The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)

The Celestial Toymaker
Doctor:	[[doctor::First Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Steven Taylor Dodo Chaplet
Main enemy:	The Celestial Toymaker
Main setting:	Celestial Toyroom
Key crew
Writer:	Brian Hayles
Director:	Bill Sellars
Producer:	Innes Lloyd
Release details
Story number:	24
Release number:	Season 3
Premiere broadcast:	2nd April - 23rd April 1966
Format:	4 25-minute episodes
Production code:	Y

The Celestial Toymaker was the seventh story of Season 3 of Doctor Who, and the first to be produced by Innes Lloyd. It was at one point considered writing out William Hartnell as The Doctor in this story, but the idea was vetoed.

Synopsis

The travellers arrive in a strange domain presided over by the Celestial Toymaker - an enigmatic, immortal entity who forces them to play a series of games, failure at which will render them his playthings. The Doctor has to solve the complex Trilogic game while Steven and Dodo are faced with defeating a succession of apparently child-like but potentially lethal animated toys in contests such as 'blind man's buff', musical chairs and 'hunt the key'.

The Doctor finally overcomes the Toymaker by imitating his voice in order to complete the Trilogic game from within the TARDIS, which then dematerialises as his foe's universe is destroyed.

Plot

to be added

Cast

• Dr. Who - William Hartnell
• Steven Taylor - Peter Purves
• Dodo Chaplet - Jackie Lane
• Toymaker - Michael Gough
• Joey the Clown / King of Hearts / Sgt. Rugg - Campbell Singer
• Clara the Clown / Queen of Hearts / Mrs. Wiggs - Carmen Silvera
• Cyril / Kitchen Boy / Knave of Hearts - Peter Stephens
• Joker - Reg Lever
• Dancers - Beryl Braham, Ann Harrison, Delia Lindon

Crew

• Assistant Floor Manager - Elisabeth Dunbar
• Choreographer - Tutte Lemkow
• Costumes - Daphne Dare
• Designer - John Wood
• Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
• Make-Up - Sonia Markham
• Producer - Innes Lloyd
• Production Assistant - Snowy White
• Script Editor - Gerry Davis
• Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
• Studio Lighting - Frank Cresswell
• Studio Sound - Alan Fogg
• Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
• Title Music - Ron Grainer

References

• Steven sees himself on the planet Kembel and refers to Monoids.

Story Notes

• This story had working titles; The Trilogic Game and The Toymaker.
• The Celestial Toymaker was to return in The Nightmare Fair (the unmade TV story).

Ratings

1. The Celestial Toyroom - 8.0 million viewers
2. The Hall Of Dolls - 8.0 million viewers
3. The Dancing Floor - 9.4 million viewers
4. The Final Test - 7.8 million viewers

Myths

to be added

Filming Locations

• Ealing Television Film Studios

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

• In the hopscotch game, the order of the players taking turns changes during the game. (Players are occasionaly are forced to miss turns)
• When the Doctor immatates the Toymakers voice, the last piece moves over slowly, whereas when the Toymaker commanded the pieces they moved instantly. (Perhaps because the Toymakers voice is more commanding)
• Why does the Doctor not want to save the others trapped in the Toymakers domain? (Perhaps they are beyond saving)

Continuity

• The Celestial Toymaker reappears in PDA: Divided Loyalties and DWM: Endgame.

DVD, Video and Other Releases

• The surviving episode (Part 4:The Final Test) was released on VHS as part of Hartnell Years (with the "next episode" caption removed)
• The Final Test was also released on the Lost in Time box set (with the "next episode" caption reconstructed).

Target Novelisations

• Novelised as The Celestial Toymaker by Gerry Davis and Allison Bingeman in 1986.

See also

to be added

External Links

• Official BBC Episode Guide for The Celestial Toymaker (includes a video clip)
• Outpost Gallifrey Episode Guide: The Celestial Toymaker
• Doctor Who Reference Guide: Detailed Synopsis - The Celestial Toymaker
• A Brief History of Time (Travel) Guide to The Celestial Toymaker
• The Celestial Toymaker transcript

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