recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Avatar (TV Story)

***Avatar*** was the first serial in Season 28 of *Doctor Who*. It was written by David A. McIntee, directed by Nicholas Mallett and starred Richard Griffiths as the Eighth Doctor and Julia Sawalha as Raine Cunningham.

It was the first regular appearance of Richard Griffiths as the Eighth Doctor.

## Synopsis

"*When Merlin returns, the dead shall rise.*"

That is the prophecy of Arkham, a town in New England, whose inhabitants are desperate to prevent it from coming true. But when a strange man in a blue box and his assistant arrive, their hopes are in vain.

Meanwhile, the Doctor must come to terms with who he is to combat an alien menace that has brought back the dead. Just who is he really? Who are these creatures that threaten Arkham so badly? And what do they want with the museum...

## Cast

* The Doctor - Richard Griffiths
* Raine - Julia Sawalha
* Howard Philips/Voice of the Body-snatchers - Colin Jeavons
* Reverend Morestone - Michael Redmond
* Dr. Ingrid Corman - Pamela Salem
* Jenette - Susan Penhaligon
* Gilles - Richard D. Sharp
* Mitch - John Novak
* Leonard - David McCallum
* Eddie Olsen - David Troughton
* Vessels - Damon Jeffery, Colin Thomas, Kathleen Bidmead, Peter Gates-Fleming

## Worldbuilding

### Culture

* Raine calls the Silurian god "Cthulhu". The Doctor mentions that he has met him in response, and that he looks "nothing like that".

### Individuals

* The Doctor is mistaken for Merlin.
* The Body-snatchers recognise the Doctor as being more than just a Time Lord.
* Howard Philips was the most recently deceased person in Arkham.

### Technology

* The Body-snatchers have machinery underground that can create a new body.
* The TARDIS is seen to be immune to being burned.

## Notes

* The story was meant to have a Lovecraftian feel, with references being made to several of Lovecraft's creations (and Cthulhu implied to actually exist), and the character of Howard Philips being based and modelled after H.P. Lovecraft himself.

## Continuity

* The Doctor is referred to as Merlin. He would later go on to embrace the name when he entered Arthur's Earth. (TV: *Battlefield*, *The Herald*)

## Home Video and DVD Releases

### VHS

* This story was first released on VHS in 2001.

### DVD

* This story was released on a DVD box set alongside *Alixion* and *The Herald* entitled *The Making of Time's Champion* in 2003.
* This story along with the other stories in Season 28 were released as *Doctor Who: The Complete Twenty-Eighth Season* in 2007.

### Blu-ray

* This story along with the other stories in Season 28 were upscaled in 1080i50 high definition and were released as *Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 28* in the UK.
Mark Hardy

**Mark Hardy** played the Cyber-Lieutenant in the *Doctor Who* television stories *Earthshock*, *The Five Doctors* and *Silver Nemesis*. He later played regular Cybermen in *Illegal Alien* and *Destiny*. He had earlier played a Swampie Warrior in *The Power of Kroll*. (DWM 312)

## Profile

Hardy is also known for *The Orchard End Murder*, and *The Corridor People*.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

#### As the Cyber-Lieutenant

* *Earthshock*
* *The Five Doctors*
* *Silver Nemesis*

#### Other roles

* *The Power of Kroll* - Swampie (uncredited)
* *Illegal Alien* - Cyberman
* *Destiny* - Cyberman
Nicholas Briggs

**Nicholas Briggs** (born 29 September 1961) sometimes credited under the pseudonyms **David Sax**[**source** needed] or **Arthur Wallis**[**source** needed], wrote, directed and performed in various media. In televised *Doctor Who*, he has provided the voice of the Daleks from *Destiny*, as well as various one-time monsters.

He also took part in *The Weakest Link: Doctor Who Special* but was voted out early on.

## Profile

### 1980s and 1990s

Briggs was one of several actors/writers/directors (Mark Gatiss and Gary Russell among them) who cut their teeth on fan-made *Doctor Who*-related/inspired productions and who later got to work on the official series. As well as under his own name, Briggs has also written for video and audio under the pen-names Arthur Wallis and Martin Peterson.

Prior to his work on the TV series, Briggs played an active role in *Doctor Who* fandom since the 1980s. He portrayed a future incarnation of the Doctor in a series of unofficial audio dramas by Audio Visuals. He also worked with Reeltime Pictures, hosting *Myth Makers*, a long-running series of made-for-video interview documentaries featuring cast and crew of *Doctor Who*. He also played the title role in *Myth Runner*, a parody of *Blade Runner* built around bloopers from the *Myth Makers* series.

In 1990, he voiced the Daleks in the song "The Theme from Abslom Daak - Dalek Killer". He would later reprise this role in an official capacity for the 30th anniversary special of *Doctor Who*, *Destiny*, due to his notable presence within the fandom. He soon became a regular Dalek voice actor, voicing the Daleks in every story afterwards. He initially shared the role with Roy Skelton and Brian Miller until 1995, taking up the role almost completely in 1998.

In 1994, Briggs would continue his work in voicing *Doctor Who* monsters, playing the Chelonian Ozaran in the story *The Highest Science* and voicing *it* in the story *Nothing*.

In 1995, Briggs provided the voice of the Mecrim in *The Menagerie*. In 1996, Briggs recreated the role of the Rutans for *Subjects of War*, a role originated by Colin Douglas. In 1997, he had returned to playing a role on-screen, playing the Silurian 001 under a pseudonym.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

#### As Actor

* *Day of the Daleks* - Dalek voice (DVD Special Edition)
* *Destiny* - Dalek voice
* *The Highest Science* - Ozaran
* *Nothing* - *it* (voice)
* *Paradox of the Daleks* - Dalek voices
* *The Menagerie* - Mecrim voice
* Subjects of War - Rutan voice
* *Evolution* - 001
* *Phantasmagoria* - Henry Gaunt
* *Children of the Revolution* - Dalek voices
Season 32

**Season 32** of *Doctor Who* ran between 2 September and 18 November 1995. It starred Richard Griffiths as the Eighth Doctor, Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield and Robert Llewellyn as Norman Manning. The season opened with *The Death of Art* and ended with *Mind Games*.

