Tuesday, 3 February 2026

Doctor Who Vs. Dorothy L Sayers Mystery: Gaudy Night

The last television adaptations
of the crime novels of Dorothy
L Sayers (1893-1957) were
originally shown on BBC1 in
1987, and starred Edward
Petherbridge and Harriet Walter
 as Wimsey and Harriet Vane.
The actor returned as Wimsey
for the Busman's Honeymoon
stageplay in 1988.
The ten-part series (entitled
Lord Peter Wimsey in America)
followed the Corporation's two
live TV versions of Busman's
Honeymoon (in 1947 and 1957),
whilst Ian Carmichael portrayed Wimsey concurrently on TV (between
1972 and 1975) and radio (from 1973 to 1983), then reprised Wimsey
for BBC Audio's iteration of Gaudy Night in 2005.
This mystery (based on Sayers' tenth Wimsey novel, published in 1935)
featured Caroline JohnRichard Morant, and fifteen Doctor Who cast
and crew connections:
  • Clare Clifford (Graduate) was Professor Kyle in Earthshock
  • Charmian [Rosemary] May (Miss Hillyard) was Barbara Taploe in The Devil of Winterborne, and Margaret Wyndham in Ghosts of Winterborne
  • make-up designer Jennifer Hughes was an artist on Warriors of the Deep
  • Jennie Osborn was production manager on Enlightenment too
  • John Brace was also VFX designer on Full CircleThe Five Doctors and Revelation of the Daleks
  • Bill Wild was the film editor on Arc of Infinity too
  • Elmer Cossey was also film cameraman on (episode 5 of) Planet of the DaleksGenesis of the DaleksRevenge of the CybermenImage of the Fendahl and The Pirate Planet
  • Geraldine Stephenson was choreographer on The Brain of Morbius too
  • Jane Wellesley was also production assistant on City of Death, State of DecayTerror of the VervoidsThe Ultimate FoeThe Happiness Patrol and Silver Nemesis 
  • for Alan Machin, Clive Thomas, Shirley Coward, Bob Warman and Robin Lobb see Strong Poison
  • for John Mooney see Have His Carcase

Doctor Who On This Day #34

1968 - The Web of Fear, Episode
1 first screened on BBC1
1973 - Carnival of Monsters, Episode
 2 first screened on BBC1
1975 - Director Mat King born in Adelaide; and
The Claws of AxosEpisode 2 repeated on ABC
1976 - The Silurians, Episodes 1 to
4 all first screened on WTTW 11
1979 - The Armageddon Factor, Part
3 first screened on BBC1
1982 - The Seeds of Doom, Part 5 repeated on KQED Plus;
and Four to Doomsday, Part 2 first screened on BBC Cymru
1983 - The Armageddon Factor, Part 3 and Four
to Doomsday Omnibus both repeated on KQED Plus
1984 - Terminus, Part 1 repeated on KQED
Plus; and FrontiosPart 4 first screened on
BBC1
1985 Robot Omnibus repeated
on KQED Plus
1986 - The Mind Robber, Episode 3 repeated
 on ABC; and Meglos Omnibus repeated on
WTTW 11
1987 The Chase, Episode 3: Flight Through
Eternity repeated on KQED Plus; and Revenge
of the Cybermen, Part 1 repeated on TV1
1988 The Sun Makers, Part 2 repeated on KQED
Plus; and The Power of KrollPart 4 repeated on TV2
1989 The Daemons, Episode 4 repeated on KQED Plus
1990 The Sun Makers Omnibus repeated on WTTW
11; and The Visitation, Part 2 repeated on KQED Plus
1993 The War Games, Episode 2 repeated on UK Gold
1994 The Invisible Enemy, Part 2 repeated on UK
Gold; and Planet of FirePart 4 repeated on ABC
1995 The Five Doctors, Part 2 (of 3) first
screened on VOX (FRG); and Mindwarp, Part
6 repeated on UK Gold
1996 - The Ghosts of N-Space,
Episode 3 first broadcast on Radio 2
1997 The Daemons, Episode 1 repeated on UKTV
 (Aus); The Curse of Peladon Omnibus repeated on KQED
Plus; and The Mutants Omnibus repeated on UK Gold
1998 The Tomb of the Cybermen, Episode
1 first screened on Space; and Four to
Doomsday, Part 4 repeated on UKTV (Aus)
1999 The Tomb of the Cybermen, Episode 1 repeated on
Space; and Planet of Fire, Part 4 repeated on UKTV (Aus)
2000 - The Keys of Marinus, Episode 3: The Screaming Jungle 
repeated on UKTV (Aus); The Krotons, Episode 4 repeated on 
Space; and The Claws of Axos, Episode 2 first screened on TG4
2001 Planet of Evil Omnibus repeated on
UKTV (Aus); The Stones of Blood, Part 4 first
screened on Prairie PTV; Nightmare of Eden,
 Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on Colorado
PTV and Parts and 4 both repeated on
Iowa PTV; and Time FlightPart 2 repeated
