The War Games

When UK Gold were still doing well in my estimations they repeated the seminal children’s classic “Jossy’s Giants” in a tea time slot. Where it should be. I’ve had opportunities over the years to get my adult self a copy of Jossy’s Giants and I’ve always said no. First time round it was a work of genius. An early 90s repeat showed it was good but not brilliant. Seen today I fear it would be wretched. Lots of kids that couldn't act, stumbling their way through footballing battles which weren't the inspired metaphors I thought they were when I was nine. There were adverts either during or after Jossy’s Giants for Doctor Who and the War Games. I got a sense of how long this story was because it seemed to last for weeks and weeks. Interestingly, both the War Games and Jossy’s Giants had ten episodes each.

Before I saw the videos I read the novel. I can’t remember another story where this was the case. I came on the scene after the Target novel was king you’ll no doubt recall if you've been paying rapt attention. It was an ex-library hard backed copy and was no longer than any other Target novel. Which either means lots was cut out - which I don't remember thinking when I finally saw the story - or the book is dimensionally transcendental and those 142 pages are actually five hundred pages once you open it  up and have a look around. I can remember reading it in the careers room during lunchtime (the careers room was never used by anyone except me, my beloved and my beloved’s best mate. None of us liked the common room and the common room didn’t like us.) It was because I’d read the novel that I’ve never accepted the serial’s pronunciation of “side-rat”. It is SIDRAT as in Sid Waddell (writer of Jossy’s Giants for those who like continuity).

I got the videos some time in early to mid 1993. We were in Manchester to visit my granddad in hospital. Leaving my grandmother with him for a bit, we wandered to shops and I ended up in the second hand book store we’ve all heard too much about already. I noticed a pile of Doctor Who videos behind the counter. New in. Unpriced. I asked how much they were when I saw the War Games was among them. I knew full well they would be seven pounds each. That was standard. “Eight quid each” said the guy on the till. Dangnabit – I was being gouged. Taken advantage of. I’d been seen coming. I didn’t have long until we had to be back at the hospital so I paid his slightly inflated prices and grumbled when he wasn’t looking.

Fate paid me back eventually though when the Time Lord boxed set was released in branches of WH Smith. It included the War Games (my old tapes were a bit old and tapey by then), the Three Doctors and the Deadly Assassin and was a sequel to their popular Davros exclusive. I think the Time Lord collection was about thirty pounds which seemed steep but I’ve always liked the War Games and I wanted a better copy. I gave him my Clubcard as I always do. I’d only just redeemed the points on it so I was keen to have a head start on the four quid I’d accumulate over the next couple of years. “You’ve got twenty three pounds on your card – would you like to use that?” asked the till boy. Ah ha – a mistake. By Timothy a mistake. “Yes” I said quickly. So I got the videos for a shade under £7 and justice was finally done after all those years.

"What is your Clubcard balance? My Clubcard balance is..."

Spearhead From Space

I bought Spearhead From Space on the day I got my mock A-Level results. We were in Manchester and I remember meeting mother at the café in Boots. I had Spearhead From Space in one bag and the Guinness Book of Classic British Television in the other. Cornell, Topping and Day’s book would go on to be the better thumbed of the two. I loved that book. Probably half of what I really know about television came from there. A few years later, Spearhead would have the first good Doctor Who commentary. I suffered through an episode or two of the Robots of Death one and didn’t think much of this commentary lark. I’d previously sat through Jodie Foster’s solo commentary for “Contact”. That was a mistake. Thank heavens then that my obsession and love for Doctor Who commentaries was sparked by Spearhead From Space. Heard now it is a little subdued but the obvious affection and warmth from Caroline John and the Brig is nice. Good nice not bad nice.

This was what we used before the internet was invented

Doctor Who and the Silurians

Back in the gold old days of the Big Breakfast – when it was Chris, Gaby, Zig and Zag – they used to go into every commercial break with a little video clip and a question. But remember – don’t phone, it’s just for fun. One morning when I was apparently getting read for school they surprised me with a little bit of Doctor Who and the Silurians. I only remember one other Doctor Who clip being used for these quizzes (Vengeance on Varos of which more anon) and obviously can’t remember the questions. Nor do I remember if anyone stumbled over the word “Silurian” when giving the answer. That’s another thing which should’ve been on the DVD. I don’t think I was aware that there was a new – and in colour therefore hugely exciting in a world of which I wasn’t yet a member – video out. I know I was a bit surprised to see it in Smiths. Again, I could probably go now and stand exactly where it was on the shelf. It was the bottom shelf on this occasion, towards the latter end of their video top 30 or whatever they had. As great as DVDs, they can’t quite compete with the days when the videos we were buying were *new*. Restoration, special features, slimline packaging – all the things we love and cherish and have online debates about. But getting the “Beneath the Surface” collection couldn’t come close to matching the excitement of finding Doctor Who and the Silurians in WH Smith when I wasn’t expecting to. I didn’t even mind the paintbrush they felt the need to add to the massive spine. It dominated what was then my Doctor Who video shelf (just the one shelf and it was half empty) and I loved it.

One last look at an old friend