031 - The Highlanders

Broadcast:

17^th December 1966 - 7^th January 1967

Doctor:

Patrick Troughton

Companions:

Ben, Polly

Adversary:

British Red Coats

Written by:

Elwyn Jones, Gerry Davis

Director:

Hugh David

Music:

None

Script Editor:

Gerry Davis

Producer:

Innes Lloyd

Average Viewers:

7.05m (6.7, 6.8, 7.4, 7.3)

Summary: Englishman in the highlands of Scotland who weren't part of the British Army in 1746 must be part of the Jacobite rebellion, so falling in with the locals puts the travellers in a dangerous predicament.

The Highlanders is noted for three reason. Primarily, it is the last truly historical adventure. Although the TARDIS would land in Earth's history several more times before the show was cancelled, never again would the Doctor encounter known events or face genuine human adversaries. The closest the show would get to this once staple type of adventure would be in 1982's Black Orchid which only featured humans in a historical setting but without any history lesson to tell. Secondly, it introduces new companion Jamie who would remain with the Doctor until he was forced to regenerate at the end of War Games, making him the longest standing companion of the show's original run (Sarah Jane Smith beats him by half a series, but is outnumbered by adventures and episodes, while the Ponds are the only companions to have more adventures but with fewer series and a fraction of the episodes). Thirdly if features no music or even special sounds beyond the bagpipe music used over the title-card, though there is a moment, as in Power Of The Daleks where the Doctor plays his recorder. Additional to these, though less noticeable, it was written entirely by story editor Gerry Davis. Despite being commissioned and receiving a credit, Elwyn Jones was in fact unavailable to work on the story.

In the news at the time, matters in Rhodesia had led to a UN approved embargo, though South Africa refused to join in, Harold Wilson announced that he would now only agree to independence with a Black majority government but Ian Smith declared that Rhodesia was already a republic. Further north in East Germany, Premier Walter Ulbricht discussed negotiations about German reunification, though it would be another 22 years before it happened.. Meanwhile, closer to home millions' worth of paintings were stolen from the Dulwich Art Gallery in London. Footballers Alf Ramsey and Bobby Moore received a knighthood and OBE respectively in the Queen's New Year Honours while land and water speed record breaker Donald Campbell lost his life in his latest attempt on Coniston Water and would posthumously be awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct two weeks later. Also departing this world were animation visionary Walt Disney and Jack Ruby, the man famous for killing the man who killed Kennedy - having been initially sentenced to death for Oswald's murder, a retrial had been granted but he was taken by natural causes before a date was set.

In the entertainment world, Charlie Chaplin launched his final film, A Countess from Hong Kong, major drama "The Forsyte Saga" was broadcast on BBC Two and would become the first British program to be sold to the USSR, and more importantly for children, "Trumpton" received its first of many broadcasts and was the second program to be filmed in colour for BBC One. The music charts were topped by Tom Jones's "Green, Green Grass of Home" (having reached the top the week before The Highlanders began, it would remain there for two weeks after it finished), the Doors released their eponymous album and The Jimi Hendrix Experience released "Hey Joe", their first single in the UK. Two television shows received cinematic spin-offs, Thunderbirds Are GO and Batman: The Movie, along side history based classics One Million Years B.C. and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the latter of which starred comedy legends Buster Keaton, Roy Kinnear, Phil Silvers, Michael Crawford.

Things were not looking so humorous for the Doctor and his companions though...

030 - The Power Of The Daleks

Broadcast:

5^th November - 10^th December 1966

Doctor:

Patrick Troughton

Companions:

Polly, Ben

Adversary:

Daleks

Written by:

David Whitaker, Dennis Spooner ¹

Director:

Christopher Barry

Music:

Stock

Script Editor:

Gerry Davis

Producer:

Innes Lloyd

Average Viewers:

7.8m (7.9, 7.8, 7.5, 7.8, 8.0, 7.8)

Summary: The Doctor has a new face, or is he a different person? On the human colony planet Vulcan a spacecraft made of untarnishable metal has been found in mercury swamps and contains some impressive machinery but is this alien technology really as good as the the scientists think or could it be put to bad use by a rebel group?

