Yes, this is finally it - the fourth and final part of this survey epic.
Part Three was meant to be the end (see TSV Special 1), but the typist
never finished the job. I actually submitted both parts back in about July
last year! If you think that's a long time ago, consider that the survey
forms were posted out in August 1989! Enough musing, on with the results...
Supporting Characters
|
BEST |
% |
|
WORST |
% |
|
COMBINED |
% |
| 1 |
Richard Mace |
10.5 |
1 |
Lon |
11.5 |
1 |
Richard Mace |
6.31 |
| 2 |
Stien |
6.2 |
2 |
Chela |
6.3 |
2 |
Stien |
4.29 |
| 3 |
Marriner |
5.3 |
3 |
Plantagenet |
4.6 |
3 |
Marriner |
3.72 |
| 4 |
Dr Todd |
5.0 |
|
Mergrave |
4.6 |
4 |
Will Chandler |
3.48 |
|
Lt Scott |
5.0 |
5 |
Olvir |
4.0 |
5 |
Salateen |
3.32 |
| 6 |
Salateen |
4.6 |
|
Capt Stapley |
4.0 |
6 |
Dr Todd |
3.16 |
| 7 |
Will Chandler |
4.5 |
|
Capt Briggs |
4.0 |
7 |
Lt Scott |
3.07 |
| 8 |
Borusa |
3.9 |
|
Dr Todd |
4.0 |
8 |
Flavia |
3.00 |
| 9 |
Capt Briggs |
3.8 |
|
Bigon |
4.0 |
9 |
Norna |
2.91 |
| 10 |
Flavia |
3.6 |
10 |
Valgard |
3.4 |
10 |
Borusa |
2.83 |
| 11 |
Norna |
3.3 |
|
Bilton |
3.4 |
11 |
Capt Briggs |
2.59 |
| 12 |
Capt Stapley |
2.9 |
|
Robin Stuart |
3.4 |
|
Shardovan |
2.59 |
|
Capt Striker |
2.9 |
13 |
Sanders |
2.9 |
13 |
Chellak |
2.51 |
| 14 |
Shardovan |
2.6 |
|
Dojjen |
2.9 |
14 |
Vorshak |
2.43 |
| 15 |
Chellak |
2.4 |
|
Styles |
2.9 |
15 |
Capt Striker |
2.35 |
| 16 |
Vorshak |
2.2 |
|
Panna |
2.9 |
16 |
Capt Stapley |
2.18 |
|
Brazen |
2.2 |
|
Borusa |
2.9 |
|
Brazen |
2.18 |
| 18 |
Plantagenet |
2.1 |
|
Striker |
2.9 |
18 |
Colonel Archer |
2.10 |
|
Bigon |
2.1 |
|
Hedin |
2.9 |
19 |
Lady Cranleigh |
1.94 |
|
Hedin |
2.1 |
20 |
Damon |
2.3 |
|
Hedin |
1.94 |
| 21 |
Dojjen |
1.8 |
|
Kari |
2.3 |
21 |
Howard Foster |
1.94 |
| 22 |
Sanders |
1.5 |
|
Preston |
2.3 |
22 |
Dojjen |
1.86 |
|
Colonel Archer |
1.5 |
23 |
Salateen |
1.7 |
23 |
Bigon |
1.78 |
| 24 |
Kari |
1.4 |
|
Ranulf Fitzwilliam |
1.7 |
|
Malkon |
1.78 |
|
Howard Foster |
1.4 |
|
Lord Cranleigh |
1.7 |
25 |
Hindle |
1.70 |
| 26 |
Timanov |
1.3 |
|
Timanov |
1.7 |
|
Sanders |
1.70 |
| 27 |
Mergrave |
1.2 |
|
Brazen |
1.7 |
|
Sir Robert Muir |
1.70 |
|
Panna |
1.2 |
|
Lt Scott |
1.7 |
|
Castellan |
1.70 |
|
Lady Cranleigh |
1.2 |
29 |
Ben Wolsey |
1.2 |
|
Kari |
1.70 |
| 30 |
Robin Stuart |
1.0 |
|
Andrew Verney |
1.2 |
|
Plantagenet |
1.70 |
|
Preston |
1.0 |
|
Marriner |
1.2 |
|
Ranulf Fitzwilliam |
1.70 |
| 32 |
Malkon |
0.9 |
32 |
Bulic |
0.6 |
32 |
Timanov |
1.62 |
| 33 |
Styles |
0.9 |
|
Flavia |
0.6 |
33 |
Panna |
1.54 |
| 34 |
Bilton |
0.9 |
|
Howard Foster |
0.6 |
|
Preston |
1.54 |
|
Sir Robert Muir |
0.7 |
|
|
|
35 |
Timmin |
1.46 |
|
Damon |
0.7 |
|
|
|
36 |
Lord Cranleigh |
1.38 |
|
Lon |
0.7 |
|
|
|
|
Robin Stuart |
1.38 |
|
Olvir |
0.7 |
|
|
|
|
Damon |
1.38 |
|
