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The Doctor's Beard Podcast

The Doctor's Beard Podcast

De : Lucky Shot Productions
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 A Whovian (John S. Drew) and a Newvian (writer/editor Jim Beard) walk into a TARDIS and retrace the journey of the Doctor and his companions from the very beginning.© 2025 Art
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    • H.G. Wells and Temporal Mechanics: Defending "Timelash"

      H.G. Wells and Temporal Mechanics: Defending "Timelash"
      Feb 21 2026
      Join hosts John Drew and Jim Beard, along with special guest Alan J. Porter, as they tackle one of Classic Who's most controversial stories - and discover they might be more divided on it than expected! Production Overview: This 1985 two-part adventure was written by Glen McCoy (his only Doctor Who story) and directed by Pennant Roberts in his final work on the series. The production faced several challenges, including John Nathan-Turner pulling Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant out of rehearsals twice - once for a US convention and once for pantomime rehearsals. Robert Ashby's Borad makeup took three hours to apply daily and prevented him from eating, though he was given creative freedom to rewrite his own dialogue. The story originally featured the First Doctor, Susan, Ian, and Barbara, but was changed to reference the Third Doctor and Jo Grant at JNT's insistence. The Paul Darrow Factor: Guest star Paul Darrow (Blake's 7's Avon) deliberately over-acted as revenge for Colin Baker's bombastic portrayal of Bayban the Butcher on Blake's 7. When JNT asked him to play Tekker like Avon, Darrow refused and instead played him like Richard III - even asking if he could wear a hump! Eric Saward described the character as "a Roman Emperor who's been sniffing glue all day." Fan Reception vs. Host Opinions: Despite ranking 199th out of 200 in Doctor Who Magazine's 2009 poll (just above "The Twin Dilemma"), the hosts find themselves surprisingly divided. Alan defends the story as one of his favorites, particularly praising the H.G. Wells subplot and the Doctor's use of temporal mechanics. Jim finds it uneven but leans more positive than negative, enjoying Part 2 more than Part 1. John remains the dissenting voice, giving it his lowest rating and arguing it should have been condensed to a single episode. What Works: The Borad's makeup design and Robert Ashby's restrained performance The Doctor actively using time manipulation as a tool (the "time slip" device) The Third Doctor/Jo Grant backstory and photo reveal H.G. Wells as Herbert, with the reveal of his identity The Bandril aliens as an attempt at something visually different Colin Baker's performance showing the Doctor's arrogance and self-assurance Peri's relatively conservative and flattering outfit The concept of time technology used as a weapon (aging doors, etc.) References to the Doctor being President of Gallifrey What Doesn't Work: Twenty-one minutes before the TARDIS actually arrives on Karfel Excessive padding, particularly the extended TARDIS arguing scenes The "Morlocks" name being too on-the-nose from H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" Plot holes regarding mirrors, reflective surfaces, and androids The unnecessary subplot about the impending Bandril war The clone reveal feeling like a tired trope Peri's character arc diminishing from agency to damsel in distress Questions about how the Doctor knew there was a mirror behind the mural The Borad's similarity to Davros (wheelchair, arm weapon, disfigurement) Behind the Sofa Reception: Interestingly, all three Behind the Sofa pairings enjoyed the story, with Janet Fielding calling it the best of Season 22 and Peter Davison saying it was "bad enough to be good." Special Effects: The Blu-ray release is the only Colin Baker Season 22 story to receive updated special effects, particularly within the Timelash corridor itself. However, the hosts debate whether the original effects were actually any worse than typical for the era, with some defending them as perfectly acceptable for 1985. The Third Doctor Connection: The story's references to an unseen Third Doctor adventure generate discussion about whether this needs to be explored further. Some Big Finish audios and novels have addressed different aspects of this backstory, though no single story covers the complete adventure. The reveal of Jo Grant's photo in the locket creates a memorable moment, though questions remain about the logistics of the wall/mural/mirror setup. Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor: All three hosts praise Colin Baker's performance, with discussion about how he represents a return to the "classic" Doctor archetype - combining arrogance, self-assurance, and alien behavior in ways that callback to earlier incarnations. Alan notes that the Sixth Doctor has become his favorite classic Doctor, particularly in Big Finish audios where the character develops further. Jim agrees that Baker brings back an edge and arrogance that had been missing from the Fifth Doctor's portrayal. H.G. Wells Subplot: The reveal of Herbert as H.G. Wells divides the hosts. Alan loves this aspect and wishes Wells could have become a companion, noting that expanded media has hinted at further travels with the Doctor. The hosts discuss the 1979 film "Time After Time" covering similar territory. The Loch Ness Monster connection provides a subtle Easter egg at the story's conclusion. Nicola Bryant's American Accent: The discussion reveals interesting ...
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      1 h et 38 min
    • Culinary Carnage in Seville - "The Two Doctors"

