Hiatuseses

Doctor Who came back after seven years and it would take another nine years for it to return again. That leaves 15 years of no new televised Doctor Who on the BBC. None? There was, of course Dimensions in Time, which was made for the 30th anniversary and broadcast in aid of Children in Need. This was an attempt to shoehorn as many Doctors and Doctor Who monsters that weren’t created by Terry Nation into 13 minutes of television. It has a semblance of a plot, but that is not the point of the ‘story’. It is a nicotine patch for those who had been missing the programme and fulfils that purpose. Yes, it is dramatically worthless, but it clearly isn’t a Doctor Who story, whatever JNT thought- how can it be, when it crosses over with EastEnders? It is, incidentally, the first story that was written by the Turner and it is obvious that his talents lay elsewhere. JNT is still vilified by a certain section of fandom, but I must say at this point that his tenure started with a much-needed revitalisation of the programme and ended with two excellent seasons. True, he made some bad decisions which probably were a result of his lack of creative experience, but it is a shame that he is still hated by some fans.

Then there was the 1999 Comic Relief skit The Curse of Fatal Death. Again, this is blatantly not a proper Doctor Who story, but, unlike its Children in Need predecessor, this is a wonderful celebration of the programme that has ten times more understanding of the programme (and, indeed, good television) in its 25 minutes than the Paul McGann movie did in 85. Here, the Doctor is a hero, an adventurer and a scientist, a man of wit and compassion. Rowan Atkinson’s performance is different, yet instantly recognisable. We are then treated to excellent portrayals by Richard E Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant and Joanna Lumley. Jonathan Pryce (one of the most gifted actors in the world) is wonderful as the Master and Julia Sawalha plays a role that she blatantly would have played anyway, had the programme continued. The script by Steven Moffat is hilarious, but full of hope: ‘Perhaps even the Universe can’t bear to be without the Doctor’.

There were a few revivals on radio, the only one of which I have heard is the epic and highly recommended Death Comes to Time. Then, there were the comic strips (which I never read) and books. I read a few New Adventures, Missing Adventures, Eighth Doctor Adventures and Past Doctor Adventures, but it wasn’t the same- the only ones I ever re-read were Lungbarrow and Human Nature (for obvious reasons). There were also some semi-professional video releases, which ranged from being amateur but entertaining, to being genuinely horrible. Later came the Big Finish audios, which I’ve listened to a few of, which always feel professional and sometimes have genuinely great stories. As far as I was concerned, however, these new efforts, excellent though some of them were, were not something I would show any real loyalty to.

Then came Scream of the Shalka. It seemed that, if we were ever to see any more proper Doctor Who, this was the closest we’d get. Paul Cornell’s story was simply, yet very effectively written with great performances from a fantastic cast. Richard E Grant made a fine Doctor and was ably supported by the legendary Sir Derek Jacobi and the wonderful Sophie Okonedo. The animation by Cosgrove Hall was very good and I could have been converted to being a regular viewer, had these animated adventures continued. However, it was not to be- and for the most wonderful reason possible…

NEXT: "Rose"