The Weekly Stuff Bonus Podcast #7 – Doctor Who: Vengeance on Varos (Story 139, 1985)

It’s time for another monthly bonus episode of The Weekly Stuff Podcast with Jonathan Lack & Sean Chapman, where we will be discussing serials from classic Doctor Who history.

The turbulent 1980s for Doctor Who reached its lowest and most fraught period during the reign of Sixth Doctor Colin Baker, when the BBC’s antagonism towards the show was at its most intense and the then 22-year-old series was even temporarily cancelled between Baker’s first and second seasons. In the midst of much behind-the-scenes chaos, the show’s on-screen quality wavered more than ever, despite consistently strong work from Baker himself. At least one true diamond-in-the-rough can be found in this era, and it’s the story we’re discussing today: “Vengeance on Varos,” the Sixth Doctor’s third story and one of Doctor Who’s darkest and most overtly political hours. The story itself, and the tale of the series’ desperate fight for survival during these years, makes for one of our most interesting bonus podcasts to date.

Oh, and we also talk about “Doctor in Distress,” a megagroup-style charity single designed to rally public support for the series after its first cancellation. It is an absolute trip and you’re going to want to watch it before listening to this episode.

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The Weekly Stuff with Jonathan Lack & Sean Chapman is a weekly audio podcast, and if you subscribe in iTunes, episodes will be delivered automatically and for free as soon as they are released. If you visit www.jonathanlack.com, we also have streaming and downloadable versions of new and archival episodes for your listening pleasure.