Season 20 (Doctor Who 1963): Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
m (language links)
Tags: Visual edit apiedit
m (Bot: Cosmetic changes)
 
(79 intermediate revisions by 30 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{Infobox Series
{{Infobox Series
|image            = PDVD 008.jpg
|image            = Doctor Who logo 5.jpg
|image2          =
|image2          =  
|broadcast year  = 1983
|broadcast year  = 1983
|broadcast year2  =
|broadcast year2  =  
|nth season      =
|nth season      =  
|ep count        = 22
|ep count        = 22
|story count      = 6
|story count      = 6
|first ep        = Arc of Infinity (TV story)
|first ep        = Arc of Infinity (TV story)
|doctor          = Fifth Doctor
|doctor          = Fifth Doctor
|doctor2          =
|doctor2          =  
|companion        = Tegan
|companion        = Tegan Jovanka
|companion2      = Turlough
|companion2      = Nyssa
|companion3      = Nyssa
|companion3      = Turlough
|companion4      =Kamelion
|companion4      = Kamelion
|companion5      =
|companion5      =  
|main enemy      = The [[Black Guardian]]
|producer        = John Nathan-Turner
|producer        = John Nathan-Turner
|producer2        =  
|producer2        =  
|producer3        =
|producer3        =  
|producer4        =  
|producer4        =  
|exec prod        =
|exec prod        =  
|exec prod2      =
|exec prod2      =  
|exec prod3      =
|exec prod3      =  
|exec prod4      =
|exec prod4      =  
|exec prod5      =
|exec prod5      =  
|script ed        = Eric Saward
|script ed        = Eric Saward
|script ed2      =  
|script ed2      =  
Line 67: Line 68:
|ref book4        = JN-T: The Life and Scandalous Times
|ref book4        = JN-T: The Life and Scandalous Times
|ref book5        = About Time 5
|ref book5        = About Time 5
|doc              = Being Doctor Who
|ref book6        = TCH 36{{!}}The Complete History 36
|doc2             = Mouth on Legs
|ref book7        = TCH 37
|doc3             = Casting Off!
|doc              = Come in Number Five
|doc4            =
|doc2            = Being Doctor Who
|doc5            =
|doc3             = Mouth on Legs
|doc4             = Casting Off!
|doc5            =  
|mythmakers      = MM VHS 5
|mythmakers      = MM VHS 5
|mythmakers2      = MM VHS 9
|mythmakers2      = MM VHS 9
Line 81: Line 84:
|mythmakers8      =  
|mythmakers8      =  
|mythmakers9      =  
|mythmakers9      =  
|mythmakers10    =
|mythmakers10    =  
|prev            = season 19
|prev            = season 19 (Doctor Who 1963)|
|next            = season 21
|next            = season 21 (Doctor Who 1963)|
|trailer          =
|trailer          =  
|trailer2        =
|trailer2        =  
|clip            =
|clip            = Nyssa leaves the Doctor - Doctor Who - Terminus - BBC
|clip2            =
|clip2            = A meeting of Dark and Light - The Black and White Guardians meet - Doctor Who - Enlightenment - BBC
|clip3            =
|clip3            = Kamelion is revealed - Doctor Who - The King's Demons - BBC
|bts              =
|bts              =  
|bts2            =
|bts2            =  
|bts3            =
|bts3            =  
}}{{big toc}}{{big toc}}
}}{{big toc}}{{big toc}}
'''Season 20''' of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was [[Peter Davison]]'s second season as the [[Fifth Doctor]], and it ran between [[3 January (releases)|3 January]] [[1983 (releases)|1983]] and [[16 March (releases)|16 March]] 1983. Before the season ended, [[Nyssa]] had departed, [[Turlough]] had arrived, and [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]] had returned. Every story of this season contained an old enemy of the Doctor in at least a minor role, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the show.
'''Season 20''' of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' ran from [[3 January (releases)|3 January]] [[1983 (releases)|1983]] to [[16 March (releases)|16 March]] 1983. It starred [[Peter Davison]] as the [[Fifth Doctor]], [[Sarah Sutton]] as [[Nyssa]], [[Janet Fielding]] as [[Tegan Jovanka]] and [[Mark Strickson]] as [[Turlough]]. The season opened with ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]'' and concluded with ''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]''.


