superstore become aware of these problems during the autumn,
to books with John Craven - along
discuss children's Nathan-Turner had already decided that although
with a clip from the forthcoming Arc o_fIn_finiti|. Kamelion would be introduced in The Kings' Demons, its
With die production situation on Enlightenment - and appearances in firrther stories would be minimal, and a
for that matter the completion of Terminus not resolved serial to write the robot out as soon as possible was
- by Thursday 25 November, Nathan-Turner had taken needed.
die tough decision to scrap The Return and to allocate At this time, Davison and Anthony Aiialey were also in
its planned studio sessions for the completion of rehearsals for Cinderella, a traditional pantomime written
Enlightenment. was then in pre-production
The Return and directed by Nathan-Turner and performed at the
under director Peter Grimwade; the cancellation Assembly Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. Davison played
caused Gnmwade to invite his team out for a meal to Buttons, with Sandra Dickinson as fairy godmother
commiserate, but Nathan-Turner was not present Misozel and Ainley (the Master) as Baron Hardup.
when the invitation was issued. The producer took this Produced by Lovett Bicldbrd (director of The Leisure Hive),
as a personal snub, and with Grimwade also aggrieved designed by Tony Burrough (The Keeper oJTraken, Four to
that his development of Turlough had not been Doomsday, Blade Orchid) and with costumes by Richard
PHODUCTIDH, PUBLIGITII HBDUT Davison and a previously interview-shy Troughton appeared along with K9
• and a Dalek on BBCi's Brealcfast Time on Tuesday i March to promote the
THE SHOWS POHTHCOniinS Longleat event, a few days before the unit departed to North Wales for tfie
DIUm nRCHlUE
OWM 261
Sitting uncomfortably: 'the Renegade',
Market/Telephone] a claim that my uncle played the Ergon, perhaps, but that
Tue 4 May 82 Amsterdam: would seem unlikely, even if it were true. Or revealing that I
Blauburgwal [Chase/Old House]; was in Amsterdam when Peter Davison brushed past me,
NieuwezijdsVoorburgwal [Tram doing his Omega bit - although quite where I'd have to have
lines]; Bob's Youth Hostel, 92 been for this to happen, I'm unsure. The unlovely back streets
NieuwezijdsVoorburgwal [Youth of Doctor Who's Amsterdam share httle with the busy and
Hostel]; Singel [Canal/Hostel]; vibrant capital I visited more recently The programme's focus
Herenstraat [Search/Streets]; on call phones and one ugly fountain must have depressed
219 Lijn Baansgracht Police Holland's Tourist Board no end. Not that Arc didn't cross my
Station [Police Station]; mind. I thought of it brieflyon my approach to Dam Square -
Hoopman Bodega, 4 Leidesplein now there's a place that ought to have looked good on camera,
[Cafe/Telephone]; Vondelpark a great court flanked by huge churches and the Royal Palace,
Youth Hostel, 5 Zandpad [Youth and an 'Omega' jewellers on the corner. Not thatyou see any of
Hostel]; Sint Nicolasstraat, this in the programme.
Amsterdam [Chase/Streets] Anyway, Arc's last episode is its best - just. Overall, less of
Wed 5 May 82 Amsterdam: the Time Lords and more of the man-hunt of the finale would
Armstelveld [Organ pitch]; have made a better story. Omega, re-born but shunned by all
Prinsengrach [Street/Flower
there's
something of a Frankenstein's Monster - and
some evidence the production team spotted this, with
Middenweg [Frankendael House] It's the Phantom Menace of Doctor Who, the point Davison's Omega adopting a rather unnatural walk. His scene
Thu 6 May 82 Amsterdam: where expectation gave way to a spiral of disil- with the child late in Part Four even pays vague homage to a
Amstel Sluize [Lock/Canal lusionment; it's also self-important, and as poignant moment in the original Karloff film of 1931. It's all
Siding]; The Skinny Bridge boring as anyone who talks about themselves at length. It too little too late, though.
[Bridge] thought all its audience were dyed-in-the-wool fans, when Arc of Infinity plays to the home crowd and fails - but not
Fri 7 May 82 Amsterdam: they weren't - the Guardian trilogy being a more consistent just because it's set on Gallifrey, or because it has Omega or
Blauburgwal Central Station offender than Season Twenty-Two in that regard. Arc o/Infinitij the Time Lords in it. That argument doesn't take into account
[Forecourt]; Dam Square is the start of Doctor Who's mid-ig8os rut. The Deadly Assassin's appeal, which also remmed an old villain
[Chase]; Damrak [Chase] You see, the passage of time puts a different perspective on on the Doctor's little-seen homeworld without ever feeling so
Mon 17 May 82 Television Centre the wisdom of reviving old monsters and such. Come with me suffocatingly exclusive. However, Assassin's setting can be
Studio 1: Hostel; Cafe; TARDIS back to 1983 : I'd a video recorder by now, a chunlcy top-loader seen as only a framework for the main action, which the '
Corridor; Console Room - but a wondrous thing. To my eyes, its sole purpose for viewer can choose to tune in or out on without losing its
Tue 18 May 82 Television Centre existing was to record Doctor Who. But which stories? With central revenge plot. Arc, on the other hand, just doesn't have
Studio 1: Companions' Room; tapes a dear £10, 1 had to be selective. I chose stories to record enough edge-of-the-seat incident, humour, style or pace to
The Crypt; Pump House; Service on the strength of a clutch of preview picmres in Doctor Who make us forgive or forget its inward-looking script. Arc of
Passage Monthly, as was - a disastrous system that landed me with a Infinity snubs its audience alright, but not just by parroting
Mon 31 May 82 Television Centre copy of the Concorde story instead of Earthshoclc. I skipped Arc Doctor Who lore; by failing to offer anything dramatic to play
Studio 1 : Hedin's Office; The because, going by tie photos of Nick Courtney, Maiudryn alongside it.
Computer Room;
Jun 82 Television Centre
1: Omega's TARDIS;
Gallifrey
onHiiinaiMiii
9 Writerjohnny Byrne wanted most accomplice on Gallifrey to transmit February 1982, and a third draft of Part
Corridor; Corridor; Rest Area; of the Omega storyline to have taken the Doctor's bio-data to Omega, One was delivered on Thursday 11
Security Compound place before the start of Part One, so providing a fresh way to involve the March. Acknowledging delivery of Part
Wed 2 Jun 82 Television Centre that the serial's narrative would slowly Time Lords' homeworld Three the following day, script editor
Studio 1: Council Chamber; unravel to reveal what had already EricSaward indicated he wanted to
Termination Area; Castellan's been set up. Originally, Omega's 4^ Interviews for cast members were save a lot of the film sequences forthe
Office; Amsterdam Pumping return from the anti-matter universe held in early April 1982. Sean Arnold climax of the serial. The story had
House; A Time Lord's Office was to weaken the Doctor, triggering was considered forthe Castellan gained the title Arc of Infinity by the
regeneration nightmares. This led to of March. On Tuesday 13 April,
start
RnaiD Times the concept of 'bonding' between the Byrne submitted several drafts of Saward apologised to Byrne forthe
Mon 3 Jan 83 Part One: What is Doctor and Omega -which in turn his scripts: Parts One and Two were delayin sending him the revised Part
the mystery in Amsterdam? ^ suggested that Omega should have an originally delivered on Friday 26 Four script with its altered chase
tf'
a Thursday 29 April 1982: a film Sj^ Thursday 6 May 1982: it was after
read-througli was held on this day. this heavy day of filming that the cast
Peter Davison surely felt that the and crew enjoyed a night out in the
chance reunion of Tegan and the ,
city, with Janet Fielding (Tegan)
Doctor in Amsterdam was ludicrous, attracting a lot of unwanted attention
and there was no real reason for the as they wandered into Amsterdam's
serial to be set in the city; nevertheless, notorious red light district
lie enjoyed the location filming
on Alistair Loos of the Daily Star, been Videotape Editor on the entire broadcast tapes. Timecoded VHS the traitor on Gallifrey?
claimingthat Loos could have an but was replaced by Graham
serial, copies of several studio recordings Wed i2jan 83 Part Four: Who
exclusive photograph of a revealing Hutchings on Part One exist in private hands. A timecoded will win the battle for control of
new outfit - and then withdrawing his first edit of Part Four on U-Matic tape the Matrix?
offer, allegedly because the press tj^ The serial is now held by the BBC survives
if*
Sndkedance
Union of the Snake
nuim HRCHIUE
DWM 227
the serieswas open for close scrutiny more than ever before. 29 Jan 82; Parts Three and Four
And at the same time, the programme was looking back in delivered Mon 8 Feb 82
much the same way.
We came to understand that change was inevitable, and told PHDDUCTIOn
ourselves it was good. Our hearts hardened. Adolescence beck- Wed 31 Mar 82 Ealing Film
oned, and with it, a thousand scary questions. The search for Studios Stage 2: Ruins in
answers would intoxicate and humiliate us over the next few Manussan Hills
years, but the show was always our companion, even if we Mon 12 Apr 82 Television Centre
guiltily disowned it a Uttle as the decade progressed. But back Studio 6: The Market Place [Quiet
in 1983, as if seeking stability in the changing world, fan and Corner; Outside Mirror Hall;
programme clung closely together. Doctor Who had become our Outside Fortune Teller's Booth;
show, and never more so than with Snalcedance. Fortune Teller's Booth; Puppet
The Mara can't bear its own reflection - but writer Booth; Lane Between Stalls]
Christopher Bailey holds up a mirror to us, so that we might Tue 1 3 Apr 82 Television Centre
learn from seeing things as they are. A shockingly young Studio 6: Ambril's Room;
iWartin Clunes gives us Lon, his best brat behaving badly. He is Corridor; Outside Ambril's Room
bored, looking for his place in life. His mother, both confi- Wed 14 Apr 82 Television Centre
dante and carer - he has no girlfriend - is the only woman he Studio 6: A Cell; Corridor;
knows. He sulks and doesn't get on at parties. He knows he Ambril's Corridor; Hall of
wants to be with someone he fancies but has no clue what to do Mirrors
when he's alone with them ("What happens now?" he aslcs Mon 26 Apr 82 Television Centre
Tegan hopeflilly). He has little taste in clothes and parades any Studio 6: Cave [Outside Entrance;
new disastrous outfit before his mum for her approval. Jesus, Snake Mouth; Inside Entrance;
hile Kinda is generally applauded due to and people say that Whizzkid is supposed to be a Doctor Who Near Entrance]; Lon and Tanha's
I I I I
''^'^^'^^'^ wisdom (blah blah Buddhist fan of the period. Suite
I I I I P^'^^''^^> l^'^h blah doesn't matter if the With Lon as the shifting side of our young selves struggling Tue 27 Apr 82 Television Centre
t ^ J snake is crap, honest), its sequel wins fewer to stride off into puberty, add to the mix the Snake luring us out Studio S: Cave [Pictogram
^^HBHIB plaudits. It's generally labelled a straight- of our garden of innocence. In Snakedance, the iMara clearly Chamber; Long Tunnel; Main
forward adventure story, lacking that depth and subtlety its represents the evils of adolescence in all their crushingly Chamber; Hidden Chamber]
prequel possessed in such enigmatic abundance. A pity, since, embarrassing forms. Once this evil takes hold, your voice Wed 28 Apr 82 Television Centre
with hindsight, it's obvious that Snal<edance is allegorical of starts lowering without warning. You wind up day-dreaming to Studio S: Cave [Main Chamber];
something far closer to home for the typical Doctor Who fan. the point of losing all contact with real You find yourself
life. TARDIS Console Room; TARDIS
I was 12 in 1983, one of that breed of fans for whom the frequentiy going red in the face, and laughing madly at things Companions' Room ^
THE CamPLETE PIPTH CTDR
^ HHDia TimES with your mates without ever really getting the joke. To say mountains
-
if he could. This avoidance of all responsibility pays
Tue i8Jan 83 Part One: Who is nothing, boys, of the angst over that secret snake of yours you off that's what Snakfdancc is actually saying! Just sit back,
Dojjen? try so hard to conceal, which has a truly hideous life of its own enjoy the ride, and trust that you'll find the answers in yourself.
Wed ig Jan 83 Part Two: What that you can't control ... Oh, the shame, the shame. It's a shame that the answers the show eventually found
are the powers of the Great How do you combat this dark force within you? You follow after looking inward for so long weren't ones that made sense
Crystal? the example of a sexless, selfless hero who's above such either for the fans or for the general public. But in 1983 the
Tue 25 Jan 83 Part Three: Can concerns. And the Doctor, a young man himself, got the tip-off show knew what was what. The lesson taught conclusively by
Dojjen help the Doctor? from Dojjen. He's and wiser, and yet he's actually
clearly older Snakedance is that despite all the embarrassments of adoles-
Wed 26 Jan 83 Part Four: Will the the impemous part of you ±at would just run away into the cence ... it's alright. And, hey, you know what? No-one dies.
lil:lh^!l[IIJail7TT?¥
0 Head of Serials David April and Thursday 15 April
Reid passed his comments on the
Snakedance scripts to Nathan-Turner on Recording took place in the after-
Monday 22 February 1982. Reid felt noon and evenings of most studio days
much of the storytelling was obscure between 2.30 and 5.15pm and then
and confusing, picking out both the 7.30 and 10.30pm; the only days with
intercut shots of Dojjen - a character no afternoon recording were Monday
not properly introduced until Part Four 12 and Monday 26 April
-and the threat of the unseen Mara.
