'MERRY CHRISTMAS!' (2024)

The original explorer of the universe, and a citizen to boot (!), the First Doctor examines his new arctic surroundings in a glorious modern art composition for the special character, and the TARDIS, that's also a perfect celebration of the festive season.

Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025 to all our worldwide readers!

NOW SHOWING: 'THE WAR GAMES - IN COLOUR'!

Composition by Lee Johnson for Doctor Who - The Complete History.

The B/W era of Doctor Who, and the era of Patrick Troughton's second incarnation within it, couldn't have ended better than with the truly epic ten-parter that was The War Games, a tale of alien manipulation of human soldiers whose resolution finally revealed more about the Doctor's fugitive origins, the mysterious race to whom he belonged, the all-powerful Time Lords, and saw-in a new and exciting start to the series overall 1970 colour 'regeneration' through its memorable and rather sad finale. All-change indeed...

And now we get to see this tale in a glorious colour re-imagining on December 23rd, 2024, on BBC 4 - a newly edited one-and-a-half-hour compilation, alongside all-new music and effects that will be very intriguing, and no doubt controversial, to see.

THE FOURTH DOCTOR AT FIFTY: 'ROBOT'

Rise of the Robot! Art by Tom Connell.

With the Doctor behaving rather oddly after his regeneration, the Brigadier finds the research centre under attack after a robot steals the plans for a new disintegrator gun. Could the members of the mysterious Think Tank be responsible for the giant invader? How sinister are the intentions of the shadowy Scientific Reform Society? More importantly, can the Doctor recover in time to save the Earth from Atomic War?

Original BBC Video UK VHS sleeve notes

Robot was the story that genuinely cemented my affection for the original Doctor Who series, would see me making the show a regular staple of my TV watching choices, and solidified my memories of the Fourth Doctor's era for the rest of my life with great affection. And Tom Baker immediately made an impact with me as that young child back in the day -  I loved the way he looked and acted, mixing humour and heroism, against foes old and new, and especially in this first story from the ever reliable Terrance Dicks (whose name I was starting to remember and look out for now that I had one of his first Target paperback adventures to hand), making sure that the new figure (I wasn't really aware that he was a Time Lord back then) was amongst old friends at UNIT, so as to remind viewers that they were still watching the show they had adored since 1963, or even 1973. Of these four episodes (aired from 28th December, 1974 - 18th January, 1975) , it's the opening and closing ones I recall the most, the former where Tom stole the limelight, and the fourth for its major use of the K-1 robot (Michael Kilgarriff bringing it to great on s screen life) in its threatening, super-large form, holding onto Sarah Jane Smith (the ever-gorgeous Elisabeth Sladen) in memorable King Kong fashion. I even remember the Action Man tank used onscreen against the Robot, as my older brother had had one for a Christmas present a year or so before!

Now with an extra companion in the lovable old-fashioned Harry Sullivan (the gone from us far too early Ian Marter), the Doctor and Sarah's all-new adventures in time and space, beyond Earth and UNIT, were ready to begin. And I couldn't wait to see what happened next...

Tom Baker in an early behind the scenes photo for the story, garbed in Jon Pertwee's wardrobe from Planet of the Spiders.

A lovely on location image of Elisabeth Sladen later used for publicity.

Publicity images sent to merchandisers during location filming.

The Radio Times charts the regeneration whilst promoting Robot.

Robot ★★★ | Radio Times

The dying Third Doctor's regeneration is underway.

The Fourth Doctor's regeneration is complete.

At UNIT, the Brigadier and Sarah Jane Smith converse with the newly regenerated Doctor, persuading him not to depart the Earth just yet.

With the new Doctor confined to hospital, a keen Sarah Jane obtains a pass from the Brigadier to visit the intriguing Think Tank scientific facility. A photo taken during studio rehearsals.

Still Unstable, the Doctor challenges the patience of UNIT's new Doctor, Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter)

A variety of costumes for the new Doctor before he settles down to his familiar look.

In his new wares, the Doctor helps UNIT investigate the theft of the disintegrator gun.

In the hands of the giant K-1 Robot (Michael Kilgarriff), Sarah shows concern for the enslaved artificial creation.

The Robot is sent to kill the Doctor in its creator's laboratory. A rehearsal shot from the story.

UNIT to the rescue, as Warrant Officer Benton leads the heroics.

