CLASSIC DOCTOR WHO | Time and the Rani - Part 1 | REACTION
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FULL LENGTH | CLASSIC DOCTOR WHO | Paradise Towers - Part 1 | REACTION
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Hope you enjoy the Seventh Doctor’s era
2017 Film of book from 1975 high rise- which was thd inspiration for this story
Scottish Doctor's are the Best. Sylvester, David Tenant and Peter Capaldi.
@Jamie Doyle Haha!! Yeah, alright mate... 🏴
@@Jamienomore I do like the way Slyvester, played the Dr and he was awesome in trillions of ways.
Colin Baker always said he regretted not filming a regeneration scene but you can understand his situation at the time
Yeah. Like he put in *work* to keep the show afloat. He did Doctor in Distress for petes sake. I can't blame him for being sour about everything.
"WTF is going on?" Pretty much sums up how many felt watching this in 1987. Only in Doctor Who could you see Kate O'Mara impersonating Bonnie Langford.
The most hilarious thing in Doctor Who ever.
Everyone in 1987 knew already what was "going on",therefore there was no "WTF" moment.
@@normandavidtidiman9918 I wasn't necessarily referring to the regeneration.
@@normandavidtidiman9918 This is the problem with approaching these episodes without any prior knowledge. It's viewing them in a way that was never really intended and often creates overreactions.
I was there and, yup, a lot of us were indeed gabberflasted over these new changes.
McCoy was genuinely good, especially for a rushed script that also needed rushed rewrites, but everything else felt too "hipster trendy" as nothing DW had done prior to this story comes close to lflagrsntly flaunting "80s".
Colin was treated so badly by the BBC. 🙁 It's such a shame that his time as the Doctor came to a premature end with 'Ultimate Foe'. If I was fired over the phone, out of the blue and my company asked if I could come back to sort out the monthly rotas as a favour, I'd tell them where to go. Colin is a fantastic actor and was a great Doctor. 🙂
Alternatively - he was paid for a full year. He could have done one story and had a proper regeneration and the publicity of leaving the series on a high note. I understand why he was angry but it's hard to believe it didn't have a negative effect on his career being "sacked".
@@papalaz4444244 Colin asked the BBC if he could do a final series ending with the regeneration but they never even responded to his request. I believe they only wanted him to come back for just a regeneration story. He would only have been paid for 1 story as opposed to a series.
@@ninaian I do say much as the 6th Dr was not given the chance to carry on, for more seasons I did get used to the 7th Dr and also I think in the last season which was sadly Colins last the Valeyard was a much more interesting villain in comparison with the Master who had a knack of turning up every season after the Master trilogy and IMO nice as it is to have returning villains like the Cybermen the Daleks the Sontarans the Ice Warriors and also the Master I do not think it ever pays to have any particular returning enemy turning up season after season.
I once read an article by a guy who recorded this episode and watched it for the first time whilst drunk after coming home from the pub. The next morning he thought it had all been a really bizarre dream! Then he watched it again...
I recently had the opposite experience: I was watching hitherto unknown episodes of Classic and New Who on BBCA ranging from Tom Baker to David Tennant. They had been made but never aired, and some of them that featured Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy hinted at the Time War. Then I woke up.
True story! 😆
@@seanryan3020hinted how? Now I’m interested in your dream haha
Yeah, that's about the right reaction to Colin's regeneration.
Colin was fired but was asked to come back for the regeneration scene which understandably he rejected so they just put a wig on sylvester and got him to play out the regeneration scene. Although I love the 7th Doctor, Colin deserved another season and a proper regeneration story however on the "Last Adventure" Big Finish audio boxset Colin is given a proper send off along with a final story, but still think Colin Baker was treated horribly at the BBC .
I really enjoy "Last Adventure". I like seeing that as the true regeneration. Colin's Doctor really found a place to shine on Big Finish, so it was fitting he had a proper regeneration story on that media
God that thumbnail is exactly what I was expecting when you saw this. I admit I laughed when I first saw that.😂😂
THIS is the moment I have been waiting for! Welcome to 7, Marie-Clare, my favourite!
I adore the 7th Doctor's opening theme music, it takes me right back to my childhood. I will not apologise for this one! It's so amazingly eighties!
That said, as everyone else says, it's just politics at the time, the BBC Controllers already made a 18 month break between Colin Baker's two seasons, then halved his season episode numbers, and then fired him. There was really not much JNT or the production team could do, sadly.
Same with the music. I hear the title theme and I’m 9 years old again and filled with excitement.
It's weird but, as a kid in the 80s, I never thought of each regeneration as an actor leaving and a new one taking their place, I just saw the Doctor change his face and personality. So I never really mourned for any actor leaving. I do remember being excited to see Time and the Rani, and bought a Autumn 1987 edition of Dr Who Magazine which I still own.
