Wednesday, 31 July 2024

Growing-Up With The Doctor, Part 1: The Seventies

One abiding childhood memory I
have is of corned-beef butties and
Horlicks. This was my bedtime treat
on Hazel Ward. I had several ENT
operations at St. Helens Hospital,
where one physician in particular
aided my recovery, the Doctor.
Now demolished, the children's
 ward was famous locally for it's
rocking horse, but for me its biggest
draw was the book trolley.
Amongst the battered kids classics
and old annuals, were the well-
thumbed paperback versions of
 fabled Doctor Whstories.
The first Target books I read were
Day of the Daleks and The Cave 
Monsters. I also discovered a copy
 of the wondrous first edition of The 
Making of Doctor Who, where I first
learnt about the Doctor's adventures.
As soon as I joined my local library, I sought out their Target collection,
and quickly devoured every title. I even recall finding a hardback copy
of The Zarbi with Tom Baker on the cover!

My early favourites were such exotic, distant wonders like The
CybermenThe Abominable Snowmen, The Crusaders and The
Daleks, with it's bizarre alternative premise to the series (set on
Barnes Common, and bypassing the events of that first monu-
mental television story. I'd finally get to watch An Unearthly Child
in 1981).
I bought my first Target novel, The Visitation in 1982, and this marks
the beginning of my obsession with this TV legend. This library of 156
titles was my introduction to the worlds of Doctor Who, and for me,
was one  of the most important aspects of growing-up in the 1970's.

