Season 20 (Doctor Who 1963): Difference between revisions

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{{real world}}
Season 20 of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' ran between [[3rd January]] [[1983]] and [[25th November]] [[1983]]. It starred [[Peter Davison]] as the [[Fifth Doctor]].
{{Infobox Series
|image            = Doctor Who logo 5.jpg
|image2          =
|broadcast year  = 1983
|broadcast year2  =
|nth season      =
|ep count        = 22
|story count      = 6
|first ep        = Arc of Infinity (TV story)
|doctor          = Fifth Doctor
|doctor2          =
|companion        = Tegan Jovanka
|companion2      = Nyssa
|companion3      = Turlough
|companion4      = Kamelion
|companion5      =
|main enemy      = The [[Black Guardian]]
|producer        = John Nathan-Turner
|producer2        =
|producer3        =
|producer4        =
|exec prod        =
|exec prod2      =
|exec prod3      =
|exec prod4      =
|exec prod5      =
|script ed        = Eric Saward
|script ed2      =
|script ed3      =
|start date      = [[3 January (releases)|3 January]] [[1983 (releases)|1983]]
|end date        = [[16 March (releases)|16 March]] 1983
|network          = BBC1
|runtime          = 25'
|DWM              =
|DWM2            =
|DWM3            =
|DWM4            =
|DWM5            =
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|DWM24            =
|DWM25            =
|DWMSE            = DWMSE 1
|DWMSE2          = DWMSE 18
|DWMSE3          =
|DWMSE4          =
|DWMSE5          =
|ref book        = The Discontinuity Guide
|ref book2        = The Fifth Doctor Handbook
|ref book3        = The Eighties
|ref book4        = JN-T: The Life and Scandalous Times
|ref book5        = About Time 5
|ref book6        = TCH 36{{!}}The Complete History 36
|ref book7        = TCH 37
|doc              = Come in Number Five
|doc2            = Being Doctor Who
|doc3            = Mouth on Legs
|doc4            = Casting Off!
|doc5            =
|mythmakers      = MM VHS 5
|mythmakers2      = MM VHS 9
|mythmakers3      = MM VHS 14
|mythmakers4      = MM VHS 22
|mythmakers5      = MM VHS 36
|mythmakers6      = MM DVD 25
|mythmakers7      =
|mythmakers8      =
|mythmakers9      =
|mythmakers10    =
|prev            = season 19 (Doctor Who 1963)|
|next            = season 21 (Doctor Who 1963)|
|trailer          =
|trailer2        =
|clip            = Nyssa leaves the Doctor - Doctor Who - Terminus - BBC
|clip2            = A meeting of Dark and Light - The Black and White Guardians meet - Doctor Who - Enlightenment - BBC
|clip3            = Kamelion is revealed - Doctor Who - The King's Demons - BBC
|bts              =
|bts2            =
|bts3            =
}}{{big toc}}{{big toc}}
'''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]]''.


==Overview==
== Overview ==
The season consisted of six serials and 22 episodes of twenty-five minutes each, plus a ninety minute 20th anniversary special, ''[[The Five Doctors]]'' broadcast as part of [[Children in Need]]. This season sees the departure of companion Nyssa and introduced Turlough. Every story of this season contained an old enemy of the Doctor in at least a minor role, as part of the 20th anniversary of the show.
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.


==Television Stories==
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.
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>
''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.
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 ==
{| {{prettytable}}
{| {{prettytable}}
|'''#''' || '''Title''' || '''Writer''' || '''Episodes''' || '''Notes'''
!#||Title||Writer||Episodes||Notes
|-
|-
|1 ||''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]''||[[Johnny Byrne]]||4||First appearence of Omega since 1973, final appearance of Omega
|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]]''||[[Christopher Bailey]]||4||  
|2||''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]]''||[[Christopher Bailey]]||4||Final televised appearance of the [[Mara]].
|-
|-
|3 ||''[[Mawdryn Undead]]''||[[Peter Grimwade]]||4||First appearance of Vislor Turlough; reintroduction of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
|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
|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 appearance of the Black Guardian
|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]]''||[[Terence Dudley]]||2||First appearance of Kamelion
|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]].
|}
|}


===Anniversary Special===
== Cast ==
* [[Fifth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Peter Davison]]
* [[Nyssa]] - [[Sarah Sutton]]
* [[Tegan Jovanka]] - [[Janet Fielding]]
* [[Vislor Turlough|Turlough]] - [[Mark Strickson]]
 
=== Recurring ===
* [[Castellan (Arc of Infinity)|The Castellan]] — [[Paul Jerricho]]
* The [[Black Guardian]] - [[Valentine Dyall]]
* The [[White Guardian]] – [[Cyril Luckham]]
* [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] – [[Nicholas Courtney]]
* [[Kamelion]] - [[Gerald Flood]]
* [[The Master]] - [[Anthony Ainley]]
 
