Doctor Who What If: The 1985 Hiatus Never Happened?

[@BillWhovian]

Discord link: discord.com/invite/hTneGXJRUS

[@tubian323]

I really wish the last Colin Baker Season had happened, Michael Goff was still alive in the mid 80's so he could have played The Toymaker again. That would have been so cool.

[@SegaNintendoGuy64]

Only The Nightmare Fair, Mission to Magnus, The Hollows of Time & The Ultimate Evil has gotten a Big Finish Lost Stories release, So at least we gotten those stories in audio form.

[@LowkeyJouta]

Going hot off a particular cameo from the recent episode "Rogue" "What if Richard E. Grant was The War Doctor?" Instead of being cast as The Great Intellegience, Steven Moffat would instead cast Richard as The War Doctor after Christopher Eccelston denies the role as in our current timeline.

[@BillWhovian]

Ooooooo that's a good idea 👍

[@Batarrow22]

That would've been so much better. As someone who was adamant that McGann should've been the War Doctor, Richard E. Grant would've been perfect. Imagine: McGann (1996), E. Grant (2003), Eccleston (2005) etc. The hidden Doctor thing would've been much more effective as the Shalka Doctor was a discarded Ninth Doctor in real life and the ordering would've been neater for sure.

[@duncanharding6564]

Great video, thank you. New sub, love the channel name too. Tom Baker is my doctor, but I loved Colin Baker and was devastated by the hiatus. What a season that would have been, such a shame

[@BillWhovian]

Thank you so much! :)

[@graduator14]

Great video! I can imagine how much more story we would've gotten over 20 more years.

[@BillWhovian]

Thanks! :)

[@harleyhartley3168]

Would find it so interesting to see what it would feel like for a doctor to stay for years and years like this. I think Tom overstayed his welcome but moreso due to the Graham Williams era being not my fave and his performance lacking in season 18. Having a doctor who a more consistent era, more development and growth could be excellent. Ncuti’s not a favourite for me yet but I would love to see him stay for 5, 6 heck even 7 series as long as there’s not several gap years

[@vinniequick]

LOVED THIS VID!! Colin gets justice lol

[@leebiggs14]

This video was released one day before my birthday which is the 12th June honest😊 and this video has really been worth the wait and I enjoyed it.

[@BillWhovian]

Oh nice. Happy late Birthday 🙂

[@leebiggs14]

Thank you😊

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

It would of been interesting to see. I think also it kind of depended on how promotion at the time that DW was getting. It has to said that Colin's time at DW(if you go back the previous year) was holding very well in the traditional Saturday teatime TV slot for ratings - especially as it was up against ITV's "Robin of Sherwood" at the time. The list of stories sounds intriguing for that season - although I do think JNT was a bit too over reliant on returning enemies. It was good that a new writer for DW was on the team(Philip Martin).

[@user-wk3ce3yj2u]

What if Ian Chesterton was in Mawdryn Undead instead of the Brig? Instead of 1976 being the year of amnesia, it will be 1967.

[@BillWhovian]

If you've watched until the very end, you'll have seen that idea is next. There's a teaser for it :)

[@thekandyman.]

Amazing video. Although, I would have the kandyman return to be the greatest threat the doctor ever faces, resulting in his regeneration

[@digipeeper]

And what if Colin Baker’s script was as excellent as the Big Finish and Colin’s plan was to outstay Tom’s 7 season?!?!

[@BillWhovian]

If you've seen him in interviews, Colin always intended to beat Tom Baker’s 7 year record. It was only because of the likes of Michael Grade forcing JNT to sack Colin that he never had a chance to become the new longest-serving Doctor. And it's more like if Colin's scripts had the quality of both his Big Finish stuff as well as McCoy's era

[@jamesleonard9395]

I’m surprised you’ve chose this particular day to release this video.

[@BillWhovian]

Why's that? :)

[@jamesleonard9395]

@@BillWhovian because it’s my birthday today

[@BillWhovian]

@@jamesleonard9395 Oh, I didn't know that. Happy birthday! 🙂

[@jamesleonard9395]

@@BillWhovian thank you

[@richardgadberry8398]

Here's another idea for the alternate Seventh Doctor: Patrick Stewart.

[@haileyshannon7548]

And Slyvester stars in Star Trek!

[@ruairiedwards8616]

I stand by that I think this could have been one of the best seasons of Classic Who had the higher ups at the BBC not put the show on hiatus.

[@BillWhovian]

Why do you think that? 🤔

[@ruairiedwards8616]

@@BillWhovian I feel that had this original Season 23 been made: 1. Colin Baker would have become more settled into the role of the Sixth Doctor and audiences could have started to warm up to him a bit more. 2. Peri would have had massive character development as you described, leading to a departure that would have been very impactful. 3. It would have been amazing to have seen The Brigadier interacting with the Sixth Doctor in a proper story (outside of Dimensions in Time). 4. We would have had multiple villains returning to the show after 10 plus years who rightfully deserved more screen time in the classic era: The Toymaker, The Autons & The Ice Warriors. 5. 23 is my lucky number.

[@user-mr7bl4er2l]

Interesting assertion Robert Holmes would have died anyway. Eric Saward was fairly sure I thought that the extensive rewrites Jonathan Powell insisted on Mysterious Planet caused such a strain to Holmes it caused part of the decline in his health.

