A Doctor Who History

William Hartnell- A short biography.

Born William Petty Hartnell at St.Pancras London in 1908 he was fostered on a farm in Devon he never knew the identity of his father, even his birth certificate failed to reveal his identity. His first acting role came in 1925 on stage in the show Miss Elizabeths prisoner, but his acting career was cut short by the out brake of World War Two where he signed up for the Tank Corps, only to be invalided out 18 months later having suffered a mental breakdown.

Hartnell played mainly comedy roles up until 1944 when he played an army sergeant which would become a theme as he went on to play army sergeants again, policemen and thugs until landing the role of the 'Doctor' in 1963. He was chosen for the role after coming to the attention of new producer Verity Lambert who had seen Hartnell in 'The Sporting Life.' Hartnell was actually reluctant to take on the role in Doctor Who but it would become the role he was and still is, most associated with. He earned £355 per episode making a total of 134 in all, totalling 29 stories between 1963 -1966.

William Hartnell returned to Doctor Who for its Tenth Anniversary special - The Three Doctors, but due to ill health only made cameo appearances and had his Iines on an auto cue.

William Hartnell died on the 23rd April 1975 aged 67. It had been his vision that saw that Doctor Who had a long future ahead, though even he could not have envisaged the cultural phenomonon it became. But as the pioneer of the show that he came to love, his portrayal of the Doctor rates as his finest legacy to us all.

Screen Credits - He acted in over 75 films here's a selection.
The way ahead (1944) Brighton Rock (1947) The Yangtze incident (1957)
Carry on Sergeant (1958) Jack pot (1960) And the same to you (1960)
Picaddilly third stop (1960) Heavens above (1963) This sporting life (1963)
Tomorrow at Ten (1964).

When Doctor Who first hit our screens each episode had an individual title and ran for 25 minutes approximatley and alternated between a historic location and science fiction location. The stories were mostly between 4 and 7 episodes in length. Hartnell's Doctor Mellowed from the irracible thoughtless man, who in An Unearthly child appears to lift a rock to kill Za rather than delay their escape, to become that of the intelligent gentleman full of wit and humour. Hartnell was well known for his fluffed lines though this was due to the onset of the illness that would take his life. In total he would travel with 9 companions in all, Ian, Barbara, Susan, Vicki, Steven, Katarina, Dodo, Ben and Polly before over seeing one of the most revolutionary pieces of TV...The changing of a lead character in a popular show.

Landmark stories:
The Daleks was the Doctors first encounter with the creatures from Skaro, it was this story that made Doctor Who an over night success. The end to episode one is considered one of the best cliff hangers in the shows history.

The Aztecs is thought to be Hartnells finest story with fantastic performances all round, an excellent script by John Lucarotti coupled with the believeable backdrop of the Aztec world made this story a classic.

The Myth Makers - Significant to William Hartnell as it was during filming that his stepmother died, such was the tight schedule he was unable to make the funeral.

The Tenth Planet significant for being Hartnells last story and for the first regeneration scene, the change of lead role was a major gamble for the producers.

William Hartnell starred in 29 storys listed below with episode totals.
SEASON ONE:
An Unearthly child (4),
The Daleks (7)
Edge of Destruction (2)
Marco Polo (7)
Keys of Marinus (6)
Aztecs (4)
The Sensorites (6)
The Reign of Terror (6)

SEASON TWO:
Planet of Giants (3)
Dalek invasion of Earth (6)
The Rescue (2)
The Romans (4)
The Web Planet (6)
The Crusades (4)
The Space Musuem (4)
The Chase (6)
The Time Meddler (4)

SEASON THREE
Galaxy Four (4)
Mission to the Unknown (1)
The Myth Makers (4)
The Dalek Master Plan (12)
The Massacre (4)
The Ark (4)
The Celestial Toymaker (4)
The Gunfighters (4)
The Savages (4)
The War Machines (4)

SEASON FOUR
The Smugglers (4)
The Tenth Planet (4)

Patrick Troughton - A short Biography.
Born Patrick George Troughton on 25th March 1920 he was raised in Mill Hill London, attending the local school there. He got into acting at an early age winning a scholarship in New York. With the outbreak of World War Two he returned to Britian only for his ship to be sunk in the Atlantic. He continued acting in Britian before joining the Royal Navy reaching the rank of Commander.