## Synopsis

### The End of Eight

Early on in the season's production, Richard Griffiths announced his intention to step down from the role of the Doctor, as he wanted to commit himself to other projects, and felt that five years in the role was long enough. Both Lisa Bowerman and Robert Llewellyn decided to stay on after Griffiths' departure.

### A New Face with Big Ideas

Following Ian Fraser's departure at the end of Season 31, former assistant floor manager Lynn Grant was given the role of the new producer of the series. This would be her first time producing any television show, and she intended to leave her mark, with the intention of dialling up the number of sci-fi elements in the show in place of the previous darkness, so as to better rival American imports when it came to ratings.

## Cast

### Main

* The Doctor - Richard Griffiths
* Bernice Summerfield - Lisa Bowerman
* Norman Manning - Robert Llewellyn

### Recurring

* Davros - Terry Molloy
* The Monk - Robert Daws
* Daleks - Roy Skelton, Brian Miller, Nicholas Briggs
* Kate Lethbridge-Stewart - Jemma Redgrave
* Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart - Alexander Landen
* Douglas Cavendish - Miles Richardson
* The Lama - James Bree
* Voice of the Body-snatchers - Richard Griffiths
* The Master - Anthony Ainley
* Ruath - Julie Graham
* Romana - Lalla Ward
* K9 - John Leeson
* Pogarel - Jo Castleton

## Adaptations and Merchandising

### Home Media

#### VHS

* *The Death of Art*
* *The Romance of Crime*
* *Paradox of the Daleks*
* *Downtime*
* *The Menagerie*
* *Mind Games*

#### DVD

* All serials of Season 32 were released on DVD in 2008.

#### Blu-Ray

* The complete series has been upscaled in 1080i50 high definition and was released as *Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 32* in the UK.
* It was released in the US under the title *Doctor Who: Richard Griffiths - Complete Season Five.*

#### Novels

* *The Death of Art*
* *The Romance of Crime*
* *Paradox of the Daleks*
* *Downtime*
* *The Menagerie*
* *Mind Games*
BBC One

**BBC One** — styled **BBC1** and **BBC-1** until 1997 — is a British television channel launched on 2 November 1936. It has been considered the "main" BBC terrestrial television channel in the United Kingdom since it was created by the devolution of BBC tv into BBC1 and BBC2.

Since the 25 April 1964 premiere of "The Screaming Jungle", it has been the network of origin for *Doctor Who*, excepting a few unusual stories, such as *The Five Doctors* and the period between 1990-1992, where *Doctor Who* instead aired on BBC Two. It was also the home network for *A Girl's Best Friend*.

## Overview

### Doctor Who

*Doctor Who* premiered on the BBC in 1963 with *An Unearthly Child*. During broadcast of the fifth storyline, *The Keys of Marinus*, the BBC launched a new network, BBC Two. Beginning with the third episode of *Marinus*, "The Screaming Jungle", *Doctor Who* was said to air on BBC One.

BBC One continued to air *Doctor Who* through Season 26 in 1989. In 1990, due to declining ratings, the show was moved to BBC Two, and remained on there until the conclusion of the twenty-ninth season. With his ascension to director of BBC One, Alan Yentob had the show transferred back to BBC One for Season 30.

### Related programmes

#### Spin-offs

BBC One has also been the home network of several (but not all) *Doctor Who* spinoff productions.

* *A Girl's Best Friend*, the pilot (and only episode of) *K9 and Company* in 1981.
Pauline Collins

**Pauline Collins**, OBE (born 3 September 1940) played Samantha Briggs in *The Faceless Ones,* Herrel in *Alixion* and Winnie Tyler in *Damaged Goods**.*

## Profile

She was heavily solicited to convert Samantha into a regular companion to replace Polly. Despite personal appeals by Innes Lloyd and even Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines, however, she declined the offer.

She is one of the few Oscar-nominated actresses to appear in *Doctor Who*.

Outside of *Doctor Who*, Collins is arguably best known for her re-occurring role as Sarah in *Upstairs, Downstairs* alongside Jean Marsh and Simon Williams. In 2002 she appeared in the film *Mrs Caldicott's Cabbage War* alongside Peter Capaldi.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *The Faceless Ones* - Samantha Briggs
* *Alixion* - Herrel
* *Damaged Goods* - Winnie Tyler
Sara Griffiths

**Sara Griffiths** (born 12 July 1968) played Ray in the *Doctor Who* television story *Delta and the Bannermen*. She later appeared as Ida Williams in *Subjects of War*.

## Profile

Griffiths was a candidate for a companion should Bonnie Langford have left. However, she did not, so Griffiths' appearance was a one-off.

She shared her memories of *Delta and the Bannermen* on the documentary *Holiday Camp*.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Delta and the Bannermen* - Ray
* *Alixion* - Ray (brief cameo)
* *Subjects of War* - Ida Williams
Kate Orman

**Kate Orman** wrote the *Doctor Who* television stories *Return of the Living Dad* and *Vampire Science*, the latter of which she co-wrote with Jonathan Blum. She was the first Australian author to write for the show.

## Profile

She also wrote the reference book *Pyramids of Mars* and contributed to *Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It*.

