May 21, 2007
Doctor Who Audiobooks – The Quintessential Doctor Who, Tom Baker
If any one of the ten actors who have played the role of Doctor Who since the series' inception in 1963, has captured the public imagination more than any of the others, it would have to be Tom Baker.
Taking over from Jon Pertwee in 1974, Tom Baker was to go way past the record set by his predecessor, and notch up no less than seven series before finally quitting in 1981. Tom Baker has frequently topped polls held to determine the most popular actor to take on the role of Doctor Who, in fact he has only twice lost out in the official Doctor Who Magazine poll, one of those times being in 2006 to the current Doctor, David Tennant.
Tom Baker was a unique character. His portrayal of Doctor Who was totally different from those of the previous incumbents, and completely in his own natural style. One of the most famous characteristics he brought to the role, though, actually happened by accident. His ridiculously long scarf, which he wore throughout his time as Doctor Who, and by which he was recognised by large sections of the public, was not a deliberate invention.
It happened purely because the knitter of the scarf had been given too much wool by the costume designer, but had still chosen to knit all of it. Tom Baker, never one to miss an opportunity, took full advantage and decided to wear the scarf in the series.
Also during the Tom Baker era we saw the emergence of one of the supreme icons of the series' history. After the TARDIS itself, and those arch enemies the Daleks, no other icon has achieved the fame and popularity of that faithful metallic dog, K – 9. K – 9 first appeared in the episode screened at the start of October 1977, The Invisible Enemy.
In this story, set around the year 5000 AD, Doctor Who is infected by a virus which escapes from his body, becomes a full sized human being, and prepares to be taken to breeding tanks. Doctor Who and Professor Marius' dog K – 9 arrange for the breeding tanks to be blown up, and as a parting gift, the Professor gives K – 9 to Doctor Who.
Tom Baker's status as a legendary player of Doctor Who is assured for all time. Because the recordings were made in relatively recent times, after the BBC mass deletions in the early 1970s, all of the footage survives to this day, and much of it has been released in the home video formats, VHS and DVD.
Also available are Doctor Who Audiobooks, which allow the listener to relive many of the old episodes, even some of the deleted episodes that no longer exist on film, in the form of a spoken script. These Doctor Who Audiobooks are fully downloadable, and can be purchased over the internet.
Doctor Who - Adventures in History
Written By : Various
Narrator : Full Cast Production
Published By : BBC Audiobooks Ltd
Length : 4 hours 55 minutes
Categories : Sci-Fi
Fantasy
Technological
TV
British
Download Price - $19.75
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The soundtracks of three television adventures in which the Doctor and friends travel back in Time and get caught up in events in history.
The three stories – The Myth Makers, The Massacre and The Highlanders – find the TARDIS in Ancient Greece, 16th Century France and 18th Century Scotland.
William Hartnell stars as the Doctor in The Myth Makers and The Massacre, whilst Patrick Troughton steps into the role for The Highlanders. Linking narration is provided by Peter Purves and Frazer Hines.
THE MASSACRE
William Hartnell is the original doctor in this exclusive audio recording of a "lost" BBC television soundtrack.
The Tardis materialises in Paris in 1572, a time of great danger and religious strife. Whilst the Doctor pays a visit to famous apothecary Charles Preslin, Steven is befriended by a group of Protestants who come from the household of Admiral de Coligny
Meanwhile the Catholic Queen Mother, Catherine de Medici, aided by the hated dignitary the Abbot of Amboise, is hatching a plot to kill all French Protestants - starting with de Coligny. Worryingly for Steven, the Abbot bears an uncanny resemblance to the Doctor And when the plot fails and the Abbot is condemned to death, he is even more alarmed. Was that the Doctor being killed? Or does the Abbot just look like him?
The four episodes of this 1966 story no longer exist in the BBC television archives. This audio exclusive has taken the soundtrack and, with linking narration by Peter Purves, the whole thrilling adventure is brought back to life.
THE MYTH MAKERS
The original doctor, William Hartnell, and his companions mix with mythical greek gods in this exclusive audio recording of a "lost" television story, with linking narration by Peter Purves.
The Doctor has adopted many guises in his time, but to be hailed as the great god Zeus is a bit of a shock. Yet this is exactly what happens when the TARDIS lands on the plains of Asia Minor, not far from the city of Troy. Taken to the Greek camp by Achilles, the Doctor is introduced to Agamemnon and Odysseus and forced to admit his less-than-godlike status. He is then given just two days to come up with a strategy for defeating the Trojans.
Meanwhile, Steven and Vicki have been taken prisoner by the other side. The Trojans are convinced that Vicki is a spy - and to prove her loyalty she must concoct a plan to defeat the Greeks! Like the Doctor, she has just two days to do it.
Luckily for the Doctor, a certain someone has already devised a scheme for beating the Trojans. Even if the wooden horse was invented for a piece of fiction written in the eighth century, it still works. As the opposing forces come face to face in a climactic battle, there are dangers aplenty for both Steven and Vicki. By the time the TARDIS moves away again, it will have both lost and gained a crew member..
THE HIGHLANDERS
Frazer Hines provides the linking narration for the digitally remastered soundtrack of the "lost" television adventure in which he made his first appearance as Jamie.
Scotland, 1745. The Doctor. Ben and Polly arrive in Scotland after the Battle of Culloden and meet a band of Highlanders who are fleeing in defeat. Their Laird is injured and the three offer to help tend his injuries. Polly and Kirsty McLaren, the Laird's daughter, (played in a guest appearance by Hannah Gordon) go to fetch some water but whilst they are gone the others are captured by Redcoat troops.
Things become worse when the group is taken again - this time by the crooked Solicitor Grey, who is part of the West Indian slave trade. The prisoners, Ben amongst them, are bundled on board the Annabelle where the wicked Captain Trask issues dire threats of drowning.
Meanwhile the Doctor is on dry land confusing all and sundry in a variety of disguises. However, his bumbling manner hides a sharp brain and eventually he, Polly and Ben are reunited in the TARDIS together with young piper Jamie McCrimmon who went on to become one of the most popular companions of the series.
Doctor Who Audiobooks Tom Baker