After the War he took up acting again eventually favouring TV, prior to this he had worked for Reps in Aversham, Bristol and Nottingham. In 1953 he became the first actor to play Robin Hood on TV making 6 episodes. He went on to make many more appearences in shows such as Survivors, Space 1999, The box of delights, The Invisible man, Knights of God and Inspector Morse. A notable film role was Father Brennen in The original Oman.

Screen Credits prior to Doctor Who were:
HAMLET [Parts 1 & 2] 1947 BADGER'S GREEN 1947,ESCAPE Along side Hartnell 1948 HAMLET 1948 CHANCE OF A LIFETIME 1950 THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR 1950 WATERFRONT 1950 THE WOMAN WITH NO NAME 1950 WHOLE WORLD OVER 1950 THE FAMILY REUNION 1950 ADVENTURE STORY 1950 WHITE CORRIDORS 1951 LINES OF COMMUNICATION 1952 KIDNAPPED 1952/3 ROBIN HOOD CLEMENTINA: CLEMENTINA PART 1 FOR THE SAKE OF A THRONE, RICHARD III 1955 THE ADVENTURES OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL 1955-56 SUNDAY-NIGHT THEATRE: THE WHITE FALCON 1956 THE ENDS OF JUSTICE 1956 CYCLING HOLIDAY 1956 KIDNAPPED 1956 THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN 1957 THE MOONRAKER 1957 THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD: THE DREAM 1957 Sir ASSIGNMENT FOREIGN LEGION: THE Conquering Hero 1957 PRECIOUS BANE 1958 SWORD OF FREEDOM, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CHARLIE CHAN, SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, THE DANGEROUS GAME EPISODE 1,1958 DIAL 999 1958 THE REBEL HEIRESS: TO WIN OR LOSE ALL 1958, H.G. WELLS' INVISIBLE MAN 1958, WILLIAM TELL 1958, THE CABIN IN THE CLEARING 1958 THE SCARF 1958, THE HILL 1959, THE NAKED LADY 1959, BBC TELEVISION WORLD THEATRE: THE SILVER BOX 1959, THE MOONSTONE EPISODE 2 1959, THE HISTORY OF MR POLLY 1959, NO HIDING PLACE: STALAG STORY 1959 THREE GOLDEN NOBLES 1959, THE FOUR JUST MEN 1959, MAIGRET AND THE LOST LIFE 1959, THE SPLENDID SPUR: Joan Of THE Tor 1960, NO HIDING PLACE 1960, PAUL OF TARSUS: THE Feast of Pentecost 1960, SIR FRANCIS DRAKE: THE BRIDGE 1962, WUTHERING HEIGHTS 1962, THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP 1963, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS 1963, LORNA DOONE 1963, THE GORGON 1964, DR. FINLAY'S CASEBOOK: A TEST OF INTELLIGENCE 1964, NO HIDING PLACE: THE STREET 1965.

He was chosen for the role of the Doctor by then Producer Innes Loyd who claimed he was the only man in England who could help create TV history when they gambled on changing the lead role of Doctor Who, they had also made a decision not to get a look alike or sound alike for William Hartnell. He made 119 episodes in the lead role, 21 storys in total, making his character very different from Hartnells. He started out in loud check trousers and a stove pipe hat, playing a recorder, His Doctor was an unassuming, rather shabby little man who quietly asserted his authority on any fraught situation.

Troughton very rarely made public appearences during his time as the Doctor, nor did he give interviews, he left Doctor Who after three seasons fearing the possiblity of type casting. He appeared with 5 companions, Ben, Polly, Jamie, Victoria and Zoe.

He made three other appearances in Doctor Who starring in the tenth anniversary story The Three Doctors, the twentieth anniversary story, The Five Doctors and finally along side Colin Bakers Doctor in The Two Doctors. Making a final tally of 24 storys and a total of 127 episodes.

Patrick Troughton died on March 28th 1987 while attending a Doctor Who convention in the USA.

Landmark Storys:
The Power of the Daleks, Troughtons first appearence as the Doctor, it was vital his portrayal captivated the fans, some of whom were not happy with a change of lead role. It was his instant charm and convincing portrayal that ensured the idea of Regeneration was accepted and ensured the shows survival.

The Tomb of the Cyberman. Considered a classic this story pushed the limits of the show to its scariest. Excellently directed by Morris Barry the cast work well together. Memorable for the appearance of the Cyber Controller it featured the Cybermats for the first time. The tombs as they defrost showing the forms of the sleeping cybermen rates amongst the best in the shows history. The story was considered lost until it was rediscovered in 1997 in Hong Kong.