Some of Orman's favourite *Who* authors are Paul Cornell, Ben Aaronovitch, Lance Parkin, Paul Leonard, and Lloyd Rose.

In 2005, Kate was the creative consultant of the official Australian and New Zealand *Doctor Who - Inside the TARDIS* live stage tour.

She is also a Wiccan, and often includes bits of Wicca-style magic and mythological references in her work.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Return of the Living Dad*
* *Vampire Science* (with Jonathan Blum)
Lucy Speed

**Lucy Renee Speed** (born 31 August 1976) is an English actress. She played Lillie in *Alixion*, and later returned to play Critil in *Genocide*.

## Profile

She is best known for her television roles as Natalie Evans in the BBC One soap opera *EastEnders* appearing in 526 episodes between 1994 and 2004, and as DS Stevie Moss in the ITV police drama series *The Bill* from 2008 to 2010. She has also starred in the BBC One sitcom *Cradle to Grave* (2015) and ITV dramas *Marcella* (2018) and *Unforgotten* (2021). Speed is also a prolific stage performer, appearing in numerous theatrical productions.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Alixion* - Lillie
* *Genocide* - Critil
Lillie

**Lillie** was a student at the Garrash vel-Tak University.

She had booked a tour at the Monastery of Alixion to further her studies, and ended up being shown round by Brother Urnie at the same time as the Seventh Doctor and Raine Cunningham, the latter of whom she took a liking to. The two eventually decided to sneak off whilst Urnie went to 'attend sermons', where Lillie ran into a pair of monks who restrained her and tried to take her to a draining pod.

She was rescued in time by Raine, who went with her back to the others to reveal what they had learned. Joining the mob in taking down some of the monks, she helped lead them to the Abbot's office, where she encountered both the Abbot, whom she deemed a monster, as well as the Doctor. The Doctor commended her and Raine on their bravery, and offered Lillie a place in the TARDIS. However, she declined, citing commitments to her work. (TV: *Alixion*)
Percival (The Herald)

**Percival** was one of the Knights of the Round Table at King Arthur's court.

He was present at both the banquet where the Doctor first appeared as Merlin, and later when Arthur went to claim Excalibur. At the Battle of Camlann, he helped fight the S'rax, and for a brief period fought against the Destroyer. He swore fealty to Guinevere after the battle. (TV: *The Herald*)

Percival was present for the meeting between Guinevere, the Doctor and UNIT to discuss strategies to defeat Bertilak. He fought against the Sontarans in the ensuing battle, (TV: *The Green Knight*) and became a close friend of the Doctor in the time between Raine Cunningham's death and his leaving Camelot. (PROSE: *The Green Knight*)

## Behind the Scenes

* In Arthurian Legend, Percival was one of the main characters in the search for the Holy Grail, though most English translations of the original French story replaced him with Galahad.
BBC Two

**BBC Two** — styled **BBC2** and **BBC-2** until 1997 — is the British Broadcasting Corporation's second channel, and was launched on 20 April 1964.

## Overview

### Doctor Who

*Doctor Who* aired on BBC Two between 1990 and 1992 after Alan Yentob agreed to move the show there. Whilst on BBC Two, both the Seventh Doctor and Ace departed, and the Eighth Doctor and companions Raine Cunningham and Guinevere Hoult were introduced. In 1993, for Season 30, the show was moved back onto BBC One, where it has stayed ever since.

A number of *Doctor Who* serials between seasons 1-26 were re-broadcast upon the channel. For example, after restoration and its VHS release, *Doctor Who and the Silurians* was aired.
Kniles

**Kniles** was a tradesman in 20th century antiquities, old servicing robots, (TV: *Alixion*) and Peladonian spices. (PROSE: *Alixion*)

He took a tour of the Monastery of Alixion under Brother Urnie, and talked with the Doctor and Urnie over the moastery's history, expressing a great deal of interest. When he found out that Urnie had gotten music from the 1980s as a present once, he offered to appraise it.

Upon finding out about the draining pods, he quickly rallied behind Urnie, and stormed a room alongside Herrel and some other tourists. He found the corpse of her son Brett inside a draining pod, and did his best to console her. He confronted Brother Ialgo about the event, and tried warn Olvic before he was shot, to no avail. He was later present at the Abbot's office when the Doctor was released. (TV: *Alixion*) When Urnie took over the monastery, the first thing he did was write a letter of apology to Kniles. (PROSE: *Alixion*)

## Personality

Kniles was keen and attentive, and almost childlike in his immense interest in the Monastery. (PROSE: *Alixion*) The Doctor described Kniles as having a "heart of gold". He was disguested upon learning of the draining pods, and tried to console Herrel after she learned she had effectively sent her son to his death. (TV: *Alixion*)
James Bree

**James Bree** (20 July 1923-1 December 2008) appeared in several *Doctor Who* television stories.

## Profile

Bree was educated at Radley College near Abingdon, Oxfordshire and during the Second World War served in the RAF. He later trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. He changed his surname to Thomson-Bree after inheriting land from his great-uncle, Archdeacon William Bree.

On stage, Bree was in the original productions of Thornton Wilder's *The Matchmaker* in London's West End in 1954; and in John Arden's *Sergeant Musgrave's Dance* at the Royal Court in 1959. He was also one of the founder members of Peter Hall's Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford in 1960.

On screen, he was cast as Blofeld's attorney Gumbold in the 1969 James Bond film *On Her Majesty's Secret Service*, and for his role as Uncle Arthur in *The Jewel in the Crown*.

He died in December 2008, aged 85, after a long illness.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *The War Games* - Security Chief
* *Full Circle* - Nefred
* *The Ultimate Foe* - Keeper of the Matrix
* *Downtime* - The Lama
Marcus Gilbert

**Marcus Gilbert** (born 29 July 1958) played Ancelyn in the Doctor Who television stories *Battlefield*, *The Herald* and *The Green Knight*.