Love the McCoy theme! Colin Baker got sacked and in protest refused to come back to refuse a regeneration scene
Personally, hate the new theme. Way too 80s.
from 5th onwards each doctor had their own theme. During the 60's and 70's it was almost unchanged
@@BernardJKD no they didnt, 1-4 was almost unchanged. 4ths became more synth when they hit the 80's
@@julieeverett7442 Not really. Davison's was introduced during Tom Baker's run and Colin's new one was only in TTIATL. Hartnell and McCoy were the only two to have a new arrangement when they began
@@davidbull7210 no, 5ths had a definate sting that 4th didnt have, 6th was different again, so was 7th so was 8th
This is the earliest episode I have any clear memory of watching when it was originally transmitted and I remember thinking that the bubble traps were the coolest thing I'd ever seen, although I misunderstood about the trip wire/laser beam bit and thought you triggered them by stepping on a crack in the ground - cue me avoid stepping on cracks in the pavement in case the same fate befell 6-year-old me!
You are going like this era of doctor who very much
Knowing what you're like to change, I was dreading this episode!
Basically, they royally screwed him over. Colin Baker said in an interview that they had decided to recast The Doctor and would he come back to film the regeneration. He told them he'd do another series and be happy to do the regeneration at the end. The producer's said they'd let him know, but they never called him back. So, they put a wig on Sylvester McCoy and did the regeneration.
It was Michael Grade who hated Colin Baker wanted him gone from the role, he hated Doctor Who and was responsible for taking it off air for 18th months before the campaign to bring it back hence we got Trial of a Timelord. Even though not a fan of Colin Baker as the Doctor he was treated very badly, when he knew the show was coming back he wanted to do a full season then regenerate but the powers at be didn't want that only wanted him for the regeneration scene at the very start, he was very angry so refused not to come in for the handover so it was left for poor Sylvester McCoy to be put in that awful wig and Colins Costume before turning into himself. I love the 7th Doctor and you have some great stories coming up. Bonnie Langford recorded Kate O Mara's lines as the Rani so she could get the essence of how Bonnie would react as Mel, Bonnie thought it was great when she saw Kate dressed in exactly the same costume and was flattered by how good a job she did pretending to be Mel. Happy New Year hope it's a good one for you. I prefer this story with The Rani than the one in the 6th Doctors era!
i remember watching this episode with my family at the time and being mortified with embarrassment !
I was a Doctor Who fan in America in the 80s, when and where such a thing made you a social pariah. I'd been keeping my inner fanboy in the closet for years by the time the Sylvester McCoy era reached our shores...or slopes in my case!
Me too. Also exasperated on how bad the show had become.
I remember the moment in December 86 when I read in the paper that Colin wouldn't be returning. Trial had only finished a week or so before. I can still remember that sinking feeling in my stomach.
On the pluses the C.Baker Doctor had a long life (though only in the Expanded Universe) after his trial:
1)Returning Mel home
2)travelling with a history lecturer called Evelyn
3)Reuniting with an older Peri
4)Travelling with a shape shifting penguin called Frobisher
5)Travelling with a future doctors Companion AFTER the companion travelled with the future Doctor, called Charley
6)Traveling with Flip & Constance
7) Traveling with Mel properly, and later Hebe as well
The latest take on the regeneration was done in a Big Finish Boxset called the last adventure though some talented people have done deep fake visuals to get with the Big Finish audios but ultimately the "cause of death" was:
*Spoilers*
the beams of Radiation that struck the TARDIS being deadly to Timelords, with the Doctor being reassured by the McCoy Doctor, as the TARDIS landed & the Tetrap turned his body over, that he would regenerate & that his future was in safe hands
I'd like to add one more, it was cool seeing C. Baker Doctor back in "The Power of the Doctor" too. 👍
A shape shifting penguin? Sounds interesting.
What happened to the Sixth Doctor (my FAVOURITE Doctor) is absolutely a tragedy. I can't put more strongly how I feel about it.
BUT
I do genuinely love the 7th Dcotor and have a great fondness for his time. If Doctor Who teaches us anything, it's that things HAD to happen in order for other things to happen, so I won't try to go back and change history.
"I can't focus." To be honest, that's the best approach to the whole season. Alcohol helps.
Your face was a picture during the regeneration scene! Frankly, given the circumstances, they should not have shown the actual moment of regeneration and just cut to the new Doctor once the process was complete, as it is painfully obvious the sixth Doctor is just Sylvester in a wig. Given the way he was treated, however, I think it is perfectly understandable Colin refused to come back for the regeneration, though I believe he regrets that now. This episode was broadcast on 7 September 1987, so nine months on from the previous season, and Sylvester’s casting had been announced early in 1987, so viewers did indeed know a new Doctor was on the way. Sylvester is Scottish, his real name being Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith, so you can see why he changed it! He was a familiar face in children’s TV, having appeared in shows like Vision On and Jigsaw. When Sylvester’s agent heard that Colin had been given the boot, he was quick to press Sylvester’s claim to the role with JNT, and having seen him on stage in The Pied Piper, JNT was convinced he was the man for the job. Senior BBC bosses, being less certain of Sylvester’s suitability, obliged JNT to audition him first, but Sylvester passed that test with flying colours - he actually acted opposite Janet Fielding in the audition tapes.