Among the most wished for missing stories, The Power Of The Daleks must surely rank near the top. It's a cracking story in its own right and has even been remade in recent years, but crucially, it is Patrick Troughton's real début as the Second Doctor. His face may have appeared at the end of The Tenth Planet but it wasn't until the next episode that viewers got to see him in full. The reprise begins at the start of the cross-fade in what we now refer to as the regeneration and thus William Hartnell makes as much of an appearance in this episode as Troughton did in the last (his face also appears in a mirror as the new Doctor examines himself though that was achieved with a photo). All of this, of course, is to remind viewers that the Doctor has changed, but is still the same man...

As The Power Of The Daleks commenced broadcast, 38 African states were demanding that the UK use force against the Rhodesian government and by the end, Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Rhodesian Prime minister Ian Smith began negotiations aboard HMS Tiger in the Mediterranean. In between times, the actor Ronald Reagan was elected Governor of California and would take office in January and would ultimately become the 40th President Of America 14 years later. In the Republic of Ireland, Seán Lemass retired as Taoiseach and was replaced by Jack Lynch. An attempted coup in Togo was crushed by the army and Barbados gained independence, whilst closer to home the Rootes Group launched the Hillman Hunter and unemployment took another rise of 100,000 people and passed the half-million mark.

In the cinemas were the likes of a ballet interpretation of Romeo and Juliet, a Cliff Richard musical Finders Keepers and a Hammer Horror The Witches (not to be mistaken for the Roald Dahl book adaptation of 24 years later!), while on television, a quarter of the British population would be watching the BBC's documentary-style drama "Cathy Come Home" which had a lasting effect on public attitudes to social issues relating to homelessness. The music charts saw the Four Tops complete their run at the top with "Reach Out I'll Be There" followed by two weeks of The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" and the start of a seven week run for Tom Jones "Green, Green Grass of Home". Unbeknownst to everyone, the Beatles were about to hit 'interesting' times as they began working on their highly acclaimed, multi-award winning concept album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and John Lennon met Yoko Ono...

As for Ben and Polly, they were about to have some life changing experiences of their own as they met two surprising characters... one of whom was their friend the Doctor!

027 - The War Machines

Broadcast:

25^th June - 16^th July 1966

Doctor:

William Hartnell

Companions:

Dodo, Polly, Ben

Adversary:

Sentient Computer, Robots/Machines

Written by:

Ian Stuart Black, Kit Pedler¹

Director:

Michael Ferguson

Music:

None

Script Editor:

Gerry Davis

Producer:

Innes Lloyd

Average Viewers:

5.23m (5.4, 4.7, 5.3, 5.5)

Summary: The newly opened communications hub in the Post Office Tower is taken over by its intelligent computer. Rather than joining the world's chief computers together to better human existence, it decides the world would be better off without us and issues instructions for war machines to be built.

The third season of Doctor Who was about to come to an end and the Lloyd/Davis broom was in full sweep. Not only was the companion change-over about to be completed but the adventure itself was something new. Since the Doctor left 1960s Earth in the very first episode he had only returned on three brief occasions plus one adventure that prevented any kind of normal interaction (Planet Of Giants saw the TARDIS crew reduced to the size of insects for the entire story, while The Chase, The Daleks' Master Plan, and The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve all featured 'passing through' moments)... The War Machines would be the first time a full story involved a contemporary setting with full scale threats and it was hoped that such stories could replace the less popular historicals.

In the news, an anti Vietnam war demonstration outside the US Embassy in London turned violent resulting in 31 of the 4000 protesters being arrested. France withdrew it's armed forces from NATO's integrated military command, the Warsaw Pact agreed to support North Vietnam and British Prime Minister Harold Wilson flew to Moscow to attempt (but ultimately fail) to negotiate peace. In Africa, Malawi became a republic two years after gaining independence from the UK and Zambia threatened to leave the commonwealth over the situation in Rhodesia. Closer to home, Princess Beatrice (Queen Victoria's granddaughter) died, Barclays introduced the Barclay Card as the first British credit card, and the FIFA World Cup got under way in England with 'World Cup Willie' being the first World Cup mascot.

