26 Glorious Years
@26gloriousyears.bsky.social
Undertaking a rewatch of classic DW from the beginning (and picking up where I left off on that other platform last year).
Currently savouring Season 9 and happily reacquainting myself with ‘The Sea Devils’…
Currently savouring Season 9 and happily reacquainting myself with ‘The Sea Devils’…
OTD 1967: Roving Cybermats, Yeti Control Spheres (in glorious colour) & some tantalising clips from Episode 4 of ‘The Abominable Snowmen’. All captured in Joan Bakewell’s interview with Jack Kine for ’Late Night Line Up’.
A fabulous snapshot of the early years of the BBC’s Visual Effects Dept.
A fabulous snapshot of the early years of the BBC’s Visual Effects Dept.
November 25, 2025 at 9:40 AM
OTD 1967: Roving Cybermats, Yeti Control Spheres (in glorious colour) & some tantalising clips from Episode 4 of ‘The Abominable Snowmen’. All captured in Joan Bakewell’s interview with Jack Kine for ’Late Night Line Up’.
A fabulous snapshot of the early years of the BBC’s Visual Effects Dept.
A fabulous snapshot of the early years of the BBC’s Visual Effects Dept.
Reposted by 26 Glorious Years
My latest article: BBC PA Douglas Camfield, frustrated at not being offered a place on the director's course, investigated joining the SAS via the TA. Until fate intervened. You will also discover the third time he worked for Waris Hussein...
michaelseely.substack.com/p/douglas-ca...
michaelseely.substack.com/p/douglas-ca...
Douglas Camfield in Doctor Who and the SAS
In 1964, BBC PA Douglas Camfield was at a crossroads in his life. Will he become a BBC director or will he join the SAS? Or will he do both? With brand new information, the story can finally be told.
michaelseely.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:27 AM
My latest article: BBC PA Douglas Camfield, frustrated at not being offered a place on the director's course, investigated joining the SAS via the TA. Until fate intervened. You will also discover the third time he worked for Waris Hussein...
michaelseely.substack.com/p/douglas-ca...
michaelseely.substack.com/p/douglas-ca...
Happy 62nd.
And I can think of no better image to mark the anniversary of this landmark piece of television than Alister Pearson’s striking 1990 VHS cover.
And I can think of no better image to mark the anniversary of this landmark piece of television than Alister Pearson’s striking 1990 VHS cover.
November 23, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Happy 62nd.
And I can think of no better image to mark the anniversary of this landmark piece of television than Alister Pearson’s striking 1990 VHS cover.
And I can think of no better image to mark the anniversary of this landmark piece of television than Alister Pearson’s striking 1990 VHS cover.
Remembering Verity Lambert, who we lost OTD 2007. Seen here making television history with Waris Hussein & Mervyn Pinfield in 1963.
Having steered the show into becoming a phenomenal success, its heartening to know that 62 years on we are still celebrating her incredible legacy.
Having steered the show into becoming a phenomenal success, its heartening to know that 62 years on we are still celebrating her incredible legacy.
November 22, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Remembering Verity Lambert, who we lost OTD 2007. Seen here making television history with Waris Hussein & Mervyn Pinfield in 1963.
Having steered the show into becoming a phenomenal success, its heartening to know that 62 years on we are still celebrating her incredible legacy.
Having steered the show into becoming a phenomenal success, its heartening to know that 62 years on we are still celebrating her incredible legacy.
On to Ep 3 of The Sea Devils & I’m reminded as ever of the visual flair that Michael E. Briant brings to the production. His Blu-ray interviews are also a joy to listen to - always a lively energy & enthusiasm for the show.
A great production photo here from Piccolo’s ‘The Making of Doctor Who’:
A great production photo here from Piccolo’s ‘The Making of Doctor Who’:
November 21, 2025 at 7:54 AM
On to Ep 3 of The Sea Devils & I’m reminded as ever of the visual flair that Michael E. Briant brings to the production. His Blu-ray interviews are also a joy to listen to - always a lively energy & enthusiasm for the show.
A great production photo here from Piccolo’s ‘The Making of Doctor Who’:
A great production photo here from Piccolo’s ‘The Making of Doctor Who’:
Remembering actor Bernard Horsfall, born OTD 1930.
