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[[File:PDVD 008.jpg|thumb|center]]{{big toc}}
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'''Season 20''' of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was [[Peter Davison]]'s second season as the [[Fifth Doctor]], and it ran between [[3 January]] [[1983]] and [[16 March]] [[1983]]. Before the season ended, [[Nyssa]] had departed, [[Turlough]] had arrived, and [[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]]'' was [[Peter Davison]]'s second season as the [[Fifth Doctor]], and it ran between [[3 January]] [[1983]] and [[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.   
 
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]].


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 ==
== Overview ==
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]]. [[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]] [[1983]].  Had JNT got his way, the ''twentieth'' anniversary special would have in fact been a part of the regular twenty-''first'' season.  
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]]. [[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]] [[1983]].  Had JNT got his way, the ''twentieth'' anniversary special would have in fact been a part of the regular twenty-''first'' season.  
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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 predecssor, be broadcast in the first quarter of 1983.   
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 predecssor, be broadcast in the first quarter of 1983.   


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]]'' — 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]] [[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]]'', as the production was eventually called, didn't begin [[principal photography]] until early [[March]] [[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]] [[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]] [[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]]''.  Instead, it had much greater production and broadcast proximity to [[season 21]].
''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]].


== Television stories ==
== Television stories ==
{| {{prettytable}}
{| {{prettytable}}
|'''#''' || '''Title''' || '''Writer''' || '''Episodes''' || '''Notes'''
|'''#''' || '''Title''' || '''Writer''' || '''Episodes''' || '''Notes'''
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|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||First appearence of [[Omega]] since [[1973]], final appearance of Omega
|-
|-
|2 ||''[[Snakedance]]''||[[Christopher Bailey]]||4||  
|2 ||''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]]''||[[Christopher Bailey]]||4||  
|-
|-
|3 ||''[[Mawdryn Undead]]''||[[Peter Grimwade]]||4||First appearance of [[Vislor Turlough]]; reintroduction of [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]. Start of the [[Black Guardian]]'s attempt at getting revenge on [[the Doctor]].
|3 ||''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]''||[[Peter Grimwade]]||4||First appearance of [[Vislor Turlough]]; reintroduction of [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]. Start of the [[Black Guardian]]'s attempt at getting revenge on [[the Doctor]].
|-
|-
|4 ||''[[Terminus (TV story)|Terminus]]''||[[Steve Gallagher]]||4||Final appearance of [[Nyssa]]   
|4 ||''[[Terminus (TV story)|Terminus]]''||[[Steve Gallagher]]||4||Final appearance of [[Nyssa]]   
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|5 ||''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]''||[[Barbara Clegg]]||4||Final appearances of the [[Black Guardian]] and the [[White Guardian]].  
|5 ||''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]''||[[Barbara Clegg]]||4||Final appearances of the [[Black Guardian]] and the [[White Guardian]].  
|-
|-
|6 ||''[[The King's Demons]]''||[[Terence Dudley]]||2||First appearance of Kamelion. First appearance of [[the Master]] since ''[[Time-Flight]]''.
|6 ||''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]''||[[Terence Dudley]]||2||First appearance of Kamelion. First appearance of [[the Master]] since ''[[Time-Flight (TV story)|Time-Flight]]''.
|}
|}


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| ''[[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/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]]''<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]]'' (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)</small> || 10 August 2009 || 5 November 2009 || 3 November 2009
| ''[[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)</small> || 10 August 2009 || 5 November 2009 || 3 November 2009
|-
|-
| ''[[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

Revision as of 17:10, 29 October 2012

PDVD 008.jpg

Season 20 of Doctor Who was Peter Davison's second season as the Fifth Doctor, and it ran between 3 January 1983 and 16 March 1983. Before the season ended, Nyssa had departed, Turlough had arrived, and 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.

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

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. 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 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,  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 predecssor, be broadcast in the first quarter of 1983.

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 — 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, long after season 20 had wrapped. Indeed, it only received this commission because JNT 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.

Television stories

# Title Writer Episodes Notes
1 Arc of Infinity Johnny Byrne 4 First appearence of Omega since 1973, final appearance of Omega
2 Snakedance Christopher Bailey 4
3 Mawdryn Undead Peter Grimwade 4 First appearance of Vislor Turlough; reintroduction of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Start of the Black Guardian's attempt at getting revenge on the Doctor.
4 Terminus Steve Gallagher 4 Final appearance of Nyssa
5 Enlightenment Barbara Clegg 4 Final appearances of the Black Guardian and the White Guardian.
6 The King's Demons Terence Dudley 2 First appearance of Kamelion. First appearance of the Master since Time-Flight.

Main cast

Regulars

Semi-regulars

Stories set during this season

Adaptations and merchandising

Home media

VHS

  • Arc of Infinity
  • Snakedance
  • Mawdryn Undead
  • Terminus
  • Enlightenment
  • The King's Demons/The Five Doctors (extended version)

DVD

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.

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
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

Novels

External links

Footnotes

  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
 
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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
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Series 5-2013 specials: Matt Smith
Series 5: 2010
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(Part 1: Apr 2011)
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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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