A CAMBRIDGE TALE... THE ENIGMA THAT WAS 'SHADA'!

Composition by Clayton Hickman.

That fine Hitch-Hiker of the Universe, the late, much-missed Douglas Adams, said it was one of the Who tales he'd crafted that he was the least happy with back in those busy days of 1979, and yet Shada, the uncompleted, originally planned finale story of the show's wild, wacky and wonderful seventeenth season, has nonetheless lots to recommend in it since fan viewers finally got to see what had been preserved for it via VHS tape set and later DVD and Blu-ray releases. The story is far better than Adams gives himself credit for (with humour, subtle horror and always chock-full of fun concepts and ideas) - the Cambridge setting is a delight, Tom Baker and Lalla Ward are clearly having a great time with their characters/banter and situations which they find themselves in, and there's a terrific supporting cast alongside them.

What's not to like?

Perhaps one day, with the ever-developing realms of Artificial Intelligence software, a full live-action version of the story might just be created that could prove to be the ultimate, ultimate, ultimate edition that Adams can look down from in his celestial position on Betelgeuse and be more proud of. If such a thing does happen, I hope I'm still just about alive to enjoy it too... 

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS - 'AN UNEARTHLY CHILD', AND SOON BEYOND...

Prehistoric threats for the Doctor and his companions in their memorable opening adventure.

"Visiting Britain in 1963 the Doctor's grand-daughter has become a pupil at an ordinary school. A strange amalgam of teenage normality and uncommon intelligence she whets the curiosity of two teachers who become inextricably involved in the Doctor's strange travels, Proving that time goes round in circles the Doctor blasts them back to a pre-civilized age of the Great Cold where tribal leaders battle for supremacy in a race to make fire. Thrown into the cave of skulls the Doctor and his companions soon realize that their lives depend on two alternatives: making fire without matches or escaping through the forest of fear..."

1990 VHS release sleeve story description for An Unearthly Child.

Radio Times series preview from November 1963.

Enjoy this selection of classic episodic moments, behind the scenes and media related images and art linked to the all-important first story for the series...

A familiar site within many fog-bound London streets of 1963 - a junkyard. But what secrets does it hold within it?

At Coal Hill School, teachers Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton are concerned about one of their talented but strange pupils, Susan Foreman.

The enigmatic Susan bewilders her classmates and teachers.

Posed publicity image of Barbara, Ian and Susan previewing the series.

Inside the Totters Lane junkyard, where a soon intriguing London police box lays waiting...

Investigating the junkyard home to Susan Foreman.

An eerie site, but stranger things lie ahead.

The mysterious Doctor prepares to gain entry to a police box.

The Doctor finally realises he's being observed and soon confronts the two intruders.

Specially posed publicity image of William Hartnell taken amongst props specially assembled in the BBC TV centre basement for an advance Radio Times magazine shoot handled by veteran photographer Don Smith. September 1963.

More posed images of Hartnell with Carole Ann Ford as Susan.

Classic image colourized by Clayton Hickman.

The amazing TARDIS interior, designed by a rushed BBC staffer Peter Brachacki, is revealed, as the schoolteachers are soon kidnapped by the Doctor and sent into time and space.

Rehearsing Ian and Barbara confronting the Doctor over Susan.

Soon enough, the Doctor will kidnap the schoolteachers into the dizzying realms of Time and Space!

The TARDIS materialises in 100,000 BC, and the emergence of the cavemen.

Kal (Jeremy Young) and the Tribe of Gum discuss their uncertain future without fire in this rehearsal image photo. Note actress Alethea Charlton (middle) with her snazzy sixties sunglasses on!

The Doctor and companions are soon imprisoned in the scary Cave of Skulls. An excellent set design from the story's secondary designer, Barry Newbery.

As our heroes are captured and forced into making fire for them, the battle for leadership of the Tribe of Gum continues between Kal (Jeremy Young) and Za (Derek Newark).

