The Ultimate Evil
Encyclopedia
The Ultimate Evil is the second in a series of novelisations, based on a number of cancelled scripts from the 1986 season of Doctor Who
. It was written by Wally K. Daly
. It was first published by Target Books
in 1989 as the second volume of its Missing Episodes series.
's TARDIS
is working perfectly, leaving him with nothing to do. When Peri
suggests a holiday, the Doctor decides to visit the peaceful country of Tranquela. But an evil arms dealer, the Dwarf Mordant has been busy fomenting hatred there, so they will break a truce with their enemy, the people of the continent of Ameliora. But when even the Doctor becomes affected, can anything stop Mordant's plans?
, controller of BBC1, had cancelled a number of long running programmes in order to help fund the launch of a new soap opera named EastEnders
. Of the many programmes that were cancelled, Doctor Who was the most high profile. A campaign was quickly launched by the national press to see about its return and Grade very quickly confirmed that Doctor Who would be returning in 1986.
Several stories had already been in the planning stages for Season 23 of Doctor Who, three of which were in the middle of being scripted when the announcement was made. The Ultimate Evil was to be directed by Fiona Cumming.
In 1988, Target Books
, which had been successfully publishing novelisations of Doctor Who stories for many years, saw itself quickly running out of available televised material (although a number of serials remained unadapted, most of these were off-limits due to licensing problems). While negotiations went forward with the BBC for the publication of all new adventures, the decision was made to resurrect three of the cancelled scripts and publish them in book form. The writers of all three were approached, and all were signed on to write the novels.
In May, 2010, this article was amended to state that "A Novel reading, read by Nicola Bryant
, is to be released on 2 September 2010 on BBC Audio." As yet, there is no verification of the existence of this title, and the stated release date has now passed.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. It was written by Wally K. Daly
Wally K. Daly
Wally K. Daly is an English writer for television and radio and one time chairman of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain.-Credits:...
. It was first published by Target Books
Target Books
Target Books was a British publishing imprint, established in 1973 by Universal-Tandem Publishing Co Ltd, a paperback publishing company. The imprint was established as a children's imprint to complement the adult Tandem imprint, and became well known for their highly successful range of...
in 1989 as the second volume of its Missing Episodes series.
Synopsis
The Sixth DoctorSixth Doctor
The Sixth Doctor is the sixth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Colin Baker...
's TARDIS
TARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
is working perfectly, leaving him with nothing to do. When Peri
Peri Brown
Peri Brown, full name Perpugilliam Brown, is a fictional character played by Nicola Bryant in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who....
suggests a holiday, the Doctor decides to visit the peaceful country of Tranquela. But an evil arms dealer, the Dwarf Mordant has been busy fomenting hatred there, so they will break a truce with their enemy, the people of the continent of Ameliora. But when even the Doctor becomes affected, can anything stop Mordant's plans?
Background
It was announced in 1985 that Michael GradeMichael Grade
Michael Ian Grade, Baron Grade of Yarmouth CBE is a British broadcast executive and businessman. He was BBC chairman from 2004 to 2006 and executive chairman of ITV plc from 2007 to 2009.-Early life:...
, controller of BBC1, had cancelled a number of long running programmes in order to help fund the launch of a new soap opera named EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. Of the many programmes that were cancelled, Doctor Who was the most high profile. A campaign was quickly launched by the national press to see about its return and Grade very quickly confirmed that Doctor Who would be returning in 1986.
Several stories had already been in the planning stages for Season 23 of Doctor Who, three of which were in the middle of being scripted when the announcement was made. The Ultimate Evil was to be directed by Fiona Cumming.
In 1988, Target Books
Target Books
Target Books was a British publishing imprint, established in 1973 by Universal-Tandem Publishing Co Ltd, a paperback publishing company. The imprint was established as a children's imprint to complement the adult Tandem imprint, and became well known for their highly successful range of...
, which had been successfully publishing novelisations of Doctor Who stories for many years, saw itself quickly running out of available televised material (although a number of serials remained unadapted, most of these were off-limits due to licensing problems). While negotiations went forward with the BBC for the publication of all new adventures, the decision was made to resurrect three of the cancelled scripts and publish them in book form. The writers of all three were approached, and all were signed on to write the novels.
Audio Adaptation
In 2009 Daly was approached by Big Finish Productions to write an audio adaptation for their "Lost Stories" range. However, they were unable to come to a suitable agreement, probably because Daly had already recorded an audiobook for a fund-raising exercise between the RNIB and Rotary International. As a result, this is currently the only one of the three "Missing Episodes" novelisations not to be adapted by Big Finish.In May, 2010, this article was amended to state that "A Novel reading, read by Nicola Bryant
Nicola Bryant
-External links:** at shillpages.com/dw *...
, is to be released on 2 September 2010 on BBC Audio." As yet, there is no verification of the existence of this title, and the stated release date has now passed.