Doctor Who at the BBC

Doctor Who at the BBC was the first release in the CD-only series of the same name. Like all releases in the series, it was presented by Elisabeth Sladen, who provided linking narration between various clips of chiefly radio interviews of Doctor Who luminaries. Like most releases in the series, the release also contained some audio parody of Doctor Who.

Unique to this release, however, the first CD was comprised almost entirely of a single segment called "30 Years". Narrated by Nicholas Courtney, it was an hour-long history of the 1963 version of Doctor Who. Despite its length, however, it was not recorded especially for this release. It was just another piece of the BBC Radio archives. In concert with the somewhat misleading text printed on the back of the CD, some listeners erroneously believed that Courtney was somehow a "co-presenter" on this release. In truth, however, Sladen presented "30 Years" just like any other segment on the release.

Publisher's summary
Elisabeth Sladen and Nicholas Courtney take a journey through the archives and uncover the history of Doctor Who on BBC radio and television

Were you terrified of the Daleks? Has the familiar Doctor Who theme ever sent a shiver down your spine? Did Saturday teatimes once mean gathering around the television to see where the TARDIS had landed each week? If so, Doctor Who at the BBC is for you.

Nicholas Courtney (Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart in the series) traces the development of this incredibly successful series, which first hit our TV screens in 1963. As well as a galaxy of classic moments from the series, he introduces some of the great and good who helped make this series a national institution – including many of the actors who’ve played the Doctor and his companions, and some of the series’ most prolific writers and producers.

Meanwhile Elisabeth Sladen – the Doctor’s trusty assistant Sarah Jane – travels back in time to discover some little-heard radio gems. There’s a 1974 location report from Dartmoor, The Ed Stewart Show broadcast live from Longleat in 1983, Radio 1’s Newsbeat on the recovery of a missing episode, and rare interview footage with Terry Nation, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Mary Tamm, Douglas Adams and even the mutt-shaped K-9. A wealth of comedy is also represented with clips from Hello Cheeky, Week Ending, The Skivers and Dead Ringers.

The TARDIS is waiting, and the Doctor’s friends are at the controls – so hop on for a ride, and revisit the scary and fantastic glory days of Doctor Who

Crew

 * Presenter - Elisabeth Sladen
 * Writer/researcher/producer - Michael Stevens
 * Consultant - Andrew Pixley
 * Technical presentation - Mark Ayres
 * With thanks to - Kate Green, Moray Laing, Andrew Pixley, Martin Wiggins

CD 1

 * Introduction by Elisabeth Sladen
 * 30 Years, BBC Radio 2, 20th November 1993
 * Featuring: Verity Lambert, Jessica Carney, Brian Hodgeson, Peter Purves, William Russell, Peter Davison, Terry Nation, John Scott Martin, Barry Letts, Frazer Hines, Terrance Dicks, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, John Nathan-Turner, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Katy Manning, Sophie Aldred. Presented by Nicholas Courtney

CD 2

 * Today, BBC Radio 4, 8th January 1973
 * Featuring Michael Aspel


 * Today, Radio 4, 8th January 1973
 * Featuring; Dennis Frost and Terry Nation


 * Sunday Best, BBC Radio 4, 6th February 1972
 * Featuring; Brian Hoey with Terry Nation


 * Today, BBC Radio 4, 28th March 1972
 * Featuring; Heather Forrester


 * Profile, BBC World Service, April 1974
 * Featuring Jon Pertwee and Peter Hunt


 * Morning Sou’West, BBC Radio 4, South-West, 30th September 1974
 * Featuring; Robert Deere with Tom Baker, Philip Hinchcliffe


 * Exploration Earth, BBC Radio 4, 4th October 1976
 * Featuring; Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, John Westbrook


 * The Paradise of Death, BBC Radio 5, 19th September 1993
 * Featuring; Richard Pearce, Elisabeth Sladen, Jon Pertwee, Nicholas Courtney, Peter Miles, Harold Innocent


 * Pete Murray’s Open House, BBC Radio 2, 29th August 1978
 * Featuring; Pete Murray, Tom Baker, Mary Tamm


 * Today, BBC Radio 4, 9th October 1980
 * Featuring; Andy Price, John Leeson, John Nathan-Turner


 * The Ed Stewart Show, BBC Radio 2, 4th April 1983
 * Featuring; Ed Stewart, Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, John Nathan-Turner


 * The Enthusiasts, BBC Radio 4, 11th December 1985
 * Featuring; Allan Smith


 * Hello Cheeky, BBC Radio 2, 21st April 1973
 * Featuring Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer, John Junkin


 * Week Ending, BBC Radio 4, 30th November 1990
 * Featuring; Sally Grace, Bill Wallis, David Tate, Ian Ashpitel


 * The Skivers, BBC Radio 4, 23rd February 1995
 * Featuring; Nick Golson, Tim de Jongh, Jon Pertwee, Melanie Giedroyc


 * Newsbeat 12:30, BBC Radio 1, 10th February 1999
 * Featuring; Phil Mercer


 * Today, BBC Radio 4, 13th November 1999
 * Featuring; James Naughtie, Douglas Adams, Tom Baker


 * Dead Ringers, BBC Radio 4, 7th January 2000
 * Featuring; Jon Culshaw


 * Blue Veils & Golden Sands, BBC Radio 4, 23rd December 2002
 * Featuring; Sophie Thompson, Martin Hyder