Doctor In Distress

Reader mode

El Pip

unclepatrick said:
The question of who should have taken over from JNT has been covered on a couple of threads before.
Phillip Hinchcliffe was the only name that i ever seen any one mention to take over the show.
Any one else that could have taken over from JNT?
Click to expand...
As the aim is "heal the wounds" then there are few candidates.

But if the BBC had decided "fresh start" then they could have gone for someone who knew Sci-Fi but was not Dr Who. Take it in a different direction without the baggage of the JNT era or any axe to grind about 'undoing' what had been done. Say Vere Lorrimer, trusted by the BBC and produced the last series of Blakes 7 so had Sci-Fi chops but had done lighter work as well. That said, going for an old Dr Who alumni was a safer bet for keeping the fans on side, so I can see why the BBC did it.
 

nezza

El Pip said:
As the aim is "heal the wounds" then there are few candidates.

But if the BBC had decided "fresh start" then they could have gone for someone who knew Sci-Fi but was not Dr Who. Take it in a different direction without the baggage of the JNT era or any axe to grind about 'undoing' what had been done. Say Vere Lorrimer, trusted by the BBC and produced the last series of Blakes 7 so had Sci-Fi chops but had done lighter work as well. That said, going for an old Dr Who alumni was a safer bet for keeping the fans on side, so I can see why the BBC did it.
Click to expand...
And as I said PH will only be around for 2 series. He will be a bridge between old and new.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nicola Bryant: "We returned to work in April 1988 and it was so surreal. Philip had ordered that security be around at all time so to and from the studios we were escorted and were shadowed at all times. It was because he wanted no leaks before the shows went out out over Christmas . He also employed someone to watch over us in case our emotions were strained. I believe her name was Jessica and she was a trained psychologist and I have to say that having her there was a great comfort"

Shaun Ley: Your departure story was transmitted first on Christmas Day 1988. How did Philip manage the production?

NB: He was a lovely man, I'd heard how respected he was from his previous stint and within an hour of meeting him I felt like I'd know him forever. He was funny, smart and so kind. I remember he brought his daughter Celina with him on a few occasions, she was adorable and even had a bit part in my last story. Nowadays she's better known as a reporter for ITV but when we met years later she told me she still had warm memories of being on the show.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shaun Ley: Did you have any notions as to who would take over as the Doctor?

Colin Baker: I'd heard all sorts of rumours about who was to take over. Sylvester Mccoy, Ken Campbell, Gareth Hunt and even Graham Chapman! All good actors but I did think Graham as the Doctor would be controversial.

SL: Is it true you met the 7th Doctor during the initial meetings?

CB: Yes. Nicola and I were in Philip's office when the intercom buzzed. He left the room for a few minutes and we sat there in silence. When he came back in later with the 7th Doctor my jaw dropped. Nicola was stunned and then she burst into tears of joy....
 

nezza

Time to bring it to an end.
PARTING OF THE WAYS
Tx: Sunday 25th December 1988 8.15 PM BBC 1
90 Minutes long

The TARDIS lands in Chicago in 1933. The Doctor and Peri start to explore the city when they are caught up in drive by attack by the Mafia. In the confusion the pair are separated and knocked out by an explosion.

The Doctor wakes up in a hospital but has no idea how he got there....or who he is. Peri meanwhile wakes up in a bedroom. Standing over her is a English businessman called John Hartman. John explains that he was in a taxi which was caught up in the attack. He saw Peri on the ground and rescued her. She's badly shaken but fine. She asks about the Doctor. John says he doesn't know who she's talking about.

The Doctor is questioned by the local police department but is unable to answer any questions. His memory is a blank.

Peri meanwhile is recovering from her ordeal thanks to John's help. He is a widow and moved to Chicago to start anew. Peri is still frantic about the Doctor. John calls every hospital in the phone book but all to no avail.

Meanwhile the Doctor is still in hospital. He is slipping in and out of consciousness. Images of alien worlds, metallic monsters and a strange voice haunt his dreams. He overhears two nurses say that they're going to take him to the "funny farm". This snaps him awake, leaping out of bed he is able to open a window, race down the fire escape and out into Chicago...

Peri is still worried sick about the Doctor. John suggests a trip to the opera might help her to relax. The evening goes well and the two return to John's home.

The Doctor meanwhile is stumbling through Chicago. He sees both the best and worst of life. He keeps collapsing into comas and every time he does so he hears the same voice.

