THE Tardis, that magical time machine disguised as an English policeman's telephone kiosk, dropped back into ABC territory last night piloted by the splendid Dr Who.
Which Who? Well, Channel 2 is rather re-Tardis when it comes to dealing with the good Time Lord, so it was that overgrown school prefect Tom Baker who tumbled out from a chrysallis of overcoat, hat. scarf and curls.
The BBC, of course, has already introduced Peter Davison of 'All Creatures Great and Small' as the new Who and Janet Fielding as his Australian assistant. The new veterinary doctor will presumably drop in after this, the 18th, series.
Tom Baker is a hard act to follow. He has perfected the art of cosmic eccentricity and can charm the tin arm off a Dalek. And. though Barbara Woodhouse might look askance at his "walkies" training, he certainly has a way with K9. In 'The Leisure Hive' (Channel 2 at 6.30 tonight) the holidaying doctor is wandering about the planet Argolis. He was whisked away from a snooze on a gale-swept English pebbled beach by his companion Romana (Laila Ward), who believed there must be something a little more entertaining than the "traditional Earth exercise".
The Argolins, survivors of a terrible war with a rep-tilean race, are about to go bankrupt and may have to sell their leisure centre world to the old enemy. It's enough to make their yellow, green and black hair pieces turn grey.
As if Mena (Adrienne Corri). the Margaret Thatcher of Argolis, has not enough on her plate, there is a monster hatching deep down in the planet. It promises to be a busy holiday for the doctor and Romana.
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