CLASSIC DOCTOR WHO | The Leisure Hive - Part 1 | REACTION

[@MarieClaresWorld]

FULL LENGTH | Full Circle - Part 2 | REACTION www.patreon.com/posts/full-length-full-55617107

[@skaro1973]

wow

[@sixstanger00]

The "different vibe" is because this story is the beginning of a new production era. At the end of production for the previous series, the producer Graham Williams stepped down. Throughout the late 60s & 70s, a man named John Nathan-Turner had served as a floorman, assistant floor manager, and during Graham Williams' production era, he served as production unit manager. In 1980, he took over from Williams as Producer; hence all the major changes in format -- new title sequence, new theme, new production style, new incidental music, etc.

[@ShamrockParticle]

Barry Letts also provided some assistance as co-producer, but in a dvd commentary said this season was almost all John. 👍

[@schwardo]

Lol I've actually been waiting months for that title sequence reaction xD

[@mattiow9664]

🤣🤣🤣 oh your reaction to the new theme took me back 40 years ...my jaw dropped then too !! 💕💕💕

[@stuartwho]

A pause to think back what the 70s decade introduced and gave us to enjoy. We got colour, the third and fourth doctors. Shorter seasons, the 10th anniversary, the first foreign location filming, numerous strikes and one lost story. Liz Shaw, Jo Grant, Mike Yates, Sarah Jane Smith, Harry Sullivan, Leela, K9, Romana 1 and Romana 2.. The arrival of The Master, Autons, Silurians, Ogrons, Alpha Centauri, Sea Devils, Sontarans, Davros, Zygons, Gallifrey, the Guardians and the first over arching season storyline with the Key to Time. Producers Barry Letts, Philip Hinchcliffe and Graham Williams and new script editors Robert Holmes, Anthony Read and Douglas Adams. And ONE Cyberman story.

[@frankshailes3205]

More good than bad. A shame about the episode count dropping, but still better than the 10 episodes every two years (or 5 episodes per year) we get now.

[@AubreySciFi]

Well, technically Gallifrey was introduced in 1969 with Troughton's finale story "The War Games", it just wasn't given a name until the 70's. But yes, the name "Gallifrey" was introduced in that era. True.

[@LocoMotive142]

Here we are, at a season I blooming well adore. You're right, this is quite the attack on your senses after Nimon and a full 1970s run. Hope your journey through this season is a pleasant experience.

[@kevinwright5129]

Welcome to 1980's who!! This for me personally was the start of better who, better stories, incidental music, big improvement all round. Cant wait to see your future reactions!

[@gamegeek812]

John Leeson left the series after Season 16 because he was frustrated with the limitations K9 had. When John Nathan-Turner became producer, he convinced him to return.

[@frankshailes3205]

And the space laryngitis ended at last!

[@--legion]

Clearly no limitations to K9s movement. He is ably pulled along by string on Brighton beach.

[@Dogbarkssome]

Still my favourite version of the theme music. And the middle eight and huge explosion in the end credits is always great!

[@selkie76]

This "different vibe" is very much the Doctor Who of my childhood memories - you've started to catch up with the era I actually recall watching (I'd have been four years old when this story aired). ^_^

[@Hankonater]

Lol I was just a month old when this originally aired

[@peterelliott3015]

this is the first story of season 18. season 17 was only 20 episodes because of shade being left unfinished

[@MultiThomson1]

A good opener for season 18,it was Sid sutton for opening titles and Peter Howell for the theme tune

[@paulrichards4452]

I love this version of the theme tune. It’s sinister but at the same time upbeat and powerful. The star field sequence is very impressive and brings back so many good memories for me watching it as a 5 year old. When I first saw this new title sequence I jumped off the sofa in shock from what I remember. Loved your reaction.

[@billthewhovian]

Welcome to the 80s! A new producer in John Nathan-Turner or JNT for short who was a Hawaiian shirt wearing big haired man, new titles, new theme music this time done by Peter Howell with Sid Sutton doing the new visuals for the titles with the same TARDIS team of the 4th Doctor, Romana and K9 (With John Leason returning to the role) Also you may of noticed a new Police Box TARDIS prop this one being built out of fibreglass which I believe the new ones are also built with.