## Profile

Since 1984 he has appeared in films, including *The Masks of Death* (1984), *Biggles* (1986), *A Hazard of Hearts* (1987), *Rambo III* (1988), *A Ghost in Monte Carlo* (1990), *Legacy* (1990), *Army of Darkness* (1992) and *Freebird* (2008), on television (Including *Doctor Who*), and in commercials. He has also worked in the theatre, including playing the young Viscount Goring in Oscar Wilde's *An Ideal Husband* with the Middle Ground Theatre Company on their national tour in 2000. In 2006, Gilbert starred as Jordan Power in the world premiere of *Starry Starry Night*, at The Mill at Sonning.

After graduating from the Mountview Theatre School in 1981, Gilbert became a founder member of the original Odyssey Theatre Company, touring London schools with productions of contemporary classics. This was followed by seasons working in the Dundee Repertory Theatre and the Library Theatre, Manchester.

Gilbert has made over fifty commercials, including one for Lee Jeans called *Mean Jeans*, directed by Willi Patterson, which won the best cinema commercial award in 1986.

Gilbert also runs his own film production company, Touch the Sky Productions, and in 2004 while making a documentary about his climbing Mount Kilimanjaro he visited the Arusha Children's Trust in Tanzania and filmed an appeal for the trust.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Battlefield*
* *The Herald*
* *The Green Knight*
Paul Cornell

**Paul Cornell** (born 18 July 1967) wrote several *Doctor Who* serials from 1993.

## Profile

He co-authored *The Avengers Programme Guide*.

Paul Cornell was responsible for several additions to the *Doctor Who* universe. He created Bernice Summerfield, Ruath and Evelyn Webster, and wrote out the Tremas Master.

He also contributed to the charity reference book *Behind the Sofa: Celebrity Memories of Doctor Who*.

*The Heralds of Destruction*, a comic story released from September 2016 to February 2017, was originally Cornell's final contribution to the *Doctor Who* universe, as he afterwards planned to cease writing for characters not of his own design. However, he later wrote *The Shadow Passes* in 2020.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Love and War*
* *Goth Opera*
* *Mind Games* (with David A. McIntee)
* *Operation Werewolf*
Shahar

The **Shahar** were a species from another dimension, who existed purely to cause mischief. They looked humanoid in nature, with short bodies, large eyes, pointed ears and wings, giving them the appearance of fairies or demons.

## Appearance

The Shahar were short creatures with greying-green skin. They possessed large heads in relation to their bodies, with a small layer of hair around their shoulders and chest, and clawed hands and feet. Their eyes were large and bulbous, and glowed blue, (PROSE: *The Domesday Book*) something Georges d'Armes likened to the fires of Hell. (TV: *The Domesday Book*) Their mouths were contorted into a near-permanent grin, with sharp teeth. They also possessed pointy ears. (PROSE: *The Domesday Book*)

The Shahar possessed a set of bat-like wings adorned by serrated spikes, which allowed them to flit about at high speeds. The Master referred to them as "mischief at the speed of light." They could also appear out of ink, something the Doctor was able to exploit to ultimately defeat them. (TV: *The Domesday Book*)

## Culture

The Shahar were naturally chaotic creatures, who desired only to cause mischief and chaos throughout the universe. They seemed to know of the Time Lords, as well as human culture of the time, due to them proclaiming the Doctor to be their summoner to get him convicted of witchcraft. However, this desire for pure anarchy rendered them typically unable to keep to one specific plan, as they would attack the Doctor minutes after implicating him, inadvertently clearing his name to Valeham's locals. (TV: *The Domesday Book*) They seemed to know how to make sandwiches and tripwires. (PROSE: *The Domesday Book*)

The Shahar were willing to form alliances with other beings they deemed as chaotic as themselves, such as the Master. (TV: *The Domesday Book*)

## History

On one of their first excursions, the Shahar attacked the planet Vrogg-Seth, where their consistent attacks drove the people mad, and ultimately to go to civil war. This would turn the planet desolate within a matter of years after arrival. A later excursion on Narahest caught the attention of the Tremas Master, (PROSE: *The Domesday Book*) who successfully garnered their assistance in a gambit to take over Earth before he could ever lose to UNIT.

The Shahar lay in wait whilst the Master entered the circle of William the Conqueror as Michael of Sarte. At Valeham in 1086, the Shahar finally emerged as the Eighth Doctor and Bernice Summerfield arrived, getting the two accused of witchcraft for a brief amount of time. Whilst their chaos was able to keep the resident Saxons and Normans busy, the Doctor was able to ultimately reverse-engineer their biology and leave them permanently trapped in the Domesday Book's manuscript. (TV: *The Domesday Book*)

## Behind the Scenes

* The Shahar were named after Zareth-Shahar, a location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. A similar method of naming was used for the similarly demonic Azal in TV: *The Dæmons*.
The Celebrity Apprentice (American series)

***The Celebrity Apprentice*** is an American spin-off version of *The Apprentice* and an instalment in the *Celebrity Apprentice* franchise. It ran for seven seasons, making it the longest series of *Celebrity Apprentice.* It first aired on the 3rd of January, 2008 and ended with the last episode of the seventh season airing on the 16th of February, 2015. The series was rebooted in 2017, when *The New Celebrity Apprentice* aired.

