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[[File:SaxonSmile.jpg|thumb|Shortly following his election, Prime Minister "Harold Saxon" smiles to the camera. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')]]
#REDIRECT [[The Master (Utopia)]]
'''Harold "Harry" Saxon''' was a [[human]] [[alias]] which was used by the [[Renegade Time Lord]] known as {{Simm|n=the Master}} on [[Earth]]. Under the name "Harold Saxon", the Master infiltrated the [[British government]] and even briefly became [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]].
 
== History ==
=== Background ===
In the [[year]] [[100,000,000,000,000]], {{Jacobi}}, shortly after asserting himself back over his [[human]] [[Professor]] [[Yana]] [[disguise]], which he created to hide from the [[Last Great Time War]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'') was fatally shot by [[Chantho]]. This forced him to [[regenerate]] into his next [[incarnation]] but not before he shut himself inside [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]. From within the TARDIS, the [[voice]] of {{Simm}} was recognised by [[Martha Jones]] before he took his leave, stranding the [[Tenth Doctor]] and his [[companion]]s ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'') but not before the Doctor used his [[sonic screwdriver]] to fuse the TARDIS' [[coordinate]]s, ostensibly restricting the Master to travel between the year 100,000,000,000,000 and the last place the TARDIS landed in [[2008]], though a "little [[leeway]]" of eighteen [[month]]s existed. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
As discovered by [[Vivien Rook]], the recorded life of the [[human]] Harold Saxon had been fabricated by the Master. [[Born]] to a [[Harold Saxon's mother|mother]] and [[Harold Saxon's father|father]] who did not exist, Saxon went through [[school]], earnt a [[degree]], and attended [[Cambridge University]]. In reality, Saxon never went to the [[university]]. As [[Martha Jones]] recalled, Saxon "[gone] back [[year]]s", was recognised for the "[[rugby]] [[blue]]", winning "the [[athletics]] thing", writing a [[novel]] and going into [[business]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
=== Activities ===
[[File:Ann widdecombe.jpg|thumb|Ann Widdecombe endorses "Harold Saxon" for Prime Minister. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')]]
As recorded by [[Vivien Rook]], Harold Saxon made his first true appearance just after the [[downfall]] of [[British Prime Minister]] [[Harriet Jones]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'') which was brought about the [[Tenth Doctor]] on [[25 December]] [[2006]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') At the same time, the [[Archangel Network]] of fifteen [[satellite]]s was launched by Saxon, already a [[minister]] in the [[British government]]. Ostensibly a [[mobile phone]] network, Archangel was used by the Master to influence the [[human]] [[population]] of Earth, first to believe the story of "Harold Saxon", then to "[[Vote Saxon]]", as well as preventing [[the Doctor]] from sensing him as another [[Time Lord]] on Earth. However, the Master later conceded that only "99" or "98" [[percent]] of [[people]] were successfully influenced. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'', ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') Among those who were affected was [[Martha Jones]], who had intended to [[vote]] for Saxon despite being ignorant of his [[policy|policies]] and what he stood for. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
Harold [[marriage|married]] a woman named [[Lucy Saxon]] who, as Rook observed, came from a "not especially bright but essentially harmless" [[family]]. As Lucy recalled, Harold was "so very good" to [[Lucy Saxon's father|her father]]. In reality, Lucy ultimately understood who Harold really was, and chose to become his [[companion]] and [[wife]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'') Using [[the Doctor's TARDIS]], the two visited the [[end of the universe]] and gained the [[allegiance]] of the [[Toclafane]], the [[cyborg]] descendants of [[human]]ity. ([[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'')
 
While on Earth, he formed the [[Disciples of Saxon]], a group of humans who worshipped Harold Saxon, while realising that his true name was the Master. Composing the [[Secret Books of Saxon]], he prepared [[Potion of Life|Potions of Life]] that would be used to [[resurrect]] him in the event of his death. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
 
On [[27 March]] [[2007]], Saxon sparred with [[Jeremy Paxman|Paxman]] on ''[[Newsnight]]'', which Martha Jones watched. She believed Saxon was responsible for shooting down the [[Sycorax ship]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Martha Jones' MySpace blog (short story)|Martha Jones' MySpace blog]]'') which in reality had been Harriet Jones' decision. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'')
 