on BBC Prime
2002 Planet of the Daleks Omnibus repeated
 on MPT; RobotPart repeated on Lakeland
PTV; Genesis of the DaleksParts 5 and 6 both
repeated on MiND; The Robots of DeathPart 2 repeated on 
WILL; The Pirate Planet, Part 1 repeated on KUED; The Horns of 
Nimon, Part 2 repeated on Twin Cities PTV; Warriors' Gate, Parts
and 3 both repeated on WCET; Kinda, Part 1 repeated on WQED 
and KBTC and Part 2 repeated on KBTC; The Visitation, Parts 1 and
 2 both repeated on NHPTV; Mawdryn Undead, Parts 1 and 2 both 
repeated on Colorado PTV; FrontiosParts and 4 both repeated
 on Iowa PTV; and Survival Omnibus repeated on UK Gold
2003 The Talons of Weng-Chiang
Omnibus repeated on BBC Kids (Can)
2004 - The War Machines, Episode 4 repeated
on ABC; and The Robots of Death, Parts 3 and
both repeated on BBC Kids
2005 The Face of Evil, Part 4
repeated on ABC
2006 - Survival, Parts 2 and 3 both repeated on ABC;
Aliens of London and World War Three both first
screened on Yes Action; and The Parting of the
Ways first screened on Jimmy
2007 The Unquiet Dead repeated on één;
The Empty Child repeated on BBC America; and
Rise of the Cybermen repeated on UK Gold and
Jimmy
2008 - Rose repeated on MTP, WTVP and
NHPTV; The Unquiet Dead repeated on
Houston PM and WXXI; World War Three
and Doctor Who Confidential: Why on
Earth? both repeated on WGVU and KERA;
Father's Day repeated on Idaho PTV and KQED Plus; The Empty
Child repeated on WEDU; The Doctor Dances repeated on S
Dakota PB; The Sound of Drums and Last of the Time Lords both
repeated on KBS2; Doctor Who Confidential: Bringing Back the
Doctor repeated on MPT and NHPTV; Doctor Who Confidential:
Time Trouble repeated on KQED Plus; and Doctor Who
Confidential: Special Effects repeated on WEDU
2009 The Mark of the Rani, Parts 3 and 4 (of 4) both repeated 
on MTV3 SciFi and TV4; Dalek and Doctor Who Confidential 
Cutdown: The Daleks both repeated on UKTV (Aus); New Earth 
and Doctor Who Confidential: New New Doctor both repeated 
on ABC1; Tooth and Claw and Doctor Who Confidential: Fear 
Factor both repeated on BBC3; and The Stolen Earth and 
Journey's End both first screened on France 4
2010 World War Three repeated on Syfy (Spa); The Parting
 of the Ways repeated on Syfy (FRG); The Christmas Invasion
repeated on Syfy (Rus); and Fear Her and Doctor Who
Confidential: The Fright Stuff both repeated on BBC3
2011 - The Ark in Space, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on
MTV3 SciFi, TV2 and TV4; The Girl in the Fireplace and Rise 
of the Cybermen both repeated on Syfy (FRG); Daleks in 
Manhattan repeated on Space; Turn Left repeated on Syfy 
(Ben); and Journey's End repeated on UKTV (Aus)
2012 The Empty Child repeated on BBC
America; Fear Her repeated on BBC Enter-
tainment Ind and ABC2; School Reunion and
The Girl in the Fireplace both repeated on
BBC3; 42 repeated on Watch; and Doctor
Who Confidential Cutdown: Space Craft 
repeated on UKTV (Aus)
2013 The Tomb of the Cybermen Omnibus
repeated on UKTV; The Ark in Space, Parts 3
and 4 both repeated on KBTC; The Satan Pit
repeated on UKTV (NZ); Cold Blood and Vincent and the Doctor 
both repeated on Fox (FRG); The Rebel Flesh and Doctor Who
Confidential: Double Trouble both repeated on MPTV; The 
Girl Who Waited first screened on WPT; The Wedding of 
River Song and Doctor Who Confidential: When Time Froze 
both repeated on Iowa PTV; and The Destinations of Doctor 
Who repeated on BBC America
2014 The Masque of Mandragora, Parts 1 and 2 and The King's 
Demons Omnibus all repeated on Syfy (Aus); The Shakespeare 
Code repeated on TV3 (Spa); The Lazarus Experiment repeated 
on France 4; Planet of the Ood, The Sontaran Stratagem, The 
Poison Sky and Planet of the Dead all repeated on Syfy (Port);
The Hungry Earth repeated on Watch; The Doctor's Wife repeated 
on UKTV (NZ); The Rebel Flesh and The Almost People repeated 
on DR3; Let's Kill Hitler and Night Terrors both repeated on BBC
 America; The Crimson Horror repeated on WPT; The Snowmen 
repeated on Ztélé; and The Name of the Doctor repeated on BBC
 Entertainment LA
2015 - The Ark in Space, Parts 2 and 3 both repeated on Horror; 
