1995 (production)

Sonic screwdrivers can't create pages instantly.

This article about a list is currently under construction. It's likely to be a bit messy.

1995 in

---

the DWU • production history • vital statistics • releases

1995 was a year in which a number of events important to the production of Doctor Who and its spin-offs occurred.

February

• 3 February - Writer Robert deLaurentis submitted the second draft of his script for the 1996 TV movie, drawing on his 17 December submission entitled Dr. Who?. He replaced the Daleks with "Zenons", Borusa was renamed Pandak, and companion Sherman was replaced with an alien named Gog. Castellan Kelner became a half-Zenon who commits suicide. Finally, Fox got fed up and even suggested a return to John Leekley's 24 August script. On 5 May, Matthew Jacobs was chosen to replace deLaurentis as writer of the film.

April

• April - Jon Pertwee filmed his regeneration scene as a cameo for the fan film Devious. It was his last performance as the Third Doctor.
• April - Philip Segal completes his first draft of the script for the Paul McGann TV movie.

September

• 18 September - A month after his last draft, writer Matthew Jacobs submitted yet another major draft, this time with some drastic changes. The death dimension written out, the Master's main focus is now the Millennium Star, a "intergalactic roving force field" that passes by the Earth once a millennium. It's now the Star that the Master wants to use to reshape the universe through the power of the Eye of Harmony. The Master attempts to recruit the Doctor's two companions in this draft, posing as a "false messiah". After meeting with the BBC, Jacobs revised his ideas and handed in a fourth script on 14 November.

November

• 14 November - Writer Matthew Jacobs handed in his fourth script for the 1996 TV movie after coming to certain agreements and compromises with the BBC. The story begins with the Doctor bringing the Master's remains back to Gallifrey after he had been executed by the Daleks. This is now when the Master escapes in his new slimy form, and the Doctor is now shot down by a gang. In this version of the script, Chang Lee now allies with the Master out of greed. The idea of the Doctor needing a beryllium atomic clock was also introduced in this draft. Jacob's last draft, pretty much what was used in production, was finally submitted on 29 December.
• 27 November - Despite all the drama that Philip Segal had started on the 6th, all parties involved in the making of the 1996 TV movie — that is, Fox, BBC, BBC Worldwide and Universal Studios — signed on.

December

• 11 December - The Outpost Gallifrey and Doctor Who Forum websites were launched by Shaun Lyon. With modifications and name changes along the way, they ran until 2009.
• 29 December - Writer Matthew Jacobs handed in his final script for the 1996 TV movie. The BBC liked his 14 November draft, but they passed it on to Craig Dickson anyway, who suggested the removal of the concept of the Millennium Star. Instead, the story now concentrated on the Master trying to take over the Doctor's body. Grace Wilson was also renamed Grace Holloway. Finally, with Paul McGann cast as the Eighth Doctor as well as every other character and job filled, it was time to begin production. Filming then began on 15 January.

Unknown Dates

• Autumn - Who fandom was taken by surprise with the announcement that the American network, Fox, was to co-produce with the BBC a made-for-television film reviving Doctor Who, as a possible "pilot" for a new series. The producers announced that Paul McGann was cast as the new Doctor, but Sylvester McCoy would also appear as the Seventh Doctor, making the film a continuation of the original series rather than a remake or reboot. Doctor Who was scheduled to air in the spring of 1996. Filming was to take place in Vancouver, Canada, marking not only the first time a Doctor Who story had been filmed in North America, but also the first time a story had been completely mounted outside the United Kingdom (previously foreign location filming had been done, with studio filming still in Britain).
• Unknown - Panini Comics took over the publishing rights to Doctor Who Magazine from Marvel Comics UK.