The Enemy of the World - Troughton plays the Doctor and the evil Salamander in this story where Salamander is controlling the natural forces such as the weather. This story really showed Troughtons versitility as an Actor.

The War Games - The longest and last story of the second Doctor, Not only does he act opposite his son David,we find out that the Doctor belongs to a race called Time Lords. We see him start to regenerate as he he is sentanced to exile on Earth.

Listed below are Troughtons storys and episode length.

Season Four continued
The Power of the Daleks (6)
The Highlanders (4)
The Underwater Menace (4)
The Moonbase (4)
The Macra Terror (4)
The Faceless ones (6)
The Evil of the Daleks (7)

Season Five
The Tomb of the Cybermen (4)
The abominable Snowmen (6)
The Ice Warriors (6)
The Enemy of the World (6)
The Web of Fear (6)
Fury from the Deep (6)
The Wheel in Space (6)

Season Six
The Dominators (5)
The Mind Robber (5)
The Invasion (8)
The Krotons (4)
Seeds of Death (6)
The Space Pirates (6)
The War Games (10)

Jon Pertwee - A short Biography.
Born John Devon Roland Pertwee, in Chelsea, London on July 7th 1919 to famous playwrite Roland Pertwee, the family were originally French Hugenots who escaped during events that would lead to the St.Bartholomew day Massacre. He regularly said if you are a Pertwee and living in England then you were related.

Shortly after his birth, his mother Avice divorced his father and he and older brother Michael went to live with their granny and Uncle Guy in Caterham-on-the -Hill in Surrey, where he made his first stage appearence aged 4. He was expelled from most educational establishments he attended including the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and told he had no future as an actor.

In 1938 he made his first radio appearence in the BBC show Lilliberero and appeared in his fathers play 'To Kill a cat' before the outbreak of the Second World War. Numbered P/JX178358 Pertwee joined the Royal Navy when War broke out in 1939 and he was Posted on HMS Hood. Passing an officer interview he was taken off the ill fated ship just four days before its battle against the Bismark, his father even received a letter informing him that Jon had gone down with the ship.

He was stationed later in the War at Scapa Flow before moving onto the Isle of Man where he founded the Servicemens players Thetre Rep, his other contribution to the defence of the Isle of Man was ramming Douglas harbour thinking he had sighted a German U-Boat! He was caught in two bomb blast, one of which would affect his back for the rest of his life, during one attack on Portsmouth barracks he was presumed dead, for the second time during the war he recovered!

After the War he continued with acting performing in Cabaret, TV, Film and Radio. On radio imparticular he made a name for himself as a comedy actor in Waterlogged Spa, alongside Eric Barker, and Puffney Post Office in which he played a hapless old postman with the catch-phrase "It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you tears them up". He is probably better known on Radio for his role as Chief Petty Officer Pertwee in 'The Navy Lark' which ran for a record 18 years. After Doctor Who he created another smash hit, Worzel Gummidge who was his favourite character,

Jon Pertwee suffered a heart attack and died in the USA on 20th May 1996 ending a career that spanned more than 60 years, generations of people grew up with Jon Pertwee whether it was as the Doctor or Worzel, but one thing is for sure he was an amazing talent who rarely got the credit he deserved.

FILM CREDITS:(A SELECTION)
A Yank at Oxford 1937 Dinner at the Ritz, 1937 Young Man's Fancy, 1939
The Four Just Men 1939 There Ain't No Justice!1939
Mr. Short, A Piece of Cake, 1946, Penny and the Pownall Case, 1947
Miss Pilgrim's Progress 1950, Mr. Drake's Duck, 1951 Will Any Gentleman.1953, It's a Wonderful World,1956, Not a Hope in Hell, Archway, 1960
Carry On, Cleo 1964, Carry On, Cowboy 1965, How to Undress in Public without Undue Embarrassment, 1965, Carry On Screaming! 1966, One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing, 1975, Carry On, Columbus 1992.

It was down to then producer Barry Letts to replace the outgoing Patrick Troughton as the Doctor and so he was delighted when one of the actors he had short listed actually applied. This of cause was Jon Pertwee who had applied on the suggestion of Tenniel Evans, co-star of the Navy Lark. Taking on the role Pertwee's costume was flamboyant with dashing cloaks, very much the action hero his Doctor was far more dynamic. Pertwee's era is unique as it was the first to be made in colour and seasons were shorter than those previously seen. Staying on for 5 years he became the longest serving actor in the role. It is during Pertwees Tenure as the Doctor that the show enjoyed its highest ratings, and the name of the Doctors home world is finally revealed. It was once his team of Katy Manning (Jo grant), Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier) and along with the death of close friend Roger Delgado (The Master) that Pertwee decided to call it a day. For many fans he is the diffinitive Doctor, all ways consistant in performances you see something of Jon Pertwee permiate out of the Doctor, a love for speed, machiens, action and team work as well as the comedy and character acting that appeared occasionally.

