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'''''P.R.O.B.E.''''' was a multi-media spin-off series of [[Doctor Who | '''''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]] [[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. | 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. | ||
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]] | 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. | ||
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''. | 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. | ||
== Premise == | == Premise == | ||
The series followed [[Liz Shaw]] some years after she left [[ | 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]]. | ||
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]] 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. | 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. | ||
The first four films were written by [[Mark Gatiss]] and directed by [[Bill Baggs]]. After Caroline John's death in [[2012]], the | 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]]. | ||
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. | |||
== Production 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 (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]] and [[season 26]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', made original music for the first few films, with the fifth being done by [[Olivia Thomas]]. | 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]]. | ||
=== ''Doctor Who'' actors === | === ''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]] played [[Patricia Haggard|Patsy Haggard]] in the first four films, [[Jon Pertwee]] played [[Jeremiah O'Kane]], [[Peter Davison]] played [[Patient One]] and [[Gavin Purcell]], [[Colin Baker]] played [[Peter Russell]], [[Sylvester McCoy]] played [[Colin Dove]], [[Sophie Aldred]] played a [[P.R.O.|public relations officer]], [[Geoffrey Beevers]] played [[Brian Rutherford]] and [[Terry Molloy]] played [[Burke|D.I. Burke]]. | 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]]. | ||
== Stories == | == Stories == | ||
=== Direct-to-video features === | === Live-action === | ||
==== Direct-to-video features ==== | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 59: | Line 62: | ||
|Liz, Patsy, [[Giles (When to Die)|Giles]] | |Liz, Patsy, [[Giles (When to Die)|Giles]] | ||
|[[15 April (releases)|15 April]] [[2015 (releases)|2015]] | |[[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]] | |||
|} | |} | ||
=== P.R.O.B.E. Case Files === | ==== Shorts ==== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | ===== ''P.R.O.B.E. Case Files'' ===== | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
|- | |- | ||
! Title || Author || Featuring || Released || Medium | ! Title || Author || Featuring || Released || Medium || Volume | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Stacey Facade (webcast)|Stacey Facade]]'' | |''[[Stacey Facade (webcast)|Stacey Facade]]'' | ||
|rowspan=6|[[ | |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]] | |[[22 January (releases)|22 January]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|rowspan=6|YouTube webcast | |rowspan=6|YouTube webcast | ||
|rowspan=9|''[[P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 1]]'' | |||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Manchester (webcast)|Manchester]]'' | |''[[Manchester (webcast)|Manchester]]'' | ||
|[[Archie MacTavish|Archie]] | |[[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 | |[[5 February (releases)|5 February]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Peckham Poltergeist (webcast)|Peckham Poltergeist]]'' | |''[[Peckham Poltergeist (webcast)|Peckham Poltergeist]]'' | ||
| | |[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]], [[poltergeist]] | ||
|[[12 February (releases)|12 February]] 2021 | |[[12 February (releases)|12 February]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Shadow People (webcast)|Shadow People]]'' | |''[[Shadow People (webcast)|Shadow People]]'' | ||
|[[26 February (releases)|26 February]] 2021 | |[[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]]'' | |''[[Varunastra (webcast)|Varunastra]]'' | ||
|[[12 March (releases)|12 March]] 2021 | |[[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]]'' | |''[[Doctor X (webcast)|Doctor X]]'' | ||
|''[[Doctor X]]'' | |[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]], [[Agamya Akhtar|Agamya]], ''[[Doctor X]]'' | ||
|[[26 March (releases)|26 March]] 2021 | |[[26 March (releases)|26 March]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Goo! (home video)|Goo!]]'' | |''[[Goo! (home video)|Goo!]]'' | ||
|[[ | |{{sortname|Bill|Baggs}} | ||
|[[Liz | |[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Sir]] [[Andrew Williams|Andrew]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]], [[Control (The Devil Goblins from Neptune)|Control]] | ||
|[[April (releases)|April]] 2021 | |[[April (releases)|April]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|rowspan= | |rowspan=2|Home video | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Sherwood Sorceress (home video)|Sherwood Sorceress]]'' | |''[[Sherwood Sorceress (home video)|Sherwood Sorceress]]'' | ||
| | |{{sortname|James|Hornby}} | ||
|Liz, [[Elizabeth Holub| | |[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]], [[Elizabeth Holub]], [[Louise Bayliss|Bayliss]] | ||
|[[24 April (releases)|24 April]] 2021 | |[[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]]'' | |''[[Daylight Savings (home video)|Daylight Savings]]'' | ||
|[[Faction Paradox]] | |{{sortname|James|Hornby}} | ||
|[[6 June (releases)|6 June]] 2021 | |[[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]]'' | |''[[First Entry (home video)|First Entry]]'' | ||
|rowspan=2|Giles | |rowspan=2|{{sortname|James|Hornby}} | ||
