Dr Who

Stephen wrote two Dr Who stories for the Seventh Doctor.

 Paradise Towers (Four episodes, 1987)

“Paradise Towers, occupied by street gangs and geriatric cannibals, is ruled by the dictatorial Chief Caretaker, who takes his orders from the all-seeing Great Architect Kroagnon.

Funny and scary, the script is a cross between Alan Bennett and Ayckbourn. A wonderful experiment that succeeds on almost every level. 5/5.”

(Mark Campbell. Pocket Essential Doctor Who. 2000)

 The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (Four Episodes, 1987)

“Ace and the Doctor visit the Psychic Circus and together with a group of other inquisitive visitors, have to participate in its sinister talent show – but if they don’t entertain the Family, they don’t come out alive…

Extraordinary images and a narrative that treads a fine line between humour and horror. Easily the scariest Doctor Who in years. 5/5.”

(Mark Campbell. Pocket Essential Doctor Who. 2000)

An entertaining account of their creation can be found in Andrew Cartmel’s Script Doctor (Reynolds and Hearn 2005).

There’s a full illustrated interview with Stephen about his experience of writing for Who in Doctor Who Magazine No.263 (April 1998)

Stephen did novelisations of both stories for Target Books.

The DVD of Paradise Towers was released in July 2011.

The DVD of Greatest Show in the Galaxy is scheduled for late 2012. The VHS release is still available.