[@ancientonezero]

Congratulations. You've reached one of my favourite seasons of classic Doctor Who. My favourite stories are (Redacted), followed by (Redacted), and (Redacted), in that order. You've got some real treats in store, including (Redacted) and (Redacted). Romana's (Redacted) is wonderful. One of my favourite scenes in the whole history of the show is when (Redacted) (Redacted) K-9. I laughed so hard! And just wait till you see Tom's (Redacted)!!! You won't believe your eyes. We get to (Redacted) (Redacted), (Redacted) and (Redacted), and all (Redacted) go on to (Entire end of sentence redacted). Some people think this entire series is (Censored), but I think it's (Redacted due to over-enthusiasm). Oh, and did I mention the (Redacted)? And the (Redacted) of (Redacted)? Good. I wouldn't want to spoil anything for you. Hope you got all that? I'm looking forward to seeing your reactions to it. Now...RUN!

[@ftumschk]

(Redacted) a better story than (Redacted)? You've got to be kidding!

[@ancientonezero]

@@ftumschk Just my opinion. But I think we can agree they're both better than (Redacted)?

[@ftumschk]

@@ancientonezero Definitely. (Redacted) is by far the worst story this season.

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

Dude... spoilers!! 😡 😁

[@ShamrockParticle]

That's silly, but I giggled. I'm tempted to look up the rest of the season to see if you eventually listed story names. I think it's cool that Marie is avoiding reading story titles which do give away more than they should st times!

[@skaro1973]

I am impressed with the reactions that been given. it the same reaction when I first watch back in 1979 when was only 6 years old I was watching the dalek story you've recently seen through a crack through the door at grans back up in Tyneside. It was great stuff. You are in for a treat.

[@bananasaregood8655]

Haha omg you’re reaction to the new intro and theme music was priceless! I always look forward to see you’re reaction to new doctors and intros but this was the best so far. So now you’re in 80s who with new production and show runner john-nathan turner, who is usally criticized for sum choices for the show. Tom bakers new burgundy outfit is one of my favourites. They were thinking of getting rid of the scarf all together but decided they couldn’t, so made a new one to match his outfit, and even longer than before. This intro isnt my fave, but this is my favorite version of the theme music ever, so 80s but its brilliant! Oh and john leeson is back as k-9, whats not to like? Well mayby the 80s keyboard incidental music...

[@Joey15811]

Tbh the dull story 😂 and tbf Most of this Season I don’t like for me it’s easily the worst season of classic Who with only stories 3 and 4 being good

[@bananasaregood8655]

@@Joey15811 ooh harsh, but if that’s you’re opinion then thats ok. I def think it’s one of tom’s weaker seasons, but i still enjoy most of it

[@WokingWriter]

Been waiting for your reaction to the change. I remember it well and it’s my favourite version of the theme!

[@AubreySciFi]

This was when John Nathan Turner took over as producer, so he made lots of changes to "bring the show into the 80's". New title sequence, new theme tune, new Burgundy costume with matching scarf for the Doctor. Question marks on his collars...because he's Doctor "Who". New incidental music composers. And a number of new writers.

[@edzeppelin1984]

This story seems mostly focused on JNT showing off his fancy new tech. So for example this is the first time we see TARDIS materialise/dematerialise in a moving camera shot. One thing about JNT is that he was never particularly interested in the scripts, so the tone of the stories is much more heavily influenced by the script editor. In this case, Christopher Bidmead wanted to make it a lot more serious and scientific.

[@johnwhite8074]

And a new Tardis police box prop.. Taller than the previous version with a stacked roof noted when Tom exits and enters the TARDIS. If I remember this is made of Fibreglass and I sections should could be assembled and disassembled on location. The previous prop was introduced in masque of Mandragora back in 1976 so was ready a change..

[@Randomaited]

This story introduces my personal favourite title sequence and theme music, produced by Sid Sutton and Peter Howell respectively

[@martynhill3479]

Your reaction to the title sequence sums up why I love watching your reactions. Thank you very much

[@MarieClaresWorld]

Thank YOU for being here!

