Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
The Classic Dr Who Adventure Featuring Five Incarnations of Doctors
The Five Doctors is a 25-year celebration of four regenerations of the Doctor and some of his deadliest enemies to date. He returns to Gallifrey where he faces a new foe.
Carnival of Monsters
In 1983 the classic adventure of The Five Doctors hit our screens. It featured a feast of monsters, including daleks, cybermen, a yeti, a raston warrior robot and perhaps the most deadly of all the doctor’s foes, the Master in his current regeneration as Anthony Ainley.
Regenerations of the Doctor
Although the title of the adventure suggests the appearance of all five Doctors, that had up to that time played the Time lord, two were notably absent. Before the opening credits a clip taken from The Dalek Invasion of Earth appears of William Hartnell speaking after the departure of his granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford). As William Hartnell passed away in 1975 Richard Hurndall plays the original incarnation of the Doctor.
The fourth Doctor, Tom Baker is also essentially absent from the programme, having chosen to turn down the offer of appearing in it. Although he appears a couple of times, it is old footage taken from the never broadcasted Shada, which is used to good effect.
The Doctors’ Companions
With the meeting of many of the Doctors come also many companions. The Doctor’s granddaughter Susan appears as the same actress, Carole Ann Ford, who appeared in the very first episode of Doctor Who An Unearthly Child in 1963.
Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart finds himself in danger once more, after what he believes will be a ‘quick stroll around the grounds’ of UNIT. During the story Doctor, Patrick Troughton bumps into illusions of his former companions Jamie and Zoe.
Sarah Jane Smith, played by actress Elizabeth Sladen ignores pleas by K9 not to leave her house, only to end up plunged into danger and meeting the Doctor Jon Pertwee.
The second reincarnation of Romana (Lalla Ward) is also in the scenes of Shada, along with Tom Baker.
The current companions of fifth Doctor Peter Davison, Tegan and Turlough also feature in the adventure.
The Death Zone
Each of the five Doctors in their various incarnations is transported to the Death Zone on Galllifrey. As each one arrives they find themselves fighting for survival against old enemies and face various mind games. It is logical to all of them once they realise that they are in the Death Zone to head for the Dark Tower, which encases the tomb of the Time lord Rasillon. It is there that they discover that someone from the High Council of Galllifrey has brought them there. The Doctor, Peter Davison discovers the member of the council, who has used them as pawns in order to seek immortality from Rasillon. As usual the Doctors have to use all their resolve to overcome the forces on Gallifrey.
Sources
Haining, Peter. Doctor Who – A Celebration – Two Decades Through Time and Space W.H. Allen, London, 1983
