Episode 55: Earthshock

Doctor Who: the World Enough and Time podcast

It’s time to go back to the heady days of 1982 when Cybermen were cool, death was shocking and the Fifth Doctor was serving as a proxy father to three children. Yes it’s Eric Saward’s game-changing blockbuster Earthshock. There’s no denying that it blew Andy away as a kid but how does he feel about it now? And what does Alex make of this ‘Davison classic’? As usual, many questions abound: ‘Are all of Barbara’s clothes still in the TARDIS?’; ‘Why do some death screams sound like choir practice?’; And most importantly ‘Is Beryl Reid good casting as Briggs?’. All this and much more… Andy recounts going to the funeral of ‘Anne Funeral’ where he met an Earthshock trooper; Alex makes the joyful discovery that she is wearing ‘thermal lance’ coloured toe-nail polish; and the pair both share their knowledge of conference room stationery and chair dresses. It’s quite a ride! In respectful homage to Adric we don’t play any end credit music. It’s not a glitch. Next Time: The Ultimate Foe [Artwork: Alister Pearson]