LOST WITH 'THE TIME WARRIOR'!

In her spirited journalistic endeavours she's captured the scoop of a lifetime as she's followed the mysterious UNIT scientific advisor known as 'the Doctor' in his time travelling TARDIS vehicle back to Middle Ages England. But will she live to tell her incredible tale to her Metropolitan magazine employers now that she's in the sights of the evil alien presence that is the Sontaran warrior Linx?

A wonderful previously unused rare outtake image taken by Alan Ballard on location in 1973 at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire, the shoot totally works in promoting the then upcoming eleventh season of the series within its Tenth Anniversary Radio Times publication, notably showcasing the opening story's key all-new elements: the plucky and lovely companion Sarah Jane Smith (played by rising star Elisabeth Sladen) and the sinister debut of the intriguing war-loving Sontaran species (Linx played with relish by Australian actor Kevin Lindsay). 

Though originally filmed as the concluding part of the tenth season filming run, Robert Holmes satisfying eleventh season opener, The Time Warrior, was shown today, fifty years ago, and is as well remembered and enjoyed by fans as ever...

Doctor Who's 10th anniversary photoshoots – classic companions look back | Radio Times

CLASSIC ART: LONDON FRIGHT - LIFE!

It was the classic B/W story that made thousands of children nervous about using the London Underground for weeks after its original transmission, as a terrifying Yeti robot stalks its dark and scary tunnels in this superb art celebrating The Web of Fear, as originally used as a splendid double poster within a 1990's issue of the ground-breaking UK Who fanzine, DWB/Dream Watch Bulletin. We believe the artist of the piece to be Paul Redfearn?

Ten years ago, four missing episodes of the serial, along with the complete The Enemy of the World were amazingly discovered in Nigeria by that modern Indiana Jones of missing episodes recovery, Phillip Morris, to whom we are forever grateful. Sadly, there have been no further recoveries of lost stories from the Hartnell or Troughton since that incredible period. Yet we can still live in hope that some may make a future return, even if here and there only represented by a few sporadic individual episodes...

CROWDED HOUSE!

It's all getting a little bit too crowded in the TARDIS for the newly regenerated Seventh Doctor, surrounded by previously captured genius scientists from across the galaxy, all of whom must now returned back to their unique places in time. A fun behind the scenes image from Time and the Rani, given a top notch colourisation by regular art genius Clayton Hickman.

ON THE DINNER MENU!

He's had an insatiable need to taste the flesh of one of those enigmatic Telurian creatures residing on their homeworld of Earth, and now the frenzied, dreaded Androgum chef Shockeye finally has the delectable Peri in his grasp, where he'll soon make her ready for his kitchen.

A great posed still captured on location in Spain for The Two Doctors.

THE SPIDER IN HIS WEB!

Deep in the heart of his secret lair, located in one of the biggest and most dangerous cave systems on the desert world of Androzani Minor, a secret war is being waged, as the once respected scientist turned terrorist leader of an android army, Sharaz Jek, plans his next formidable, calculated moves of revenge against his big business betrayer located on Androzani Major; the evil Trau Morgus. And whoever controls the valuable life enhancing commodity of Spectrox located on Minor, and its production, is guaranteed power and wealth forever...

A superb image of dancer/actor Christopher Gable in one of his finest acting roles as Sharaz Jek, who, working closely with director Graham Harper, took the part, so brilliantly written by Robert Holmes, and ran with it perfectly, his performance heightened by the magnificent mask he wore (based on African Masai Tribesman face painting) which debuted so effectively with the Part One cliffhanger. 

It's no surprise to me that The Caves of Androzani remains so beloved nearly forty years on and rated as one of the all-time greatest, if not the greatest, of Who adventures.

A CAMBRIDGE TALE... THE ENIGMA THAT WAS 'SHADA'!

Composition by Clayton Hickman.

That fine Hitch-Hiker of the Universe, the late, much-missed Douglas Adams, said it was one of the Who tales he'd crafted that he was the least happy with back in those busy days of 1979, and yet Shada, the uncompleted, originally planned finale story of the show's wild, wacky and wonderful seventeenth season, has nonetheless lots to recommend in it since fan viewers finally got to see what had been preserved for it via VHS tape set and later DVD and Blu-ray releases. The story is far better than Adams gives himself credit for (with humour, subtle horror and always chock-full of fun concepts and ideas) - the Cambridge setting is a delight, Tom Baker and Lalla Ward are clearly having a great time with their characters/banter and situations which they find themselves in, and there's a terrific supporting cast alongside them.

