Crisis Point 1985 - Patreon Exclusive #157

John and Jim dive deep into one of the most tumultuous periods in Doctor Who history, exploring the fan response to the show's 18-month hiatus announcement and examining two very different productions from that era.

Theme Song Discussion: The hosts review Chameleon Circuit's 2026 version of Peter Howell's 1980s Doctor Who theme. The hosts find it underwhelming, noting it fails to generate the excitement that should accompany the opening of a Doctor Who episode. They express mixed feelings about Chameleon Circuit's various covers over the years.

LINK : https://youtu.be/oYyc00TKtCs?si=UUH4k9dMulobMh3o

The 18-Month Hiatus: During the broadcast of "The Two Doctors," the BBC announced Doctor Who would be "rested" for 18 months to fund other BBC projects. The announcement made national headlines and BBC News broadcasts, creating major controversy among fans and the general public.

"Doctor in Distress" - The Charity Single: Ian Levine, the show's unofficial historian and fan liaison, organized a charity single modeled after "We Are the World" to protest the hiatus. The hosts discuss the infamous recording featuring:

• Cast members: Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Nicholas Courtney, Anthony Ainley, Faith Brown (from "Attack of the Cybermen")

• Musicians: Justin Hayward and John Lodge (The Moody Blues), Phyllis Nelson, Bobby G (Bucks Fizz)

• Notable absences due to scheduling issues and Ian's impatience

LINK: https://youtu.be/ege9lQecazo?si=yh0ROrCIbz9hf30a

"A Fix with Sontarans": In stark contrast to "Doctor in Distress," this segment from the children's show "Jim'll Fix It" proved surprisingly professional. Young fan Gareth Jenkins wished to appear in a Doctor Who story, and writer Eric Saward crafted a nearly 10-minute adventure featuring:

• Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor

• Janet Fielding returning as Tegan (not Nicola Bryant as Peri)

• Two Sontarans (Clinton Grain and Tim Raime from "The Two Doctors")

• A surprisingly serious tone rather than sketch comedy

Production notes include that the two Sontarans were named Nathan and Turner (a dig by Eric Saward at producer John Nathan-Turner), and that a remastered version exists with Jimmy Savile edited out and updated special effects. Colin Baker later stated he always found Savile "creepy."

LINK: https://archive.org/details/a_fix_with_sontarans

Doctor Who Magazine - "Voyager" Part 5: The hosts express deep frustration with Steve Parkhouse's comic story, calling it "hogwash," "claptrap," and "balderdash." They criticize:

• The pretentious writing style

• The Doctor's complete lack of agency

• Frobisher the penguin's unnecessary subplot

• The anticlimactic appearance of the villain Voyager

• The waste of artist John Ridgway's talents

Jim suggests Parkhouse was attempting to emulate Alan Moore but failing spectacularly, creating "whimsy disguised as something deeper." The hosts note this isn't Doctor Who and wouldn't work on television. They express relief that only two more Parkhouse stories remain.

Memory TARDIS: The wheel lands on "Mawdryn Undead," which both hosts remember fondly, particularly for:

• Nicholas Courtney's dual role as two different time versions of the Brigadier

• The strong integration of the Brigadier into the plot (not just a cameo)

• Nyssa and Tegan's interactions with the Brigadier

• The creative concept of keeping the two Brigadiers apart

Big Finish News: The hosts briefly discuss Big Finish's move toward digital-only releases for many products due to poor physical sales and warehouse storage issues, sparking debate about collector markets and physical media in the vinyl revival era.

Coming Up Next:

Main Feed Episode: John and Jim tackle "Timelash" with special guest Alan J. Porter, continuing their journey through Colin Baker's controversial Season 22.

Next Patreon Episode (158): The hosts continue with more theme music discussion, spin the Memory TARDIS again, and cover Steve Parkhouse's penultimate story "Polly the Glot" - a three-part adventure from Doctor Who Magazine.

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