DOCTOR IN DISGUISE! THE DELIGHTFUL EARLY EPISODES OF PATRICK TROUGHTON'S INCARNATION...

Atlantean intrigue for Polly and the groovy shades wearing Doctor in The Underwater Menace.

Being the first of the new Doctors to follow in the footsteps of the late, great William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton's at-first insecurities in the role were obviously understandable, though his marvellous performance in the role as the Time Lord's second incarnation would ultimately be established by the time of his battle against the Cybermen at The Moonbase. But between that and his opening classic story, The Power of the Daleks, Troughton's early performances incorporated much great potential for, and mining of, comedic interludes, as the actor's experimentation continued on what worked and what didn't in his challenging role, working in tandem alongside the programme's behind the scenes makers. 

So much of that first year of Troughton's is lost and gone forever to us, but thank god John Cura's unique 'telesnaps' (and other important concurrent imagery) still exist to provide some consolation to fans, capturing this intriguing evolutionary time in the series with its mercurial and almost pixie-like new/old hero, of which viewers were at first uncertain as to what to make of this 'rejuvenated' soul, what with his wearing an outlandish stovepipe hat, talking to himself in a secondary/different person tense, regularly playing the recorder, and inhabiting various disguises...

Swapping his stovepipe for a Tam O'Shanter in the opening to The Highlanders.

As seen in the TV version.

Up to mischief as 'The German Doctor' Doctor von Wer in The Highlanders part Episode Two. 

The Doctor becomes ' The German Doctor' for a bizarre interrogation of the evil Solicitor Grey's henchman Perkins in The Highlanders Episode Two. 

At the Sea Eagle establishment in Inverness, the Doctor is in disguise as a washer woman in the early stages of The Highlanders Episode Three.

The 'German Doctor' holds a gun on the once more troubled Perkins in The Highlanders Episode Three.

Still wearing his unique stovepipe hat under his disguise in the same episode, a tired Doctor, watched by Kirsty (Hannah Gordon) and Polly, must take a nap before planning his next move.

Troughton the marvellous character actor comes out once again, with the Doctor's disguise as a wounded red coat soldier meeting with companion Ben in the final part of The Highlanders.

The Doctor's hat gets a special opening shot all to itself! Perhaps signifying its last appearance in the series?

The stovepipe hat, in a revised shorter form, makes its final appearance in The Underwater Menace. 

A brilliant character trademark for Troughton's Doctor, playing the fool to gain access to vital information from his enemies and sabotage a vital component to save Polly.

Polly and the gang have fun in the TARDIS at the closing moments of the story.