The Talons of Weng-ChiangPart 5, The Idiot's Lantern and 
Christmas Carol all repeated on Syfy (Aus); Horror of Fang Rock
Parts 3 and 4 both first screened on Retro TV; Aliens of London 
repeated on KCPT2; The Stolen Earth and Journey's End both 
repeated on BBC America; The Power of Three repeated on
Watch; Cold War and Doctor Who Confidential: The Born
 Identity both repeated on BBC Entertainment AP; and 
The Day of the Doctor repeated on UKTV (NZ) 
2016 The Stones of Blood, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on Retro 
TV; The Mark of the Rani, Parts 1 and 2 (of 4) both repeated on 
Horror; Dalek repeated on France 4; Human Nature and The Family
 of Blood both repeated on BBC America; The Big Bang repeated on
 BBC Polska HD; The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe repeated 
on Syfy (Aus); Hide repeated on TV Cultura; Deep Breath repeated
on KLRU; Listen repeated on WGVU; and Kill the Moon repeated
on BBC Entertainment AP
2017 The Ark, Episode 2The Plague
repeated on The Zone; The Leisure Hive,
Part 4 and Full Circle, Part 1 both repeated
on Retro TV; Bad Wolf repeated on FX (Ind);
The Poison Sky, Closing Time, 
The Wedding of River Song, The Doctor, the Widow and the 
Wardrobe, Asylum of the Daleks and Dinosaurs on a Spaceship 
all repeated on Syfy (Aus); Into the Dalek and Robot of Sherwood 
both repeated on France 4; The Almost People, A Good Man Goes 
to War and Behind the Lens: The Day of the Doctor all repeated
on BBC Polska HD; Mummy on the Orient Express repeated on
KLRU; Before the Flood repeated on BBC Entertainment EU;
Hell Bent repeated on Syfy (Bra); The Husbands of River Song
repeated on Syfy (Bra); and ClassEpisode 3 first screened on 
Prime
2018 The Sun Makers, Parts 2 and 3 and Planet of FireParts
 1 and 2 all repeated on Retro TV; Smith and Jones and The 
Shakespeare Code both repeated on Star World Premiere; The 
GirWho Waited, The God ComplexClosing Time, The Wedding
 of River Song and The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe all
repeated on BBC Polska HD; Before the FloodThe Zygon
Inversion, Sleep No More and Face the Raven all repeated on
Syfy (Aus); The Pilot, Smile, Thin Ice and Knock Knock all 
repeated on Fox (FRG); Oxygen repeated on Fox and Syfy
 (LA); Extremis repeated on Syfy (LA); Empress of Mars and
The Eaters of Light both repeated on RAI4; The Wrath of the
 Iceni repeated on Radio 4 Extra; and Daleks' Invasion Earth
2150 AD screened on Gem
2019 - The Daleks, Episodes 3 and 4 both repeated on Retro
 TV; Pyramids of Mars Omnibus repeated on WSRE; The Brain
of MorbiusParts 3 and 4 both repeated on KBTC; The Masque
 of Mandragora Omnibus repeated on MPTV; MeglosPart 4
repeated on KPTS; Four to Doomsday Omnibus repeated on
Idaho PTV; The Stolen EarthJourney's EndThe Eleventh
HourThe Beast BelowVictory of the Daleks and The Time of
Angels all repeated on W; The Impossible Astronaut, The Bells
 of Saint John and The Rings of Akhaten all repeated on BBC
 Polska HD; Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and A Town Called Mercy 
both repeated on One ARD; The Woman Who Fell to Earth 
repeated on Fox (FRG); Arachnids in the UK and The Tsuranga 
Conundrum both first screened on RAI4; and The Witchfinders,
It Takes You Away and The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos
repeated and Resolution first screened, all on France 4
2020 - The Time Meddler, Episodes 3 and 
4 both repeated on Retro TV; A Good Man
Goes to War repeated on Syfy (Fra); Smile
repeated on Fox (FRG); and Praxeus first
screened on BBC America and CTV SciFi
2021 Terror of the Autons, Episodes 3
and 4 both repeated on Retro TV; Love &
Monsters repeated on ABC2; Cold Blood
repeated on Syfy (Fra); and A Town
Called Mercy repeated on BBC Polska HD
2022 The Pirate Planet, Parts 1 and 
2 both repeated on Retro TV; Flesh and
Stone and The Vampires of Venice both
repeated on One ARD; Arachnids in the
UK repeated on ABC2; and The Timeless
Children repeated on NRJ12
2023 The Lodger repeated on Fox SciFi;
and Asylum of the Doctor repeated on ABC
Family
2024 Revenge of the Cybermen, Parts
and 2 both repeated on KBTC
2025 The Unquiet Dead repeated on
 ABC Entertains