Doctor Who (season 20)

Doctor Who season 20
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	23
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC One
Original run	3 January 1983 (1983-01-03) – 16 March 1983 (1983-03-16) 23 November 1983 (Feature-Length Special)
Home video release
DVD release
Region 1	11 September 2001 - 12 April 2011
Region 2	1 November 1999 - 7 March 2011
Region 4	9 October 2000 - 7 April 2011
Series chronology
← Previous Season 19 Next → Season 21
List of Doctor Who serials

The 20th season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 3 January 1983 with the episode Arc of Infinity, and ended with the 20th Anniversary special The Five Doctors.

Casting

Main Characters

Peter Davison continues his role as the Doctor, as well as Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka). While Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) leaves half through the season in Terminus. Mark Strickson arrives as new companion Vislor Turlough in Mawdryn Undead.

Guest stars

Past Doctors return for the 20th Anniversary special being Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee returning as The Second Doctor and The Third Doctor, While The First Doctor returns although played by the late Richard Hurndall as original actor William Hartnell died in 1976. Tom Baker was asked to return to play The Fourth Doctor but declinded.

Past companions Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart), Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman) return for the 20th Anniversary special, While other companions Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon), Wendy Padbury (Zoe Heriot), Caroline John (Liz Shaw) and Richard Franklin (Mike Yates) make cameos throughout the special.

Anthony Ainley returns yet again in The King's Demons and The Five Doctors as the Master.

Returning villains for the season are Omega (Arc of Infinity), The Black Guardian (Mawdryn Undead, Terminus and Enlightenment), Cybermen (The Five Doctors) and The Mara (Snakedance).

Episodes

To commemorate the twentieth season, the stories in this season involve the return of previous villains. This season was broadcast twice weekly on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings on BBC1.

Story No.	Serial	Title	Directed by	Written by	UK viewers (million)	Original air date	Production code
124	1	"Arc of Infinity"	Ron Jones	Johnny Byrne	7.2[1]	3-12 January 1983	6E
A alien consisting of pure anti-matter. Its intention is to bond with a Time Lord and cross over into this dimension through the Arc of Infinity — the gateway to all dimensions. The chosen Time Lord is the Doctor.
125	2	"Snakedance"	Fiona Cumming	Christopher Bailey	7.1[2]	18-26 January 1983	6D
The Mara returns. Their plan involves an ambitious prince, a showman and an air hostess.
126	3	"Mawdryn Undead"	Peter Moffat	Peter Grimwade	7.28[3]	1-9 February 1983	6F
A group of alien mutants hover over an English public school waiting to die
127	4	"Terminus"	Mary Ridge	Stephen Gallagher	7.05[4]	15-23 February 1983	6G
Is Terminus really a miracle cure or the end of the univese?
128	5	"Enlightenment"	Fiona Cumming	Barbara Clegg	6.83[5]	1-9 March 1983	6H
The Eternals sail through the universe, racing for the ultimate prize.
129	6	"The King's Demons"	Tony Virgo	Terence Dudley	6.5[6]	15-16 March 1983	6J
The Doctor discovers a shapeshifting robot posing as King John.
130	7	"The Five Doctors"	Graeme Harper	Terrance Dicks	7.55[7]	USA: 23 November 1983 UK: 25 November 1983	6K
The Doctors must play games in a Gallifreyan amusement park.

Broadcast

DVD Release

All serials of season 20 were released individually Inbewtween 1999 and 2011, with The Five Doctors being the first ever serial released on DVD.

References

1. ^ http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/ratings.html
2. ^ http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/ratings.html
3. ^ http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/ratings.html
4. ^ http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/ratings.html
5. ^ http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/ratings.html
6. ^ http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/ratings.html
7. ^ http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/ratings.html