DR WHO is about to fire a broadside against BBC l's ailing soap Eldorado. I hear BBC1 controller Jonathan Powell is furious that BBC2 executives have decided to go ahead with their plan to bring back Dr Who repeats which will clash with the Friday night edition of Eldorado.
It was Powell, no fan of science-fiction, who decided to stop making any new episodes of Dr Who, causing an outcry among thousands of fans.
And in a BBC memo he made it clear that he did not want' any Dr Who repeats at the moment that might clash with Eldorado on the other side. The soap has failed to make the Top 30 after four months on air. His pleas have obviously been ignored. For, starting in December at 7.15 pm on each Friday night, there will be repeats of Dr Who And The Daemons, starring Jon Pertwee, on BBC2.
These were first seen in black and white in 1971 but, through a costly, revolutionary colouring film technique, are to be shown in full colour.
The Beeb's hierarchy, including Mr Powell, is afraid that Dr Who will dent the already dismal viewing figures of Eldorado.
Dr Who has had a cult following for over 28 years.
It has been sold around the world and is still one of the BBC's biggest money-spinners with the issuing of some 40 videos.
Caption: CULT FOLLOWING: Jon Pertwee
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