Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymaker (1966)

Date(s) of Broadcast: 2 April - 23 April 1966
Number of Episodes: 4
Average Episode Running Times: 25 mins
Format: black and white
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Company: BBC
Producer: Innes Lloyd

SCRIPT
Script: Brian Hayles, Donald Tosh
Script Editor: Gerry Davis

DIRECTION
Director: Bill Sellars

PHOTOGRAPHY
Studio Lighting: Frank Cresswell
Film Camera: Tony Leggo

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Film Editor: Bob Rymer

MUSIC
Title Music: Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Title Music Arranged By: Delia Derbyshire
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson

SOUND
Studio Sound: Alan Fogg
Special Sounds: Brian Hodgson

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Sonia Markham
Costumes: Daphne Dare

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Designer: John Wood

MISCELLANEOUS
Production Assistant: Snowy White
Assistant Floor Manager: Elisabeth Dunbar
Choreography: Tutte Lemkow

CAST
Episode 1
William Hartnell (Dr Who)
Peter Purves (Steven)
Michael Gough (The Toymaker)
Campbell Singer (Joey)
Carmen Silvera (Clara)

Episode 2
William Hartnell (Dr Who / Abbot of Amboise)
Peter Purves (Steven)
Michael Gough (The Toymaker)
Campbell Singer (King of Hearts)
Carmen Silvera (Queen of Hearts)
Peter Stephens (Knave of Hearts)
Reg lever (Joker)

Episode 3
William Hartnell (Dr Who / Abbot of Amboise)
Peter Purves (Steven)
Michael Gough (The Toymaker)
Beryl Braham, Ann Harrison, Delia Lindon (dancers)
Campbell Singer (Sergeant Rugg)
Carmen Silvera (Mrs Wiggs)
Peter Stephens (kitchen boy)

Episode 4
William Hartnell (Dr Who)
Peter Purves (Steven)
Michael Gough (The Toymaker)
Peter Stephens (Cyril)

EPISODES

1. The Celestial Toyroom (2 April 1966)
2. The Hall of Dolls (9 April 1966)
3. The Dancing Floor (16 April 1966)
4. The Final Test (23 April 1966)

PLOT SUMMARY

The TARDIS lands an a strange world ruled by The Celestial Toymaker. To escape with their lives The Doctor and his companions must succesfully complete a series of sinister games. Steven and Dodo face a series of riddles and games laid down by The Toymaker's assistants whilst the Doctor must complete the complex moves of the Toymaster's Trilogic Game.

Interesting delve into childrens literature with characters inspired by Alice in Wonderland and Billy Bunter. Gough makes a memorable adversary, so much so he he was meant to reprise the role in The Sixth Doctor's lost season. Innes Lloyd first production credit, but its inception was under John Wiles' tenure and it merges well his more "intelligent" ideas for the programme with the fantasy world of The Doctor. Not quite as good as its reputation though.

UK
Television Distributor: BBC
Video Distributor: BBC Video

BOOKS

Doctor Who: The Television Companion pp.85 - 88
credits, synopsis, review (by David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker)

KEYWORDS

aliens, games, riddles, time travel

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008