Slipback: A Historical Curiosity from the Hiatus

John and Jim tackle the first official Doctor Who radio drama - a six-part Eric Saward production that aired during the 18-month hiatus between Seasons 22 and 23. This marks a rare occasion where John experiences a Doctor Who story for the very first time alongside the review.

Production Background: John shares fascinating details about how "Slipback" came to exist - written and produced in just four months as the BBC scrambled to placate fans during the controversial hiatus. The story aired as part of a children's summer show called "Pirate Radio 4," buried within hours of other programming. Discussion covers whether this was originally meant to be a different format, Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant's participation, and the mysterious uncredited director.

The Infamous Computer Voice: The hosts immediately address the elephant in the room - Jane Carr's polarizing performance as the ship's computer. Jim shares his visceral reaction while John explores the apparent Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy influences and whether the voice was intentionally annoying or a misguided creative choice.

Too Much of Everything: John and Jim examine Eric Saward's tendency to cram multiple Doctor Who tropes into one story - wandering corridors, separated companions, time travel experiments, the Big Bang, creepy aliens pursuing Peri, and more. Discussion explores whether Saward was given too little time or simply couldn't resist throwing in every idea he had.

Technical Curiosities: The hosts discuss the slightly sped-up audio on YouTube versions, the quality of the production values, and how the performances hold up. They debate whether this was specifically written for children despite some mature content.

Historical Significance: As the first official BBC radio drama and a true product of Colin Baker's era (alongside "A Fix with Sontarans"), the hosts examine what this means for completists and whether it deserves modern appreciation.

Ratings: The hosts land on the lower end of their scale, with discussion about whether it's worth an hour of listeners' time and comparisons to the Star Wars Holiday Special as "another appearance by these actors during the original run."

Listener Perspective: Jameson shares his 2022 review calling it a "historical curiosity" that doesn't stand up to Big Finish productions, sparking discussion about whether Big Finish should revisit and revise the concept.

Coming Up Next:

Patreon Exclusive (Monday - Episode 160): More theme music, Memory TARDIS, and the beginning of the Alan McKenzie era of Doctor Who comics with "War Game" and "Fun House."

Patreon Exclusive (Friday): John and Jim's deep dive into the missing/planned Season 23 - examining the six stories that were scrapped when the hiatus was announced, discussing what could have worked, and where to find them in expanded media.

Main Feed: Classic Patreon episodes released for non-subscribers during Jim's vacation.

Hashtags:

#DoctorWho #Slipback #EricSaward #ColinBaker #NicolaBryant #RadioDrama #SixthDoctor #Peri #BBCRadio4 #DoctorWhoAudio #Hiatus #1985 #ClassicWho #HistoricalCuriosity #DoctorWhoPodcast #BigBang #TimeTravel #DoctorWhoHistory