He also thought that the Part Three Set designer Jan Spoczynski had
cliffhanger was weak. Nathan-Turner wanted the studio sets to be made by
and script editor Eric Saward an outside contractor; this request was
responded on Wednesday 24, initially refused - but at a late stage the
explaining that the character of Dojjen work was tendered out after all,
Ealing studios: Davison and 9 At the time the script was being Bailey's style of storytelling was eccen-
Sutton on the slopes of the developed, it had been decided that tric, but liked its originality; the team Both Fielding and Sarah Sutton
Manussan Hills with Jonathon the character of Nyssa would soon be did, however, promise Reid that the (Nyssa) disliked their new regular
Morris (Chela), sbbc rest (jfthe scripts for the season were costumes. Although Nathan-Turner
written out of the series. Producer John
Nathan-Turner felt that Nyssa had more conventional science fiction wanted each of the girls to have a
been fully explored, but agreed with adventures - specific 'look', he had taken on board
actress Sarah Sutton that throughout complaints about their 'uniforms' of
her last four stories Nyssa should be 0 Casting: Cumming had worked old. He wanted Tegan to be at the
shown maturing into a young lady with Colette O'Neill (Tanha) and Brian height of fashion -with her own 'Tegan
Grellis (Megaphone Man) before, and Cut' from a West End hairdresser
1^ As in Kinda, writer Christopher wanted to work with John Carson
Bailey again derived certain character (Ambril) and Brian Miller (Dugdale). Wednesday 28 April 1982: the Mara
names from religious terms: 'Tanha' She also consciously cast two actors prop was made and designed by
after a Palestinian word meaning a new to television - Martin Clunes and visual effects designer Andy Lazell
thirst or desire for fulfilment, and Jonathon Morris, who was recom- with his assistant Steve Lucas. Inside
'Chela' after a Hindu term for a mended by Nathan-Turner after seeing were a series of hinged mechanisms,
servant or disciple of philosophy. him acting in Bristol with Tom Baker in operated by an air ram on a pivoted
Dugdale was originally 'Duchan', which Feasting mith Panthers. Originally, Alan base. Cast and crew were in fits of
is a platform used by a Hebrew priest Dobie was offered the role of Ambril on laughter when the 'dying Mara' made a
that she could not ask an actor to do the 'mirror' themes) and also compose
what she couldn't do herself, Cumming ethnic-sounding music forthe
agreed to handle a snake to show him Janissary Band. Dubbing took place on
how easy it was. However, whereas Tuesday 6, Thursday 8, Monday 12 and
Cumming's cold hands were soothing Wednesday 14 July 1982
to the creature, which stayed docile,
when it was placed in the apprehensive Credits: June Collins was an
Lockwood's sweaty palms, the snake uncredited Production Associate, trailing
started to perk up. Peter Davison also Angela Smith
found the snakes un-nerving
0 The serial is now held by the BBC ai
Rehearsals for the two studio D3 tapes taken from the two-inch
recording blocks began on Thursday 1 broadcast tapes
lil:l.^!llljja!4jiT!¥ Turlough?
Wed 2 Feb 83 Part Two: What
has happened to the Brigadier?
d The desire to bring back an old Limitation Effect', as mentioned in the Leth bridge Stewart being retired at the Tue 8 Feb 83 Part Three: Why
character stemmed from fan and unof- 1972 serial Day of the Daleks; Nicholas time of the 1977 Silver Jubilee would is Mawdryn Undead?
ficial series consultant Ian Levine, who Courtney (the Brigadier) Jokingly not fit with established continuity. Wed 9 Feb 83 Part Four: Will
had discussed the idea with writer referred to this as the 'Slimovitch Nathan-Turner, was, however, deter- the Black Guardian succeed?
Peter Grimwade. After the decision Imitation Effect' during production. mined to keep the 1977 date
was tal<en to use the Brigadier, Levine Levine also advised producer John
loaned Grimwade videotapes of the Nathan-Turner that the UNIT stories of ^ In Grimwade's script for Part Four,
UNIT serials. Looking through the the Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker eras the line "Reverse the polarity" was
scripts before production, Levine had been envisaged as being set in the originally "Reverse the trajectory"
recommended that the time paradox near future - approximately between
was referred to as the 'Blinovitch 1975 and 1980 -and so the idea of Q^ The serial originally ended
and Daiek creator Terry Nation in scene involving the Humber The flashback sequence featuring
Chicago at the largest Doctor Who former companions was compiled by
convention thus far. The event was During rehearsals, Peter Davison Ian Levine
covered by the Daily Express the had been concerned about various
following Monday plot holes; he was amazed to see that Dave Jervis was originally sched-
the finished serial flowed smoothly. uled to have handled video effects, but
^ Mark Strickson faced a dilemma Nicholas Courtney had read the script he was replaced by Robin Lobb. The
when he was offered the part of on holiday in Provence, but could not TARDIS dematerialisation effect called
Turlough. A recent appearance as an understand it; he worked hard to for the use of Quantel in conjunction
ambulance driver on Angels had got create small differences between the with a new piece of equipment called
him noticed, and Strickson discovered two Brigadiers. Valentine Dyall, who 'Tipsy'; this was used to isolate the
that this minor character was being rejoined Doctor Who as the Black Police Box prop in the Part Four scene
considered as a regular when one of Guardian with this story, was in poor where the Brigadier sees the ship
the regular cast, Al Ashton, was taken health, but carried on regardless depart
ill. On the Friday of Strickson's audi-
tion for Turlough, Nathan-Turner was Most of the studio recordings took 9 Fans of the series were swift to
visited by the producer of Angels, Julia place between 2.30 and 5.15pm and spot the 'UNIT dating' continuity
Smith, and told that there was little then 7.30 and 10.30pm; the only day clash. The Friday 11 February edition of
point in seeing Strickson (the penulti- with no afternoon recording was Points ofV\ew aired letters concerning
mate interviewee) as she was offering Wednesday 8 September. An addi- the use of the years 1977 and 1983 for
him a firm job on her show. Strickson tional morning session from 11.00 to the Brigadier's retirement, when it
was also keen to at least read for the 12.00 noon was scheduled for had been assumed that the UNIT
role with Nathan-Turner and Saward. Thursday 9 September stories were set in the future (a setting
of 1975 is hinted at in The Web of Fear,
and Sarah states that she comes from
Trust no-one: the Doctor turns
1980 in Pyramids of Mars). Viewer Ian J
his bacl< on the treacherous
Scott-Horne wrote to the Radio Times a
Turfough (Marl< Striclcson).
Big mista[<e
few weeks later to ask where the
... e bbc
Doctor had been in the 1977
sequences; in the same issue, one
Brian Boyd praised both the return of
the Brigadier and the introduction of
Tu riough
Terminus
Crushed by the Wheels of Industry BU DHUID DHHLinBTDII
turn HHCHIUE
DWM 291
There's never been a Bor like this one, etc:
Liza Goddard, Peter Benson and Peter Davison, e bbc commissinmnB
Mon 10 Aug 81 Terminus
unique in this respect, though, that this alone cannot explain model shots
its lack of popularity among the devotees; the Garm isn't any Wed 2g-Thur30 Sep 81
worse than your average monster, ditto some slightly Ealing Film Studios Stage 3B:
oudandish costumes and CSO work which might best be Corridor; Underfloor Ducting
described as quaintly brave. It's been slammed for the near- Mon 11 Oct 81 Television
superfluous sub-plot involving Tegan and Turlough, but this Centre Studio S: TARDIS
was the era of Doctor Who the soap opera - the twice-weekly Corridor; Adric-Turlough's
slot was a try-out for EastEnders, after all. It hardly seems fair to Bedroom; Nyssa and Tegan's
derive criucal ammunition from the fact that Terminus evokes Bedroom; TARDIS Console
the genre it is being crowbarred into more successfully than Room; Liner Corridor
ack in February 1983, there was broadcast on many of its peers; maybe the objectives are wrong, but it's Tue 12 Oct 82 Television Centre
BBCi a four-part adventure serial - a compo- hardly fair to damn the serial for meeting them. If 'damn' is Studio S: Liner Corridor; Liner
nent of the 2oth series of Doctor Who - entitled the right word - after all, so few people seem to care either Control Room; TARDIS Console
Terminus. I think this is worth establishing at the way. Room; Terminus Door; Liner
outset; it often seems as if no-one - not the fans And if one ignores the hammy conclusions to the latter two Corridor Lower Deck
not the general public, and certainly not anyone concerned episodes - another respect in which Terminus hardly breaks the Mon 25 Oct 82 Television
with its production - wants to remember this fact. Except me. mould - there's not much else wrong with it: it's got a Centre Studio 8: Terminus
Someone - it could have been a philosopher, it might magnificent, spooky opening episode; the incidental music's Receiving Area; Terminus
equally have been Charles M Schulz - once stated that there is fine, certainly better than Roger Limb's other score for the Elevator; Terminus Stockyard;
nothing worse than not being loved. This does not mean season; it's got Peter Benson as Bor giving the finest sustained Tunnel deep inside Terminus;
being hated; one might say, for instance, that The Tiuin comedic performance in tfie show post-Douglas Adams. No- Terminus Control Room
Dilemma or Sillier Nemesis is hated. In some ways this is an one, least of all me, is proclaiming Terminus to be anything far Tue 26 Oct 82 Television Centre
acceptable position; at least everyone, on both sides of the above the norm. It epitomises the norm - it's got its prob- Studio 8: Storage Tank/Recovery
knows where he or she stands. Indifference is more
division, lems, it fights against them, sometimes it succeeds and some- Room; Deep inside Terminus;
nebulous and harder to bear - and, apparently, the standard times it doesn't. So far, so Doctor Who. But still - and after this Storage Tank/Vanir HQ; Storage
response to Terminus, once voted by fanzine International long, probably for all time - it must be the most forgotten Tank/Equipment Store;
Elertromatix as potentially the least exciting video release BBC story in the canon; few children of the Thatcher era will excit- Terminus Lower Catwalk;
Worldwide could sanction. edly recall 'the bit when all the lepers come out of the lifts'. Terminus Main Area; Storage
Now, meet the artist who was any judge of his or
I've yet to All of which might be rather apt, really - just as the Vanir Tank/Lazar Ward; Terminus
her own work, and so the dissatisfaction of, say Eric Saward won't go into the forbidden zone, just as no-one will admit to Control Room
or Peter Davison with Season Twenty as a whole might Lazar's disease in the family ... Terminus really isn't something Wed 27 Oct 82 Television
conceivably be dismissed as irrelevant. Terminus does, though. Doctor Who fans want to acknowledge. It's a bit of a leper. Centre Studio 8: Terminus
Tunnel; Terminus Catwalk;
Terminus Damaged Area;
GominissiamiiB
The hollow man: Striker (Keith Barron) toys with
Tue 22 Sep 81 The Enlightcners
the ephemeral Doctor (Peter Davison), e bbc
breakdown commissioned for
iii!H!iiiija!iriTi¥
^ Writer Barbara Clegg started acting Wyndham's The Chrysalids. She knew detached Eternals came from Clegg's
while at university and pursued a stage Doctor Who script editor Eric Saward observations of various rich relatives'
carrer in the 19505, becoming a regular from her work in radio drama -and, responses to other parts of herfamily,
cast member in the ATV soap opera having watched Doctor Who with her almost as if they were playing with
Emergency Ward 10. In 1961 she wrote children, submitted a story idea, heard 'lesser beings'. Having heard of solar
several Coronation Street episodes; this back promptly and went to meet winds, Clegg developed the idea of
led to more soap opera scripts, for Saward. Both Saward and producer sailing boats in space, while the trick
ATV's Crossroads and for BBC radio John Nathan-Turner thought her story- about gaining 'enlightenment' itself
series including Mrs Dale's Diary. Clegg linewas something new and different, was derived from the Biblical Tree of
The Doctor listens to the
was particularly prolific on radio, her and she was commissioned at once Knowledge. The author wrote the Black
whine of the ancient
work including a 1981 Radio 4 Saturday and White Guardians into her serial on
Marriner (sorry). ® bbc
Night Theatre adaptation of John 4^ The idea for the remote and request
delivered on Saturday 12 December night. Cumming toyed with the idea of multi-image 'focus' sequence. Baron Companionway; Striker Ladder
^ Towards the end of May 1982 prob- simulate a ship's movement, but the scenes in Wrack's Grid Room were Tue 1 Feb 83 Television Centre
lems with another script, The Space effect was achieved simply by moving completed with only ten seconds to Studio 1 : Striker Stateroom;
Whale, meant that for a short time the cameras. The shots of Turlough spare before the 10.00pm deadline Striker Wheelhouse; Striker
Clegg'sThe Enligliteners was scheduled floating in space were filmed on 35mm Companionway; Striker
as Serial 6F, to be directed by Peter (not 16mm), so they could be inte- ^ Tuesday 18 January 1983: an error in Alleyway
Moffatt - but it was soon replaced by grated with model shots costuming meant that Marriner only
the hastily-written Maiudryn Undead. had two stripes of rank when he should RnDia TiniES
The Enlighteners dropped back again, ^ Model sequences shot on 35mm have had three. The Doctor swapping Tue 1 Mar 83 Part One: Will
with Clegg delivering a new version of film at Ealing Film Studios were based his celery for a fresh sprig at the .the White Guardian be able to
Part Two on Monday 17 May and a on detailed storyboards produced by banquet was an ad-lib. None of the help the Doctor?
revised Part Four on Monday 21 June visual effects designer Mike Kelt. The cast or extras were allowed to eat or Wed 2 Mar 83 Part Two: Who
model boats were built and refurbished drink any of the food used in the are the Eternals?
Saward wrote to Clegg on Tuesday from research undertaken by Kelt at banquet scene. Front Axial Projection Tue 8 Mar 83 Part Three: Will
10 August 1982 to say that he wanted the Maritime Museum. Most of the was used to make the Enlightenment Turlough succeed in his
more material for Part Four, which was ships were rod-mounted, and those crystal glow. There was an over- run of mission?
under-running. Revised rehearsal with moving oars housed a battery- 30 minutes due to videotape and set Wed g Mar 83 Part Four: What
scripts were sent to Clegg on Monday powered motor; the model of Davey's problems is Enlightenment?
