The Paradise of Death (audio story)
The Paradise of Death was a BBC Radio drama first broadcast in 1993. It was the second audio drama made, after Slipback in 1985, and the first audio drama to feature Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor. This made him the earliest actor to portray the Doctor that also lent his voice to an audio serial. However, he would only perform one more audio story in his lifetime.
The story introduced new companion Jeremy Fitzoliver, played by Richard Pearce. The story also featured a number of actors who also played different characters in the TV series, including Maurice Denham, Trevor Martin, Philip Anthony, Peter Miles and Harold Innocent.
Publisher's summary
When a horrific and inexplicable death occurs at Space World, a new theme park on Hampstead Heath, UNIT is called in to investigate. The Doctor is highly suspicious. Just who controls the Parakon Corporation, the shadowy organisation behind the running of the park? What is "Experienced Reality" and what are the limits of its awesome powers?
Plot
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
- Sarah Jane Smith - Elisabeth Sladen
- The Brigadier - Nicholas Courtney
- Freeth - Harold Innocent
- Tragan - Peter Miles
- President - Maurice Denham
- Jeremy Fitzoliver - Richard Pearce
- Crestin / Bill / Radio Voice / Ambulance Man / Man - Andrew Wincott
- Nobby / Kitson / Wilkins / Soldier - Dominic Letts
- Grebber / Reporter - Brian Hall
- Clorinda / Sec. Gen. of the U.N. - Jillie Meers
- General Commanding Unit - John Hardwood
- Odun / Patrol Leader - John Fleming
- Captain Waldo Rudley - Jonathan Tafler
- Onya - Jane Slavin
- Greckle - Emma Myant
- Rasco Heldal - Michael Onslow
- Medan / Hunter - David Holt
- Echolocation Operator / Lexhan - Julian Rhind-Tutt
- Kaido / Guard 2 / Ungar / Custodian of Data Store / Jenhegger - Trevor Martin
- Yallett / Officer of the Day - Philip Anthony
Crew
- Writer - Barry Letts
- Director - Phil Clarke
- Incidental Music - Peter Howell
- Technical Presentation - John Whitehall
- Production Assistant - Dawn Ellis
- Studio Managers - Alison Carter, Colin Guthrie
- Producer - Phil Clarke
References
The Doctor
- The Doctor used to ride skimmers on Gallifrey during his childhood with his friends, which are likened to bicycles.
Individuals
- Sarah and the Brigadier meet for the first time.
Notes
- This was the audio debut for Jon Pertwee and Nicholas Courtney as the Third Doctor and the Brigadier, respectively.
- Pertwee's first line in the radio drama was: "My dear Sarah, as they used to say on Venus... look, hold that still for me, will you? Yeah, that's right."
- Courtney's first line in the radio drama was: "Ah, there you are, Doctor."
- This was also the debut performance for Richard Pearce as Jeremy Fitzoliver. His first line in the role was: "Sarah. Thank goodness I found you. All these people."
- This story puts a different spin on the opening moments of the television story Invasion of the Dinosaurs. Television viewers may have thought the opening moments of Dinosaurs directly followed the closing scene of The Time Warrior. This story suggests otherwise, depicting the first meeting of the Brigadier and Sarah Jane Smith.
- A novelisation by Barry Letts was published in 1994. It was the final release in the long-running Target Books novelisation series.
Releases
- This story was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 5 in 1993.
- It was released on double cassette in September 1993.
- It was released on CD on 6 March 2000.
- It was re-released as part of The BBC Radio Episodes box set on 6 June 2011.
- It is now available for sale as a download on iTunes.
Continuity
- The Doctor mentions the instance the TARDIS got stuck inside The Master's TARDIS and was on the verge of a time ram. (TV: The Time Monster)
- The Doctor speaks of his and Sarah's recent encounter with Irongron. (TV: The Time Warrior)
- The Brigadier asks the Doctor about the Blinovitch Limitation Effect. (TV: Day of the Daleks)
- The Doctor sings a Venusian lullaby with less success than he had with Aggedor. (TV: The Curse of Peladon)
