'SPEARHEAD'-ING A SUCCESS STORY! 'THE ESSENTIAL TERRANCE DICKS - VOLUME ONE' - OUT NOW!

Art by Chris Achilleos.

A newly regenerated hero and a new and unusual foe from the far depths of space are the catalysts for an incredible new colour era of Doctor Who entering the 1970's on BBC One. Equally important to fans of the then seven-year running show, Spearhead from Space would have the superb distinction of launching the first of the all-new Target book range of Classic Series adaptations from 1974 onwards (Spearhead being the natural choice to launch the range properly after a trio of successful William Hartnell reprints, becoming more well known as the publishing-catchy The Auton Invasion). Leading from the front with a superb and thrilling writing/adaptation style that would delight and enthrall readers of all ages for years to come, the talents of the series then recently seat-vacated script editor Terrance Dicks would be cemented with this incredible and populist phase of his career.

Voted specially by online readers poll, the all-new Doctor Who - The Essential Terrance Dicks - Volume One (of two) brings about the first five (of ten) collected adaptations, published by BBC BOOKS. Available from August 26th, 2021. The Auton Invasion is a well deserved inclusion, for a collected book that will surely be a much-loved and rapid sell-out.

Get it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Terrance-Dicks-1/dp/1785946641/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=doctor+who+the+essential+terrance+dicks+collection&qid=1625579762&sr=8-1

'WEB' WEEK FINALE - COLLECTING COBWEBS!

The classic 1990's cover art for The Web of Fear's Virgin Books label re-issue. Art by Alister Pearson.

We hope you've enjoyed our week-long celebration of The Web of Fear and the many elements that continue to make it such a deserved All-Time Classic with fans. 

In case you've missed any of the blog entries, here are the links for the entire celebration:

https://whoadventuresfifthdimension.blogspot.com/2021/08/welcome-to-web-of-fear-week.html

https://whoadventuresfifthdimension.blogspot.com/2021/08/web-week-day-2-going-underground.html

https://whoadventuresfifthdimension.blogspot.com/2021/08/web-week-day-3-caught-in-web.html

https://whoadventuresfifthdimension.blogspot.com/2021/08/web-week-day-4-attack-of-yeti.html

https://whoadventuresfifthdimension.blogspot.com/2021/08/web-week-day-5-attack-of-yeti.html

https://whoadventuresfifthdimension.blogspot.com/2021/08/web-week-day-6-puppet-on-string.html

Cover art by Lee Binding. Image: BBC STUDIOS.

The story is now available in a brand-new Special Edition, featuring a specially animated episode 3 and a strong collection of special features.

Get it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Web-Fear-DVD/dp/B08NYCWS7K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+web+of+fear+special+edition&qid=1627750279&sr=8-1

Also available as a very Limited Edition Steelbook release.

'WEB' WEEK - DAY 6: PUPPET ON A STRING!

Very much the support figure needed to keep Captain Knight's soldiers in check and maintain their readiness in fighting against against impossible odds, Army Staff Sergeant Arnold can certainly be relied upon in a crisis, and is a much-trusted and respected man. But as The Web of Fear drama plays out toward its final episodes, all is not what it seems...

A popular and reliable stalwart British actor best known for playing tough old bird types and gruff but lovable army men, not unlike the parts played by fellow acting veteran of the same time, William Hartnell (in his pre playing of Doctor Who days), Jack Woolgar's playing the character of Arnold is excellently realized on screen- his reveal as a pawn of The Great Intelligence ultimately proving both sad and shocking to viewers watching the story's tense final episode in March 1968.

The final gambit between The Great Intelligence and its captive, the Doctor.

It's clear that Woolgar's performance in the story is a highlight worth celebrating, as will be seen in a special featurette showing his voice testing recording for playing the Great Intelligence on the all-new BBC STUDIOS Special Edition release of The Web of Fear. available from August 16th, 2021.

'WEB' WEEK - DAY 5: ATTACK OF THE YETI!

Jamie, Captain Knight, Staff Sgt. Arnold and others are captured in the underground tunnels!

More formidable than ever, especially when manipulated by their unseen master in the Great Intelligence, and via an equally ethereal but just as dangerous traitor operating within the human's underground army base, the new-look robot Yeti of The Web of Fear are a fierce opponent against the human soldiers led by Captain Knight and the newly arrived Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart. 

Soon enough, the army are overwhelmed and annihilated, if not by the Yeti's overwhelming physical strength but their equally murderous web gun weaponry, in action sequences well-staged and shot in studio and on location by military-loving director Douglas Camfield...

The Yeti cement their human slaughter in an attack on Goodge Street.

The Yeti with the captured and now possessed Professor Travers.

Full credit too behind the scenes to director Camfield's choosing of the men inside the bulky Yeti costumes, bringing them to believable life across six episodes: John Levene, John Lord, Gordon Stothard, Colin Warman, Jeremy King, Roger Jacombs

'WEB' WEEK - DAY 4: TUNNEL VISION!

The light at the end of the tunnel soon gives way to dark fear and terror as the menacing forms of the Yeti attack their prey deep within the confined and shadowy realms of the London underground. A classic scene from the six-part story stunningly captured in modern atmospheric poster form.