20 September, along with a note in ship was not destroyed, with the effect
which Saward explained why he had achieved by cutting to film of an explo- ^ Monday 31 January 1983; a repro-
retitled the serial Enh,ghtenment, feeling sion. The table-top model of Venus was duction of a September 1901 edition of
it to be stronger and more mysterious. made from carved polystyrene on a The Times was used in the Part One
On Friday 24 September, Saward wooden base, and the 'heat haze' was scenes in the Foc'sle. A recording break
informed Clegg that Fiona Cumming achieved by placing a bar heater just
had been appointed as director and out of shot below the camera
would like to meet Clegg for lunch.
Cumming had already asked about Wednesday 3 November 1982: the
giving Striker's ship a name, since this role of Jackson had been expanded by
would need to appear on the crew's Saward and Cumming when Part Two
uniforms; the name SS Shadoiv was under-ran, but Tony Caunter (who
eventually assigned by Cumming played him) was double-booked on
another show. To release Caunter, all
Parts One and Two under-ran by a Jackson's scenes were filmed first
respectively. More material was ^ For a while during November, it was Turlough (Mark Strickson)
required: the Part One dialogue hoped that the second studio session shares tall tales with the crew
Foc'sle about The America was first had been abandoned. When it
extended; in Part Two, Jackson was became clearthat Sallis would not be allowed make-up to be added to Mark
written in to provide information origi- new dates, the role of
available on the Strickson's neck for when the Black
nally given in reported speech. Part was offered to Michael Jayston
Striker Guardian attempts to throttle Turlough
Three's cliffhangerwas intended to on Tuesday 30 November, then Nigel in Part Two
show Turlough suffocating in the grid- Hawthorne on Wednesday 8 December
room, but when the instalment ran and Donald Houston on Wednesday 15 A gallery-only session was held at
some scenes from Part Four were
short December. The new studio dates for the end of thefirst week of February.
moved back to extend it. The charac- January were confirmed on Wednesday Editing between Tuesday 8 and
ters ofjenkinsand Grogan were not 8 December Saturday ig February was minimal. Part
named in the original script One lost a shot of the TARDIS arriving.
^ Before the producer's run-through, Part Four lost a scene between Wrack
was Cumming who came up with
It Cumming alerted Nathan-Turner to and Turlough; here. Wrack laughs as
the notion that the Eternals would not problems which the regular cast were the Chinese mariner walks the plank
blink, and many of the actors playing having with their characters. Davison and Turlough is amazed too see that
the Eternals were all cast for their said that there was no rapport between the man has simply vanished. A shot of
ability to give a 'detached' perform- the trio of the Doctor, Tegan and Striker saying that the Doctor is too
ance. Cumming recalled Peter Sallis Turlough - and Tegan, in particular, late to stop Wrack was also dropped
(originally Striker) playing such a role was acting in such a 'bolshy' manner
in the 1974 BBC drama The Pallisers, a that the Doctor would be inclined to Cumming had not worked with
series on which she and Nathan-Turner dump her from his crew. Fielding also composer Malcolm Clarke before. His
had worked. Lynda Baron was a good felt that both Turlough and Tegan were incidental score ran to over 32 minutes,
friend of Nathan-Turner's; her intelligent characters and should not in addition to which (at Cumming's
daughter, Sarah Lee, became the simply be written as foils forthe request) almost five minutes' worth of
show's production secretary from Doctor. As a result, Nathan-Turner The Milonga from Borges at 80 was used
Frontiosto Reuelation of the Daieks asked Davison, Strickson and Fielding in Parts Three and Four, and Dick Mills
Forthe film scene in which Monday 17 January 1983: Kelt was episodic form in August 1994
Dynamic duo? Tegan (Janet
Turlough jumps off the ship, Mark appalled to see how fragile the TARDIS
Fielding) looking anything
Strickson was placed in a harness console was, and suggested to Nathan- Enh'ghtenment is now held by the
but 'bolshy' at Wrack's
attached to a Kirby wire to cross the 30' Turner that a new one should be built. BBC as D3 tapes taken from the two-
reception. @ bbc
drop. However, during filming the Due to the need to employ CSO, the inch broadcast tapes
GaminissiDninG
Silver nemesis: Davison poses with the
Mon 22 Feb 82 The Android
'disastrous' Kamelion. @ bbc
scripts commissioned forThu 1
mind-boggling array of implements of tormre through the So let's be kind to The King's Demons. It's nobody's favourite
ages, crammed into a succession of winding corridors that Doctor Who story; I doubt that it's even anyone's favourite
make the Longleat exhibition look positively spacious. Davison story. But for all its faults it's a very warm, comforting
As my companion and I proceeded down these ghoulish litde slice of Doctor Who, It's like an old dressing-gown that
passageways, we had cause to reflect on the sheer imagination you've never quite got around to throwing away - a litde tatty,
of our ancestors. Everyone's familiar with old chestnuts like a littie embarrassing, but just sometimes, when nobody's
the scold's bridle and the rack, but it's not until you've about, a wonderflilly comfy thing to slip on. .
l!l!]H!IIIJ^HHIU!g -
9 Newly-trained director Tony Virgo usable condition. The jousting Davison (the Doctor) and Anthony
was booked on Wednesday 16 sequence was too ambitious and the Ainley (the Master); Davison and
December 1981 and joined the crew on crew ran out of time to shoot all ofit Ainley rehearsed Doctor Who in the
Never ones to stand out in
Monday 25 October 1982 mornings before being released to
a crowd, the TARDIS crew
blended in seamlessly in
9 Rehearsals for studio recording work on the pantomime. Davison felt
mediaeval England ... @ bbc
^ Bodiam Castle was selected as overlapped with rehearsals for the that Kamelion was a disaster from
being the closest castle to London in pantomime Cinderella, starring Peter the outset
There were numerous technical ^ The serial is now held by the BBC
Turlough, hoping the spikes really icerea
problems in studio. Recording on as D3 tapes taken from the two-inch
romantic invention of the 18th century. ® bbc
Sunday ig December began 11 broadcast tapes
Five Doctors
mm>m A m m. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) DUIEH
DUim RHCHIUE
DWM313
commissioned
If Roy Wood had and it really could be Christmas
his wish,
every day, he'd soon get fed up with unwrapping presents and PRODUCTian
eating mrkey. But tiiat's precisely what Doctor Who was like in Sat 5 Mar 83 Plas Brondanw,
1983; every story had the formerly precious treat of an old Llanfrothen, Gwynedd [Eye of
friend or foe returning. And so, unbelievably, The Fine Doctors is Orion; Rose Garden]
the second story within the year about a traitor
on the High Men 7 -Tue 8 Mar 83 Carreg-
Council. Any hope whatsoever that the Time Lords might Y-Foel-Gron, nr Ffestiniog,
present remoteness, mystery or power is rendered futile. Gwynedd [Wasteland 1]
Instead, they deliver something far more precious - the Wed9Mar83 Carreg-Y-Foel-
Council Chamber scene. Presumably, this comic masterpiece, Gron [Wasteland i; Wasteland
in which Paul Jericho's performance almost knocks down the 2]
uery sore head. But not to luorry - the real han^ouer u;on't kick in until much later.
"
The last days of the Fifth Doctor and the making of Season Tujenty-One, by Andrew Pixley.
Davison's third year on Dortor Who began amidst tlie celebration on the second day - was spent urging people without tickets not
Peter intense media build up to tire BBC's celebration at Longleat, to come along. A cavalcade of new merchandise was available for fans to
and the production of the anniversary programme, The Five spend their money on: numerous T-shirts and stickers, stationery, a
Doctors, which would maintain high levels of publicity TAIUDIS playtent, a Viewmaster of Castroualva, some Profile Prints artwork
through the summer to its November transmission. The of famous monsters by Andrew Skilleter, and various new books. BBC
viewer research conducted on Season 20 was somewhat mixed, but gener- Software embraced the new home technology of the microcomputer witii
ally positive - so
mix would continue much as before as script editor
the Doctor Who: The First Adventure written by a 17-year-old devotee. And, to keep
Eric Saward continuedto arrange scripts for the new season. Anthony the show in the public eye, BBC2 screened the 1966 movie Daieks - Invasion
Steven, a veteran BBC writer, was commissioned to write A Stitch in Time - a Earth 215 oAD in a season of science-fiction movies on Tuesday 5 April. In
possible story to introduce the Doctor's sixth incarnation at the end of the the meantime, disgruntied families who queued to enter Longleat and then
new season. The decision was also taken to rework Eric Pringle's The saw nothing aired their grievances in the papers; a Mrs J M Foster stated her
Aiuakeninfl into a two-part story for the new season since there was insuffi- disappointment at the event in The Daily Mail on Friday 8 April, and others
cient material to sustain its four-part structure. followed suit.
Press coverage of the anniversary serial during the broadcast of A significant number of those attending the Longleat event were
Enlightenment in the early part of March was extensive, and there was more American, and organisations such as the Doctor Who Fan Club o/America and
to come as the series drew to its premature and rather muted conclusion NADWAS (North America Doctor Who Appreciation Society) were growing
with The King's Demons mid-way through the month. BBC continuity trailed larger - attracting 30,000 members at their peak. Organisers Ron Katz and
details of the 'Twenty Years of a Time Lord' event at Longleat over Easter
Weekend. A press call - with Tom Baker's Doctor represented by his 'DDCTDR lUHD' HHD
in 1BB3-By
facsimile from Madame Tussauds - was held on Thursday 17 March, with
most papers covering the story the next day Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee
PRDBRBLB ITS BIBBEST PBBLIC
and Peter Davison were all interviewed by Sue Lawley on Nationiuide, whilst PBBPILE SIBCE TBE BIRUE BP
Verity Lambert, the show's original producer and now a major figure in the
film and television world, gave her recollections of the show's launch to
BRLEBBIRRIR IH TBE ERRLB 1BBBB
Richard Kershaw. Over the next week, Davison presented the award for Best Chad Roark met Nathan-Turner at the event and discussed another major
Children's Programme at the BAFTA ceremony and was joined by Janet event for November - this time in Chicago. Nathan-Turner was very
Fielding and Mark Strickson to chat to viewers on Saturday Superstore on 26 supportive of tiie DWFCA, regularly conOributing to the Whovian Times
March. Letters featured on Points of View on Friday 25 criticised Anthony newsletter issued by the large, commercial organisation.
Ainley's less-than-convincing French accent as heard in The King's Demons With Longleat completed and two months before production on Season
(the first episode of which had rated very low with less than six million Twenty-One began, Davison took a well-earned holiday with his wife in
viewers). With the BBC Radiophonic Workshop celebrating its 25th Australia - another country where Doctor Who was popular and where the
anniversary at the same time (prompting items on Woman's Hour, The Steue ABC network (which had screened Doctor Who since 1965) had agreed to co-
Jones Shou) and Nationwide on Thursday 30 March; the latter featuring a clip finance The Five Doctors via BBC Enterprises. After his return, Davison was
from The Ark), the publication of The Doctor Who Technical Manual by Severn then involved in a special new Christmas Day episode of All Creatures Great
House, and Suchards issuing an Invasion 0/ the Daleks Easter Egg, Doctor Who and Small, recreating his role as Tristan Farnon; this was made between
had seldom had so much publicity. Monday 25 and Friday 3 June, and a clause in Davison's contract
April
As The Five Doctors was being recorded at the end of March, Saward lined initially noted "Hair to be cut/styled to tiie BBC's requiremets but in consul-
up another story for the new season. With the enforced break in production tation with 'Dr Who'". Thoughts were now given to the serial in which
for Enlightenment over the Christmas period, director Fiona Cumming had Davison would depart, and Saward was still keen to have Robert Holmes
taken a last minute holiday in Lanzarote and sent a postcard to producer contribute to the series after the troubled attempt at The Six Doctors. At the
John Nathan-Turner, suggesting the island as a location for a Doctor Who start of May, Saward commissioned Holmes for a narrative called Cham
serial. Keen to maintain at least one story each year having overseas Reaction.
proviso that it should be filmed in Lanzarote, include the Master, write out
Turlough and introduce a new female companion. Peri - a diminutive form
of Perpugilliam Brown - was developed by Saward and Nathan-Turner as a
botany student; as a nod to the dedicated fan following the series now had
inAmerican syndication, it was also decided that Peri would be a native of
tiieUSA.
On the Bank Hohday morning of Satirrday 2 April, Natiian-Turner was
interviewed by Patrick Stoddard for tiie Radio 4 programme Breakauiay, and
encouraged Doctor Who fans to consider seeing the stars of tiie show at
Longleat tiiat weekend. Thus, over Sunday 3 and Monday 4, the stately
home throbbed with crowds for Twenty Years of a Time Lord which far
exceeded what BBC Enterprises had ever expected. Many guests who had
worked on both sides of the cameras in the show's history mrned up,
including all the surviving Doctors and many companions. Episodes still
held by the BBC were shown on projector screens and sets from The Five
Doctors were on display. 13,000 tickets had been pre-sold for the event, but
over tire weekend a total of 56,000 people actually attended. The event
made the BBC evening news because of the chaos caused on the country Janet Fielding, Peter Davison and Sarah Surton address the party faithful
roads by those attempting to attend the event without having booked Twenty Years of a Time Lord eve%
tickets, and most of The Ed Steiuart Show - which was broadcast live from the
SEHsnn Zt
mi
Left: Chicago's The Ultimate
Celebration saw Davison
joined by three of his prede-
cessors. Right: Perpugilllam
Brown is introduced to the
another ideal photo opportunity for the British press. suggested by Nathan-Turner,
W.H.Allen also managed to strike fiill distribution deals for their books thiswent on sale on Thursday
in the lucrative markets of North America and Australia. The company, who 3 November and included
had been publishing the Doctor Who novelisations in hardback under their numerous interviews along
own name and via Target Books in paperback, now issued a major hard- with a history of the show
back volume to celebrate the anniversary. Hitting the shops on Thursday 15 written by fan advisor to
September, Peter Haining's lavish compendium of interviews and articles - Nathan-Turner, Ian Levine.
entitled Doctor Who: A Celebration - launched a new range of large format During the month, articles about the anniversary itself appeared everywhere
hardbacks for W.H. Allen about the show, and was even discussed by from The Times to campus newspapers in the USA. Mark Strickson
former producer Barry Letts on Radio I's The John Dunn Show on Thursday completed his final fiill story when Planet oJFire finished taping in the
22 September. In the meantime, writers Pip and Jane Baker were asked to second week of the anniversary month. While shooting on Davison's swan-
develop a storyline about a new female Time Lord enemy for the Doctor song, The Caues oJAndrozani (the new tide for Chain Reaction) got underway in
called Too Cleuer By Far. a rain-sodden Dorset, a strike-affected Rodio Times hit the news-stands on
Colin Baker was formally contracted to play the Doctor on Tuesday 4 Thursday 17 November with Andrew Skilleter's cover art depicting the five
October, the day before the second smdio session on Janet Fielding's final Doctors and the Master - heralding the UK broadcast of The Fiue Doctors.