Structurally, the season retread [[season 18]]'s formula of including a trilogy of stories bound together by an overarching theme. In this instance, the tripartite tale involved Turlough's attempts to kill the Doctor at the behest of the [[Black Guardian]].
== Overview ==
It consisted of six serials comprised of twenty-two episodes. This was notable for the degree to which it varied from its original plans. It had been commissioned as a 28-part series, and the intent was that it would have actually been broadcast towards the end of [[1982 (releases)|1982]]. [[Producer]] [[John Nathan-Turner]] had hoped to use season 20 as a way to reverse the January-March broadcast of [[Season 19 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 19]]. Thus, he had initially obtained permission to record and broadcast season 20 in 1982, thus making [[Season 21 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 21]] broadcast over the milestone [[23 November (releases)|23 November]] [[1983 (releases)|1983]]. Had JN-T got his way, the ''twentieth'' anniversary special would have in fact been a part of the regular twenty-''first'' season.


== Overview ==
Although this idea was in fact greenlit, permission had to be rescinded when it was discovered that Davison's second job — the then-popular [[BBC One]] comedy, {{wi|Sink or Swim (TV series)|Sink or Swim}} — wouldn't allow for this more aggressive ''Doctor Who'' production schedule. [[Controller of BBC One|BBC One controller]], [[Alan Hart]], had to personally step in to settle the dispute between the two production teams, and he "awarded" Davison to ''Sink or Swim''. This meant that season 20 would, like its predecessor, be broadcast in the first quarter of 1983.
Season 20 was notable for the degree to which it varied from its original plans.  It had been commissioned as a 28-part series, and the intent was that it would have actually been broadcast towards the end of [[1982 (releases)|1982]]. [[Producer]] [[John Nathan-Turner]] had hoped to use season 20 as a way to reverse the January-March broadast of [[season 19]].  Thus, he had initially obtained permission to record and broadcast season 20 in [[1982]], thus making [[season 21]] broadcast over the milestone [[23 November (releases)|23 November]] [[1983]].  Had JNT got his way, the ''twentieth'' anniversary special would have in fact been a part of the regular twenty-''first'' season.  


Although this idea was in fact greenlit, permission had to be rescinded when it was discovered that Davison's second job the then-popular [[BBC One]] comedy,  {{wi|Sink or Swim (TV series)|Sink or Swim}} — wouldn't allow for this more aggressive ''Doctor Who'' production schedule.  [[Controller of BBC One|BBC One controller]], [[Alan Hart]], had to personally step in to settle the dispute between the two production teams, and he "awarded" Davison to ''Sink or Swim''.  This meant that season 20 would, like its predecessor, be broadcast in the first quarter of 1983.
Hart, however, did want some sort of anniversary special in November, so he suggested that JN-T put the money for two of the 28 episodes aside to allow for the special. This, of course, meant that there would now be 26 episodes in season 20. In the end, however, the final four episodes meant to go towards a [[Dalek]] adventure that eventually became season 21's ''[[Resurrection of the Daleks (TV story)|Resurrection of the Daleks]]'' — were left on the table because of a union dispute. Thus, as transmitted, season 20 consisted of just 22 episodes.


Hart, however, did want some sort of anniversary special in November, so he suggested that JNT put the money for two of the 28 episodes aside to allow for the special. This of course meant that there would now be 26 episodes in season 20.  In the end, however, the final four episodes — meant to go towards a [[Dalek]] adventure that eventually became [[season 21]]'s ''[[Resurrection of the Daleks (TV story)|Resurrection of the Daleks]]'' — were left on the table because of a union dispute.  Thus, as transmitted, season 20 consisted of just 22 episodes.
Meanwhile, the anniversary special, which was originally envisaged as a part of season 21, was something quite separate from ''any'' season. Although it used a portion of the original money involved in the season 20 commission, it received a separate commission from [[Head of Series]] [[David Reid]] on [[15 July (production)|15 July]] [[1982 (production)|1982]]. Indeed, it only received this commission because JN-T had been able to secure co-production money from [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|the main Australian network]]. Moreover, ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', as the production was eventually called, didn't begin [[principal photography]] until early [[March (production)|March]] [[1983 (production)|1983]] — just when season 20 was wrapping transmission on television.<ref>[http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/6k.html Shannon Sullivan's investigation of ''The Five Doctors'']</ref>


