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'''''P.R.O.B.E.''''' was a series of four videos produced by [[BBV Productions]] and made on a semi-professional basis. They starred [[Caroline John]] as her ''[[Doctor Who]]'' character of [[Liz Shaw]], who now worked for the [[Preternatural Research Bureau]].  
{{Infobox Merchandise
|name        = ''P.R.O.B.E.''
|image        = PROBE title.JPG
|publisher    = BBV Productions
|publisher2  = Arcbeatle Press
|type        = Home video series, webcast, prose
|price        =
|release date = [[1994 (releases)|1994]] - present
|trailer      = P.R.O.B.E. CASE FILES - TRAILER-2
}}{{dab page|Probe (disambiguation)}}
'''''P.R.O.B.E.''''' was a multi-media spin-off series of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.


== Overview ==
The series started out starring [[Caroline John]], playing an older version of television's [[Third Doctor]] [[companion]] [[Liz Shaw|Doctor Liz Shaw]], and featuring her adventures working at the [[Preternatural Research Bureau]], investigating unusual phenomena whilst struggling with the indifference and derision of the government and the police.
Other actors from ''Doctor Who'', notably former Doctors [[Jon Pertwee]], [[Peter Davison]], [[Colin Baker]] and [[Sylvester McCoy]] and [[Louise Jameson]] (formerly [[Leela]]) appeared in the series playing different roles, the latter appearing in all four productions as the character of [[Patricia Haggard]]. Due to licensing restrictions, no explicit references to [[the Doctor]] were allowed.


''Cast List''
The series was originally released as direct-to-video films produced by [[BBV Productions]], with four of its five instalments being released during the period of ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]''{{'}}s cancellation.
[[Caroline John]] as ''Dr. Elizabeth Shaw''
 
[[Peter Davison]] as ''Gavin Purcell''
In [[2020 (releases)|2020]], [[Arcbeatle Press]] made a publishing partnership with BBV and "revived" the series, starting with the release of ''[[Shadows of Doubt (webcast)|Shadows of Doubt]]''.<ref>[https://www.arcbeatlepress.com/probe.html Arcbeatlepress - P.R.O.B.E.]</ref> The next year, BBV Productions themselves released two volume's worth of live-action ''P.R.O.B.E.'' shorts, the ''P.R.O.B.E. Case Files''. By [[January (releases)|January]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]], Arcbeatle had released two ''P.R.O.B.E.'' print anthologies, ''[[Out of the Shadows (anthology)|Out of the Shadows]]'' and ''[[True Origins (anthology)|True Origins]]'', as well as using the Preternatural Research Bureau in their anthology ''[[Cyberon (anthology)|Cyberon]]''; ''True Origins'' declared itself the final release from Arcbeatle that would use the Bureau or other licensed BBV concepts.<ref>Afterword of ''[[True Origins (anthology)|True Origins]]''</ref> Shortly after, BBV introduced a new subseries, ''[[New Companions (series)|P.R.O.B.E.: New Companions]]'', beginning with the audiobook ''[[Maxie (audio story)|Maxie]]'', which starred one of the characters introduced in Arcbeatle's prose material, [[Maxie Masters]].<ref>[https://bbvproductions.co.uk/products/P-R-O-B-E-New-Companions-Maxie-AUDIO-DOWNLOAD-p439814010 ''P.R.O.B.E. New Companions: Maxie'' on BBVproductions.co.uk]</ref> With the twenty-ninth case file, {{cs|Portents of Doom (home video)}}, the series made a return to longer video content, albeit retaining a small cast, with ''Portents of Doom'' clocking in at about twenty minutes.
[[Louise Jameson]] as ''Patricia Haggard''
 
[[Terry Mollot]] as ''D.I Burke''
== Premise ==
[[Geoffrey Beevers]] as ''Brian Rutherford'' and ''Wittaker''
The series followed [[Liz Shaw]] some years after she left [[UNIT]] and [[Third Doctor|the Doctor]]. As established in ''[[The Zero Imperative (home video)|The Zero Imperative]]'', Liz was headhunted to set up a department for the [[Ministry of Defence]] called the [[Preternatural Research Bureau]] (or P.R.o.B.e.) because of her work at the [[University of Cambridge]]. She accepted but was unaware that P.R.o.B.e. was to be grossly underfunded, understaffed and based in a single cramped [[office]] at [[Ashley House]].
[[Charmian May]] as ''Mrs. Barbara Taploe''
 