## Format

*The Celebrity Apprentice* has a similar format to that of *The Apprentice*, but the candidates are celebrities and they are competing to win money for their charities. The celebrities are split into two teams and must complete a series of tasks. The winner of each season got a large donation made to that charity by the host, but in addition, winning project managers may also have received additional charity money by winning a task, either as a fixed amount set by the host and/or a participating business, or by the total charitable take they made on the task. The host also had discretion to provide charity funds to eliminated celebrities as a consolation prize. At the end of every task, a member of the losing team is fired by the Boss.
Robin Mukherjee

**Robin Mukherjee** wrote the *Doctor Who* serial *Alixion*.

## Profile

He has written for a number of high-profile television series, including *The Bill*, *Casualty*, *Eastenders* and *Roman Mysteries*. He has also written two feature films, one of which *Lore*, was critically acclaimed worldwide and won many international awards, including the Australian Writer’s Guild Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. It was Australia’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2012 Oscars.

In 1996, he wrote a pilot episode for a new series of *Poldark*, *The Stranger from the Sea*, which became a controversial adaptation with fans, using a new cast featuring John Bowe as Ross Poldark and Mel Martin as Demelza. Fans protested, and over fifty members of the Poldark Appreciation Society picketed HTV's headquarters in Bristol wearing 18th century costumes.

In addition, Mukherjee has authored several radio dramas  and written a screenwriting manual, *The Art of Screenplays: A Writer's Guide* in 2014, as part of the *Creative Essentials* series of books on filmmaking. He serves as Bath Spa University's Writer in Residence, as well as an MA Tutor & PhD Supervisor.
Michael Kilgarriff

**Michael Kilgarriff** (born 16 June 1937) portrayed a number of characters in several *Doctor Who* stories.

## Profile

He was considered for the role of Condo in *The Brain of Morbius*. (TCH 24)

He shared his memories of his six TV stories in the 215th and 216th editions of the charity podcast series *Toby Hadoke's Who's Round* and had been interviewed in the documentaries *Carnival of Monsters* and *Curse of the Cybermen's Tombs*.

He is also the father of actor Rebecca Kilgarriff.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *The Tomb of the Cybermen* - Cyber-Controller
* *Frontier in Space* - Second Ogron
* *Robot* - Robot
* *Attack of the Cybermen* - Cyber-Controller
* *Illegal Alien* - Limehouse Lurker
* *Destiny* - Cyber-Controller
Destruction of the Daleks (TV Story)

***Destruction of the Daleks*** was the second serial of Season 30 of *Doctor Who.* It was written by Colin Brake, directed by Kevin Davies, and starred Richard Griffiths as the Eighth Doctor and Saskia Reeves as Guinevere Hoult.

## Synopsis

On the planet Tethrak, a battle is raging. A decisive battle. A final battle.

The final battle between the Imperial and Renegade Daleks.

When the Doctor and Guinevere learn that Tethrak is destroyed in the battle, they are shocked, and Guinevere makes it her mission to save the planet. Can the Doctor prevent history from being rewritten to the point of no return?

## Cast

* The Doctor - Richard Griffiths
* Guinevere - Saskia Reeves
* Harvell - John Blundell
* Marina - Shobna Gulati
* Karts - Sue Johnston
* Modrick - Andy Serkis
* Rosk - Joe Duttine
* Dalek operators - Hugh Spight, John Scott Martin, Tony Starr, Cy Town
* Dalek voice actors - Roy Skelton, Brian Miller, Royce Mills, John Leeson

## Worldbuilding

### Daleks

* The news of Skaro's destruction and the death of the Black Dalek has only recently been received by the Renegade Daleks.

## Notes

* Part 2 of the story was dedicated to Jacqueline Hill, who had died in February the same year.

*TBA*

## Continuity

* The Doctor tells Guinevere that he previously met the Daleks on Skaro (TV: *The Daleks*, *Genesis of the Daleks*), Exxilon (TV: *Death to the Daleks*) and Earth, (TV: *The Dalek Invasion of Earth*, *The Chase*, *The Daleks' Master Plan*, *The Evil of the Daleks*, *Day of the Daleks*, *Resurrection of the Daleks*, *Remembrance of the Daleks*) amongst other planets.
* Skaro has only recently been destroyed. (TV: *Remembrance of the Daleks*)
* The Black Dalek only recently died. (TV: *Remembrance of the Daleks*)

## Home Video and DVD Releases

### VHS

* This story was released on VHS in 1999.

### DVD

* This story along with the other stories in Season 30 were released as *Doctor Who: The Complete Thirtieth Season* in 2008.

### Blu-Ray

* This story along with the other stories in Season 30 were upscaled in 1080i50 high definition and were released as *Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 30* in the UK.
Brian Capron

**Brian Capron** (born 11 February 1949) played Parvez in the *Doctor Who* television story *Crime of the Century*.

## Profile

He is perhaps best known for playing Mr. Hopwood in the children's school drama *Grange Hill* from 1980 to 1983, and the murderous Richard Hillman in the ITV soap opera *Coronation Street* from 2001 to 2002.
Frank Finlay

**Frank Finlay CBE** (6 August 1926-30 January 2016) played the Adjudicator in the *Doctor Who* television story *Ice Time*.

## Profile

He was one of the few Oscar-nominated actors to appear in a *Doctor Who* production.

He was previously considered for the roles of Lord Ravensworth in *The Mark of the Rani* and Orcini in *Revelation of the Daleks*. (TCH 41)

It was a publicity photo of Finlay as Porthos in the 1973 film *The Three Musketeers* was the basis for the musketeer on David McAllister's cover artwork for the novelisation of *The Mind Robber*.
Crime of the Century (TV Story)

***Crime of the Century*** was the second serial in Season 27 of *Doctor Who*. It was written by Colin Brake, directed by Nicholas Mallett, and starred Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Julia Sawalha as Raine Cunningham.

This was the first story for Raine Cunningham, who joined the Doctor at the climax of part 4.