In terms of entertainments, cinemas were showing the likes of The Moving Target, The Wrong Box, and The Glass Bottom Boat while the music charts were topped by "Paperback Writer" (The Beatles) and "Sunny Afternoon" (The Kinks)

Doctor Who itself was about to get some swinging beats as well with the Doctor's companions getting acquainted in a hip new nightclub called Inferno (which, coincidentally, has its own resonance considering other Doctor Who episode titles - the final episode of The Romans 18 months prior and the Third Doctor story Inferno 4 years later)

022 - The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve

Broadcast:

5^th - 26^th February 1966

Doctor:

William Hartnell

Companions:

Steven

Adversary:

French Catholics

Written by:

John Lucarotti, Donald Tosh

Director:

Paddy Russell

Music:

Stock

Script Editor:

Donald Tosh, Gerry Davis

Producer:

John Wiles

Average Viewers:

6.43m (8, 6, 5.9, 5.8)

Summary: Steven finds himself in a vulnerable position at a very dangerous and pivotal time in French history with shocks and surprises throughout.

Love them or hate them, historical stories were a standard part of Doctor Who's early years. Love them or hate them, 'Doctor light' stories have been a part of the revived show (though limited to one per series and only for a few years). The point is, love it or hate it The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve is both of these things rolled into one. It is intriguing and dull at the same time, unless you know about 16th century France, but as a lesson aid it draws you into the period atmosphere ready to listen to and understand what your teacher is telling you, or embark on your own research.

The story title gives you a jumping off point for understanding or researching the setting. On the eve of St Bartholomew's day 1572 (the night of August 23rd) French Catholics assassinated a number of prominent Huguenots in Paris and general Catholic mob violence followed with several thousand deaths. A rather poignant coincidence saw about 2000 civilian villagers massacred in Tây Vinh and Gò Dài (Vietnam) during the broadcast of this story.

Lighter news included the Soviet spacecraft Luna 9 making the first controlled landing on the Moon and Australia moving to decimal currency and introducing their Dollar. Topping the music charts were The Overlanders' "Michelle" and Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'", while cinemas had such films as Never Too Late, Bunny Lake Is Missing, and by another similar coincidence The Great Sioux Massacre.

Since this story is completely missing from the archives, it is unclear how each of the writers and story editors were credited and various memories are conflicting. It is unlikely that Donald Tosh would have been allowed to receive credit for both writing and editing the story and it is presumed that he only has credit (or at least copyright, based on surviving documentation) for writing due to extensive rewrites of John Lucarotti's work and Lucarotti's alleged displeasure at them. Gerry Davis was the in-coming Story Editor and may simply have shadowed Tosh and received the credit because Tosh could not... So if the story itself doesn't leave you confused or bemused then the story behind it probably will!

016 - The Chase

Broadcast:

22^nd May - 26^th June 1965

Doctor:

William Hartnell

Companions:

Ian, Barbara, Vicki

Adversary:

Daleks

Written by:

Terry Nation

Director:

Richard Martin

Music:

Dudley Simpson

Script Editor:

Dennis Spooner

Producer:

Verity Lambert

Average Viewers:

9.42m (10, 9.5, 9, 9.5, 9, 9.5)

Summary: The Daleks pursue the TARDIS and the Doctor in particular across time and space through desert, sea and jungle. Arriving on contemporary Earth provides a tempting opportunity for Barbara and Ian while a haunted house might be ideal for facing the Daleks head on...

As promised and teased, the Daleks were back for a third encounter with the Doctor. The public loved them and BBC heads wanted more of them but their creator, writer Terry Nation was not so keen and felt he had done all he could with them so The Chase was partly devised by its Director and Story Editor. Sadly some of Nations ideas and visual descriptions were rejected as either too intense or unachievable and the resulting rewrite (by Martin and Spooner) falls a little short and is a little muddled like The Space Museum before it. However, it does bring some interesting flavours to the show and hints at a world created from nothing but fear as well as mixing future alien threats with a historical context. Doctor Who was at a turning point. It was about to lose the last of the original companions, Dennis Spooner left as Story Editor after just 6 stories and producer Verity Lambert was preparing things for her departure as well...

In the news at the time were a bloodless coup in Algeria, Australian troops joined the Vietnam War and Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston with the "Phantom Punch". West Ham became the second British team to win a European trophy, the British Government announced plans to introduce blood alcohol limits in the fight against drink-driving and two mining incidents barely a week apart took over 500 lives (274 in India and 237 in Japan).