Daleh, began at Television Centre. The following
story, Resurrection of the Unfortunately for British fans, America was to get the better deal over the
week saw the release of Doctor Who: Reuen^e of the Cybermen, one of the very anniversary week for two reasons. Firsdy, BBCi scheduhng had decided that
first tidesfrom the fledgling BBC Video arm of BBC Enterprises as its it would be best for The Fiue Doctors to be delayed from its intended transmis-
dipped toes
its into the rapidly expanding market of pre-recorded video- sion of Wednesday 23 November - the actual anniversary - and instead go
tapes. Edited into a single compilation and sporting a cover with images out two days later during the annual Children in Need telethon supported by
drawn from anywhere other than the story concerned, Reuenfle 0/ the the BBC. However, the Lionheart coast-to-coast screening would go ahead
Cybermen hit the shelves in VHS, Betamax and Video 2000 formats on on the anniversary itself Secondly, a commercial organisation called Spirit
Monday 10 October at a price of £39.95 - making television Doctor Who of Light staged an expensive convention called Doctor Who: The Ultimote
buyable and consumable for the true devotee for the first time; Thorn EMI Celebration in Chicago over three days from Friday 25 November - and since
had released both the 1960s Peter Cushing movies in 1982. And, also from they could offer large business fees, had managed to book nearly every cast
the show's past, two instalments of the missing epic member associated with the show, including all four
The Dalela' Master Plan came to light in cans of film surviving Doctors. This had forced the cancellation of
stored in the basement of a London church. a British convention which was then being organised
by the DWAS around the same time.
Bryant agreed to adopt James Bond style poses for discuss the special (a clip of which had been shown
photographers, while Nathan-Turner blackmailed on the previous Saturday's Saturday Superstore) - while
another reporter into not doing a sensationalist item later the same day, Richard Hurndall and Peter
about a guest cast member who was homosexual. Back Davison joined a line-up of Doctor Who monsters on
in London, mid-way through recording of the serial at the ever Who-friendly Blue Peter to preview the show;
Television Centre, the National Film Theatre staged a the two Doctors arrived in a minibus paid for by
two-day celebration of Doctor Who over the weekend of donations from the Longleat event and some more
Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October. Doctor Who: The clips of old episodes were shown. BBC2's closedown
showcased around 80 episodes of the
Dcuelopinjj Art on Wednesday 23 paid tribute to the show by showing
from the unbroadcast pilot to The Kintj's Demons
series, colour slides from the series and - much to Nathan-
Part Two, interspersed with panelsand interviews with Turner's dismay - the Dicks novelisation of The Fiue
castand crew - an unprecedented sort of event for a Doctors appeared on bookshop shelves before the trans-
mere television programme, but one which was so mission of the story itself The producer had gone to
increasingly rare special magazine issues for Doctor Who's latest milestone; and-a-half milhon viewers mned in. Although the special was marred in
presenter Terry Wogan, he was in fact en route for America at that moment
- the item having been recorded at Broadcasting House on the morning of
Monday 14 November. Attended by 20,000 fans and all four surviving
Doctors, The Ultimate Celebration was viewed both as a success and a disaster,
with fantastic guests and screenings spoilt by poor organisation. A BBC
film crew was in attendance at the event, with coverage appearing on
Sunday 27 on Did You Sec ... as well as the BBC Neujs and Neiusround on
.>
for the start of December had been abandoned. In addition to this, Steven's
scripts for The Tmin Dilemma had proved unusable, forcing Saward into a the Radio Times and through the magazine to a BaclcPafle featore heralding
substantial rewrite of the later episodes. The Caves 0/ Androzani finally entered the first encounter between the fifth Doctor and his arch enemies. Both
the recording smdios at Television Centre in mid-December - with Davison episodes were also promoted by highlighted clips shown on BBC Brealffast
having made a second 'Golden Egg' appearance on The Late, Late Brcalffast Time on the day of broadcast, and the first featured as one of the television
Shoiu on Saturday 10 December. highlights of the week on Did You See ...? on Sunday 12. Brealcfast Time also
Warriors of the Deep kicked oflf Season Twenty-One of Doctor Who on previewed the first appearance of Peri in that evening's Planet of Fire Part
Thursday 5 January; for this third and final year as the show's star, Peter One on Thursday 23 February, and most of the tabloids carried stories
Davison found his episodes going out at 6.40pm on Thursdays and Fridays. about Nicola Bryant that morning too.
The following week, the delayed final smdio session for Davison was finally The 6.50pm scheduling on Wednesdays for Resurrection of the Daleks paid
completed at Television Centre, and production wrapped on The Caues of off as it gameshow Name That Tune
gained viewers against ITV's lightweight
Androzani and Davison's tenure as a Time Lord. Colin Baker was introduced over the two Olympian weeks. The new Thursday/Friday schedule had done
to the press in cosmme on Tuesday 10 January, and from then on was the litde to improve Doctor Who's overall audience which continued to hover
« • main focus of the tabloid cameras. The regeneration itself was recorded on around the seven million mark - the Friday episode getting a lower audi-
•> ,
»: » Davison's final night in smdio, Thursday 12 January, hours after the broad- ence since this was a night when the viewing pubhc ttaditionally aban-
cast of Warriors of the Deep Part Three. The following day, Davison was doned their television sets and went out for the evening. However, the
Dalek instalments - and Tegan's departore - gained almost a million more
THE EfID BF llRmElill''S eHU EHIU viewers than the 25 minute instalments, giving some reassurance to the
'DaCTDII UIHD^ HPPEiliiiPE EUeHli- BBC that the duration change was a good move.
After the Lanzarote-based serial had been shown and audiences saw
uiHERe PRnin '•tmb TiifiEe^ to Turlough rejoin his own people, and highly-regarded
Peter Davison's final
CDLLEBE nEUISPHPERS IR THE HSR advenmre, The Caues of Androzani was shown from Thursday 8 March - and
before the serial had even completed, all the interviews and promotional
conti-acted to appear as Henry Mynors in a BBC adaptation ofAnna of the Fiuc features were already starting to focus on his garishly cosmmes successor.
ToiDnswhich would begin production in Birmingham on Tuesday 24 Shordy after 7pm on Friday 16 March 1984, BBCi viewers awaited the new
January.With his Doctor Who work complete, on Thursday 16 February, incarnation of a much-loved TV hero of over twenty-years standing, as the
Davison was paid for the additional four-part story which he had been short-sighted, mild-mannered cricket-loving young genderaan of time and
contracted to but never made. space selflessly laid down another of his lives so that others might live.
With the demise of Nationwide and the introduction of its Sixty Minutes Davison and his successor both attended the Greenwood Theatre to
replacement. Doctor Who now began in the earlier 6.40pm slot which placed discuss the regeneration on Harty on Tuesday 20 March. On Samrday 17
it opposite either news programmes and the ever-popular Crossroads on March, The Scotsman commented "The series is now breaking new ground,
Thursdays, and more news programmes and the start of the very popular the feelings init are of a more adult character. The Doctor ... is beginning
new American action series The A Team on Fridays. to grow up." And so, Peter Davison's era as the Doctor was over. In his
As The Awakening and Frontios were broadcast in late January, production three years the show had regained its lost viewers, establishing itself again
continued with the belated The Tuiin Dilemma. For the broadcast of as one of the BBC's flagship dramas. The scripts had aimed for a new level
Resurrection of the Daleb in mid-February, Nathan-Turner was confironted of more adult complexity, while the production team had learnt to exploit
with a choice because of the BBC's scheduling of their Winter Olympics the show's past. The merchandise world for the series had exploded in a
coverage: Doctor Who could go ofi^ the air for two weeks, or Resurrection of the way not seen since the ig6os, and Doctor Who had proudly celebrated the
Dalelcs could be screened in two double-length episodes as a dry run for the two-decade milestone seldom attained by a drama series. It had grown up
following season. Unformnately, coverage of the world-class sports from in many ways - but adulthood would see the show being given a far
Sarajevo in Yugoslavia also knocked Davison and a Dalek off the cover of rougher ride than it had enjoyed in its adolescence ...
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Warriors of the Deep
Close (to the Edit) BU BRRH RUSSELL '
DlUm RRCHIUE
DWM 199
Lessons in scaring the kiddies #i: Don't make
your monster look like he's smiling ... © bbc
cammissiDiiiiiii
Fri 10 Sep 82 Warriors of the Deep
I had the opportunity evenings and watch being
to sit for six
[working title] scripts commis-
recorded. Janet Fielding and wet green paint ... foam rubber
sioned. Parts One and Two deliv-
doors that bounced ... noisy costumes that crackled as the
ered Mon 25 Oct 82, Part Three
actors walked, drowning out their lines ... the Myrka
on Mom 3 Dec 82 and Part Four
Images burned onto my mind, not because they were dreadfiil
onThuSJan 83
(with hindsight, they obviously were), but because I was so
excited to be able to see my favourite TV show in the world
'
PRODUBTian actually being made. No amount of book-writing or audio-
Thu23jun83 Television Centre
producing can ever supplant tiiat fantastic moment when I
Studio 6: PS Unit; Airlock Five;
saw for the first time Peter Davison doing a re-take, or Mark
Corridor; TARDIS
Strickson tripping over a Silurian foot. This was Doctor Who
Fri24jun83 Television Centre
coming together before my eyes.
Studio 6: Airlock One; Corridor;
Now, of course, I can look back at Warriors and say, with some
Detention Area
justification, that it's not really very good in the final analysis.
Tue 28 Jun 83 Royal Engineers
Poor Pennant Roberts, one of die most charming and creative
Diving Establishment,
directors I've ever met, lumbered with a story diat was frankly
Marchwood, Hants: Hydro Tank
unmakeable on Doctor Who's budget, let down by a lighting
Wed 29 Jun 83 Shepperton
director who clearly didn't understand the script and a terrible,
Studios Stage A: Sea Base Four
terrible 'monster'. I read the script some days before seeing die
Cooling Chamber; Silurian Ship
studio nights (don't tell John Nadian-Turner ... d'oh!) and
Thu3oJun83 Shepperton
tiiought it was great. Which it is, in print - a clever story that
Studios Stage A: Silurian Ship;
never tells you whether Sea Base Four is part of an Eastern or
Sea Devil Ice Chamber
Western Bloc (die mix of names and nationalities being delib-
Mon 4-Thu 7jul 83 Visual Effects
erately misleading), and follows a political theme right
Workshop, Acton: models
tiirough, die Silurians being httie more dian the small guys in
Wed 13 Jul 83 Television Centre
the midst of someone else's war. Good dialogue, a terrific
Studio Bridge Complex; I wrote my first ever piece of
6: ighteen years ago, downbeat ending and Silurians who are intelligent, cynical and
Computer Bank Bay
I I
professional 'journalism' (in the loosest sense manipulative. Of course, die O-anslation to screen lets it down -
Thu 14 Jul 83 Television Centre
I mi M of the word) - the GalUfieij Guardian page in issue die Silurians squawk likePinky and Perky, die supposedly
Studio 6: Bridge Complex;
^^^J| 85 of The Official Doctor Who Magazine. I'd clausti-ophobic human base is reaUsed in bright white decor,
Chemical Store ^^^K^B been hired on a freelance basis by then editor and there are some less-dian-attentive performances firom
FrM5jul83 Television Centre Alan MacKenzie to supply the written content for the mag. great actors, all apparentiy playing the wrong roles (it's as if
Studio 5: Storage Area; Corridor; Three issues later, my first review- of anything Whoish was someone has thrown the names of the cast and the characters
Bridge Entrance printed - a review containing the immortal words, "Warriors of into a hat, matching tiiem up completely at random).
the Deep was a flawless story". This phrase has haunted me Which me to my final personal memory of Warriors:
brings
RHDID TIHIES ever since. In my defence, I should point out that although always be careful who you slag off in print, because you never
Thu 5 Jan 84 Part One these were the words you read, they weren't the ones I wrote, know when you'll find yourself in their
house in London,
Fri 6 Jan 84 Part Two as is plain to see from the subsequent paragraphs - which
drinking tea, enjoying their company, their
warmdi and their
Thu 12 Jan 84 Part Three underline the point I'd originally made. Before someone's red humour while them about their career - when
interviewing
Fri 13 Jan 84 Part Four pencil got toit, the offending sentence ran: "By no stretch
of they'll suddenly "And do you know, some bastard said in
say,
the imagination could you call Warriors of the Deep a flawless a Doctor Who magazine once that my performance was 'over
story. Nevertheless ..." But marking, as it did, a significant
the top', which is just rude and unpleasant. Good thing I
point in my career, I always look back at Johnny Byrne's ambi- never met him!"
tious adventure with more affection than it deserves. Rest assured, I took the coward's way out. "Oh no," I said,
Going back even further in time. Warriors was the first story "What an unpleasant person he must have been ..."