The Underground tunnels scenes shot on film at Ealing Studios and video at Lime Grove Studios, created by David Mysercough-Jones and his team, proved so successful and realistic onscreen that even London Underground, then watching the story, had thought that the BBC had illegally filmed on their Covent Garden premises!

As originally seen in 1968.

'WEB' WEEK - DAY 3: CAUGHT IN THE WEB!

Returning to face the threat of the Great Intelligence is an older, more eccentric and cranky Professor Travers (Jack Watling), whose tinkering with a prior deactivated Yeti control sphere restarts the ephemeral terror anew.

The Web of Fear already had a great setting in which to showcase the Doctor's battle against a superb returning enemy (one deliberately out to trap the Time Lord, no less - then a novelty idea for the series) in the Great Intelligence/Yeti, foes, whose popularity saw them come back incredibly quickly within the show's monster-packed fifth season. But the story also, just as importantly, has a terrific set of supporting characters who have their moments to shine alongside our main heroic trio (notably the important return of Jack Watling to the series 'family' as Professor Travers, much to the delight of his real-life daughter, Deborah Watling, playing Victoria Waterfield). Though sadly not all of them make it to the end of the adventure alive, especially with a traitor in their midst...

Travers' daughter Anne (Tina Packer), herself a scientist, runs into the fearsome Yeti.

Deep in the tunnels, the brave but doomed Captain Knight (Ralph Watson) does the best he can in dangerous times.

Soon one of Classic WHO's greatest and enduringly popular supporting characters Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) takes the Doctor captive briefly, as seen for the first time in the missing Episode 3, now being animated.

Conferring with Captain Knight and the Doctor on a daring plan to rescue the TARDIS above surface at Covent Garden.

The obnoxious journalist Harold Chorley (Jon Rollason) chosen to cover the unusual crisis but soon proving himself a fearful coward as the threat underground intensifies.

Adventures was sorry to hear of the recent passing of Ralph Watson on 20th June, 2021.

'WEB' WEEK - DAY 2: GOING UNDERGROUND...

Brilliantly realized in the best swinging sixties design style, the Radio Times magazine exclusively heralded the return of the monstrous Yeti, in their new scarier form against Patrick Troughton's Doctor and friends, as part of this terrific art/preview feature for The Web of Fear, from February 1st, 1968...

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/the-web-of-fear/

WELCOME TO 'THE WEB OF FEAR' WEEK!

Welcome to our week-long celebration of one of the undisputed greats of the Classic WHO series: Patrick Troughton's second encounter with the Great Intelligence and its Yeti creations: the exciting and genuinely atmospheric The Web of Fear, back on home entertainment format with a Special Edition DVD, Blu-ray and Steelbook release from BBC STUDIOS, available August 16th, 2021. We hope you enjoy our look at the many great elements of the story that would make it so beloved and enduring with fans and viewers of all ages across seven days...

https://www.doctorwho.tv/news/?article=the-web-of-fear-cover-art-special-features-revealed&fbclid=IwAR2b0rS5JR9R5BV04GZChlaFimMLR_RLkkTXW1HYWtFKIfcBzev5OS4Fhb8

Back in 1968, Patrick Troughton would record a special one-of-a-kind preview of the story to viewers, warning them, in character as the Doctor, of the scarier new-look Yeti coming that February. Though lost in its visual form, the surviving audio would be fused with new official animation in 2021...

With the original 1968 story never repeated by the BBC, the only way fans could recreate the then episodes mostly lost classic adventure, written by the talented combination of Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln, was via a pacily written novelisation by Terrance Dicks, published at the beginning of the Target Book range in 1976, featuring a glorious showcase cover, seen above top, provided by the legendary and beloved artist Chris Achilleos...

Superb cover art to the Special Edition release by Lee Binding. Image: BBC STUDIOS.

Get hold of the new Special Edition release, featuring exclusive all-new animation for the missing Episode 3, and a strong array of special features, here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Web-Fear-DVD/dp/B08NYCWS7K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=doctor+who+the+web+of+fear&qid=1627576868&sr=8-1

More on the release:

https://kooltvblog.blogspot.com/2021/08/going-underground-doctor-whos-web-of.html

HAPPINESS WILL PREVAIL!

Relishing the chance to play such a memorable eighties era Doctor Who villain, whilst also delivering an evil impersonation of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (whom she hated), Sheila Hancock's Helen A., leader of the troubled Terra Alpha colony, was a highlight of Graeme Curry's darkly satirical The Happiness Patrol. Despite such evil though, the Earth leader/despot was at least an animal lover, as seen here cuddling her ferocious 'pet', Fifi! 

SPECIAL ESCORT!

Not willing to let the Cybermen gain use of the Doctor's TARDIS in further disrupting the web of time, Peri is escorted to the vessel by members of the enigmatic Cryon resistance force, deep within the ice tombs of Telos, in a moment from Attack of the Cybermen.

BEYOND THE TRANQUILITY...

The inner mysteries of the Deva Lokan wind chimes and their potentially dangerous dream time effect on an unshared non telepathic human mind are soon revealed to the Doctor, Tegan and leggy Scientist Todd, by the mysterious Karunna/Panna, in a memorable scene (one of so many) from the high-concept sci-fi/Buddhist parable story Kinda, a genuine highlight tale not just from the Fifth Doctor's era, but of the entire Classic Series run.