The Changing Face of Doctor Who - archive material

Article author: Alwyn Ash


The Changing Face of Doctor Who, an amazing archive of material & documentation relating to the longest-running science fiction series, was released by BBC Archive. Seeing as the 50th Anniversary is imminent, why not rediscover the behind-the-scenes magic...?

"In 1966, William Hartnell stepped down from the lead role in the beloved science fiction series, 'Doctor Who'. Rather than simply recast the part, the production team came up with a solution that would ensure the series would run for years to come.

"Discover what happens when one Time Lord hands over his TARDIS to the next. See early plans for the first 'new Doctor', Patrick Troughton, and discover how viewers reacted to the change. Photos also show the moments when new Doctors and their companions were unveiled and reveal those actors who narrowly missed out on becoming TV's favourite time traveller."

You can view this exciting trip down memory lane by visiting The Changing Face of Doctor Who. There is also a second archive section: The Genesis of Doctor Who, again at BBC Archive, which takes a look at the origins of the show.

Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann changing places
for the 1996 TV movie

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Destiny of the Doctor: Hunters from Earth - AudioReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


Celebrating the longest-running science fiction show, Destiny of the Doctor delivers a mysterious and atmospheric tale that is worthy of an anniversary release...

For the 50th anniversary where else better to start than in Shoreditch, London, 1963. Hunters From Earth, a collaboration between Big Finish and AudioGO, sees the First Doctor hurrying through the darkened streets of the East End. He is being stalked in the thick fog. Performed by Carole Ann Ford (as Susan Foreman), and joined by Tam Williams (real-life son of Simon Williams, who played Captain Gilmore in Remembrance Of The Daleks), this is the debut of an audio series, Destiny of the Doctor, which will see one story for each of the eleven Doctors for every month leading up to November. Writer Nigel Robinson, once editor of the popular Target Books' range of Doctor Who novelisations, manages to cook up a mix of suspense, which escalates as a small group of young people behave strangely out-of-character and threateningly.

Taking a look at 15-year-old Susan at Coal Hill School (briefly touched upon in the television serial An Unearthly Child) is a thoroughly interesting experience, especially when she befriends Sixth Form student Cedric (played by Williams). The introduction of Mr Rook, a teacher at the school, enhances the Alfred Hitchcock-esque tale as Susan and her grandfather are drawn into mystery and danger. Just what is affecting the teenagers of Coal Hill, and just why is Mr Rook so interested in the Doctor and his granddaughter?

Though Susan wants to be the normal girl, settle at school and make friends, her obvious "difference" and intelligence stand out among the other students, something that is noticed, too, by Rook. And as something changes, an atmosphere of restlessness and hatred, the time travellers must face life-threatening encounters.

The decision to set this First Doctor tale prior to Doctor Who's televised debut is genius, permitting further insight into London life in the early sixties, where Beatlemania is present and satellites are orbiting the Earth (the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, had only been launched a few years previous, in 1957). It is kind of disappointing that there had been no mention of schoolteachers Ian Chesterton or Barbara Wright (even a cameo with William Russell would have been something extra special) but Hunters From Earth delivers what it promises. Plus there are nice nods too, including a mention of Magpie Electricals (2006's The Idiot's Lantern) and the line "I trusted you, and you betrayed me" (which reminds this reviewer of Ace in Remembrance of the Daleks).

It must also be said that both the music and sound design, implemented so wonderfully by Simon Hunt (who has contributed to other titles including Pest Control, Snake Bite and The Wheel of Ice), does everything right, allowing for a perfect balance of suspense and every-day normality; there is always fear to be found around every corner, whether it be at night in a foggy street or elsewhere.

The only negative is Carole Ann Ford's impersonation of the Doctor, however this reviewer would have it no other way - it is an honour to listen to this actress revisiting a character she originally played almost fifty years ago, and reprised in the twentieth anniversary of the show alongside Richard Hurndall as the First Doctor (see The Five Doctors).

Though Hunters From Earth is a self-contained story, it is clear that there is a darkness approaching. As Susan tells her grandfather, "Something terrible is coming... I can feel it. Something that will affect, everything..."

A tale passionately directed by John Ainsworth, and given all by the whole team.


Further reading: AudioGO - official website

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Destiny of the Doctor - Shadow of Death

Article author: Alwyn Ash


The big celebration to see launch of exciting stories for every Doctor...

Eleven Doctors, eleven months! These magnificent tales continue with Destiny of the Doctor 2 adventure Shadow of Death, this time featuring the Second Doctor (as regularly played by actor Patrick Troughton from 1966-69).

Written by Simon Guerrier and directed by John Ainsworth, Shadow of Death is sure to be another success, following on from last month's First Doctor story Hunters From Earth. Frazer Hines and Evie Dawnay perform as Jamie McCrimmon and Sophie.

"Following an emergency landing, the TARDIS arrives on a remote world orbiting a peculiar star - a pulsar which exerts an enormous gravitational force, strong enough to warp time. On further exploration the Doctor and his friends, Jamie and Zoe, discover a human outpost on the planet surface, inhabited by scientists who are there to study an ancient city. The city is apparently abandoned, but the scientists are at a loss to explain what happened to its sophisticated alien architects. The Doctor discovers that something dark, silent and deadly is also present on the world - and it is slowly closing in on the human intruders..."

It has been worked out rather nicely so that the current Doctor (played by Matt Smith in the television series) will appear in his own title in November, the Anniversary month! All stories are produced by Big Finish for AudioGO. Performers for each adventure will be announced through the year.

These audiobooks will be available for download, or on a single CD (RRP £10.20). With music and sound design courtesy of Simon Hunt, what better way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the greatest sci-fi show on Planet Earth than to add each of these to your audio collection...

Simon Guerrier has penned the BBC Doctor Who novels The Time Travellers, The Pirate Loop, and The Slitheen Excursion; his work for Big Finish includes Key 2 Time adventure The Prisoner's Dilemma, Companion Chronicles tale Shadow of the Past (featuring Caroline John as Liz Shaw), and Sapphire and Steel outing The School. He also brought us Graceless, starring Ciara Janson and Laura Doddington as Abby and Zara respectively.


Further reading: AudioGO - official website

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