Tag Archives: michael stevens

Season 25 of ‘Doctor Who’ with Sylvester McCoy on Blu-ray #1

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

It’s taken me a while, but I’m at last checking out and sharing my updated reviews on Season 25 of the classic ‘Doctor Who’ TV series, starring Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace. This is the 25th anniversary season of ‘Doctor Who’, which was shown from October 1988 to January 1989. The Blu-ray box set came out in October 2024, but I had to check out Seasons 15 and 20 on Blu-ray first before getting onto sharing my updated thoughts on the four stories in Season 25. Let’s begin out look into Season 25 by checking out ‘Remembrance of the Daleks’, a four-part story by Ben Aaronvitch, who makes his first contribution to the TV series. Continue reading →

Novelization/Audiobook Review – ‘Doctor Who – Vengeance on Varos’

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

It’s time for us to delve into the Target novelization/audiobook of the ‘Doctor Who’ story ‘Vengeance on Varos’ by Philip Martin, based on the original TV scripts. The Target novelization was published in June 1988, three years after the TV story was transmitted in January 1985. The story features the Sixth Doctor and Peri where they visit Varos and encounter the slimy Sil. I’ve greatly enjoyed checking out the Target novelization, along with the 2019 unabridged audiobook read by Martin Jarvis, who played the Governor in the TV story. Over the years, I’ve considered ‘Vengeance on Varos’ a decent ‘Doctor Who’ story featuring themes of how violence can used as entertainment for TV audiences. Continue reading →

Novelization/Audiobook Review – ‘Doctor Who – Warriors of the Deep’

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

I’ve recently checked out the Target novelization/audiobook of the ‘Doctor Who’ story ‘Warriors of the Deep’ by Terrance Dicks, based on the TV scripts by Johnny Byrne. This story features the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough who visit Sea Base 4 in the year 2084 and they find themselves battling against the Silurians, the Sea Devils and the Myrka. ‘Warriors of the Deep’ is the third story in the ‘Beneath the Surface’ trilogy of the classic TV series. I’ve enjoyed checking out the Target novelization, along with the 2023 unabridged audiobook read by Janet Fielding, who plays Tegan in the TV series and the Big Finish audios of ‘Doctor Who’. Continue reading →

Novelization/Audiobook Review – ‘Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks’

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

I’ve recently checked out the Target novelization/audiobook ‘Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks’ by Terrance Dicks, based on the ‘Doctor Who’ TV story by Terry Nation, which was shown from April to May 1973. This story features the Third Doctor and Jo teaming up with the Thals on the planet Spiridon, as they tackle the deadly Daleks. I’ve enjoyed the Target novelization via its 1992 edition with cover art by Alister Pearson. I read the book with the 2013 unabridged audiobook read by Mark Gatiss, who is well-known for writing ‘Doctor Who’ episodes in the new TV series and has played characters like Professor Lazarus in ‘The Lazarus Experiment’ and the Captain in ‘Twice Upon a Time’. Nicholas Briggs also provides the voice of the Daleks in the unabridged audiobook. Continue reading →

Season 20 of ‘Doctor Who’ with Peter Davison on Blu-ray #7

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

It’s time to check out the seventh and final story in the Season 20 Blu-ray box set of the classic ‘Doctor Who’ TV series. Today, it’s time for the 20th anniversary special ‘The Five Doctors’ by Terrance Dicks, directed by Peter Moffat. This ‘Doctor Who’ story was shown in November 1983 and it features the first five Doctors (technically). There’s Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor, Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor and Richard Hurndall as the First Doctor, with Tom Baker (through ‘Shada’ footage) as the Fourth Doctor and William Hartnell (through ‘The Dalek Invasion of Earth’ clip) as the First Doctor. There’s Janet Fielding as Tegan, Mark Strickson as Turlough, Carole Ann Ford as Susan, Nicholas Courtney as the Brigadier and Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith. Lalla Ward also appears (via ‘Shada’ footage) as Romana in the story. A Dalek is also in this story as well as the Cybermen, a Yeti, a Raston Warrior Robot and Anthony Ainley as the Master. Continue reading →

Novelization/Audiobook Review – ‘Doctor Who – The King’s Demons’