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

I love this version of the theme music, as it's what I grew up with as a kid. It still sends shivers down my spine when I hear it today!

[@Joey15811]

I do love this theme though. It’s probably my favourite theme tune varient. 80s themes are great!

[@LanceHerod-n5d]

Been waiting for your reaction for this for ages and as always you didn't disappoint. I'm willing to bet that for a few seconds into the intro you thought it was a new Doctor 'til you saw it's still Tom's face. 😊 I was 11 when this version came about and had the same reaction as you, shocked yet loved it...which made it easier to accept that the old diamond intro's no longer about from which i started watching the show on (3 with Sarah Jane). The only thing i wasn't keen on was that the Doctor's scarf was no longer multi-coloured.. but i very quickly got use to that and the new scarf is still cool. As it goes you released this reaction on here only days after the 41st anniversary of part 1 being shown, August 30th 1980.

[@dcsignal5241]

I still remember where I was when I first saw this title intro. I had the same reaction as you except I had to wait a week to see it again. Loved it.

[@Alfwin]

This is one of my favourite arrangements of the theme tune. It's catchy and energetic, and it heralds the beginning of a new era! And, we've got John Leeson back as K9... only for him to immediately get blown up at the start of the episode, lol

[@ListerDavid]

Welcome to the 80s! 😁 This intro and theme is what I think of when I think of intros, even tho it was the one I grew up on.

[@CRINOTH]

Welcome to the first season of 1980s Doctor Who. :) This arrangement of the theme tune and title sequence are, for me, the most iconic of the lot. As for The Leisure Hive - I like the story and the directing feels very fresh (though that opening panning shot goes on a bit too long for the sake of the "punchline" JOKE of the last hut being the TARDIS) and different. This story also has my favourite incidental music of the entire classic run. :)

[@chrisboot2468]

Our reaction at the time was very similar to yours. The 1980s was the era of electronic music (Visage, Depeche Mode, etc) so was either hated or loved by the fans. We weren't too sure about the costumes, but the huge increase in design and plotlines was wonderful. One of my favourite eras, with some superb stories to come, with my Number 2 companion arriving soon!!

[@ENLIGHTENMENT789]

Are you talking Lazarian ?!?

[@frankshailes3205]

@@ENLIGHTENMENT789 We're getting ahead of ourselves. We're all going to die!

[@ftumschk]

Ah, Depeche Mode. I recall some presenters on TOTP and Radio One mispronouncing it "day-pesh-ay"... presumably they remembered French lessons where their teachers told them to "dépêchez-vous".

[@keithneale3055]

Marie-Clare! Loved your reaction to the new opening!

[@chrisbrooker7260]

As I think I commented when you put a mention of this on Twitter: welcome to Dr Who 80s style This new season marks the beginning of a strong (IMHO) 4 year resurgence for the show. This season you’re now in is a personal favourite of mine that gets better with each episode

[@frankshailes3205]

The incidental music is frankly amazing (Holst!). I'm sure we'll get used to the revamp in visual styles!

[@joshbostock_2040]

Welcome to 80s who. Everything has had a bit of a change. Tom's outfit is diffrent and is a red/purple colour. The titles and logo have been updated and there's a new producer on board. Also no more Dudley Simpson (think that's his name) who has contributed to the music since the Troughton era. I like the tone of this season and is an improvement on his last few seasons. However I'm not fond of this story. It's one of the Tom Baker stories I struggle with but I do love the direction.

[@stuartwho]

Dudley Simpson had provided incidental music since season two.

[@Adeodatus100]

@@stuartwho Coincidentally I watched Planet of Giants - Dudley Simpson's first, I think - only yesterday.

[@bananasaregood8655]

This is def my least liked story of season 18

[@frankshailes3205]

I think Dudley Simpson's first story was Planet of Giants, near the end of the first production block in 1964. Douglas Camfield directed the last couple of episodes of that (which got edited down to 1 episode) and that's when they first fell out.

[@keithneale3055]

I always enjoyed the cliffhangers on this story.