After [[March]] 2007, Saxon was reported by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' [[newspaper]] as leading polls with 64[[%]] during a state of "[[government paralysis]]". ([[TV]]: ''[[Love & Monsters (TV story)|Love & Monsters]]'') In light of the downfall of Harriet Jones, an [[election]] was called to decide the next Prime Minister. Harold Saxon put forward his bid for Prime Minister, beginning the "[[Vote Saxon]]" campaign, with posters appearing from [[London]] to [[Cardiff]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Smith and Jones (TV story)|Smith and Jones]]'', ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'') while [[website]]s were established to cover Harold Saxon. Among the people who backed Saxon were [[Ann Widdecombe]], [[Sharon Osbourne]] and the [[band]] [[McFly]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
In the meantime, Saxon served as [[Minister of Defence]]. While a member of the [[Ministry of Defence]], the Master helped design "every detail" of the [[UNIT]] [[aircraft carrier]] ''[[Valiant (aircraft carrier)|Valiant]]'', which he would describe as "some of [his] best work". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
On [[24 December]] 2007, Mr. Saxon gave the order for a [[Challenger 2]] to [[tank]] destroy the [[Racnoss]] [[Webstar]] which was attacking [[London]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Runaway Bride (TV story)|The Runaway Bride]]'') As [[Jack Harkness]] recalled, this was when Saxon first came to [[prominence]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
During his campaign for Prime Minister, the Master visited [[Mildfields School]], using the [[Archangel Network]] to brainwash the staff into having false memories of "Saxon" to gain political support. One teacher, [[James Curtis]], was resistant to the Network, so the Master used his [[laser screwdriver]] to implant the appropriate memories into his mind, but not before Curtis voiced his concerns to [[journalist]] [[Vivien Rook]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Speech Day (short story)|Speech Day]]'')
 
By mid-[[2008]], Saxon was noted as speaking openly about the existence of [[alien]] [[life]] beyond [[Earth]]. Three days prior to the election, the [[Royal Hope Hospital]] was temporarily transported to [[the Moon]] before being returned to Earth. Amongst the [[eyewitness]]es within the [[hospital]] was [[medical student]] [[Oliver Morgenstern]], who reported his experiences, including seeing the Earth suspended in [[space]], to the [[news]], which he took as proof that Saxon was right. That [[night]], the Doctor was joined in [[the TARDIS]] by [[Martha Jones]], another medical student from the Royal Hope Hospital. ([[TV]]: ''[[Smith and Jones (TV story)|Smith and Jones]]'')
 
Meanwhile, as part of a trap he had laid for the Doctor, the Master financially backed [[Richard Lazarus]]' [[Lazarus Laboratories]], who created a [[genetic manipulation device]] in an attempt to reverse the human [[aging]] process. To this end, Saxon was responsible for [[Tish Jones]] being employed as head of the [[PR]] department for Lazarus Laboratories.
 
The [[night]] after the Royal Hope Hospital incident, Lazarus presented the device to an assembly of potential [[investor]]s before he tested the process on himself in a demonstration attended by the Doctor and the Jones family. Ultimately, a flaw in the device rapidly [[evolution|evolved]] Lazarus into a ravenous creature which went on a rampage before being stopped by the Doctor, resulting in Lazarus' [[death]]. Meanwhile that night, [[Francine Jones]], [[mother]] of Martha and Tish Jones, was approached by a [[Mysterious man (The Lazarus Experiment)|man]] who, aware of Martha's association with the Doctor, warned Francine that he was dangerous. Soon after, Francine left a message on Martha's [[answerphone]] at [[home]], claiming to have information from Harold Saxon which identified the Doctor as a danger. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Lazarus Experiment (TV story)|The Lazarus Experiment]]'', ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
By [[election day]], the Master had [[Miss]] [[Dexter (42)|Dexter]] enlist Francine's help in tracking Martha and the Doctor, tapping and tracing Francine's phone conversations with her daughter as she travelled with the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[42 (TV story)|42]]'') As the [[vote]] "[swang]" Saxon's way, future members of his [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|cabinet]], as the Master put it, abandoned their [[political party|political parties]] and jumped on "the Saxon [[bandwagon]]". [[Vivien Rook]], a [[reporter]] for the ''[[Sunday Mirror]]'', published ''[[Harold Saxon, A Modern Churchill]]'', which she described as "the definitive [[think piece]] on the great man himself." In actuality, however, Rook found Harold Saxon's life story to be a lie as she researched him. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
[[File:LucyBehindSaxon.jpg|thumb|After being elected Prime Minister, "Harold Saxon" addressed the nation with his wife beside him. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')]]
Ultimately, the Master won the election as "Harold Saxon". Meanwhile, he had Tish Jones [[phone]]d "out of the blue" with a job offer at [[10 Downing Street]]. He also had a [[bomb]] planted behind the [[television]] in [[Martha Jones' flat]], while sending the [[Torchwood Cardiff]] team on a [[wild goose chase]] to the [[Himalayas]], preventing them from assisting Jack.
 