## Synopsis

The year is 1988. In London, safe cracker Raine Cunningham breaks into a house — and finds more than the family jewels.

In the Middle East, the kingdom of Sayf Udeen is being terrorised by Soviet invaders and alien monsters.

And on the Scottish border, a highly guarded facility contains an advanced alien weapon.

These are all part of the Doctor's masterplan. But masterplans can go awry...

## Cast

* The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
* Raine - Julia Sawalha
* Sam - Tom Georgeson
* Felnikov - Richard Marner
* Oscar Yates - Hubert Rees
* Prince Sayf Udeen - Karan Kapoor
* Palock - David Jason
* Party Guest - Dennis Waterman
* Waiter - Guy Oliver-Watts
* Salock - Peter Firth
* Valentin - Ralph Brown
* Parvez - Brian Capron
* Walnuf - Mark Williams
* Gunman - Jeffrey Robert
* Voice of the Metatraxi - Peter Tuddenham

## Crew

* Writer - Colin Brake
* Assistant Floor Managers - Stephen Garwood, Judy Corry
* Computer Animation - CAL Video
* Costume Designer - Richard Croft
* Designer - Nick Somerville
* Graphic Designer - Oliver Elmes
* Incidental Music - Dominic Glynn
* Make-Up Designer - Joan Stribling
* O.B. Cameramen - Paul Harding, John Baker
* O.B. Lighting - Ian Dow
* O.B. Sound - Doug Whittaker
* Production Assistant - Valerie Whiston
* Production Associates - June Collins, Richard Cox
* Production Managers - Ian Fraser, Josephine Ward
* Properties Buyer - John Charles
* Script Editor - Marc Platt
* Special Sounds - Dick Mills
* Studio Camera Supervisor - Alec Wheal
* Studio Lighting - Alan Horne
* Studio Sound - Scott Talbot
* Stunt Arranger - Malcolm Ranson
* Stuntmen - Andy Bradford, Tip Tipping
* Technical Co-ordinator - Michael Langley-Evans, Richard Wilson
* Theme Arrangement - Keff McCulloch
* Title Music - Ron Grainer
* Video Effects - Derek Hendon
* Videotape Editor - Hugh Parson
* Vision Mixers - Angela Wilson
* Visual Effects - Simon Taylor, Mike Tucker
* Producer - John Nathan-Turner
* Director - Nicholas Mallett

## Worldbuilding

* The Doctor claims that dolphins are "one of the few sentient species" on Earth.

## Continuity

* Raine Cunningham was delivered by the Doctor on 7 November 1967 (TV: *Ice Time*), almost twenty-three years before the events of this story.
* The Doctor previously met Sam Cunningham and the then Major Felnikov in London in November 1967 (TV: *Ice Time*)

## Home video and audio releases

### VHS

* This story was first released on VHS in 2002

### DVD

* This story along with the other stories in Season 27 were released as *Doctor Who: The Complete Twenty-Seventh Season* in 2005.

### Blu-ray

* This story along with the other stories in Season 27 were upscaled in 1080i50 high definition and were released as *Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 27* in the UK.
Brian Miller

**Brian Miller** (born 17 April 1941) portrayed a number of characters on-screen, notably providing Dalek voices in the *Doctor Who* stories *Resurrection of the Daleks* and from *Remembrance of the Daleks*.

## Profile

He was married to Sarah Jane Smith actress Elisabeth Sladen until her death and is the father of Sadie Miller.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Snakedance* - Dugdale
* *Resurrection of the Daleks* - Dalek voices
* *Remembrance of the Daleks* - Dalek voices
* *Destruction of the Daleks* - Dalek voices
* *Destiny* - Dalek voices, UNIT soldier (uncredited)
* *Paradox of the Daleks* - Dalek voices
Julie Graham

**Julie Graham** (born 24 July 1965) played Ruath in the *Doctor Who* television stories *Goth Opera* and *Mind Games*.

## Profile

In 2008 and 2010 she starred in the BBC post-apocalyptic series *Survivors* as Abby Grant. The series is loosely based on the novel by Terry Nation, who wrote it as an adaptation of his 1975 series, where Abby was portrayed by Carolyn Seymour.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Goth Opera*
* *Mind Games*
Richard Marner

**Richard Marner** (born **Alexander Pavlovich Molchanov**, 27 March 1921 – 18 March 2004) played Major Felnikov in *Ice Time* and *Crime of the Century*. He is best known for playing Colonel Kurt von Strohm in the sitcom *'Allo 'Allo!*.

## Profile

Born in Petrograd, Russian SFSR, Molchanov (nicknamed "Sasha" by his family) was the eldest son of Colonel Pavel Molchanov, of the Semyonovsky Regiment, one of two that were set up for children of children who had played with Peter the Great of Russia. In 1924, his entire family left the Soviet Union and went to Finland and then Germany, before ending up in Britain and London, where Alexander's grandmother, Olga Novikov (known in the family as "Babushka London") lived in Harley Street.

After being educated at Monmouth School in Wales, Molchanov became an assistant to the Russian tenor Vladimir Rosing, where he performed at Covent Garden. During World War II he joined the RAF, and was posted to South Africa with the Air Training Corps. After being invalided out, he changed his name to Richard Marner and began his long successful career as a stage and film actor.

One of Marner's early stage roles – as Dracula, with Howard Dean – is still regarded by some as the definitive interpretation of the role. In 1967, well before his role as the German Colonel in *'Allo 'Allo!,* Marner played the minor and uncredited role of a German sentry in the classic war film *The Dirty Dozen*. His other films include *Ice Cold in Alex*, *The One That Got Away*, *The Password Is Courage*, *You Only Live Twice*, *The Boys from Brazil*, *The Spy Who Came in from the Cold*, *The African Queen* and the Swiss film *Four in a Jeep*, in which he did all the Russian dialogue. He was also in the television movie *Birth of the Beatles*, as Bruno Koschmider.