Season 24 was broadcast on Monday evenings, and was given the unenviable task of taking on Coronation Street in a further sign of the lack of interest the Beeb’s high ups now had in promoting the show. JNT had been promised that he would be moved to produce another show if he agreed to sack Colin, but his bosses reneged on that agreement and he was obliged to remain in charge or else leave the Beeb altogether. Having no scripts ready to go, and no script editor at that point, JNT hastily commissioned Pip and Jane Baker to write this story. Andrew Cartmel, the new script editor, joined subsequently; he didn’t like Time and the Rani, but the script was already well in train by the time he joined and there wasn’t much he could do about it due to lack of time.
Okay, so where to start... Colin Baker was sacked by the BBC but was offered the chance to reprise the role of the Sixth Doctor in a proposed regeneration story, but he declined; he instead asked to be given a full season for his departure, but the denial of this request prompted him to turn down the reprisal. As a result, a pre-credits sequence was added into this story featuring the Doctor's regeneration, with McCoy portraying both the Sixth and Seventh Doctors. Additionally , Colin Baker said that when he was asked to film a regeneration sequence, he agreed as long as he was allowed to do a full third season playing the Doctor, at the end of which he would then regenerate. The production office never contacted him again...
This is the first story to feature computer generated images (CGI) for the titles and many of the effects (including the TARDIS's flight through space in the pre-title sequence).
For the title sequence, Sylvester McCoy's face and hair were painted silver. The designer of the title sequence revealed some 23 years later that this was not necessary.
Also This serial was originally written with the Sixth Doctor in mind. Originally, he was to have regenerated at the end of this story instead of at the start; the script had the Doctor staying behind at the Rani's headquarters to ensure nothing went wrong with the missile strike, but the ensuing explosion causes him to regenerate. However, Colin Baker refused to come back for anything less than a full season, but the BBC executives responsible for his sacking would only permit one serial. Neither party could come to an agreement, hence the Sixth Doctor's unceremonious demise; following Baker's departure, it was hastily rewritten to accommodate the Seventh Doctor.
@@brookhammerbrook3306 The designer of the sequence, Oliver Elmes, best known work was probably the titles for The Good Life, which explains a lot.
@@BernardJKD A rose by any other name. He was the main character in a main BBC TV production. Contracts don’t run out, they end if you decide to leave or you’re asked to leave. It’s not like working for a insurance company.
Just to say Marie-Claire, it was big news at the time. We thought the show might be over with Colin’s last story but apparently the show was saved with the proviso that they cast a new Doctor. Colin got treated really badly but it was more about the attitude change towards Doctor Who. It wasn’t really in favour anymore and was being moved around in the schedule and put up against coronation street and big shows. It was around this time Michael Grade was ridiculed by a competing TV executive about how old fashioned the BBC was by still making a TV show started in the 60’s
If you watch the Big Finnish Audio The Last Adventrure on TH-cam it has his last words on there instead. Colin Baker also refused to come back and do a regeneration scene so Sylvester McCoy had to wear a wig.
After _The Trial of a Time Lord_ wasn't received very well, the producer was told that the show would only be renewed if he fired Colin Baker. So yeah, this is the result.
That was the lie Grade told JNT, in fact he had a personal vendetta against Baker and that'd why he was sacked. As ex-BBC controller David Reid said in an interview about it:
"Never did the Sixth floor get involved in casting".
I think back in September 1987 we knew there was a new doctor coming, as I'm sure Sylvester McCoy had been a guest on Blue Peter promoting the new series and there would have been trailers for the new autumn season on BBC1 with clips from this story. Doctor Who was now back on weekday evenings around 19.35 after Wogan, I think that's the latest time it had ever been broadcast. Not sure if it was up against ITV's Coronation Street at this time or whether that came in later seasons.
She basically reacted the same way Colin Baker did.
Colin was more than within his rights to tell the BBC to get stuffed, IMO. "You're fired, but by the way we need you to come back for a week in six months, and then you're fired for real."
If I'd been in his shoes I'd have told them to bugger off too.
Colin's sacking really wasn't fair. As if any of the script issues and behind the scenes drama were the fault of the guy who tried his best to make it work, and who really loved being the Doctor. He's done a lot of Big Finish Audios however, and they've done a proper departure story for him called "The Last Adventure". Maybe when you finish classic who you could give it a listen? We'd love to see your reaction to his proper regeneration story.
I love time and the Rani it’s such a guilty pleasure.
Colin was fired by the bbc and he requested a full story in which he went at the end but they said no so that regeneration scene is Sylvester in his outfit and in a wig.
He does have a big finish regeneration story called the last adventure which is a set of stories where he battles the Valayard and some fantastic and talented people have done cgi and animations with the audio which could be a great reaction
7th Doctor let’s go!!
The start of the most under rated season.
McCoy was born Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith in Dunoon, Scotland on the Cowal peninsula, to an Irish mother and an English father who had been killed in action in World War II a couple of months before McCoy was born.