Meanwhile, the anniversary special, which was originally envisaged as a part of season 21, was something quite separate from ''any'' season.  Although it used a portion of the original money involved in the season 20 commission, it received a separate commission from [[Head of Series]] [[David Reid]] on [[15 July (production)|15 July]] [[1982 (production)|1982]], long after season 20 had wrapped.  Indeed, it only received this commission because JNT had been able to secure co-production money from [[ABC1|the main Australian network]].  Moreover, ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', as the production was eventually called, didn't begin [[principal photography]] until early [[March (production)|March]] [[1983 (production)|1983]] — just when season 20 was wrapping transmission on television.<ref>[http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/6k.html Shannon Sullivan's investigation of ''The Five Doctors'']</ref>
''The Five Doctors'', though often said to be a part of season 20, was therefore not a part of season 20 in any production or broadcast sense. Indeed, it's doubtful that any contemporary viewer thought of it as a part of the season, since it came almost eight months after the closing scene of ''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]''. Instead, it had much greater production and broadcast proximity to season 21, and is often considered a standalone special. The episode was also considerably longer than typical episodes of the time, and was introduced during the Children in Need telethon by the host, Terry Wogan.


''The Five Doctors'', though often said to be a part of season 20, was therefore not a part of season 20 in any production or broadcast sense. Indeed, it's doubtful that any contemporary viewer thought of it as a part of the season, since it came almost eight months after the closing scene of ''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]''. Instead, it had much greater production and broadcast proximity to [[season 21]].
Structurally, the season retread [[Season 18 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 18]]'s formula of including a trilogy of stories bound together by an overarching theme. In this instance, the tripartite tale involved Turlough's attempts to kill the Doctor at the behest of the [[Black Guardian]].


== Television stories ==
== Television stories ==
{| {{prettytable}}
{| {{prettytable}}
|'''#''' || '''Title''' || '''Writer''' || '''Episodes''' || '''Notes'''
!#||Title||Writer||Episodes||Notes
|-
|-
|1 ||''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]''||[[Johnny Byrne]]||4||First and final onscreen appearance of [[Omega]] since [[1973]]. Return of [[Tegan Jovanka]] as a companion. [[Colin Baker]]'s first appearance on the series, in the role of [[Maxil]], before becoming the [[Sixth Doctor]] in [[1984 (releases)|1984]].
|1||''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]''||[[Johnny Byrne]]||4||Final televised appearance of [[Omega]]. Return of [[Tegan Jovanka]] as a companion.
|-
|-
|2 ||''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]]''||[[Christopher Bailey]]||4|| Return and final onscreen appearance of the [[Mara]].
|2||''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]]''||[[Christopher Bailey]]||4||Final televised appearance of the [[Mara]].
|-
|-
|3 ||''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]''||[[Peter Grimwade]]||4||First appearance of [[Vislor Turlough]]; reintroduction of [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]. First story in the "Black Guardian Trilogy". Narrative concerning the year of the story's setting fueled the [[UNIT dating controversy]].
|3||''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]''||[[Peter Grimwade]]||4||First story in the "Black Guardian Trilogy". First appearance of [[Vislor Turlough]]. First appearance of [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] since 1975.
|-
|-
|4 ||''[[Terminus (TV story)|Terminus]]''||[[Steve Gallagher]]||4||Final appearance of [[Nyssa]]. Second story in the "Black Guardian Trilogy".
|4||''[[Terminus (TV story)|Terminus]]''||[[Steve Gallagher]]||4||Second story in the "Black Guardian Trilogy". Departure of [[Nyssa]] from the TARDIS.  
|-
|-
|5 ||''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]''||[[Barbara Clegg]]||4||Final appearances of the [[Black Guardian]] and the [[White Guardian]]. Third and final story in the "Black Guardian Trilogy".
|5||''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]''||[[Barbara Clegg]]||4||Third and final story in the "Black Guardian Trilogy". Final televised appearances of the [[Black Guardian]] and the [[White Guardian]].  
|-
|-
|6 ||''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]''||[[Terence Dudley]]||2||First appearance of Kamelion. Re-appearance of [[the Master]]. Leads into the twentieth anniversary special, ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]''.
|6||''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]''||[[Terence Dudley]]||2||First appearance of [[Kamelion]]. Final story to be written by [[Terence Dudley]].
|}
|}


