POWER-PLAY!

Trapped on the power-draining world of Exxilon, the Doctor and friendly alien inhabitant Bellal (wonderfully played by Arnold Yarrow, whose character would have made a great regular companion in the TARDIS, for sure) prepare to enter the forbidden city and attempt to undo the harm being caused. But the Daleks are keen to do exactly the same thing, so as fully return to their 'Exterminate!"ing ways, in this great moment from the underrated Death to the Daleks!

I have vague memories of the filmed sequences of the story watching it back in 1974, especially the deadly energy snake tendril and Sarah captured by the Exxilons, and I loved the special unit photography of the time that would appear in early Marvel Doctor Who weeklies and monthlies. It was great to get the original best-selling official BBC VHS sell-through release back in the late eighties and re-awaken classic nostalgia and affection for Terry Nation's interesting yarn.

Original Radio Times cutting from 1974.

FICTIONAL FIGURES!

Now trapped in the mysterious Land of Fiction, the Doctor, Zoe and the face-changed Jamie ponder the arrival of the memorable toy soldiers, in this great colour image from The Mind Robber.

THE FIFTH DOCTOR AT 40: PETER DAVISON DEBUTS!

Launching the eighties Who era proper with youthful action and timeless curiosity, Peter Davison's fifth incarnation was soon seen as a welcome booster for the series, which was now firmly a British television institution. Critics may at first have been split over his star name casting, with some also stating that he was too young for the role previously occupied by mature actors, but general audiences were highly welcoming of the amiable Davison after his prior popularity as the lovable rogue Tristan in All Creatures Great and Small. For producer John Nathan-Turner, his bold casting move of Davison would pay off handsomely in the ratings for the show's new-look. new-twice weekly timeslot, the eagerly-awaited first season debuting with the innovative Castrovalva on January 4th, 1982.

As used on a 1996 cover to Doctor Who Magazine.

Sadly, Davison would never get a proper singular star status cover as Who (in his original three year run) on the then prestigious Radio Times magazine, but they did do a a varied photographic shoot of the actor on location in Buckhurst Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells during the near back-to-back location filming of Castrovalva /Black Orchid around late Summer 1981. Here is a selection of these great images, later used for all kinds of other promotional materials, opening our fortieth anniversary celebrations of this nostalgic and special time in the Classic Series' history...

Making the most of the new-look Doctor's fondness for the Earth sport of Cricket.

Additionally, the shoot also saw the first proper look of our new hero with the companions whom Davison's Doctor had inherited from the end of the Tom Baker era - Matthew Waterhouse as the Alzarian mathematics genius, Adric, Sarah Sutton as the orphan Nyssa of the planet Traken, and Janet Fielding as the mouthy but practical Australian air stewardess, Tegan Jovanka.

Note the pale looking Matthew Waterhouse, ill from the previous night's over-drinking at the location hotel's bar!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! (2021)

 

Breaking the fourth-wall for the first and last time in the Classic Series, a jovial First Doctor delivers seasonal greetings to a likely surprised (or shocked?) audience with the too silly for words Christmas Day-airing episode, The Feast of Steven.

'MERRY CHRISTMAS!' TO ALL READERS WORDLWIDE, AND A SAFE, PROSPEROUS, 'HAPPY NEW YEAR!'

PARIS IS CALLING...

Celebrating the new release of the terrific Doctor Who - The Collection: Season 17 on sparkling Blu-ray from BBC STUDIOS (available 20th December, 2021), here's a selection of terrific posed images linked to the clearly fun Paris 1979 location filming - the first unique overseas filming for the series at that time - from that zany season's superb all-time classic adventure: City of Death!

And who could ever forget Lalla Ward in her schoolgirl outfit back in the day? It was encouraged to help girls enjoy wearing school uniform, but her wasted efforts deservedly got far greater enthusiasm from the dads watching the show, that's for sure!

Lalla poses for a fun serious of character images.

Official BBC release details:

https://www.doctorwho.tv/news/?article=season-17-instalment-collection-bluray-range

Get it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Collection-Limited-Packaging/dp/B09HNBC49Q/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dr+who+season+17&qid=1639063462&sr=8-1

MEETING THE DALEKS!

In a great 1988 publicity image, Ace and her new military friend Mike Smith (Dursley McLinden) will never forget their encounter with the legendary Daleks in early 1960's London. Post war meets new war in Ben Aaronovitch's superb four-parter, Remembrance of the Daleks.

GOODBYE, CHRIS ACHILLEOS...

I was shocked and deeply saddened by the news yesterday evening that the respected, iconic artist who was such an important part of my childhood love of Doctor Who, in particular, Chris Achilleos, had passed away. Words cannot describe how much I have loved and enjoyed his work since my mum first purchased for me two original 1974 released Target books adorning his great art: The Auton Invasion and The Cave Monsters. When a later family trip to the Greenwich Book Boat (does anyone know if this still exists?) showed me a whole wealth of additional Who Target books, his art upon them impacted on me further and made me want to collect the series.

Image: Fantasleria.

Luckily getting to meet Mister Achilleos at a London Comic Convention eight or nine years ago he proved a terrific conversationalist - his love and enthusiasm for art, and his nostalgia for Who, clearly noticeable -  especially his respect for the fans that have grown up so fondly with his superb portfolio. And let's not forget his other outstanding contributions for the likes of Star Trek (a show he admired from its original UK screenings) and other genre pieces, plus his memorable erotica showcases that have equally become must-have purchases. I continue to treasure the signed original The Day of the Daleks paperback he generously gave me at the event.

Representing his work on this blog article, I have selected the first edition of The Three Doctors. In 1978 I was only aware of the Black Hole cover edition of the book's art by Jeff Cummins (which is great), but when I discovered the Achilleos version with Omega's energy outstretched to encapsulate the three Doctors (a lovely tribute to Jack Kirby's cover art for the American editions of The Fantastic Four comic), it soon became a must-have personal favourite to me, which was obtained finally via my dad's searching efforts at a car boot fair in 1986 (back in those primitive days before Amazon and eBay!).

My sincerest condolences go out to Mister Achilleos' family in this sad time. Rest in peace, sir, and thank you for the incredible artistic imagination and unique talent you gave us that we shall always treasure...

http://chrisachilleos.co.uk/