HRCHIUE EHTRH
One of writer Johnny
inspirations
Byrne's key
was the problem faced by
Ian Levine, who felt that Byrne had got ^ Pennant Roberts was engaged as
the basic premise of the Silurians all director on Tuesday 22 February 1983 to
military planners of the day; although wrong. Since he was now working on join the production on Monday 25 April.
nuclear weaponry was now available to another project in the USA, Byrne was The first studio session should have
be unleashed against any opponents, unavailable to take on the rewrites taken place on Wednesday 29 and
could those in command rely on the himself, and had no alternative but to Thursday 3oJune, but Programme
weapons operators to perform their accept the changes made by script Planning shifted this back by a week
required tasks? For reference, Byrne editor Eric Saward. Unhappy with the due to the calling of a General Election
was supplied with copies of Doctor Who result - particularly the deaths ofVor-
and the Silurians and The Sea Deuils. shak and and the depictions of
Icthar, IngndPitt was originally up for the
Watching these, he formed the notion both the Sea Base and Myrka - he had roles ofKarinaor Preston, but was
that the Sea Devils were bred simply for words with Saward, and so soured his offered the more substantial role of
"Eat hexachromide gas (lethal
battle as a commando force, and would relationship with the production office. Solow. Icthar was originally to have
be underthe Silunans' control Byrne submitted a storyline entitled The
to marine and reptile life, you been played by Robert Ashby (later
know), you filthy lizard!" Place of Serenity (aka The Guardians of used in Timelash), but he dropped out
A Sea Devil expires. ® bbc
Many scnpt alterations were re- Prophecy) to Saward in July 1983, but it and the part went to Norman Comer,
quested by unofficial senes consultant was never formally commissioned first cast as '2nd Silunan Companion'
^ During the first day of studio bringhumourto his character. He did, episodic form in August 1994 and as a
The Doctor disguises himself
recording, Nathan-Turner was called by however, manage to add the "What compilation since November 1993
in Seabase 4 coveralls. Hmm.
Visual Effects to say that the Myrka have you been eating?" gag where the
Still beige though, aren't
would not be ready for recording the Doctor dons a radiation suit taken from ^ Extras [additional]: James
they...?® BBC
following day. Considerable resched- a marine guard in Part Two. Numerous Coombes Voice of Sentinel Six
m m mI
S 'm
—m"^ ^ntmtt S B w w
'
lA. m m. m Ghostbusters
Dium nncHiuE
DWM282
Malus aforethought: the Harkol
probe makes its presence felt, s bbc
cnmiiiiBSiDiiiiic
AugSi War Game story idea
The Aiuakenint), I'm surprised how much I agree with it now, 17- submitted
odd years later. I claim up front that there's not a dull moment Thu 3 Mar 82 War Come
or a dull line in the whole thing. I mention the skills of the [working title] breakdown
director, Michael Owen Morris, primarily shown in his ability commissioned for Thu 1 Jul 82
to counterpoint disparate elements (the cutting between the (changed to Mon igjul);
pounding hoofbeats and the gentle schoolteacher in the delivered Fri iSJul 82
opening sequences, the Roundhead soldiers standing outside Thu 2 Sep 82 Part One
a telephone kiosk, the i6th century boy running through a field commissioned for Mon 1 1 Oct 82;
favourite line from any Peter Davison story - the Doctor's with Parts Three and Four
response of "Fluently!" when accused of speaking treason. I following on Mon 28 Feb 83.
draw attention to the fact that, despite it being only two Part Two delivered Fri 7 Jan 83
episodes long, the story has an extended TARDIS-bound Mon 13 Dec 82 The Aiuakcning
epilogue in which nothing really happens, and 'doesn't Part One re-commissioned;
happen' with style. I carp in a gentie manner about the lack of delivered Fri / Jan 83
explanation for the ghosdy visitations of the old man and the
scarred boy, and also about the fact that characters in front of PHODUGTIDn
the camera seem to be continually ambushed by characters Tuei9Jul83 Tarrant Monkton,
was at the University of Warwick, studying for a hiding behind it, but these are minor criticisms. Dorset [Ford]; Church of St
degree in physics, when The Awakening was first Director Michael Owen Morris never worked on the show Bartholomew, Shapwick, Dorset
shown. Future Who novelists Justin Richards and again; neither did the writer, Eric Pringle. Given that, together, [Church/Meadow]; Market Cross,
Craig Hinton were at Warwick at the same time, they produced a story which is one of the three or four best Shapwick [Village Green]
studying English and Mathematics respectively. Davisons ever made, and which showcases Davison's Doctor Wed 20 Jul 83 Church of St
Justinwas co-editing a small fanzine called Black ond White better than any other story, one has to wonder what they were Bartholomew, Shapwick
Guordian (it seemed funny at the time) and he asked me to supposed to have done wrong ... [Church]; Bishops Court Farm,
review The Aiuakcninij for him. It was the first real piece of I haven't seen The Aiuakening since it was on. I don't really Shapwick [Barn/Farmyard
analytical reviewing I'd ever done. Now that I'm something of Icnow why, unless it's perhaps that I hesitate to overwrite my /Farmhouse]
a media tart, I find it rather humbling to look back and see fond memories with harsh truth, but I remember it as being Thu 21 Jul 83 Martin, Hants
where it all started. something made with care, which wasn't exactly true of all the [Village Green]; Martin Down,
I have that copy of Blade and White Guardian in front of me stories around that time. And I find, as I read my old review and Hants [Hillside]
now (Gary Russell and David Howe also have pieces in there
J write my new one, that I'm feeling a warm nostalgia for all those Fri 22 Jul 83 Darners Cottage,
- it's a small world, or it was then). And reading my piece on years ago, for my friends, and for the Doctor Who I remember. Martin [Stable]
Church Nave
Fri 5 Aug 83 Television Centre
9 Writer Eric Pringle's first Doctor Who only the first two scripts were commis- Saturday 27 September, but heard Studio 6: Crypt; Church Nave;
part story intended for Season Four- 1975 to be delivered by Wednesday 1 script editor Robert Holmes was heavily Room
teen. Because Pringle was a new writer. October. Pringle delivered his scripts on involved in problems with The Hand of Sat G Aug 83 Television
^
THE CamPLETE PIPTH CTDH
DH ^1
to produce, he wanted to discuss reporters who turned up
it
paid more
with Pringle before commissioning him attention towards Peter Davison's
wife,Sandra Dickinson - much to
^ The first script for War Game was Nathan-Turner's irritation. Two
accepted on Thursday 2 December drummers. Sergeant Cooney and
1982, on the understanding that Pringle Drummer Tuite, were supplied by The
would undertake rewrites; Pringle Piping School at the Guards Depot in
delivered Part Two and then redrafted Brookwood, Surrey
Part One as guided by Saward
Frontios
Atmosphere BU mHRH BHTISS
OlUm HRCHIUE
DWM220
Lessons in scaring the kiddies #2: Don't make your monster
EDinniissioninB look disconcertingly like Terence Trent D'Arby ... © bbc
Tue 24 Aug 82 The Wanderers
breakdown commissioned
in the Radio Times special that the Doctor would find "that a
Fri 26 Nov 82 frotious [working
Time Lord's TARDIS is not always his castle". And the Doctor
title] [sic] scripts commissioned
was wearing his glasses! Yum.
for Tue 1 Feb 83; delivered Wed
,
the digging machine using bones to polish the tunnels ... recent years, this one remains my kind of adventure. Perhaps
The guest cast are terrific, with particular honours going to that's because it's pure Doctor Who. Just close your eyes and you
JefF Rawle and William Lucas, but almost everyone enters could easily imagine the First Doctor and his companions
properly into the spirit of things in the way Doctor Who actors exceeding the temporal boundaries and winding up beneath
used to; no hint of camp or send-up here. Of course, the plot the blasted soil of Frontios.
ends up a little bizarre: didn't someone else want to hollow Just remember, not a word to the Time Lords ...
iiiiih^!iiiijain!TT¥
^ The original designer for the serial amazed to be told that the take was fluffed her lines when saying "rocks
was to have been Barrie Dobbins, who good and to move on to the next scene and boulders" - causing the whole cast
died tragically at the start of July 1983 to fall about laughing
^ Friday 26 August 1983: There was a
The Tractator costumes were 15-minute over-run caused by visual Composer Paddy Kingsland
inside the spaceship: the
designed by Visual Effects' Dave Havard effects problems, a camera fault and decided to make the underground
Doctor goes for a nose
and made by an outside contractor. The the Tractators not being ready chambers seem larger than they were
around the ducting. For a
idea of the Tractators being able to curl on screen by giving them an echoing
change, s bbc
up was attempted one camera shot
in 1^ By the time of the second recording church-like sound, using pan pipes,
where a Tractator was seen from the block, William Lucas (Mr Range) had percussion and bass drum in his 42-
back lying on its side, but when the caught the 'flu, but struggled on minute long electronic score
actor inside was unable to get up such
shots were abandoned. The creatures Wednesday 7 September 1983: The ^ On Monday 5 March 1984, Saward
could also crawl on their stomachs regular cast expected an explosion as wrote to Bidmead to suggest that he
they emerged from the TARDIS, but might develop a new story featuring
Construction of the mining this did not take place on recording. the Tractators and the Master
machine was contracted out to a To allow Plantagenet to be 'sucked
company called Any Effects, but into the earth', several air-beds were ^ UK Gold screened the serial in
director Ron Jones was so disappointed inflated beneath a hole cut in the episodic form in September 1994 and
with the result that he cut its use down stage floor. The area was then covered as a compilation since November 1993
to a minimum with cork chippings. As Rawle lay in
place, the beds were deflated. Havard Timecoded first edits of all four
0 At one point during recording, Jeff was unhappy with this sequence episodes exist in private hands on VHS
Rawle (Plantagenet), an old friend of
Mark Strickson, put his foot through Thursday 8 September 1983: ^ Credits [additional]: Ed Stevenson
some stairs. Rawle assumed that the Frontios'penultimate scene required was an uncredited Assistant Floor
scene would be re-recorded, and was several takes because Janet Fielding Manager alongside Joanna Guritz
or us Americans, the first PBS airing of Resurrection requested to write The Return; all
was a glimpse of Doctor Who with its trousers scripts accepted Thu 25 Nov 82
down. With the last half missing its music and
sound effects, I was initially annoyed by the PRODUETIOn
mistal<e, feeling it distracted from a slam-bang Sum 1 Sep 83 Curlew Street,
advenmre. Later it became a symbol of the failure of a gun-heavy Bermondsey, London [Wapping
approach to Who - it's hard for something to be gritty drama High Street/Walkway/
when the explosions sound like popped paper bags. When I Warehouse]; Shad Thames,
finally admitted Who could be a bit silly, it was ideal for redub- Bermondsey [Side
bing (bouncing-bedspring noises over the close-ups of Davison Street/Wapping High Street]
But mostly, the missing gloss showed me which elements Bermondsey [Wapping
of the episodes were strong in isolation, while mercilessly Pierhead]; Shad Thames [Street];
exposing any cod acting or taclcy writing. It helped me to learn Lafone Street, Bermondsey
how the story pieces fit toge±er - crucial for a budding writer. [Phone Box/Wapping High Street]
And while the story as a whole is flawed, many of the pieces Wed 21 Sep 83 Television Centre
aren't - great music, great design, the regulars working hard. Studio 8: Space Station -
The military types,despite their lack offirst names, are sketched Corridor outside Prison; Prison;
with a grace absent from previous Dalek stories - subtle high- Bridge
lights include Mercer fireezing up when the man next to him is Thu 22 Sep 83 Television Centre
shot, the survivors looking to Styles rather ±an Mercer for Studio 8: Space Station -
orders, and Styles' humanly flubbed wish for "cool spring Corridor [self-destruct]; Self-
good - the camera roams through the sets rather than across Deep Inside; Corridor by Airlock;
the surface. Whole sequences, like Turlough's disappearance, Corridor [laboratory]; Laboratory
are done in one uninterrupted tracking shot. The blue-filtered Fri23Sep83 Television
^
THE COmPLETE FIPTH CTQR
-
film makes London look as creepy as an alien world - linking Lytton's, or Stien's. (The canisters in the warehouse could just
the run-down city with the neglected space station, and evoking be a decoy to lure the soldiers, and the virus released at the end
World's End without recycling it. I even admired the script's could be sometiiing Davros had just brewed up as insurance.)
minute-by- minute efficiency and pace - while learning how not Looking at individual pieces of Resurrection taught me to
to structure a story from its sidelined regular characters, pinpoint problems and fix them. Even the story's unrelievedly
random cutting between barely-connected subplots and illog- grim and violent tone could become a strength with a single
ical expediencies (why does the DaIek Supreme allow Turlough confined change. From the Doctor's confrontation with Davros:
to "roam freely", rather than hold him prisoner?) "The universe is Doctor ... It is a universal way of life."
at war.
It strains credibility that the Daleks would attempt so many "Which I do not accept."
grandiose plans while they're still at the mercy of the Movellan ended with those Unes, with the Doctor lowering
If the scene
virus. But look at how much of the story falls into place with tiny his gun and deciding to take Davros back to the authorities, it
rewrites to cut the Movellan angle ... Instead of a demoralised would be one of the defining moments of Doctor Who. Doing so
rabble, the Daleks are at the top of their game, rescuing Davros even amidst all the carnage would underline that the Doctor
to help them with an audacious invasion scheme involving stands for something better than all that, even (or especially)
human dupUcates. As the one who created the DaIek Factor, when caught up in violent events. Even if he failed, it would be
he's perfecdy suited to solve their duplicates' conditioning his choice rather than a cop-out non-decision. There's room for
Daiek duplicate Stein problems. Suddenly all the plot threads relate to the same the world of the Doctor to be horrifying and bleak, so long as he
(Rodney Bewes) prepares central ideas of loyalty and brainwashing, whether Kiston's, still clearly stands for something better.
tlie Doctor for a spot of
brain-draining. @ bbc
IIIHHIIlli^^!«IHl>
Centre Studio 8: Space Producer John Nathan-Turner first Jean Sheward and visual effects round the studio kicking props, which
Station - Airlock Corridor; met DaIek creator Terry Nation at a designer Peter Wragg. The two-day the cast and crew found upsetting.