== Main cast ==
== Cast ==
=== Recurring ===
* [[Fifth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Peter Davison]]
* The [[Fifth Doctor]] - [[Peter Davison]]
* [[Nyssa]] - [[Sarah Sutton]]
* [[Tegan Jovanka]] - [[Janet Fielding]]
* [[Tegan Jovanka]] - [[Janet Fielding]]
* [[Nyssa]] - [[Sarah Sutton]]
* [[Vislor Turlough|Turlough]] - [[Mark Strickson]]
* [[Vislor Turlough|Turlough]] - [[Mark Strickson]]
=== Recurring ===
* [[Castellan (Arc of Infinity)|The Castellan]] — [[Paul Jerricho]]
* The [[Black Guardian]] - [[Valentine Dyall]]
* The [[Black Guardian]] - [[Valentine Dyall]]
* [[Castellan (Arc of Infinity)|The Castellan]] [[Paul Jerricho]]
* The [[White Guardian]] [[Cyril Luckham]]
* [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] – [[Nicholas Courtney]]
* [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] – [[Nicholas Courtney]]
* The [[White Guardian]] – [[Cyril Luckham]]
* [[Kamelion]] - [[Gerald Flood]]
* {{Ainley|c}} - [[Anthony Ainley]]
* [[The Master]] - [[Anthony Ainley]]
* [[John of England]]/[[Kamelion]] - [[Gerald Flood]]


=== Guest ===
=== Guest ===
* [[Borusa]] — [[Leonard Sachs]]
* [[Borusa|Lord President Borusa]] — [[Leonard Sachs]]
* [[Thalia|Chancellor Thalia]] — [[Elspet Gray]]
* [[Hedin|Councillor Hedin]] — [[Michael Gough]]
* [[Hedin|Councillor Hedin]] — [[Michael Gough]]
* [[Zorac|Cardinal Zorac]] — [[Max Harvey]]
* [[Maxil|Commander Maxil]] — [[Colin Baker]]
* [[Maxil|Commander Maxil]] — [[Colin Baker]]
* [[Robin Stuart]] - [[Andrew Boxer]]
* [[Colin Frazer]] - [[Alastair Cumming]]
* [[Omega]] - [[Ian Collier]]
* [[Ambril]] - [[John Carson]]
* [[Lon]] - [[Martin Clunes]]
* [[Lon]] - [[Martin Clunes]]
* [[Ambril]] - [[John Carson]]
* [[Tanha]] - [[Colette O'Neil]]
* [[Tanha]] - [[Colette O'Neil]]
* [[Chela]] - [[Johnathon Morris]]
* [[Chela]] - [[Johnathon Morris]]
* [[Dugdale]] - [[Brian Miller (actor)|Brian Miller]]
* [[Dojjen]] - [[Preston Lockwood]]
* [[Mawdryn]] - [[David Collings]]
* [[Ibbotson]] - [[Stephen Garlick]]
* [[Ibbotson]] - [[Stephen Garlick]]
* [[Kari]] - [[Liza Goddard]]
* [[Kari]] - [[Liza Goddard]]
* [[Olvir]] - [[Dominic Guard]]
* [[Olvir]] - [[Dominic Guard]]
* [[Inga]] - [[Rachel Weaver]]
* [[Eirak]] - [[Martin Potter]]
* [[Eirak]] - [[Martin Potter]]
* [[Valgard]] - [[Andrew Burt]]
* [[Bor]] - [[Peter Benson]]
* [[Sigurd]] - [[Tim Munro]]
* [[The Garm]] - [[R. J. Bell]]
* [[Striker]] – [[Keith Barron]]
* [[Striker]] – [[Keith Barron]]
* [[Marriner]] - [[Christopher Brown]]
* [[Marriner]] - [[Christopher Brown]]
* [[Jackson (Enlightenment)|Jackson]] - [[Tony Caunter]]
* [[Wrack]] – [[Lynda Baron]]
* [[Wrack]] – [[Lynda Baron]]
* [[Mansell]] - [[Leee John]]
* [[Ranulf Fitzwilliam]] - [[Frank Windsor]]
* [[Ranulf Fitzwilliam]] - [[Frank Windsor]]
* [[Isabella Fitzwilliam]] - [[Isla Blair]]
* [[Isabella Fitzwilliam]] - [[Isla Blair]]
* [[John of England|King John]] - [[Gerald Flood]]
* [[Hugh Fitzwilliam|Hugh]] - [[Christopher Villiers]]
== Stories set before this season ==
The following stories are the known ones to be set between the [[Season 19 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 19]] finale ''[[Time-Flight (TV story)|Time-Flight]]'' and Season 20 opener ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]'':
=== Audio ===
* ''[[The Land of the Dead (audio story)|The Land of the Dead]]''
* ''[[Winter for the Adept (audio story)|Winter for the Adept]]''
* ''[[Primeval (audio story)|Primeval]]''
* ''[[The Game (audio story)|The Game]]''
* ''[[Renaissance of the Daleks (audio story)|Renaissance of the Daleks]]''
* ''[[Return to the Web Planet (audio story)|Return to the Web Planet]]''
* [[Thomas Brewster|Brestwer]]'s involvemenet in ''[[The Three Companions (audio story)|The Three Companions]]''
* [[The Boy That Time Forgot (audio story)|''The Boy That Time Forgot'']]
* ''[[Castle of Fear (audio story)|Castle of Fear]]''
* ''[[The Eternal Summer (audio story)|The Eternal Summer]]''
* ''[[Plague of the Daleks (audio story)|Plague of the Daleks]]''
* ''[[The Demons of Red Lodge (audio story)|The Demons of Red Lodge]]''
* ''[[The Entropy Composition (audio story)|The Entropy Composition]]''
* ''[[Doing Time (audio story)|Doing Time]]''
* ''[[Special Features (audio story)|Special Features]]''
* ''[[1001 Nights (audio anthology)|1001 Nights]]''
* ''[[1963: Fanfare for the Common Men (audio story)|1963: Fanfare for the Common Men]]''
* The Fifth Doctor and Nyssa's involvement in ''[[The Light at the End (audio story)|The Light at the End]]''
* ''[[Masquerade (audio story)|Masquerade]]''
* ''[[Tomb Ship (audio story)|Tomb Ship]]''
* Kamelion's involevement in [[Masterful (audio story)|''Masterful'']]
=== Novels ===
* ''[[Empire of Death (novel)|Empire of Death]]''
''to be completed''


