The Unfinished ‘Doctor Who’ Saga
For over sixty years, ‘Doctor Who’ has taken its audience on countless adventures across time and space. Yet, one of its most intriguing stories never made it to air. The 1979 ‘Shada’ storyline, set in the picturesque university city of Cambridge, remains an unfinished chapter in the series’ history due to a strike that disrupted production.
The Cambridge Connection
Filming in Cambridge, ‘Shada’ featured Tom Baker, the fourth Doctor, alongside his companion Romana. The adventure involved combating the villainous alien Skagra, who aspired to uncover secrets from a prison planet. However, production wasn’t all smooth sailing. The story was penned by Douglas Adams, author of ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,’ who drew inspiration from his own days as a student at St John’s College, Cambridge.
On-Set Challenges
The filming encountered unique hurdles. Notably, Tom Baker, endearingly remembered for his iconic scarf, faced personal challenges while learning to punt on the River Cam. Porter Marcus Hearn’s father provided both blankets and brandy to soothe the beleaguered star on set. Despite Adams’ ties to St John’s College, Cambridge provided an unusual twist by refusing filming permission, leading crews to other college grounds like Clare and Emmanuel.
The Impact of the BBC Strike
The series of strikes that hit the BBC affected many projects, and ‘Doctor Who’ was no exception. With key studio scenes set for completion in London, the strike meant doors were shut and scenes remained unfilmed. Production assistant Les McCallum recounted the abrupt halt when studio access was blocked after lunch.
This unfortunate turn left the series hanging, never to be completed as originally intended. The actors, including Baker, moved on to other projects, closing the door on potential recovery until decades later. In 2017, Baker eventually returned to complete the storied ‘Shada’ 36 years after its inception, offering fans a belated taste of what could have been.
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