The cancellation of Doctor Who in 1989 left a void in the hearts of many fans, but it also ignited a persistent question: what would season 27 have been like? Following companion pieces reviewing Doctor Who seasons 24 and 26, and an exploration of the show’s late ’80s resurgence, this article delves into the intriguing “what if” scenario of a season that never materialized. Contrary to the BBC’s narrative of a show that had run its course, evidence suggests Doctor Who was experiencing a renewed wave of popularity, making its abrupt cancellation a potentially significant misstep. This exploration examines the missed opportunity of season 27 doctor who, considering the factors that pointed towards a brighter future for the series and what elements might have shaped this lost season.
The Seventh Doctor and Ace in a promotional image evoking the atmosphere of Doctor Who's potential Season 27, which was ultimately never produced.
The Rising Tide of Doctor Who’s Popularity in the Late 80s
For years, the prevailing narrative from the BBC has suggested that Doctor Who was creatively exhausted by the late 1980s, necessitating its hiatus. This perspective conveniently overlooks the burgeoning popularity the show was experiencing at the time, a resurgence that made the cancellation all the more perplexing to many observers. While the triumphant return of Doctor Who in 2005 is often attributed to nostalgia and absence making the heart grow fonder, this explanation downplays the genuine momentum the classic series had regained towards the end of its original run. Even the 1996 TV Movie, often cited as a failure leading to the series’ continued absence, achieved respectable ratings in the UK, only faltering due to complex contractual issues and underperformance in the US market. This begs the question: could a well-supported season 27 doctor who in 1990 have sustained and amplified this renewed interest?
Blu-ray Success and Fan Fondness
The enduring appeal of the Seventh Doctor era is undeniable, highlighted by the surprising success of the Season 24 Blu-ray release. Even acknowledging that Season 24 is often considered the weakest of Sylvester McCoy’s tenure, its popularity on Blu-ray demonstrates a significant and enduring fanbase for this period of Doctor Who. For those who grew up with the Seventh Doctor and Ace, their adventures left a lasting mark. Many consider the pairing of Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor and Sophie Aldred’s Ace to be comparable to iconic duos like the Third Doctor and Jo Grant or the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith. Although Sophie Aldred had intended to depart after a hypothetical season 27 doctor who, the prospect of further stories with this dynamic duo was undoubtedly appealing and would have been met with enthusiasm. Sylvester McCoy’s portrayal of the Doctor, while initially divisive, had matured into a compelling and nuanced performance that held the potential to rival the popularity of Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor, given more time and opportunity.
Merchandise Boom – A Sign of Revival
One tangible indicator of Doctor Who‘s rising popularity in the late 1980s was the resurgence of merchandise. For those familiar with the modern era of Doctor Who, where merchandise is abundant, it may seem unusual to consider product availability as a barometer of success. However, in the context of classic Doctor Who, the appearance of new merchandise was a significant sign. During the 1970s, the show enjoyed a steady flow of merchandise, but this dwindled during the Sixth Doctor’s era, with limited product lines primarily connected to Doctor Who Magazine or Target Books. Doctor Who seemed to be losing its marketability.
However, the arrival of the Seventh Doctor coincided with a noticeable uptick in merchandise activity. Dapol, a toy company known for model trains, began producing a range of 5” action figures based on the current series, featuring the Seventh Doctor, Mel, and a Tetrap. While arguably late to the action figure boom, this represented a significant vote of confidence in the series after years of merchandising stagnation. Furthermore, the novelty pop single Doctorin’ the TARDIS by The Timelords (musicians KLM in disguise), a Doctor Who themed track, unexpectedly soared to number one in the charts. The Timelords even performed on Top of the Pops with a homemade Dalek, demonstrating the widespread public recognition and affection for Doctor Who. While other novelty records based on franchises like Star Trek and Thunderbirds existed, none achieved the same level of mainstream success and cultural impact as Doctorin’ the TARDIS. The Battle for the Universe board game and other merchandise further contributed to the sense that Doctor Who was regaining its cultural relevance and commercial appeal, a resurgence that, inexplicably, seemed to go largely unnoticed by the BBC itself.
BBC’s Missed Opportunity – Branding and Commercial Potential
In contemporary broadcasting, the BBC is acutely aware of the importance of branding and merchandising, particularly for a flagship series like Doctor Who. Merchandise serves as valuable free promotion, with consumers effectively paying to advertise the show. However, the BBC of the 1980s operated under a different ethos. BBC Enterprises, established in 1979, was less commercially driven than its modern counterpart, BBC Worldwide. BBC Books famously rejected Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which subsequently became an international bestseller for Pan Books. Similarly, BBC Records and Tapes functioned more as a public service, releasing niche products like BBC Sound Effects LPs with questionable commercial viability. In terms of exploiting the commercial potential of Doctor Who in the late 80s, the BBC appears to have missed a significant opportunity. As Doctor Who gathered momentum, a modest investment and proactive support could have amplified its resurgence, but instead, the BBC allowed it to simply “run its course.”
By the time of the 1996 TV Movie, BBC Enterprises had evolved into the more commercially aggressive BBC Worldwide. Doctor Who had become a significant success on VHS, but this revenue stream was finite. BBC Worldwide recognized the enduring commercial value of Doctor Who and aggressively pursued DVD releases and in-house book publishing, sidelining Virgin Books’ New Adventures range. They maximized the merchandising opportunities surrounding the TV Movie, even extending the 1996 logo branding to the classic series range. However, the failure of the Universal deal to produce a full series of Eighth Doctor adventures must have been a considerable disappointment. While the BBC retained UK merchandising rights, which proved lucrative, the potential for significantly greater financial returns from a continuing Eighth Doctor series was undeniable.