== Stories set during this season ==
== Stories set during this season ==
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Omega (audio story)|Omega]]'' (immediately after ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]'')
 
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Burning Prince (audio story)|The Burning Prince]]'' (between ''Arc of Infinity'' and ''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]]'')
=== Novels ===
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Elite (audio story)|The Elite]]'' (between ''Arc of Infinity'' and ''Snakedance'')
 
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hexagora (audio story)|Hexagora]]'' (between ''Arc of Infinity'' and ''Snakedance'')
* ''[[Fear of the Dark (novel)|Fear of the Dark]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Children of Seth (audio story)|The Children of Seth]]'' (between ''Arc of Infinity'' and ''Snakedance'')
* ''[[Zeta Major (novel)|Zeta Major]]''
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[Fear of the Dark (novel)|Fear of the Dark]]'' (between ''Arc of Infinity'' and ''Snakedance'')
* ''[[The Sands of Time (novel)|The Sands of Time]]''
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[Zeta Major (novel)|Zeta Major]]'' (between ''Arc of Infinity'' and ''Snakedance'')
* ''[[Goth Opera (novel)|Goth Opera]]''
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Sands of Time (novel)|The Sands of Time]]'' (between ''Arc of Infinity'' and ''Snakedance'')
 
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[Goth Opera (novel)|Goth Opera]]'' (between ''Snakedance'' and ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'')
=== Audio ===
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Freakshow (audio story)|Freakshow]]'' (between ''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]'' and ''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]'')
* ''[[The Waters of Amsterdam (audio story)|The Waters of Amsterdam]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Cobwebs (audio story)|Cobwebs]]'' (between ''Enlightenment'' and ''The King's Demons'')
* ''[[Omega (audio story)|Omega]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Whispering Forest (audio story)|The Whispering Forest]]'' (between ''Enlightenment'' and ''The King's Demons'')
* ''[[The Burning Prince (audio story)|The Burning Prince]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Cradle of the Snake (audio story)|The Cradle of the Snake]]'' (between ''Enlightenment'' and ''The King's Demons'')
* ''[[The Elite (audio story)|The Elite]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Heroes of Sontar (audio story)|Heroes of Sontar]]'' (between ''Enlightenment'' and ''The King's Demons'')
* ''[[Hexagora (audio story)|Hexagora]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Kiss of Death (audio story)|Kiss of Death]]'' (between ''Enlightenment'' and ''The King's Demons'')
* ''[[The Children of Seth (audio story)|The Children of Seth]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Rat Trap (audio story)|Rat Trap]]'' (between ''Enlightenment'' and ''The King's Demons'')
* ''[[Tartarus (audio story)|Tartarus]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Emerald Tiger (audio story)|The Emerald Tiger]]'' (between ''Enlightenment'' and ''The King's Demons'')
* ''[[Warzone (audio story)|Warzone]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Jupiter Conjunction (audio story)|The Jupiter Conjunction]]'' (between ''Enlightenment'' and ''The King's Demons'')
* ''[[Conversion (BFM audio story)|Conversion]]''
* [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Butcher of Brisbane (audio story)|The Butcher of Brisbane]]'' (between ''Enlightenment'' and ''The King's Demons'')
* ''[[Thin Time (audio story)|Thin Time]]''
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Crystal Bucephalus (novel)|The Crystal Bucephalus]]'' (between ''The King's Demons'' and ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'')
* ''[[Madquake (audio story)|Madquake]]''
* ''[[Gardens of the Dead (audio story)|Gardens of the Dead]]''
* ''[[Freakshow (audio story)|Freakshow]]''
* ''[[Cobwebs (audio story)|Cobwebs]]''
* ''[[The Whispering Forest (audio story)|The Whispering Forest]]''
* ''[[The Cradle of the Snake (audio story)|The Cradle of the Snake]]''
* ''[[Heroes of Sontar (audio story)|Heroes of Sontar]]''
* ''[[Kiss of Death (audio story)|Kiss of Death]]''
* ''[[Rat Trap (audio story)|Rat Trap]]''
* ''[[The Emerald Tiger (audio story)|The Emerald Tiger]]''
* ''[[The Jupiter Conjunction (audio story)|The Jupiter Conjunction]]''
* ''[[The Butcher of Brisbane (audio story)|The Butcher of Brisbane]]''
* ''[[Eldrad Must Die! (audio story)|Eldrad Must Die!]]''
* ''[[The Lady of Mercia (audio story)|The Lady of Mercia]]''
* Tegan and Turlough's involvement in ''[[The Light at the End (audio story)|The Light at the End]]''
''to be completed''


