Season 23a

[Larry]

Having read Mission to Magnus and The Ultimate Evil, I think we're very lucky the season never got made!

not sure you can say that it dose not always follow that a poor book will mean the film/tv version will be bad.

[Pip Madeley]

Ian Levine's not happy with the Molesworth...

Ian Levine
Gallifrey
Sun Oct 05 2008 21:58:25
086.141.123.087

Richard

I wish you had asked me some questions before doing this documentary.

Firstly, in 1985, Eric gave me Robert Holmes scene breakdown of the Singapore story, and it was called "Return Of The Autons". It had the Master but not The Rani, although JNT could easily have changed that before it went to final script.

Secondly, and most importantly, story six of that season was called "Gallifrey" and was written by Eric. He had discussed the ideas at length with me about this story back in 1985, before the cancellation. This is absolute fact. I seem to dimly recall this was even mentioned at the time in DWB. I assure you this is true.
Stories 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 were all firm. The only question marks were over story 5, and there were a couple of contenders, which may or may not have ever been made, if the season had gone ahead.

I'm very concerned that you made no mention of the big end of season story called "Gallifrey".

[Si Hunt]

Ian Levine's not happy with the Molesworth...

The ensuing conversation on the RT Forum is worth five minutes of anyone's time. Ian's assertion that Saward gave him (what became, after Saward moved) the only surviving copy of the Singapore scene breakdown is (as far as we know) correct. The bit he didn't mention is that he's since lost it.

Yes. The only surviving copy, and he's lost it. He says it's in his shed, but I find it hard to believe he simply can't be bothered having a hunt for it. Unless of course he's got it, but is not parting with it.

Si.

[SiHart]

Once again, it seems to me that this is yet another example of Levine's oneupmanship- I've got it, I've seen it, but no way am i going to share it.

Si xx

[Rob McCow]

This is absolute fact. I seem to dimly recall this was even mentioned at the time in DWB. I assure you this is true.

It's a fact, a thing you can't deny. I even remember it dimly.

I'm very concerned that you made no mention of the big end of season story called "Gallifrey".

They interviewed Eric Saward and looked at the official documentation. Surely that's enough?!

Frankly, given the title, I think Ian is making the whole thing up.

[Dirk Gently]

not sure you can say that it dose not always follow that a poor book will mean the film/tv version will be bad.

Well the book is usually better.

[Larry]

Well the book is usually better.

certainly is where Stephen King, is concerned..

[Milky Tears]

Some classic stuff from Levine:

http://www.rtforum.co.uk/read.php?id=241634


Biggins!

[Lissa]

"Whatever evidence you may have unearthed, does not change the facts."

[Andrew Curnow]

Does this make Ian the Pamela Nash of the 'Robert Holmes Story Layout' world? Surely he should have checked that nobody wanted this lost story breakdown before casually losing it.

[Si Hunt]

I'd just like to lay claim to the unused "Gallifrey" story.

Well why not, everyone else has!

Si.

[Rob McCow]

"I was commissioned to write for Doctor Who at the age of 7. Even though I was too scared to watch the program, I gave it my best shot. My 'Galifray' script, which was two pages of pictures, was pinned up on the Doctor Who office fridge until Ian Levine bought it in 1993.
"I am glad that this important piece of Doctor Who history has been preserved somewhere in this guy's shed."