[[Mark Gatiss]] as ''Georgie''
Unlike UNIT, P.R.O.B.E. was a small-scale organisation answerable to the [[British government]] — and its purpose was to investigate the strange and the out of the ordinary, rather than merely the extraterrestrial. Liz's only colleague in the original films was assistant [[Louise Bayliss]], who was transferred by minister [[Brian Rutherford]] in a bid to have the organisation closed. However, permission was required from Liz's ministry liaison and later lover [[Patricia Haggard|Patsy Haggard]], who refused to do so and frequently went out of her way to assist Liz. Although mention of [[the Doctor]] and the events of [[Season 7 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 7]] was forbidden due to licensing restrictions, a number of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' actors featured in the series in new roles, notably [[Jon Pertwee]], [[Peter Davison]], [[Colin Baker]] and [[Sylvester McCoy]], as well as [[Louise Jameson]] in the recurring role of Patsy.
[[Reece Shearsmith]] as ''Andrew Powell''
 
[[Daniel Matthews]] as ''Christian Purcell''
The first four films were written by [[Mark Gatiss]] and directed by [[Bill Baggs]]. In [[2010]], [[Big Finish Productions]] released ''[[Shadow of the Past (audio story)|Shadow of the Past]]'', a ''[[The Companion Chronicles|Companion Chronicle]]'' starring John as Liz. While not part of the ''P.R.O.B.E.'' series, it acknowledged its continuity, with Liz nodding to the "preternatural research" she had been working on in her absence from UNIT. After Caroline John's death in [[2012]], BBV surprised their audience by announcing a new film, designed as a tribute to John and farewell to the character of Liz. ''[[When to Die (home video)|When to Die]]'', where [[Hazel Burrows]] stepped in as an elderly Liz, was released in [[2015 (releases)|2015]]. Jameson did not return as Patsy, who was instead played by [[Georgette Ellison]].
[[Stephen Dolomore]] as ''Luke Pendrol''
 
[[Jonathan Rigby]] as ''Dr. Cummings''
Designed to wrap up Liz's adventures with P.R.O.B.E. and allow the series to continue with a fresh cast, the film also introduced two new members of the team: the eccentric technician [[Giles]] and the [[K9]]-esque portable computer [[Box (When to Die)|Box]]. Later ''P.R.O.B.E.'' media starting from ''[[Shadows of Doubt (webcast)|Shadows of Doubt]]'' featured a new P.R.O.B.E. team which had formed around Giles and Box, including [[Archie MacTavish]], [[Az (Daylight Savings)|Az]], [[Tasha Williams]], [[Agamya]] and the alien refugee [[Maxie Masters]]. Liz (now Liz Haggard) was presented as retired and living in [[Spain]] with her now-wife Patsy, though she kept in contact with the new team.
 
<gallery postition=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
== Production team ==
File:Probe1Cover.jpg|[[The Zero Imperative]] (1994)
All five ''P.R.O.B.E.'' films were directed by [[Bill Baggs]], who also produced all of them bar ''[[The Zero Imperative (home video)|The Zero Imperative]]'' which was produced by [[Andy Grant]]. [[Mark Gatiss]] wrote the first four films whilst Baggs wrote ''[[When to Die (home video)|When to Die]]''. [[Mark Ayres]], who did music for [[Season 25 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 25]] and [[Season 26 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 26]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', made original music for the first few films, with the fifth being done by [[Olivia Thomas]].
File:Probe2.jpg|[[The Devil of Winterborne]] (1995)
 