In total he made 124 episodes, 24 storys in total as the Doctor, his final appearence in the series its self was in the twentieth anniversary story 'The Five Doctors.' He had three companions as the Doctor, Elizabeth (Liz) Shaw, Jo Grant and Sarah Jane Smith. His Doctor is notable for having never met the Cybermen.

Landmark Storys:
Spearhead from Space - The Doctor begins his exile and it is the first colour story. It is also shot mainly on film and eases Pertwee into the role. UNIT also starts to take a major part in storys during the Third Doctors era.

Terror of the Autons - The first appearence of the Master as played by Roger Delgado, in fact the Master would appear in all the stories of this season (see list below).

The Deamons- Filmed on location in the idylic village of Aldbourne we see the cast at its best. A story full of witty lines, and supposedly Pertwee's favourite. Delgado is particular on form for the season finale!

The Time Warrior - Significant as it is the debut story of Elizabeth Sladen who would become one of the longest serving companions, we also meet the Sontarans for the first time and Gallifrey is named as the Doctors home world. This is also a fantastically acted story.

The Planet of the Spiders - Marks the end of another era of Doctor Who, during the Seventies the show witnessed a sharp increase in viewing figures and popularity.

listed below are Pertwee's storys and episode lengths.

Season Seven
Spearhead from Space (4)
The Silurians (7)
The Ambassadors of Death (7)
Inferno (7)

Season Eight
Terror of the Autons (4)
The Mind of Evil (6)
The Claws of Axos (4)
Colony in Space (6)
The Deamons (5)

Season Nine
Day of the Daleks (4)
The Curse of Peladon (4)
The Sea Devils (6)
The Mutants (6)
The Time Monster (6)

Season Ten
The Three Doctors (4)
Carnival of Monsters (4)
Frontier in Space (6)
Planet of the Daleks (6)
The Green Death (6)

Season Eleven
The Time Warrior (4)
Invasion of th Dinosaurs (6)
Death to the Daleks (4)
The Monster of Peladon (6)
The Planet of the Spiders (6)

Tom Baker - A short biography.
Born on the 20th January 1934 on Scotland road Liverpool to a strong Catholic family. Baker said in his Autobiography that he spent the war years collecting shrapnel to aid the war effort as well as wishing to become an orphan so he could receive presents from the American servicemen. He left school at 15 to become a novice monk in Jersey and remained in the monastic life for six years, but left after losing his faith. He did his National Service between 1955 -57 serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps at the same time he took up acting as a hobby.

After leaving the army he went to the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, Sidcup where he met Anna Wheatcroft whoes family owned the Wheatcroft flower business in Nottingham. They married and had two sons, living for a time at Bunny Hall, South Nottinghamshire, but the marriage ended in divorce.

Leaving and living a life of poverty Baker claimed to have performed in failures and disasters for the most part and ended up in York with best friend Laurie Taylor where they performed a late-night pub revue for the 1968 York Festival, Late Night Lowther, they aquired a late drinking licence, the first in the city which allowed the Lowther to open until 2pm, it still does to this day. In the performance Baker played the role of a dog called Clint and caught the eye of someone from the National Theatre. Successfully auditioning for Laurence Olivier, Baker took small parts and understudied, one of his bigger roles being the horse Rosinante in Don Quixote. Now attracting the attention of television directors, he won small parts in major series between 1968 and 1970 including Dixon of Dock Green, Market In Honey Lane and Softly, Softly. Olivier suggested Baker for the role of the 'mad monk' Rasputin in the film Nicholas and Alexandra 1971, and he highlighted Baker's slightly sinister magnetism as something to watch. Baker went on to be nominated for best support actor and best newcomer. It was for his role in Sinbad that he came to the attention of Barry Letts. producer of Doctor Who.

After the Doctor Baker suffered from type casting, he has however had a varied career starring in Medics, Monach of the Glen, voicing Little Britian and doing numerous adverts. His voice is considered the fourth most reconisable in the UK after the Queen, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.

