The Doctor Who Years: The Eighties (documentary)

The Doctor Who Years: The Eighties
Subject:	Seasons 18-26
Release date:	21 May 2005
Runtime:	30 minutes
Key crew
Producer:	Ed Stradling
The Doctor Who Years
← Previous	The Doctor Who Years: The Seventies

The Doctor Who Years: The Eighties was the third and final episode of The Doctor Who Years, a three-part musical documentary series charting the history of the so-called "Classic Series" of Doctor Who.

It was released on the Doctor Who website on 21 May 2005.

The style and format of the documentary was based on the BBC television series The Rock 'n' Roll Years (1984-94). It featured clips and images from every Doctor Who story, in chronological order, as well as various promotional appearances, merchandise and newspaper clippings, accompanied with tounge-in-cheek captions and scored with pop music from the UK Singles Chart at the time.

Initially it was only available to stream in RealPlayer (.ram) format, then on 6 July 2005 it was made avalable in a second format, Windows Media Video (.wmv), after a website visitor survey in which RealPlayer was heavily criticised.

Other material featured

Other clips featured were:

• BBC1 ident (1974) & BBC2 ident (1979).
• The Five Faces of Doctor Who trailer, TX: c.19 October 1981.
• Blue Peter, TX: 29 October 1981 & TX: 18 September 1986.
• Nationwide or BBC News?, TX: c.2-6 November 1981.
• Swap Shop, TX: 9 January 1982.
• Saturday SuperStore, TX: 26 March 1983.
• Longleat 20th anniversary convention footage from Reeltime Pictures.
• Nationwide, TX: 17 March 1983.
• BBC Nine O'Clock News, TX: 28 July 1983, TX: 19 August 1983 & TX: 27 February 1985.
• BBC South-East at Six, TX: 29 July 1983.
• Jim'll Fix It: A Fix with Sontarans, TX: 23 February 1985.
• Wogan, TX: 1 March 1985 & TX: 25 August 1986.
• The Saturday Picture Show, TX: 6 September 1986.
• BBC Six O'Clock News, TX: 2 March 1987.
• Open Air, TX: 29 September 1987.
• The Making of Doctor Who: Silver Nemesis (1988).

Press clippings featured were:

• "Will the cruel Beeb really kill off K9?", The Sun, 7 June 1980.
• "Time's up, Doctor And the new Who could be a woman", Daily Star, 25 October 1980.
• "Peter Who?", Daily Record, 5 November 1980.
• "Tell me, Doctor, who's Who and who is not?", 1983.
• "Colin's the new Dr Who", Daily Star, 20 August 1983.
• "Dr Who is axed in a BBC plot", The Sun, 28 February 1985.
• "Dr Who down-Graded!", Daily Mail, 28 February 1985.
• "Now for Dr Who on radio", c.10 June 1985.
• "One last chance for timeless Dr Who", 1985 or 1986.
• "Colin Baker quits as the Doctor", Glasgow Herald, 19 December 1986.
• "Why I'll never forgive gutless Grade, by axed Dr Who", The Sun, 6 January 1987.
• "Who do you do, Doctor", Daily Mirror, 3 March 1987.
• "McCoy, That's Who", The Sun, 3 March 1987.
• "Doctor Who is the real McCoy", Today, 3 March 1987.
• "Dr Who and the battle of Coronation Street", The Guardian, 1987.
• "Jubilee spree for Doctor Who", The Guardian, 16 November 1988.
• Radio Times cover from 19-25 November 1983.

Images of the following pieces of merchandise - The Doctor Who Celebration: Twenty Years of a Time Lord Commemorative Programme, Radio Times Doctor Who 20th Anniversary Special, Daily Star "Save Doctor Who" sticker, and Doctor Who Bulletin No. 26 (September 1985).

A publicity photo was used to illustrate the BBC Radio 4 audio drama Slipback.

Captions

• Viewers settle down to the new season, expecting the usual eerie music & titles…
• …but they are in for a shock!
• New Producer John Nathan-Turner’s first step is to send the show rocketing into the 1980s with radical new titles & music.

1980

• The new team plan to get rid of K9 and signal their intentions by disabling him almost immediately.
• A very polished look is achieved for the opening story, "The Leisure Hive".
• Would you dance with this man?
• Jacqueline Hill, who starred as Barbara in the first two series, returns in a guest role.
• Enter Matthew Waterhouse as Adric, the first male companion for five years.
• After 7 years, Tom Baker announces he is leaving the series, hinting at a female replacement…
• …but the man chosen to replace the irreplaceable is 29 year old Peter Davison, star of "All Creatures Great & Small".