File:Probe3.jpg|[[Unnatural Selection]]<br /> (1996)
=== ''Doctor Who'' actors ===
File:Probe4.jpg|[[Ghosts of Winterborne]] (1996)
A number of actors from ''[[Doctor Who]]'' played the roles of other characters throughout the ''P.R.O.B.E.'' series. [[Louise Jameson]] ([[Leela]]) played [[Patricia Haggard|Patsy Haggard]] in the first four films, [[Jon Pertwee]] (the [[Third Doctor]]) played [[Jeremiah O'Kane]], [[Peter Davison]] (the [[Fifth Doctor]]) played [[Patient One]] and [[Gavin Purcell]], [[Colin Baker]] (the [[Sixth Doctor]]) played [[Peter Russell]], [[Sylvester McCoy]] (the [[Seventh Doctor]]) played [[Colin Dove]], [[Sophie Aldred]] ([[Ace]]) played a [[P.R.O.|public relations officer]], [[Geoffrey Beevers]] ({{Pratt}}) played [[Brian Rutherford]] and [[Terry Molloy]] ([[Davros]]) played [[Burke|D.I. Burke]]. This tradition was resumed for the 2020s revival with ''[[P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 2]]'' with [[Simon Fisher-Becker]] ([[Dorium Maldovar]]) being cast as [[Andrew Williams]].
</gallery>
 
== Stories ==
=== Live-action ===
==== Direct-to-video features ====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title || Author || Featuring || Released
|-
|''[[The Zero Imperative (home video)|The Zero Imperative]]''
|rowspan=4|[[Mark Gatiss]]
|[[Liz Shaw|Liz]], [[Patricia Haggard|Patsy]], [[Julie Gilchrist|Gilchrist]]
|[[January (releases)|January]] [[1994 (releases)|1994]]
|-
|''[[The Devil of Winterborne (home video)|The Devil of Winterborne]]''
|Liz, Patsy, [[Andrew Powell|Andrew]], [[Gavin Purcell|Gavin]], [[Brian Rutherford|Rutherford]]
|[[1995 (releases)|1995]]
|-
|''[[Unnatural Selection (home video)|Unnatural Selection]]''
|Liz, Patsy, Gilchrist, Rutherford
|[[January (releases)|January]] [[1996 (releases)|1996]]
|-
|''[[Ghosts of Winterborne (home video)|Ghosts of Winterborne]]''
|Liz, Patsy, Andrew, Gavin
|1996
|-
|''[[When to Die (home video)|When to Die]]''
|[[Bill Baggs]]
|Liz, Patsy, [[Giles (When to Die)|Giles]]
|[[15 April (releases)|15 April]] [[2015 (releases)|2015]]
|-
|''[[Portents of Doom (home video)|Portents of Doom]]''
|Bill Baggs & [[Chris McAuley]]
|Giles, [[Solomon (Stranger)]], [[Andrew Williams]], [[Diamorians]]
|[[3 October (releases)|3 October]] [[2024 (releases)|2024]]
|}
 
