Their web of harmony now broken, their inner sanctum invaded, and a series of union planets in great danger, the evil form of the centuries old Melkur being has now ominously become the Keeper of Traken, and only the Doctor has the capability of stopping it. But is there more to this alien being residing on the Keeper's chair than meets the eye? A great posed publicity image to the excellent The Keeper of Traken Part Four.
I always fondly remember the Part Three near cliffhanger ending, and squealing with surprise at the return of the Doctor's dreaded nemesis, the decayed form of the Master, as played by Geoffrey Beevers.
Investigating the ongoing mystery of the scientific nuclear powered research base located within a set of caves in rural Derbyshire, the Third Doctor gets a shock when a menacing non-extinct Tyrannosaurus Rex from ancient Earth history goes on the attack, during the memorable cliffhanger to part one of Doctor Who and the Silurians. The scene is beautifully recreated in art by Tom Connell for the noughties released Doctor Who Files DVD/magazine series.
It's hard to imagine the Patrick Troughton era of the series without the contributions of the lead actor's excellent supporting co-star in Fraser Hines, who'd bring to life with conviction and heroism the Doctor's faithful friend in former highlander Jamie McCrimmon, at the Time Lord's side until the very end of his adventures with the epic The War Games. Yet Jamie's long-term contribution to the series almost never happened, with what was supposed to be the character's one and only adventure in The Highlanders. Thankfully, Troughton, who'd worked with Hines previously when he was a child actor, and popular producer Innes Lloyd recognised what a fine TARDIS travelling companion he'd be, the latter soon re-filming the story's original ending so that Jamie could become the series then third companion with other regulars Ben and Polly. After that it would be three years of fun, laughter and hard work behind the scenes for Hines, whose onscreen portrayal would bring joy to millions of viewers and make Jamie a sex symbol of sorts to the female viewers. A Scottish hero legend for Who was born!
Now in hiding with their injured Laird, Jamie attends to his bag pipes as Alexander keeps watch.
As first seen, with cap and bagpipes.
Piper and warrior Jamie, as seen in the opening episode of The Highlanders, escaped from the Culloden massacre alongside William Dysart as Alexander McLaren.
At one with the TARDIS inside its darkened control room, the shadowy figure of the first Doctor is busily making unusual preparations not just to depart the Antarctic ice realms of Earth, 1966, but also to renew his withered and fragile body after his prior exhausting battle with the Cybermen, newly emerged from their Tenth Planet realm known as Mondas.
A lovely animated reprise moment from the American colourised version of The Power of the Daleks.
The Cybermen's return to present day Earth is an unexpected and alarming factor for the Doctor and Ace, as are their plans to capture the unique living metal Validium weapon previously sent into space by the Time Lord.
A classic moment of a Cybermen hit by a golden arrow, from the 25th Anniversary adventure, Silver Nemesis.
And see the story, featuring all-new CGI, within the upcoming The Collection - Season 25 box set..
Their tracing an alien signal to modern day Earth, 1985, leads the recently regenerated Doctor and his less than keen assistant Peri to the site where the Time Lord's first onscreen adventures began, concurrent to the TARDIS now able to briefly use its nefarious 'chameleon circuit' (part of producer's John Nathan-Turner's publicity scheme linked to the potential removal of the series Police Box exterior, which was never going to be happen anyway...).
Attack of the Cybermen gets Colin Baker's era launched properly after the disappointment of the previous season's introductory affair, The Twin Dilemma.
Investigating the new shape of the TARDIS at Totter's Lane.
The first Dalek story in over five years, and in singular tale conflict against Peter Davison's soon-departing Doctor, were the populist elements to potential publicity greatness as a Radio Times cover promoting the then upcoming Resurrection of the Daleks. And what did we end-up with instead? Yes, a far more enticing (LOL!) generic shot of an Ice Skater for the Winter Olympics! And such a further disappointment after the prior distribution problems in the London area for the previous RT cover- winning showcase for the prestigious anniversary special, The Five Doctors!
Yes, Who was very unlucky in the eighties when it came to BBC publications promotions. As well as a New Season January 1982 cover for the new Doctor relegated to an inside feature, more of the show's coverage would be transplanted badly to the kiddies section at the back of the magazine two years later, and behind the radio section, where few readers bothered to look. Part of the corporation's ongoing disdain for the series for sure, at that point shown by the usual old snobby elitists who had tired of it by the later years of Tom Baker, and despite the genuine success of popular TV star Davison in the title role for three years.
Thankfully, there would be a great fan mock-up cover in the nineties for what could and should have been...
Another excellent variation image. Presumably the shoot was taken by BBC photo legend Don Smith?
In-Vision magazine's excellent cover imagining for the lost Radio Times cover of February 1984.
How it all ended up back in the original publication.
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