Cinemas were showing the usual mix of horror and humour: Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, The Knack ...and How to Get It, When Strangers Meet and The Skull featuring Peter Cushing. The music charts were topped by "Where Are You Now (My Love)" (Jackie Trent), "Long Live Love" (Sandie Shaw), "Crying in the Chapel" (Elvis Presley), and "I'm Alive" (The Hollies). It was a good month for The Beatles as they were about to appear on Doctor Who and receive MBEs from the Queen - the first popular entertainers to do so, which ruffled a few feathers - though the two were not exactly related!

011 - The Rescue

Broadcast:

2^nd - 9^th January 1965

Doctor:

William Hartnell

Companions:

Ian, Barbara¹

Adversary:

Didonian Native and Sand Beast

Written by:

David Whitaker

Director:

Christopher Barry

Music:

Tristram Cary²

Script Editor:

Dennis Spooner³

Producer:

Verity Lambert

Average Viewers:

12.5m (12, 13)

Summary: The survivors of a crashed rocket ship are harassed by a native as they await their rescue ship. When the TARDIS arrives, the Doctor recognises the planet but the natives apparent behaviour doesn't match his previous experience there...

Doctor Who started the new year very strongly. The Invasion Of The Daleks had ended 1964 with a strong story and excellent viewing figures but left a companion shaped hole. The Rescue was set to introduce a new character who would fill that hole and although it was only two episodes it packed in a whole range of emotions for the new character and it seems her full range was explored to satisfy any fan concerns. As you can see, both episodes performed very well and the second set a new record that would not be matched for more than ten years. This story saw the start of the second recording block so everyone is very fresh and put in strong performances. It also saw David Whitaker hand over the Story Editor role to Dennis Spooner but naturally left him with nothing to do having written the scripts himself.

In terms of news, T.S. Eliot had just died, Donald Campbell set new world speed record on water at 276.33mph, and the "Worboys Committee" standards for road signs (that determine how signs look today) came into play. On the day the first episode of The Rescue was broadcast, ITV began it's "World of Sport" as a rival to the BBC's "Grandstand", while the BBC themselves introduced "Not Only... But Also..." the following week. Ronnie and Reggie Kray (twins aged 31) were arrested on suspicion of running a protection racket in London and the Beatles continued their five week run at number one with "I Feel Fine" while cinemas were showing comedy "The Yellow Rolls-Royce" and collection of pop music "Pop Gear" (hosted by the then popular DJ but now notorious Jimmy Savile)

One thing to watch out for at the very beginning of the first episode is the sound of the TARDIS landing. For the first time the wheezing, groaning 'engine' noise is heard from outside as the Police Box fades into place. It doesn't end with the thud that would become standard in later years and it was by no means a fixed sound that every director was expected to use but Christopher Barry had set a president that would eventually be a core TARDIS feature

001 - An Unearthly Child

Broadcast:

23^rd November - 14^th December 1963

Doctor:

William Hartnell

Companions:

Ian, Barbara, Susan

Adversary:

Cavemen

Written by:

Anthony Coburn

Director:

Waris Hussein

Music:

Norman Kay

Script Editor:

David Whitaker

Producer:

Verity Lambert

Average Viewers:

6.3m ([4.4] 6.0, 5.9, 6.9, 6.4)

Summary: Two teachers find that their strange teenage pupil is living in a scrap merchants and her equally unusual grandfather, fearful of the consequences of this discovery, traps them and they end up fighting for their lives when they meet cavemen trying to make fire!

I'll take you right back to the start, this is the very beginning of a TV legend, day one of the longest running Sci-Fi series. Fifty years ago today at a quarter past five, the first episode of Doctor Who was broadcast on BBC Television. To set the scene, Summer Holiday, The Great Escape and The Birds have been big in the cinema and Sean Connery is currently playing James Bond in From Russia With Love. The Great Train Robbery was hot news just a few months ago and The Beatles were producing hip new sounds from Liverpool. Number one singles for the duration of this adventure were "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Gerry And The Pacemakers), "She Loves You" (The Beatles) and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (The Beatles)

Sadly the world had just been shocked by the assassination of American President John F Kennedy on 22^nd November so this new and exciting show was being broadcast to a sombre and subdued audience. There were also power cuts in parts of the country! As a result of these two combined factors, the first episode was repeated the following week just ahead of episode two, to give it a better launch and it gained almost 2 million viewers.