A Repeat Prescription

Rip It Up, Issue 93, 1 April 1985, Page 2

A Repeat Prescription

Remember hiding behind the couch and peeking at the telly? Remember the Web of Fear? The Cybermen? The Daleks? It’s coming back TVNZ is bringing some classic old Dr Who episodes forward in time from the 1960 s to Fridays at 6.30 pm on Two. The repeats pick up in 1968 with the second Doctor, Patrick Troughton. Troughton took over the role in 1966 from William Hartnell, who misses out on the repeat treatment (presumably because his Doctor wasn't always a nice guy). Troughton was succeeded in 1969 by John Pertwee, who saw the series mature and establish itself. But it was Tom Baker, who became the Doctor in 1974, who attracted the most viewers. When Baker left seven years later, Peter Davidson went from practising as a vet (in All Creatures Great and Small) to be

the Doctor. He lasted only two seasons. The sixth Doctor, Colin Baker, found himself shunted into hyperspace recently when the BBC put the show into “time-lock phase" for 18 months. But the lay-up has already been shortened to 10 months after protests in Britain.