The Creature from the Pit

(Series 17, Episodes 9-12)

Summary: Romana plugs in the Doctor’s phone and finds a whole load of missed calls and is none too pleased to be manhandled by hairy bandits with a limited vocabulary.  There’s monopoly in space and killer tumbleweed controlled by a whip (and doesn’t that guy look happy to be cracking it?)  The Doctor literally jumps into a hole and then gets menaced by a giant potato with a humongous cock.

Watch it because: "Well, to be fair I did have a couple of gadgets which he probably didn't, like a teaspoon and an open mind."

Original Air Date: 27 October – 17 November 1979.

Doctor: Tom Baker.

Companions: Romana (Lalla Ward) & K9 Mk II (Voiced by David Brierley).

Writer: David Fisher.

Director: Christopher Barry.

Producer: Graham Williams.

City of Death

(Series 17, Episodes 5-8)

Summary: Doctor Who meets its first crack in time as Romana, inexplicably dressed like a 1920s' schoolgirl, and the Doctor take a romantic trip to France.  The soundtrack made me momentarily think I was watching a seventies' arthouse film about people running urgently around Paris but then the saxes kick in and we’re in a sleazy crime thriller about a convoluted art heist.  Some famous art lovers turn up to critique the TARDIS, spaghetti head Scaroth the Jagaroth is splintered across time and poor old Duggan just needs a drink.

Watch it because: Doctor Who’s French Connection: we’ll always have Paris.

Original Air Date: 29 September – 20 October 1979.

Doctor: Tom Baker.

Companions: Romana (Lalla Ward).

Writer: “David Agnew” (David Fisher, Douglas Adams & Graham Williams).

Director: Michael Hayes.

Producer: Graham Williams.

Destiny of the Daleks

(Series 17, Episodes 1-4)

Summary: We’re caught in a (logic) trap!  In Doctor Who’s favourite location, the quarry, K9 is written out rather preposterously with laryngitis and for reasons unknown Romana regenerates and tries on bodies with the ease of trying a new coat.  Romana and the Doctor engage in a comedy sketch routine before things turn a bit serious and the shooting starts.  The Morvellans have borrowed the Swampies’ wigs and sprayed them silver, the Daleks are shoutier and bluer than ever before and are back to using humans to do their mining (I guess it’s hard to hold a pickaxe with a plunger).  Like an elderly relative, Davros sits and sulks in his chair and the Doctor sends a Dalek into a meltdown with his hat.

Watch it because: Cobwebby Davros awakens…

Original Air Date: 1 – 22 September 1979.

Doctor: Tom Baker.

Companions: Romana II (Lalla Ward).

Writer: Terry Nation.

Director: Ken Grieve.

Producer: Graham Williams.