What We Know About the Unmade Season 27
The cancellation of Doctor Who in 1989 raises the tantalizing question: what would season 27 doctor who have looked like? Fortunately, insights into the planned direction of the series exist, primarily through script editor Andrew Cartmel’s numerous discussions about his vision for the Seventh Doctor’s future. Additionally, Big Finish Productions has adapted four “lost stories” from this era into audio dramas – Thin Ice, Crime of the Century, Animal, and Earth Aid – offering further glimpses into potential storylines. Concepts developed for the webcast Death Comes to Time also draw from Cartmel’s era.
Sylvester McCoy’s Fourth Season Offer and Cancellation Timing
Sylvester McCoy himself has revealed that he was offered a fourth season, intended to restore the show to a 24-episode run. This suggests that some within the BBC recognized Doctor Who‘s potential for renewed success. The fact that McCoy was called back to record the poignant “somewhere the tea’s getting cold” dialogue after principal production had concluded implies that the cancellation decision was made relatively late in the process. The fate of Doctor Who appears to have hung in the balance, with a genuine possibility of continuation, but ultimately, a decision was made at a higher level to bring the series to an end.
Andrew Cartmel’s Plans and Big Finish “Lost Stories”
Andrew Cartmel’s vision for season 27 doctor who involved a deeper exploration of the Doctor’s character and mythology, hinting at a grander, overarching narrative. The Big Finish adaptations of the “lost stories,” while extrapolated from outlines, provide a flavor of the intended tone and themes. These stories often feature darker, more complex narratives than some of the televised episodes of the era, reflecting Cartmel’s desire to elevate the series’ storytelling. While these adaptations shouldn’t be considered definitive representations of what season 27 doctor who would have been, they offer valuable insights into the creative direction being considered.
New Companion Raine Creevey and Ace’s Departure
Sophie Aldred had planned to leave her role as Ace during season 27 doctor who, paving the way for a new companion named Raine Creevey. Raine was conceived as an upper-class cat burglar, and actress Julia Sawalha was reportedly considered for the role. Various scenarios were considered for Ace’s departure, including the possibility of her becoming a Time Lord, suggesting a long-term plan to develop her character’s arc and potentially elevate her status within Doctor Who lore. The introduction of Raine Creevey would have brought a fresh dynamic to the TARDIS crew and opened up new storytelling possibilities.
The Seventh Doctor’s Regeneration and Potential Eighth Doctor
Season 27 doctor who was also intended to culminate in the Seventh Doctor’s regeneration, as Sylvester McCoy had confirmed his intention to leave after a fourth season. Speculation abounds regarding who might have succeeded him as the Eighth Doctor. Paul McGann, then gaining prominence after Withnail & I, was likely beyond the BBC’s budget at the time, particularly without external funding. Producer John Nathan-Turner reportedly favored Richard Griffiths for the role. Griffiths, known for his distinguished acting career, would have presented a dramatically different Doctor. His physique might have necessitated a shift in the Doctor’s characterization, potentially towards a more cerebral and less physically active portrayal, perhaps echoing the dynamic of the First Doctor era with a younger, more action-oriented companion. The casting of a new Doctor would have generated significant media attention and could have further fueled the show’s resurgence, carrying its momentum into the 1990s.
A Missed Opportunity or a Necessary Hiatus?
The cancellation of Doctor Who in 1989 undoubtedly represents a missed opportunity to capitalize on the show’s growing popularity and explore the potential of season 27 doctor who. In the modern television landscape, a series facing a similar situation would likely be “rested” for a season or two before being relaunched, bigger and better. However, the BBC’s decision-making in the late 1980s was perhaps influenced by the negative reaction to the previous hiatus in the mid-1980s. The backlash from fans at that time might have led the BBC to believe that outright cancellation was a less contentious option than another period of uncertainty. Ironically, fan criticism in the late 1980s, lamenting the show’s perceived decline after its return from hiatus, may have inadvertently contributed to the decision to cancel it altogether.
The Argument for Season 27 Continuing
The evidence strongly suggests that Doctor Who was not a spent force in 1989. Public interest was demonstrably increasing, merchandise sales were up, and there was a clear creative vision for the future. Season 27 doctor who could have built upon this foundation, potentially leading to a sustained period of success throughout the 1990s. Financially, a “live” series would have generated significantly more revenue than the limited returns from archive releases during the “wilderness years.”
The Counter Argument – The Benefit of the 2005 Revival
However, hindsight offers a different perspective. It’s conceivable that Doctor Who‘s cancellation, while seemingly a mistake at the time, ultimately paved the way for its triumphant return in 2005. Had the series continued uninterrupted into the 1990s, it might have eventually declined in popularity later in the decade, potentially without the same resurgence in the 21st century. The absence of Doctor Who for over a decade undoubtedly contributed to the immense anticipation and success of its revival. Alternatively, without the “wilderness years,” Doctor Who might have been picked up by streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime a decade earlier, potentially leading to a complete reboot and a different trajectory for the franchise.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the cancellation of Doctor Who in 1989 and the absence of season 27 doctor who remain a subject of enduring fascination and speculation. While the decision was arguably a missed opportunity to sustain the show’s late 80s resurgence, it also inadvertently created the conditions for its spectacular revival in 2005. Whether a continuous run would have been preferable to the eventual reboot is a matter of personal opinion and endless debate among Doctor Who fans. The legacy of season 27 doctor who lies not in what it was, but in what it could have been, a tantalizing “what if” that continues to captivate and intrigue fans decades later.
