Sylvester McCoy, Sheila Hancock and the creators of Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol | BFI Q&A

The cast and crew of Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol visit BFI Southbank to talk about the making of the 1988 episode of the BBC's long-running sci-fi series.
In Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol The Doctor and Ace visit the planet Terra Alpha where they discover a secret police force known as The Happiness Patrol who exist in order to eradicate any signs of unhappiness on the streets. With unpopular leader Helen A and her robotic Kandy Man in charge, the Doctor and Ace try to help the inhabitants embrace all their emotions without fear of penalty. This story has been re-edited using additional footage and brand new special effects to create a feature length special edition with a new 5.1 soundtrack.
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[@DistantCousin]

Sheila Hancock is wonderful. In her 90's and still sharp as a tack and full of spark!

[@nekusakura6748]

One of My Favourite DW Classic Serials. Thank You BFI for doing this.

[@georgereid4914]

Sheila is fantastic. I was sad to miss this event but happy to catch the Dragonfire one!

[@berliner0]

I’ve met McCoy ace and Andrew Cartmel nice people

[@afjkernow1808]

I watched the McCoy era in Black and White. I was a bit surprised by the bright garish colours. I loved the jazz and the determination of the Doctor and Ace to upturn the regime

[@Kryojenix]

How/why did you watch it in black and white? B&W TV?

[@afjkernow1808]

Hello. Yes, I had a b/w tv when I was younger. And so didn’t see those years in colour till about twenty-five years later!

[@Baconbutt.]

Funnily enough I had a similar Experience with the Muppets. I Watched the Muppets in Black And White for years as we only had one TV (Black and White). Finally saw it in Colour and was really surprised how bright and Garish it looked. Not what I had expected.

[@darrenclements]

Welcome to the Kandy Kitchen, gentlemen.

[@chriswinwood6501]

This is brilliant. Thanks so much for the upload.sheila’s passion about the assets, around 37:00 is so powerful.

[@gsrforever1338]

what the moderator said about DW saving people in their lows, I was in a bad low in 2022, and Power of The Doctor got me to watch classics mostly for Ace and Tegan. I did watch all of it, but Ace and 7 helped me get out of it, and each time I feel myself slipping, I go back to the best duo.

[@gregevigan]

Awesome. Any of the others available?

[@berliner0]

It would’ve looked great in black and white too

[@ronsapp]

Story telling [and actors] were better back then.

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

One of the best stories in late period old school Dr. Who. The political satire was lost on me at the time - never the less - the story was unique. Helen A is one of the best one-off villains(much like Sharaz Jek) and the scene where Fifi dies, and she breaks down is truly heartfelt.

[@Illustraful]

I had such a crush on Sophie Aldred when I was a kid. She's still a cutie.

[@papalaz4444244]

Dr Who was never made as an "educational show", that is a modern meme. It was in the same slot as Robin Hood and The Adventures of Sir Lancelot. Family adventure serials. They were asked not to make historical stories that were historically innaccurate in case they gave children a false idea of the events. Same with any real science concepts. That lasted almost no time at all, once the Daleks had arrived. Marco Polo didn't actually steal the TARDIS and Kublai Khan never played the Doctor at backgammon :)

[@mudcrab3420]

Always good to see prior members of the BBC fully defending that institution and everything it has done... Then you remember Huw Edwards and his like minded friends.

[@stingfan4]

Sheila Hancock would’ve made an amazing comic accurate Agatha Harkness.

[@nekusakura6748]

@stingfan4 Her or Honor Blackman.

[@stephenreed2093]

They need to do a re-release with this on it! 😂

[@Filmmaker809]

Shame Sheila Hancock even though I love her work, is not the friendliest person when you meet her in real life. Such a shame. Unless you are Sylvester McCoy.

[@farmbrough]

Yes, I've heard that she's a bit of a cow too. Fabulous actress though.

[@Filmmaker809]

@@farmbrough I totally agree, fantastic actress. She lives in my area in London, so I can say that. Just disappointing when you meet someone like that.

[@sg-zd8eb]

That’s a disappointment reading that after 36 years. Though here she seems pretty decent, but then again she’s not someone who does many appearances in public or many interviews over the years.

[@Filmmaker809]

@@sg-zd8eb No She doesn't. I loved her husband John Thaw though.

[@timelordvictorious]

I like happiness patrol. Think it’s a shame there not a story now that capture the nasty side of Tory uk we lived through. Don’t think new who has come close to capturing it .

[@nekusakura6748]

@timelordvictorious I do think Turn Left comes close though the Alternate Timeline aspect does somewhat distract from the Political Austerity in the Episode.

[@farmbrough]

I don't think it captured it at all. It was more a fantasy environment. The only parallels with the Thatcher premiership are the relationship between Maggie and Denis

[@sg-zd8eb]

I don’t watch tv anymore, but then I don’t have to. I’ve unfortunately lived through some of the worst this last Tory government has done to people. And continue to do so.

[@farmbrough]

@@sg-zd8eb wait, the Socialists are now in power. Shouldn't you be fighting against/moaning about them now? The Tories are the political underdogs and the brave rebels!

[@jamesthecat]

​@@farmbroughBrave and stunning. Mostly stunning.