Terrance Dicks, longtime Doctor Who writer, dies at 84
- Publication: The Guardian
- Date: 2019-09-03
- Author: Amy Walker
- Page: 19
- Language: English
The former Doctor Who writer and script editor Terrance Dicks has died aged 84. Dicks had a long association with the BBC's longest-running sci-fi show, writing episodes from the late 1960s until the early 80s. He was also script editor from 1968 to 1974.
The programme's official fan site confirmed the news in a tweet yesterday. "Just received comms that legendary #DoctorWho writer, Terrance Dicks has died," it read.
"Genuinely gutted. An incredibly talented man who we had the pleasure of interviewing over the years. He also regularly took part in Q&As on the DWO [Doctor Who Online] Forums. He will be sorely missed."
His first Doctor Who writing credit was for The War Games in 1969. He also worked as a scriptwriter for programmes including ITV's The Avengers and produced BBC adaptations of literary classics such as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and Vanity Fair.
The children's author Steve Cole paid tribute to him yesterday, tweeting: "I know how many authors he inspired, and how many millions he entertained as a writer, script editor, producer and raconteur. I first met him at a library talk when I was eight and edited his final short story this year."
Dicks was born in East Ham, east London, and studied English at Cambridge University before going into TV writing. In the 1970s and 80s he turned his hand to children's fiction, and also wrote more than 50 spin-off novels of the sci-fi show between 1974 and 2007, including The Sarah Jane Adventures.
At the time of his death the father of three was living in Hampstead, north London, with his wife, Elsa.
Caption: Dicks wrote Doctor Who episodes from the late 1960s until the early 80s
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- APA 6th ed.: Walker, Amy (2019-09-03). Terrance Dicks, longtime Doctor Who writer, dies at 84. The Guardian p. 19.
- MLA 7th ed.: Walker, Amy. "Terrance Dicks, longtime Doctor Who writer, dies at 84." The Guardian [add city] 2019-09-03, 19. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Walker, Amy. "Terrance Dicks, longtime Doctor Who writer, dies at 84." The Guardian, edition, sec., 2019-09-03
- Turabian: Walker, Amy. "Terrance Dicks, longtime Doctor Who writer, dies at 84." The Guardian, 2019-09-03, section, 19 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Terrance Dicks, longtime Doctor Who writer, dies at 84 | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Terrance_Dicks,_longtime_Doctor_Who_writer,_dies_at_84 | work=The Guardian | pages=19 | date=2019-09-03 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=26 April 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Terrance Dicks, longtime Doctor Who writer, dies at 84 | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Terrance_Dicks,_longtime_Doctor_Who_writer,_dies_at_84 | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=26 April 2025}}</ref>