==== Shorts ====
===== ''P.R.O.B.E. Case Files'' =====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title || Author || Featuring || Released || Medium || Volume
|-
|''[[Stacey Facade (webcast)|Stacey Facade]]''
|rowspan=6|{{sortname|James|Hornby}}
|[[Giles]], [[Agamya Akhtar|Agamya]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Andrew Williams|Sir Andrew]], [[Stacey Facade]]
|[[22 January (releases)|22 January]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|rowspan=6|YouTube webcast
|rowspan=9|''[[P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 1]]''
|-
|''[[Manchester (webcast)|Manchester]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Agamya Akhtar|Agamya]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Andrew Williams|Sir Andrew]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]], [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]]
|[[5 February (releases)|5 February]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[Peckham Poltergeist (webcast)|Peckham Poltergeist]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]], [[poltergeist]]
|[[12 February (releases)|12 February]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[Shadow People (webcast)|Shadow People]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Agamya Akhtar|Agamya]], [[Shadow People (Shadow People)|Shadow People]]
|[[26 February (releases)|26 February]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[Varunastra (webcast)|Varunastra]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Agamya Akhtar|Agamya]], [[Box (When to Die)|Box]], [[Cyberon (Cyberon is Back!!)|Cyberon]], [[Control (The Devil Goblins from Neptune)|Control]]
|[[12 March (releases)|12 March]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[Doctor X (webcast)|Doctor X]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Agamya Akhtar|Agamya]], ''[[Doctor X]]''
|[[26 March (releases)|26 March]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[Goo! (home video)|Goo!]]''
|{{sortname|Bill|Baggs}}
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Sir]] [[Andrew Williams|Andrew]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]], [[Control (The Devil Goblins from Neptune)|Control]]
|[[April (releases)|April]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|rowspan=2|Home video
|-
|''[[Sherwood Sorceress (home video)|Sherwood Sorceress]]''
|{{sortname|James|Hornby}}
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]], [[Elizabeth Holub]], [[Louise Bayliss|Bayliss]]
|[[24 April (releases)|24 April]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[P.R.O.B.E. CASE FILES - TRAILER (webcast)|P.R.O.B.E. CASE FILES - TRAILER]]''
|data-sort-value="Baggs, Bill"|[[Bill Baggs]], [[James Hornby]]
|[[Giles]], [[Box (When to Die)|Box]], [[Cyberon (Cyberon is Back!!)|Cyberon]], ''[[Doctor X]]''
|[[25 April (releases)|25 April]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|YouTube webcast
|-
|''[[Daylight Savings (home video)|Daylight Savings]]''
|{{sortname|James|Hornby}}
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Azacca Dixon|Az]], [[Faction Paradox]], [[Perdix (Daylight Savings)|Perdix]]
|[[6 June (releases)|6 June]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|rowspan=7|Home video
|rowspan=2|''[[P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 2]]''
|-
|''[[Living Fiction (home video)|Living Fiction]]''
|{{sortname|Warren|Lewis}}
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Nosferatu]]
|[[8 June (releases)|8 June]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[First Entry (home video)|First Entry]]''
|rowspan=2|{{sortname|James|Hornby}}
|[[Giles]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]]
|rowspan=2|[[10 June (releases)|10 June]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|rowspan=2|''[[P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 1]]''
|-
|''[[Kelpie (home video)|Kelpie]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]]
|-
|''[[Ichor (home video)|Ichor]]''
|rowspan=2|{{sortname|Bill|Baggs}}
|[[Giles]], [[Azacca Dixon|Az]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]]
|[[5 July (releases)|5 July]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|rowspan=8|''[[P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 2]]''
|-
|''[[Fog (home video)|Fog]]''
|[[Giles]]
|[[6 July (releases)|6 July]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[Lauren Anderson (home video)|Lauren Anderson]]''
|data-sort-value="Hornby, James"|[[James Hornby]], [[Bill Baggs]]
|[[Giles]], [[Lauren Anderson|Lauren]], [[Cyberon]]s
|[[7 July (releases)|7 July]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[PROBE: CASE FILES - Vol 2 (webcast)|PROBE: CASE FILES - Vol 2]]''
|{{sortname|Bill|Baggs}}
|[[Giles]], [[Lauren Anderson]], [[Cyberon]]s, [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Sir]] [[Andrew Williams|Andrew]], [[Faction Paradox]], [[Orlok (Living Fiction)|Orlok]]
|[[14 February (releases)|14 February]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]
|Webcast
|-
|''[[A Message From Sir Andrew (home video)|A Message From Sir Andrew]]''
|Uncredited
|[[Sir]] [[Andrew Williams|Andrew]]
|rowspan=4|[[25 February (releases)|25 February]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]
|rowspan=13|Home video
|-
|''[[The Only Cure (home video)|The Only Cure]]''
|rowspan=3|{{sortname|James|Hornby}}
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Agamya Akhtar|Agamya]], [[Azacca Dixon|Az]], [[Lauren Anderson|Lauren]], [[Cyberon (Cyberon is Back!!)|"hollow" Cyberon]], [[Cyberon]]s, [[Cyberon (drug)|Cyberon drug]]
|-
|''[[Ex-President (home video)|Ex-President]]''
|[[Faction Paradox]], [[Felix Mather]]
|-
|''[[Legend (home video)|Legend]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]]
|-
|''[[Maxie Masters (home video)|Maxie Masters]]''
|rowspan=8|{{sortname|Bill|Baggs}}
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]]
|[[4 February (releases)|4 February]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]<ref>Date of release of the original audio version of ''[[Maxie (audio story)|Maxie]]''. The date at which the illustrated version listed as an entry in the ''Case Files'' series was released is not presently known to the Wiki.</ref>
|rowspan=9|N/A
|-
|''[[O'Kane (home video)|O'Kane]]''
|rowspan=2|[[Giles]]
|[[1 January (releases)|1 January]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]]
|-
|''[[Mist Mystery (home video)|Mist Mystery]]''
|[[2 February (releases)|2 February]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]]
|-
|''[[Stranger (home video)|Stranger]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Solomon (Stranger)|Solomon]]
|[[1 March (releases)|1 March]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]]
|-
|''[[Erlik (home video)|Erlik]]''
|[[Giles]]
|[[29 April (releases)|29 April]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]]
|-
|''[[St. Swithun (home video)|St. Swithun]]''
|[[Giles]]
|[[24 February (releases)|24 February]] [[2024 (releases)|2024]]
|-
|''[[Bridge (home video)|Bridge]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Cyberon]]
|[[22 March (releases)|22 March]] [[2024 (releases)|2024]]
|-
|''[[For The Hell Of It! (home video)|For The Hell Of It!]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Sam Myers|Sam]]
|[[22 April (releases)|22 April]] [[2024 (releases)|2024]]
|}
 