[@whobp8]

As someone who was watching the Tom Baker era at the time it was being broadcast, I can tell you that my reaction to the new intro was much the same as yours. Kind of "WTF?" followed by wondering if I liked it or not. In any case, Welcome to 80's Doctor Who! John Nathan Turner takes over as Producer at this point, so you'll probably notice lots of little changes. Can't wait to see what you make of them!

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

John Nathan-Turner had taken over. He decided that he needed to “drag the show into the 80s”, hence the changes. When Sylvester McCoy started JNT made the decision to “bring the show into the 90s”. Shame it never quite made it to 1990.

[@ShamrockParticle]

He was more vocal about it, but every new shorlwrunner had updated the show for what they think modern audiences will like.

[@robalexander8065]

So much to react to and great reactions. Glad you are enjoying this serial.

[@Faerie_Kim]

I grew up with this title sequence and it seems normal and good to me 😁

[@markbelsom3174]

Welcome to 80's doctor who, your reaction on the new music and opening titles , brilliant.

[@Jamestopboy]

Welcome to the era of the funkeh musak intro. You’re gonna love it!

[@Moxxbalhoon]

I felt just like you when I saw it on first broadcast. I had to wait a week to see the next episode which was agony. The sets are great as are the costumes. I hope you continue to like this story. I think it builds to a very good climax.

[@thecelticdruid.6681]

I love Tom Bakers costume in this season.

[@andykey78]

I remember going to a Who exhibition at the Museum of Moving Image in London, I have distinct memories of seeing all of the regenerations on a loop (which was amazing!) and also all of the title sequences. I had no idea that Tom Baker had this sequence with the new theme and new logo, it blew my tiny mind! I must have watched it go round so many times trying to comprehend what I was seeing 🤯 🤣

[@davidbull7210]

I went to that exhibition too. It was in 1991 I think and I remember all the screens with the different intros.

[@tombaxter6228]

Welcome (unexpectedly) to season 18! New titles, new production team, and a recurring theme, that I'm sure you will soon notice...

[@FrankNFurter1000]

That new Tardis prop was also a welcome sight!

[@frankshailes3205]

The doors look as knackered as the old one...

[@FrankNFurter1000]

@@frankshailes3205 An overall improvement, however.

[@joecrammond6221]

John Nathan Turner took over as producer for this episode and brought quite a few changes to make the series more modern for the 80's

[@kemmdog4444]

You’re right The Leisure Hive planet is similar to the planet from Midnight.

[@SpyroCynderFan]

Easily one of the best themes in Classic Who imo.

[@soupdragon1971]

Welcome to the JNT era and the Quantel paintbox. You think it is a shock for you, imagine how we felt in 1980.

[@johnlarro6872]

As a little kid, 5 was "my" Doctor, so I grew up with the "starfield" titles. What surprised me when I was in my teens, and I saw Leisure Hive - I had no idea that the starfield actually started here! I had presumed it was a 5th Doctor thing. So - I wasn't QUITE as surprised as you (!) but it was still a shock. Not sure if it's been said or not - but the starfield was created basically 1 star at a time, using a piece of black cardboard and a pin-hole, with a light behind it, zooming the camera in, then repeating with a new pinhole, etc etc. It is NOT digital. How amazing is that... And... as I see you've finished Tom's run now... I'll add... The story goes that each season Tom would say "Oh I think it's time I go..." and the producer would say "No Tom! Don't go", and so he would stay. Then, as noted below, JN-T took over as producer. And when Tom did his "I think it's time I go", the response from JN-T was - silence... So Tom left. (But as you've said - it was time for him to go. Indeed - some think he stayed about 1-2 seasons too long... but - he's Tom fucking Baker! He was born to play the Doctor like no other human...)

[@steveng5486]

Personally. I love this theme tune. Welcome to the 80s!

[@kierenevans2521]

The Starfield effect is cool with the stars forming the Doctor's face and the logo, though I think the photo of Tom is not the best. New Producer John Nathan-Turner wanted a more serious, science tone for the series. You might have noticed there's a lot of technobabble in it with is partly down to the new script editor Christopher H. Bidmead. Some of his additions grate but generally I like them.