Such a reliable presence & so easy to see why David Maloney called on his talents so regularly.
From the enigmatic Gulliver through to the tragic figure of Chancellor Goth, Horsfall was never anything less than entirely convincing.
Such a reliable presence & so easy to see why David Maloney called on his talents so regularly.
From the enigmatic Gulliver through to the tragic figure of Chancellor Goth, Horsfall was never anything less than entirely convincing.
November 20, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Remembering actor Bernard Horsfall, born OTD 1930.
Such a reliable presence & so easy to see why David Maloney called on his talents so regularly.
From the enigmatic Gulliver through to the tragic figure of Chancellor Goth, Horsfall was never anything less than entirely convincing.
Such a reliable presence & so easy to see why David Maloney called on his talents so regularly.
From the enigmatic Gulliver through to the tragic figure of Chancellor Goth, Horsfall was never anything less than entirely convincing.
Remembering William Russell Enoch, born OTD 1924. Forever our beloved Knight of Jaffa.
November 19, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Remembering William Russell Enoch, born OTD 1924. Forever our beloved Knight of Jaffa.
On to Ep 2 of ‘The Sea Devils‘, & I’m reminded again of the impact created by Malcolm Clarke’s wonderfully discordant soundscape. Easily one of his best known scores - & certainly now as iconic as the inspired design of the Sea Devils themselves by the combined talents of Briant, Snoaden & Fletcher.
November 15, 2025 at 12:33 PM
On to Ep 2 of ‘The Sea Devils‘, & I’m reminded again of the impact created by Malcolm Clarke’s wonderfully discordant soundscape. Easily one of his best known scores - & certainly now as iconic as the inspired design of the Sea Devils themselves by the combined talents of Briant, Snoaden & Fletcher.
32 years ago this week, ‘The Antique Doctor Who Show’ - my favourite of the mini-features that preceded the ‘Planet of the Daleks’ 30th Anniversary repeat run.
Featured some eye catching animation courtesy of the talented Tony Clark, whose credits range from Target book covers to costume design.
Featured some eye catching animation courtesy of the talented Tony Clark, whose credits range from Target book covers to costume design.
November 14, 2025 at 11:26 AM
32 years ago this week, ‘The Antique Doctor Who Show’ - my favourite of the mini-features that preceded the ‘Planet of the Daleks’ 30th Anniversary repeat run.
Featured some eye catching animation courtesy of the talented Tony Clark, whose credits range from Target book covers to costume design.
Featured some eye catching animation courtesy of the talented Tony Clark, whose credits range from Target book covers to costume design.
Noted that it’s 60 years to the day that ‘The Nightmare Begins’ was broadcast.
Viewing the surviving clips invariably takes me back to one of my strongest memories of buying DWB (‘Daleks Masterplan 1 - Film Footage Found!’) & their much anticipated inclusion on ‘The Early Years‘ VHS.
Happy days.
Viewing the surviving clips invariably takes me back to one of my strongest memories of buying DWB (‘Daleks Masterplan 1 - Film Footage Found!’) & their much anticipated inclusion on ‘The Early Years‘ VHS.
Happy days.
November 13, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Noted that it’s 60 years to the day that ‘The Nightmare Begins’ was broadcast.
Viewing the surviving clips invariably takes me back to one of my strongest memories of buying DWB (‘Daleks Masterplan 1 - Film Footage Found!’) & their much anticipated inclusion on ‘The Early Years‘ VHS.
Happy days.
Viewing the surviving clips invariably takes me back to one of my strongest memories of buying DWB (‘Daleks Masterplan 1 - Film Footage Found!’) & their much anticipated inclusion on ‘The Early Years‘ VHS.
Happy days.
Now revisiting The Sea Devils, whose mythical status was fuelled when I was a youngster by the likes of this striking image (& others that would grace the books & magazines for years to come).
An archetypal image really - a resolute Dr with horror lurking in the shadows - no wonder we were hooked 🙂
An archetypal image really - a resolute Dr with horror lurking in the shadows - no wonder we were hooked 🙂
November 11, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Now revisiting The Sea Devils, whose mythical status was fuelled when I was a youngster by the likes of this striking image (& others that would grace the books & magazines for years to come).
