PYRAMID POWER! CELEBRATING FIFTY YEARS OF 'PYRAMIDS OF MARS'!

The Mummies return! Great art for the Target Book reprint by Andrew Skilleter.

The future of the cosmos is at stake as the Doctor faces his most fearsome adversary in this four part adventure. Returning to Unit HQ on Earth, the Tardis is thrown violently about by a mysterious force and Sarah and the Doctor arrive instead at an old priory in the year 1911. The owner, Marcus Scarman, has been excavating ancient tombs and is possessed by the spirit of Sutekh, bringer of the 'the gift of death to all mankind'. Sutekh has lain for thousands of years in his pyramid prison and Scarman and his robot mummies plan to relwese this ancient and evil power. Will Sutekh the all-powerful be freed from his bonds and destroy the world, or will the Doctor manage to bring about his destruction?

Original BBC VHS release synopsis.  

Meticulously written by Robert Holmes, and directed in a non-flashy but highly effective way by Paddy Russell, Pyramids of Mars shines in all the right places as an All-Time Classic, enhanced by the more alien than ever Tom Baker at his charismatic best and Elisabeth Sladen never better as Sarah. As a five-year old, I found it terrifying to watch on its original transmission, especially the episode one cliffhanger with the arrival of the possessed Scarman in that scary black Eqyptian beetle outfit, swiftly burning Namin (Peter Mayock) to death (I literally ran to the door of the front room and watched through the cracks to see what happened next in episode two!), plus the ongoing pursuits of the inhuman Mummies out to crush their prey. And then there was Sutekh - who better to voice the chilling destroyer of the universe than Gabriel Woolf, joining Michael Wisher as Davros within the top tier of great actors to play Classic Who villains.

As to that niggling ongoing debate about how Sarah knew how to use a rifle in blowing up the pyramid rocket ? Well, it's obvious that Sergeant Benton taught her a few (offscreen) tricks during the previous UNIT/ Zygon encounter!

Pyramids of Mars ★★★★★ | Radio Times

Trouble in the TARDIS as an alien apparition invades and the TARDIS makes a materialisation at the right place but the wrong time.

The Doctor and Sarah explore the missing Professor Scarman's residence (eventually the UNIT base of the 70's/80's) and discover that his passion for Egyptology has gotten the better of him!

The Doctor helps the wounded Dr. Warlock (Peter Copley), investigating the disappearance of Marcus Scarman, shot by the evil Sutekh's current human servant, Namin.

The Doctor investigates Lawrence Scarman's Marconiscope communications device.

The Doctor and Lawrence (Michael Sheard) confer on the radio wave signals from Mars sending out a terrifying warning - "Beware Sutekh"!

Sutekh's true servant (he needs no other!), Marcus Scarman, returns to his once home...

... and soon murders faithful to the end Namin (Peter Maycock).

The possessed Scarman (Bernard Archard) instructs its robot servitors on the creation of the weapon needed to destroy the Mars pyramid holding Sutekh as a powerless prisoner.

The Doctor investigates Sutekh's space/time tunnel. But beware!

Our heroes encounter a parallel future for Earth that is catastrophic if Sutekh is freed.

The Mummies brutally slay the poacher of the Scarman estate. Later, the possessed Marcus Scarman will kill his own brother.

The Mummies stand ready at the pyramid missile.

Sarah takes aim to detonate the explosive at the pyramid missile placed by the Doctor.

The evil Sutekh in his prison lair, chillingly voiced by Gabriel Woolf.

Though thwarting Sutekh's explosive plans, the Doctor soon becomes a plaything of Sutekh and must do his bidding.

The possessed Doctor returns and takes the captured party to Mars, to destroy the defensive systems still protecting Sutekh,

The Doctor and Sarah in a rehearsal shot.

Now released, the true visage of the vengeance-wreaking Sutekh.

The creature is thankfully banished to the end of time by a quick-thinking Doctor as the old priory soon burns to the ground.

Top Special Effects veteran Ian Scoones adjusts the TARDIS model in flight.

Again with the TARDIS.

Gabriel Woolf on playing Sutekh.

 

Original BBC edited UK VHS release from the eighties.

Target Books blue spine reprint art by Alister Pearson.

Original UK DVD cover release, composition by Clayton Hickman.

US DVD release cover from the nineties.

UK DVD partwork series cover of the 2000's.

Unique one-off poster magazine from the story, from Doctor Who Magazine.

A memorable cover to issue 176 of Doctor Who Magazine.

A super cover from Issue 348, October 2004, of Doctor Who Magazine.

Striking fan poster homage by Oliver Arkinstall-Jones.

Original Target cover art by Chris Achilleos adapted for the BBC Audio release.

Get the BBC Audio adaptation of the Target novel here:

Doctor Who And The Pyramids Of Mars (Audio Download): Terrance Dicks, Tom Baker, BBC Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books

CLASSIC ART: THE SPACE WAR!

It's a time of chaos and destruction within the space lanes between the Earth and Draconian Empires, of which intergalactic war seems imminent. A fragile, dangerous period of instability in which only the Doctor and Jo can come to their rescue against a mystery third party manipulating cosmic events of the worst kind, aided by the brutal alien Ogron species.

Terrific art by the legendary Chris Achilleos for the Target novelisation of Frontier in Space adapted in its new title of 'The Space War'!