Tom Baker came to the attention of Barry Letts while watching him in Sinbad, at the time Letts was struggling to find a replacement for Pertwee so set about arranging a meeting. Baker at the time worked on a building site as he was between jobs and was genuinely shocked to be asked. Initially, Baker had no fixed ideas on how to play the Doctor, so he was happy to be guided by Letts and Robert Holmes, the series script editor. The only firm idea that he had was that his Doctor must not be a dandy, thereby avoiding direct comparisons with Pertwee's Doctor. Baker was taken to a costume house and told to come up with a costume. The look he chose was influenced by a poster by French Impressionist Toulouse-Lautrec of a man with a big red scarf and wide brimmed fedora. Instead of a red scarf Baker settled on a multicoloured design, however measurements seem to have been lost in communication so when he went back to collect the scarf, it was over 20 feet long however the iconic image of the 4th Doctor was in place.

Tom Baker became the longest serving actor in the role and was well known allegedly for imposing his personality on directors, however the show continued from where Pertwee left off and continued to be successful, attacting over 11 million viewers. Bakers portrayal of the Role is considered diffinitive and for most classic Who fans he is THE Doctor. Staying on for seven years took its toll, Baker fell ill toward the end of his time on the show and the series called for a change, Baker stepped down after 7 years, 42 story's and a total of 172 episodes. He turned down the chance to take the lead in the Five Doctors stating a return would be 'to soon' and so an extensive re-write of the script had to be done at the last minute.

His Doctor travelled with Eight companions, Sarah Jane Smith, Leela, K9, Romana 1, Romana 2, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric.

Landmark Storys:
Robot - The birth of a legend, Tom Baker wastes no time showing people his potential and more than filling the gap left by Jon Pertwee.

Genesis of the Daleks - Arguably the best Doctor Who story of all time. We meet Davros for the first time as the Doctor goes back to Skaro to avert the Daleks creation. With some fantastic lines and great performances it ranks very highly with WHO fans. It was also the first glimpse of the gothic horror that incoming producer Phillip Hinchcliffe would bring to the show.

The Hand of Fear- The final story of one of the longest companions. Elizabeth Sladen had played the role of Sarah Jane Smith from 1974 with Pertwee until this story in 1976 starring in 18 storys.

The Deadly Assassin - The only story in the classic era where the Doctor is without a companion, Baker even stated he would like it to continue. Some of the imagerary of this story received the wrath of Mary Whitehouse who had started the listeners and viewers association to monitor TV and Radio content. Finally the story sees the return of the Master for the first time since 1973.

Stones of Blood- Noticable for being the 100th Doctor Who Story.

City of Death - Boasts the first location filming outside of the UK. Set in Paris the opening episode sports various Parisian locations, it was also penned by Douglas Adams of Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy fame, who happened to be script editor at the time.

Logopolis - 'This is the end, but the moment has been prepared for!' The last line of one of the most dynamic and enigmatic actors in the shows history, his departure after being in the role for so long is quite moving. And like the Doctor he apparently never said good bye after his final shoot.

Listed below are Bakers storys and episode length.

Season Twelve
Robot (4)
The Ark in Space (4)
The Sontaran Experiment (2)
Genesis of the Daleks (6)
Revenge of the Cybermen (4)

Season Thirteen
Terror of the Zygons (4)
Planet of Evil (4)
Pyramids of Mars (4)
The Android Invasion (4)
The Brian of Morbius (4)
The Seeds of Doom (6)

Season Fourteen
The Masque of Mandragora (4)
The Hand of Fear (4)
The Deadly Assassin (4)
The Face of Evil (4)
Robots of death (4)
The Talons of Weng-Chiang (6)

Season Fifteen
The Horror of Fang Rock (4)
The Invisible Enemy (4)
Image of the Fendhal (4)
The Sunmakers (4)
Underworld (4)
The Invasion of Time (6)

Season Sixteen (Key to Time)
The Ribos Operation (4)
The Pirate Planet (4)
The Stones of Blood (4)
The Androids of Tara (4)
The Power of Kroll (4)
The Armageddon Factor (6)

Season Seventeen
Destiny of the Daleks (4)
City of Death (4)
The Creature from the pit (4)
Nightmare of Eden (4)
Horns of Nimon (4)
Shada (never completed nor broadcast) (6)

Season Eighteen
The Leisure Hive (4)
Meglos (4)
Full Circle (4)
State of Decay (4)
Warrior's Gate (4)
The Keeper of Traken (4)
Logopolis (4)