[@ShamrockParticle]

When I was a kid and this story first aired, I was ecstatic over the new theme. It felt lively and exciting. Then we get the pan of the beach huts... 😅 then it improves when Romana appears in what felt like 10 minutes later... thankfully that music, that wonderful music, helped make up for it. The earth shuttle scenes threw me off over that perspective used. Probably saved on production cost... the costumes and make-up were sumptuous. Loved the new Quantel effects... And that cliffhanger... 😲🤯 creepy as heck, like season 13 was with its horror. couldn't wait to see what happened next. Very chilling stuff at the time... I'm saying the following only because it's been a year, but people say Leisure Hive was the weakest of the season! So glad you like this one so far, it's a favorite of mine... Loving your reactions,

[@conscienceaginBlackadder]

Milestone of he end of the Delia Derbyshire sound. This is the first theme style remake by someone else. At the Macra Terror change for the Second Doctor, Derbyshire had remixed the theme to add its fast whoosh. So it was no longer exactly the orignal theme from then: but, it was still based on it, still her, and the melody still her original type of sound for it. That same theme with minor tweaks to its sequence was then used for 13 years, from Macra Terror to Nimon. This change was welcomed big time by a mum's letter to the Radio Times, who said her son had been scared of the previous theme.

[@conscienceaginBlackadder]

Correction. Now I have learned from the Shallow Proclamation reaction channel, that oddly that music was introduced from ep 2 of the Faceless Ones, 5 episodes after the Troughton face titles visually were introduced. Shallow Proclamation is a good humoured pair of men, the younger coming to it new like Marie-Clare, DW specific reactors aiming to do the whole of DW in order from scratch.

[@barriehull7076]

Pangol: David Haig appeared in the 1994 film Four Weddings and a Funeral and had a supporting role in the BBC television sitcom The Thin Blue Line playing Inspector Grim, the inept foil to Rowan Atkinson's Inspector Fowler. In 2002 he played the brother of Four Weddings' co-star Hugh Grant in the romantic comedy Two Weeks Notice. In 2007, he appeared in a Comic Relief sketch called "Mr. Bean's Wedding" as the bride's father, reuniting with Atkinson.

[@darkerbit]

NEON! BRIGHT COLOURS! COMPUTER GRAPHICS! SYNTHS!

[@gamegeek812]

Barry Letts (who was the producer during Jon Pertwee's time) returns as the executive producer for this season, and the new theme tune is composed by Peter Howell.

[@benbastianiartmusic1421]

I LOVE 80s Who but for me it takes a while to get going so bear with. My favourite era of the entire series is still to come! And in my opinion that was such a weird photo of Tom to have in the opening credits!

[@ftumschk]

I know... it looks like Tom's about to break wind ;)

[@stuartwho]

It was never a great shot of Pertwee for his first four seasons but the shot of Tom for most of his run was iconic.

[@simonbedford1894]

Suddenly it feels like the 80s!

[@Jaime-dd4sw]

WELCOME TO THE 80S! Did you notice that John Leeson is back voicing K9? It's kind of blink and you'll miss it since he was only in that opening bit for this episode. Season 18 is an interesting time behind the scenes production wise. John Nathan-Turner (or JNT) took over as producer and Christopher H. Bidmead as script editor. Some of the changes the new team really wanted to focus on were improving the show's visual effects and general look (as I am sure you noticed this episode was filmed far stylistically than previous serials and had a higher quality of special effect) and decreasing the humor while increasing the show's focus on the sort of science that was showing up in New Scientist at that time. They even tasked costume designer June Hudson with giving the Doctor a brand new costume - a process where she was told he didn't need to keep the scarf. Personally I'm really glad she decided not to remove the accessory and instead designed him a new one to match his new costume (unpopular opinion: I love the Season 18 costume, it's among my absolute favorite Doctor outfits. I even own a normal length version of the Season 18 scarf that I wear regularly in the winter). I'll save saying anything more about what was going on behind the scenes at this time until later when it won't spoil anything, but wow is Season 18 one of those seasons where what was happening while filming *really* influenced what we see on screen in some clearly unplanned ways.