=== Guest ===
* [[Borusa|Lord President Borusa]] — [[Leonard Sachs]]
* [[Hedin|Councillor Hedin]] — [[Michael Gough]]
* [[Maxil|Commander Maxil]] — [[Colin Baker]]
* [[Robin Stuart]] - [[Andrew Boxer]]
* [[Colin Frazer]] - [[Alastair Cumming]]
* [[Omega]] - [[Ian Collier]]
* [[Ambril]] - [[John Carson]]
* [[Lon]] - [[Martin Clunes]]
* [[Tanha]] - [[Colette O'Neil]]
* [[Chela]] - [[Johnathon Morris]]
* [[Dugdale]] - [[Brian Miller (actor)|Brian Miller]]
* [[Dojjen]] - [[Preston Lockwood]]
* [[Mawdryn]] - [[David Collings]]
* [[Ibbotson]] - [[Stephen Garlick]]
* [[Kari]] - [[Liza Goddard]]
* [[Olvir]] - [[Dominic Guard]]
* [[Eirak]] - [[Martin Potter]]
* [[Valgard]] - [[Andrew Burt]]
* [[Bor]] - [[Peter Benson]]
* [[Sigurd]] - [[Tim Munro]]
* [[The Garm]] - [[R. J. Bell]]
* [[Striker]] – [[Keith Barron]]
* [[Marriner]] - [[Christopher Brown]]
* [[Jackson (Enlightenment)|Jackson]] - [[Tony Caunter]]
* [[Wrack]] – [[Lynda Baron]]
* [[Mansell]] - [[Leee John]]
* [[Ranulf Fitzwilliam]] - [[Frank Windsor]]
* [[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]]'':


{| {{prettytable}}
=== Audio ===
|'''#''' || '''Title''' || '''Writer''' || '''Episodes''' || '''Notes'''
* ''[[The Land of the Dead (audio story)|The Land of the Dead]]''
|-
* ''[[Winter for the Adept (audio story)|Winter for the Adept]]''
|7 ||''[[The Five Doctors]]''||[[Terrance Dicks]]||1 90-minute special||Final appearances of the First, Third and Fourth Doctors; reintroductions of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Doctors, Romana, Susan Foreman and Sarah Jane Smith. First Doctor Who appearances of K9 Mk. III and Rassilon
* ''[[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''


==Main Cast==
== Stories set during this season ==
===Regulars===
*[[Fifth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Peter Davison]]
*[[Tegan Jovanka]] - [[Janet Fielding]]
*[[Nyssa]] - [[Sarah Sutton]] (departed ''[[Terminus (TV story)|Terminus]]'' )
*[[Vislor Turlough|Turlough]] - [[Mark Strickson]] (introduced ''[[Mawdryn Undead]]'' )


===Semi-Regulars===
=== Novels ===
*[[Kamelion]] - [[Gerald Flood]]
*[[The Brigadier]] - [[Nicholas Courtney]]
*[[The Master (Tremas)|The Master]] - [[Anthony Ainley]]
*The [[Black Guardian]] - [[Valentine Dyall]]


===the five doctor's the companions===
* ''[[Fear of the Dark (novel)|Fear of the Dark]]''
*[[First Doctor]] - [[Richard Hurndall]]
* ''[[Zeta Major (novel)|Zeta Major]]''
*[[Second Doctor]] - [[Patrick Troughton]]
* ''[[The Sands of Time (novel)|The Sands of Time]]''
*[[Third Doctor]] - [[Jon Pertwee]]
* ''[[Goth Opera (novel)|Goth Opera]]''
*[[Fourth Doctor]] - [[Tom Baker]]
*Fifth doctor - Peter Davison
*Susan - Carol Ann Ford
*Jamie McCrimmon - Frazer Hines
*Romana 2  - Lala Ward
*Tegan Jovanga - Janet Fielding


The Five Doctor's specials
=== Audio ===
===Home Media===
* ''[[The Waters of Amsterdam (audio story)|The Waters of Amsterdam]]''
====VHS====
* ''[[Omega (audio story)|Omega]]''
*Children in need/The Five doctors (extended versions)
* ''[[The Burning Prince (audio story)|The Burning Prince]]''
*The Compainons/The Five doctors(extended versions)
* ''[[The Elite (audio story)|The Elite]]''
*The Five Doctor's adventures
* ''[[Hexagora (audio story)|Hexagora]]''
*The Full Monty/The Five doctors (extended version)
* ''[[The Children of Seth (audio story)|The Children of Seth]]''
*Warriors of the deep/The Five Doctors(extended version)
* ''[[Tartarus (audio story)|Tartarus]]''
*The King's Demons/The Five Doctors (extended version)
* ''[[Warzone (audio story)|Warzone]]''
* ''[[Conversion (BFM audio story)|Conversion]]''
* ''[[Thin Time (audio story)|Thin Time]]''
* ''[[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''