1981

• After a trilogy of adventures set in an alternate universe, Romana stays behind with K9 and a bloke she’s only just met.
• Sarah Sutton enters the fray as Nyssa.
• Anthony Ainley gives The Master a new lease of life.
• Baker’s last adventure, "Logopolis", is suitably morose.
• A season of repeats is commissioned for transmission on BBC2 over the Autumn.
• The reaction to K9’s departure is sufficient to warrant a spin-off drama.

1982

• Dr Who abandons its Saturday teatime slot for the first time, in favour of twice-weekly evening showings.
• The move is an instant success as viewing figures improve considerably.
• Nyssa becomes a regular along with Janet Fielding’s Tegan.
• "Kinda" tells the disturbing tale of what happens when nobody wants to sleep with you…
• …you get taken over by an evil snake-like being and end up with a dodgy tattoo.
• Eric Saward gets the job of new Script Editor on the strength of "The Visitation".
• The Sonic Screwdriver soon follows K9 out of the series.
• Peter Davison really did bowl out this extra.
• The Cybermen make surprise return.
• Their appearance at the end of the first episode of "Earthshock" is one of the best kept secrets in Dr Who history.
• 10 million viewers watch as the story delivers a second surprise with the death of Adric.
• The show uses silent rolling credits for the first time to mark the event.
• Dr Who is the first drama series to be allowed to film at Heathrow Airport.

1983

• The Doctor is back on Gallifrey in "Arc of Infinity".
• He also finds the time for a quick trip to Amsterdam…
• …and soon finds himself in trouble in a red light area.
• This is Maxil – played by Colin Baker. More on him later.
• Omega is the first of many old characters to return for the 20th season.
• The Mara returns to haunt Tegan for a second time.
• Some of the guest stars in "Snakedance" are destined for greater things.
• Mark Strickson joins the regular cast as Turlough, who spends the next month or so trying to kill the Doctor…
• …and the Brigadier is back after an absence of eight years.
• Nyssa looks nice in this story, doesn’t she?
• This chap obviously thinks so.
• Nyssa eventually runs out of clothing and says her goodbyes at the end of "Terminus".
• The Master’s latest appearance is disguised by the use of anagrams both in the story and in that week’s Radio Times.
• The shape-shifting android Kamelion joins the TARDIS crew but is quickly forgotten, appearing only once more.
• The show’s 20th anniversary celebrations begin with an over-subscribed weekend bonanza at Longleat.
• Work begins on a 90-minute special to feature all five Doctors, four of whom give Sue Lawley a hard time on "Nationwide".
• Peter Davison puts a dampener on things, announcing that he will leave at the end of the next series.
• "The Five Doctors" is broadcast as part of the BBC’s "Children of Need" night, two days after the show’s 20th anniversary.

1984

• The Sea Devils & Silurians return in "Warriors of the Deep".
• The story is beset with production difficulties, mostly arising from the BBC’s coverage of the 1983 General Election.
• "Resurrection of the Daleks" sees the return of the old enemy after nearly five years.
• The story is broadcast in two 45-minute episodes to accommodate coverage of the Sarajevo Winter Olympics.
• Tegan is the first of the regulars to leave, bidding farewell after three years.
• Nicola Bryant didn’t wear this to her audition.
• It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it.
• This was Kamemlion’s second and last appearance.
• Turlough decides to go home, leaving Peri in the Doctor’s capable hands.
• She quickly finds herself in trouble on Androzani Minor.
• The Doctor’s in trouble too.
• Our hero gives his life – well his fifth life anyway – to save his friend.
• The 6th Doctor and Peri get off on the wrong foot when he tries to strangle her in his first episode.

1985

• The show is back on Saturdays for Season 22, but in 45 minute episodes.
• For the first time in many years, the show is criticised for its violent content.
• Patrick Troughton returns for "The Two Doctors" along with Frazer Hines…
• …but that’s not what Jimmy Saville is referring to.
• He’s talking about a special "Jim’ll Fix It" episode in which a lucky fan gets to live his dream!
• Meanwhile in the series proper, the Sontarans are back, having doubled in height since their last appearance.
• BBC News – 27 February 1985
• The reaction to the news is a national outcry as fans fear for the show’s’ future.
• The show limps on for the rest of the season.
• To help bridge the gap to the next series, a one-off serial, "Slipback", is broadcast on Radio 4.
• News leaks that the BBC are looking to shorten the series to just 14 25-mintue episodes.