===== Arcbeatle Press shorts =====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title || Author || Featuring || Released || Medium
|-
|''[[Shadows of Doubt (webcast)|Shadows of Doubt]]''
|[[James Hornby]], [[Hunter O'Connell]], [[James Wylder]]
|rowspan=2|[[Giles]]
|[[22 January (releases)|28 April]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]]
|rowspan=2|YouTube webcast
|-
|''[[Out of the Shadows (webcast)|Out of the Shadows]]''
|James Hornby
|[[11 October (releases)|11 October]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|}
 
===== Crossovers =====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title || Author || Featuring || Released || Medium
|-
| ''[[Mission: Find Lilith (webcast)|Mission: Find Lilith]]''
| [[Trevor Spencer]]
| [[Lucifer (Lucifer)|Lucifer]], [[Giles]]
| [[8 November (releases)|8 November]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]]
| TikTok webcast
|-
|}
 
==== Documentaries ====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title || People interviewed || Released || Medium
|-
|''[[Coding Case Files: Making P.R.O.B.E. Online (documentary)|Coding Case Files: Making P.R.O.B.E. Online]]''
|[[James Hornby]], [[Warren Lewis]], [[Bill Baggs]]
|[[14 February (releases)|14 February]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]
|Home video
|}
 
=== Audiobooks ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title || Author || Subseries || Featuring || Released
|-
|''[[The Door We Forgot (short story)|The Door We Forgot]]''
|data-sort-value="Hornby, James"|[[James Hornby]], [[James Wylder]]
|rowspan="6"|''[[P.R.O.B.E. Audiobooks (series)|P.R.O.B.E. Audiobooks]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Agamya]], [[Bedevere (The Door We Forgot)|Bedevere]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]]
|[[8 May (releases)|8 May]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[9 to 5 (BBV audio story)|9 to 5]]''
|{{sortname|James|Hornby}}
|[[Tasha Williams|Tasha]]
|[[15 May (releases)|15 May]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]''
|data-sort-value="Hornby, James"|[[James Hornby]], [[James Wylder]]
|[[Giles]], [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]]
|[[15 June (releases)|15 June]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[She Came From Another World! (short story)|She Came From Another World!]]''
|{{sortname|James|Wylder}}
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]]
|[[17 June (releases)|17 June]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[What Happened in Manchester (audio story)|What Happened in Manchester]]''
|rowspan=2|{{sortname|James|Hornby}}
|[[Giles]], [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]]
|[[28 July (releases)|28 July]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[Broken Bonds (audio story)|Broken Bonds]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Bedevere]]
|[[4 October (releases)|4 October]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[Maxie (audio story)|Maxie]]''
|{{sortname|Bill|Baggs}}
|rowspan=2|''[[New Companions (series)|P.R.O.B.E.: New Companions]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]]
|[[4 February (releases)|4 February]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]
|-
|''[[Sam Myers (audio story)|Sam Myers]]''
|{{sortname|Trevor|Spencer}}
|[[Giles]]
|[[9 June (releases)|9 June]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]
|-
|''[[Giles - The Beginning (audio story)|Giles - The Beginning]]''
|rowspan=3|{{sortname|Bill|Baggs}}
|rowspan=4|''[[P.R.O.B.E. Short Stories (series)|P.R.O.B.E. Short Stories]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]]
|[[8 August (releases)|8 August]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]
|-
|''[[First Case (audio story)|First Case]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]]
|[[19 December (releases)|19 December]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]
|-
|''[[Bold (audio story)|Bold]]''
|[[Giles]], [[Louise Bayliss|Bayliss]]
|[[26 December (releases)|26 December]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]
|-
|''[[Guardian At The Gate (audio story)|Guardian At The Gate]]''
|{{sortname|Chris|McAuley}}
|[[Giles]], [[H. P. Lovecraft]], [[Great Race of Yith]]
|[[29 March (releases)|29 March]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]]
|}
 