Marner's best known role was in *'Allo 'Allo!* as German Commandant Colonel Kurt Von Strohm. He appeared in all nine series of the programme between 1984 and 1992. He also appears in an episode of Secret Army, the programme that 'Allo 'Allo parodies.

His other work included roles in *The Protectors* (1973), *Mackenzie* (1980), *Triangle* (1981), *Doctor Who*, (twice in 1990) *Lovejoy* (1994), and the film *The Sum of All Fears* (as the Russian president).

In 1991, when the President of Russia Boris Yeltsin, convened a "Congress of Compatriots" (an olive branch to some of the post-1917 White Russian diaspora), Marner was one of the 600 people who returned to the motherland. Despite being caught up in a coup, he stayed long enough to watch, through tearful eyes, the raising of the first Imperial Russian flag flown in Moscow since 1917.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Ice Time*
* *Crime of the Century*
Season 28

**Season 28** of *Doctor Who* ran from 7 September 1991 to 7 December 1991. It starred Richard Griffiths as the Eighth Doctor and Julia Sawalha as Raine Cunningham. The season opened with *Avatar* and ended with *Lungbarrow*.

## Overview

### A Darker Beginning

With JNT having vacated the producer's position, production manager Ian Fraser was elected to replace him. He and Marc Platt both agreed that *Doctor Who* should be pushed in a darker direction.

### Taking over the Doctor

The Eighth Doctor was to be portrayed by Richard Griffiths. His incarnation was to carry several traits over from his predecessor, such as the "dark manipulator" seen in Seasons 26 and 27, as well as some of the grumpiness of his first incarnation.

### Nice theme, shame about the budget.

With the introduction of Griffth's Doctor came a new theme arrangement by Mark Ayres. This theme was inspired by the original Derbyshire arrangements of the theme, whilst sounding incredibly synth-y to give the theme a more 90s twist. The title sequence remained largely the same, save for being recoloured to light blue, Griffith's face appearing instead of McCoy's and the titles being layered over a portion of the 1987-89 titles' credits, also coloured light blue. The logo was also changed to simply be a 2D image instead of being computer-generated, with a metal texture placed onto it.

## Television Stories

14/09/1991
 2
05/10/1991
 3
26/10/1991
02/11/1991
 4
23/11/1991
30/11/1991
07/12/1991

## Cast

### Main

* The Doctor - Richard Griffiths
* Raine Cunningham - Julia Sawalha

### Recurring

* Morgaine - Jean Marsh
* Mordred - Christopher Bowen
* Ancelyn - Marcus Gilbert
* Knight Commander - Stefan Schwartz
* The Destroyer - Marek Anton
* Leela - Louise Jameson
* Romana - Lalla Ward
* Voice of K9 - John Leeson
* Andred - Christopher Tranchell
* Rodan - Hilary Ryan
* Lord Ferain - John Franklyn-Robbins

## Adaptations and Merchandising

### Home media

#### VHS

* *Avatar*
* *Hostage*
* *The Herald*
* *Lungbarrow*

#### DVD

* *Avatar* and *The Herald* were released alongside *Alixion* on a DVD box set entitled *The Making of Time's Champion* in 2003.
* All serials of season 28 were released on DVD in 2007.

#### Blu-ray

* The complete series has been upscaled in 1080i50 high definition and was released as *Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 28* in the UK.
* It was released in the US under the title *Doctor Who: Richard Griffiths - Complete Season One.*

### Novels

* *Avatar*
* *Hostage*
* *The Herald*
* *Lungbarrow*
Ralph Montagu

**Ralph Douglas-Scott-Montagu** (born March 13th, 1961) directed the *Doctor Who and the Daleks* documentary *Bigger Inside Than Out*, as well as the featurette *Police 5: The Master* with Caroline Wright. He also served as a graphics consultant on the special edition DVD of *The Five Doctors*.

## Profile

He is a peer and the owner of the Beaulieu Estate, home of the National Motor Museum.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

#### As Director

* *Bigger Inside Than Out*
* *Police 5: The Master* (with Caroline Wright)
Ferain

Ferain, as he appeared in Genesis of the Daleks

Lord **Ferain** was a Time Lord Director of Allegiance for the Celestial Intervention Agency.

## Biography

He kept a copy of *An Alternative History of Skaro: The Daleks without Davros* in his office. The Eighth Doctor later recognised him from the trenches of Skaro, (TV: *Lungbarrow*) where the Fourth Doctor was sent by a Time Lord messenger to interfere with the creation of the Daleks. (TV: *Genesis of the Daleks*)

Ferain later had Leela arrested after she used Castellan codes to investigate the House of Lungbarrow on Gallifrey. (TV: *Lungbarrow*)

## Behind the Scenes

* Ferain's name was not mentioned in the serial. It was first mentioned in *Lungbarrow*, where he was identified as the same Time Lord from *Genesis of the Daleks*.
Robert Jezek

**Robert Jezek** (born 6 April 1955) is a Canadian actor based in England. He played Sgt. Zbrigniev in *Battlefield*, *The Green Knight* and *Network*.

## Profile

Outside of *Doctor Who*, Jezek's roles include Tasha's Dad in *EastEnders* and a police officer in the James Bond film *Casino Royale*. He also starred in the music video for the song "Sunset (Bird of Prey)" by Fatboy Slim.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Battlefield*
* *The Green Knight*
* *Network*
Caroline John

**Caroline Frances John** (19 September 1940 - 5 June 2012) was an English actress who played companion Liz Shaw in *Doctor Who* during its seventh season.

