Paradise Towers (TV story)

Synopsis
Mel wants to go swimming so the Doctor takes her to a tower block called Paradise Towers where there is reputed to be a fantastic pool. When they arrive they discover that the place is far from being the superb leisure resort they had expected - it is run-down and dilapidated.

The hallways are roamed by gangs of young girls known as Kangs; the apartments are inhabited by cannibalistic old ladies, the Rezzies; and the building is managed by a group of dictatorial caretakers, presided over by the Chief Caretaker.

The latter is in thrall to the disembodied Great Architect Kroagnon, the building's creator, who is using giant cleaning machines systematically to kill all the occupants as he considers that they are spoiling his creation by living there.

The Great Architect eventually manifests himself by taking over the Chief Caretaker's body, but the Doctor and Mel join forces with the Kangs, the Rezzies and Pex - the only young man left in the complex - to defeat him. Pex, however, is apparently killed in the struggle.

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
 * Mel - Bonnie Langford
 * Chief Caretaker/The Great Architect - Richard Briers
 * Deputy Chief Caretaker - Clive Merrison
 * Tabby - Elizabeth Spriggs
 * Tilda - Brenda Bruce
 * Maddy - Judy Cornwell
 * Pex - Howard Cooke
 * Fire Escape - Julie Brennon
 * Bin Liner - Annabel Yuresha
 * Blue Kang Leader - Catherine Cusack
 * Yellow Kang - Astra Sheridan
 * Red Kang - Nisha Nayar
 * Young Caretaker - Joseph Young
 * Video Commentary - Simon Coady

Crew

 * Assistant Floor Manager - Val McCrimmon
 * Costumes - Janet Tharby
 * Designer - Martin Collins
 * Incidental Music - Keff McCulloch
 * Make-Up - Shaunna Harrison
 * OB Cameraman - Alastair Mitchell, David Hunter
 * Producer - John Nathan-Turner
 * Production Assistant - Frances Graham
 * Production Associate - Anne Faggetter
 * Script Editor - Andrew Cartmel
 * Special Sounds - Dick Mills
 * Studio Lighting - Henry Barber
 * Studio Sound - Brian Clark
 * Theme Arrangement - Keff McCulloch
 * Title Music - Ron Grainer
 * Visual Effects - Simon Taylor

Story notes

 * This story had a working title of; Paradise Tower.
 * Julie Brennon, who played Fire Escape, was at the time married to former companion actor Mark Strickson.

Ratings

 * Part 1 - 4.5 million viewers
 * Part 2 - 5.2 million viewers
 * Part 3 - 5.0 million viewers
 * Part 4 - 5.0 million viewers

Myths
to be added

Filming locations

 * Elmswell House, Nightingales Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire (Location of the pool)
 * BBC Television Centre (TC1 &amp; TC8), Shepherd's Bush, London

Production errors
to be added

Continuity

 * The Doctor is once again called an "Old One" by locals, as he was in DW: The Mysterious Planet.
 * The TARDIS is graffitied again in DW: Aliens of London.
 * The TARDIS pool last appeared in DW: The Invasion of Time.

Timeline

 * Paradise Towers occurs after: BFA: Red
 * Paradise Towers occurs before: DWM: Plastic Millennium

Home video and audio releases
Released on VHS in the UK (October 1995), Australia (January 1997) and the United States (June 1997). A DVD release is expected for 2011 according to a blog post by Stephen Wyatt. Wyatt, Andrew Cartmel, Richard Briers and Howard Cooke have been interviewed for the release. The commentary features Wyatt, Judy Cornwell and Dick Mills.

Novelisation and its audiobook

 * Main article: Paradise Towers (novelisation)


 * Novelised by Stephen Wyatt in 1988.