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

In case you missed it yesterday, I’ve added a brand-new review on the Target novelization/audiobook of the ‘Doctor Who’ story ‘The King’s Demons’ by Terence Dudley, based on the original TV scripts penned by him. The story features the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough, and takes place in England in the year 1215. It features the return of the villainous Master (as played by Anthony Ainley in the TV story) and introduces the robot character Kamelion, who wears the form of King John of England in the tale. The 2016 audiobook for ‘Doctor Who – The King’s Demons’ is read by Mark Strickson, who plays Turlough in the classic TV series and the Big Finish audios. Continue reading →

Season 20 of ‘Doctor Who’ with Peter Davison on Blu-ray #6

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

We’re now on the sixth story of Season 20 of the classic ‘Doctor Who’ TV series and, as it turns out, the season finale. Technically, anyway. Don’t worry. There’s still ‘The Five Doctors’ for us to check out next week. In the meantime, let’s check out this two-part story by Terence Dudley, featuring the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough. It’s Terence Dudley’s third ‘Doctor Who’ contribution as a writer and it’s the first and only one to be directed by Tony Virgo. The story also introduces Kamelion, a new robot companion for the Fifth Doctor, voiced by Gerald Flood, who also plays King John in this adventure. There’s also the return of Anthony Ainley as the Master in ‘The King’s Demons’. The story’s special guest stars include Frank Windsor, Isla Blair, Christopher Villiers and Michael J. Jackson. The story was filmed at Bodiam Castle, as it takes place in medieval England in the year 1215. Continue reading →

Season 20 of ‘Doctor Who’ with Peter Davison on Blu-ray #5

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

Yes! We’re back with Season 20 of the classic ‘Doctor Who’ TV series! After checking out Series 15 of the new TV series with Ncuti Gatwa, it’s time to pick up where we left off with our look into Peter Davison’s second season as the Fifth Doctor. Today, we’re checking out the fifth story called ‘Enlightenment’. It’s also the third story of ‘The Black Guardian Trilogy’. ‘Enlightenment’ is a four-part adventure by the late Barbara Clegg. This is his first and only contribution to the TV series. The story is directed by the late Fiona Cumming, who previously directed ‘Snakedance’. ‘Enlightenment’ stars Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Janet Fielding as Tegan and Mark Strickson as Turlough. Valentine Dyall returns for his third appearance in Season 20 and we have the return of Cyril Luckhman as the White Guardian, who previously debuted in ‘The Ribos Operation’ in ‘The Key to Time’ season (Season 16). Continue reading →

Season 20 of ‘Doctor Who’ with Peter Davison on Blu-ray #4

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

Here we are on what I consider to be a very significant story in Season 20 of the classic ‘Doctor Who’ TV series. Today, we’re checking out the fourth story of the season called ‘Terminus’, and it’s the second story of ‘The Black Guardian Trilogy’. ‘Terminus’ is a four-part story by Stephen Gallagher, who previously penned ‘Warriors’ Gate’ in Season 18. The story is directed by Mary Ridge, who previously directed six episodes of ‘Blake’s 7’. ‘Terminus’ is the final TV adventure to feature Sarah Sutton as Nyssa in ‘Doctor Who’. It’s a very special story for me, as it began what prompted me to go to ‘Doctor Who’ conventions and meet people like Sarah Sutton, Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson who appear in this story. Valentine Dyall returns as the Black Guardian in this ‘Doctor Who’ story and there’s also the introduction of the Vanir and the Garm. Continue reading →

Season 20 of ‘Doctor Who’ with Peter Davison on Blu-ray #3

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

In the third week of our look into Season 20 of the classic ‘Doctor Who’ TV series, it’s time to check out the third story of the season called ‘Mawdryn Undead’, which is also the first story of ‘The Black Guardian Trilogy’. This is a four-part story by Peter Grimwade, who previously directed ‘Full Circle’, ‘Logopolis’, ‘Kinda’ and ‘Earthshock’ and wrote ‘Time-Flight’. The story is directed by Peter Moffatt, who previously directed ‘State of Decay’ and ‘The Visitation’. ‘Mawdryn Undead’ stars Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa and Janet Fielding as Tegan. The story features the return of Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the introduction of new ‘Doctor Who’ companion Mark Strickson as Turlough, and the return of Valentine Dyall as the Black Guardian. There’s also David Collings as the titular Mawdryn. Continue reading →