https://io9.gizmodo.com/get-a-first-loo ... 98992?IR=T09 October, 2017 23:01
Doctor Who star Tom Baker is to reprise his role as the Time Lord after a near 36-year absence as a previously unfinished episode is to be released.
Shada was created in 1979 for the end of the show’s 17th series before strike action at the BBC meant studio scenes were never completed and the episode was abandoned.
Almost four decades later it is to be released on BBC Worldwide as the original footage is combined with a brand new colour animation to complete the story.
Featuring newly-recorded voice overs from Baker as the Doctor and Lalla Ward as his companion, Romana, the animation will follow the original script.
It finds the Doctor in Cambridge working alongside Romana and retired Time Lord, Professor Chronotis, to defeat the evil alien Skagra who is attempting to steal the secrets to the prison planet, Shada.
Baker said: “Shada was one of my favourite Doctor Who stories.
“I have many fond memories of shooting the location scenes in Cambridge, and it was disappointing not to finish the story in studio. I’m so glad that BBC Worldwide have found a way to bring fans a complete visual version.”
It follows the animation of lost 1966 Doctor Who story The Power Of The Daleks in November 2016.
:: Shada will be released as a digital download on Friday November 24 and on DVD and Bluray on Monday December 4.
Shada has an interesting history. It was written by Douglas Adams and was not completed due to a writer's strike. Unused footage from Shada was used in the anniversary story The Five Doctors (they had Tom Baker's Doctor and Lalla Ward's Romana stuck in a time loop). Years later Tom Baker did narration for Shada to fill in the gaps. Needless to say, you can only carry a story so far with a still of K9 and the monster and Tom Baker's narration. Years after that, an episode with Paul McGann retelling the episode was done, which mixed in with events in the 8th Doctor's time line.
Now finally they get to retell it as it was meant to be told. Apparently with the original actors, although I would have imagined some may have died by now, but lets see. I am looking forward to this, especially with Tom Baker. He still has that awesome voice (as one can listen to in the Big Finish audios).
Hey, maybe BBC can put up a decent Doctor Who episode at last.
The main question now will blu ray quality make much difference to my viewing pleasure.