      Culinary Carnage in Seville - "The Two Doctors"
      Feb 14 2026

      Join hosts John Drew and Jim Beard, along with special guest JB Anderton (Doctor Who Gives a F*ck/The Bat 77 podcast), as they tackle one of the most controversial multi-Doctor stories in classic Who history.

      Production Overview: The hosts discuss the behind-the-scenes details of this 1985 three-part adventure, including how the location shifted from the originally planned New Orleans to Seville, Spain. They explore the challenging filming conditions, including extreme heat that made the production difficult, and discuss how this became Colin Baker's favorite story due to his friendship with Patrick Troughton.

      Creative Conflicts: The episode examines the tension between writer Robert Holmes and director Peter Moffatt, who had very different visions for the story's tone. The hosts also discuss script editor Eric Saward's influence and his preference for darker, more violent content.

      The Season 6B Theory: The hosts dive deep into fan theories explaining why the Second Doctor and Jamie appear older and why the Doctor seems to be working for the Time Lords, introducing listeners to the concept of "Season 6B" - the idea that the Second Doctor had adventures between his trial and regeneration.

      Performance Praise: All three hosts agree that Patrick Troughton delivers an excellent performance, giving the role his full commitment despite the script's issues. Colin Baker also receives praise for his dedication, though the hosts feel the material doesn't serve either Doctor well enough.

      Major Criticisms:

      • The character of Shockeye and the extended focus on food/cannibalism themes

      • Gratuitous violence including the rat-eating scene

      • Poor pacing that stretches the story beyond its natural length

      • Wasted potential for Jamie's character

      • The controversial ending where the Sixth Doctor kills Shockeye

      • Questionable makeup choices for Troughton's Androgum transformation

      • Tall Sontarans that contradict established lore

      Historical Context: The hosts note that during the airing of part two, the BBC announced Doctor Who would be "rested" for 18 months, creating controversy among fans.

      The hosts conclude that while the story began with promise in part one, it devolved significantly by part three, with the violence and Shockeye subplot overwhelming what could have been an engaging multi-Doctor adventure.

      Coming Up Next:

      Patreon Exclusive: John and Jim wrap up their look at Colin Baker's Voyager comic story, spin the Memory TARDIS, and dive into the infamous "A Fix with Sontarans" special from Jim'll Fix It. Plus, Jim finally shares his thoughts on the legendary (and infamous) charity single "Doctor in Distress" by Ian Levine and company.

      Next Main Episode: The hosts continue their Colin Baker journey with "Timelash," joined by special guest Alan J. Porter.

      Hashtags:

      #DoctorWho #ClassicWho #TheTwoDoctors #SixthDoctor #SecondDoctor #ColinBaker #PatrickTroughton #FraserHines #DoctorWhoPodcast #Whovian #TimeLord #Sontarans #RobertHolmes #1985 #MultiDoctor #TARDIS #JamieJamie #Peri #DoctorWhoReview #ClassicDoctorWho
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      2 h et 15 min
    • What Do You Do In There? - Argue, Mainly - "The Mark of the Rani"