Laboratory; Corridor outside lab; convention in Chicago in July 1982, location shoot for The Return was Rula Lenska (Styles) returned to studio
Corridor Deep Inside; TARDIS when he suggested that the anniver- scheduled for 4-5 January 1983, with on this day to pose for publicity photo-
Console Room sary season should climax with a DaIek studio recording from i6-i8January graphs, none having been taken of her
Wed 5 Oct 83 Television Centre serial. was agreed that script editor
It and then 3oJanuary-i February. Dates in the previous session. For two of the
Studio 6: Warehouse - Alien Eric Saward could write this story, were rearranged around the remount studio days, visual effects designer
Artefact Level pending Nation's approval. Saward's of Enlightenment before The Return was Peter Wragg was taken ill, leaving
Thu 6 Oct 83 Television Centre storyline was first sent to Nation in cancelled by the Planning department assistant George Reed to take his place
Studio 6: Warehouse - Time September, the writer starting work on
Corridor Level the scripts the following month. Early Director Matthew Robinson was After leaving Doctor Who, Janet
Fri 7 Oct 83 Television Centre in November, Nation passed comment known to Nathan-Turner from his work Fielding went on to shoot appearances
Studio 6: Space Ship on the storyline. Although basically on Angels; Nathan-Turner invited him to in Euston Films' Minder, Central's
Duplication Chamber; Ante- acceptable, he felt that the Daleks were work on the rescheduled DaIek story, Murphy's Mob, the BBC's Hold the Back
Chamber; Reception Area; too vulnerable and that their first now known as Resurrection of the Daleks, Page and Blind Justice. After a period
Corridor; Bridge appearance was not spectacular early in 1983 working on The Satellite Shop for SIcy,
enough; he also objected to the pres- Fielding moved into artiste manage-
nnniD TimEB ence of the DaIek Emperor (originally 0 The role of Stien was offered to Mel ment, where one of her clients was
Wed 8 Feb 84 Part One created by David WhitakerforTV Smith on Thursday 28 July; Styles was Eighth Doctor Paul McGann
Wed 15 Feb 84 Part Two Century 21 comic strips), which was offered to Polly Adams on Wednesday
3
redesignated the DaIek Supreme. He August and Diane Keen on Wednesday The montage of clips showing old
also forbade the killing of Davros 10 August; on Thursday 11 August, companions was compiled by Ian
Laird was offered to Miriam Margolyes Levine; the omitted clip of Leela was to
From the outset, Saward wanted to and Archer to Patrick Mower. The have been taken from The Face of Euil
make Lytton an interesting and casting of LeslieGrantham in the small Part One. A number of scenes were
appealing anti-hero who might return role of Kiston came about because dropped in editing: in Part Two, the
in future serials. Unofficial series Grantham had played the lead in a Doctor and Stien about to leave the
consultant Ian Levine had Saward view small theatre play about television TARDIS; in Part Three, Turlough telling
Destiny of the Daleks, to see Davros' written by Robinson. Tegan that he is ready to give up, plus
cryogenic prison. Lytton ordering his aide to take two
^ Preparing for his role as Davros, men to kill Davros; and in Part Four,
was planned that the TARDIS
It Terry Molloy studied tapes of Michael some of Davros reasoning with the
would land on Wapping Pier Head - Wisher in Genesis of the Daleks Doctor at gunpoint, Tegan telling
but the warehouse owners asked for Turiough that the Daleks cannot blast
too much money, and so the shoot was The exploding DaIek used in the fall their way into the TARDIS, and the pair
relocated to Bermondsey from the warehouse was one of a returning to Earth in the TARDIS.
I
Tldhet of Fire
Let's Hear it for the Boy SUE CDUILEa
'
DlUm HRCHIUE
DWM 206 • I
and untrustworthy He had strange scary eyebrows and - worst Wed 20 Apr 83 Scripts commis- ;
of all - he was ginger. But despite this, Vislor Turlough became sioned for Wed 25 May 83 I
dimensional, squealing girls and boys that had gone before. Upstairs]; Quay and Cafe, Orzola
gently closer to being 'real' drama about 'real' people. Mon 17 Oct 83 Lanzarote:
Turlough was genuinely human (for an alien) ... and on top of Montanas del Fuego
everything else, he was pretty cute. [Ridge/Asphalt Triangle/Beyond
Planet of Fire edges daringly into an adult world of teenage Cave of Doves/Valley of
girls running off with strange men to Morocco (or indeed Tranquillity/Guide's Cave]
Androzani Minor), with more on their mind than collecting Tuei8 0ct83 Lanzarote:
plant specimens. It is stuffed fiill of attractive people in shorts. Montanas del Fuego [Ridge/Cave
Not only does Turlough take off his trousers and finally thow of Doves/Steep Hill/High
away his school tie forever, but it also showcases Peri before Area/Volcano Mouth]
she became a grotesque parody of herself The transition that Wed ig Oct 83 Lanzarote:
began in early 1983 when Tegan re-appeared in Amsterdam Montanas del Fuego [Yellow
wearing a boned corset top and continued when Nyssa's Area/Los Hornitos]
clothes dropped off in Terminus peaks here, under the baking Wed 26 Oct 83 Television Centre
Imost exactly halfway into Part One of Planet of Lanzarote/Sarn sun, turning up the sexual heat for the show's Studio 1 : Bunker; Inner Tunnel;
Fire, Turlough takes off his shorts. He then gets week-night audience. Tunnel Entrance; Seismic Control
all wet and is - for a fleeting moment - truly The fact that there are holes in the plot large enough to drive Centre; Collonade; Hall of Fire
Who fan all my life, but as I grew older and began taking a hysterical screaming, hardly any nasty deaths and no easy Studio 6: Seismic Control Centre;
different kind of interest in characters from other shows like answers. Indeed, the traditional element of the plot - ±e Doctor's TARDIS Console Room;
Bodie (The Professionals) and Tony Verdeschi (Space: ipgg), my Master storyline - is sidehned by the huge, flindamental ques- Tegan's Old Room; Kamelion's
favourite programme of all remained utterly destitute in the tions the story raises: who can you trust, what should you Room
male totty stakes. It had been barren for many years, in fact. believe in, and do you look good in shorts? As a result, it Thu 10 Nov 83 Television Centre
Unless you were hot for a man in uniform or a skirt, your presses perilously close to becoming successfijl mainstream Studio 6: Wrecked Ship; Master's
choices were stricdy limited. Harry Sullivan wasn't about to TV, more accessible to the viewing public at large. Lab [side]; Ruins
ignite the passion of many, and the less said about Adric the This is a fitting finale for the gorgeous Vislor. His true loyal- Fri 11 Nov 83 Television Centre
better. When the news about the new Fifth Doctor broke in the ties remain shielded and when the truth finally
to the very end, Studio 6: Ruins; Master's
cnminaiinnii
Background notes for Peri noted [her father] died he was the same age this, however, saying that an American
that she would be introduced to the as the Doctor appears now." The new companion was more likely to
Doctor while on holiday "in whichever Doctor/companion relationship was displease American audiences, since it
country we decide to film next season's hoped to echo the popularThird was Doctor Who's Britishness which
foreign story". Peri's father died when Doctor/Jo Grant pairing of the 1970s they found appealing; he simply
she was just 13; her mother, Janine, has wanted to continue to break with the
since married Howard, whom Peri ^ At the time, British Doctor Who fans convention that the Doctor's compan-
dislikes; Howard has three children of feared that Peri's introduction was an ions should always be English -a
his own, whom Janine appears to care attempt by the production team to process started with Tegan. However,
for more. was noted that the Doctor
It court American fandom for the show. script editor Eric Saward later alleged
"replaces the gap in Peri's life. When Producer John Nathan-Turner denied that Peri was created as a direct
oommissiiiiiiiiB "I owe it to my friend to try ..." The Fifth Doctor bows
out in style, forfeiting his life to save Peri, s eec video
Fri 6 May 83 Chain Rcortion
PRDDUGTinn
Tuei5-Thui7Nov83 Masters
T Doctor Who. I
team achieved on
the production
Androzani - especially given what had preceded
mean
was accomplished and polished, that was witty and dark, that
Pit, Stokeford Heath, Dorset was played with conviction. The design was good, the
[Androzani Minor] hghting (for a change) was moody and fitting. It was a
Thu 15 Dec 83 Television Centre triumphant debut for director Graeme Harper, and a
Studio 6: Cave; Gallery; Chellak's triumphant return for writer Robert Holmes. Its being a
Office; Conglomerate HQ; regeneration story served only to draw attention to its
Workshop; Lift; The Narrows; HQ strengths. The fact that a monster which Terminus or Warriors
Cave; Chellak's Quarters of the Deep (or any one of a dozen other recent stories) would
Fri 16 Dec 83 Television Centre have given their eye-teeth for is cited as the only embarrass-
Studio 6: Chellak's Office and ment is testament to its achievement.
Quarters; Cave HQ; And this is the heart of the problem.
Conglomerate HQ; Detention To a degree - arguably a large degree - the programme was
Cell; Cave; Workshop; Cave 2 already playing to its past strengths as perceived by those in
Sat 17 Dec 83 Television Centre charge.The fresh, forward-looking approach of Tom Baker's
Studio 6: Caves; Control Room; flnalseason had, by the time his successor moved on,
Conglomerate HQ; The Narrows changed into an orgy of introspection. Most obviously, the
Wed ri Jan 84 Television ^ Daleks were back together with Davros. But so were the
- which were about to come together again in what is easily instead of every two. And the US programmers were unlikely (Christopher Gable), whose g
the best story of Colin Baker's tenure: Reuelation of the Daleks. to be impressed by the notion of a ground-breaking UK tele- lust for beauty has tragic
Androzani's success was the curtailing of Doctor Who seasons to every four years. Whatever its quality, whatever its merits,
14 episodes. That may not sound so awfiil now that we look whateverits potential for US distribution, the entire Sylvester
at a time when the BBC was short of money, when it was of series programming. Quarters and Office; Workshop;
relying increasingly on overseas sales to subsidise its opera- Whether it was ever true that Doctor Who made more money Armoury; Cave
tions and define its success, it was a death blow. from overseas sales than it cost to produce, it wasn't true Thu 12 Jan 84 Television Centre
For a television series of the nature of Who to be screened anymore. It was perceived as rather old, and a bit tired, and Studio 6: Lift Shaft; Cave;
in theUS it must have at least 22 hour-long episodes. The very expensive. Armoury; Workshop; TARDIS;
programme was sold to the US in blocks of episodes that And if there is one story that led to this more than any The Narrows; Gallery
allowed a complete US-style season (or more). With BBC TV other, it is The Caves 0/ Androzani. The end of an era; the end of
now only making the equivalent of seven hours available every a programme. RnDIO TilHES
Thu 8 Mar 84 Part One
Frig Mar 84 Part Two
ThuisMar84 Part Three
Script editor Eric Saward added The cave maps In Chellak's office
the brief appearance of the Magma were prepared with assistance from
creature in Part One. Producer John Frank Baguley of the National Caving
Nathan-Turner was less than happy Association. Morgus' asides to camera
with the creature when he saw It In were a happy mistake, arising from
studio Harper's directions being relayed
Incorrectly to actor John Normlngton
The BBC paid local pheasant on the studio fioor. The animated maps
shooters a fee not to fire their guns seen In Jek's workshop were created on
during the three days' filming at BBC Model B microcomputers. One of
Stokeford Heath. Nicola Bryant (Perl) the gun-runner extras, Les Conrad, was
had a cold and was losing her voice, the father of the brothers who played
so director Graeme Harper released Romulus and Remus In the next story,
her from shooting early The Twin Dilemma. The companions
recorded their flashback appearances
^ Thursday 17 November 1983: on this evening; Janet Fielding and
During the chase sequence, one of the Mark Strlckson were still under
detonator charges threw a speck of contract. Gerald Flood pre-recorded also stabilising a matte effect at the Accused of gun-running,
grit Into Davison's ey.e, causing his Kamellon dialogue on Monday 31 start of Part One (showing the planet the Doctor and Perl must face
production to be stopped while the October surface). Extras Included an extended the hostile General Chellak
actor was attended to version of the film sequence with the (Martin Cochrane). ® bbc video
The Caues of Androzani Is now held by suicide pill from Part Two, a featurette
When It became clear that the the BBC as D3 tapes taken from the about the regeneration, an Interview
studio dates would be changed. It one-Inch broadcast tapes, along with a with the late Christopher Gable, an
was hoped to remount the lost 70-mlnute HIBand U-Matic tape of Isolated copy of Roger Limb's sound-
two-day session over 4-5 January handheld Iso-camera recording from track, a remade version of the original
1984. Maurice Roeves (Stotz) lived In Thursday 12 January 1984. The 16mm BBCi the announcement of
trailer,
New York and had to be flown over film sequences also exist In a private Davison's departure on the One o'clock
specially, so abandoning the filmed collection Hews and Nine o'clock News, the Inter-
footage and reshooting new It with a view with Davison and Nathan-Turner
actor was briefly considered - but The serial was released on DVD by on South-East at Six and an audio
eventually the money was found to BBC Worldwide Injune 2001. commentary by Davison, Bryant and
secure Roeve's presence In the UK Restoration work included repairing a Harper recorded on Monday 25
for a longer period to complete the scratch to Part Four (which had been September at Television Centre's
serial visible on the original broadcast) and Dubbing Theatre Y
iiuentiupes
HuDins
Can Dauison-era Doctor Who still cut it in the nst century without the BBC, Adric, Jegan - or
mouin^ pictures - to carry it through? Gary Gillatt listens in on the Fifth Doctor's
new audio adventures and finds that he's seen, er, heard it all before ...