===Novels===
== Adaptations and merchandising ==
*The 1st Doctor
=== Home media ===
*The 2nd Doctor
==== VHS releases ====
*The 3rd Doctor
* ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]] ''(1994)
*The 4th doctor
* ''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]] ''(1994)
*The Fifth doctor
* ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]] ''(1992)
* ''[[Terminus (TV story)|Terminus]] ''(1993)
* ''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]] ''(1993)
* ''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]/[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' (extended version) (1995)
* ''The Five Doctors ''(1985)


==External links==
==== DVD & Blu-ray releases ====
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/season20.shtml BBC website guide to Season 20]
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%;"
|-
! style="width:30%;" |'''Serial name'''
! style="width:10%;" |'''Number and duration<br />of episodes'''
! style="width:10%;" |'''R2 release date'''
! style="width:10%;" |'''R4 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 (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
|-
|''[[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 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
|}


{|class="browser"
=== Download/streaming availability ===
|class="prev"|'''Previous season''':<br />[[Season 19]]<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|class="next"|'''Next season''':<br />[[Season 21]]
|-
! 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 ===
* ''[[Arc of Infinity (novelisation)|Arc of Infinity]]''
* ''[[Snakedance (novelisation)|Snakedance]]''
* ''[[Mawdryn Undead (novelisation)|Mawdryn Undead]]''
* ''[[Terminus (novelisation)|Terminus]]''
* ''[[Enlightenment (novelisation)|Enlightenment]]''
* ''[[The King's Demons (novelisation)|The King's Demons]]''


{{seasons}}
== External links ==
{{season 20}}
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/season20.shtml BBC website guide to Season 20]
 
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{DWTV}}
{{Season 20 aliens}}
{{Season 20 aliens}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[de:Doctor Who Staffel 20]]
[[es:Temporada 20 (DW-C)]]
[[it:Ventesima Stagione]]
[[pt:20ª Temporada (SC)]]
[[ru:20 сезон (классические серии)]]
[[Category:Seasons]]
[[Category:Doctor Who 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]]

  1. ↑ Shannon Sullivan's investigation of The Five Doctors
v • e
Doctor Who television stories
 
Seasons 1-4: William Hartnell
Season 1: 1963-1964
Season 2: 1964-1965
Season 3: 1965-1966
Season 4: 1966
 
Seasons 4-6: Patrick Troughton
Season 4: 1966-1967
Season 5: 1967-1968
Season 6: 1968-1969
 
Seasons 7-11: Jon Pertwee
Season 7: 1970
Season 8: 1971
Season 9: 1972
Season 10: 1972-1973
Season 11: 1973-1974
 
Seasons 12-18: Tom Baker
Season 12: 1974-1975
Season 13: 1975-1976
Season 14: 1976-1977
Season 15: 1977-1978
Season 16: 1978-1979
Season 17: 1979-1980
Season 18: 1980-1981
 
Seasons 19-21: Peter Davison
Season 19: 1982
Season 20: 1983
Children in Need 1983
Season 21: 1984
 
Seasons 21-23: Colin Baker
Season 21: 1984
Season 22: 1985
Season 23: 1986
 
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Season 24: 1987
Season 25: 1988-1989
Season 26: 1989
 
TV Movie & 2013 specials: Paul McGann
TV Movie: 1996
Specials: 2013
Minisodes
 
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Series 1: 2005
Regular episodes
 
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Minisode
Christmas Special
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Regular episodes
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Series 4: 2007-2010
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Minisodes
Animated special
Seasonal specials
 
Series 5-2013 specials: Matt Smith
Series 5: 2010
Regular episodes
Series 6: 2010-2011
Christmas Special
Minisodes
Regular episodes
(Part 1: Apr 2011)
Regular episodes
(Part 2: Aug 2011)
Minisode
Series 7: 2011-2013
Christmas Special
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(Part 1: 2012)
Minisode
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(Part 2: 2013)
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Series 8: 2014
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60th Anniversary Specials: David Tennant
Specials: 2023
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Season 1 (2023)-present: Ncuti Gatwa
Season 1: 2023-2024
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
v • e
Aliens and Enemies of Season 20
Arc of Infinity
Snakedance
Mawdryn Undead
Terminus
Enlightenment
The King's Demons
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