An archetypal image really - a resolute Dr with horror lurking in the shadows - no wonder we were hooked 🙂
An archetypal image really - a resolute Dr with horror lurking in the shadows - no wonder we were hooked 🙂
OTD 1981. ‘The Five Faces of Dr Who’ season on BBC2 continues with ‘The Krotons’.
Apart from a few brief glimpses in the ‘Whose Dr Who?’ documentary, this was my first real exposure to Patrick Troughton’s Doctor.
Oh, how I made sure I was home in time to catch these episodes - just captivating. 🙂
Apart from a few brief glimpses in the ‘Whose Dr Who?’ documentary, this was my first real exposure to Patrick Troughton’s Doctor.
Oh, how I made sure I was home in time to catch these episodes - just captivating. 🙂
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 AM
OTD 1981. ‘The Five Faces of Dr Who’ season on BBC2 continues with ‘The Krotons’.
Apart from a few brief glimpses in the ‘Whose Dr Who?’ documentary, this was my first real exposure to Patrick Troughton’s Doctor.
Oh, how I made sure I was home in time to catch these episodes - just captivating. 🙂
Apart from a few brief glimpses in the ‘Whose Dr Who?’ documentary, this was my first real exposure to Patrick Troughton’s Doctor.
Oh, how I made sure I was home in time to catch these episodes - just captivating. 🙂
On to episode 4 of ‘The Curse of Peladon’.
I can easily say that repeated viewings over the years - from ‘Dr Who and the Monsters’, then via VHS, DVD and finally Blu-ray - certainly hasn’t blunted my fondness for this story.
Though there was something inevitably magical about those 80s repeats 🙂
I can easily say that repeated viewings over the years - from ‘Dr Who and the Monsters’, then via VHS, DVD and finally Blu-ray - certainly hasn’t blunted my fondness for this story.
Though there was something inevitably magical about those 80s repeats 🙂
November 7, 2025 at 9:49 AM
On to episode 4 of ‘The Curse of Peladon’.
I can easily say that repeated viewings over the years - from ‘Dr Who and the Monsters’, then via VHS, DVD and finally Blu-ray - certainly hasn’t blunted my fondness for this story.
Though there was something inevitably magical about those 80s repeats 🙂
I can easily say that repeated viewings over the years - from ‘Dr Who and the Monsters’, then via VHS, DVD and finally Blu-ray - certainly hasn’t blunted my fondness for this story.
Though there was something inevitably magical about those 80s repeats 🙂
Remember, remember, the 5th of November.
Well, I certainly recall this date in 1993 - 70s Dr Who in a peak-time viewing slot, due to a welcome repeat run of ‘Planet of the Daleks’.
Along with those wonderful featurettes that preceded each episode, the VHS recorder was rarely idle during this time.
Well, I certainly recall this date in 1993 - 70s Dr Who in a peak-time viewing slot, due to a welcome repeat run of ‘Planet of the Daleks’.
Along with those wonderful featurettes that preceded each episode, the VHS recorder was rarely idle during this time.
November 5, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Remember, remember, the 5th of November.
Well, I certainly recall this date in 1993 - 70s Dr Who in a peak-time viewing slot, due to a welcome repeat run of ‘Planet of the Daleks’.
Along with those wonderful featurettes that preceded each episode, the VHS recorder was rarely idle during this time.
Well, I certainly recall this date in 1993 - 70s Dr Who in a peak-time viewing slot, due to a welcome repeat run of ‘Planet of the Daleks’.
Along with those wonderful featurettes that preceded each episode, the VHS recorder was rarely idle during this time.
OTD 1966. Patrick Troughton’s first appearance as our beloved mercurial time traveller, as the first episode of ‘The Power of the Daleks’ is broadcast.
A story that represents the first of twenty-one reasons over three memorable seasons to delight in his extraordinary performance as the Doctor 🙂
A story that represents the first of twenty-one reasons over three memorable seasons to delight in his extraordinary performance as the Doctor 🙂
November 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
OTD 1966. Patrick Troughton’s first appearance as our beloved mercurial time traveller, as the first episode of ‘The Power of the Daleks’ is broadcast.