[@mudcrab3420]

"There is a lot to take in" - an excellent summary :) Old enough to have seen this in the cinema, so to speak. Not sure I understood it all then... or the next time I watched it... or... now... Also, my PC was being painful when I watching this. The audio was normal speed but the visuals were updating about about 1 FPS. So I got this montage our of host looking absolutely gob smacked at the new titles :D (also.... Earth Shuttle Arriving, Earth Shuttle Arriving.)

[@forkinhell3545]

You're confused by the start?! This mashed my head in 1980 when I saw this the first time. It felt like losing a member of the family with the old titles going. Back then there where no spoilers like there are today. You literally knew nothing about a programme until you watched it. Now you know everything months in advance to the point that you don't need to see the show at all. However it will grow on on you, I promise!

[@MrPaulFCockburn]

“I don’t like change.” Hmm. Doctor Who is possibly not the series for you, then. 😁 (Bit late to tell you, I know...)

[@Zaphod-uk1qn]

TheLeisure Hive is fun! I enjoy watching your videos.

[@alexfletcher5192]

The focus on Tachyons (real particles) is an indicator of the kind of scientific reality that new script-editor Christopher Hamilton Bidmead (yes, he'd like the full version) wanted to bring to the show. Although it's difficult to see quite how they could be applied to the science described in this story. A former actor turned writer - then science writer - Bidmead felt the show under Douglas Adams had become a bit too 'jokey' and needed to be taken more seriously. This, believe it or not, was welcomed in many quarters. Whether or not it was actually achieved is another matter, but it demonstrates how this 'different vibe' had quite a fundamentalist attitude behind it.

[@jimcat6795]

The intro and all the stylistic changes are pretty startling, fun to see it through new eyes!

[@Allancarlostani]

And so begins the John Nathan-Turner era. Some will say that this era has some of the worst episodes in the series... and I can't disagree. But I can also say that, in my honest opinion, this era has some of the best episodes in the series. It will be an interesting journey.

[@davidbull7210]

Welcome to my childhood. It's a jarring change in this story. Too much change really despite there being no change in principal cast. Lovett Bickford the director went miles over budget with all the money thrown at this one and got severely reprimanded. Are you glad John Leeson is back as K9?

[@themaestrosfolly]

So the 1980 intro is what the Fandom call “Starfield” and was created using practical effects. It utilises a black drape with holes in it and a light behind it with images recorded and over recorded to create the effect. The theme is called “The Howell Arrangement” which was reimagined by BBC Radiophonic Workshop composer Peter Howell and is considered the 2nd most iconic version of the theme. It is rumoured the BBC wanted to keep on using the original Delia Derbyshire theme but when they went back to the original master recording it was distorted by the age of the tape (this is before digital remastering) so they decided a new theme for a new decade was in order. There was a short video featuring how they made the Howell Arrangement with Peter Howell himself explaining the process. You can watch it via this link here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moO8gnijrLV9oLM However the clip contains a mild spoiler by showing the same intro featuring the face of a future Doctor as the making of video was made some time after the debut of Starfield and the Howell Arrangement….

[@sixstanger00]

1980*

[@themaestrosfolly]

@@sixstanger00 True, I originally wrote 1980 then had a senior moment and changed it….😂 I’ll edit it back…

[@leslieride5813]

Tom Bakers New Burgandy Costume was Designed by New Season 18 Costume Designer June Hudson who also designed all of Lalla Wards costumes too.

[@markdavidson9100]

I spy the dude from The gunfighters and detective on The thin blue line. So beautiful too having the middle eight section of the theme back…love your reactions so much, they have enhanced my love for Doctor Who, Ashes and life on Mars

[@frankshailes3205]

The lovely Laurence Payne. He was ITV's "Sexton Blake" in the 60s - when he lost the use of one eye in a fencing accident - and he's in an episode of The Saint featuring The Loch Ness Monster, so has something in common with Tom Baker's Doctor!

