Dr Who Fights On

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• Publication: The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, NSW)
• Date: 1986-11-09
• Author:
• Page: 55
• Language: English

But reprieve may be short-lived

AFTER 18 months of temporary "extermination," Dr Who has been allowed to do battle against intergalactic evils again.

But the BBC. which shelved the hugely successful series because a was judged "too tired and violent." say the new run is the veteran Time Lord's last chance.

The man with the power to send the intrepid doc off in his Tardis time traveller forever is BBC chief Michael Grade who is waiting a while before he passes judgment.

It seems to have improved but I want to see future episodes before I make a final decision," he said after seeing the first of the 14 program:, in the series.

Mr Grade is not, however. the only person who thought the doctor, the daleks and various other baddies were looking a bit tired.

In an extraordinary outburst, the program's script editor told a British science fantasy magazine. Starburst. that the show was stuck in its own time warp.

"I suppose it is old-fashioned." said Eric Saward. "If you start from the bottom up you could pull it back on the rails."

Saward resigned from the Dr Who production team after the new series was completed. The BBC says his departure was "amicable." but refuses to "dignify" his criticisms by commenting on them.

The level of violence on the show was another problem which the BBC hopes will be rectified in the new series.

Colin Baker, who is only the eighth doctor in 23 years. will still appear in the title role, but program chiefs say there is now more humor and the nastier methods of extermination have been toned down.

"Violence is a sensitive area everywhere in broadcasting and we will be watching that very carefully," said producer John Nathan-Turner.

If the new series, already showing in Britain, is not deemed good enough for a permanent reprieve. there is sure to be an international outcry.

Fans kicked up a stink when the BBC gave the show its 18 months' suspended sentence and will undoubtedly do so again if needed.

In fact, they'll probably want to ex-term-in-ate Michael Grade!

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• APA 6th ed.: (1986-11-09). Dr Who Fights On. The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, NSW) p. 55.
• MLA 7th ed.: "Dr Who Fights On." The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, NSW) [add city] 1986-11-09, 55. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: "Dr Who Fights On." The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), edition, sec., 1986-11-09
• Turabian: "Dr Who Fights On." The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), 1986-11-09, section, 55 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Dr Who Fights On | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr_Who_Fights_On | work=The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, NSW) | pages=55 | date=1986-11-09 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 December 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Dr Who Fights On | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr_Who_Fights_On | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 December 2025}}</ref>