== Adaptations and merchandising ==
== Adaptations and merchandising ==
=== Home media ===
=== Home media ===
==== VHS ====
==== VHS releases ====
* ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]] ''(1994)
* ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]] ''(1994)
* ''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]] ''(1994)
* ''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]] ''(1994)
Line 192: Line 253:
* ''The Five Doctors ''(1985)
* ''The Five Doctors ''(1985)


==== DVD ====
==== DVD & Blu-ray releases ====
All serials of season 20 were released individually in between 1999 and 2011, with ''The Five Doctors'' being the first ever serial released on DVD.
All serials of season 20 were released individually on DVD between 1999 and 2011, with ''The Five Doctors'' being the first ever serial released on DVD.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
|-
! style="width:30%;"| '''Serial name'''  
! style="width:30%;" |'''Serial name'''
! style="width:10%;"| '''Number and duration<br />of episodes'''
! style="width:10%;" |'''Number and duration<br />of episodes'''
! style="width:10%;"| '''R2 release date'''  
! style="width:10%;" |'''R2 release date'''
! style="width:10%;"| '''R4 release date'''
! style="width:10%;" |'''R4 release date'''
! style="width:10%;"| '''R1 release date'''
! style="width:10%;" |'''R1 release date'''
|-
|-
| ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]''<br /><small>Only available as part of the ''Time-Flight/Arc of Infinity'' box set in Regions 2 and 4. <br />Only available individually in Region 1.'' || 4 × 25 min. || 6 August 2007 || 5 September 2007 || 6 November 2007
|''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]''<br /><small>Only available as part of the ''[[Time-Flight (TV story)|Time-Flight]]/Arc of Infinity'' box set in Regions 2 and 4. <br />Only available individually in Region 1.|| 4 × 25 min.|| 6 August 2007|| 5 September 2007|| 6 November 2007
|-
|-
| ''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]]''<br /><small>Only available as part of the ''Mara Tales'' box set in Regions 2 and 4. <br />Only available individually in Region 1. || 4 × 25 min. || 7 March 2011 || 7 April 2011 || 12 April 2011  
|''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]]''<br /><small>Only available as part of the ''[[Mara Tales]]'' box set in Regions 2 and 4. <br />Only available individually in Region 1. || 4 × 25 min.|| 7 March 2011|| 7 April 2011|| 12 April 2011
|-
|-
| ''[[The Black Guardian Trilogy|Black Guardian Trilogy]]'': <br />''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'' (4 episodes) <br />''[[Terminus (TV story)|Terminus]]'' (4 episodes)<br />''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]'' (4 episodes) || 12 × 25 min.<br /> 1 × 75 min.<br /> (''Enlightenment'' Special Edition) || 10 August 2009 || 5 November 2009 || 3 November 2009
|''[[The Black Guardian Trilogy]]'': <br />''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'' (4 episodes) <br />''[[Terminus (TV story)|Terminus]]'' (4 episodes)<br />''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]'' (4 episodes)|| 12 × 25 min.<br /> 1 × 75 min.<br /><small> (''Enlightenment'' Special Edition)</small>||10 August 2009|| 5 November 2009|| 3 November 2009
|-
|-
| ''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]''<br /><small>Only available as part of the ''Kamelion Tales'' box set in Regions 2 and 4. <br />Only available individually in Region 1.'' || 2 × 25 min. || 14 June 2010 || 5 August 2010 || 7 September 2010
|''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]''<br /><small>Only available as part of the ''[[Kamelion Tales]]'' box set in Regions 2 and 4. <br />Only available individually in Region 1.||2 × 25 min.|| 14 June 2010|| 5 August 2010|| 7 September 2010
|-
|-
| ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' – Special Edition || 1 × 100 min.<br /><small>  (Special Edition)</small>|| 1 November 1999 || 9 October 2000 || 11 September 2001
|''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' – Special Edition|| 1 × 100 min.<br /><small>  (Special Edition)</small>||1 November 1999|| 9 October 2000|| 11 September 2001
|-
|-
| ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' – 25th Anniversary Edition || 1 × 90 min.<br /><small> (Broadcast Version)</small><br /> 1 × 100 min.<br /><small> (Special Edition)</small>|| 3 March 2008 || 8 May 2008 || 5 August 2008
|''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' – 25th Anniversary Edition|| 1 × 90 min.<br /><small> (Broadcast Version)</small><br /> 1 × 100 min.<br /><small> (Special Edition)</small>||3 March 2008|| 8 May 2008|| 5 August 2008
|}
|}