hen the Fifth Doctor began a always be judged on how faithful and consistent it terrible iniquities of life. What we do see,
second life on audio, some manages to be. But 'consistent' will always imply however, is him regret his actions. No other
15 years after he left our TV 'predictable', which in turn leads to 'unsurprising' Doctor was written to have so much self-doubt as
screens, his writers must and ultimately 'unsatisfying'. the Fifth. Whether it's dealing with the death of
have been faced with some- But if we have to capture this Fifth Doctor Adric in EartKshock, pondering why intelligent
thing of a dilemma. Were these new serials, precisely, how do we do it? What's a Fifth Doctor lizards had to die so he could save humanity in
plugged into tiny cracks in the ongoing narrative story like? What does the Fifth Doctor do? What's Warriors of the Deep, or considering the truth of
of the originalseries, supposed to be loving recre- a Fifth Doctor thing to say? Tegan's final comments on the unpleasantness of
ations of a long-gone era, or an opportunity to do When trying to describe the Doctor's varying his world, we frequently get to see how sad and
something original and brave with the character, character, writers have rarely struggled for the sensitive this Doctor can be.
free from the dogmas and obsessions of his orig- appropriate adjective. The First Doctor is, of
and producer? Was this
inal writers, script editors The Second is
course, irascible, often crochety. the Fifth Doctor often gets things wrong, it's
to be a re-tooling - an improvement - of the Fifth
Doctor, or merely an exercise in nostalgic
famously whimsical. The Third just dandy. The If because he isn't acmally very good at being
Fourth bohemian. The Sixth Doctor? He's Doctor Who. The Doctor has always played
homage? bombastic or bullying. The Seventh has been for high stakes, the lives of millions are often in
In the case of the new adventures of the Sixth judged postumously to be manipulative, though his hands and he has to do the best he can under
and Seventh Doctors, also launched by Big Finish perhaps the best that viewers at the time might difficult circumstances. He's never going to save
Productions in 1999, this decision was easier to have managed was 'annoying' or 'Scottish'. And the world from the Axons if he's going to blub
make. Common consensus, agreed by fans and over every evaporated UNIT corporal; he's not
star alike, suggested the Sixth Doctor's brief era going to be able to philosophise on how the
had been something of a Daleks might eventually
misfire, a squandered
become a force for
opportunity. No-one was
good if he's going to
going to be upset if this weep for all the small
'
tiHB
cuddly comedian, or the player of Twister on a
thousand mats? The Seventh Doctor has passed
through the hands of so many creatives, one could
cast him as a Gandhi or a Gengis Khan without
BaLance
anyone batting an eyehd. Similarly, both the Sixth
and Seventh Doctors have large gaps in their life
stories
between
much room
- the Sixth after his
Suruiual
to tinker
trial and the Seventh
party. But the trouble for anyone attempting to defeat a monster by wrapping it in rugs.
recreate the Fifth Doctor era is that this Doctor Relationships between characters are also written
has become defined by his doubts and his wealc- rather inconsistently, especially the animousity
nesses. What seemed on TV a novel approach to between Tulung and Brett which forms the
the character soon became wearing; we need secondary plot for the adventure. But the Doctor is
Another difficulty stems from the enforced and Nyssa alternately hip deep in snow and
absence from these plays of the most important dashing from room to room in an isolated house.
character of the Fifth Doctor years: Tegan Jovanka. This adventure, a tale of psychic powers, poller-
Furthermore, the writers have very litde raw offered by Sally Faulker's decision to deliver
material to work with when attempting to recreate school headmistress Mrs Tremayne in the manner
these Doctor-companion relationships. With of Miss Jean Brodie as played by Rab C Nesbitt.
Tegan out of the picture, the Doctor has to travel
alone with both Nyssa and Turlough. We see this
happen on screen, of course, but basically only for
nfter two
Nyssa
'cottage under siege' stories,
gets to see a litde more of the
one scene each, at the start of Arc ojinfinity and Universe in The Mutant Phase, part of Big
Planet oJFire respectively. Similarly with Peri, a Finish's Dolek Empire suite of stories. Crossing
whole friendship has had to be extrapolated from time and popping up on both Earth and Skaro,
the opening moments of The Caues ofAndrozani. As our heroes investigate the cause of a mysterious
hsteners, we have littie to relate to - these pairings contagion that is causing Daleks to mutate into
are unfamiliar and unnatural. The production team giant wasps. Nicholas Briggs writes and performs
and actors are struggling to accurately recreate the marvellous Dalek dialogue, and the creamres'
mood of adventures that never even existed in the commanding audio presence suggests that their
first place. It's an uneasy compromise. original designer Raymond Cusick no more
Salvation comes, to an extent, from the basic deserved to become a millionaire than Terry
Doctor Who formula. In order to develop two story Nation: its the voices that maketh the monster.
strands - an A and B plot, or perhaps just two Sadly, the tortuous temporal paradox that under-
differing aspects of the same investigation - the pins this tale sees the plot loop round on itself in
Doctor and his companion are generally separated such an unsatisfying and confusing way that even
and paired off with new, often rival, characters. the Doctor seems at a loss to explain it.
In the first Fifth Doctor audio (at least within The finalNyssa story to date is the dreary
the Doctor's chronology ), The Land of the Dead, the Primeual. The Doctor has to take his companion,
TARDIS brings the Doctor and Nyssa, seemingly always a fragile young thing, back to her home
fresh from the Heathrow of Time-Fight, to the planet of Traken after she falls sick. This means
wastes of Alaska. Millionaire Shaun Brett is we get another dull adventure set on perhaps the
building a home-cum-museum, and prehistoric dullest planet ever to be seen in the TV series. A
creatures are stirring in the foundations; creamres story for the most dyed-in-the-wool of Doctor Who
driven only by hunger and instinct. In fending off fans, calculated to delight with references to past
the threat posed to mankind by these fossil continuity, this tale doesn't even deign to tell us
monsters and the increasingly deranged Brett, the what Traken looks like. So as the Doctor wanders
Doctor is teamed with gutsy interior designer from room to room, place to place, we're left to
Monica Lewis, and Nyssa with the truculent half- our own devices to recall the brown corridors,
native, half-American Tulung. So engaging is Lucy potted palms and patio gardens of The Keeper of
Cambell's performance as Monica, one is left Tralcen. Although well-played by all - especially
hoping that she will leave with the Doctor at the Stephen Greif as the bubble-voiced Kwundaar -
end of the tale, leaving the dull Nyssa behind to this tale is lazy and uninvolving and is, by a long
play with her ion-bonder. The story passes chalk, the weakest of the Fifth Doctor audios.
amicably enough, but has much running from Mark Gatiss' Phantasmatioria, the first of the
room to room in Brett's mansion, and a some- Doctor's audio outings with Turlough, is a work-
Turlough face murderous aliens and the
Written by Stephen Cole Written by Lance Parkin Rival werewolves and a centuries-old love
Set between Time-Fliglit and Arc of Infiniti) Set between Time-flight and Arc of Infiniti/ affair threaten the Doctor and Turlough in Rio
In Alaska, 1994, the Doctor and Nyssa find Nyssa is dying. The Doctor takes her back to de Janeiro, 2080.
monsters that date from before the great Traken, 3000 years before her birth, for treat-
Permian extinction. ment - but they are both caught up in the evil RED DRUin
plans of Kwundar. Written by Justin Richards
lUIHTER FOR THE RDEPT Set between Planet of Fire and The Caues of
Written by Andrew Cartmel THE SIREHS DF TIIRE Androzani
Set between Timc-flighf and Arc of Infinity Written by Nicholas Briggs On Mars, the Doctor and Peri find themselves
The Swiss Alps, 1963, In a girl's school, the Set between The Fine Doctors and Worriors dragged into a battle between Ice Warriors
Dortor and Nyssa's investigation of a ghost of the Deep (Fifth Doctor segment only) and amoral businessmen.
brings them up against an alien threat. The Doctor, in three of his incarnations,
Thai scientist Ptolem is working to combat a Written byMarkGatiss In Egypt, 1400BC, the Doctor and Peri meet
fatal disease that is destroying the Daleks. Set between Resurrection of the Daleks and the young Pharoah-to-be, Erimem, and get
The Doctor and Nyssa become both the cause Planet of Fire entangled in the murderous politics of her
and the cure. In 18th century London, the Doctor and court.
manlike exercise in formulaic Dortor Who; a tale of Just as the Doctor is forced to revisit the series' pleasures as Dust Breeding and Colditz. The Sixth
aliens up to no good in 1702 London clearly most tedious planet in Primeual, here he is obliged Doctor throws himself into the fray with great
informed by the more juicy, bloodthirsty writing to meet Dortor Who's most boring alien race, the Ice gusto, and it's his strength of character, and
of Robert Holmes. David Ryall, as the villainous Warriors, in a predictable tale of honourable ability to always do something entirely unexpected
Nikolas Valentine, doesn't so much steal the show if Martians ranged against amoral humans. Who that saves the day in the final minutes. Colin
as have it gift wrapped and delivered to his house. are the real 'monsters' here? Ahh, do you see ...? Baker steals the show, just as many of his
With Loups-Garoux, Marc Piatt delivers not just Realising how the continuity of the Fifth Doctor succeeding adventures - The Holy Terror, Whispers of
the finest Peter Davison audio, but the best Big era gives their writers Htde room to raanouevre. Terror, The One Dortor - would become the most
Finish production of all. It's no coincidence that Big Finish takes a bold step with Iain McLauchlin's popular of the range.
Piatt, Uke Andrew Cartmel, an alumnus of the
is Egyptian historical The Eye of the Scorpion and intro- The Fifth Doctor's solo story, meanwhile, set
McCoy era, and he brings welcome passion and duces a new companion in the form of usurped on a German submarine, feels the most true to
poetry to the life of the Fifth Doctor. Loups-Garoux teenage Pharaoh Erimem. Her courtly background its era. This would remain the distinctive signa-
is a twisted love story for werewolves that, with its of comfort and privilege are a reminder of Nyssa, ture of all his audio outings; chiefly because, as
trip to theCarnaval of Rio
de Janeiro and a race
through the Amazon, is a
HDUEnrURES LEHUES THE DDCTDR TO ofTime has these three Doctors meet to face their
TRRUEL UJITH R CR5T DP 'RLSD RRnS' foe and, typically enough, the Fifth (set up almost
as a father figure), finds himself entirely eclipsed
rich, sweeping, feature film of an adventure. even if it's tempered by the plain-speaking self- by the energy and fiair of the others; just as his
Like Gatiss, Marc Piatt struggles with Doctor confidence she shares with Peri. Very much a distil- audio canon would come to be judged less
and Turlough in Loups-Garoux. On TV, these charac- lation of other companions, she may offer litde engaging than that of his Sixth and Seventh incar-
ters generally took turns to interact with Tegan, new for the Fifth Doctor to respond to; his is a nations.
rather than each other, and with this fulcrum character who badly needs a wise-cracking Like the character himself, the Fifth Doctor
missing the relationship falls apart. The two men Frobisher or inquisitive Evelyn Smythe travelling in audio adventures are good, if never great. While
sound like middle-aged work colleagues on a busi- his TARDIS. the standard of acting, direction, editing and
ness trip together, each on the lookout for some- sound design on the Big Finish range are as good
thing to do rather than actually talk to this stranger ne adventure remains to be discussed, and asyou will find anywhere, the plays struggle to
I
they've been paired off with. When Eleanor Bron's that's Nicholas Briggs' The Sirens oJTime, provide anything truly new.
werewolf Ileana de Santos pairs off with the Doctor the portmanteau story for the Fifth, Sixth
I
WHO
by a these three novels aren't
cover - an accolade that is
successful because they're
otherwise only permitted to
sequels; rather, they
Lance Parkin's Eighth
succeed because they're
Doctor! Cold Fusion and Goth
well plotted, taut and
Opera regularly rate among interesting; using their
the top ten Who novels so, links to the past to add
superficially at least. Fifth
flavour rather than being
Doctor fans should have tied down by them. In this
nothing to complain about. sense they differ from
But look more closely at Diuided Loyalties, which,
tiiatDWMpoU.True, Cold despite a fantastic central
Fusion, Thf Sands o/Time and
conceit suffers from overex-
Goth Opera all rate highly, but
posing the Doctor's history,
the other Fifth Doctor books
and from Deep Blue's inexph-
languish in the bottom half of
cable and unmemorable
the rankings. As for the The
teaming of the Fiftii Doctor
Ultimate Treasure, the first Fifth
with tile Pertwee-era UNIT.
eao 'em
Doctor novel
in last. The
to
Fifth
be published by the BBC,
Doctor adventures published
since then have clearly failed to
Valethske or Vrall. The Fifth Doctor's TV adven- castsNyssa as the voice of the Doctors conscience.
tures were also notable for the increased use of Ultimately, however, Nyssa remains a poorly devel-
time travel, not only as a method of getting the oped companion, and it will inevitably fall to Big
Doctor from A to B, but as an important element of Finish, who are effectively making a fiiU series of
the stories themselves. Thus we have The Sands of Fifth Doctor/Nyssa advenmres, to flesh her out.
