It seems almost a Universe away now...that time of 1970 when Jon Pertwee first became the Doctor in the BBC's highly popular "DOCTOR WHO" show. On the surface, all seemed good enough; yet behind the scenes, the team on the show at BBC HQ had stated quite clearly that due to a drop in ratings during Patrick Troughton's final season in 1968/9, IF this one did not perform to expectations then production was to be closed down!
Pertwee himself had been unsure of whether or not he should go for the new role, but went forth anyway, on the assurance of an old friend. To the delight of many, it was then announced in the fall of 1969 that he was indeed to become the new Doctor commencing January 2nd 1970, and the opening episode of "SPEARHEAD FROM SPACE".
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Yet the first Color season of the show was not to be like any other - before or since. In the interim, the decision had been taken to initially make the opening season of the new-look show more semi-serious, and to produce stories of seven weeks in length with severe "Quatermass" overtones. Pertwee had chosen to play the Timelord as a dandified hero-type, while the producers had themselves decided to make the UNIT task force (under the panache and guidance of "the Brig" played by Nicholas Courtney) a regular element of the show AS WELL as exiling the Doctor on Earth.
One more change was in the choice of the Doctor's new partner - Dr. Liz Shaw (Caroline John). For the one and only time for many years she was to be an equal of the Doctor's in terms that she too was also a scientist. Aptly played by Miss John, it's a shame she was to last only the ONE season.
That year in 1970, they produced four stories in total: the introductory "SPEARHEAD FROM SPACE", 'THE SILURIANS" "THE AMBASSADORS OF DEATH", and the splendid "INFERNO".
It was not until the 1971 season that Pertwee's reign as the Doctor got into full gear with the less serious Season-8. The stories were set to LESS episodes and the Quatermass elements were dropped, making the previous years' semester ONE OF A KIND.
For the first time we saw The Master, played by Roger Delgado. And the Doctor's new assistant in the shape of Jo Grant, played by Katy Manning. This was to set the trend for the cream of the Pertwee years until 1973. The success of the opening story that year, ("TERROR OF THE AUTONS") led The Master to being re-written into each and every other story that year; the best of which was that years' finale charmer, Guy Leopold's "THE DAEMONS".
This was a superb blend of olde Englishe mythology and Masterly mischief!
Straightaway the die had been cast. In 1971, there was no longer anymore Avengers or Champions to provide the Great British public that need to escape into a fantasy world and AWAY from the depressions of the terrorist-ridden/ Industrial Action of the early 1970's - yet the new Doctor & Jo fitted that gap beautifully!
The following season of 1972 carried on the trend by kicking off to a fine start with the first Daleks story since 1967, entitled "THE DAY OF THE DALEKS". Written by Louis Marks in place of Terry Nation. He showed that put to it, he too could cook up a classic Daleks story which did the fans AND Terry Nation proud. The audiences reacted accordingly, and the story was very popular indeed. This was followed by the excellent "THE CURSE OF PELADON" by Brian Hayles, and the popular "THE SEA DEVILS" by "Who" regular, Malcolm Hulke. By the end of Pertwee's third season it was as if no one else had ever been in the role!
It all came to a peak with 1973 season. This commenced with the Ten Year celebratory story, "THE THREE DOCTORS", also featuring a return from Troughton & the great William Hartnell. By the time of the final story that year, "THE GREEN DEATH", it must have seemed like things would never change.
Yet change they did - and with that very story - as Jo left the coop never to be seen again...leaving The Doctor to zoom off with a broken heart & an uncertain future. That said, "THE GREEN DEATH" was notable also as one of the only times the show carried a moral AND a political message, and is superb viewing on it's own merits.
But before Pertwee could return for his final year, another tragedy struck, when friend and colleague Roger Delgado (The Master) died in an accident whilst on location for a film abroad.
In the event, Pertwee was only to make his final season in 1974 under the greatest stress. One thing however, which did make it easier and more pleasant was the introduction of Sarah-Jane Smith played by Elisabeth Sladen. She became an undoubted asset during the making of that final year.
By the time of Pertwee's final story, "PLANET OF THE SPIDERS" that spring, Pertwee - AND Roger, AND Katy, AND all the others associated with the past five years had made their mark - including producer Barry Letts, without whom nothing would had been possible. These days it's well known that working for the BEEB it was never easy. "Dr.Who" was easily one of their most popular shows - always scoring on Saturday nights while still being (for some perverse reason) a hated institution by the BBC themselves.
In the years since it's been popular by many - either more used to blinding 21st Century special FX, or just in the shadow of the fella who came afterwards (Tom Baker) - to say that Pertwee's stories were boring and without appeal. But that is to miss the point. THEY MADE THEIR POINT AT THE TIME, which is what was most important. That plus the fact that as The Doctor would no doubt say himself, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
But if you ever do come across a multi-coloured horse with green stripes, let me know...I'd like the privilege of telling Jon myself!
COMPLETE JON PERTWEE ERA STORY LISTING
2. THE SILURIANS, 1970
3. THE AMBASSADORS OF DEATH, 1970
4. INFERNO, 1970
5. TERROR OF THE AUTONS, 1971
6. THE MIND OF EVIL, 1971
7. THE CLAWS OF AXOS, 1971
8. COLONY IN SPACE, 1971
9. THE DAEMONS, 1971
10.THE DAY OF THE DALEKS, 1972
11.THE CURSE OF PELADON, 1972
12.THE SEA DEVILS, 1972
13.THE MUTANTS, 1972
14.THE TIME MONSTER, 1972
15.THE THREE DOCTORS, 1973
16.THE CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS, 1973
17.FRONTIER IN SPACE, 1973
18.PLANET OF THE DALEKS, 1973
19.THE GREEN DEATH, 1973
20.THE TIME WARRIOR, 1974
21.INVASION OF THE DINOSAURS, 1974
22.DEATH TO THE DALEKS, 1974
23.THE MONSTER OF PELADON, 1974
24.PLANET OF THE SPIDERS, 1974
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