What's not to like?

Perhaps one day, with the ever-developing realms of Artificial Intelligence software, a full live-action version of the story might just be created that could prove to be the ultimate, ultimate, ultimate edition that Adams can look down from in his celestial position on Betelgeuse and be more proud of. If such a thing does happen, I hope I'm still just about alive to enjoy it too... 

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS - 'AN UNEARTHLY CHILD', AND SOON BEYOND...

Prehistoric threats for the Doctor and his companions in their memorable opening adventure.

"Visiting Britain in 1963 the Doctor's grand-daughter has become a pupil at an ordinary school. A strange amalgam of teenage normality and uncommon intelligence she whets the curiosity of two teachers who become inextricably involved in the Doctor's strange travels, Proving that time goes round in circles the Doctor blasts them back to a pre-civilized age of the Great Cold where tribal leaders battle for supremacy in a race to make fire. Thrown into the cave of skulls the Doctor and his companions soon realize that their lives depend on two alternatives: making fire without matches or escaping through the forest of fear..."

1990 VHS release sleeve story description for An Unearthly Child.

Radio Times series preview from November 1963.

Enjoy this selection of classic episodic moments, behind the scenes and media related images and art linked to the all-important first story for the series...

A familiar site within many fog-bound London streets of 1963 - a junkyard. But what secrets does it hold within it?

At Coal Hill School, teachers Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton are concerned about one of their talented but strange pupils, Susan Foreman.

The enigmatic Susan bewilders her classmates and teachers.

Posed publicity image of Barbara, Ian and Susan previewing the series.

Inside the Totters Lane junkyard, where a soon intriguing London police box lays waiting...

Investigating the junkyard home to Susan Foreman.

An eerie site, but stranger things lie ahead.

The mysterious Doctor prepares to gain entry to a police box.

The Doctor finally realises he's being observed and soon confronts the two intruders.

Specially posed publicity image of William Hartnell taken amongst props specially assembled in the BBC TV centre basement for an advance Radio Times magazine shoot handled by veteran photographer Don Smith. September 1963.

More posed images of Hartnell with Carole Ann Ford as Susan.

Classic image colourized by Clayton Hickman.

The amazing TARDIS interior, designed by a rushed BBC staffer Peter Brachacki, is revealed, as the schoolteachers are soon kidnapped by the Doctor and sent into time and space.

Rehearsing Ian and Barbara confronting the Doctor over Susan.

Soon enough, the Doctor will kidnap the schoolteachers into the dizzying realms of Time and Space!

The TARDIS materialises in 100,000 BC, and the emergence of the cavemen.

Kal (Jeremy Young) and the Tribe of Gum discuss their uncertain future without fire in this rehearsal image photo. Note actress Alethea Charlton (middle) with her snazzy sixties sunglasses on!

The Doctor and companions are soon imprisoned in the scary Cave of Skulls. An excellent set design from the story's secondary designer, Barry Newbery.

As our heroes are captured and forced into making fire for them, the battle for leadership of the Tribe of Gum continues between Kal (Jeremy Young) and Za (Derek Newark).

The Tribe of Gum awaits the return of the escaped Doctor and his companions, so as to capture them and force their further aide and need for fire.

Kal and Za fight for leadership supremacy and the Doctor and companions escape again, rushing back to the TARDIS.

The Doctor only just escapes the advancing Cavemen pursuers.

Another classic specially posed image taken at Ealing film studios.

The classic cover to the first issue of the acclaimed fan publication, An Adventure in Space and Time. Art by Stuart Glazebrook.

Target Books art by Andrew Skilleter for the  first paperback publication of An Unearthly Child, adapted by Terrance Dicks.

The first UK VHS release art, by Alister Pearson.

VHS re-release photo montage cover from 2000.

Intriguing French release cover.

UK DVD sleeve art composition by Clayton Hickman.

US DVD sleeve art.

Unused art by Nick Spender for the ultimately never released 2013 BBC AUDIO GO alternate novel adaptation of the story. 

Memorable cover for Doctor Who Magazine issue 333, 2003.