A story that represents the first of twenty-one reasons over three memorable seasons to delight in his extraordinary performance as the Doctor 🙂
A story that represents the first of twenty-one reasons over three memorable seasons to delight in his extraordinary performance as the Doctor 🙂
Reposted by 26 Glorious Years
OTD 1992 - UK Gold is launched & this devotee of the show, desperate to view archive Doctor Who, begins stocking up on blank VHS tapes.
This channel jingle quickly became synonymous with my first viewings of many surviving Hartnell episodes. Such a wonderful time.
This channel jingle quickly became synonymous with my first viewings of many surviving Hartnell episodes. Such a wonderful time.
November 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
OTD 1992 - UK Gold is launched & this devotee of the show, desperate to view archive Doctor Who, begins stocking up on blank VHS tapes.
This channel jingle quickly became synonymous with my first viewings of many surviving Hartnell episodes. Such a wonderful time.
This channel jingle quickly became synonymous with my first viewings of many surviving Hartnell episodes. Such a wonderful time.
OTD 1992 - UK Gold is launched & this devotee of the show, desperate to view archive Doctor Who, begins stocking up on blank VHS tapes.
This channel jingle quickly became synonymous with my first viewings of many surviving Hartnell episodes. Such a wonderful time.
This channel jingle quickly became synonymous with my first viewings of many surviving Hartnell episodes. Such a wonderful time.
November 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
OTD 1992 - UK Gold is launched & this devotee of the show, desperate to view archive Doctor Who, begins stocking up on blank VHS tapes.
This channel jingle quickly became synonymous with my first viewings of many surviving Hartnell episodes. Such a wonderful time.
This channel jingle quickly became synonymous with my first viewings of many surviving Hartnell episodes. Such a wonderful time.
Reposted by 26 Glorious Years
NEWS: Toby Hadoke Podcast
Toby Hadoke, plus a host of Doctor Who luminaries, have recorded a very special podcast about missing episodes. Fantasy Film Cans (Part One) is, as Toby states: ‘Pure fantasy: a parlour game turned into a podcast.’ But what great fun!
x.com/tobyhadoke/s...
Toby Hadoke, plus a host of Doctor Who luminaries, have recorded a very special podcast about missing episodes. Fantasy Film Cans (Part One) is, as Toby states: ‘Pure fantasy: a parlour game turned into a podcast.’ But what great fun!
x.com/tobyhadoke/s...
November 1, 2025 at 10:43 AM
NEWS: Toby Hadoke Podcast
Toby Hadoke, plus a host of Doctor Who luminaries, have recorded a very special podcast about missing episodes. Fantasy Film Cans (Part One) is, as Toby states: ‘Pure fantasy: a parlour game turned into a podcast.’ But what great fun!
x.com/tobyhadoke/s...
Toby Hadoke, plus a host of Doctor Who luminaries, have recorded a very special podcast about missing episodes. Fantasy Film Cans (Part One) is, as Toby states: ‘Pure fantasy: a parlour game turned into a podcast.’ But what great fun!
x.com/tobyhadoke/s...
Revisiting The Curse of Peladon & I’m reminded just how good a performance Alan Bennion provides as Izlyr.
Augmenting Sylvia James‘s superb make-up work, Bennion works wonders with timing, inflection, gesture & posture - and it’s all beautifully sustained throughout each episode.
Such a fine actor.
Augmenting Sylvia James‘s superb make-up work, Bennion works wonders with timing, inflection, gesture & posture - and it’s all beautifully sustained throughout each episode.
Such a fine actor.
October 31, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Revisiting The Curse of Peladon & I’m reminded just how good a performance Alan Bennion provides as Izlyr.
Augmenting Sylvia James‘s superb make-up work, Bennion works wonders with timing, inflection, gesture & posture - and it’s all beautifully sustained throughout each episode.
Such a fine actor.
Augmenting Sylvia James‘s superb make-up work, Bennion works wonders with timing, inflection, gesture & posture - and it’s all beautifully sustained throughout each episode.
Such a fine actor.
OTD 1966.