Immediately following election day, "Harold Saxon" returned from the [[Palace]] to [[Saxon Headquarters]] where, with his wife standing beside him, he greeted the [[crowd]] which had gathered outside. In a speech to [[television]] [[camera]]s, Saxon commented that the country had been "sick" and was in need of [[healing]] and [[medicine]]. Finally, he proclaimed that what the country "really need[ed] right now" was a [[doctor]] before giving a [[smile]] to the cameras. This address was witnessed by the Doctor, Martha and Jack Harkness, who had just had returned to the Earth of Martha's [[present day]] from when the newly regenerated Master stranded them in the [[year]] [[100,000,000,000,000]], using [[Jack Harkness' vortex manipulator]] to escape.
 
Following his address, Harold Saxon appeared at [[10 Downing Street]], where he was handed numerous documents for his first session of the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|cabinet]], including the [[finance report]], [[military protocol]], [[EC directive]], [[annual budget]], and [[policy recommendation]]s. Openly [[kiss]]ing his wife, Saxon was approached by a confused Tish, to whom he instructed to simply "stand there and look gorgeous". Entering the [[Cabinet Room]], Saxon threw the papers he had been given into the air before the cabinet, which included [[Albert Dumfries]]. Branding the cabinet "[[traitor]]s" who had abandoned their parties to back him, Saxon "[[reward]][ed]" them by [[gas]]sing them to [[death]] as he sat, protected by a [[gas mask]]. Following this, it was claimed that the cabinet had gone "into [[seclusion]]".
 
Despite Tish's attempt to stop her, Vivien Rook "barg[ed]" her way in to meet with Lucy Saxon at 10 Downing Street, ostensibly to request a 20 [[minute]] [[interview]] for a [[front page]] [[profile piece]] on "Britain's [[First Lady]] and "The Power Behind the [[Throne]]". With Mrs. Saxon being convinced to accept and Tish leaving the pair alone, Rook voiced her warning that Lucy, the country and the world were in great danger. While presented with Vivien's evidence of "Harold Saxon's" deception, Lucy revealed that she was aware when she called out to her [[husband]], who had been in the [[room]]. Admitting that "Harold Saxon" did not exist, the Master identified himself and introduced his [[friend]]s, the [[Toclafane]], who [[kill]]ed Rook.
 
Shortly after, "Saxon" made a televised address to the [[people]] of Britain in a broadcast on all channels. In it he recalled the alien incidents of recent years, including the [[London UFO crash|destruction]] of [[Big Ben]], the [[Sycorax spaceship|spaceship]] over [[London]], the "[[ghost shift|ghosts]] and [[Cybermen|metal men]]" and "the [[Webstar|Christmas star that came to kill]]". While recalling that the previous governments disclosed nothing to the [[public]], "Saxon" promised that he would not do so as he introduced the Toclafane, who claimed to come in [[peace]], bringing great [[gift]]s, [[technology]], [[wisdom]] and [[protection]] in exchange for only [[friendship]]. "Saxon" then announced that the Toclafane would appear openly on the following [[morning]] to begin diplomatic relations, claiming that all would take their place in [[N-Space|the universe]], from every [[man]], [[woman]] and [[child]] to every [[teacher]], [[chemist]], [[lorry driver]], [[farmer]] and [[medical student]]; the latter refering to Martha Jones, this alerted the Doctor and his companions just in time to escape the bomb which destroyed Martha's flat.
 