Peri and John are driven back to the area where he found her in an attempt to solve the mystery of the Doctor's disappearance. Walking down the alleyway where the TARDIS is still parked they see that it is cordoned off by the police. John asks Peri what is going on. She tells him everything. He tells her she's crazy and walks off leaving Peri distraught.

The Doctor wakes up and finds himself in a police cell. He demands to be let out but the Sergeant is having none of it.

Peri meanwhile tries to break through the cordon to get back to the TARDIS but shots ring out and she collapses....waking up the following day she sees John at her bedside. The police found a card with John's address on Peri. John has been told by the police what happened and he has no choice but to believe her. Peri asks John to help her get back to the TARDIS.

The Doctor meanwhile is still in the police cell and is still having the same dream...that voice.

Peri is still in hospital when an orderly with a wheelchair comes up to her. Its John. He tells Peri to get into the wheelchair and they escape. Returning to the TARDIS Peri starts frantically pressing every button and pulling every lever to get moving. In her frustration she kicks the console and it reacts. The scanner is activated...

The Doctor meanwhile is due to be sent to the asylum. Two guards enter his cell and try to drug him. At that moment the TARDIS is able to establish a psychic link. His memories return and he uses a form of Venusian Akido to over power the guards. Taking one as hostage and threatening to inject him or anyone the Doctor is able to escape. Racing back to the TARDIS he and Peri are reunited whilst an astounded John looks on.

The next few days are spent looking round Chicago. When its time to leave they return to the TARDIS on a snowy night. Its at this point that Peri says she won't be coming with the Doctor, she fallen in love with John and is staying. The Doctor is stunned while Peri is in tears. The Doctor turns to John and asks him to look after Peri. John promises.

The Doctor enters the TARDIS and leaves. John and Peri walk away to start their new life.

As the TARDIS is in flight the Doctor hears a voice...a different familiar voice. Its a distress signal.

"Doctor can you hear me. If you can please return to Earth, we need your help"

It's Lethbridge Stewart using the emergency communication device that the 4th Doctor installed. Setting the co-ordinates the TARDIS heads for Earth. The Doctor hears the mysterious voice again but this time the words are clear

"Its time"....

(NB John was played by Brian Blessed)
 

nezza

El Pip said:
Damnit! Brian Blessed would have made an incredible Doctor, but alas not this time. :(
Click to expand...
Oh definitely.

Now I've tried to follow @Guajolote's path by creating some videos of how the 6th period could have ended. I've started putting them on Youtube but I want to emphasise that they are rough and ready. I'm not an expert with after effects at all. I just thought it would be good idea to end the TL with something different. All I ask is that you take them in the spirit that they're offered.

With that in mind here is the intro to Six's last story "End Of Days":

 
Guajolote

Guajolote

nezza said:
Oh definitely.

Now I've tried to follow @Guajolote's path by creating some videos of how the 6th period could have ended.
Click to expand...

I'm flattered, thank you. Here's my post with the video nezza's alluding to, co-written by markedward, author of this trip through a different Hollywood.

For producers to replace Hinchcliffe, Paul Stone (producer of The Box Of Delights) was apparently under consideration if you can believe DWB. Stone gets the job in my TL.

dwb.jpg
 

nezza

Guajolote said:
I'm flattered, thank you. Here's my post with the video nezza's alluding to, co-written by markedward, author of this trip through a different Hollywood.

For producers to replace Hinchcliffe, Paul Stone (producer of The Box Of Delights) was apparently under consideration if you can believe DWB. Stone gets the job in my TL.

View attachment 606223
Click to expand...
You're very welcome.
------------------------------
And Finally...
END OF DAYS
Tx: Sunday 1st January 1989 BBC1 8.35 PM
Running Time 90 Minutes

The TARDIS rematerialises on modern day Earth at UNIT HQ. The Doctor steps out and is greeted by Colonel Lethbridge Stewart who takes the new doctor in his stride. LS and the Doctor enter UNIT HQ where they are met by Brigadier Reynolds and Captain Hargreaves. Reynolds informs the Doctor that UNIT's long range sensor system has detected a ship hurtling towards Earth. A message has been received. Its the Master standing alongside Davros and the Cyber-Controller. The Master demands that the Doctor transports aboard the ship or Earth will be destroyed by a poison gas

The Doctor whilst concerned is still being tormented by the voice in his head saying "its time" but he doesn't say anything. A quick discussion reveals how UNIT has increased in strength and manpower since the 4th Doctor left. Reynolds refers to "Project X1" but refuses to reveal more.