|rowspan=2|[[10 June (releases)|10 June]] 2021 | |[[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]]'' | |''[[Kelpie (home video)|Kelpie]]'' | ||
|[[Giles]], [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]], [[Tasha Williams|Tasha]] | |||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Ichor (home video)|Ichor]]'' | |''[[Ichor (home video)|Ichor]]'' | ||
|rowspan=2|Bill Baggs | |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Bill|Baggs}} | ||
|Liz | |[[Giles]], [[Azacca Dixon|Az]], [[Liz Haggard|Liz]] | ||
|[[5 July (releases)|5 July]] 2021 | |[[5 July (releases)|5 July]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|rowspan=8|''[[P.R.O.B.E. Case Files - Volume 2]]'' | |||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Fog (home video)|Fog]]'' | |''[[Fog (home video)|Fog]]'' | ||
|Giles | |[[Giles]] | ||
|[[6 July (releases)|6 July]] 2021 | |[[6 July (releases)|6 July]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Lauren Anderson (home video)|Lauren Anderson]]'' | |''[[Lauren Anderson (home video)|Lauren Anderson]]'' | ||
|James Hornby, Bill Baggs | |data-sort-value="Hornby, James"|[[James Hornby]], [[Bill Baggs]] | ||
|[[Lauren Anderson|Lauren]], [[Cyberon]]s | |[[Giles]], [[Lauren Anderson|Lauren]], [[Cyberon]]s | ||
|[[7 July (releases)|7 July]] 2021 | |[[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]]'' | ||
|[[Warren Lewis]] | |[[James Hornby]], [[Warren Lewis]], [[Bill Baggs]] | ||
|[[ | |[[14 February (releases)|14 February]] [[2022 (releases)|2022]] | ||
|Home video | |||
|} | |} | ||
=== Audiobooks === | === Audiobooks === | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Title || Author || Featuring || Released | ! Title || Author || Subseries || Featuring || Released | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[The Door We Forgot (short story)|The Door We Forgot]]'' | |''[[The Door We Forgot (short story)|The Door We Forgot]]'' | ||
|[[James Hornby]], [[James Wylder]] | |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]] | |[[8 May (releases)|8 May]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[9 to 5 (BBV audio story)|9 to 5]]'' | |''[[9 to 5 (BBV audio story)|9 to 5]]'' | ||
|James Hornby | |{{sortname|James|Hornby}} | ||
|Tasha | |[[Tasha Williams|Tasha]] | ||
|[[15 May (releases)|15 May]] 2021 | |[[15 May (releases)|15 May]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'' | |''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'' | ||
|James Hornby, James Wylder | |data-sort-value="Hornby, James"|[[James Hornby]], [[James Wylder]] | ||
|Giles, [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]] | |[[Giles]], [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]] | ||
|[[15 June (releases)|15 June]] 2021 | |[[15 June (releases)|15 June]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[She Came From Another World! (short story)|She Came From Another World!]]'' | |''[[She Came From Another World! (short story)|She Came From Another World!]]'' | ||
|James Wylder | |{{sortname|James|Wylder}} | ||
|Giles, Maxie | |[[Giles]], [[Maxie Masters|Maxie]] | ||
|[[17 June (releases)|17 June]] 2021 | |[[17 June (releases)|17 June]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[What Happened in Manchester (audio story)|What Happened in Manchester]]'' | |''[[What Happened in Manchester (audio story)|What Happened in Manchester]]'' | ||
|James Hornby | |rowspan=2|{{sortname|James|Hornby}} | ||
|Giles, Archie | |[[Giles]], [[Archie MacTavish|Archie]] | ||
|[[28 July (releases)|28 July]] 2021 | |[[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 | |||
! Title || | |||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[ | |''[[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]] | |||
|[[8 | |||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 192: | Line 341: | ||
|[[Dave Stone]] | |[[Dave Stone]] | ||
|Audio | |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 | |||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 206: | Line 370: | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:P.R.O.B.E. series]] | [[Category:P.R.O.B.E. series]] | ||
[[Category:BBV spin-off series]] | [[Category:BBV spin-off series]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:01, 4 November 2024
- 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[[edit] | [edit source]]
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[[edit] | [edit source]]
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[[edit] | [edit source]]
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[[edit] | [edit source]]
Live-action[[edit] | [edit source]]
Direct-to-video features[[edit] | [edit source]]
| 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[[edit] | [edit source]]
P.R.O.B.E. Case Files[[edit] | [edit source]]
Arcbeatle Press shorts[[edit] | [edit source]]
| 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[[edit] | [edit source]]
| Title | Author | Featuring | Released | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission: Find Lilith | Trevor Spencer | Lucifer, Giles | 8 November 2023 | TikTok webcast |
Documentaries[[edit] | [edit source]]
| 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[[edit] | [edit source]]
Anthologies[[edit] | [edit source]]
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Out of the Shadows | 12 October 2021 |
| True Origins | 8 January 2022 |
Unproduced stories[[edit] | [edit source]]
| 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[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Official P.R.O.B.E. audiobooks page at bbvproductions.co.uk
Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- ↑ Arcbeatlepress - P.R.O.B.E.
- ↑ Afterword of True Origins
- ↑ P.R.O.B.E. New Companions: Maxie on BBVproductions.co.uk
- ↑ 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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