CELEBRATING THE ORIGINAL 'THE CELESTIAL TOYMAKER'...

Saturday, June 8, 2024

CELEBRATING THE ORIGINAL 'THE CELESTIAL TOYMAKER'...

Send in the clowns, as the Doctor encounters The Celestial Toymaker once again. All images: BBC STUDIOS.

One of the most fan controversial animated releases yet from BBC Studios, The Celestial Toymaker's all-new visual re-interpretation of easily one of the series notorious love-or-hate-it stories, arrives this week (10th June, 2024). From what I've seen, the animation certainly looks like an attempt to broaden the visual scope of the story beyond its sixties small studio filmed confines, but many old guard fans have declared their disappointment so far, saying that its too far removed from the original vision of the story as conceived by writers Brian Hayles and Gerry Davis, and directed by Bill Sellars. Personally, I'd rather celebrate the story on this site in its 1966 form, which was certainly remembered by both regular viewers and fans back during its original transmission. It's also notable for being the story where William Hartnell was absent for its middle two episodes (and made invisible no less, with several sections of voiceover would be provided by the actor before he went on a well deserved holiday) leading to the loss of vital one-to-one physical conflict against his ethereal old enemy, which is a shame really, as what scenes Hartnell shares with the intimidating Celestial Toymaker (special guest star Michael Gough, superbly cast) are well handled. Thankfully, companions Peter Purves and Jackie Lane do an admirable job filling in for Hartnell whilst playing their own unique and deadly games in their search for the missing TARDIS.

Of special interest at the beginning of the story are certain visual moments. As our heroes arrive in the Toymaker's startling realm, a memory screen shows a young Dodo at school - footage specially shot of Jackie Lane, in a school girls's outfit, at Ealing Studios, according to behind the scenes documentation. Meanwhile, Steven also sees himself on the jungle world of Kembel (from prior events from The Daleks' Masterplan) and in Paris during The Massacre of St. Bartholemew's Eve - surely the first use of footage from previous adventures in the series.

The Celestial Toymaker ★★★★ | Radio Times

Now it's time for the Doctor and his companions to play the games of the Celestial Toymaker. Enjoy this collection of images from a story that, though mostly missing from the archive, was at least very well represented visually by the BBC's on set photographer Don Smith, notably highlighting the colourful but deadly ever-changing domain of the Toymaker and the diverse roles played by the story's supporting guest cast within it...

Classic publicity image of the Doctor and the Toymaker in the mystery realm.

Looking at one of the toys in the unique Toymaker's collection, in another publicity image.

The Doctor examines the mysterious Trilogic Game.

Original Radio Times article.

Now separated from the Doctor, and angry Steven is unimpressed with the clowns Joey (Campbell Singer) and Clara (Carmen Silvera).

Dodo wants to be friends with the clowns...

Steven has the last laugh on Dodo as she gets squirted with water by the 'lovable' clowns! Soon enough they must defeat the clown duo during a unique obstacle course.

With the Doctor now invisible, bar a moving hand on the Trilogic Game, having been punished for his ongoing attempts to hep Steven and Dodo, the Toymaker taunts our hero with the unique toys that will be used in the next games against his companions.

The Toymaker warns Steven and Dodo that they have no choice but to play his 'games' whilst trapped in his own unique realm.

The King and Queen of Hearts (Campbell Singer and Carmen Silvera) arrive to play a unique game featuring the use of dolls to eliminate dangerous chairs that must be sat on.

The cowardly Knave of Hearts (Peter Stevens) soon escapes the chair game.

Steven helps Dodo escape her predicament in the freezing chair.

Dodo and Steven have fun with the Heart family but their latest game to play, deducing a safe chair to sit in, so as to reach the TARDIS, proves dangerous.

Another chair must be tested, watched by the King of Hearts.

Our heroes win the game, but the TARDIS proves one of many fakes within the Toymaker's realm.

Now in the Toymaker's kitchen, Dodo confers with eccentric Sgt. Rugg (Campbell Singer) and dedicated cook Mrs Wiggs (Carmen Silvera) about the location of a much-needed key to access the next game.

Rugg and Wiggs have been ordered to delay Steven and Dodo from finding the key so that they can't escape to the TARDIS before the final moves of the Trilogic Game.

As a disruptive fight breaks out in the kitchen, Dodo ultimately discovers that the vital key has been hidden within a cake.

Smashing a plate violently, the Toymaker reprimands his toy subjects.

Michael Gough as the Toymaker in another posed publicity image.

The companions study the Ballerina Dolls that will surely hinder their progress in the game.

Sgt. Rugg and Mrs Wiggs must join the game too.

Close-up of one of the Ballerina Dolls.

The game begins.

The Sergeant and Mrs Wiggs are ultimately snared in the game as Steven and Dodo barely make it to the TARDIS, though they discover it to be yet another fake.

In their final game challenge, Steven and Dodo encounter the nightmarish and crafty school boy Cyril (Peter Stephens), where they only just win a game of "TARDIS hopscotch"!

The hopscotch set featuring the real TARDIS.

By making the final Trilogic Game move from within the safety of the TARDIS, the newly materialised Doctor and his games-winning friends escape the destructing realm of the Toymaker. The Doctor eats one of Cyril's sweets in celebration but soon seemingly near collapses in pain as the story ends.