Reynolds then says that she was against the Doctor being called back to Earth because in her view "you have done more harm than good" The Doctor questions that and Reynolds responds that the antics of his previous selves have placed Earth in direct danger and led to an acceleration of global defences. She storms out of the room leaving an embarrassed Hargreaves.

Hargreaves then informs the Doctor that his services will not be necessary. LS is livid but Hargreaves says that Reynolds and he have their orders from Geneva. The Doctor is escorted to barracks and is kept there under lock and key. The voice in his head is still saying "its time"

That night there is a scuffle outside. The door opens and its LS. The Doctor and LS walk round the corner where to the Doctor's delight Bessie is waiting. LS informs the Doctor that "the old girl has been given an upgrade" Bessie drives off at high speed thanks to a new engine and returns to the TARDIS. The Doctor thanks LS for his help and proceeds to enter the TARDIS.

LS states that he's going with him. The Doctor says no and they argue. Suddenly they see a UNIT Range Rover and hear Reynolds demanding the pair return. The Doctor and LS enter the TARDIS and dematerialise. As soon as they reach space-time the TARDIS is pulled in by the ship. Landing on the bridge the Doctor and LS are captured by Daleks and Cybermen. The Master informs them that the Doctor is to assist them in destroying Gallifrey. The Doctor refuses point blank which leads to a Dalek blasting LS. The Master informs the Doctor that if he doesn't accede then LS will die. The Doctor as no choice but to help.

Back on Earth Reynolds has been in contact with Geneva who order her to power up "Project X-1".

Back on the ship the Doctor is being forced to connect the TARDIS up to the ship to give the enemy full time and space travel. Its revealed that the Master was able to escape from the trap the Doctor had set for him and stolen the Rani's TARDIS. The Doctor asks where the Rani is and the Master replies "I don't care where she is"
Davros and the Cyber-Controller arrive. Davros informs the Doctor that the people of Earth will be transformed into Daleks and Cybermen and the Earth's Core hollowed out and replaced with huge engines effectively turning the planet into a Flying Fortress. The Doctor asks how they were able to work together? The Cyber-Controller explains that the Master was captured by the Cybermen who explained who he was and what he wanted. Davros states that while the Daleks and Cybermen hate each other then hate the Doctor more.

The Doctor says he doesn't understand why Earth is a target. The Master informs the Doctor that there will come a point in the far future that Earth and Gallifrey will join forces and that that must be stopped. The Doctor says the alterations are ready. The Doctor throws a switch and causes a huge power surge which damages the ship. The Doctor scans the ship for LS and is able to rematerialise in the cell. The Doctor and LS leave in the TARDIS.

Arriving back on Earth a furious Reynolds chides both of them saying that Project X1 has been initiated. Project X-1 is an anti-matter howitzer based at the North Pole. It is charging up and will be fully active in less than 24 hours. The Doctor says that the howitzer would be no use in destroying the ship as the defences are too powerful unless...unless he returns and takes the defences offline.

L-S tells the Doctor not to go back but the Doctor smiles at LS and says that he has already started regenerating. The explosion that rendered him unconscious in Chicago in 1933 started the sequence and he also mentions the voice. Its his future self telling him this incarnation is coming to an end. LS overrides Reynolds but the Doctor tells Reynolds to keep the countdown on. Reynolds replies that the countdown can be stopped until the last 10 seconds.

The Doctor takes off in the TARDIS and scans the ship for the defence systems. Rematerialisng in the generator room the Doctor starts to power down the system when he is attacked by the Master. By this time the ship is approaching the Moon. Earth goes on red alert and fires a sequence of nuclear missiles to slow the ship down. The Doctor and the Master fight. It seems as though the Master is just about to win when a second set of missiles hit the ship. The Doctor lays the Master out with one punch and is able to deactivate the defence systems. On board the Bridge the Cyber-Controller orders an evacuation of all Cybermen. Davros screams at the Cyber-Controller calling him a coward. Davros then activates the poison gas generator.

The Doctor who by now is fatally wounded escapes in the TARDIS...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now here is my second video showing the regeneration. This is the poorest one and instead of presenting it as something that would have gone out on BBC 1 I've storyboarded it instead.




Lethbridge Stewart-Nicholas Courtney
Brigadier Reynolds-Judi Dench
Captain Hargreaves-Jonathon Morris

The Master-Anthony Ainley
Davros-Michael Wisher
Cyber-Controller Michael Kilgarriff
Voice-Miranda Richardson
 
Last edited:

nezza

Knightmare said:
Something tells me JNT is not long for his job at the BBC. After that disastrous court case, well....
Click to expand...
Well JNT is in deep trouble financially. He writes a book explaining his side of the story but it doesn't sell well. He's able to find jobs abroad but never works in the UK again and dies as in OTL on the 1st of May 2002.
 

