The recovery of The Lion

• » Listing: "The National Lottery: Amazing Luck Stories" (a 10 minute programme, which included the UK national lottery draw, that covered the "amazing" discovery of the first episode of the Hartnell historical The Crusade - the programme included a special guest appearance by Frazer Hines). Radio Times dated 06 - 12 February 1999.
  [view listing only] (26Kb)
  [view full BBC1 panel with listing] (165Kb)

Doctor Who - The Curse of Fatal Death

(The 1999 Comic Relief sketch, starring Rowan Atkinson as the 9th Doctor)

The 6th to 12th of March 1999 edition of the Radio Times had substantial coverage of "Comic Relief", including a rather excellent, full page photograph of Rowan Atkinson in the guise of the Ninth Doctor, the link to this is below. This is a part of a 3 part (the article mentions 2 parts but this is a mistake) Doctor Who skit on the night of "Comic Relief", Friday 12 March 1999, on BBC 1.

Articles:

• » To view the full page photograph and the article called "Everybody's Talking about DOCTOR WHO", which includes details of "Doctor Who - The Curse of Fatal Death". [view]

Listings:

The full listings from the Radio Times, the whole of the Comic Relief section are presented below:

• » Listings for the "Comic Relief" TV special on Friday 12 March 1999. "Radio Times" dated 06 - 12 March 1999. [view]

The BBC 2 Doctor Who Night - Saturday 13th November 1999

Also see the 1990's Non-Radio Times Listings Page for the many non-Radio Times listings and articles relating to this event.

• » Next Week: "Guess Who's back on TV - BBC2 spends an evening with the Doctor and his enemies". Half page advert for the next issue of Radio Times with the above teaser and a Dalek photograph. Radio Times 06-12 November 1993. [view]

Radio Times Articles, Listings and Miscellanea covering the Doctor Who Night:

PLEASE NOTE: All of the articles below are presented in their original page order. Please see page number in brackets (Page: *).

 

• » Contents Page: Giving details and page numbers for Doctor Who Coverage. (Page: 3) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999. [view]
• » Editorial: "From the Editor". Editors column covering Doctor Who Night and assorted childhood terrors! (Page: 4) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999. [view]
• » Main Article: "Time Gentlemen". Page 1 of the main article written by Mark Gatiss who "explores the Time Lords ageless appeal". (Page: 27) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999. [view]
• » Second Article: "Who goes there?" Double page on the Doctor Who Monsters - "Nick Griffiths picks four sure to have you cowering behind the sofa". (Pages: 28 and 29) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999 but beware, this is a very large file, a smaller version is below. [view]
• » Small version of Second Article above - Details as above. [view]
• » Articles (continued) : Page 2 of the main article written by Mark Gatiss and first part of Interview with Tom Baker titled: "Tom foolery". (Page: 31) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999. [view]
• » Interview (continued) : Page 2 of the Interview with Tom Baker titled: "Tom foolery". (Page: 32) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999. [view]
• » Video Offer: "RT Shop - Doctor Who Dalek video box set for only £22.99". (Page: 74) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999. [view]
• » Preview page for weeks TV: "This Week's TV - Watch out for..." (Page: 89) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999. [view]
• » Television Choice: "Doctor Who Night" (Page: 90) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999. [view]
• » Listings: The complete nights listings. All of the BBC programmes for the evening have been included, most is Doctor Who and this illustrates how the Doctor Who Night dominated the schedules on BBC 2. (Page: 92) Radio Times - Cover dated: 13-19 Nov. 1999. [view]

1999 to 2000 repeat season

The repeat Season that followed directly on from the Doctor Who Night was originally believed to cover every colour episode of Doctor Who from the first Pertwee Episode, Spearhead from Space, also the first ever colour episode of Doctor Who, to the last McCoy Episode (Survival). By the end of December 1999, when "Doctor Who and the Silurians" was partway through it's run, it seemed increasingly likely that the BBC would not run through every Pertwee episode. Increasingly word from the BBC suggested that they would switch to the Tom Baker episodes. Strangely, the BBC declared themselves happy with the 2 million (or more) viewers that the Pertwee repeats drew in, so this was not, apparently, the reason for their change of heart. The repeats then moved on to "Genesis of the Daleks" in February 2000 and then were abruptly cancelled!

Sadly the events surrounding the repeat season have simply reinforced the cynicism and anger of fans at the behaviour of the BBC. Rightly or wrongly many have questioned the decision to cancel the season despite creditable ratings of 1 to 2 million. This at the same time as BBC 2's "Ghormenghast" received ratings a little over 3 million and cost around £10 Million to make but was deemed a success! Unfortunately these events have done nothing to improve the attitude of many fans toward the BBC which is now typified by a sense of distrust and cynicism.

The BBC have subsequently repeated episodes of Thunderbirds, and less worthy 'classic' American series, in a similar timeslot. Interestingly this has coincided with DVD relesases of this Gerry Anderson production as well as Doctor Who. The more cynical fans of Doctor Who might point out the "interesting" situation where the BBC's own Doctor Who DVD's and VHS Videos are given no support in terms of a repeats, but free publicity is given for for a rival product!

As for the future of Doctor Who on BBC television, it's up in the air.........!

Episode Listings:

• » Repeat Listings: "Spearhead from Space", Episodes 1 to 4. Various Radio Times from 16 to 30 November 1999. [view]
• » Repeat Listings: "Doctor Who and the Silurians", Episodes 1 to 6. Various Radio Times from 07 December 1999 to 25 January 2000. [view]

Articles and Miscellaneous items accompanying the repeats:

• » Choice Article: Accompanying Episodes 1 and 3 of "Spearhead from Space". Radio Times 13-19 November 1999. [view]
• » Letters: In response to the Doctor Who Night and the repeat season. Radio Times 11-17 December 1999. [view]

These repeat listings are continued on the 2000 Page.