SEASON TWENTY-ONE AT FORTY: 'RESURRECTION OF THE DALEKS'

Davros and the Daleks are back, and more evil than ever.

Captured in a Time Corridor, the Doctor and his companions are forced to land on 20th Century Earth, diverted by the Doctor's oldest enemy - the Daleks.

It is here that the true purpose of the Time Corridor becomes apparent: after 90 years of imprisonment, Davros, the ruthless creator of the Daleks, is to be liberated to assist in the resurrection of his army.

But not even the Daleks foresee the poisonous threat presented by their creator. Indeed, who would suspect Davros of wanting to destroy his own Daleks - but why?

Only the Doctor knows the truth. But will he be capable of descending to Davros' level of evil in order to stop him?

Original BBC VHS sleeve synopsis - 1993.

Though their planned surprise return to close the series Twentieth Anniversary season in explosive style had been frustratingly denied them, the Daleks would ultimately return the following season to challenge Peter Davison's incarnation with their cunning, guile and total hostility restored. Resurrection of the Daleks was a true and exciting welcome back to the Skaroan monsters after five years away from our screens, given the kind of onscreen comeback that attracted the viewers and kids around the UK, as the deadly pepperpots smashed and exterminated their way through a decayed Human space station so as to rescue the captured Davros, in what was a pure and surely deliberate Star Wars-esque moment. As the complex story (which I personally prefer watching in its four-part version rather than the transmitted two fifty-minute installments) of double and treble crosses ultimately unfolds, and the trap to secure the Doctor and his companions is cemented (revenge against the Time Lords, indeed!), there's some fun referencing to past Dalek adventures (a sequel to Destiny to the Daleks, of sorts), whilst the return of Davros (now played by Terry Molloy) is well handled, especially when the Doctor confronts the twisted genius in the final episode. A strong atmosphere in and out of studio is provided by then capable Who newcomer director Matthew Robinson, who effectively brings Eric Saward's gritty story to life, which is bolstered further by Malcolm Clarke's eerie music score.

Saward was unhappy then and now with his final script for the Davison era, citing it as having too many plot elements. It may not be as wholly satisfying as the work he did for the Cybermen with Earthshock, but the important thing was that the Daleks were back as they should be, and Davison finally got to be the Doctor 'proper' in battling them. The resultant increased viewing figures for Resurrection surely prove that the tale was ultimately a successful and highly enjoyed one.

Find out more about the story when it was originally part of Season Twenty, as The Return...

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF SEASON TWENTY (CODA): 'THE RETURN'

The TARDIS trio together for one last time in a Shad Thames location photo call from September 1983.

Behind the scenes filming Davros' end of Part Three rant to camera.

As old enemies return, a companion departs. Janet Fielding bid adieu to the series, with Tegan leaving her friends on her own terms so as to stay on modern day Earth, away from the terror, violence and carnage that had she has witnessed in this particular story. Overall though, prior to her emotional farewell and the break-up of the current TV trio, Tegan, prior to her emotional departure, has very little to do in the final version of Resurrection, spending a large section Earthbound and injured, but the finale scene between her and the Doctor counters such disappointment, proving both memorable and incredibly sad - I remember shedding a few tears with the goodbye scene on its original transmission in February 1984. Tegan was certainly one of the finest companions of eighties Who, thanks to the fine work of Janet Fielding and the boldness of writers like Saward and Christopher Bailey.

Time to say goodbye...

Tegan, as caught in the drama and violence of the story, in this special BBC online image composite.

Resurrection of the Daleks ★★★ | Radio Times

Escaped to 20th Century London, space prisoners are brutally murdered by fake police officers.

Not even an old timer bystander (Albert Welch) is spared from death in the story's memorable and violent opening.

In league with the Daleks, the mercenary Lytton (an effectively cast Maurice Colbourne) is to capture the Doctor and rescue Davros from future time line imprisonment.

The Doctor works to free the TARDIS from the Daleks' time corridor ensnarement.

And is ultimately successful.

Having escaped death, prisoner Galloway (William Sleigh) and Stien (Rodney Bewes) carefully stalk the London Thames streets and warehouse, so as to find their way back to their home timeline.