Peter Davison- A short Biography.
Born Peter Moffat in Streatham, London on April 9th 1951. Taking up acting he studied at the Central school of Speech and Drama, where one of his first Jobs was an assistant manager at the Nottingham Playhouse a post he aquired after taking a small role in Love Labours lost at the same venue. It was at this time he decided to change his name to Peter Davison to avoid confusion with director Peter Moffat who he later worked with on Doctor Who. His first job on TV was in the Tomorrow people where he met his future wife, American Sandra Dickenson. He became a father on Christmas day 1984 when his wife gave birth to a daughter, Georgia Elizabeth, at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London. Ten years later, however, his marriage to Dickinson broke down and they separated. Although he has taken occasional roles in theatre, radio and film, most of the actor's work has been in the medium for which he is best known: television. His credits have included Anna of the Five Towns (1985), A Very Peculiar Practice (1986), Campion (1989), Ain't Misbehavin (1994). In addition, he has reprised his popular role of Tristan Farnon on a number of occasions for one-off specials and revival seasons of All Creatures Great and Small.

When Peter Davison signed a three year contract on the advice of Patrick Troughton, he became the youngest actor to portray the Timelord aged just 29, until the casting of Matt Smith (2009). Making Twenty storys, a total of 65 episodes his tenure as the Doctor suffered from weak scripts, of which he complained, and weak supporting acting in some of his companions of which he travelled. There were five companions in total in the shape of... Tegan, Nyssa, Adric, Turlough and Peri. It was during Davisons tenure as the Doctor that the show began to be bounced around the schedules after loosing its Saturday evening slot for the first time in 19 years, however he attracted good ratings as his storys were aired two episodes per week. Davison has since gone on record as saying he had been to young for the role.

Landmark Story's:
Earthshock- Not only do you see the return of the Cybermen for the first time since 1975 but it is also the first time since 1965 that a companion of the Doctor looses thier life...The unfortunate in this case being the less than popular Adric played by Matthew Waterhouse.

Arc of Infinity - A return of an old baddy, Omega is seen for the first time since the Three Doctors, it is also a return to Gallifrey for the Doctor where he is shot by Commander Maxil played by none other than future Doctor Colin Baker.

Mawdryn Undead - The return of the Black Guardian first seen in the Tom Baker story Armageddon Factor, the role was played then as in this story by Valentine Dyall a famous radio actor - this story is the start of the Black Guardian Trilogy and is proceeded by Terminus and Enlightenment.

The Five Doctors - The Twentieth anniversary of Doctor Who, it used clips of William Hartnell in the Dalek invasion of Earth and The reign of Terror, his role in the story was played by Richard Hurndall, Tom Baker appeared in clips from the unfinished and unbroadcast story Shada. It is packed with lots of memorable aliens such as Yeti, Raston Robot and Daleks, the third Doctor also meets the Cybermen for the first time in this incarnation.

Resurrection of the Daleks - Famous for having the largest on screen death count of any Doctor Who, it even beat films like Terminator. Tegan leaves the Doctor in this adventure after filming 19 storys in total.

Caves of Androzani - Written by the immortal Robert Holmes this is rated one of the all time classics of Doctor Who, it generates amazing atmosphere from beginning to end and everyone is on top form. The regeneration scene was fantastically acted by Davison...If you can draw your attention away fro Nicola Bryants (Peri) cleavage!
Ironically it was this type of script Davison had hoped for from the start.

Listed below are Davisons storys and episode length.

Season Nineteen
Castrovalva (4)
Four to Doomsday (4)
Kinda (4)
The Visitation (4)
Black Orchid (2)
Earth Shock (4)
Time Flight (4)

Season Twenty
Arc of Infinity (4)
Snake Dance (4)
Mawdryn Undead (4)
Terminus (4)
Enlightenment (4)
The Kings Demons (2)
The Five Doctors (90 min Special)

Season Twentyone
Warriors of the Deep (4)
The Awakening (2)
Frontios (4)
Resurrection of the Daleks (2 -45 min episodes)
Planet of Fire (4)
The Caves of Androzani (4)

Colin Baker - A short Biography.

Born in London on the 8th June 1943 Colin would eventually move with his family to Rochdale, very academic, he became a solicitor but soon began to venture into acting. He joined the London Academy of Music and dramatic art (LAMDA) where he learnt his trade from David Suchet.