[@johng5859]

Welcome to 80s Who! This is the version of the theme tune and logo that I grew up with, so I have always been very fond of them - indeed, this is the only arrangement of the theme that I rate outside of Delia Derbyshire’s original. However, the new title sequence must have been a big shock when this episode was first broadcast on 30 August 1980, particularly as the theme had only undergone minor changes over the previous 17 seasons. The incidental music is also completely different here, new producer John Nathan Turner dispensing with the services of veteran composer Dudley Simpson and relying instead on the synths of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, automatically giving the series a more 80s feel. JNT felt the show had become very cheap and tacky in appearance under his predecessor, whom he had worked under, so he was determined to refresh the look. He and new script editor Chris Bidmead also wanted to tone down the humour, bring back some scares and put more emphasis on science, hence all the stuff here about tachyonics. Most importantly, they told Tom to be more restrained in his performance, and you can see that here, though his mood was not helped at the time by the fact his relationship with Lalla was going through a rough patch, which meant they were not talking off screen, while he was also going down with a strange illness which would dog him for several months.

[@bletheringfool]

This is my era of the show so welcome to it. Here's Tim Whitnall aka Angelo from Mike and Angelo interviewing Peter Howell about the theme. See the YT video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIvYl2OCfrpgaKM&ab_channel=BBCArchive

[@mccpcorn2000]

Welcome to the 1980s lol. The new theme grows on you. I love this theme and the classic theme best. EDIT: After David Tennant took over and got his new intro theme, the little guitar riff in it was in homage to this theme.

[@blakesliberator3197]

To this day, I think the new intro is a big step down. And, you're right. As a 70s child, it was a bitter pill to swallow after growing up being entertained by the iconic decorative 3D blending tunnel-effects than have adorned Doctor Who from the mid 70s. Not to mention, a dramatic change to theme from DW first story. The thing is, as a toddler, I have fleeting memories of being scared of the 60s title sequence. That's a big part of why I fell in love with the whole series from a young age. It really does affect the feel of the program. Whereas you, Marie-Clare, having been seeing the whole series in the space of a few years completely with an adult's point of view. But, for me, I may stand out from the pack and say; all these years later I'm just not sold on these dramatic changes. But, I'm not going anywhere. I'll keep following you on your Classic Who journey to the end!

[@joshuajoshua2732]

Welcome to the 1980s and the JNT era and the introduction of Tom Baker's new costume and red and purple scarf and the question mark on his collars and of course the premiere of Season 18. The TARDIS prop has all so changed. All brand new.

[@ruairiedwards8616]

Marie-Clare welcome to the 1980s

[@ChrisJohnsonChannel]

Your face and the end when the Doctor was torn apart 😱😱😱😱sad Romana II couldn’t save K-9….😭

[@alexfletcher5192]

John Nathan-Turner's on/off association with Dr Who dated back to 'The Space Pirates' in 1968, so he had more than a good idea of how the organization worked. However, his initial response to being made Producer was to rid the programme of what he considered a culture of 'It'll do'. It's difficult, in retrospect, to interpret quite what this means. The show had always worked - and worked bloody hard - with the resources available. Still, that was the credo he clung to and changes were afoot. House composer Dudley Simpson (whose first credit on the series was 'Planet of Giants' back in 1964) was taken out to dinner and politely 'let go', leaving the job of incidental music to the BBC Radiophonic Workshop (the reworked theme, like the music across this story, was rebuilt from the ground up, on synthesizers and vocoder, by resident composer Peter Howell). Bernard Lodge's iconic slit-scan title sequence, which had been in use in two variants since 1973, was ditched in favour of the glitzy new 'star-field' sequence by Sid Sutton (who also developed the new 'neon logo'). Tom Baker's familiar silhouette was retained but standardized - some would say 'branded' - by Costume Designer June Hudson. And even the Police Box prop got a makeover to put it more in line with the original. Whether these cosmetic changes met with the approval of everyone is difficult to say, but since this story was written by the same guy who gave us 'Creature from the Pit' the year before, it's amazing how much they alter the perception of the programme as a whole.

[@bugsby4663]

Welcome to the eighties! Interestingly, even though new producer JNT, had been with the show for many years, it was felt he needed supervision until he got his feet under the table, so they chose Barry Letts, who was producer for the Pertwee era and who cast Tom as the Doctor, as 'Executive Producer'.

[@frankshailes3205]

That was partly due to the changes in the head of serials posts and suchlike, so there wasn't the usual reporting chain there had been before.

