"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MACRA!"

The far-off Earth colony that the Second Doctor and his companions land on may seem like a jolly holiday camp, but what lies underneath the surface of the humans work, rest and play? Could such things as the crab-like Macra exist, manipulating them for their own life-sustaining purposes? Certainly not, the colonists tell the Doctor- such creatures don't exist. But we, the terrified viewers, and our onscreen heroes, know better...

Classic cover art for The Macra Terror special that was part of the excellent eighties fan partwork An Adventure in Space and Time. I assume it's by the late, great Stuart Glazebrook?  

TENTACLED 'FURY'!

A story rich in atmosphere and horror, Fury From The Deep remains an unforgettable adventure for so many viewers who were lucky enough to see it in its one and only original transmission back in 1968. From what can be seen in the surviving John Cura telesnaps its deletion from the BBC Archives is a genuinely tragic one, so anything that celebrated it back before audio and novels were released, helping to heighten its deserved acclaim, was much appreciated, like this splendid edition of CMS' acclaimed eighties published An Adventure in Space and Time partwork series, which featured chilling cover art by the much-missed talent Stuart Glazebrook.

UNMASKING 'THE FACELESS ONES'!

The then recently opened Gatwick Airport is the setting for an unusual and eerie alien mystery set on modern day Earth, July 1966, featuring the aeroplanes-full kidnapping of human students by the mystery Chameleon species. It's also an adventure that will see-in the sad departure of popular Hartnell/Troughton eras companions able seaman Ben Jackson and his favourite 'duchess', Polly. 

A genuine fan favourite which also made a fine realisation into animated form, The Faceless Ones certainly made their mark then and now, as captured in this very effective art for the cover of the excellent fan magazine An Adventure in Space & Time, by Andrew Martin.

WELCOME TO ' DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION'!

'Hello there!'

I can't copy that amazing face and welcoming smile of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor when he says those two important little words, but imagine that I can and things will resultantly be sooo much better!

Yes, welcome to this all-new blog. I'm Scott Weller, perhaps known to some of you for my work as writer/editor of the world popular and respected KOOL TV website, of which many an article/review of this iconic pop culture landmark series (Classic and Modern) have appeared. Now's the time, I thought, to start a blog site dedicated to the uniquely British series that I have loved watching since December 1973 (from The Time Warrior onwards, no less), though I have vague memories of the earlier tenth anniversary season (the wonderfully wibbly-wobbly Gel Guards of The Three Doctors, the giant hand whisking off the TARDIS in Carnival of Monsters, and very, very vague mind's eye images of Daleks in suspended animation during Planet of the Daleks - still one of my all-time fave Pertwee adventures. Sorry purists, I don't care if it is a re-hash of past Terry Nation glories!). I even started up (with the generous help of my dad) a short-running fan magazine called Frontios back in the time of the Davison/Colin Baker era, which, despite the ever-controversial Doctor Who Bulletin's truly brutal criticisms of my artwork, had a nice little following of sorts for which I'll be forever grateful- big thumbs-up to any of you that recall it and bought it when Doctor Who was in the popular public consciousness like never before, and seemingly invincible!

My own Doctor persona at 13, enjoying a big Boot Fair book/annual haul from my dad.

Two of the covers of the Frontios fan magazine that ran for four issues during 1984/85.

Scott Weller, going on to become the prestigious official 'One Millionth Purchaser' of a VHS Doctor Who video - The Curse of Peladon, in a special ceremony presented by Sylvester McCoy, held at the HMV music store, Oxford Circus, on September 6th, 1993- an event arranged by BBC Enterprises with HMV.

A Dalek joins the celebrations!

The event was also linked to an official VHS release signing by Sylvester McCoy on that date.

With so many sites dedicated to WHO in all its areas, I'm not going to waste time re-hashing things that have been covered umpteen times (and KOOL TV will continue to do reviews and in-depth stuff at its end anyway). Primarily, this will over time become the place for all-new personal original fiction in celebration of the Classic Series and its incarnations, as well as some time-to-time little 'Haikus' about the series from my childhood onwards- its remarkable format, exciting stories and classic scenes; its sterling companions, and, most importantly, its diverse personality collective of unique Doctors. Plus any other quirky bits to lure me in to writing the way Sabalom Glitz likes counting grotsits!

The legacy begins with 'An Unearthly Child.'

Most importantly though, as WHO continues on at the BBC with new adventures for a new enthusiastic audience, let's raise a glass of bubbly to all the brilliant people who helped make the show the success it was (pretty much from the offset) back in those foggy days awaiting light in 1963: Series Creator- Sydney Newman, Producer - Verity Lambert, Script Editor - David Whitaker, Music - Ron Grainer (and importantly Delia Derbyshire), and, last but certainly not least, the original Time Lord exile himself as played by William Hartnell. 'Salu-te!'

Now it's time to 'Vworp, Vworp!', and I hope you'll stick with me through 'Happy Times and Places' as and when!