John Nathan - Turner John Nathan - Turner ( 12 August 1947 - 1 May 2002 ) was first a member of the production team and then the ninth , longest serving and final producer for the original run of " Doctor Who " . He is often known simply by his initials , JNT or , more accurately , JN - T . Biography . Early career . Many of JN - T ' s later traits as producer can be seen in his very earliest contact with the dramatic arts . As a teenager , he was interested in advertising . On a trip to a publicity firm , he realised that he was really more attracted to the show business side of producing commercials than to the gritty reality of advertising office spaces . He became a stage manager at a cabaret in Birmingham , where he dealt with a number of 1960s British celebrities like Shirley Bassey . He also worked as a property master on a pantomime in town , which cemented his career ambitions . In the mid - 1960s , he met a young Graham Williams , whose girlfriend — a clerk to the Head of Costumes — could get him a job in television . His first contract with the BBC was a one - month gig as a male costume assistant . Though his time in this role was brief , he met several people who would become important to his later career . Most notably , he met Bill Sellars , the future producer of " All Creatures Great and Small " . Following this initial foray into television , he returned to the theatre for three years , where he was a stage manager and occasional bit player . This prepared him for his next assault on television . He joined the BBC as a floor assistant in 1968 , and he first worked on " Doctor Who " in that capacity on " The Space Pirates " — recorded in Studio D of the Lime Grove Studios . Like Verity Lambert , he disdained those early " Doctor Who " facilities : He continued to work on the show sporadically during the Jon Pertwee era — by which time " Doctor Who " had left Lime Grove behind . During the early 1970s , Nathan - Turner was rotated around several different projects , and so only worked on specific " Doctor Who " serials , rather than whole seasons . In particular , he was a part of the crew on " The Ambassadors of Death " and " Colony in Space " . In the first half of the decade , he was less associated with " Doctor Who " than with period dramas such as , and " Nicholas Nickleby " . He regarded the producer of those shows , Martin Lisemore , as a mentor . His breakthrough into genuine production came almost simultaneously from two directions at once . In 1977 , he was engaged as production unit manager for Season 1 of " All Creatures Great and Small " and Season 15 of " Doctor Who " . Famously , his stint on " All Creatures " introduced him to Peter Davison , the future Fifth Doctor . But it also gave his dog , " Pepsi " , the recurring role as " Pepper " — one of Sigfried Farnon ' s ubiquitous pets . He continued as both shows ' production manager for two years . In November 1979 , he was asked to take over from Graham Williams as producer of " Doctor Who " . Finally forced to choose between the two , he left " All Creatures " in the middle of its third season . Role as producer . Nathan - Turner took over as producer at the beginning of the eighteenth season , which turned out to be the last that featured Tom Baker ' s popular portrayal of the Fourth Doctor . He subsequently cast the next three actors to play the role , namely Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor ( 1981 – 1984 ) , Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor ( 1984 – 1986 ) , and Sylvester McCoy ( 1987 – 1989 , 1996 ) as the Seventh Doctor . Discounting the short charity piece , " Dimensions in Time " , his onscreen tenure lasted from " The Leisure Hive " to " Survival " . Behind the scenes , however , he retained his job for more than a year longer . Due to the fact that the show was not flatly cancelled following the broadcast of the 26th season — but merely put on " indefinite hiatus " — he was still the salaried producer for what would have been the production and broadcast year of the 27th season . Technically , he left the programme via a letter of resignation dated 31 August 1990 , the same day that the " Doctor Who " production offices were officially closed by the BBC . Having served as producer for so long , and possessed of a greater media presence than previous incumbents , Nathan - Turner was often the object of intense scrutiny by the series ' fans . Decisions such as the casting of Bonnie Langford as the Doctor ' s companion are still a topic of discussion in the " Doctor Who " fan community almost thirty years later . His tenure coincided with a period of large growth in the show ' s fan base in the United States , thanks to repeated showings on affiliates of the American Public Broadcasting Service . He was very effective at generating publicity for the series by threatening to remove or change a traditional element of it . Examples include the sonic screwdriver , K9 , the TARDIS ( or at least he threatened to do away with its police box shape , and briefly did so in " Attack of the Cybermen " ) , and Tom Baker ' s Doctor . Nathan - Turner ' s changes to the programme were originally well received by " Doctor Who " fans , to whom he extended an unprecedented degree of welcome . Like his predecessor , Graham Williams , he actively cultivated ties with the fan base . However , his door was open to fan opinion leaders to an even greater degree . Fanzine editors would be granted interviews by Nathan - Turner in the " Doctor Who " production office . Although he did not divulge the contents of forthcoming storylines in such conversations , he would speak in depth and at length about his approach to producing the show . This openness to fandom proved a double - edged sword for Nathan - Turner . As his tenure on the series lengthened , and especially when the show ' s ratings began to drop , fan criticism of Nathan - Turner became more prevalent . His changes implemented during Colin Baker ' s era were among the most criticised for being so radical and jarring . Fanzines , particularly " Doctor Who Bulletin " ( later " DWBulletin " ) began to blame him for decisions made about the series , whether he was responsible for them or not . During the time the 1987 serial " Delta and the Bannermen " was broadcast , UK media began to pick up on the existence of " fan campaigns " against Nathan - Turner . Supporters of Nathan - Turner argue that the producer was not solely to blame for the series ' decline in ratings and that the hierarchy at the BBC , funding issues and the decision to schedule the series opposite the popular " Coronation Street " should all share some responsibility . He continued to be involved in " Doctor Who " - related events ( including co - writing the one - off mini - episode " Dimensions in Time " , the only " Doctor Who " story for which he received a writer credit ) until shortly before his death . Nathan - Turner died of liver failure just over a year before the announcement by the BBC that the show would be revived , with new episodes to air beginning in 2005 . He was outlived by his long - term partner , Gary Downie , a production manager on " Doctor Who " . Downie died on 19 January 2006 . Trivia and trademarks . Dress sense . JN - T made himself instantly recognisable and imitable at convention costume contests etc . with his combination of beard , longish hair and . Some time during the Sylvester McCoy years , he dispensed with the beard , but aloha shirts and other colourful attire remained integral to his overall " look " .