[@EveryoneWhoUsesThisTV]

Welcome to the 80s Bubble writing fonts and that intro music!! :D

[@rnw2739]

Neon tube actually 😉

[@harleyhartley3168]

This series feels a bit like the classic who version of series 10 being a soft reeboot, same era with mostly the same elements but just feeling so much more fresh and different

[@LanceHerod-n5d]

The new intro part reminds me of season 7b with still the same Doctor

[@pastadinnertheater8657]

i loved your reaction to the new intro sequence

[@philippaine2169]

Great reaction as always 😀

[@alexfletcher5192]

Lovett Bickford's 'stately' pacing on this show is something you either dig or hate, really. It wasn't totally out of tune with the moment though. The recently released 'Star Trek - The Motion Picture' featured scenes that seemed to last at least three ice ages and, looking forward, high-concept releases like 'Blade Runner' would favour the sensation of the visuals over being true to the source material. But, if you really dislike change, my main advice going forward into the 1980s is 'Buckle up!'

[@frankshailes3205]

We didn't get the chance to pause it at the time... and we had 7 years of the "old" ones!

[@magic713m]

You are now in the 1980s Doctor Who. The beginning of a new era

[@vashna3799]

Bit of a culture shock when the 1970s became the 80s, everything changed.

[@oldwebshooter]

Though I'd say it's more transitional, it still 70s into 1980. The left over vibe is probably still there in some sense till 1983.

[@ftumschk]

Indeed... that was the time my voice broke :)

[@keithsolley]

not always for the good

[@Adeodatus100]

It was 1980. It was the beginning of the Computer Age. It was synth pop, The New Music, (primitive) computer-aided special effects. It was The Future. My perspective was that after a year or more of declining production values Dr Who suddenly and abruptly grew up a bit. (I noted that during Horns of Nimon you said you hadn't been scared by Dr Who since Talons of Weng-Chiang.) The scripts are tighter (even though this episode seems very slow in places) - which leads to some episodes being very short. But the new "expensive" look of the show was revelatory. I think I probably watched episode 1 of The Leisure Hive with a big, delighted grin on my face!

[@frankshailes3205]

They were told by BBC management when Hinchcliffe was sacked not to use horror or violence any more, Graham Williams substituted comedy.

[@genemroch7059]

???????? You're right to wait on watching Shada till the end of the classic era. I believe that is the same time they finished it and aired it finally anyway. Enjoy the 80s WHO

[@stephencoppins9467]

Welcome to Season 18 (yes, the Doctor is now legal) and the 1980s! I thought you took the new opening titles extremely well, under the circumstances.

[@moonpawooe7134]

What's in them white jars on the shelf that's the 6 million dollar question

[@colinmcdonough4034]

Probably the biggest stylistic change in the entire history of the show. Only the change between The War Games and Spearhead from Space is close.

[@keithsolley]

this season was up against Buck Roger's in the 25th century on ITV so initially had bad audience figures- lots of adolescent Male viewers being attracted to that series for its often scantily - clad female characters - a battered old Police box stood no chance!

[@kalamaike]

a lot of people hate this but i think its absolutely great, especially the directing. the only thing that bogs it down is the fact it clearly under and so its massively padded with transitions and atmospheric stuff that id usually be fine with but here it just goes on too long

[@frankshailes3205]

I thought people hated the next story?

[@Concreteowl]

I felt the same. Delia was perfect.

[@thomasstevens2746]

Great reaction

[@niallnorwood4669]

Well Marie Claire what you think of Tom Baker new costume ? Quite a big change from JNT . I heard Tom hate wearing the burgundy hat and the question mark shirt

[@rnw2739]

Tom hated everything by this point, everything except being in a pub. It was truly a blessed release when he left.

[@Cruithneach]

I'm assuming you know the background to the *Shada* situation. If not, it's...interesting...

[@Finbarzapek]

I’m not a fan of the Doctor’s new outfit. It looks too designed, plus I can’t help but feel it must have been a little uncomfortable to wear. The jacket looks a bit stiff etc... Given how paired down his outfit was in season 17 ( essentially just a coat over a shirt ), this costume is rather complex in comparison. Nice that the original voice of K9 is back.