He was brought up primarily in Dunoon, where he attended St. Mun's School; he then studied for the priesthood at Blairs College, a seminary in Aberdeen between the ages of 12 and 16. After school he moved to London where he worked in the insurance industry for five years. Paraphrasing Wikipedia.
There are some great Sylvester McCoy stories still to come
But none in this season alas!
I'm very excited to see your journey through the 7th Doctor era... never before or since has an actor gone through such a transformation in the role in my opinion from their opening few stories to their later ones... (maybe Tennant and Capaldi did but for me McCoy was 'MY' doctor'... :) )
I love your POV.
Begining of my favorite era and favorite doctor
Colin having his best season and then... poof! Gone... But I'm quietly lurking in the shadows waiting for the moment Sylvester becomes a firm favourite. My favourite version of the theme also. This season is a guilty pleasure for me 😂
Seven is growing on me VERY quickly!
Someone high up at the BBC (I think it was Michael Grade again) decided that the Doctor had to change. Colin Baker's contract was not renewed. Inially it was simply suggested he come back for a regeneration scene but the producer argued them up to a whole story. Understandably Colin was not interested, not because he didn't care about the show but because he felt that signing up for a few weeks work months in advance would restrict his ability to take other jobs. On this point he was correct as at the time this story was made he was part way through a long theatre tour. His departure from Doctor Who was announced in either late 1986 or early 1987 (I can't quite remember which) and McCoy's casting was announced the following March. I still remember hearing that news, I was in my local Woolworths (whoever thought they would ever be gone?) on a Monday lunchtime and they had Radio 1's Newsbeat show on in the background. When I heard the words "new Doctor Who" I started paying attention. When I head Sylvester's name I immediately thought it was inspired casting. It was strange over the next few days to see the press proclaim him an "unknown" because I was 18 at the time and had known of him for almost as long as I could remember. This was because most of his previous tv work was for children in shows like Vision On, Jigsaw, and Eureka.
It's going to be interesting to see what you make of this era as it has a somewhat different style. There is a new script editor for the first time since early Davison and he brings new energy and ideas to the series. We may be coming towards the end of the classic run but the show isn't going out quietly...
I did once hear a rumour that Michael keating, Vila from Blake's Seven was shortlisted to play the 7th Dr I am not sure if that would have been a good idea but nonetheless it may have been interesting also Michael Keating had played the rebel goudry in Dr Who the Sunmakers.
There is a brilliant 4-minute fan edit 6th Doctor extended regeneration sequence, which incorporates elements from the 6th Doctor’s “Last Adventure” boxed set. Much more satisfying exit for Colin! th-cam.com/video/wB2YNAaKnZU/w-d-xo.html
Sylvester McCoy also plays Radast in THE HOBBIT. Due to Peter Jackson being a Dr Who fan.
In 1984, my mum (now a widow) went into business with her sister and her husband, running a shop/post office on the A16 in Lincolnshire; roughly equidistant between Boston and Skegness. The property dated back to 1896 and contained a few relics, such as a ledger book and diary - recounting tales of local Yellowbellies heading off to the Boer War. After three years of difficulties (including flooding and financial mismanagement), they decided to sell up and move on. And so it was on the night of 7th September 1987 that I found myself alone in the house (if alone you can be on some land that housed 3 adults, a 14 year old teen, 2 dogs, 7 cats, 11 chickens...and innumerable rats) while the proprietors were out hunting for a new home; excited and apprehensive about the new Dr Who. FIVE MINUTES before it was due to start, a local farm boy I went to school with up the road in Spilsby knocked on the door, asking for a pint of milk. FIVE MINUTES. Why do people do this sort of thing? It was worse than the time we got broken into in the middle of the night - and the thieves used our own barrow to wheel the safe out of the shop and across the field opposite, in order to break into it without disturbing anyone. Nobody heard them break in because the walls of the house were 13 inches thick! Pensioners still turned up the following day, trying to get their money. We had to explain that the gentleman carefully scrutinizing the environment were in fact from CID. 'I only want my money', they'd say...
I know Colin Baker did eventually get to do a regeneration story, though it was for Big Finish audio. I do recall seeing the last part of that story on TH-cam, for it had been given some visual images. Guess that was better than nothing, though it would have been nice to see a proper regeneration.
This is story that Colin didn’t want to come back. This is when CGI is first used for the intro and also where Mel get stuck into bubble thing
Haha you unintentionally did a 10th doctor at the beginning. ‘What?…what?!..WHAT??!’
And the award for "Most abrupt regeneration" goes to: Sylvester McCoy in a wig -> Sylvester McCoy!
I wasn't happy either :( I love Six and this is probably the most upsetting thing in the series for me. Luckily he's had a new lease on life on Big Finish, that helps tremendously!
Colin Baker was fired but it was due to the 18 month gap between his seasons and then a dip in ratings that followed. He refused to come back just for regeneration scene only. He does have a full regeneration story by Big Finish called The Last Adventure.
