From the moment they land on the planet Androzani Minor, everything goes wrong for Dan and Steven and their young companion, Bridget.
They become involved in the struggle between brutal gun-runners, ruthless Federation troops, and the hideously mutilated Sharaz Jek, who lurks in the depths of the caves with his android army.
Key to this struggle is spectrox, the most valuable substance in the universe. Suitably processed, spectrox is an elixir of life, but it in its raw state it is a deadly poison - a fact which will cost the Doctor another of his Time Lord lives…
New to Who continues with its trilogy of regeneration stories with this, the final story of the Fifth Doctor - and Our Steven’s favourite as a kid - the wonderful Peter Davison. It is also the second story featuring the first ‘American’ companion, Perpugilliam Brown - or Peri for short - played by the charming Nicola Bryant.
Widely regarded as a true classic of the entire series, THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI topped the 2014 Doctor Who Magazine Mighty 200 poll. It was written by the late, great Robert Holmes, and is impressively directed by Graeme Harper, his first story as director. Harper remains the only director to have worked on both Classic and New Who.
The cover of the original imprint of the 1985 Target novelisation for THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI is by Andrew Skilleter. The novelisation is written by Sir Terrance Dicks. The audiobook is read by the Doctor himself, Peter Davison.
Intro theme by Our Colin (2017). Much love and thanks, Col ❤︎
This month’s outro music - “Anywhere In The Universe” - comes courtesy and with the kind permission of THE SEVATEEM from their concept album, THE CAVES. Please check out their amazing ‘80s/Androzani-aesthetic-inspired website, and while you’re there please donate and download from Bandcamp, particularly as The Sevateem support a worthy and humanitarian cause in the form of Medicine Sans Frontier (US).
Special thanks to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.
NEXT MONTH: LOGOPOLIS
Read More
