Doctor Who: The Lost Stories (A-F)

Alexander The Great see Farewell Great Macedon The Aliens In The Blood Writer: Robert Holmes Notes: Holmes submitted this idea on October 22nd, 1968, shortly after completing work on The Krotons. Script editor Terrance Dicks was wary of the proposal, feeling that OSCOC bore similarities to the eponymous facility in The Wheel In Space. He was also concerned that Holmes' proposal that the Mark II Humans be distinguished by a physical feature like an extra-long thumb was reminiscent of the TV series The Invaders. “The Aliens In The Blood” was rejected soon thereafter. Years later, however, Holmes was commissioned to write an amended version of the serial -- now set in present-day Chile and with the Doctor and his companions replaced by Dr John Cornelius and Prof Curtis Lark -- for BBC Radio 4. Cowritten with Rene Basilico, it was transmitted in six weekly episodes as Aliens In The Mind from January 2nd, 1977. Characters: The Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Six Stage Reached: Story idea Synopsis: In the 22nd century, the Outer Space Commission Of Control (OSCOC) controls the flow of traffic in the spacelanes. OSCOC is located on an island in the Indian Ocean, and its staff -- led by Dean Thawne -- are in frequent conflict with the primitive natives. The TARDIS materialises on the island in the midst of a rash of sabotage which has resulted in the loss of many Earth spaceships. Although the natives are suspected, it transpires that the culprits are actually mutant “Mark II” humans, who have infiltrated OSCOC. These mutants have gained the power of ESP but are cold and emotionless, and now intend world conquest. The Doctor defeats the mutants by constructing a device which broadcasts along their psychic wavelength and burns out their superhuman abilities. References: Doctor Who Magazine #242, DWM Winter Special 1994, DWM Special Edition #4 The Amazons see The Prison In Space The Angarath Writer: Eric Pringle Notes: On August 11th, 1975, Pringle was commissioned for the first two episodes of “The Angarath” by producer Philip Hinchcliffe. These were delivered on September 27th, but after receiving no reply from the Doctor Who production office as to their suitability, Pringle eventually decided to complete the serial regardless, submitting the final two parts on March 10th, 1976. Hinchcliffe had no intention of proceeding further with the story, however, and the situation was finally dealt with on June 23rd. Several years later, Pringle would write The Awakening for Season Twenty-One. Characters: The Fourth Doctor Episodes: 4 Planned For: Season Fourteen Stage Reached: Complete script Synopsis: Concerned a race of people offering human sacrifices to sentient rocks. References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #8 The Ants Writer: Roger Dixon Notes: This idea was submitted on January 16th, 1967. Characters: The Second Doctor Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Five Stage Reached: Story idea Synopsis: The TARDIS brings the Doctor and his companions to the Nevada Desert, where they discover they have been shrunk to a tenth of an inch in height. To make matters worse, they learn that the local ants have been made super-intelligent by atomic bomb tests and plan to take over the Earth. References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #4, The Doctor Who Chronicles: Season Five The Automata Writer: Robert Holmes Notes: Holmes was commissioned to write a storyline for “The Automata” on January 16th, 1973. It did not find favour with producer Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks, however, and was rejected ten days later. Holmes was commissioned to write The Time Warrior instead. Characters: The Third Doctor Episodes: 4 Planned For: Season Eleven Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Unknown References: Doctor Who Magazine #246, DWM Special Edition #2 Bar Kochbar Writer: Roger Dixon Notes: This idea was submitted on January 16th, 1967. Characters: The Second Doctor Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Five Stage Reached: Story idea Synopsis: In early 2nd century Palestine, the Doctor and his companions become involved with the efforts of the Jewish leader Bar Kokhba to organise an army against the Romans. References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #4, The Doctor Who Chronicles: Season Five The Beasts Of Manzic Writer: Robin Smyth Notes: This storyline was formally rejected on May 13th, 1975. Characters: The Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Episodes: 6 Planned For: Season Thirteen Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Unknown