Three 60th-anniversary specials
- Publication: Radio Times
- Date: 2023-12-16
- Author: Patrick Mulkern
- Page: 44
- Language: English
Three 60th-anniversary specials reformed the dream team of Russell T Davies, David Tennant and Catherine Tate after 15 years apart. Each special offers a distinctly different flavour. The Star Beast has the appeal of a family-friendly, bank-holiday blockbuster, albeit condensed into an hour, and showcases the Meep, an alien furball (voiced by Miriam Margolyes) that isn't as cute at it first appears.
Wild Blue Yonder proves far darker and scarier and takes the Doctor and Donna into a dangerous new dimension. The Giggle has the verve of a season finale, with the return of the Toymaker, a playful but deadly villain who last spooked viewers in the 1960s. Those with a phobia of clowns and ventriloquist dummies beware. Jemma Redgrave as Unit chief Kate is just one of the returning goodies; expectations are high for a final star turn from the legend that is Bernard Cribbins, who died last year. We'll also have caught a further glimpse of the 15th Doctor, our fabulous cover star Ncuti Gatwa, who'll take control of the Tardis this Christmas. For The Star Beast and The Giggle, viewers on iPlayer can opt for in-vision commentary by David Tennant and production personnel. See feature: page 12
Caption: FRIENDS AND FOES The furry Meep and the Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris) test the Doctor (David Tennant), Donna (Catherine Tate) and Rose (Yasmin Finney)
EXPLORE THE WHONIVERSE
BBC iPlayer has created the "Whoniverse", a dimension teeming with all things Time Lord. Highlights include:
Every episode
Well, almost. In a herculean effort, the BBC has now made nearly all surviving episodes since 1963 available at the touch of a button. Sadly, some 1960s instalments are long-lost and the very first serial is in limbo, owing to rights issues.
A Musical Celebration
Hosted by Radio 2's own superfan Jo Whiley, and performed by the BBC NOW and BBC Singers, this concert showcases the soundworld of Who, with an emphasis on the stirring scores of Murray Gold.
Tales of the Tardis
In a special "memory Tardis", old Doctors and companions are reunited to recall past adventures. Each tale is touching, the most remarkable being Maureen O'Brien and Peter Purves re-creating their partnership as Vicki and Steven after 58 years.
The Daleks in Colour
The very first Dalek serial from 1963/4 has been radically condensed, luridly colourised and stridently rescored in the hope of attracting younger audiences. It's like a 75-minute fever dream but could lead to more monochrome classics being zhuzhed up.
Doctor Who: Unleashed
Packed with star interviews and set reports by Steffan Powell, this is the essential post-show cool-down — or meltdown for fandom, as caused by last month's debut edition for Children in Need when Russell T Davies announced his modern rethink of Dalek creator Davros.
Caption: WHO GOES THERE? The Daleks in Colour; right, Jo Whiley with showrunners Russell T Davies, Chris Chibnall and Steven Moffat at A Musical Celebration; far right, Maureen O'Brien and Peter Purves in Tales of the Tardis
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: Mulkern, Patrick (2023-12-16). Three 60th-anniversary specials. Radio Times p. 44.
- MLA 7th ed.: Mulkern, Patrick. "Three 60th-anniversary specials." Radio Times [add city] 2023-12-16, 44. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Mulkern, Patrick. "Three 60th-anniversary specials." Radio Times, edition, sec., 2023-12-16
- Turabian: Mulkern, Patrick. "Three 60th-anniversary specials." Radio Times, 2023-12-16, section, 44 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Three 60th-anniversary specials | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Three_60th-anniversary_specials | work=Radio Times | pages=44 | date=2023-12-16 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 December 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Three 60th-anniversary specials | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Three_60th-anniversary_specials | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 December 2025}}</ref>