=== Anthologies ===
{| {{prettytable}}
! Title || Release date
|-
|''[[Out of the Shadows (anthology)|Out of the Shadows]]''
|[[12 October (releases)|12 October]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|-
|''[[True Origins (anthology)|True Origins]]''
|[[8 January (releases)|8 January]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]]
|}
 
=== Unproduced stories ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title || Author || Featuring || Type
|-
|''[[Ishmael's Star (home video)|Ishmael's Star]]''
|[[Mark Gatiss]]
|rowspan=2|[[Liz Shaw|Liz]]
|Home video
|-
|''[[Drome (audio story)|Drome]]''
|[[Dave Stone]]
|Audio
|-
|''[[Origin Zero (anthology)|Origin Zero]]''
|[[James Wylder]]
| [[Origin Zero]]
|Anthology
|-
|''[[The Paimon Affair (audio story)|The Paimon Affair]]''
|[[Charles EP Murphy]]
| [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]]
|Audio
|-
|''[[Faction Paradox (home video)|Faction Paradox]]''
|[[James Hornby]]
|[[Faction Paradox]]
|Home video
|}
 
== External links ==
{{BBVProductions|P-R-O-B-E-Audiobooks-c107388934|P.R.O.B.E. ''audiobooks}}
 
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
 
{{PROBE}}
{{BBVHV}}
{{BBV}}
{{Spin-offs}}


{{Real world stub}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:P.R.O.B.E.| *]]
[[Category:P.R.O.B.E. series]]
[[Category:BBV spin-off series]]
[[Category:Arcbeatle spin-off series]]
[[Category:Overview pages]]
[[Category:Overview pages]]
[[Category:Prose fiction overviews]]

Revision as of 10:59, 15 October 2024

RealWorld.png

You may wish to consult Probe (disambiguation) for other, similarly-named pages.

P.R.O.B.E. was a multi-media spin-off series of Doctor Who.

The series started out starring Caroline John, playing an older version of television's Third Doctor companion Doctor Liz Shaw, and featuring her adventures working at the Preternatural Research Bureau, investigating unusual phenomena whilst struggling with the indifference and derision of the government and the police.

The series was originally released as direct-to-video films produced by BBV Productions, with four of its five instalments being released during the period of Doctor Who's cancellation.

In 2020, Arcbeatle Press made a publishing partnership with BBV and "revived" the series, starting with the release of Shadows of Doubt.[1] The next year, BBV Productions themselves released two volume's worth of live-action P.R.O.B.E. shorts, the P.R.O.B.E. Case Files. By January 2022, Arcbeatle had released two P.R.O.B.E. print anthologies, Out of the Shadows and True Origins, as well as using the Preternatural Research Bureau in their anthology Cyberon; True Origins declared itself the final release from Arcbeatle that would use the Bureau or other licensed BBV concepts.[2] Shortly after, BBV introduced a new subseries, P.R.O.B.E.: New Companions, beginning with the audiobook Maxie, which starred one of the characters introduced in Arcbeatle's prose material, Maxie Masters.[3] With the twenty-ninth case file, Portents of Doom [+]Loading...["Portents of Doom (home video)"], the series made a return to longer video content, albeit retaining a small cast, with Portents of Doom clocking in at about twenty minutes.

Premise

The series followed Liz Shaw some years after she left UNIT and the Doctor. As established in The Zero Imperative, Liz was headhunted to set up a department for the Ministry of Defence called the Preternatural Research Bureau (or P.R.o.B.e.) because of her work at the University of Cambridge. She accepted but was unaware that P.R.o.B.e. was to be grossly underfunded, understaffed and based in a single cramped office at Ashley House.

