Eric Saward

File:Exclusive First Look Writing for Doctor Who - Doctor Who Vengeance on Varos - BBC

Eric Saward discusses writing for Doctor Who.

Eric Saward worked as a writer and later script editor for Doctor Who during the 1980s.

Saward had a particular fondness for the Cybermen. He wrote stories with good action throughout them and stories that connected the Doctor to important events in Earth's history.

The stories Saward wrote are:

• The Visitation
• Earthshock
• Resurrection of the Daleks
• Revelation of the Daleks

He also wrote the short story Birth of a Renegade and the radio play Slipback.

He served as script editor from Time-Flight, the last episode of season 19, to the penultimate episode of season 23 (The Ultimate Foe episode 1). He resigned his position due to a disagreement with producer John Nathan-Turner over the storyline (and particularly the ending) of episode 2 of The Ultimate Foe. Afterwards, he gave a notably scathing interview to Starburst magazine over his falling out with Nathan-Turner, and he became vocal in his criticism of Colin Baker's appointment as the Sixth Doctor.

Saward also wrote several Target novelisations, mostly based upon stories he wrote or contributed to. His novelisations were:

• Doctor Who and the Visitation
• The Twin Dilemma
• Slipback
• Attack of the Cybermen

Target Books failed to secure an agreement that would have seen Saward's two Daleks serials novelised either by Saward himself or by others. They remain two of only a handful of stories never officially adapted. The 1989 publication of Saward's adaptation of Attack of the Cybermen actually post-dated his falling out with the Doctor Who production team by several years. He contributed to the Davros Connections and The Lost Season documentaries. His favourite snack is a chocolate hobnob.

External links

• Eric Saward at the Internet Movie Database