William Hartnell takes his bow, just eight episodes into Season 4. The change of lead actor would usher in a key component of the show‘s mythology, one that would help to secure it a longevity no one to that point could have foreseen.
It is of course far from all over…
William Hartnell takes his bow, just eight episodes into Season 4. The change of lead actor would usher in a key component of the show‘s mythology, one that would help to secure it a longevity no one to that point could have foreseen.
It is of course far from all over…
October 29, 2025 at 8:20 AM
OTD 1966.
William Hartnell takes his bow, just eight episodes into Season 4. The change of lead actor would usher in a key component of the show‘s mythology, one that would help to secure it a longevity no one to that point could have foreseen.
It is of course far from all over…
William Hartnell takes his bow, just eight episodes into Season 4. The change of lead actor would usher in a key component of the show‘s mythology, one that would help to secure it a longevity no one to that point could have foreseen.
It is of course far from all over…
Now revisiting ‘The Curse of Peladon’. My earliest memories of watching this in the 70s are now as steeped in flickering darkness as those shadowy castle corridors, but I do vividly recall avidly reading Hayle’s Target novelisation - for who could forget those impactful Alan Willow illustrations? 👇🙂
October 28, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Now revisiting ‘The Curse of Peladon’. My earliest memories of watching this in the 70s are now as steeped in flickering darkness as those shadowy castle corridors, but I do vividly recall avidly reading Hayle’s Target novelisation - for who could forget those impactful Alan Willow illustrations? 👇🙂
Remembering Peter Bryant, born OTD 1923.
Script Editor, Associate Producer & then full-time Producer for an absolutely extraordinary run of stories in the Patrick Troughton era.
Such a superb legacy - can we just have a little bit more of it back please? 🙂
Script Editor, Associate Producer & then full-time Producer for an absolutely extraordinary run of stories in the Patrick Troughton era.
Such a superb legacy - can we just have a little bit more of it back please? 🙂
October 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Remembering Peter Bryant, born OTD 1923.
Script Editor, Associate Producer & then full-time Producer for an absolutely extraordinary run of stories in the Patrick Troughton era.
Such a superb legacy - can we just have a little bit more of it back please? 🙂
Script Editor, Associate Producer & then full-time Producer for an absolutely extraordinary run of stories in the Patrick Troughton era.
Such a superb legacy - can we just have a little bit more of it back please? 🙂
Finished ’Day of the Daleks’ yesterday - a pleasure to revisit after many years.
And multiple viewings hasn’t blunted my fondness for Pertwee’s performance here - he’s completely on form throughout, especially the measured intensity with which he delivers these now immortal lines…
And multiple viewings hasn’t blunted my fondness for Pertwee’s performance here - he’s completely on form throughout, especially the measured intensity with which he delivers these now immortal lines…
October 25, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Finished ’Day of the Daleks’ yesterday - a pleasure to revisit after many years.
And multiple viewings hasn’t blunted my fondness for Pertwee’s performance here - he’s completely on form throughout, especially the measured intensity with which he delivers these now immortal lines…
And multiple viewings hasn’t blunted my fondness for Pertwee’s performance here - he’s completely on form throughout, especially the measured intensity with which he delivers these now immortal lines…
OTD 1976.
The more I revisit Sarah Jane Smith’s departure, the more I come to appreciate the cleverness of the writing & the subtle staging of those closing scenes.
Performances pitched just at the right level, complemented by some very sensitive direction from Lennie Mayne.
The more I revisit Sarah Jane Smith’s departure, the more I come to appreciate the cleverness of the writing & the subtle staging of those closing scenes.
Performances pitched just at the right level, complemented by some very sensitive direction from Lennie Mayne.
October 23, 2025 at 7:16 AM
OTD 1976.
The more I revisit Sarah Jane Smith’s departure, the more I come to appreciate the cleverness of the writing & the subtle staging of those closing scenes.
Performances pitched just at the right level, complemented by some very sensitive direction from Lennie Mayne.
The more I revisit Sarah Jane Smith’s departure, the more I come to appreciate the cleverness of the writing & the subtle staging of those closing scenes.
Performances pitched just at the right level, complemented by some very sensitive direction from Lennie Mayne.