The title of the show came from producer John Nathan-Turner. The Greatest Show in the Galaxy could stand for Doctor Who itself.
Once the best sci-fi show going once but time has not been kind to it. People routinely mutter that it's not as good as it used to be.
With dwindling audiences, it is now frequented by riff raff or nerds. The Doctor and Ace visit the psychic circus on the planet Segonax courtesy of junk mail received by the Tardis.
They encounter galactic traveller Captain Cook (T. P. McKenna) and his companion Mags. Only this traveller might be the selfish kind.
This story by rights should not exist. It was meant to be shot in BBC Studios which had an asbestos scare. Director Alan Wareing looked to book studio space at alternative studios only to find none available.
Finally quickly improvising with time running out. A circus tent was erected at the car park of BBC Elstree studios and there was enough time left to shoot the story.
The tent was a masterstroke, giving it a claustrophobic atmosphere. It also enabled outdoor filming allowing Ian Reddington to stand out as the creepy clown.
An interesting first episode, but like a lot of McCoy stories. It always never gels properly. The creepy clown is balanced out by the shouty, thuggish Nord on a motorbike. Actor Daniel Peacock showing his lack of range once again.
Once the best sci-fi show going once but time has not been kind to it. People routinely mutter that it's not as good as it used to be.
With dwindling audiences, it is now frequented by riff raff or nerds. The Doctor and Ace visit the psychic circus on the planet Segonax courtesy of junk mail received by the Tardis.
They encounter galactic traveller Captain Cook (T. P. McKenna) and his companion Mags. Only this traveller might be the selfish kind.
This story by rights should not exist. It was meant to be shot in BBC Studios which had an asbestos scare. Director Alan Wareing looked to book studio space at alternative studios only to find none available.
Finally quickly improvising with time running out. A circus tent was erected at the car park of BBC Elstree studios and there was enough time left to shoot the story.
The tent was a masterstroke, giving it a claustrophobic atmosphere. It also enabled outdoor filming allowing Ian Reddington to stand out as the creepy clown.
An interesting first episode, but like a lot of McCoy stories. It always never gels properly. The creepy clown is balanced out by the shouty, thuggish Nord on a motorbike. Actor Daniel Peacock showing his lack of range once again.