Doctor Who On This Day #212

1970 The Moonbase, Episode 4 and The Macra
Terror, Episode 2 both repeated on TV1; The Evil of
the Daleks, Episode 5 repeated and Episode 7 first
screened, both on TV1; The Mind Robber, Episode 5
repeated on ABC; and The Invasion, Episodes 1, 3
 and 4 repeated, and Episode 5 first screened, all on
ABC
1975 Dr. Who and the Daleks screened on Ten
1977 The Time Warrior, Part 4, Death to the
Daleks, Parts 1 and 4, The Monster of Peladon,
 Part 1 and Genesis of the Daleks, Part 3 all
repeated on ABC
1978 - The Monster of Peladon, Part 2 and Genesis
of the Daleks, Parts 1 and 3 all repeated on ABC
1979 - The Monster of Peladon, Part 6 and Planet
of the Spiders, Parts 1 and 3 all repeated on ABC
1980 Terror of the Zygons, Part 1 repeated
on WTTW 11; and The Power of Kroll, Part
4 and The Armageddon Factor, Part 2 both
repeated on ABC
1981 - Horror of Fang Rock, Part 3 repeated
on KQED Plus
1982 RobotPart 1 repeated on KQED Plus
1984 The Power of Kroll, Part 4 repeated
on KQED Plus
1985 Frontier in Space, Episode 5 repeated
on KQED Plus
1986 - Warriors of the Deep, Part 2 repeated
on KQED Plus
1987 - The Three Doctors, Episode 3 repeated
on KQED Plus
1988 - The Rescue Omnibus repeated
on KQED Plus
1989 Death to the Daleks Omnibus repeated
 on WTTW 11; and The Talons of Weng-Chiang,
Part 5 repeated on ABC
1990 Spearhead from Space, Episode 1
repeated on KQED Plus; and The Armageddon
Factor, Part 5 repeated on ABC
1991 The Brain of Morbius, Part 2 repeated
on TV de Galicia; and Kinda, Part 1 repeated
on KQED Plus
1992 - Death to the Daleks, Part 4
repeated on KQED Plus
1993 - Terror of the Vervoids Omnibus repeated on
KQED Plus; and SurvivalPart 1 repeated on RTL TV
1994 The Keeper of Traken Omnibus
repeated on UK Gold
1995 The Time Warrior, Part 3 repeated
on UK Gold; and Four to Doomsday
Omnibus repeated on KQED Plus
1997 The Seeds of Doom, Part 4 repeated on
UK Gold; and The Hand of FearPart 2 repeated
 on UKTV (Aus)
1998 The War Machines, Episode 3 repeated
on Space; and Ghost Light, Part 3 repeated on
UKTV (Aus)
1999 The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Episode 5: The Waking Ally 
repeated on Space; The Time Monster, Episodes 2 and 3 both repeated
on Iowa PTV; Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Parts 2 to 6 all repeated on
MPT; Genesis of the Daleks, Part 3 repeated on Colorado PTV and Part 4
repeated on BBC Choice and Colorado PTV; Revenge of the Cybermen,
Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on BBC America; The Brain of Morbius,
Part 4 first screened on Prairie PTV; The Androids of Tara, Part 4
repeated on BBC Prime; and Castrovalva Omnibus repeated on UKTV
2000 The ArkEpisode 1: The Steel Sky repeated on Prime; The Mind 
of Evil, Episode 4 repeated on UKTV (Aus); The Hand of Fear, Parts 1
and 2 both repeated on BBC America; and The Twin Dilemma Omnibus
repeated on KQED Plus
2001 Warriors' GatePart 1 repeated
on UKTV (Aus)
2002 Robot, Part 3 repeated on BBC Kids
(Can); and The Curse of FenricPart 2 repeated
on BBC Prime
2003 Revenge of the Cybermen, Part 3 repeated
on Tele 5; and The Stones of Blood, Parts 3 and 4
both repeated on BBC Kids (Can)
2004 Four to Doomsday Omnibus repeated
on UK Gold
2005 Terror of the Autons Omnibus repeated
on MPT; Planet of Fire, Parts 3 and 4 both
repeated on Iowa PTV; Mindwarp Omnibus
repeated on UK Gold; and The Unquiet Dead
repeated on BBC3
2007 Aliens of London and Doctor Who Confidential:
I Get A Sidekick Out Of You both repeated on BBC3;
World War Three repeated on UKTV  (Aus); and The
Long Game repeated on UK Gold
2008 The Monster of Peladon, Parts
2 and both first screened on MTV3 SciFi
and TV4; and Bad Wolf repeated on UK Gold
2009 The Parting of the Ways and Doctor Who Confidential:
The Last Battle both repeated on BBC3; Rise of the Cybermen
 and The Age of Steel both repeated on France 4; Doomsday
and Doctor Who Confidential: Finale both repeated on
UNC-MX; Human Nature and Doctor Who Confidential:
Alter Ego both repeated on WGVU; and The Fires of
Pompeii repeated on Syfy (US)
2010 The Shakespeare Code and Doctor Who Confidential:
Stage Fright both repeated on WGVU; Gridlock and Daleks in
Manhattan both repeated on AXN SciFi; and Turn Left first
screened on OETA
2011 The Two Doctors, Parts 3 to 6 (of 6), The Mark of the Rani 
Omnibus and TimelashParts 1 and 2 (of 4) all repeated on MTV3
SciFi, TV2 and TV4; Flesh and Stone repeated on Idaho PTV;
Vincent and the Doctor repeated on MPTV; and The Big Bang
repeated on BBC3
2012 The Mysterious Planet, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on Syfy
(Aus); World War Three and The Next Doctor both repeated on UKTV
 (Aus); The Long Game and Flesh and Stone both repeated on Watch;
Planet of the OodTurn Left and The Stolen Earth all repeated on BBC
America; The Time of Angels and Doctor Who Confidential Cutdown: 
Eyes Wide Open both repeated on ABC2; and Greatest Moments: 
The Companions repeated on BBC3
2013 Aliens of London repeated on France 4; The Age of Steel 
repeated on ABC2; Love & Monsters repeated on RAI4; 42 repeated
