After nearly twenty-five years, the scripts originally commissioned for Doctor Who‘s season twenty-three will finally see the light of day, of rather, be heard in the light of day, thanks to Big Finish Productions. During the broadcast of the original season twenty-two in 1985, the BBC decided to give the series a rest for several months due to low viewing figures. By this point a number of scripts had already been written for the following season, all of which were ultimately scrapped in favor of what become the fourteen episode “Trial of a Time-Lord” complete season storyline. Considering that the show was on trial, of sorts, with the BBC as to whether or not it would continue, the trial storyline was somewhat fitting, if flawed in its execution. Two of those lost scripts, “The Ultimate Evil”, “The Nightmare Fair” and “Mission to Magnus” were previously novelized, the latter two featuring the returns of long-time adversaries the Celestial Toymaker and the Ice Warriors, respectively.
Now that these will be made into audio plays, I really hope that Big Finish is able to snag Michael Gough to do the voice of the Toymaker. He originated the role in the character’s only other appearance, 1966’s story “The Celestial Toymaker.” Mention is only made in the press release of “The Nightmare Fair” and “Mission to Magnus” and that there will be seven scripts in total that will be produced. All seven stories will be released under the umbrella title Doctor Who: The Lost Stories starting in January 2010. Colin Baker stars as the Sixth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri so it sounds as if it will be treated as a missing season set between seasons twenty-two and twenty-three.
Lost Stories producer David Richardson has this to say regarding the stories that were chosen, “It’s well known that, when Doctor Who was given an enforced hiatus in 1984, plans were very advanced on the upcoming Season 23. None of those scripts ever made it to the screen.
“Some of them – like ‘The Nightmare Fair’ by Graham Williams and ‘Mission to Magnus’ by Philip Martin – were novelised. Others, however, have remained locked away in their respective writers lofts for well over 20 years. It’s taken a lot of (very enjoyable) detective work, but I’ve managed to source seven unmade adventures that will now finally come brilliantly to life on audio.
“When I phoned Colin Baker to propose the idea he couldn’t have been more delighted. In fact, he’d actually planned to suggest the very same thing to me a couple of weeks beforehand during the recording of “The Raincloud Man”, but had just been distracted by the day’s work. The writers too responded enthusiastically, without exception. Many of them said that these scripts represented unfinished business, and this was a welcome chance to finally air them to an audience of Doctor Who fans.
“I’ve spent the last week fielding emails from many people, all desperate to know what the final five stories are!” Richardson continued. “And, you know, I’d love to tell them. I’d just like to get it off my chest! But for now we can’t say I’m afraid – not until final scripts are delivered, and studio dates are booked, and everything is set in stone. But keep looking at the Doctor Who Magazine news pages, as we’ll be announcing the Final Five in there first!”
Once we get confirmation on the complete line-up we will let you know. Keep checking back with Pop Culture Zoo as we will have that and more from Big Finish Productions!