The 1920s (TV story)

✅ When first commissioned, the eleventh episode of Doctor Whos second series was originally based on a script written by Stephen Fry.

Initially believing the script to be too complex however, Russell T Davies decided that it would be better suited for season three, which would given the crew more time for preparation. The script was replaced with Fear Her, but was never made as Fry could not find the time to make the necessary alterations.

According to Fry in an interview with Bob Tyrer, the episode would revolve around the "Sub-Arthurian legend of [Sir] Gawain and the Green Knight", or "Gavin" as Fry playfully refers to him as, conjecturing that Gavin would be the modern form of the name.

In the original legend, "It describes how Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur's Round Table, accepts a challenge from a mysterious Green Knight who challenges any knight to strike him with his axe if he will take a return blow in a year and a day. Gawain accepts and beheads him with his blow, at which the Green Knight stands up, picks up his head and reminds Gawain of the appointed time. In his struggles to keep his bargain Gawain demonstrates chivalry and loyalty until his honour is called into question by a test involving Lady Bertilak, the lady of the Green Knight's castle.