Unlike UNIT, P.R.O.B.E. was a small-scale organisation answerable to the British government — and its purpose was to investigate the strange and the out of the ordinary, rather than merely the extraterrestrial. Liz's only colleague in the original films was assistant Louise Bayliss, who was transferred by minister Brian Rutherford in a bid to have the organisation closed. However, permission was required from Liz's ministry liaison and later lover Patsy Haggard, who refused to do so and frequently went out of her way to assist Liz. Although mention of the Doctor and the events of season 7 was forbidden due to licensing restrictions, a number of Doctor Who actors featured in the series in new roles, notably Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, as well as Louise Jameson in the recurring role of Patsy.

The first four films were written by Mark Gatiss and directed by Bill Baggs. In 2010, Big Finish Productions released Shadow of the Past, a Companion Chronicle starring John as Liz. While not part of the P.R.O.B.E. series, it acknowledged its continuity, with Liz nodding to the "preternatural research" she had been working on in her absence from UNIT. After Caroline John's death in 2012, BBV surprised their audience by announcing a new film, designed as a tribute to John and farewell to the character of Liz. When to Die, where Hazel Burrows stepped in as an elderly Liz, was released in 2015. Jameson did not return as Patsy, who was instead played by Georgette Ellison.

Designed to wrap up Liz's adventures with P.R.O.B.E. and allow the series to continue with a fresh cast, the film also introduced two new members of the team: the eccentric technician Giles and the K9-esque portable computer Box. Later P.R.O.B.E. media starting from Shadows of Doubt featured a new P.R.O.B.E. team which had formed around Giles and Box, including Archie MacTavish, Az, Tasha Williams, Agamya and the alien refugee Maxie Masters. Liz (now Liz Haggard) was presented as retired and living in Spain with her now-wife Patsy, though she kept in contact with the new team.

Production team

All five P.R.O.B.E. films were directed by Bill Baggs, who also produced all of them bar The Zero Imperative which was produced by Andy Grant. Mark Gatiss wrote the first four films whilst Baggs wrote When to Die. Mark Ayres, who did music for season 25 and season 26 of Doctor Who, made original music for the first few films, with the fifth being done by Olivia Thomas.

Doctor Who actors

A number of actors from Doctor Who played the roles of other characters throughout the P.R.O.B.E. series. Louise Jameson (Leela) played Patsy Haggard in the first four films, Jon Pertwee (the Third Doctor) played Jeremiah O'Kane, Peter Davison (the Fifth Doctor) played Patient One and Gavin Purcell, Colin Baker (the Sixth Doctor) played Peter Russell, Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor) played Colin Dove, Sophie Aldred (Ace) played a public relations officer, Geoffrey Beevers (the Decayed Master) played Brian Rutherford and Terry Molloy (Davros) played D.I. Burke. This tradition was resumed for the 2020s revival with P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 2 with Simon Fisher-Becker (Dorium Maldovar) being cast as Andrew Williams.

Stories

Live-action

Direct-to-video features

Title Author Featuring Released
The Zero Imperative Mark Gatiss Liz, Patsy, Gilchrist January 1994
The Devil of Winterborne Liz, Patsy, Andrew, Gavin, Rutherford 1995
Unnatural Selection Liz, Patsy, Gilchrist, Rutherford January 1996
Ghosts of Winterborne Liz, Patsy, Andrew, Gavin 1996
When to Die Bill Baggs Liz, Patsy, Giles 15 April 2015
Portents of Doom Bill Baggs & Chris McAuley Giles, Solomon (Stranger), Andrew Williams, Diamorians 3 October 2024

