DISCOVERING THE KRAAL PLAN...

Their invasion rehearsals now concluded, the Kraal scientist Styggron prepares to simultaneously interrogate and torture the Doctor, as the aliens' real plans against the planet Earth begin in haste, in this memorable image and scene from Terry Nation's rare Dalek-less Who adventure, The Android Invasion, a jolly sci-fi/action romp homage to the classic B/W Invasion of the Body Snatchers movie. 

Enjoy the recently released BBC Audio Books translation of Terrance Dicks' briskly-paced Target book novelisation, classily read by Geoffrey Beevers. 

Get it here: 

Doctor Who and the Android Invasion: 4th Doctor Novelisation (Audio Download): Terrance Dicks, Geoffrey Beevers, BBC Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books

ALIEN AFFAIRS, AND 'THE CURSE OF PELADON'!

The misguided High Priest Hepesh (Geoffrey Toone) prepares to unleash The Curse of Peladon.

1972 was a great year for new and long-term fans eager to see our exiled to Earth Time Lord hero going back into space for his adventures. After a brief dip in the waters with Colony in Space, which proved a solid ratings success, The Curse of Peladon, from Brian Hayles, would prove bigger, bolder and much more interesting, as the Doctor and Jo must save the planet Peladon from backwards superstition and murderous conspiracy so as to ease it into joining the benevolent Galactic Federation, a storyline echoing the offscreen real-life entry by England into the Common Market at that time.

Original Radio Times episode listings.

The dutiful but ever worried Alpha Centauri (operated by Stuart Fell, voiced by Ysanne Churchman).

Ice Warrior Ssorg (Sonny Caldinez).

Delegates Arcturus and Ice Lord Izlyr (Alan Bennion).

With the return of old favourite monsters the Ice Warriors (this time in a benevolent phase in their warrior history), this story also saw the largest collection of intriguingly designed alien creatures seen in the series since the mid-sixties, and was, as part of this finely crafted four-parter as a whole, a terrific and memorable treat for fans both then and now with its fiftieth anniversary.

The Doctor and Jo newly arrived in the Peladon Royal Court.

A brief romance begins between Jo and King Peladon (David Troughton).

The Doctor tends to the sabotaged alien Arcturus.

In her role as 'Princess Josephine of TARDIS', Jo mediates with Alpha Centauri and Izlyr.

The infamous Aggedor himself!

"COME AND MEET THE DALEKS..."

Colourized image by Clayton Hickman.

Exploring the mystery ship embedded deep in the heart of the troubled Human colony on Vulcan, the newly 'rejuvenated' Doctor, with his companions Ben and Polly, discover the vessel's seemingly dead occupants; no less than the dreaded Daleks themselves, in an image from the first episode cliffhanger to the genuine all-time 1966 classic, The Power of the Daleks.

This was the story that importantly changed the Doctor Who series format forever, with its critical launching of a new, younger incarnation of television's favourite Time Lord, of which another fine British character actor would take the controls of the TARDIS, and fight those immortal Dalek enemies, away from the frail, in-poor health William Hartnell: Patrick Troughton.

Super cover art from Alister Pearson.

The classic adventure, novelised with much-deserved expansion detail by long-term fan John Peel, is now the latest BBC Audio Books translation (available from November 3rd, 2022), read by the modern series regular Dalek voice talent Nicholas Briggs, and featuring terrific sound design.

Get it here:

Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks: 2nd Doctor Novelisation (Audio Download): John Peel, Nicholas Briggs, BBC Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books

THE ILLUSION OF TRUTH!

Image: Raymond P. Cusick.

The striking city of Morphotron, on the diverse environment world of Marinus, seemingly holds many delights and riches to entertain its spellbound inhabitants, but behind its velvet gloss lies a terrifying agenda of mental control from a powerful and less benign source, as discovered by Ian and Barbara during the memorable second episode to The Keys of Marinus' evolving adventure: The Velvet Web!  

Original Radio Times promotion for the story.

Art by David McAllister.

Former WHO producer turned novelist Philip Hinchcliffe's effective and briskly paced 1980 Target adaptation of the well-remembered gem is now available in BBC Audio Book form, read with storytelling enthusiasm by Jamie Glover, and works well in the transfer. 

Get it here: Doctor Who and the Keys of Marinus: 1st Doctor Novelisation (Audio Download): Philip Hinchcliffe, Jamie Glover, BBC Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books

 

THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: SEASON NINETEEN, AND ALL THAT...

Season 19 BBC STUDIOS Blu-ray collection art by Lee Binding.

We hope you've enjoyed our coverage this year of Peter Davison's Fortieth Anniversary as the Fifth Doctor, within his very special opening season.

For anyone who may have missed all the season-related articles, here are the full links:

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: 'OWZAT!' LAUNCHING THE FIFTH 'DOCTOR WHO' - PETER DAVISON!

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: PETER DAVISON DEBUTS!

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: 'CASTROVALVA'

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: 'FOUR TO DOOMSDAY'

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: 'KINDA'

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: 'THE VISITATION'

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: 'BLACK ORCHID'

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: 'EARTHSHOCK'

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: 'TIME-FLIGHT'

Doctor Who -The Collection: Season 19, now available in new packaging.

THE CROWN SAXE COBURG AFFAIR!

Unravelling the mystery of evolution and the confronting of past misdeeds are the main plot points of Marc Platt's always fascinating to watch high-concept tale dripping in atmosphere and memorable characters: Ghost Light, a unique entry not just for Classic Who but also for late eighties UK TV in general...

Lovely character composition work that first appeared in the Doctor Who - The Complete History partwork series. 

ONE (OR FIVE) PREVIOUS OWNER/S!

Colin Baker clearly enjoys taking the reins of the TARDIS in this fun posed publicity image for The Twin Dilemma. The actor would however, and famously, have to have some alteration made to Davison's costume whilst wearing it for his premiere story.