Thursday 9 December 2021

On This Day... 9th December


On this day in 1967 we saw the fifth episode of The Ice Warriors for the first time, whilst on the same day in 1978 the Key to Time season delivered the third instalment of The Androids of Tara.
In 2018, Series 11 limped to a close with The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos, which didn't actually feature a battle (it had ended before the episode started. The phrase "show - don't tell" is one that Chris Chibnall has clearly never heard). The series had opened promisingly enough, with 10.96 million viewers, a 45% share and an AI of 83. Tonight's episode delivered 6.65 million viewers, a 29% share, and an AI of 79.

Two birthdays of note today. First of all we have Waris Hussein, who turns 83 today. He was Doctor Who's first director, and is one of the people responsible for the initial success of the series. He only directed the two stories, both in the first season - An Unearthly Child, and Marco Polo (though he missed Part Four). He was portrayed by future Master Sacha Dhawan in An Adventure in Space and Time.
The other person celebrating today is former Script Editor and writer Eric Saward who turns 77. He took over the script role from interim editor Anthony Root during Season 19, which had featured his first two stories - The Visitation and Earthshock - which both proved very popular. Saward remained in post right through the Davison and Colin Baker eras, and it's fair to say that his involvement in the show helped to bring about the end of the latter era. Saward didn't think Baker was right for the part, and a growing unhappiness with many of Producer John Nathan-Turner's decisions led to a final bust-up over the finale of Trial of a Time Lord. On resigning, Saward was interviewed by Starburst magazine which very publicly got all his grievances off his chest. He has recently novelised his two Dalek stories - which were the final stories of the classic era to be turned into books.
Many happy returns to them both.

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