Shorts

P.R.O.B.E. Case Files
Title Author Featuring Released Medium Volume
Stacey Facade James Hornby Giles, Agamya, Maxie, Tasha, Sir Andrew, Stacey Facade 22 January 2021 YouTube webcast P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 1
Manchester Giles, Agamya, Maxie, Tasha, Sir Andrew, Liz, Archie 5 February 2021
Peckham Poltergeist Giles, Maxie, Tasha, Archie, poltergeist 12 February 2021
Shadow People Giles, Maxie, Tasha, Agamya, Shadow People 26 February 2021
Varunastra Giles, Maxie, Tasha, Agamya, Box, Cyberon, Control 12 March 2021
Doctor X Giles, Maxie, Tasha, Agamya, Doctor X 26 March 2021
Goo! Bill Baggs Giles, Maxie, Sir Andrew, Liz, Control April 2021 Home video
Sherwood Sorceress James Hornby Giles, Maxie, Liz, Elizabeth Holub, Bayliss 24 April 2021
P.R.O.B.E. CASE FILES - TRAILER Bill Baggs, James Hornby Giles, Box, Cyberon, Doctor X 25 April 2021 YouTube webcast
Daylight Savings James Hornby Giles, Maxie, Tasha, Az, Faction Paradox, Perdix 6 June 2021 Home video P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 2
Living Fiction Warren Lewis Giles, Maxie, Nosferatu 8 June 2021
First Entry James Hornby Giles, Liz 10 June 2021 P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 1
Kelpie Giles, Archie, Tasha
Ichor Bill Baggs Giles, Az, Liz 5 July 2021 P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 2
Fog Giles 6 July 2021
Lauren Anderson James Hornby, Bill Baggs Giles, Lauren, Cyberons 7 July 2021
PROBE: CASE FILES - Vol 2 Bill Baggs Giles, Lauren Anderson, Cyberons, Maxie, Sir Andrew, Faction Paradox, Orlok 14 February 2022 Webcast
A Message From Sir Andrew Uncredited Sir Andrew 25 February 2022 Home video
The Only Cure James Hornby Giles, Maxie, Tasha, Agamya, Az, Lauren, "hollow" Cyberon, Cyberons, Cyberon drug
Ex-President Faction Paradox, Felix Mather
Legend Giles, the Brigadier
Maxie Masters Bill Baggs Giles, Maxie, Tasha 4 February 2022[4] N/A
O'Kane Giles 1 January 2023
Mist Mystery 2 February 2023
Stranger Giles, Solomon 1 March 2023
Erlik Giles 29 April 2023
St. Swithun Giles 24 February 2024
Bridge Giles, Cyberon 22 March 2024
For The Hell Of It! Giles, Sam 22 April 2024
Arcbeatle Press shorts
Title Author Featuring Released Medium
Shadows of Doubt James Hornby, Hunter O'Connell, James Wylder Giles 28 April 2020 YouTube webcast
Out of the Shadows James Hornby 11 October 2021
Crossovers
Title Author Featuring Released Medium
Mission: Find Lilith Trevor Spencer Lucifer, Giles 8 November 2023 TikTok webcast

Documentaries

Title People interviewed Released Medium
Coding Case Files: Making P.R.O.B.E. Online James Hornby, Warren Lewis, Bill Baggs 14 February 2022 Home video

Audiobooks

Title Author Subseries Featuring Released
The Door We Forgot James Hornby, James Wylder P.R.O.B.E. Audiobooks Giles, Agamya, Bedevere, Maxie, Tasha 8 May 2021
9 to 5 James Hornby Tasha 15 May 2021
A Worthy Successor James Hornby, James Wylder Giles, Archie 15 June 2021
She Came From Another World! James Wylder Giles, Maxie 17 June 2021
What Happened in Manchester James Hornby Giles, Archie 28 July 2021
Broken Bonds Giles, Maxie, Tasha, Bedevere 4 October 2021
Maxie Bill Baggs P.R.O.B.E.: New Companions Giles, Maxie 4 February 2022
Sam Myers Trevor Spencer Giles 9 June 2022
Giles - The Beginning Bill Baggs P.R.O.B.E. Short Stories Giles, Liz 8 August 2022
First Case Giles, Liz 19 December 2022
Bold Giles, Bayliss 26 December 2022
Guardian At The Gate Chris McAuley Giles, H. P. Lovecraft, Great Race of Yith 29 March 2023

Anthologies

Title Release date
Out of the Shadows 12 October 2021
True Origins 8 January 2022

Unproduced stories

Title Author Featuring Type
Ishmael's Star Mark Gatiss Liz Home video
Drome Dave Stone Audio
Origin Zero James Wylder Origin Zero Anthology
The Paimon Affair Charles EP Murphy Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart Audio
Faction Paradox James Hornby Faction Paradox Home video

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Arcbeatlepress - P.R.O.B.E.
  2. ↑ Afterword of True Origins
  3. ↑ P.R.O.B.E. New Companions: Maxie on BBVproductions.co.uk
  4. ↑ Date of release of the original audio version of Maxie. The date at which the illustrated version listed as an entry in the Case Files series was released is not presently known to the Wiki.
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v • e
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