In 1970 he landed his first role in Roads to Freedom. His most famous role during the seventies was the villain Paul Merronrey in 'The Brothers.' He starred later in the Blakes Seven story The City at the edge of the World before landing a role as commander Maxil in Doctor Who. After Doctor Who he concentrated mainly on theatre work but has played the Sixth Doctor many times in audio versions of the show produced by big finish.

After loosing his son in 1983 from sudden infant death syndrome Colin has worked tirelessly to raise funds, and awarness of SIDS.

Colin has also starred in a series similiar to Doctor Who called simply 'The Stranger' which really gives an insight into the actors ability.

Colin Baker was chosen for the role according to Eric Saward (See DVD Ultimate Foe Extras) for being entertaining at a wedding reception attended by then Producer John Nathan Turner. Baker went on record as saying he wanted a good crack at beating Tom Bakers record of seven years in the role, however everything conspired against him as the show entered its most turbulent period.

Though Colins Doctor reverted back to Hartnells untrustworthyness, his costume became one of ridicule which allowed the show to be mocked. Half way through his first season it was announced that the show was to be taken off, this sparked a massive outcry from fans, and a save the Doctor led press campaign. The shows hiatus lasted 18 months. The original decision had been made by Micheal Grade who thought the show to violent and storys of poor quality. However the show did return, the season had been allocated 14 episodes which was made as one story 'The Trial of a Time Lord' It was considered rather risky at the time as the show was literally on trial, though this was denied at the time.

After the show it was decided the Doctor was to return but Colin was told he was to be sacked and replaced, due to this he quite rightly did not return for the regeneration sequence. Even today there is a mystery surrounding the true reasons behind releasing Colin, he was certainly made a scapegoat by the powers that be to safeguard their own jobs. Colin Baker had showed promise in the role and worked fantastically with Nicola Bryant, however what he would have made of the role is lost in time. Despite Baker's time in the role being punctuated with numerous personal and professional problems the 18 month hiatus which followed his first full season and finally his high-profile sacking, Baker remains enthusiastic about his time as the Doctor. He is a regular at conventions and fan events and has returned to the role of the 6th Doctor in numerous audio stories and webcasts.
He holds the dubious record as the shortest tenure as the Doctor making just 8 storys, totalling 31 episodes. he had just two companions, Peri and Mel.

Landmark Storys.
The Two Doctors- Patrick Troughtons last appearence as the Doctor, this Robert Holmes story is set partly on Location in Seville. We see the return of the Sontarans for the first time since 1977.

The Trial of a Timelord - The longest story in the shows history, the series was literally on trial, but the story saved the show if not its lead actor. However Baker has some classic lines in this. His last lines as the Doctor though are rather unfortunate and a terrible way to end a story...'carrot juice carrot juice carrot juice!'

Listed below are Bakers storys and episode length.

Season Twenty-one continued
The Twin Dilemma

Season Twenty-two
Attack of the Cybermen (2 -45 mins)
Vengeance on Varos (2 -45 mins)
The Mark of the Rani (2 - 45 mins)
The Two Doctors (2 -45 mins)
Timelash (2 -45 mins)
Revelation of the Daleks (2 -45 mins)

Season Twenty-Three
The Trial of a Timelord (14)

Sylvester McCoy a short biography.
Born Percy James patrick Kent-Smith in Dunoon, Scotland on the 20th August 1943 he was raised primarily in Dublin. He trained for the priesthood, but soon gave this up and spent time working in the insurance industry. He worked in The Roundhouse box office for a time, where he was discovered by Ken Campbell.

He came to prominence as a member of the comedy act "The Ken Campbell Roadshow". His best known act was as a stuntman character called "Sylveste McCoy" in a play entitled An Evening with Sylveste McCoy, where his stunts included putting a fork and nails up his nose and stuffing ferrets down his trousers. Kent-Smith adopted his stage name.

Some years later he realised that there were thirteen letters in 'Sylveste McCoy' and feeling that this might be unlucky, McCoy added an 'r' to the end of 'Sylveste' he went on to make some memorable television appearances before he gained the role of the Doctor which included roles in Vision On, Jigsaw and Tiswas.

McCoy also acted in one-man shows on the stage and appeared as Henry Bowers in the 1985 television mini series about Robert Falcon Scott's last Antarctic expedition, The Last Place On Earth. Since Doctor Who he has made numerous stage appearance.