First time watcher... I guess this has shown up on my feed, as Time and the Rani is something that catches my eye... This story was my re-introduction to the show when it was aired... it was so different to the shows I had seen previously (Davison Era) and the freshness and occasional silliness appealed... I hope you continue to enjoy McCoys Run....
Regarding Colin's departure... there's a lot of whispers and rumour around his departure.... It was felt the failure of the changes to season 22 (just before the hiatus) were partially due to Colin's portrayal... and adding to that, Colin had been through a divorce and it's believed that one of the high ups was a friend of his ex-wife, so that cause the focus to fall on him... Yes, he was approached, and he offered to do another season, but it was obviously rejected.... But I hope you enjoy going forward...
I was 11 seeing this after a week in Blackpool, got home just in time. I believed it was Colin, took a while to register it was Sylvester in a wig and Colin’s outfit. Originally a Colin story
Where is Ep. 4 of Terror of the Vervoids? I can’t find it anywhere?
Huh! You're right! That's strange!
I grew up watching the show as a kid and teenager in the 70s and 80s and the way the BBC treated Colin Baker was shocking. I don't blame Colin for not wanting to come back just to do a regeneration.
When I first saw this, back in the day, a year or so later after it was released, I didn't know what happened, and I figured the channel I was watching skipped a season. Of course, I learned what happened behind the scenes later, and I think Colin Baker was right in saying he couldn't just sit back and do nothing waiting for the next series only to film one story.
Thankfully, Big Finish has done a set, "The Last Adventure" for Colin which connects with the beginning but gives him a more fitting end.
Were you in the States at the time? That's pretty much how it played out in Colorado then, but I was a pretty hardcore fan, so I had been following the news about CB v. "the Beeb" and knew what was behind the sudden change.
@@seanryan3020 Yes, I'm in the states (and was then, too). The last things I had heard was about the Trial itself. So, when I got to see the Trial, I was pleased and enjoyed it. Then the next week, we got Sly. I was confused. It really felt as a jump in years. We only saw his first season, then my station went all the way back to Hartnell, which was cool, but it meant they didn't get to Sly for many years. I had to get friends to send me copies. At the time, Sly became my favorite Doctor (the first I had seen was Tom Baker). Yes, some of his stories were not my favorite, but his persona was what I loved (and why I liked the NA's when they came out).
I must have missed the news about Sylvester being cast, because I received the update from Alex Tuplin on the school bus home. 'It's the bloke from 'Eureka'' he said. Despite this children's show about famous inventors boasting Simon Gipps Kent (Seth in The Horns of Nimon) and Bernard Holley (variously, the ill-fated Haydon in 'Tomb of the Cybermen' and - as his Twitter bio amusingly pointed out - 'Axon Man'), I immediately knew which 'bloke' he was talking about. It really should have been self-evident long before...
Everyone likes the middle-eight!
The new and last era of classic who hope you enjoy the 7th doctor hope you do a review on the 6th doctors eleven stories ps due to poor viewing figures of the previous two seasons they fired colin Baker and bought in sylvester for season 24 in 1987 but they moved it from its usual Saturday spot and put it against coronation street which didn't improve figures but the next two seasons have quality stories to come
You have probably been told by now but what happened was the Colin/6 was sacked and he was asked if he would like to do a regeneration story and declined, not surprising considering how he was treated.
Colin and Sylvester had such a raw deal with Doctor Who. They were doing their best under difficult conditions. Having to just step into the role cold like this was challenging. McCoy did very well under the circumstances.
My favourite version of the theme
I don't like the main part of the theme, but the bridge of this version is the most "heroic" version ...to date!
We knew at the time that Colin would regenerate into Sylvester but I was not prepared for how terribly they'd do it. Poor old Colin Baker,he deserved so much better.
Yeah, WTF is going on indeed. This, along with The Twin Dilemma, was probably the worst of Classic Who. Thankfully Sylvester gets MUCH better as the scripts get better, and his last season is probably the best the show ever made. Excited to see you get there!
Yes John Nathan Turner (the producer) asked Colin Baker to do 1 story and regenerate at the end of it. Colin Baker wanted a full season as if he commited to one story he would possibly miss out on other longer work offers. The BBC did no reply to him. The show and the producer were very unpopular with those in charge of the BBC at this time
Just imagine the reputation of Colin's era if it has Twin Dilemma as his first story, and Time and the Rani as his last! They're usually the bottom two in all-time polls.
I just remembered - the head of the Dr Who Appreciation Society wrote a damning piece on this episode in, I think, The Daily Mail. But that's not the worst part. I was a member of the DWAS at the time and one edition of the monthly newsletter (Celestial Toyroom - still running today) featured the promo pics of Sylvester and Bonnie in the doorway of the Tardis on the cover - only for the next month's edition to carry a photo of Patrick Troughton. Who had died at 67. The Time Lord giveth and the Time Lord taketh away...
I was a member of NADWAS (North American DWAS) in n the 80s. Our newsletter was only published quarterly though.