Range |
0.7 |
|
|
|
|
Styles |
1.38 |
|
Castellan |
0.7 |
|
|
|
40 |
Mergrave |
1.29 |
|
Hindle |
0.7 |
|
|
|
|
Bilton |
1.29 |
| 42 |
Lord Cranleigh |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
Bulic |
1.29 |
| 43 |
Timmin |
0.2 |
|
|
|
43 |
Andrew Verney |
1.21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ben Wolsey |
1.21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
45 |
Olvir |
1.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Range |
1.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
47 |
Valgard |
1.05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
48 |
Chela |
0.49 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
49 |
Lon |
0.08 |
It was evidently a mistake to include a category that allows readers
to vote for any supporting character, as there is little that can be concluded
from the results. Richard Mace (played by Michael Robbins), from The
Visitation is however clearly the most popular, followed some way behind
by Resurrection of the Daleks' Stien (Rodney Bewes). By far the
most unpopular is Lon (Martin Clunes) from Snakedance. Almost no
one had any comments to make on this category. David Bishop said that
"Will Chandler was the only supporting character to make any effect
on me," and Joshua Preston put forward Borusa as his favourite, but
adds that "my judgement is perhaps clouded because of recently seeing
John Arnatt's brilliant Borusa, the only good thing in The Invasion
of Time"
The Writers
|
BEST |
% |
|
WORST |
% |
|
COMBINED AVERAGE |
% |
| 1 |
Eric Saward |
18.7 |
1 |
Eric Pringle |
18.0 |
1 |
Terrance Dicks |
20.6 |
| 2 |
Terrance Dicks |
18.2 |
2 |
Johnny Byrne |
15.8 |
2 |
Robert Holmes |
19.8 |
| 3 |
Robert Holmes |
17.4 |
3 |
Christopher Bailey |
11.2 |
3 |
Eric Saward |
17.2 |
| 4 |
Christopher Bidmead |
11.2 |
|
Barbara Clegg |
11.2 |
4 |
Christopher Bidmead |
11.0 |
| 5 |
Peter Grimwade |
10.0 |
|
Eric Saward |
11.2 |
5 |
Peter Grimwade |
9.5 |
| 6 |
Terence Dudley |
7.0 |
6 |
Peter Grimwade |
10.1 |
6 |
Terence Dudley |
6.9 |
| 7 |
Barbara Clegg |
5.0 |
|
Terence Dudley |
10.1 |
7 |
Steve Gallagher |
5.0 |
| 8 |
Christopher Bailey |
4.6 |
8 |
Christopher Bidmead |
9.0 |
8 |
Barbara Clegg |
4.6 |
| 9 |
Eric Pringle |
3.3 |
9 |
Steve Gallagher |
3.4 |
9 |
Christopher Bailey |
4.2 |
| 10 |
Steve Gallagher |
2.5 |
|
|
|
10 |
Eric Pringle |
0.8 |
| 11 |
Johnny Byrne |
2.1 |
|
|
|
11 |
Johnny Byrne |
0.4 |
Eric Saward undoubtedly comes tops (albeit narrowly), because of his
one truly excellent story, Earthshock. As can perhaps be expected,
Terrance Dicks comes a close second, having written the story which came
top of the story poll, The Five Doctors, and the ever-popular Robert
Holmes occupies third place, although does much better on the Combined
Average only 0.8% behind the favourite, Terrance Dicks.