The Robot escapes UNIT assault.

The robot with its inventor, Professor Kettlewell (Edward Burnham), soon revealed as a traitor working against humanity with an elite group of dangerous scientists.

With Sarah captive, the Robot, deflecting UNIT fire, is led out of the Think Tank facility.

The former Think Tank villains Jellicoe and Miss Winters (Alec Linstead and Patricia Maynard) are thankfully stopped from destroying the world, as the Robot escapes its underground bunker confines.

The Brigadier's use of a laser gun backfires as the Robot increases its size to even more destructive effect, whilst its ongoing concern for Sarah soon puts her in greater danger.

The Doctor and Harry, in Bessie, attack and sadly destroy the unique Robot with a special metal virus. Art by Daryl Joyce.

Helping Sarah get over her grief for the robot, the Doctor plans his next trip in the TARDIS.

The bumbling but lovable Harry soon joins them.

Original K-1 Robot designs by James Acheson.

Acheson on location with the Robot.

Joan Noakes, Lesley Judd and Peter Purves on the set of Robot, as one episode of Blue Peter is disrupted by BBC industrial action.

Tom Baker gets first impressions from younger viewers when making a surprise house call during part one's transmission.

The original Target novel cover art spread, by Peter Brookes.

Young Readers edition adaptation - 1979. Art by Harry Hants. 

First UK VHS BBC release sleeve. 1992 art by Alister Pearson.

UK DVD release cover composition by Clayton Hickman.

UK DVD files release cover.

Formidable cover art by Jeff Cummins, originally for the 1979 Target Books reprint.

Get the Target adaptation on audio here:

Doctor Who and the Giant Robot (Audio Download): Tom Baker, Terrance Dicks, BBC Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books

THE FOURTH DOCTOR AT FIFTY: THE 'BOHEMIAN' INCARNATION REVEALED...

Tom Baker in his predecessor Doctor's vintage roadster, Bessie, alongside new friend Elisabeth Sladen.

Easing his way into the series with a solid Earth-based UNIT adventure battling the magnificent but dangerous Giant Robot, the relatively little-known Tom Baker would make an instant impact in his new role as the fourth Doctor Who, alongside the ever-winning personality of Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, of which both actors entered a fine and soon very special on screen rapport that would delight viewers from 28th December, 1974.

Official photo for the new actor.

Welcome to Doctor Who, Tom Baker, as seen in these great publicity images taken on location at the BBC's Wood Norton Engineering Training Department, wonderfully showcasing the quirky new time traveller in all his potential glory.

One of the images from the photo shoot would make the notable cover for Baker's first Who annual, for 1976.

THE FOURTH DOCTOR AT FIFTY: INTRODUCING TOM BAKER...

New Doctor, old enemy. Tom Baker has arrived! Image colourization by Clayton Hickman.

In a unique white suit, with mis-matched Peruvian sweater and leather coat, the new Doctor Who chosen to replace the hugely popular Jon Pertwee would be a relative unknown, though Tom Baker would soon display to the show's fan base all the charisma and necessary acting chops that would make him a fine successor, and a resultant TV super star phenomenon, in every way. He'd also quickly establish a superb friendship with fellow Liverpudlian Elisabeth Sladen, returning to the series to play feminist journalist Sarah Jane Smith.

 

A hodge-podge Cyberman (Par Gorman) threatens the new Doctor.

Baker and Sladen together at TV centre.

The launch as covered in The Sun newspaper.

Tom's look from the shoot would also be used in the actual 1976 Doctor Who annual!

Outside the Bridge Lounge restaurant located at the BBC TV Centre, the introductory press ceremony would take place on Friday 15th February, 1974, with Baker having already been cast by departing producer Barry Letts and his successor in the role, Philip Hinchcliffe, after the prior Feb 8th news announcing the upcoming end of Pertwee's impressive and ratings-triumphant era.

Beyond Belgravia building works!

In a desperate state of thespian unemployment before being cast as the Doctor, Tom Baker had been prior working at a building site at Ebury Street, Belgravia, acting as a hod carrier, during February 1974. When the news officially broke that Baker had the part, his impressed work colleagues got together with the actor for a fun Daily Express newspaper photo shoot, so as to celebrate his out of this world success, taken for the Friday, 22nd February, 1974 edition.