You should check out the Big Finish audios. The Sixth Doctors character was really fleshed out there including what triggered his regeneration at the beginning of this episode,
What I will say is that this season is quite jarring but the rest of Seven's era is my FAVOURITE era of the entire show. Colin's exit was handled very badly, I'm sure you'll read up on the behind the scenes drama :).
There is a great big finish that show the sixth doctor full regeneration
There’s a Big Finish audio that leads into this story, now.
6 couldn't regenerate in the last story because he was with Mel in Vervoids
So it somewhat went:
Mindwarp->Trial->Mel being dropped off in Modern Day->6 Meeting Mel-> Terror of the Vervoids -> This One
Colin was asked to come back and do a final story, but he said no. So would I if I'd been sacked. The official line was that Doctor Who just wasn't successful enough under Colin Baker, but rumour has it that BBC boss Michael Grade was having an affair with Colin's ex wife at the time and didn't like the show anyway
Personally, I really don’t like this season. But in contrast, seasons 25 and 26 are some of my favourite series of Doctor Who ever. It really changes tone. It’ll be interesting to see what you make of Sylvester’s run.
Yeah, I hear you Marie Clare, I hear you. That's what we all thought on first watch, when this story came out too. That's it? 6 is gone immediately? Yeah it sucks a bunch. Yes, we knew at the time that a new Doctor was coming in this season. It was all over the fan circles and Doctor Who magazine at the time so it was no shock when Sylvester showed up. I just hoped at the time that Colin would get a final scene or something. It came out shortly thereafter that BBC controller Michael Grade hated the show and said there had to be major changes or he was going to cancel it. The first thing he apparently said was, "Fire Colin and get a new Doctor." So they did. Sadly. Colin was understandably pissed off and asked for them to give him another season or at least a couple of stories to finish out his Doctor properly. They apparently said no, or just didnt respond. They basically wanted him back for a regeneration scene or, at most, one story and no more. So, in anger, he basically told them to shove it and moved on with his career. So we got the scene that we got here. Which is really Sylvester dressed up as Colin with a blonde curly wig regenerating into himself without it, because Colin wasn't there. It took decades and Big Finish to give the Sixth Doctor the finale story he deserved. BTW, it's called "The Last Adventure" and it's a box set of four connected stories, which I'm sure you'll really enjoy. It involves not only characters from his time on TV, but also characters introduced in his long big finish run as well, including the wonderful duo from the Talons of Weng Chiang, Showman Henry Gordon Jago and Doctor George Litefoot who both encountered the 6th Doctor on audio. It's well worth investing in as this audio story and sixes big finish adventures in general develop the character the way Colin wanted to do it, and never got the chance to do on 📺. He was just starting to make the character growth he wanted, when his Doctor was canceled. It's a real shame. Sylvester is a great Doctor though, and he just gets better as his first season goes along.
With the behind the scenes issues, the only other option was no regeneration scene at all which was considered (Sylvester already in Colin's clothes with no face distortion).
This season was a very late commission - producer John Nathan-Turner had expected to be off the show but was told he was staying and went into it with no Doctor, no script editor, no scripts and only Bonnie Langford as a continuation (once they'd sorted her season contract). The BBC bosses didn't want Doctor Who, they wanted it gone. They grudging commissioned this season to avoid fan protests.
So, summary of what was going on behind-the-scenes over last couple of seasons.
After Colin's first season, BBC higher ups (Jonathan Powell and Michael Grade) who disliked science-fiction in general, particularly Doctor Who, cancel the series.
Backlash forces them to reverse this a bit and claim it was going on hiatus for 18 months, claiming show had gotten too violent and needed a rethink.
Original Season 23 ditched and Trial format chosen. Robert Holmes falls ill and dies before writing much of the last episode, so script editior Eric Saward steps in. He and producer John-Nathan Turner have a falling out ver the ending of the season and Saward quits, taking his script with him, so Pip & Jane Baker have to hurriedly write last episode at last minute.
Sometime after transmission,. BBC higher ups say they will renew Doctor Who for another season, on one condition, they recast the Doctor, claiming three years was a decent length for a Doctor (ignoring their previous actions which lost him a whole season)
Producer JNT has to break this news to Colin Baker, who is asked to rerturn for a regerneration, makes the offer to do a season and regenerate at the end, this is turned down (presumably by higher ups) and (quite rightly) Colin turns down rerturning just to regenerate as it weould lock him in for a couple of days months down the line which could stop him accepting other work.
The one script they had, Time And The Rani is reworked for a new Doctor, new script editor comes in and despite all the interference by higher ups, they get going and make Season 24.
We knew a new Doctor was coming in, we knew the basics of how Colin had been treated and many of us were really not happy about that. It's generally amazing they manage to get the last few seasons of Who made considering the pressure they were under, production team were doing their best despite the actions of the higher ups.
Fantastic review. Personally this story is the one I put bottom of every list, even below Timeflight or the Twin Dilemma. At the time we were so excited for new Dr Who, and then.... this
A part of me left doctor who as a fan with this season. I liked Time and the rani, the rest I didn't and had stopped watching the show..until the next season which pulled me right back in. I love the 7th doctor, and was glad when Mel left too.
