The Myth Makers

I first read Donald Cotton's novelisation of this story many years ago and thought it was one of the funniest books I'd read. Now having listened to the soundtrack I'm adding it to my list of stories I wish were rediscovered. The cast sound like they're having a high old time with the script but the final episode sees a real change of pace once the horse makes its way into Troy and history takes its course. So if it's out there can someone send it back to the BBC?

Next story on the missing stories audio list is the epic The Daleks Master Plan. Now that one I am looking forward to hearing!

The Bog Warrior

This story was a nice idea, but one that didn't live up to its potential. With respect I think Cecelia Ahern should stick to chick-lit.

Marco Polo

Now that the DVD realises have come to an end I'm going back and listening to the stories I've never seen and possibly never will (why? Because the BBC in their wisdom wiped the tapes!). Fortunately, thanks to some enterprising fans, the audio of these stories exist.

We begin with the earliest example of these stories and the one most people would like rediscovered: Marco Polo. I have to admit I was quiet surprised at how well the story flowed and the performances are excellent, even if I wanted to smack Polo around for being so pig-ignorant. But it's easy to see why this is one of the stories people want rediscovered. Sadly it might be too late for that. But last years rediscovery of Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear proves anything's possible.

Series 7.1 Revisited

So have my views changed since I last watched the first part of series 7? No. Asylum of the Daleks and The Angels Take Manhattan are still classics, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and The Power of Three are great romps. And, sadly, A Town Called Mercy is still the dud one. And the ending of The Angels Take Manhattan is still devastating.

A Handfull of Stardust

The current crop of Time Trips comes to an end and they saved the best to last. Jake Arnott's Sixth Doctor tale was a joy to read (and one that was sadly over all too quickly). It's a shame Jake Arnott wasn't writing when Colin Baker was the Doctor because this would have made a great TV story. And it would have been a lot better than the crap Colin has to dead with!

I note that there's going to be two further Time Trips out later this year written by Ceclia Ahearn and Joanne Harris; two writers I would not normally picture writing Doctor Who. This will be interesting.

Scream of the Shalka

Way back in early 2003 it looked like this could have been the future of Doctor Who; an animated series available via the Internet (when most of us were still on dial-up!). But then the (finally!) came to it's senses and commissioned a new series for the telly. And the rest is history.

So Scream of the Shalka now stands as glimpse into what Doctor Who could have evolved into. I didn't watch it at the time, as watching it on dial-up was really painful. So this it the first time I'd seen it. My reaction? Mixed. It's a good story and I'd love to see it remade for the TV series. I think my biggest problem was Richard E. Grant as the Doctor. He just didn't gel for me, but he does get better towards the end. But I think recent history has shown he makes a better villain.

The disc also contains a documentary on the making of the story (and frankly it's a miracle it ever got made as all) and another one of the history of the BBC's website. Both are fascinating in their own way. But the first one contains a cautionary tale of Richard E. Grant objecting to a journalist being present during recording and the producer locking said journalist in a cupboard. Not a good idea at the best of time, but when the journalist in question is from Doctor Who Magazine... let's just say the resulting article was not very flattering! (especially when it's the one publication you don't want to get offside!).

Terror of the Zygons

    "You can't rule the world in hiding. You've got to come out on to the balcony sometimes and wave a tentacle."

They saved (one of) the best till last. Terror of the Zygons is classic Doctor Who at it's best. My bias towards Tom Baker aside, it's a great script, great direction (what else would you expect from Douglas Camfield?), a great cast and a memorable monster. What more could you want?

Standout on the extra features is the documentary about Doctor Who's greatest director Douglas Camfield. The stories Douglas directed have always been amongst the series best and it was fascinating to hear about his life especially from his son Jogs who speaks very warmly about his father.

And, special editions notwithstanding, that's it. The last of the regular DVD realises from the classic series. Until the next missing story it found at least!