'THE THREE DOCTORS' AT 50: DAY 3 - ATTACK OF THE GELL GUARDS!

"Holy Moley!" The Gell Guards arrive to attack the UNIT headquarters!

Uniquely created from the power of Omega's will, via the singularity realm within the Black Hole universe he commands, the interesting but rather wobbly Gell Guards soon make their way to Earth in attacking UNIT headquarters, intent on capturing the Doctor. They later act as guards within their master's own unique landscape.

Four actors played the creatures - John Scott Martin, Cy Town, Murphy Grumbar and Ricky Newby - within memorable costumes created by the ever-talented James Acheson.

Newly arrived on the Singularity world, the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Benton (John Levene) are captured and escorted to Omega by the Gell Guards.

Taking a break behind the scene.

Regular Dalek and monster inhabiter John Scott Martin with one of the Gell Guard claw arms. A 1973 image by Alan Ballard for the Radio Times/BBC.

'THE THREE DOCTORS' AT 50: DAY 2 - GALLIFREY UNDER ATTACK!

Those all-power guardians of the galaxy, the Time Lords of Gallifrey, find themselves in unique danger from a mysterious threat located deep within the place where no man or creature has dared to go - a black hole! This mysterious new enemy attacking them is clearly out to destroy the Time Lords? But who, or what, could it be? 

Intriguing and very colourful set design for the Time Lords control area by Roger Liminton.

Sure enough, the under siege protectors realize that their only hope for survival lies with the exiled Doctor, and not just with his current third regeneration...

Still in their near-omnipotent form, the Time Lords of the Pertwee era are seen in greater numbers within their planetary control room, led by the senior figures played by Roy Purcell and Clyde Pollitt, previously seen five years earlier in The War Games in a similar role, and assisted by regular Who guest star Graham Leaman as a technician.

The First Doctor is removed from his time stream...

... soon followed by the Second...

... who swiftly enters into a tense alliance with the Third on Earth.

'THE THREE DOCTORS' AT 50: DAY 1 - THE 'WHO' TRIPLE TEAM-UP!

We may not have had epic cinematic blockbusters like Marvel's The Avengers franchise back in 1973, but when it came to Doctor Who and its incredible Tenth Anniversary, fans young and old in their genuine millions across the UK nonetheless had something just as thrilling in their own way to enjoy on the small screens presented by BBC TV - The Three Doctors, and the wonderful gathering of William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee facing a universe-threatening danger as only they could. 

Original Radio Times episodic listings. Art by Frank Bellamy.

Who can ever forget this superb and hugely atmospheric photo session capturing the magic, marvel, mystery and enigma of the Doctor in his first three incarnations, within a now legendary shoot for the Radio Times magazine, taken by the talented lensman Ray Rathborne.

Image restoration by Clayton Hickman.

And a selection of image related covers from over the years...

The original 1972 for 1973 Radio Times cover beautifully restored by Clayton Hickman.

Doctor Who Monthly's classic cover. 

And another outtake image used during the noughties.

WELCOME TO 'THE THREE DOCTORS' FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY WEEK!

Classic UK DVD release art by Clayton Hickman.

The landmark date of 30th December, 1972 would prove the ultimate post-Christmas gift for any long-term fans or viewers of Doctor Who since the series birth back in November 1963. For years, fans had asked to see a multi-Doctor story of some kind, of which, finally, the then series behind the scenes team would recognise the simple elegance and potential for a terrific and wonderfully nostalgic Tenth Anniversary adventure, which is what we'd ultimately get with the debut of Bob Baker and Dave Martin's epic season launcher, The Three Doctors.

Welcome to our week of celebratory highlights (clips and imagery) linked to this important and beloved story... 

LEGENDS OF 'WHO': THE TRUE FATHER/CREATOR - SYDNEY NEWMAN

Image: BBC STUDIOS.

Just the right gust of fresh air needed to clear out the stuffy bureaucracy of the then BBC and take the corporation properly into the mid 1960's with innovation, gusto and popular appeal television, Canadian TV genius Sydney Newman was full of charm, charisma and bolshy aggression of the right kind in revolutionising the corporation's then upper class drama department after prior great success working for the rival ABC TV channel several year before. The idea of a science fiction series to fill the BBC's deficient Saturday pm teatime slot may have been in the planning for a while before his arrival (thanks to staff veterans C.E. Webber and Donald Wilson), but it was Newman who created that show's ultimate format and gave it the iconic title of Doctor Who. And his second master stroke linked to the series creation? Well, that was to bring in a female producer - a new first for a shocked, heavens-forbid attituded BBC of the time - to handle the creative duties: his popular, instinctive and equally ambitious young former secretary, Verity Lambert.

A legend was born, one that would soon hit its creative side into becoming an incredible international success story with viewers of all ages. 

Pioneering Doctor Who - The Early Days - BBC Website

TRUTHS AND CONSEQUENCES!

Deep within the bowls of the ice world of Svartos, its chilling leader Kane gives young Earth girl Ace an alluring but loaded with deadly consequences choice to make, during the effective opening episode to Season Twenty Four's climactic adventure, Dragonfire.

 A challenging but dramatic first scene for young actress Sophie Aldred to film for the series as Ace.

KEEPER OF SECRETS!

The all too logical, all too stubborn Andromedan android known as Drathro keeps charge of the small and efficiently run human underground colony Marb Station, located on 'the mysterious planet' that is Ravalox. But it's also, more importantly, the custodian of secret stolen knowledge from the all-powerful Time Lords and their Matrix. And when the Doctor inadvertently arrives on that world and hears the mystery of its 'sleepers', a whole chain of dangerous events against our hero will be future unleashed, during Parts One to Four of The Trial of a Time Lord.