The Tribe of Gum awaits the return of the escaped Doctor and his companions, so as to capture them and force their further aide and need for fire.

Kal and Za fight for leadership supremacy and the Doctor and companions escape again, rushing back to the TARDIS.

The Doctor only just escapes the advancing Cavemen pursuers.

Another classic specially posed image taken at Ealing film studios.

The classic cover to the first issue of the acclaimed fan publication, An Adventure in Space and Time. Art by Stuart Glazebrook.

Target Books art by Andrew Skilleter for the  first paperback publication of An Unearthly Child, adapted by Terrance Dicks.

The first UK VHS release art, by Alister Pearson.

VHS re-release photo montage cover from 2000.

Intriguing French release cover.

UK DVD sleeve art composition by Clayton Hickman.

US DVD sleeve art.

Unused art by Nick Spender for the ultimately never released 2013 BBC AUDIO GO alternate novel adaptation of the story. 

Memorable cover for Doctor Who Magazine issue 333, 2003.

FAR MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS IN THE TARDIS... HAPPY SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY, 'DOCTOR WHO'!

 

The TARDIS is centre stage in the terrific VHS sleeve art for the acclaimed Doctor Who series documentary celebration of 1993, More Than Thirty Years in the TARDIS. Art by Andrew Skilleter. Image: BBC STUDIOS.

Travel broadens the mind they say, and if you're travelling through the miracles of Time and Space alongside the Doctor in his miraculous TARDIS capsule, then it's even more so a fact!

The fascinating TARDIS remains one of classic sci-fi TV's greatest and most iconic spaceships, brilliantly conceived for a show (and its titular hero to pilot) that remains more popular and compelling in its beloved mythdom, both in the UK and internationally, than ever before...

On this fantastic day we remember and celebrate all the people in front of and behind the cameras who worked hard and so creatively to make the original classic series endure against all odds to become such a unique classic. Thank you!

HAPPY SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY, 'DOCTOR WHO'!

CELEBRATING 'THE DALEKS' - IN ITS ORIGINAL COLOUR!

The Daleks in their city on Skaro. Original colour image enhanced by Clayton Hickman.

A new 75 minute, specially colourised version of the story that put Doctor Who firmly on the must-see TV history map back in 1964, The Daleks, is airing tomorrow (23rd November, 2023) on BBC 4 and iPlayer, as part of the show's landmark Sixtieth Anniversary. I'm sure the finished results will be splendid, but let's see how the story really looked when filmed back in the day, thanks to the sterling on set photography captured by the story's inventive and popular then in-house BBC talent, Raymond Cusick...

The Daleks to land once again on Doctor Who 60th Anniversary

Believed to be the very first colour still ever taken for the series, as the Daleks destroy the Dalek casing which they believe stills holds Ian Chesterton, during episode four, The Ambush.

Surveying the empty Dalek shell. The Daleks were played by Robert Jewell, Kevin Manser, Gerald Taylor and Michael Summerton.

Some generic shots of the Daleks inside their city

The Doctor and Susan are held captive powerless to stop the Daleks in their control room, preparing to contaminate Skaro with radiation in episode six, The Ordeal.

The Daleks countdown to destruction continues.

As Barbara is caught under a shield door, Ian (William Russell), Alydon (John Lee) and another Thal try to keep it from closing, from the finale episode, The Rescue.

Racing against time, Barbara (Jaqueline Hill) watches as her Thal comrades (including Ganatus, played by Philip Bond) physically block the door with their bodies so as to gain further access into the Dalek city.

Susan (Carole Ann Ford) surveys the aftermath of the Dalek battle as Barbara and Ganatus help the wounded.

William Hartnell confers with actress Virginia Wetherell (as Dyoni), presumably during camera rehearsals for the conclusion to the story in 1964.

The Doctor with his planetary samples before the TARDIS crew departs Skaro.

The travellers prepare to depart, of which Susan is giving a cloak gift by the generous Thals.