[@BillWhovian]

That might be the case, but it wouldn’t have been the only reason for his declining health, would it? He had apparently been ill for the past few years, so he would’ve unfortunately still passed away

[@thatbloodypanda6989]

I'm most excited for What If 90 Season 29. How frequently should that series be expected?

[@BillWhovian]

Every 3-4 months hopefully (although take that with a heavy lot of salt, as there may be things that crop up that will delay the production of each video).

[@thatbloodypanda6989]

​@@BillWhovian Out of curiosity, why do they take so long? Not a criticism at all, I love the series, just a genuine question what's the creative process like?

[@BillWhovian]

@thatbloodypanda6989 Mate, you're asking me this when I've done 4 What Ifs within the past month (one of which you're literally commenting on) lol 😂 In terms of the What If '90 series, it honestly just needs a long time to get everything all done and ready. There are now a LOT of people helping me out with all of the What Ifs, and so we have to coordinate and plan everything out together. And even when it was just me working on these, it still took a lot of energy and time for me to do everything. The gap between Seasons 27 and 28 was a lot longer than I had planned. But that was only because I had a lot going on in my personal life towards the end of last year. We had a death in the family which hit me really hard, and I was starting back at college after being out of education for a few years. It was a truly difficult and stressful time, and I just didn't have the spare time to work on Season 28, alongside every other video I make. Because that's another thing. The What Ifs aren't the only videos I make. I make a lot of other Doctor Who related videos, most of which just never does as well as the What Ifs. And yet, I make them anyway, as I need that break from doing the What Ifs. I felt incredibly burnt out after I'd finished Season 27, so that didn't help either. In essence, in order to make the videos good enough for you all to enjoy, it takes a lot of time and energy. Especially the What If '90 series, as that's something which will run for years and years (as long as people are still interested in it). I'm only human and only able to do so much at one time (even with other people helping me out).

[@thatbloodypanda6989]

@@BillWhovian I appreciate the response, and I truly didn't mean anything by it. I was genuinely just curious about the process.

[@BillWhovian]

@thatbloodypanda6989 I know and I'm sorry if it felt like I was annoyed. I didn't mean to come across like that

[@johnshoepack]

For the alternate 6th and the 7th Doctor Troughton intros is there a way to watch them here?

[@BillWhovian]

@@johnshoepack Do you mean the titles for my What If Patrick Troughton Had Returned for Season 24?

[@johnshoepack]

@@BillWhovian yes

[@user-wk3ce3yj2u]

What if Doctor Who was cancelled in 1969?

[@user-wk3ce3yj2u]

Wow

[@filmunion8194]

The Seventh Doctor (1988-91)

[@BillWhovian]

He would be 1994-1998 or 1994-1997 for the second scenario. And either 1987-1989 or 1987-1990 for the first. :)

[@haileyshannon7548]

Available for years. Why is there a huge picture of Nicola and a tiny one of Colin

[@BillWhovian]

Which pictures are you referring to?

[@timelordvictorious]

Shame Colin baker could Not have another season think it could have least been worth a watch

[@user-mr7bl4er2l]

There's no evidence JNT had thought of Mel as a character until during the hiatus is there? Or evidence he wanted to write Peri out, who was still pretty popular.

[@BillWhovian]

Personally, I believe JNT would still have the same tastes for a new companion, regardless of whether the hiatus happened or not. Plus, he did originally have Peri killed off in our timeline, so that’s not beyond the realms of possibility

[@user-wk3ce3yj2u]

What about Sabalom Glitz?

[@BillWhovian]

With there being no Mysterious Planet, he wouldn’t exist

[@user-wk3ce3yj2u]

But, how would we meet Ace?

[@BillWhovian]

@@user-wk3ce3yj2u Well, Dragonfire would still exist. So she'd still be introduced in that

[@filmunion8194]

5 years not 10 years for for Colin?

[@BillWhovian]

I went with 10 years due to Colin wanting to beat Tom Baker’s record. :)

[@filmunion8194]

The Monk should have come back ?

[@BillWhovian]

Why would you have him come back? 🤔

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

Aaarsenal one, West Bromwich Aaalbiooon…nil.

[@BillWhovian]

What?

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

@@BillWhovian it sounds like you’re reading the footie results.

[@BillWhovian]

@alexwilsonpottery3733 Oh right sorry about that lol 😆

[@David-vd9sb]

Why change a bit of alternative season 24

[@BillWhovian]

If you're talking about the alternate Trial, as I said in the video, Robert Holmes would’ve died before he could’ve written the Mysterious Planet in that timeline. So there would have to be a different first story. And since Holmes created the Valeyard, it would mean that a different character would have to be the prosecution and antagonist of the season.

[@David-vd9sb]

@@BillWhovian but Robert Holmes (scriptwriter) died in 1986

[@BillWhovian]

@David-vd9sb Yep. And this alternate Trial would’ve been broadcast in 1987

[@David-vd9sb]

@@BillWhovian oh ok

[@David-vd9sb]

@@BillWhovian later on I'm going to do sum more what ifs

[@filmunion8194]

The Monk? 37:22

[@BillWhovian]

Would he really fit into that? 🤔