Time taking a leaf from Mawdryn Undcad's book by Of the remaining companions, none have partic-
setting the plot in two different time zones, The ularly benefited from the book treatment. Despite a
Crystal Bucephalus taking place in a time-travelling brave attempt by Gary Russell to inject some
restaurant, and Steve Lyon's short story The Eternity interest into the character by suggesting he felt
Contract casting the Doctor and Nyssa as Sapphire resentment at being sidehned by the rest of the
and Steel, investigating strange temporal distur- crew, Adric has appeared too rarely to have gained
bances in a haunted house. much. Turlough, a companion whose story arc was
Imitation is one thing, innovation is another, effectively concluded at the end of Enlightenment,
and this is an area in which the Fifth Doctor novels and who was thereafter httie more than an Up
have largely failed. Passing over the opportunity to Pompeii-style prophet of doom ("Why did we leave
explore the crew's reaction to Adric's death despite the TARDIS? We were safe before we did
its abrupt glossing over at the beginning of Time- that!"/"Face itTegan, the Doctor's dead!" etc), has
particularly kind to Nyssa. Interestingly, while Big Most of all, the Seventh Doctor sees the bigger
Finish have taken the underused team of the Fifth picture that his Fifth self is barely aware of. The
Doctor and Nyssa and made it their own, the books Fifth Doctor sees and feels things on an almost
have been less willing to experiment with this human scale, and his reactions - guilt, anger,
combination. Nyssa fights for attention with the horror - are very human. The Seventh Doctor
more strident Tegan and the more irritating Adric represses those feelings to allow him to do what he
in Divided Loyalties, plus Chris and Roz in Cold thinks is necessary. It was this dichotomy that
Fusion; is placed in a Kinda-esque coma for the made the Fifth Doctor such an attractive character
duration of The Sands o/Time, and is not quite to so many Doctor Who writers, and it's no surprise
Set between The Kings Demons and The PRSCIRRTIBR
Fioe Doctors Written by David J
Howe
A time-travelling restaurant provides the Set between Planet of Fire and The Cam
CDLD PUBIDR Set between Time-Flight and Arc of Infinity BBP BLUE HBT ICE
Written by Lance Parkin The Doctor causes chaos at a crumbling castle Written by Mark Morris Written by Christopher Bulls
Set between Costroualuo and Four to Doomsiay [Dccolog 3] Set between Warriors of the Deep and Set between Planet of Fire and The Caoes
Tlie Fifth Doctor, Adric, Tegan, Nyssa, tiie The Auiakening of Androzani
Seventii Doctor, Ctiris and Roz meet on an ice THE ETERRITy CanTRHCT Something fishy is afoot in the seaside The Doctor and Peri are embroiled in a plot to
planet (so it's cold). And there are some Written by Steve Lyons resort of Tayborough Sands, and it's not steal a gemstone [iVIorc Short Trips]
bombs (fusion). And they have to save the Set between Time-Flight and Arc of Infinity the Myrka. The Doctor must join forces with
universe from the evil Ferutu. And the The Doctor and Nyssa find Death in a Gothic UNIT before they all fall victim to the alien THE UmmOTE TRERBURE
Doctor's wife is in it. Hard to sum up mansion [More Short Trips] Xaranti Written by Christopher Bulls
Written by Gary Russell Written by Simon Messingham Written by Keith Topping The Doctor and Peri are sent on a tiresome
Set between The Visitation and Black Orchid Set between Arc of Infinity and Snakedonce Set between The Auiakening and Frontios quest. And that's it
The Celestial Toymaker has a plan to entrap The Doctor regrets talking technobabble Call in the X-Files! The Doctor and UNIT are
the Doctor and his friends. Expect the usual when he discovers that the Morestran caught between thejex, the Canavitchi, and a SUPERIBR BEIRBS
fun and games, plus a dose of 'Voung Doctor Empire has built a giant tower to harness shadowy figure within the CIA Written by Nick Walters
Who' the power of planetary movement. But it Set between Planet of Fire and The Caocs
doesn't work.So they've returned to Zeta LBRBS BP THE BTBRRl of Androzani
LnCKROnH EHPRBSS Minor for some anti-matter, with predictable Written by David A Mclntee The foxy Peri meets her match in the
Written by Paul Cornell results Set between Resurrection of the Daleks and Valethske, a race of vicious hunters seeking
Set between Earthshock and Time Flight Planet of Fire revenge ... and human flesh
The TARDIS crew encounter ghosts at an THE SRRDS OP TinUE The Doctor and Turlough have to defend the
abandoned research station [Decolog] Written by Justin Richards planet Raghi from the warring Sontaran and R TBUJR CHLLEB
Set between Arc of Infinity and Snakcdance Rutan Empires ETERRITB
Laneui onus Nyssa is kidnapped by the fanatical followers Written by Lance Parkin and Mark
Written by Daniel BIythe of the Osiran goddess, Nepthys, whom the ilTIPERIRL RIBBR Clapham
Set between Time-Flight and Arc of Infinity Doctor must battle in two time zones Written by Christopher Bulls Set between Planet of Fire and The Caoes
The Doctor and Nyssa discover a man living Set between Resurrection of the Dolcks and of Androzoni
alone on an asteroid [Dccalog 2] BOTH DPBRR Planet of Fire The Doctor and Peri encounter an old foe
Written by Paul Cornell Good old Blighty lands a man on the Moon - seeking the elixir of youth [Short Trips and
THE PHRUnmBIIT OP Set between Snokedonce and Mau;dryn Undead in 1878! But is this real history, or has Side Steps]
RRTS It's not an opera and there aren't any goths. something gone terribly wrong?
Written by Daniel O'Mahoney The Doctor is faced with the twin problems of BBBB CBmPRRIBRS
Set between Time-Flight and Arc of Infinity a vampirised Nyssa and an old flame from 2BITBEIST Written by Peter Anghelides
The TARDIS crash-lands on a planet that has Time Lord High Written by Craig Hinton Set a long time after Resurrection of the
become temporally unstable [Short Trips] Set between Resurrection of the Daleks and Daleks
Written by Jackie Marshall Written by Craig Hinton planet [Decalog 3] Smith [IVIorc Short Trips]
that, when the two ranges crossed over, tJiey did so Parkin writes the Fifth Doctor well, certainly, but Enlightenment and The Caues of Androzani - in favour
with Fifth Doctor novels (Blood Haruest/Goth Opera he's still there to make a point rather than to have of spectacular planet-wide quests and space operas
and Shakedouin/Lords ojthe Storm). It's fitting, there- an adventure. Given the way Virgin used the char- seems misguided. As one of the Doctor's more
fore, that Virgin's final Fifth Doctor book. Cold acter, it's probably appropriate that ourimage last introspective incarnations, the Fifth is at his best
Fusion, should see these two diametrically opposed of the Fifth Doctor in the Missing Adventures is of confronting the dark places of the inside rather
incarnations meet. Roz knocking him over the head before he can ask than foiling the intergalactic machinations of
In a way, it's almost unfair to call Cold Fusion a any awkward questions. massive alien armies.
Missing Adventure, given that author Lance Parkin Too often, it feels like the authors have picked
DWM 305 high-
is far more interested in the Seventh Doctor
companions. Acting as another link in the
and
New
his
The article Books
lighted the
o/Doom
common mistakes
in
found in
on the most superficial elements of the era and
ignored or underplayed the quality that charac-
Aduenturcs' ongoing exploration of Time Lord Doctor Who submissions. They cite conti- terises it most: the Doctor's relationship with his
history, and prefiguring lunghanow in its revela- nuity-packed plots, sequels to rubbish TV stories. travelling companions. Themes of friendship and
trust distinguish the Davison period, from his
HQ YHig ihDST inTRDSPECTlUE DQCTDR, reliance on his friends in Castroualua right up to his
not to feel a deep, burning sympathy him of what a miraculous life he truly leads. Sir
for theman. His fourth incarnation lustin is never overwhelmed by the amazing worlds
had gotten a glimpse of his own fiiture and beings he encounters. He has an innate under-
and {very wisely) taken a flying leap off a tall tele- standing of time, perceiving it as "all one great
scope, leaving his successor to inherit easily the moment".
most difficult gathering of companions the series The Doctor's second companion, Shayde, is a
had ever seen. The Fifth Doctor soon became a very difierent prospect. Shayde is a creation of pure
virtual prisoner in his own ship, forced to play intellect; faceless and unemotional. He's a weapon.
houseparent to a group who seemed to take The Doctor thinks of him as "my only link with
_ up every square inch of the TARDIS' infi- reality" during his surreal search for Melanicus.
nite fioor space. While Nyssa Shayde seems to symbolise the Doctor's rationality,
was essentially a passive sharply contrasting witii Justin's reflection of his
character, Adric and Tegan own passionate moral righteousness.
were the exact opposite. The Doctor has an air of quiet authority
Shouting, whining and surrounding him in Tfie Tides of Time - he's the Lord
sulking in equal measure, President of Gallifrey, the man who's saved his
they were the two most planet several times from destruction, and
volatile, attention-seeking everyone knows it. He can calmly confer with
companions ever, and they Rassilon on matters of cosmic importance and is
were staying in the TARDIS granted every privilege without question. The
at the same time! respect he so rarely received on television is in
It begs the question: what abundance here. It's interesting to note that the
would the Fifth Doctor's life Doctor states that he plans to retire from his travels
have been like if he'd had the one day and live on GalUftey again. Contrast this
chance to avoid it all? If he'd homecoming with the one in Arc of Injiniti|, where
never had to involve himself in he's immediately locked up and sentenced to
teenage traumas and Antipodean death.
The Tides of Time has about as much science
fiction content as an episode of Gardeners' World.
The occasional piece of technobabble can't
disgiuse the fact that's it's an unabashed fantasy
»^ mm
CRIED
story
aggro? If he'd never had to cope with, as
script editor
with roundels"?
Andrew Cartmel put it,
"Neighbours
Ut
adventure, packed with knights, vampires, wizards
{Rassilon is
perilous quest to
even joined by Merlin himself), a
fitlfil and a monstrous demon to
Writer Steve Parkhouse and artist Dave confront. Shayde takes the role of a helpfiil genie,
Gibbons begin the strip Doctor's advenmres on a appearing whenever the hero needs assistance or
warm evening in the rural village of Stockbridge. information. Parkhouse's narrative captions are all
It seems the Doctor has finally gotten that hohday written in the past tense - the standard in prose
he's always been talking about - he's made stories, but a rare approach in comics - and it gives
friends with the locals, he's playing cricket, he's this story in particular a fairy tale atmosphere.
laughing - did he euer look so relaxed on TV? He The Fifth Doctor's comic strip debut has one
soon meets his first companion, and he's a far cry important element in common with his television
from the neurotic television crowd. Sir Justin, a one - as in Castroualua, the Doctor is swept along by
Medieval laiight, is a bold, optimistic adven- the events of The Tides of Time, with litde or
no
turer -just the sort of friend the Doctor needs control over his fate. He must rely on his compan-
as he's plunged into the temporal chaos engi- ions to find the way through this journey, and the
neered by the sinister Melanicus. final blow to Melanicus is dealt not by him but by
Sir Justin impresses the Doctor, Sir Justin, sacrificing himself in much the same
first with his easy acceptance of manner as Shardovan does to defeat the Master.
time travel and then, more The Doctor is left completely bewildered at the
STRRS PELL DO
Monthly 61-67
Want to see the Doctor meet with Merlin, the Meddling Monk in
STOCHBRiDBE
1 938 Hollywood and is the closest in feel to
Story Steve Parkhouse
and Mummies? Best search out these comic strips then ... the Fifth Doctor's TV era. The Doctor
Art Dave Gibbons
unravels a murder mystery and clashes with Doctor Who Monthly 68-69
Three stories have
Fifth Doctor strip
been published
ward story which could really
Lords. Tegan is infected with the vampire this story - not for a second does he treat THE IRDDERRTDR
virus, but the Doctor's faith in her drives the situation as anything less than deadly Story Steve Parkhouse
her off. The (strangely unnamed) villain is serious, despite the antics of the comedic Art Steve Dillon
destroyed by sunlight. It's a straightfor- villains Ravnok and Vartex. Doctor Who Monthly 84, 86-87
"ticket out of this place") seems to lift the Doctor's is firmly back on track. them down and kill ±em. Gunfire is exchanged,
spirits almost immediately. He invites Gus into the The Doctor attempts to get Gus home at the and both Gus and the Moderator drop to the
TARDIS and quickly offers him the chance to join beginning of hisfinal story, The Moderator, but ground. Gus dies, passing away to the soundtrack
him on his travels. The fact that the Doctor has just meets with no success. Gus understands that the of Vera Lynn's We'll Meet A^ain, crackling from the
deliberately tried toend his own travels for good is TARDIS might take a while to navigate through an Moderator's helmet. The Moderator himself lies
delicately avoided by both men. And so the Doctor, infinite number of parallel universes, and doesn't helpless on the ground. The Doctor picks up Gus'
at last accompanied by an official companion, goes seem to mind the delay. "I've got faith in this box pistol, and turns toward us. Another shocking
vworping off into the wide blue yonder ... of tricks," he comments, placing himself as far moment: tears of rage are sliding down his
away from a certain Australian air hostess as is cheeks. He's an alien no longer, his humanity
The Gus
Doctor begins their voyage by showing
the epic majesty of the Earth forming
humanly possible!
There are some interesting parallels between the
washing over him. He points the gun and fires ...
... At the helmet, to stop the song. He then,
out of gas clouds and dust in the distant and TV stories. Both
Fifth Doctor's final strip remarkably, takes the killer to an outpost for
past.With a new pair of eyes in the TARDIS, the feature claustrophobic underground settings and medical treatment. It's the act of a man who has
Doctor seems also to be seeing everything from a utilise financial greed as the villain's motivation - seen too much death in his recent life to allow
fresh perspective. He smiles for the first time since the toad-like Josiah W Dogbolter is definitely cut anyone, even a friend's assassin, to perish. In The
The Tides oJTime. Gus is a likeable fellow firom the from the same cloth as Trau Morgus from The Caves Caves o/Androzani, the Fifth Doctor's last action is
start, and the reader warms to him as quickly as oJAndrozani. When Dogbolter attempts to buy the to save the life of his friend. In The Moderator, it's
to save the life of his enemy. Which is the greater
OTEUE PHRKHQUSE CREHTED R UJDRLD act of compassion?
tfOCTOR"
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