## Profile

### On *Doctor Who*

As the essential role of the companion in *Doctor Who* is to ask a lot of questions which the viewers might be asking themselves, incoming producer Barry Letts, who had "inherited" her from his predecessor Derrick Sherwin, considered her character unsuitable and did not renew her contract — thus Liz ended up leaving without a proper departure scene. As Caroline was pregnant at the time, she might have had to resign had Letts exercised his option on her.

Caroline reprised the role of Liz in the anniversary episode *The Five Doctors*, where her character's unearthly scream of "Stop him!" is still fondly remembered by *Doctor Who* fans. Liz later popped up in the Season 30 episode *Destiny*.

### Other work

In addition to her role as Liz Shaw, Caroline John appeared as Laura Lyons in a 1982 televised version of *The Hound of the Baskervilles*, starring Tom Baker as Sherlock Holmes. She also appeared in episodes of *Z-Cars*, *Casualty*, *The House of Elliot*, and *EastEnders*.

John read most of the audiobook of Elisabeth Sladen's posthumously-released autobiography.

### Personal life

Caroline was married to Geoffrey Beevers, who is best known for playing the Master in *The Keeper of Traken*. The couple performed together once during her televised run on *Doctor Who* when he played UNIT Private Johnson in *The Ambassadors of Death*.

Caroline and Geoffrey Beevers had a daughter - Daisy Ashford.

She was the aunt of Souska John, who appeared as the Child in *Castrovalva*, and sister of Nicholas John, a production assistant on *Doctor Who* in the 1970s.

Although Caroline died on 5 June 2012, her death was not actually announced publicly until the BBC issued a statement on Twitter on 21 June. According to her agent, she died of cancer.

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

* *Spearhead from Space*
* *Doctor Who and the Silurians*
* *The Ambassadors of Death*
* *Inferno*
* *The Five Doctors*
* *Destiny*
Ian Fraser

**Ian Fraser** (died 17 August 2016) was a production manager on various *Doctor Who* television stories from 1986 to 1990. He then acted as the tenth producer from 1991 to 1994, beginning with *Avatar* and ending with *Goth Opera*. During this time, he also executively produced the *Doctor Who and the Daleks* featurettes alongside John Whiston.

He was married to Fiona Cumming. (REF: DWMSE 42, 48)

## Credits

### *Doctor Who*

#### As Producer

* *Avatar*
* *Hostage*
* *The Herald*
* *Lungbarrow*
* *A School for Glory*
* *The Green Knight*
* *Illegal Alien*
* *Nightshade*
* *Network*
* *Destruction of the Daleks*
* *Love and War*
* *Transit*
* *The Domesday Book*
* *Destination: Holocaust*
* *The Highest Science*
* *Death's Oracle*
* *Nothing*
* *Venusian Lullaby*
* *Legacy*
* *Goth Opera*

#### As Production Manager

* *Terror of the Vervoids*
* *The Ultimate Foe*
* *Paradise Towers*
* *Remembrance of the Daleks*
* *The Greatest Show in the Galaxy*
* *The Curse of Fenric*
* *Crime of the Century*
* *Night Thoughts*
* *Alixion*

#### As Executive Producer

* *Bigger Inside Than Out*
* *The Antique Doctor Who Show*
* *Missing in Action*
* *I Was That Monster*
* *Police 5: The Master*
* *UNIT Recruiting Film*
Police 5: The Master (TV Story)

***Police 5: The Master*** (also sometimes referred to as *Crime File - The Master*) was a short crime file about "master criminal" the Master. It was broadcast for the 30th anniversary year of *Doctor Who* .

The story was a DWU edition of Shaw Taylor's long-running five-minute ITV crime prevention series *Police 5* (1962-1990).

It aired on BBC Two alongside a repeat airing of *Planet of the Daleks* episode five, as part of a series of featurettes called *Doctor Who and the Daleks*.

## Synopsis

Shaw Taylor warns viewers to be on the lookout for a dangerous individual known as the Master.

#### Archive footage

* The Master - Anthony Ainley
* The Master - Roger Delgado
* The Master - Peter Pratt
* Borusa - John Arnatt
* Azal - Stephen Thorne
* The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
* Jo Grant - Katy Manning
* The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
* Raine Cunningham - Julia Sawalha

## Crew

* Writer - Kevin Davies
* Director - Ralph Montagu and Caroline Wright
* Producer - Caroline Wright
* Executive producer - John Whiston and Ian Fraser

## References

* Wanted posters for Zygons, Neomorph Cybermen and the Sontaran Jingo Linx are visible on the wall behind Shaw Taylor.
* Shaw Taylor lists three known "regenerations" of the Master: the nemesis of the Third Doctor, the decayed Master, and the latest Master.
* The Master is mentioned by Shaw Taylor as being 700 years old, although no age was ever given for the character in any of his on-screen appearances.

## Notes

* This featurette uses archive footage is from many *Doctor Who* stories, from *Terror of the Autons* to *A School for Glory*.
* *Police 5: The Master* has never been made available as a DVD or Blu-ray extra due to copyright and clearance problems, and this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.
* Along with *Making Cocoa*, this is one of only two DWU productions to feature no surviving cast members.

## Home Video & DVD Releases

* *Police 5: The Master* is unlikely to receive a DVD release in the near future due to copyright issues.
Robert Urquhart

**Robert Urquhart** (16 October 1922 – 21 March 1995) was a Scottish character actor who worked on the stage, for British television, and in film. He played Olvic in the *Doctor Who* television story *Alixion*.

## Profile

His breakthrough role was Paul Krempe in *The Curse of Frankenstein* in 1957, along with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.