=== Download/streaming availability ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:25%;" |'''Serial name'''
!Amazon Video
!iTunes
|-
|''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]'' (4 episodes)
|✓
|✓
|-
|''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]]'' (4 episodes)
|✓
|✓
|-
|''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'' (4 episodes)
|
|
|-
|''[[Terminus (TV story)|Terminus]]'' (4 episodes)
|✓
|✓
|-
|''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]'' (4 episodes)
|
|
|-
|''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]'' (2 episodes
|
|
|-
|''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]''
|
|
|}
=== Novels ===
=== Novels ===
* ''[[Arc of Infinity (novelisation)|Arc of Infinity]]''
* ''[[Arc of Infinity (novelisation)|Arc of Infinity]]''
Line 225: Line 321:
== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/season20.shtml BBC website guide to Season 20]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/season20.shtml BBC website guide to Season 20]
== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
Line 230: Line 327:
{{Season 20 aliens}}
{{Season 20 aliens}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Seasons]]
[[Category:Doctor Who seasons]]
[[Category:Infobox double checked]]
[[de:Doctor Who Staffel 20]]
[[de:Doctor Who Staffel 20]]
[[es:Temporada 20 (DW-C)]]
[[es:Temporada 20 (DW-C)]]
Line 238: Line 332:
[[pt:20ª Temporada (SC)]]
[[pt:20ª Temporada (SC)]]
[[ru:20 сезон (классические серии)]]
[[ru:20 сезон (классические серии)]]
[[Category:Seasons]]
[[Category:Doctor Who seasons]]
[[Category:Infobox double checked]]

Latest revision as of 20:15, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

Season 20 of Doctor Who ran from 3 January 1983 to 16 March 1983. It starred Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa, Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka and Mark Strickson as Turlough. The season opened with Arc of Infinity and concluded with The King's Demons.

Overview[[edit] | [edit source]]

It consisted of six serials comprised of twenty-two episodes. This was notable for the degree to which it varied from its original plans. It had been commissioned as a 28-part series, and the intent was that it would have actually been broadcast towards the end of 1982. Producer John Nathan-Turner had hoped to use season 20 as a way to reverse the January-March broadcast of season 19. Thus, he had initially obtained permission to record and broadcast season 20 in 1982, thus making season 21 broadcast over the milestone 23 November 1983. Had JN-T got his way, the twentieth anniversary special would have in fact been a part of the regular twenty-first season.

Although this idea was in fact greenlit, permission had to be rescinded when it was discovered that Davison's second job — the then-popular BBC One comedy, Sink or Swim — wouldn't allow for this more aggressive Doctor Who production schedule. BBC One controller, Alan Hart, had to personally step in to settle the dispute between the two production teams, and he "awarded" Davison to Sink or Swim. This meant that season 20 would, like its predecessor, be broadcast in the first quarter of 1983.