TO CATCH A RUNAWAY!

His escape from the Psychic Service (of which he was once a founding member) savagely thwarted by the evil Chief Clown (Ian Reddington, in a memorable performance), within the desert wilderness of Segonax, the emotionally damaged Bellboy (Christopher Guard) will be forced to live the terror of the Gods of Ragnarok all over again.

A tense scene from The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, a fine story for the show's 25th Anniversary year, and one which got solid ratings in its one and only airing in 1988.

WARHEAD!

Art composition by Sean Longmore.

The Daleks' plan of war and revenge against the Time Lords via the trapping of the Doctor and his companions, finding the solution to the Movellan virus affecting them via the return of their creator, Davros, and the conquering of Earth via Robot Duplicates - all in a day's work for the evil, scheming creatures of Skaro in the classic Resurrection of the Daleks.

I'm looking forward to seeing the all-new CGI effects replacements for the story within the upcoming  The Collection - Season 21 box set, available in the Spring.

Get it here:

Doctor Who: The Collection Season 21 Limited Edition [Blu-ray] [Region B]: Amazon.co.uk: Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Mark Strickson, Nicola Bryant, Peter Davison, Janet Fielding

 

RISE OF THE ANTI-MAN!

At the edge of the galaxy, no one can hear you scream, as the dreaded Anti-Matter obscenity that is the transformed Professor Sorenson goes on a murderous, life-sucking rampage against the human rescue team sent to retrieve him and his 'new discovery', as the dark terror and fascination of the Planet of Evil is revealed.

The memorable Target Books reprint art for the classic story, from the early eighties, by the ever-talented Andrew Skilleter.

CLASSIC ART: GOLDEN PERIL!

Earth has never been in a more vulnerable, or dangerous, state from such distinctive foes emergent from outer space: the vampire-ish golden monsters, the Axons, with their parasitic symbiont powers, and the vindictive Time Lord menace that is the Master, returned to destroy the Doctor in the process...

Great art by the ever-excellent Daryl Joyce showcasing another Jon Pertwee gem, The Claws of Axos!

CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF 'SEASON 22': THE COLLECTED LINKS!

Image composition by Lee Binding for BBC STUDIOS.

Fondly remembered by fans on its original transmission, despite the later cancellation/suspension turmoil inflicted against the series and its lead star by the BBC hierarchy, Season Twenty-Two is packed full of action, drama, dark humour and old enemies. We hope you've enjoyed our celebration of it!

Here are the collected links: 

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: TELOS RISING!

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE VAROSIAN WAY OF DEATH!

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THERE'S TROUBLE AT PIT!

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE ANDROGUM INHERITANCE! CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF 'THE TWO DOCTORS'!

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: THE 'TIMELASH' AWAITS...

DOCTOR WHO - ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION!: CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF 'REVELATION OF THE DALEKS'!

Get the complete season on Blu-ray:

Amazon.co.uk : DR WHO THE COLLECTION SEASON 22

THE 'TIMELASH' AWAITS...

The forces of good against evil on the troubled realm of Karfel seem to be dwindling, as the corrupt new Maylin, Tekker, captures any political opposition to his plans of leadership of the planet, starting with the  resisting Councillor Mykros (Eric Deacon), whom, watched by his helpless lover Vena (Jeananne Crowley), is overpowered by one of the city's distinctive androids (Dean Hollingsworth) and soon to be banished to the hideous, all-consuming realm of the Timelash... 

THE RETURN OF 'THE SEA DEVILS'!

Classic Target Book cover art by Chris Achilleos.

Following on from the controversial but successful colourized edits of The Daleks and The War Games, BBC 4 now screens an all-new compilation of Jon Pertwee's The Sea Devils, airing on December 7th, 2025, featuring an enhanced incidental music score (real meaning: mostly replacing Malcolm Clarke's work) from British Mission: Impossible movies talent Lorne Balfe.

New BBC promo art for the re-edit.

The memorable Frank Bellamy listings art back in 1972 for the Radio Times.

It should be another interesting watch, of which the Pertwee era has always been a favourite/audience-puller during the Christmas viewing season.

Special re-edited edition of Classic Doctor Who adventure The Sea Devils heads to BBC iPlayer and BBC Four on 7 December

The Sea Devils ★★★★★ | Radio Times

Enjoy a selection of our favourite art and imagery from over the years celebrating the classic six-parter...

The Master (the supreme Roger Delgado), now captured and living a seeming prison existence, soon raises the Doctor and Jo Grant's suspicions.

A Sea Devil emerges to attack!

Two of the great posed publicity images for the story, taken by Don Smith, of Pertwee with Pat Gorman as the Sea Devil.

On the remote, the Doctor and Jo work out a means of rescue.

Polaroid costume reference shot of Roger Delgado as The Master, infiltrating the Portsmouth military base for specialist equipment.

The Doctor takes on The Master (played by stuntman Derek Ware) in the best duelling tradition.

The Master continues his established communications with the Sea Devils.

The Doctor and Jo must cross a perilous beach minefield!

To escape The Master and the Sea Devils, the Doctor uses his handy Sonic Screwdriver. Image colourisation by Mally Orr.

The Sea Devils emerge in one of the ultimate publicity photos from the story.

Superb hardback cover art by John Geary.

Two fun modern/retro poster art tributes.

Philip James Alison's great fan Target Books cover art.