"Although Robert Holmes only wrote one story this time round, his
stories are always faultless, and this really showed up in The Caves
of Androzani," wrote Chris Girdler, and Joshua Preston had no
doubts as to his favourite - "Holmes, of course, the best writer in
the show's history."
David Bishop also places Holmes first: "Saward would be best writer
but for Resurrection of the Daleks - too messy, too many loose ends.
Bidmead just edges out Dudley for third, for writing some of Davison's
best moments - although the production of Frontios dragged down
a worthy idea." David also comments on his selection of worst writers:
"Byrne I know is not responsible for the Warriors of the Deep
debacle, but his Arc of Infinity is almost as bad without similar
excuses, so is placed second. Chris Bailey comes first coz' I hate Kinda!"
The Directors
|
BEST |
% |
|
WORST |
% |
|
COMBINED AVERAGE |
% |
| 1 |
Peter Moffatt |
21.2 |
1 |
Pennant Roberts |
22.8 |
1 |
Peter Moffatt |
19.6 |
| 2 |
Fiona Cumming |
19.9 |
2 |
Ron Jones |
15.2 |
2 |
Fiona Cumming |
18.0 |
| 3 |
Peter Grimwade |
16.5 |
3 |
John Black |
15.2 |
3 |
Peter Grimwade |
16.4 |
| 4 |
Graeme Harper |
13.6 |
4 |
Tony Virgo |
11.4 |
4 |
Graeme Harper |
13.8 |
| 5 |
Ron Jones |
13.1 |
5 |
Michael Morris |
8.9 |
5 |
Ron Jones |
10.6 |
| 6 |
Matthew Robinson |
6.8 |
6 |
Mary Ridge |
6.3 |
6 |
Matthew Robinson |
8.7 |
| 7 |
John Black |
3.0 |
7 |
Fiona Cumming |
6.3 |
7 |
Mary Ridge |
3.9 |
| 8 |
Pennant Roberts |
2.1 |
8 |
Peter Moffatt |
3.8 |
8 |
Michael Morris |
3.5 |
| 9 |
Michael Morris |
1.7 |
9 |
Graeme Harper |
3.8 |
9 |
John Black |
2.9 |
| 10 |
Mary Ridge |
1.3 |
10 |
Matthew Robinson |
3.8 |
10 |
Tony Virgo |
2.3 |
| 11 |
Tony Virgo |
0.8 |
11 |
Peter Grimwade |
2.5 |
11 |
Pennant Roberts |
0.3 |
Although to my mind, Moffatt's direction work is by no means particularly
innovative or inspiring; his first placing is understandable considering
that he was responsible for The Five Doctors. A possible reason
for Fiona Cumming's second placing is put forward by Joshua Preston - "for
only the virtually best episode ever - Planet of Fire Part One -
that was almost of cinematic quality."
Chris Girdler describes Graeme Harper as "one of my two favourite
directors (the other is Alan Wareing), and provided the murderous flavour
of The Caves of Androzani with innovative and interesting shots."
David Bishop also places Harper first: "Harper is the obvious choice
for his handling of the classic The Caves of Androzani, while Moffatt
scores big on nostalgia points for Mawdryn Undead and making the
cluttered The Five Doctors very watchable. Grimwade takes third
place because although Earthshock is his masterpiece, I loathed
Kinda." David also comments on the worst: "Pennant Roberts
first for fucking up Warriors of the Deep royally and Robinson for
the incomprehensible Resurrection of the Daleks mess."
Memorable Moments
This wasn't a category as such, but simply a question on the end of
the survey form asking for readers to say what they considered to be the
best scenes of the Davison era. A selection, in story order, of the wealth
of responses, follows:
- CASTROVALVA
- The Doctor's post-regenerative trauma & impersonation of his previous selves.
- Castrovalva collapsing.
