Although I absolutely adore the four stories that make up Season Seven (Spearhead in particular is one of my all-time favourites, and the other three aren't half bad either), it has always been my contention that as a concept, in spite of the fact that the rising viewing figures saved the programme from its second cancellation threat in as many years, the continuation of longer, more serious and less monster-heavy serials would in fact have probably been more detrimental to the show in the longer run.

In other words, I like the stories, but I don't like the 1970 series "as a whole".

Anybody else have any thoughts on whether, despite the quality of what was seen on screen, the series might actually have benefited from the changes that Barry Letts wrought upon it from Series Eight onwards?