EPISODE 1

On her co-star, Lalla Ward: I loved K9. I loved him less when it wasn't John Leeson. David Brierley in this one.

Anthony Read launches into a tedious explanation of the storyline evolution of THE HORNS OF NIMON.

On her "fox-hunting" costume, Lalla Ward: I love those red gloves. I still have my Sonic Screwdriver.

On the special effects, produced by Peter Pegrum), Lalla Ward: We've gone back a long time but the effects are quite good. 30 years ago.

On seeing the Nimon creatures for the first time, Lalla Ward: Oh, God!

EPISODE 2

Recalling 1973, Graham Crowden: I had an approach to replace Jon Pertwee. But my Agent said I would not be comfortable with all the promotional work for DOCTOR WHO. So my Agent said, "Play an villain later on".

On Graham Crowden, Lalla Ward: Very good eyebrow acting.

On actor Simon Grip-Kent (Seth), Janet Ellis: (He) died about years later (1988). He was the voice of Kenton in THE ARCHERS.
Lalla Ward: He was considered the role of Adric until Matthew "Waterlogged" got the role.

On her co-star, Tom Baker, Lalla Ward: Tom Baker and Graham Williams went to (see) ALIEN in Leicester Square (ODEON cinema). Tom said in a booming voice; "Why don't they go down to the "hold" and bore the alien to death?"

On the model work for the Skonnos Cityscape, Janet Ellis: It looked like a BLUE PETER makeover - egg boxes.
Anthony Read: I was disappointed by it.

On witnessing Baker with his younger fans, Lalla Ward: Tom captivated Children; he was very good about that but less in touch with adults.

EPISODE 3

A discussion ensued about the implementation of the "NEXT TIME." format within the NEW SERIES. The consensus was that it detracts from the intensity of the drama; "Who wants to know what's coming up?"

Lalla Ward: Director, Kenny McBain was one of the originators of MORSE (the TV detective drama series).

Anthony Read: I found the Nimon (or the clogs) a bit "stilted"; if you excuse the pun.

EPISODE 4

Anthony Read: All DOCTOR WHO's are all "melodramas" - you have to play up to it.

On her on-screen time with John Bailey (Sezom), Lalla Ward: Here's a lovely actor, John Bailey. A moving performance. A sweet man to work with.
Anthony Read: He played it beautifully.

There was a discussion about Soldeed's "death-speech" and what it would have been (encouraged by Tom Baker & Graham Crowden) if the Director had not sanctioned it. It may have been; "I've caught an everlasting cold!"

To Graham Crowden, Lalla Ward: Graham, it's a great performance. You're beginning to lose the plot. The voice is going up.

Graham Crowden: The end for me. Quite a good end. But Tom's line would have been the cherry on the trifle. But Kenny didn't want to die on a comic note. But I am a comic actor.

Lalla ward: I don't know where it hangs in the DOCTOR WHO "Hall of Infamy".

On THE HORNS OF NIMON, Lalla Ward: I think it got a lot about it. It has something good about it but people have their favourites but none of the Graham Williams seasons are popular.
Graham Crowden: I loved all of it.
Janet Ellis: Fun and privileged.
Anthony Read: Marvelous.
Lalla Ward: It wasn't a bad way to end the series (season 17).

THE DVD EXTRAS FEATURETTES

I am sure we've had something very similar on previous DVD EXTRAS but WHO PETER - PARTNERS IN TIME demonstrates that the children's magazine television programme has been invaluable, since 1963, in promoting & nurturing DOCTOR WHO - especially throughout the "wilderness years" (1996 to 2005). Of course, I watched this whilst wearing my well-earned (I complained about the extensive but too revealing pre-broadcast for the 1982 THE FIVE FACES OF DOCTOR WHO repeats season) BLUE PETER plastic badge.

In READ THE WRITER , writer, Anthony Read recalls his fundamental concept for THE HORNS OF NIMON, the working relationship with season 17's script editor, Douglas Adams, and the liability of actor's "hamming it up" under a weak Director.

It may be only less than three minutes but PETER HOWELL MUSIC DEMOS are wonderful. The "taster score", commissioned by - yes, hold onto your floppy hats and copious scarves - visionary DOCTOR WHO Producer, John Nathan-Turner, established the BBC Radiophonic Workshop as the incidental music provider for the following nine years, with Peter Howell's re-working (only the Delia Derbyshire version being better, in my humble opinion) of the iconic theme tune taking the lead. If you want to hear more of the "taster scores" they are featured on the DOCTOR WHO - RADIOPHONIC MUSIC VOLUME 4 released by BBC MUSIC.

Overall, the DVD presentation of DOCTOR WHO - THE HORNS OF NIMON is, if you can bear the "ham-acting" of Graham Crowden and the "chav-styled" parasitic Nimon aliens, a story that my six-year old thoroughly enjoyed (he said the story was easy to follow; loved the scene with the Doctor using the TARDIS as cricket ball, the laser bolts coming from the Nimon horns, and the instantly crumbling dead body).

For older fans, it may be a painful excursion to a period in the series' history but, please, give it another viewing. Drunk or sober, remember it was touched by the hands of Douglas Adams and that is reason enough press "Play" for one last time.