On the prison ship holding Davros, medical chief Styles (Rula Lenska) is ready for action in this posed publicity image.

Amidst dry ice and a fine score from Malcolm Clarke, the Daleks' (John Scott Martin, Cy Town, Tony Starr, Toby Byrne) make a spectacular return in this atmospheric opening, arriving on the space station prison.

The space station crew boldly try, yet ultimately fail, to stop the Daleks taking murderous control.

Davros is released from his ninety-year long prison sentence.

Now arrived adjacent to the time corridor location, the Doctor and friends meet the now isolated Stein.

The Doctor meets the newly arrived bomb disposal team (including a very early TV appearance from James Bond film series stuntman Simon Crane - second left), of which 'alien artifacts' have been recently unearthed for investigation.

Set upon capturing the Doctor, a lone Dalek materialises and soon encounters human resistance.

The excellent final scene cliffhanger to the original 25 minuter version of part one, with the Dalek's war-cry of 'Exterminate!' effectively lingering into the closing credits.

Tegan is injured fighting a Dalek, but the creature is ultimately pushed out of the warehouse and blows up.

Against the wishes of his creations, Davros remains on the space station, seemingly in order to use its laboratory to find a cure for the Movellan virus...

... and to secretly initiate his own plans against the Daleks who have abused him and his legacy.

The Doctor and colleagues work out their next steps against the Daleks as the injured Tegan rests.

Colonel Archer (Del Henney) encounters the wrong sort of policemen whilst trying to get help.

Dead man walking!

Back at the warehouse, the Doctor and friends must thwart a still alive Dalek mutant.

The mutant resumes its attack on one of the soldiers (Mike Mungarvan, a regular background artist on the series).

Going via TARDIS to the Dalek ship, so as to rescue the wandering Turlough, the 'real' Stien, a Dalek human duplicate, reveals his true loyalties.

The Daleks confront their mortal enemy, weapons raised and all chanting 'Exterminate!' with frenzied fury, in the unused cliffhanger to the original 25 minute version of Part Two.

Now all dead, the Bomb Disposal Team have already been duplicated and sent back to Earth.

The Doctor is to be drained of all knowledge and personality (including a welcome Drs and companion clip sequence), to be used instead by his android duplicate in assassinating the Time Lord's High Council - a bold plans by the Daleks.

Stien starts to revert to his old self and ultimately helps the Doctor and his companions to escape back to Earth in the TARDIS.

Lytton's watchful and murderous policemen (Michael Jefferies and Mike Braben) soon capture an escaped Tegan and escort her to the Daleks' ship.

Still on the prison ship and before returning to Earth, Turlough and the ill-fated Mercer (Jim Findley) keep an eye on Davros.

Watched by mechanical engineer Kiston (Les Grantham, a notable success in his first TV work), the Doctor plans to kill Davros...

... though he is ultimately unable to pull the trigger.

In a massive confrontation in the warehouse, the controlled Daleks of Davros destroy the Bomb disposal team before a new massacre battle with Lytton and his forces, plus the other Dalek fraction.

Davros lets loose the Movellan virus as he prepares to escape the prison vessel.

The Supreme Dalek confronts the Doctor and Tegan about their plan to capture the Earth with already assigned duplicates.

The prison station and the Daleks ship are ultimately destroyed by a dying Stien.

With the carnage between Daleks over, Lytton and his escorts escape into modern day London.

In the horror aftermath, Tegan leaves, tired of the killing.

Goodbye to the Doctor...

... and Turlough.

Tegan runs off during the goodbye, as the Doctor realises that he must somehow mend his ways.

"Doctor, I will miss you..."

A tearful final scene... Goodbye, Tegan!

Original 30th Anniversary VHS release. Art by Tony Masero.

Photo cover for the In-Vision story coverage.

Limited edition special VHS release cover from HMV, linked to a unique Davros and the Daleks collection set.

First release on UK DVD for the fortieth anniversary, and featuring the original four-part version of the story. Image composition by Clayton Hickman.