Earl Sigma
Earl Sigma was a medical student who became stuck on Terra Alpha as he toured Earth's colonies.
Biography
Earl was a medical student. In his fifth year of post-med psychology, he took a tour of Earth's colonies, paying his way by playing his harmonica, but he became stuck on Terra Alpha where he was designated "Earl Sigma" on account of him being a visitor. Although he favoured the blues, such music was forbidden (TV: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (TV story)"]) and he played happier tunes, such as a particularly trite one he once heard in an airport lounge on Earth, when he saw the Happiness Patrol. In all his interplanetary travels, the city of Terra Alpha was the quietest on account of the Happiness Patrol and their curfew. (PROSE: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (novelisation)"])
Earl saved the Seventh Doctor from the Happiness Patrol by knocking Silas P out as he blew his whistle and running away. The Doctor took him to the Kandy Kitchen to investigate the Kandy Man, who captured them (TV: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (TV story)"]) and fed Earl sweets which left him unconscious with a smile on his face. (PROSE: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (novelisation)"]) After the Doctor saved him, they escaped into the pipes and were led out by the Pipe People, parting ways until Earl saw the factory drones leading a demonstration through the city. He informed the Doctor and later followed his order to lead the drones to Forum Square where they put on a display of happiness to prevent the Happiness Patrol from attacking them.
Travelling through the pipes to Helen A's palace with the Doctor, Ace and Susan Q, Earl used his harmonica to bring down the crystallised syrup and mortally wound Fifi. He played the blues over the speaker system once the palace had been taken, (TV: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (TV story)"]) almost making Helen A lose hope as she attempted to flee the planet. (PROSE: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (novelisation)"]) With Helen A deposed, Earl decided to stay on Terra Alpha to teach the planet the blues again and said goodbye to the Doctor with a complicated handshake. (TV: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (TV story)"])
Personality
Earl had a love for the blues and considered himself "sort of" a musician. (TV: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (TV story)"]) He had nearly perfect pitch and hated questionnaires. (PROSE: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (novelisation)"])
Appearance
Earl wore a trilby which he also used to collect money whilst busking. (TV: The Happiness Patrol [+]Loading...["The Happiness Patrol (TV story)"])
Behind the scenes
Earl was originally intended to play the trumpet, but Richard D. Sharp had no experience with the instrument and it was substituted with a harmonica which he could convincingly mime playing.[1]