      What Do You Do In There? - Argue, Mainly - "The Mark of the Rani"
      Feb 7 2026
      OPENING: THE RANI INTRODUCTION: John: "So here we are again talking The Mark of the Rani, which now for you, Timey Wimey, you've already met the Rani, but this is the Rani 1.0, played by Kate O'Mara, who American audiences might remember appeared on the television show Dynasty." JIM'S INITIAL REACTION: "It is really interesting. I'm glad you brought that up, because it had occurred to me that I had already met the character and was somewhat familiar with her. At least I knew the basic setup because we had talked when we watched her in the Ncuti story." THE OVERALL VERDICT: "Otherwise, in general, I enjoyed this story. And Kate O'Mara - good. And yet in a different way than the actress in current days." PRODUCTION DETAILS: Production Code: 6X Air Dates: February 2-9, 1985 Writers: Pip and Jane Baker (first outing for Doctor Who - they'll be back next season and Sylvester McCoy's first season with another Rani story) Director: Sarah Hellings (the last female director for Classic Doctor Who) THE MUSIC John: "One of the things - I've said this, this is one of my favorite episodes - but one thing that I love about it, the music stands out in this one compared to a lot of other productions." Jim: "Interesting that you say that, because I've said it many times before, I don't always notice music, it doesn't always hit me on a conscious level. I noticed it and made a note. It did stand out to me in this story." ANTHONY AINLEY'S DISCONTENT: John: "I mentioned the appearance of the Master. And Anthony Ainley, Colin Baker, and Nicola Bryant all say on the Blu-ray set that Ainley was not happy about sharing the limelight. RATINGS: Episode 1: 6.3 million Episode 2: 7.3 million JIM'S FORMAT REVELATION: "I'm gonna say it right now. While watching this, I finally, finally decided fully - I don't care for this setup. I don't care for the two parts at 45 minutes each." PART ONE SYNOPSIS: Doctor and Peri arrive in the early 19th-century mining village of Killingworth to investigate time distortion. They witness local miners attack a deliveryman and smash the machinery he was carrying, appearing as Luddites to locals. The Doctor notices one rampaging miner has a strange red mark on his neck. He meets Lord Ravensworth, a local landowner who saves the Doctor when attacked by three Luddites. He's deeply concerned about violent outbreaks among normally passive men. Culprit is the Rani, a Time Lord chemist posing as old woman running local bathhouse. She's been extracting neurochemicals from miners that enable sleep, which causes red marks on their necks. She needs these chemicals for her planet, Miasimia Goria, where her experiments have left inhabitants unable to rest and have now rebelled. Master arrives having visited her planet and forces an uneasy partnership by stealing some of her precious brain fluid to ensure cooperation. Doctor disguises himself as a miner and enters the bathhouse. Rani traps him, but Master convinces her to let him handle the Time Lord. He convinces Luddites to push Doctor's TARDIS down the mine shaft with the Doctor to follow. JIM'S LIGHTNING ROUND: "I want to try something different here. Bear with me. Lightning round of comments. You ready? Let's see this." THE LIST: Almost artistic opening shots plus nice music She is wearing - the Doctor says the Daleks have time machines Master Lots of handheld camera work Peri's more capable The Master changed time by eliminating a man Vulgarly colored coat The Master and Rani have a history Rani's jabs at the Master - smiley face Doctor's imitations of Peri - smiley face No birds Doctor recognizes the Rani but she didn't recognize him American War of Independence The Rani's a vegan Brains as good as anyone's - No comment, Doctor Shades of Bruce Wayne THE OPENING SEQUENCE: Jim: "Let's go right back to the beginning - that opening series of shots to set up the village, the music lining, and then into the bathhouse. Almost artistic. It was filmed so nicely, with nothing weird going on. And then they go into the bathhouse, and it gets weird at that point. But accompanied by very nice music." The Impact: "Beautiful work. I was never so taken by opening shots. They were almost poetic in a way. And she did all that - that was a small area, and she made it look so much bigger." PART TWO SYNOPSIS: Doctor is saved by inventor George Stephenson and returns with Peri to Lord Ravensworth's estate, where Stephenson has planned a meeting of scientific and engineering geniuses. The Doctor worries about gathering under the current circumstances, but the Master is desperate for it to proceed. He wants to enlist the finest minds of the Industrial Revolution to accelerate Earth's development and use the planet as a power base. Master uses mind control on Stephenson's assistant Luke Ward, ordering him to kill anyone who tries to prevent meeting. Master strikes a deal with Rani - she can return to Earth at any time to harvest brain fluid if she helps ...
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      1 h et 51 min
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