- FOUR TO DOOMSDAY
- The cricket ball in space scene.
- KINDA
- The chilling dream-time sequences with Tegan.
- The cliffhanger when the Doctor opens the box of Jhana.
- The Doctor's farewell to Dr Todd.
- BLACK ORCHID
- The cricket match.
- The rooftop confrontation with George Cranleigh.
- EARTHSHOCK
- The Doctor using Adric's star to kill the Cyberleader.
- Adric's death.
- TIME-FLIGHT
- Tegan's shock at being left behind by the Doctor.
- ARC OF INFINITY
- Omega's surprise at finding out Tegan knew the Doctor.
- Omega enjoying listening to the pipe organ.
- SNAKEDANCE
- The Doctor's initiation' by Dojjen.
- Tegan's impersonation of the Mara.
- MAWDRYN UNDEAD
- The Doctor meeting up with the Brigadier.
- The Brigadier's flashback and meeting himself.
- TERMINUS
- Nyssa's farewell to the Doctor.
- ENLIGHTENMENT
- The sailing ship race.
- THE FIVE DOCTORS
- The awesome Raston Warrior Robot.
- The third Doctor and Sarah on the 'flying fox'.
- The interaction between the four Doctors in Rassilon's tomb.
- WARRIORS OF THE DEEP
- The Doctor's cliffhanger plunge into the water.
- The Doctor attempting to save Tegan from the Myrka.
- The end with its statement about war and xenophobia.
- THE AWAKENING
- Will Chandler pushing Sir George into the mouth of the Malus.
- RESURRECTION OF THE DALEKS
- The Doctor's attempted execution of Davros.
- Tegan's emotional departure.
- PLANET OF FIRE
- Turlough rescuing Pen from drowning.
- THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI
- The Doctor's demonstration of how caring he is towards Peri
- All of the scenes with Sharaz Jek.
- The Doctor and Peri being shot at the cliffhanger.
- The Doctor attempting to revive the dying Peri with his celery.
- The Doctor being hunted by the gunrunners on Androzani Minor.
- The Doctor's old companions urging him to live.
- The regeneration sequence.
THE FIFTH DOCTOR ERA
- Richard Scheib: "The era was one of the best, a definite change
of pace - mellower, character-orientated stories, which weren't always
successful, but when they were, they brought the series to an intellectual
high."
- Nigel Flockhart: "The fifth Doctor's three seasons were a turning
point in the series, something of a renaissance after the previous gothic
gloom."
- Paul Rigby: "All the stories had good plots, but some were let
down by bad special effects, but you could visibly see the effects getting
better and more realistic, story by story."
- Murray Jackson: "The general maturity of the Doctor and handling
of the series has not been equalled or surpassed since Pat Troughton's
era and Jon Pertwee's first two seasons. Davison's years were possibly
the most memorable for me."
- Jeff Stone: "Davison I think came on the scene only just in
time to save the show. Baker's last two seasons, apart from the odd story,
were indicative of the slide the show was in. The era was generally excellent,
only let down by a few boring stories.
- Warwick Gray: "There were a few weak stories in there, but no
absolute disasters. The majority were entertaining. His first season was
consistently good, perhaps one of the best runs of stories the show has
ever had."
- Joshua Preston: "If Davison had a whole season of The Caves
of Androzani-calibre stories then he would have been better. I thought
the era was good in being a total change of Doctor, and some really innovative
ideas were used, even if they were inadequately carried out."
- Alistair Hughes: "I consider the Peter Davison era to have been
a successful one. During the Doctor's fifth incarnation we saw a boom in
'Who-related' merchandise, the beginning of the American mega-conventions
and the huge success of Doctor Who in that and other countries, and the
well-marked 20th anniversary of the programme.
Survey's End
This has proved to be a much larger undertaking than I had imagined
when I volunteered to survey the Davison era. It was originally to have
been conducted jointly with Jon Preddle, but this proved impractical. My
thanks go to Jon who helped with the initial stages and to Felicity Fletcher
for some of the calculations. Next issue, the results of the Sixth Doctor
Survey!
Go to Part 3
