Doctor Who: Shada (1992)

This unfinished story from the television series Doctor Who was released on video with linking material from Tom Baker. When a dangerous artifact goes missing from the study of retired Time... See full summary »

Director:

Pennant Roberts

Writer:

Douglas Adams (by)

Stars:

Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, Christopher Neame

Cast

Cast overview:
Tom Baker	...	Doctor Who / Narrator
Lalla Ward	...	Romana
Christopher Neame	...	Skagra
Denis Carey	...	Professor Chronotis
Daniel Hill	...	Chris Parsons
Victoria Burgoyne	...	Clare Keightley
David Brierly	...	K9 / Computer Voice (voice) (as David Brierley)
Gerald Campion	...	Porter (Wilkins)
Shirley Dixon	...	Voice of Skagra's Ship
James Coombes	...	Voice of Krargs
Derek Pollitt	...	Professor Caldera (episode 4)
John Hallet	...	Police Constable (episode 6)

Storyline

This unfinished story from the television series Doctor Who was released on video with linking material from Tom Baker. When a dangerous artifact goes missing from the study of retired Time Lord, Professor Chronotis, he calls on the help of the Doctor and Romana. Also looking for the artifact is Skagra, who is armed with a mind-draining sphere.

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Plot Keywords:

unfinished film | character name in title

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 July 1992 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 110 min (VHS)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Never broadcast as part of Doctor Who because a strike interrupted production and it was never completed. Two short clips from the unfinished episode were used in the 1983 special episode "The Five Doctors". Years later, all available video footage was combined together for this special video release.

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Goofs

During the scene where Skagra attaches the sphere to Professor Chronotis' head, the professor's eyeglasses are off his head during a close-up, then on again after a couple of camera shot changes that return to a close-up, all while his hands are empty and his arms are flailing about.

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Quotes

Romana: I told you you've got the time wrong, Doctor.
The Doctor: Yes, but you're always saying that.
Romana: You're always getting the time wrong.

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Connections

Remade as Doctor Who: Shada (2003)

User Reviews

Even incomplete, this may well be the greatest who story ever.

Whether you regard this story as the greatest is a matter of opinion. This is definitely one of the two most humorous stories ever made for Who (The other being City of Death). The non-completion of this story is tragic. A superb cast of actors were assembled for a magnificent Douglas Adams story.

One of Douglas Adams' greatest strengths as an author was that he could present a technical storyline not only as comprehendible but as magnificently fun. Add to this Tom Baker at his madcap best, Lalla Ward matching him perfectly, Denis Carey superbly cast as the incredibly vague and doddering retired Time Lord, and the magnificent Christopher Neame as Skagra, a man with a very credible plot to take over the universe.

This is a prime example of Science Fiction - It takes an entirely original premise of a threat and creates an adventure of the first order with top humour to boot.