Taking over the reigns from Colin Baker he performed his own regeneration scene for his first story as the latter did not want to appear. he precided over the shortest seasons in the shows history. At first his Doctor was some what clown like but toward the end he became darker, manipulating events and rediscovering something of the Mystery of the Doctor which had been so evident in the early years. His final season is very dark and macarbre and you begin to feel the shows scripts and performances were taking the show to new heights...However this was not to be, at the end of Survival Ace and the Doctor dissapear from our screens seemingly forever. Sylvester McCoy had Two companions, Mel and Ace, made 12 storys and a total of 42 episodes.

Landmark storys.
Time and the Rani: McCoy becomes the first actor to film his own regeneration in its entirity, acting as an unconcious Colin Baker at the start. We see Kate O'Mara return as the Rani.

Remembrance of the Daleks - The story echoes back to the first Doctor, set at Coal Hill school where it all began in 1963. The Daleks and Davros witness the destruction of Skaro.

Battlefield- The Brigadier appears meaning actor Nicholas Courtney had acted with six of the seven doctors, it is also the first story of a series that delves into the darker side of the doctor hinting he may be more than just a Time Lord.

Survival - The last classic story, an era came sadly to an end with the closing credits. After 24 years, 158 storys, 696 episodes the classic series was confined to the annuls of history...Whether it would return or not, well time would tell, it always does.

Listed below are McCoys storys and episode length.

Season Twenty-Four
Time and the Rani (4)
Paradise Towers (4)
Delta and the Bannermen (3)
Dragonfire (3)

Season Twenty-Five
Remembrance of the Daleks (4)
Happiness Patrol (3)
Silver Nemesis (3)
The Greatest show in the Galaxy (4)

Season Twenty-Six
Battlefield (4)
Ghost Light (3)
The Curse of Fenric (4)
Survival (3)

from 1963 to 1989 generations grew up with their own Doctor, each fan has an era that is special to them. Each actor to play the role brought something new and really believed in what they were doing. The heady days of the Seventies set a precedence for the show that the Eighties would eventually fail to live up to.

But whether it's the theme music, monsters or actors, the show was the springboard for talent and great story telling, a journey into our imaginations, sheer escapism from the reality of real life.

Script quality and acting vary toward the end of the show and Colin Baker became a scape goat for a show that had become stale and dated, even as a Doctor Who fan I really look at the first four Doctors for a reason the show continued for so long, that and the actors and excellent script writing and editing.

The worlds longest running science fiction show has of course made a fantastic and succesful come back thanks to those fans who refused to let the Doctor die.

'There are worlds out there where the sky is burning,
the sea's asleep and the rivers dream,
A city made of smoke, people full of song,
a place where there's danger,
a place where there's injustice,
a place where the cup of teas going cold,
come on Ace we have work to do.

With these words the Doctor would dissapear from our screen for seven years, and not return in a full series for another 16.

NEW SERIES LENS COMING SOON!!!!

An Unearthly Child
The Daleks
Edge of Destruction
Keys of Marinus (coming soon)
The Aztecs
Dalek Invasion of Earth
The Rescue
The Romans
The Web Planet
The Time Meddler
The War Machiens
Tomb of the Cybermen
The Mind Robber
The Invasion
The Seeds of Death
The War games
Spearhead from Space
The Silurians
Inferno
Claws of Axos
Sea Devils
Three Doctors
Carnival of Monsters
Frontier in Space (Coming soon)
Planet of the Daleks (Coming soon)
The Green Death
The Time Warrior
Robot
Ark in Space
Sontaran Experiment
Genesis of the Daleks
Planet of Evil
Pyramids of Mars
Brain of Morbius
The Hand of Fear
Deadly Assassin
Robots of Death
Talons of Weng-Chiang
Horror of Fang Rock
Invisible enemy
Image of the Fendahl
Invasion of Time
The Key to time box set (all storys)
Destiny of the Daleks
City of Death
Leisure Hive
Full Circle
State of Decay
Warriors Gate
Keeper of Traken
Logopolis
Castrovalva
Four to Doomsday
Visitation
Black Orchid
Earth Shock
Time Flight
Arc of infinity
Mawdryn Undead (Coming soon)
Terminus (Coming soon)
Enlightenment (Coming soon)
The Five Doctors
Warriors of the Deep
Ressurection of the Daleks
Caves of Androzani
The Twin Dilemma (Coming soon)
Attack of the Cybermen
Vengeance on Varos
Mark of the Rani
The Two Doctors
Time Lash
Revelation of the Daleks
The Trial of a Time Lord
Time and the Rani
Delta and the Bannermen
Remembrance of the Daleks (Re-released with bonus extra's)
Battlefield
Ghost Light
Curse of Fenric
Survival