The Devil of Winterborne (home video)

The Devil of Winterborne was the second story in BBV Productions' P.R.O.B.E. series. It was written by Mark Gatiss and directed by Bill Baggs. It featured Caroline John as Dr Liz Shaw and Louise Jameson as Patsy Haggard.

Liz's assistant Louise Bayliss did not return and instead Terry Molloy featured as D.I. Burke, a policeman who assisted her and applied for a transfer to P.R.O.B.E. at the very end. The story introduced the characters of Andrew Powell and Christian and Gavin Purcell, all of whom would appear again in Ghosts of Winterborne, as well as Brian Rutherford who would play a larger role in Unnatural Selection.

Synopsis
When P.R.O.B.E. is summoned to investigate the savage murder of a retired headmaster, Liz Shaw is disturbed to find evidence of satanic rite near the scene of the crime.

She soon discovers a web of deceit and corruption that extends back in time, threatening the current occupants of nearby Winterborne School.

With P.R.O.B.E. under threat from within and the death toll mounting, Liz finds herself under increasing pressure from all sides to produce results...

The Devil of Winterborne is at large and only Liz can stop it!

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * Liz Shaw - Caroline John
 * Patricia Haggard - Louise Jameson
 * DI Burke - Terry Molloy
 * Rutherford - Geoffrey Beevers
 * Purcell - Peter Davison
 * Mrs Taploe - Charmian May
 * George - Mark Gatiss
 * Christian - Daniel Matthews
 * Andrew - Reece Shearsmith
 * Luke - Stephen Dolomore
 * Cummings - Jonathan Rigby

Crew

 * Bill Baggs - director and producer
 * Andy Grant - executive producer
 * Mark Ayres - Music
 * Andy Bell - cinematography
 * Dick Kursa - cinematography
 * Michael Duxbury - film editing
 * Sara Cooper - production design
 * Zoe Randall - makeup artist
 * Patricia Merrick - assistant director
 * Robin Prichard - second assistant director
 * Edward Salt - second assistant director
 * Julian Dawton - sound
 * Raymond Turner - sound
 * Jon Head - grip (as Jonathan Head)
 * Ben Hicklin - focus puller

Worldbuilding

 * There were no lessons being taught because of Whitsun, a holiday that Barbara Taploe considered far too short to do anything in.
 * Luke mentions Claridge's, whose stationery his mother and father used to send hasty apologies alongside a cheque.
 * Liz was afraid of graveyards as a child and hated the rusty watering cans, stand pipes and the smell of decayed flowers. She would visit grandmother's grave where there was a fallen door nearby that she imagined was a poor man's grave. She imagined that if she got too close the door would fall into the hole and she would either see what was in there or fall in herself.

Story notes

 * A number of new characters were played by actors who previously had roles in Doctor Who: Peter Davison played the Fifth Doctor, Terry Molloy played Davros from Resurrection of the Daleks to Remembrance of the Daleks and Geoffrey Beevers played in The Keeper of Traken.
 * Liz is referred to as "Dr Shaw" by D.I. Burke. This is the first time that she is called this onscreen, being known as "Miss Shaw" on Doctor Who and in The Zero Imperative.
 * Ghosts of Winterborne is a sequel to this story, reintroducing the characters of Gavin Purcell (Peter Davison) and Andrew Powell (Reece Shearsmith) set in the months after these events. The themes of reincarnation and immortality from this story are elaborated on, and clips from this film are used as flashbacks.
 * This story is notable for introducing Doctor Who's first same-sex relationship on screen, predating the new series. A physical relationship between Luke and Christian is heavily implied and the two are seen sharing a romantic kiss.
 * On the 2012 DVD reissue, there were two notable issues in regards to actor credits.
 * Rutherford was incorrectly credited as being played by Patricia Merrick, the assistant director, instead of Geoffrey Beevers.
 * The character of Christian Purcell was not listed in the end credits and, as such, Daniel Matthews was not credited with playing him.

Myths
to be added

Filming locations
to be added

Continuity

 * Louise Bayliss is mentioned. She has been transferred from P.R.O.B.E. by Rutherford. (HOMEVID: The Zero Imperative)

DVD and Video releases
P.R.O.B.E Devil of Winterborne was released direct-to-video in 1995 by BBV. It was reissued on DVD in 2012 and is available to purchase from Galaxy 4.