References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #8 The Big Store Writers: David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke Notes: Ellis and Hulke were writing “The Big Store” by the fall of 1966, and turned in the storyline for episode one on November 15th. Producer Innes Lloyd and story editor Gerry Davis liked the ideas, but felt they would work more effectively in an airport setting; Lloyd also desired a six-part serial. “The Big Store” was therefore abandoned, and Ellis and Hulke reworked the concept into The Faceless Ones. Characters: The Second Doctor, Polly, Ben Episodes: 4 Planned For: Season Four Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: The TARDIS lands in a department store in 1973 London. The store has been taken over by two species of aliens -- one, a master race, is identified only by numbers, while the members of the faceless slave race are named with letters. The latter are being transformed into duplicates of the humans which have been abducted onto the aliens' spacecraft to maintain the charade at the store, while the unprocessed members pose as mannequins. The master aliens intend to colonise the Earth, subjugating humanity by releasing a new strain of bubonic plague. The Doctor convinces the aliens to leave the Earth in peace. References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #4, Doctor Who: The Handbook: The Second Doctor The Brain-Dead Writer: Brian Hayles Notes: This idea was submitted during the spring of 1971. It was rejected by script editor Terrance Dicks, but its inclusion of the Ice Warriors inspired the development of The Curse Of Peladon. Characters: The Third Doctor, Jo, UNIT Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Nine Stage Reached: Story idea Synopsis: The Ice Warriors, led by Commander Kulvis, plan to invade modern-day Earth using a weapon called the ‘Z’ beam, which is capable of freezing anything it touches to absolute zero. In particular, the Ice Warriors can use it to freeze a human brain, turning the afflicted individual into a subservient Brain-Dead. The Ice Warriors hijack a communications satellite and use it to take over the crew of its receiving station, whom they set to work constructing a giant ‘Z’ beam transmitter. They plan to use the satellite network to broadcast the ‘Z’ beam around the world, enslaving mankind and adjusting the Earth's climate to something suitable for Martian habitation. Realising that metals are extremely conductive at absolute zero, the Doctor overloads the ‘Z’ beam transmitter just at the point of broadcast, destroying the Ice Warriors and the Brain-Dead. References: Doctor Who: The Seventies The Brain Drain see The Spare-Part People Britain 408 AD Writer: Malcolm Hulke Notes: “Britain 408 AD” was first submitted on September 2nd, 1963. Story editor David Whitaker asked Hulke to revise his original storyline, however; he felt that the plot -- with its many opposing factions -- was too complicated, and also that the serial's conclusion echoed that of 100,000 BC too closely. It was hoped that an amended version of “Britain 408 AD” might occupy the sixth slot of Season One (Serial F), to be directed by Christopher Barry, but on September 23rd it was decided that the production block did not need another historical story and Hulke's serial was abandoned. The spot in the schedule was ultimately occupied by The Aztecs, while Hulke began work on “The Hidden Planet” instead. Following Whitaker's departure, Hulke resubmitted “Britain 408 AD”. It was rejected on April 2nd, 1965, by Whitaker's successor, Dennis Spooner, because the Romans had already featured in his own The Romans. Characters: The First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara (original submission; the resubmission presumably replaced Susan with Vicki) Episodes: 6 Planned For: Seasons One and Three Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Involved the departure of the Romans from Britain around the start of the fifth century in the midst of clashes against the Celts and the Saxons, culminating with the time travellers fleeing the indigenous savages back to the safety of the TARDIS. References: Doctor Who: The Handbook: The First Doctor, Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #7 The Cerebroids Writers: Charlotte and Dennis Plimmer Notes: Scripts for “The Cerebroids” were commissioned on June 24th, 1970. On the 29th, however, the serial was abruptly abandoned. Characters: The Third Doctor (with Jo and UNIT?) Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Eight Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Unknown References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #2 The Clock Writer: David Ellis Notes: “The Clock” was rejected by story editor Gerry Davis on April 4th, 1966. Characters: The First Doctor (with Steven and Dodo?) Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Four Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Unknown References: Doctor Who: The Handbook: The First Doctor The Daleks In London Writer: Robert Sloman Notes: For Season Nine, producer Barry Letts decided to bring back the Daleks, who had not starred in a Doctor Who story since The Evil Of The Daleks at the end of Season Four. The original vehicle for their return was to have been “The Daleks In London”, the storyline for which was commissioned from Sloman on May 25th, 1971, but Letts subsequently decided that the Daleks would be more effectively used in the season opener, Louis Marks' “Years Of Doom”. As such, Marks' story was rewritten as Day Of The Daleks while Sloman was asked to develop a new storyline under his original commission. This became The Time Monster. Characters: The Third Doctor, Jo, UNIT Episodes: 6 Planned For: Final story of Season Nine Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Unknown References: Doctor Who Magazine #268, DWM Special Edition #2 The Dark Planet Writer: Brian Hayles Notes: Hayles' storyline was rejected on February 26th, 1965 because story editor Dennis Spooner feared that it hewed too closely to Malcolm Hulke's unused serial “The Hidden Planet”. Characters: The First Doctor (with Vicki and Steven?) Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Three Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Would have been set on a planet which is Earth's twin, orbiting on the opposite side of the Sun, whose revolution is such that one hemisphere is always dark. References: Doctor Who: The Handbook: The First Doctor, Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #7 The Dreamers Of Phados Writer: Chris Boucher Notes: After “The Silent Scream” was rejected in early 1975, this was one of the storylines Boucher worked on with producer Philip Hinchcliffe and script editor Robert Holmes. Characters: The Fourth Doctor Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Fourteen Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Set on a colony ship which has been home to a civilisation spanning many generations. References: Doctor Who Magazine #229, DWM Special Edition #8, Doctor Who: The Seventies The Dreamspinner Writer: Paul Wheeler Notes: Wheeler was commissioned to write a four-part story breakdown on February 23rd. The story had been expanded to six episodes by the time the first installment was requested on March 13th. “The Dreamspinner” was intended to be Serial WW, the second story into production during the sixth recording block (and therefore the fourth story of Season Six). However, Wheeler's script for part one was not to the satisfaction of the production office, and it was abandoned on April 9th. The Invasion was extended to eight episodes as a result. Characters: The Second Doctor (with Jamie and Zoe?) Episodes: 6 (initially 4) Planned For: Fourth story of Season Six Stage Reached: Draft script for episode one Synopsis: Unknown References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #4 The Evil Eye Writer: Geoffrey Orme Notes: “The Evil Eye” was rejected by story editor Gerry Davis on April 4th, 1966. Characters: The First Doctor (with Steven and Dodo?) Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Four Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Unknown References: Doctor Who: The Handbook: The First Doctor The Eye In Space Writer: Victor Pemberton Notes: Doctor Who producer Peter Bryant asked Pemberton to develop a new idea shortly after completing Fury From The Deep in late 1967. When Bryant left Doctor Who in early 1969, Pemberton decided not to pursue the story, and it was not formally commissioned. Characters: The Second Doctor (with Jamie and Zoe?) Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Season Six Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: Concerned an omniscient octopoid eye in space which drew things toward it. References: Doctor Who Magazine #318, DWM Special Edition #4 The Face Of God Writer: John Wiles Notes: Wiles appears to have contemplated this idea while he served as producer of Doctor Who in 1965. Characters: The First Doctor Episodes: Unknown Planned For: Presumably Season Three Stage Reached: Story idea Synopsis: In space, a massive countenance materialises in front of the TARDIS; the being claims to be God, but this is eventually revealed to be a hoax. References: Doctor Who: The Sixties Farewell Great Macedon aka Alexander The Great Writer: Moris Farhi Notes: Although a sample script written by Farhi, “The Fragile Yellow Arc Of Fragrance”, was rejected by story editor David Whitaker, he was nonetheless encouraged to continue to develop ideas for Doctor Who. Aware that Farhi was interested in Greco-Roman mythology, on January 24th Whitaker suggested an adventure about the Greek pirate Barbarossa, in which the Doctor would be forced to invite somebody into the TARDIS. Farhi instead began work on “Farewell Great Macedon” (also called “Alexander The Great ”); such was his enthusiasm for the project that he ignored Whitaker's advice to write only one script and instead produced a full six-part serial. His episodes bore the titles 1. The Hanging Gardens Of Babylon, 2. The Wrath Of The Greatest Grecian Of Them All! or O, Son! My Son!, 3. A Man Must Die, 4. The World Lies Dead At Your Feet, 5. In The Arena, 6. Farewell, Great Macedon!. The first episode, notably, would have explained the time travellers' ability to understand other languages by showing them hooked up to a computer which teaches them Ancient Greek. Initially, Whitaker felt that Farhi's scripts simply needed tightening up, but after the transmission of Marco Polo, the production office apparently elected to gear the historical adventures such that they were set on the periphery, rather than in the midst, of famous historical events, in response to criticism from schools (although this must have been abandoned by the time The Romans was made less than a year later). Farhi was unwilling to rewrite his storyline to reflect this edict, and so “Farewell Great Macedon” was abandoned on July 31st. Characters: The First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara Episodes: 6 Planned For: Season One Stage Reached: Complete script Synopsis: The TARDIS materialises amidst the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, where the Doctor and his companions meet Alexander the Great. Four members of Alexander's retinue, however, are plotting to murder the king and his successors so that one of their number, Seleucus, can ascend to the throne and allow them to return to their homeland. The conspirators try to frame the time travellers, but the Doctor and Ian succeed in a series of trials and Alexander's bodyguard, Ptolemy, proves their innocence. However, history cannot be changed, and despite the Doctor's efforts to save the king's life by having Ian build an iron lung, Alexander dies while Ptolemy helps the companions escape to the TARDIS. References: Doctor Who Magazine #294 The Female Of The Species see The Prison In Space The Final Game Writer: Robert Sloman Notes: Created in response to Roger Delgado's desire for the Master to be written out of Doctor Who -- because his attachment to the programme was making it difficult for him to find other work -- a storyline for “The Final Game” was commissioned on February 15th, 1973, and was inspired in part by producer Barry Letts' interest in Eastern philosophy. “The Final Game” had to be abandoned when Delgado died in a car accident while filming in Turkey on June 18th. In its place, Sloman developed Planet Of The Spiders instead. Characters: The Third Doctor, Sarah Jane Episodes: 6 Planned For: The final serial of Season Eleven Stage Reached: Storyline Synopsis: The Doctor and the Master are revealed to be two aspects of the same person -- the Master representing the “id” (instinctual needs and desires) and the Doctor the “ego” (conscious perception of and adaptation to reality). The Master ultimately perishes in an explosion which saves the lives of the Doctor and others; it remains unclear if this was a final act of redemption on the villain's part. References: Doctor Who Magazine #314 The Fragile Yellow Arc Of Fragrance Writer: Moris Farhi Notes: On January 6th, 1964, Farhi contacted story editor David Whitaker about writing for Doctor Who. Whitaker commissioned a script for one episode, which became “The Fragile Yellow Arc Of Fragrance”. Whitaker rejected this on the 24th, feeling its subject matter was unsuitable for Doctor Who, but encouraged Farhi to continue to develop ideas for the programme. Characters: The First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara Episodes: 1 Planned For: Season One Stage Reached: Complete script Synopsis: On an alien planet, a man named Rhythm woos Barbara. She is unaware, however, that her rejection of his advances mean that Rhythm is now sentenced to die. References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #7 The Furies see The Space War

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