1986

• Bonnie Langford is announced as the next companion.
• The show finally returns in September, carefully monitored by BBC bosses!
• Peri appears to die at the end of the second segment of evidence.
• The audience is later told that in fact she stayed on Thoros Beta and married some bloke she only just met.
• Bonnie Langford joins in the third segment of evidence – the Doctor’s case for the defence.
• Robert Holmes falls ill and dies mid way through writing the climax of the Trial.
• Script Editor Eric Saward resigns after clashing with Nathan-Turner over the conclusion of the story.
• The dispute results in a somewhat confusing finalé.
• The ratings for the series have not been good and Colin Baker carries the can.
• The BBC offer him just four episodes of the next series. He refuses and the search is on for the 7th Doctor.

1987

• Patrick Troughton dies, aged 67, while attending a Dr Who convention in the USA.
• Colin Baker’s refusal to shoot the regeneration story has predictably contrived results.
• Sylvester McCoy’s debut story comes in for criticism and John Nathan-Turner finds himself on the ropes.
• The show has switched to Monday evenings and its being broadcast opposite Coronation Street.
• Part 1 of "Dragonfire" takes the cliff-hanger concept to extremes.
• The Doctor swaps Mel for Sophie Aldred’s Ace at the end of the season.

1988

• The Timelords, an early guise of the KLF, reach Number 1 for a week with "Doctorin’ the TARDIS".
• Meanwhile, the Daleks are back, armed with improved special effects.
• Contrary to popular belief, Daleks did climb stairs in the original series.
• The Doctor and Ace have a go on this amazing go-kart…
• …before realising it’s quicker to get off and walk.
• The first episode of "Sliver Nemesis" is broadcast on the show’s 25th anniversary.

1989

• The Brigadier comes out of retirement in "Battlefield".
• The Doctor and Ace find their pasts catching up with them in "The Curse of Fenric".
• The Doctor and The Master have one final battle on the planet of the Cheetah people.
• The ratings have dropped to just 4 million and the BBC don’t commission another series.
• "Survival" is the last story of the original series, the final episode being broadcast on Wednesday 6th December.

Music list

• "Enola Gay" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
• "Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie
• "Feels Like I’m in Love" by Kelly Marie
• "The Tide Is High" by Blondie
• "Fade to Grey" by Visage
• "Imagine" by John Lennon
• "Kids in America" by Kim Wilde
• "Vienna" by Ultravox
• "It Must Be Love" by Madness
• "Don’t You Want Me" by The Human League
• "The Land of Make Believe" by Bucks Fizz
• "I’ll Find My Way Home" by Jon & Vangelis
• "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by Tight Fit
• "See You" by Depeche Mode
• "Poison Arrow" by ABC
• "A Town Called Malice" by The Jam
• "Mickey" by Toni Basil
• "You Can’t Hurry Love" by Phil Collins
• "Down Under" by Men at Work
• "Africa" by Toto
• "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
• "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler
• "Blue Monday" by New Order
• "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club
• "Moonlight Shadow" by Mike Oldfield
• "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel
• "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
• "Wouldn’t It Be Good" by Nik Kershaw
• "Radio Ga Ga" by Queen
• "99 Red Balloons" by Nena
• "Doctor! Doctor!" by Thompson Twins
• "Robert De Niro’s Waiting" by Bananarama
• "It’s Raining Men" by The Weather Girls
• "Like a Virgin" by Madonna
• "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner
• "Run to You" by Bryan Adams
• "The Boys of Summer" by Don Henley
• "Every Time You Go Away" by Paul Young
• "We Close Our Eyes" by Go West
• "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears
• "And She Was" by Talking Heads
• "Thorn in My Side" by Eurythmics†
• "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby & The Range
• "Walk Like an Egyptian" by Bangles
• "The Final Countdown" by Europe
• "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin
• "Caravan of Love" by The Housemartins
• "It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way" by The Blow Monkeys
• "Alone" by Heart
• "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" by Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
• "You Win Again" by Bee Gees
• "China in Your Hand" by T’Pau
• "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle
• "Doctorin' the Tardis" by The Timelords
• "A Little Respect" by Erasure
• "One Moment in Time" by Whitney Houston
• "Orinoco Flow" by Enya
• "Waiting for a Star to Fall" by Boy Meets Girl
• "If I Could Turn Back Time" by Cher
• "Ride on Time" by Black Box
• "Listen to Your Heart" by Roxette
• "Never Too Late" by Kylie Minogue
• "Nothing Ever Happens" by Del Amitri

†Although credited this song isn't used in the documentary.

External links

• The Doctor Who Years: The Eighties (archived)