Not So Much a Programme , More a Way of Life ( short story ) Not So Much a Programme , More a Way of Life was the ninth short story in the Short Trips anthology " " . It was written by Anthony Keetch . It featured the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa . Summary . The Doctor and Nyssa arrive on Earth in Greenford . It is completely deserted . They finally come across a man who is staggering through the streets , ignoring their attempts to talk to him . He finally reaches the window of a television rental store , and watches the programme depicted on the televisions in the window . His attention is completely on the programme , and he is oblivious to the Doctor and Nyssa ' s presence . The programme involves aliens killing humans , and Nyssa is appalled at the realistic violence . The Doctor , to her horror , has become enthralled by the programme as well . When the programme ends , he begins to discuss how great it was . The man , now almost normal , speaks to them . His name is Norman Atkinson , and he answers the Doctor ' s questions about the programme , which is called " Surrender , Earthlings ! " . He invites the Doctor to watch the next episode at his house . Nyssa considers going back to the TARDIS , but decides she had better keep an eye on the Doctor . On the way , she notices newspaper articles about the programme ; oddly , the articles discuss the aliens as if they were real , not actors . Nyssa is horrified to see a group of the aliens marching down the street . People watch with excitement . The Doctor runs up to them , and asks one for his autograph . The aliens recognise him . When he turns to Nyssa , she is gone . Nyssa has been grabbed from behind and taken to a nearby house . Once inside , she thinks her attacker was Norman , but he introduces himself as Reg Atkinson , Norman ' s twin brother . Also present are Reg ' s son Tim , Mrs Cooper and Reverend Vincent N ' kabe . They are members of a group they call the Provisional Wing of the National Viewers and Listeners Association . Their goal is to wipe out the corruption that is " Surrender , Earthlings ! " The Doctor , meanwhile , has been put in a cell by the aliens . He starts to experience withdrawal symptoms at missing the next episode . After some time , he comes to his senses , and realises who the aliens are — the Xyz , whom he considers parasites . Up to now , no one knew how they were able to conquer other planets , as their military capabilities were rubbish . The Doctor has figured it out , however . They use addictive serial programming . Nyssa ' s new " friends " decide the best way to stop the programme is to blow up the BBC . Reg works out the construction of a bomb , refusing Nyssa ' s help . The Doctor has been invited to tea with the Xyz , who are surprised to realise that the programme worked on him . Now that he has broken the addiction , however , he is a threat . The leader of the Xyz , who calls himself the Producer , decides that the programme needs a new villain — a traitor . He arranges for the traitor to look exactly like the Doctor , then sends the Doctor on his way , confident that an angry mob will take care of the Doctor for him . After a series of mishaps , Nyssa ' s group makes it to the BBC , but they are not allowed to enter . Reg heads for the security kiosk to argue with the guard , but fails to return to the others . Tim , Mrs Cooper and N ' kabe head for the kiosk to investigate , but they too fail to return . Nyssa decides to investigate , and learns that they are all watching the programme in the security kiosk . She heads into the BBC by herself , unnoticed by the guard . The Doctor has also arrived at the BBC . He visits the Director - General , who thinks he looks familiar but doesn ' t recognise him as the traitor he just saw on the programme . Instead , he acknowledges the Doctor as an old acquaintance , and even vouches for him to his secretary , Anita Scammell . She , however , recognises the Doctor and leaves , threatening to call the police . The Doctor convinces the DG to help him , as an angry mob will go after him as well , since he vouched for the Doctor . The DG tells the Doctor the only way to stop transmission is to set the ratings to zero . The Doctor and Nyssa find each other and head for the ratings department . On the way , they encounter the angry mob led by Anita , but the mob is so caught up in their hysteria they don ' t notice the Doctor . In the ratings department , the Doctor is dismayed to see that the equipment is so old and fragile , but Nyssa suggests they just destroy it — then the ratings would fall to zero , ending the transmission . After the programme has ended , the addicted humans experience withdrawal symptoms . The Xyz sneak off Earth before the humans can recover enough to harm them . Notes . " to be added "