Hart, however, did want some sort of anniversary special in November, so he suggested that JN-T put the money for two of the 28 episodes aside to allow for the special. This, of course, meant that there would now be 26 episodes in season 20. In the end, however, the final four episodes — meant to go towards a Dalek adventure that eventually became season 21's Resurrection of the Daleks — were left on the table because of a union dispute. Thus, as transmitted, season 20 consisted of just 22 episodes.

Meanwhile, the anniversary special, which was originally envisaged as a part of season 21, was something quite separate from any season. Although it used a portion of the original money involved in the season 20 commission, it received a separate commission from Head of Series David Reid on 15 July 1982. Indeed, it only received this commission because JN-T had been able to secure co-production money from the main Australian network. Moreover, The Five Doctors, as the production was eventually called, didn't begin principal photography until early March 1983 — just when season 20 was wrapping transmission on television.[1]

The Five Doctors, though often said to be a part of season 20, was therefore not a part of season 20 in any production or broadcast sense. Indeed, it's doubtful that any contemporary viewer thought of it as a part of the season, since it came almost eight months after the closing scene of The King's Demons. Instead, it had much greater production and broadcast proximity to season 21, and is often considered a standalone special. The episode was also considerably longer than typical episodes of the time, and was introduced during the Children in Need telethon by the host, Terry Wogan.

Structurally, the season retread season 18's formula of including a trilogy of stories bound together by an overarching theme. In this instance, the tripartite tale involved Turlough's attempts to kill the Doctor at the behest of the Black Guardian.

Television stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

# Title Writer Episodes Notes
1 Arc of Infinity Johnny Byrne 4 Final televised appearance of Omega. Return of Tegan Jovanka as a companion.
2 Snakedance Christopher Bailey 4 Final televised appearance of the Mara.
3 Mawdryn Undead Peter Grimwade 4 First story in the "Black Guardian Trilogy". First appearance of Vislor Turlough. First appearance of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart since 1975.
4 Terminus Steve Gallagher 4 Second story in the "Black Guardian Trilogy". Departure of Nyssa from the TARDIS.
5 Enlightenment Barbara Clegg 4 Third and final story in the "Black Guardian Trilogy". Final televised appearances of the Black Guardian and the White Guardian.
6 The King's Demons Terence Dudley 2 First appearance of Kamelion. Final story to be written by Terence Dudley.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Recurring[[edit] | [edit source]]

Guest[[edit] | [edit source]]

Stories set before this season[[edit] | [edit source]]

The following stories are the known ones to be set between the Season 19 finale Time-Flight and Season 20 opener Arc of Infinity:

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

Novels[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be completed

Stories set during this season[[edit] | [edit source]]

Novels[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be completed

Adaptations and merchandising[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home media[[edit] | [edit source]]

VHS releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD & Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

All serials of season 20 were released individually on DVD between 1999 and 2011, with The Five Doctors being the first ever serial released on DVD.

Serial name Number and duration
of episodes
R2 release date R4 release date R1 release date
Arc of Infinity
Only available as part of the Time-Flight/Arc of Infinity box set in Regions 2 and 4.
Only available individually in Region 1.
4 × 25 min. 6 August 2007 5 September 2007 6 November 2007
Snakedance
Only available as part of the Mara Tales box set in Regions 2 and 4.
Only available individually in Region 1.
4 × 25 min. 7 March 2011 7 April 2011 12 April 2011
The Black Guardian Trilogy:
Mawdryn Undead (4 episodes)
Terminus (4 episodes)
Enlightenment (4 episodes)
12 × 25 min.
1 × 75 min.
(Enlightenment Special Edition)
10 August 2009 5 November 2009 3 November 2009
The King's Demons
Only available as part of the Kamelion Tales box set in Regions 2 and 4.
Only available individually in Region 1.
2 × 25 min. 14 June 2010 5 August 2010 7 September 2010
The Five Doctors – Special Edition 1 × 100 min.
(Special Edition)
1 November 1999 9 October 2000 11 September 2001
The Five Doctors – 25th Anniversary Edition 1 × 90 min.
(Broadcast Version)
1 × 100 min.
(Special Edition)
3 March 2008 8 May 2008 5 August 2008

Download/streaming availability[[edit] | [edit source]]

Serial name Amazon Video iTunes
Arc of Infinity (4 episodes)
Snakedance (4 episodes)
Mawdryn Undead (4 episodes)
Terminus (4 episodes)
Enlightenment (4 episodes)
The King's Demons (2 episodes
The Five Doctors

Novels[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]