People have already said it but historically, Colin not only was treated badly on set but he refused to return to the role after a bad negotiation. So... a blond wig on McCoy and that's your regeneration. I don't know if I should say, and if this spoils anything, I'm so sorry, but the 6th Doctor DOES get a more fitting regeneration in Big Finish and at least to me, it's officially canon. Baker's Doctor was interesting. Very polarizing at first but in the end just as fitting as any Doctor there has been and will be. McCoy will be fun though.
For context, Colin Baker's estranged wife was having an affair with Michael Grade, Head of the BBC, who had a personal vendetta against him, and by extension, the show. After Trial of the Time Lord was aired after an 18 month hiatus, they fired Colin and Sylvester was announced as 7. Colin was invited back to film his regeneration but he refused, understandably, given the nature of his dismissal, hence it's McCoy wearing a wig at the start. It's a credit to Baker at how much he has done for the show since. We don't deserve Colin Baker.
As an alternative departure, Big Finish did a good send off for 6 using some Big Finish companions and Mel, in a 4 part story called The Last Adventure. It's well worth a listen and a great story, as are many 6 Doctor entries in Big Finish. They've made me laugh, they've made me cry. It finally does his era justice and has made him one of my favourite Doctors.
You absolutely HAVE to listen to The Last Adventure. It's a Big Finish Doctor Who story that acts both as a celebration of Colin Baker's tenure at Big Finish and as the adventure that happens right before Time and the Rani.
ah season 24, welcome to the 'worst'' (by most) season of DW.
it gets better in 25 and 26 though
Colin Baker really got the bum deal with his time on Doctor who. Never got a proper regeneration story.
Also really love the 7th doctors opening titles and theme music.
Marie -Clare. Colin was `sacked`. This was due to both the Controller of BBC1 (Michael Grade) and head of `Series and Serials` (Jonathan Powell) being extremely unhappy with the show.
Both tried to have `Dr Who` axed, but a massive fan campaign and media outrage stymied that move (For a time) The next best thing was to instruct Producer John Nathan, Turner that the Lead Actor had to be changed. Powell did ask Colin if he would do one more story so a `regeneration` could take place- but very understandably Colin wanted to move on. It left Colin rather `embittered` for a long time.
In compensation for those wanting more of the Sixth Doctor, Peri & Mel, The actors recreated their roles `SUPERBLY` on a series of Audio adventures for the `Big Finish` company. On those you can realise just how `GREAT` the Sixth Doctor was/is.
Back in 1987, I subscribed to DW Magazine. Announcement just after "Trial" that Colin was departing. (the truth, came out in time -quicker in the Fanzines, that DWM). Had a cover with "new Doctor" Style' posing with Bonnie at the TARDIS. The story was shown on my local PBS station before the Trial series, during a pledge drive. Had a short interview with Sylvester talking, so you got to know him a bit. I quickly liked McCoy's Doctor, yet was a devoted fan of Colin's Doctor too.
This story was a mess of a production as the Script Editor, Eric Saward lost it with producer JN-T during the trial season This script was started before the new SE was hired, with Pip&Jane as "reliable" writers in the emergency.
The titles just scream "Eighties" The composer of the new theme, and this episode, did a few more scores for later stories (music of his music, I dislike) Several Who items of memorabilia didn't find the new logo fit or appear well, on the books. The VHS tapes used the more classic 1970's logo, for near a decade.
On the DVD tor this story, an alternative regeneration if a feature, you don't see the edges of the blonde wig, the video mix used an image of Colin too.
Yes, at the time we knew it was coming. It was all over the newspapers that Colin Baker had been fired from the show. :( Though we didn't know at the time of broadcast of the 6th Doctor's last episode... even Colin Baker didn't know that would be has last performance... and that his final line on the show would be "Carrot juice, carrot juice, carrot juice..." :(
The other big change was that the BBC shifted Doctor Who into the timeslot opposite Coronation Street - with Coronation St in the 1980s having a massive audience plus a 5 minute head start (beginning at 7:30pm with Doctor Who starting 5 minutes later at 7:35pm). Doctor Who was very much on borrowed time at this point with the BBC high-ups being desperate to kill it since 1985.
Anyway, this story is a total mess... It's one of a select few that I'd feel beyond embarrassed to show to a non-fan. Thankfully it's not representative of the McCoy era as a whole and there's still some decent stuff ahead. :)
AH THE "colin was scapegoated for declining viewers and not the lack of budget and the head producer actively wanting to leave the show but the bbc not letting him" twist.
Colin Baker was fired by the higher ups at BBC 1 and refused to come back for a regeneration scene (I don’t blame him I would have done the same in his position). Michael Grade and various others had it in for Doctor Who and sci-fi in general and thought it had no place on the BBC. More fool them as a couple of years later the controller of BBC 2 started buying the broadcast rights to Star Trek TNG The X Files etc which proved very popular. I also agree about the awful new logo
Someone once cruelly said that Kate O'Mara did Mel better than Bonnie Langford (for me BL's Mel has grown on me...that said my opinion of this story hasn't and I preferred Mel with Colin and the character in those 1st 2 stories,she becomes more and more of a screamer...and SMcC has more than a hint of Scottish:he is Scottish lol😁🎩
The title sequence is very 80s. The music grows.