Meanwhile, Miss Dexter and her men were present at Francine's home where, anticipating that Martha would call her, had [[Clive Jones]], Martha's father and Francine's ex-husband, coerced into joining them there in an attempt to lure Martha. Clive, however, warned his daughter to run, resulting in Dexter marking [[Condition Red]] on the [[Jones plan]], leading to the arrest of Martha's family members. Martha, who had headed to her mother's location, only just managed to escape with the Doctor and Jack. Intercepting Martha's phone call to her brother [[Leo Jones]], the Master was contacted by the Doctor. Into their call, the Doctor and his companions found that they were reported as [[terrorist]]s on [[BBC News 24]], forcing them to go into hiding.
 
That [[night]], [[President of the United States]] [[Arthur Coleman Winters]] landed on British soil in [[Air Force One]] to angrily confront "Harold Saxon" other his undisclosed contact with the Toclafane, which violated the [[United Nations Security Council]]'s [[first contact]] policy. With the backing of the [[United Nations]] and UNIT, Winters threatened to have Saxon removed from office as he called in the ''Valiant'' to serve as the venue for first contact. Little did the President realise, the Master had planned for this, having placed the TARDIS, cannibalised into a [[paradox machine]] set to activate at 8:02[[AM]], within the ''Valiant''.
 
In the [[morning]], "Harold Saxon" sat eagerly with his wife on the [[flight deck]] as President Winters took control of the preparations of the first contact, which was to be broadcast on television. Though "Saxon" invited Winters to make the address to the four Toclafane, they rejected the President and asked for their "[[Master]]". Promptly stepping up, "Saxon" announced that he was "taking control" before having a Toclafane [[assassinate]] the President by [[disintergrating]] him. While the Doctor and his companions were also present, hidden by a [[perception filter]], the Master saw through them and had the Doctor captured by [[security]] personnel before using his [[laser screwdriver]] to temporarily kill Jack.
 
At 8:02, the paradox machine activated, creating a tear in the [[sky]] through which six billion [[Toclafane]] came down and conquered the Earth, decimating humanity while Martha escaped the ''Valiant''. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'') As the Toclafane were descendants of humanity from the [[end of the universe]], the paradox machine was required to preserve the existence of the [[New Time Lord Empire]] they created with the Master. Over the following [[year]], the Master dropped the alias of Harold Saxon as he ruled the Earth. Ultimately, however, the Doctor and his companions, using the Archangel Network against the Master, allowed for the paradox machine to be destroyed, reversing [[the Year That Never Was]] to the moment just after the President's assassination but just before the Toclafane would have arrived. However, as the [[eye of the storm]], the ''Valiant'' remained unchanged with all those within remembering the negated [[year]].
 
Shortly after the reversal of [[time]], the Master was fatally shot by Lucy Saxon and refused to regenerate, dying in the Doctor's arms. ([[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'') From the perspective of the general public, Harold Saxon had disappeared following the assassination of President Winters, having "went mad". ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'') Other sources, such as [[AMNN]], presumed him to have died as well. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Driving Miss Wells (audio story)|Driving Miss Wells]]'')
 
=== Legacy ===
Despite his brief tenure, Harold Saxon was recorded as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]. However, the [[Disciples of Saxon]] observed that no-one knew who Harold Saxon truly was, where he came from, and why he was killed. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
 
For killing Harold Saxon, Lucy Saxon was held in a secret trial with no [[jury]] and so imprisoned in [[Broadfell Prison]]. Meanwhile, [[Miss]] [[Trefusis]] of the Disciples of Saxon secretly recovered Saxon's [[ring]] as his [[body]] was cremated by the [[Tenth Doctor]]. On [[24 December]] [[2009]], after having the [[prison]] [[previous governor|governor]] disposed of, another disciple became the new [[Governor (The End of Time)|governor]] and had Lucy brought before the disciples who assembled within the prison. By taking Saxon's [[imprint]] on Lucy's [[lip]]s, the final [[biometrical signature]], and combining it with the the ring and the [[Potion of Life|Potions of Life]], the disciples successfully resurrected the Master while allowing him to take their [[life force]]s. However, the resurrection was sabotaged by Lucy, who revealed that her [[family]] had devised an opposition to the Potion of Life, resulting in her and the disciples deaths as the prison was destroy. The Master, however, survived but with limited [[life force]].
 