22-LN-19

nezza said:
Brigadier Reynolds-Judi Dench
Click to expand...
Judi Dench in Doctor Who? Yes, please.

As an addendum: the ending made me think about Sydney Newman's recommendation in OTL that Joanna Lumley or Frances de la Tour be cast
as the Doctor.

I wonder how the public will react to it.
 

Winestu

22-LN-19 said:
Judi Dench in Doctor Who? Yes, please.

As an addendum: the ending made me think about Sydney Newman's recommendation in OTL that Joanna Lumley or Frances de la Tour be cast
as the Doctor.

I wonder how the public will react to it.
Click to expand...

Joanna Lumley??? Umm... she was...
watch towards the end...

 

nezza

Shaun Ley: What was the thinking behind changing the show?
Philip Hinchcliffe: You mean why make the Doctor a woman?
SL: Well, yes
PH: Why the hell not.
SL: There's surely more to it than that.
PH (laughs). Again referring back to the trial. It showed how the female characters had been reduced to and I hate this phrase 'eye candy'. Pretty looking, dressed alluringly and screaming their guts out. That may have been suitable for the 1960's and 1970's although I don't think that but things were different. For God's sake we'd had a woman prime minister for 10 years, more and more women were rising in business and yet one of the most iconic characters on Television was a man. It was a natural choice. It wasn't simply a case of root and branch reform it was more ripping out the weeds and planting fresh seeds.
SL :Why Miranda Richardson.
PH: Well, I have to be honest here Shaun. Miranda wasn't my first choice. I wanted Miriam Margolyes. She declined because she too busy and suggested Joanna Lumley. She declined because she was going to start shooting Shirley Valentine and suggested Miranda. I was a bit uncertain at first. Many knew her as Elizabeth I from Blackadder and I thought would the audience accept her....I hadn't seen Dance With A Stranger.
 

nezza

Shaun Ley: Had you been able to go back in time and change anything what would it have been?
Colin Baker: Do you mean to prevent the trial or my resignation?
SL: Yes
CB: I don't think anything could have changed. John-Nathan Turner was an evil man. I know you're not supposed to speak ill of the dead but that's what he was. He had an evil mind, an evil core and an evil heart. I had no choice and neither did Nicola. We have been talking about events that occurred nearly 35 years ago but for me they are clear in my mind as if they were yesterday

SL: Did you watch your final story as it went out?
CB: Yes I did.
SL: What was going though your mind?
CB: That was something I couldn't answer then and 30 years on I don't think I can answer it now. The only thing I can say was 'it was an end'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE END
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's it. Thank you so much for reading the story and for the feedback. It really means a lot to me. If anyone has any questions, requests or comments then fire away.
 
Deerwrecker2015

Deerwrecker2015

Knightmare said:
Something tells me JNT is not long for his job at the BBC. After that disastrous court case, well....
Click to expand...

It's safe to say that JNT's employment with the BBC had already came to an end before the court case had began.

nezza said:
Well JNT is in deep trouble financially. He writes a book explaining his side of the story but it doesn't sell well. He's able to find jobs abroad but never works in the UK again and dies as in OTL on the 1st of May 2002.
Click to expand...

That would not surprise anyone since the whole fiasco made him permanently radioactive to the entire Broadcasting and Entertainment industry in the UK and JNT will face real difficulties when finding jobs abroad (If any of the prospective employers learned about the whole fiasco) although he will actually find jobs.
 

nezza

Deerwrecker2015 said:
It's safe to say that JNT's employment with the BBC had already came to an end before the court case had began.



That would not surprise anyone since the whole fiasco made him permanently radioactive to the entire Broadcasting and Entertainment industry in the UK and JNT will face real difficulties when finding jobs abroad (If any of the prospective employers learned about the whole fiasco) although he will actually find jobs.
Click to expand...
I suppose it would have been possible for JNT to find jobs abroad. I can't imagine any country that showed DW would be willing. (that would eliminate the USA and the Commonwealth) so its possible that he may have found work in the Far East?
 

nezza

Hmm. I know I said it was the end of the TL but I've got the bug (not that bug!). Is anyone up for a Richardson era Timeline?
 
Reader mode
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top