I hope you discovered Big FInish - and all the wonderful ways they have given Colin Baker to demonstrate how great a doctor he really was
2:25 How very Ten. "What? What? WHAT?"
I'm sure that all the other commenters have gone into the reasons for Colin's departure and how originally he was supposed to be in this story and regenerate at the end, so I won't rehash all of that. It's unfortunate that the recasting of the Doctor made Colin a scapegoat in a lot of people's eyes for the problems the series was going through at this point. The show being renewed at the last minute also didn't leave much time for planning out this season's stories, which are sort of written for a generic Doctor, the subsequent two seasons are written more specifically for Sylvester and are where he really comes into his own in the role, IMO. You're in the home stretch now, Marie-Clare, I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of it.
By now I’m sure you know all about how awfully Colin Baker was treated, so I’ll instead talk about how delightful this episode is on its own. Mel is her usual practical, resourceful self making friends on Lakertya; Kate O’Mara as the Rani impersonating Mel is absolutely hilarious; and Sylvester McCoy is instantly effortlessly charming as well as distinctly Doctorish. You’ve arrived at my personal favorite era of the entire show! And my favorite opening title sequence too, I think.
After firing Colin Baker** (over the phone?), the BBC then asked him to come back to film the regeneration. He said he'd come back if allowed to do a full season leading to regeneration. Essentially, he never heard back so the BBC put Sylvester in a wig and did the face blur. When the BBC fired Colin they said the show was being retooled but there really was no plan to bring it back - then the fan protests started and they were forced to revamp the show, but it was pretty clear its days were numbered.
** I saw Colin at a convention after it was announced Sylvester was taking over the role and he was asked about doing just the regeneration. He was gracious, but you could tell he was angry and bet that Syl was going to do it in a wig - truer words...
Colin refused to come back to film the regeneration (I don't blame him) it's on one of the DVDs or might have been 30 years in the TARDIS
In JNT’s defence, his autobiography DOES reveal he had intended to take Colin to dinner to tell him of the sacking but had to telephone him because it was going to leak in advance and he didn’t want Colin to hear it from the papers.
I've been following your classic Who (and Blake's 7) reactions for a while now, but never commented until now. Sorry about that, I'm not one to comment on most things but now is the time.
Given how you had grown into Colin Baker, and were so enjoying the Trial season, and particularly the finale, I was growing increasingly concerned how you would feel when watching Time and the Rani. I feel your sense of disbelief, but you are correct, that back in the day we knew what was happening. As others will be telling you, the BBC had effectively put Doctor Who on notice and the 'Trail' season was a reflection of this. The 'verdict' by the powers that be at the Beeb was to sack Colin Baker and reschedule it to a weekday against Coronation Street. Once you've finished watching Time and the Rani I recommend you watch this video, which explain all that was going on behind the scenes: th-cam.com/video/5nZf1wZ5YEo/w-d-xo.html
Like you say, we got no chance to say goodbye to Colin, but you can't blame him for refusing to do a regeneration scene given the circumstances. The only comfort for us fans was that we got more Doctor Who, and as it happens Sylvester McCoy turns out to be a good Doctor once he gets into his stride. You'll see...
I remember at the time hearing that Colin Baker had been fired by the BBC in a newspaper article. I was upset and disappointed. I don’t blame Colin for not wanting to come back for one story although it would have been good to see him return it’s not really right for the BBC to deprive him of his third season. As a child at the time I did enjoy Time and the Rani although I do prefer the more sinister tone of the previous 80’s theme tunes but the McCoy one did grow on me over time. I do love the colours in this story and some of the visuals are pretty good. Great reaction.
As others have said, Colin was sacked on BBC Controller Michael Grade's order and he refused to do a regeneration scene, and wanted a third season before regenerating, and this wasn't going to happen.
During the 18 month hiatus of the show that Michael Grade ordered, between Colin's 1st and 2nd season, Colin campaigned vigorously on behalf of the show, and perhaps said some things he shouldn't have about the BBC hierarchy and therefore Grade got his revenge: the show could return for season 24, but not Colin. So we had to have a regeneration scene to start with, and Sylvester in a wig facing away from the camera was the 6th 's supposed final moment.
2:27 ‘What, what WHAT’?
Colin baker was fine before this episode went out of bbc 1 so he could not do the regeneration but colin baker should have not got fired by the bbc in 1987 because he could have done the regeneration from six to seventh
The fact the regeneration was just Sylvester McCoy in a wig is the biggest insult to Colin Baker! Luckily Big Finish has given 6 the respect he deserves!
Perhaps the worst thing about this version of the theme tune is that you do get used to it in time. And then, one terrible day, you realise you've actually grown to quite like it!
The only thing I liked about it was that it wasn't the theme from Season 23!
IT'S THE BEST ONE.