[[Rumour]]s of the disciples and return of Harold Saxon were found by [[Abigail Naismith]], [[daughter]] of [[billionaire]] [[Joshua Naismith]]. On [[25 December]], the Master was recognised as resembling former Prime Minister Harold Saxon by [[Ginger (The End of Time)|Ginger]] before being captured by men acting on Naismith's orders. Having acquired the broken [[Immortality Gate]], Naismith intended for who he knew as "Harold Saxon" to fix it on [[26 December]]. Meanwhile, undercover [[Vinvocci]], whose [[species]] had created the Immortality Gate, pondered that "Saxon" could assist them with the Gate which they worked to salvage. Ultimately, "Saxon", asserting that he was the Master, completed repairs within [[Christmas Day]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
 
[[UNIT]] recorded the Master's activities as Harold Saxon as an [[incursion]], which [[Zygon Osgood|Petronella Osgood]] acknowledged to the [[Twelfth Doctor]] when the Master returned as {{Gomez}}. Noting that they had all ex-[[Prime Minister]]s on file, Osgood remarked that Missy "wasn't even the worst". ([[TV]]: ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]'')
 
[[Alice O'Donnell]], a native of the [[year]] [[2119]], identified [[1980]] as being "pre-Harold Saxon". ([[TV]]: ''[[Before the Flood (TV story)|Before the Flood]]'')
 
While aboard the [[Mondasian colony ship]], the Master found that his disguise as "[[Mr]]. [[Razor (World Enough and Time)|Razor]]" was necessary when interacting with [[Bill Potts]], noting to Missy that he was her former Prime Minister. ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
 
''[[The Blue Box Files]]'' covered "Saxon truthers" in an episode of their [[podcast]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Requiem (audio story)|Requiem]]'')
 
== Behind the scenes ==
On the [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|series 2]] version of the ''[[Torchwood]]'' [[Torchwood website|website]], [[Owen Harper]] did a report on the "[[wild goose chase]]" Torchwood Three went on that was mentioned by {{Simm|n=Harold Saxon}} during ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]''. At 5am, [[Ianto Jones]] picked up a phone call telling Torchwood about "[s]omething funny going on in the Himalayas", which Ianto specified was in [[Pakistan]]. Ianto claimed to Owen that the call came from [[UNIT]], who were "already there", calling for "all four of us" — Owen, Ianto, [[Toshiko Sato]] and [[Gwen Cooper]], and that according to them it was connected to [[Abaddon]].
 
Torchwood were briefed that there was apparently another [[space-time rift]], halfway up K2. While Tosh was setting up rift-detecting equipment at the location on K2 that was given, a humanoid doll resembling their missing leader, [[Captain]] [[Jack Harkness]] — described by Owen as "quite a good likeness" — was rigged to jump out of the [[snow]] from a spring at the moment the equipment was activated. Owen dubbed it a "Jack-in-the-box", adding, "How bleeding hilarious." The team realised it was a set-up. After two days waiting for transport, Torchwood Three headed back home.
 
On the trip back, they learnt Saxon had won the [[election]], murdered the [[Arthur Winters|American President]] and was himself murdered by [[Lucy Saxon|his wife]]. Owen noted from this that "a [[week]] really is a long time in [[politics]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood/sites/arg/pages/episodes.shtml?folder=tw_case_ep01&tab=2 |title=Episodes - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - Mission Report #2008/043 |author=Harper, O |date of source= |website name=[[Torchwood website|BBC - Torchwood]] |accessdate=24 July 2013}}</ref>
 
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{NameSort}}
 
[[Category:Aliases of the Master]]
[[Category:21st century Earth history]]
[[Category:British history]]
[[Category:Saxon Master]]

Revision as of 23:12, 9 January 2023