on Watch; The Family of Blood repeated on BBC Entertainment
LA; Victory of the Daleks repeated on Syfy (Port); The Hungry 
Earth first screened on Karusel; The Pandorica Opens repeated on
 BBC Entertainment LA HD and Syfy (Ben); The Big Bang repeated
on BBC Entertainment LA HD; The Impossible Astronaut
repeated on Syfy (Spa); and The Name of the Doctor first
screened on Fox (FRG)
2014 100,000 BC, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on Horror; The Robots 
of Death, Part 3 and The Impossible Planet both repeated on Syfy (Aus);
The Age of Steel repeated on YLE TV2; Utopia repeated on Watch; Forest 
of the Dead repeated on RAI4; The Stolen Earth and Journey's End both
repeated on TV3 (Spa); The End of Time, Part 2 repeated on BBC
Entertainment LA HD; The Time of Angels repeated on Karusel;
The Vampires of Venice and Amy's Choice both repeated on BBC
America; The Hungry Earth repeated on BBC America and KCPT2;
The Lodger repeated on Syfy (Port); The Impossible Astronaut
repeated on BBC Entertainment RSA; and Journey to the
Centre of the TARDIS repeated on Syfy (Spa)
2015 The Sensorites, Episode 7: A Desperate Venture and Planet 
of GiantsEpisode 1 both repeated on Retro TV; Terror of the Autons 
Omnibus repeated on UNC-MX; The Sun MakersParts 1 and 2 both 
repeated on Horror; The Age of Steel repeated on Disney XD (US); The 
Shakespeare Code repeated on Watch; Voyage of the Damned repeated
on FX (Ind); The Waters of Mars repeated on KCPT2; The Eleventh 
Hour, The Lodger, The Pandorica OpensThe Big Bang and A Christmas Carol all repeated on Syfy (Aus); The Time of Angels repeated on KLRU;
 The Impossible AstronautThe Angels Take Manhattan and Hide all
repeated on BBC Nordic HD and BBC Polska HD; The God Complex 
repeated on TV Cultura; Dinosaurs on a Spaceship repeated on BBC
America, BBC Nordic HD, BBC Polska HD and ABC2; A Town Called 
Mercy repeated on BBC America; The Bells of Saint John repeated on 
Prime; Nightmare in Silver and Doctor Who Confidential: About a Boy 
both repeated on BBC Entertainment AP; and The Timey Wimey
Stuff of Doctor Who and The Destinations of Doctor Who both
 repeated on UKTV (NZ)
2016 InfernoEpisodes 6 and 7 both repeated on MPTV; Colony in 
SpaceEpisodes 1 and 2 both repeated on WVPB and Episode 6 repeated
 on Retro TV; The Daemons, Episodes 1 to 3 all repeated on Retro TV; 
The Ark in Space Omnibus repeated on WILL and Iowa PTV; The Sontaran 
Experiment Omnibus repeated on Iowa PTV; Revenge of the Cybermen 
Omnibus repeated on WXXI; The Android Invasion Omnibus repeated on 
KERA; The Masque of MandragoraPart 3 repeated on KRWG; The Deadly 
Assassin Omnibus repeated on WFWA; The Robots of Death Omnibus 
repeated on WSRE; The Talons of Weng-Chiang Omnibus repeated on 
WYCC; Horror of Fang Rock, Part 4 repeated on KPTS; City of Death 
Omnibus repeated on Idaho PTV; Battlefield, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated
on KBTC; The Idiot's Lantern repeated on KNCT; Human Nature, The amily of Blood, BlinkUtopia and Last of the Time Lords all repeated on
EBRU; The Sound of Drums repeated on EBRU and KCPT; Flesh and Stone repeated on BBC Entertainment AP; The Big Bang
Christmas Carol and Doctor Who Explained all repeated on AXN 
Mystery; The Angels Take Manhattan, The Bells of Saint John, The 
Rings of Akhaten and Cold War all repeated on Watch; Hide and Time Heist both repeated on Syfy (Aus); and Under the Lake and Before the Flood both repeated on BBC First (ME)
2017 - The SiluriansEpisode 4 repeated on Jones! too!; Inferno
Episodes 3 and 4 and Resurrection of the Daleks, Parts 3 and 4 
(of 4) all repeated on Retro TV; Timelash Omnibus repeated on
WETA-UK; Human Nature repeated on Syfy (Aus); Victory of the
DaleksThe Time of AngelsFlesh and StoneThe Vampires of
VeniceAmy's Choice and The Hungry Earth all repeated on BBC
America; The Time of the Doctor and Deep Breath both repeate
on RAI4; The Girl Who Died, World Enough and Time and The 
Doctor Falls all repeated on Syfy (LA); and The Husbands
of River Song repeated on BBC Polska HD
2018 The Green Death, Episodes 2 and 3 both repeated
 on Retro TV; The Doctor's DaughterThe Unicorn and the 
WaspSilence in the Library and Forest of the Dead all
repeated on One ARD; Planet of the Dead repeated on BBC
 Polska HD; Dinosaurs on a Spaceship repeated on Sky 5; 
and The Doctor Falls repeated on Star World Premiere
2019 The Face of EvilParts 1 and 2 
 
both repeated on
Retro 
 TV; and Mummy on the Orient Express repeated
 on BBC Polska HD
2020 The Armageddon Factor, Parts 4 and 5 both
repeated on Retro TV; Victory of the Daleks repeated
on BBC Polska HD; The God Complex repeated on
NRJ12; and The Time of the Doctor repeated on BBC
Fiirst Turkey
2021 Time HeistThe Caretaker and
Flatline all repeated on BBC Polska HD
2022 - The DominatorsEpisode 5 and
The Mind Robber, Episode 1 both
repeated on KBTC; and The Impossible
Astronaut and Day of the Moon both
repeated on Fox SciFi
2023 Under the Lake and Before the
Flood both repeated on Fox SciFi
2024 Partners in Crime repeated
on ABC Family and ABC Entertains