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143b) MINDWARP

4 - 25 October 1986

Average Viewing Figure: 5.1M

Plot

On Thoros-Beta Kiv's brain is growing too big for his skull and requires a transplant

Cast

Colin Baker (The Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Michael Jayston (The Valeyard), Lynda Bellingham (The Inquisitor)

Brian Blessed (King Yrcanos), Patrick Ryecart (Crozier), Nabil Shaban (Sil), Christopher Ryan (Kiv), Alibe Parsons (Matrona Kani)

Trevor Laird (Frax), Gordon Warnecke (Tuza), Thomas Branch (The Lukoser), Richard Henry (Mentor)

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Uncredited Cast

David Bache, John Buckmaster, James Delaney, David Enyon, Leslie Fry, Bob Hargreaves, Lew Hooper, Jack Horton, Derek Hunt

Roy Seeley, Kenneth Thomas, Llewellyn Williams, David Fieldsend, Barry Butler, Ken Pritchard (Time Lords)

Steve Sparling (Time Lord's Clerk), Russell West (Raak), Johnny Clayton (Vern), Ernest Jennings (Linna), Deep Roy (Alien [Possicar Delegate])

Philip Rostant, Tony Fray (Mentors)

Plot

Philip Martin (Writer), Richard Hartley (Incidental Music), Dick Mills (Special Sound), Kevan Van Thompson (Production Manager)

Angela Smith (Production Associate), Karen Jones (Production Assistant), Anna Price (Assistant Floor Manager), Colin Widgery (OB Lighting)

Mike Johnstone (OB Sound), Peter Wragg (Visual Effects Designer), Danny Popkin (Video Effects), Jim Stephens (Vision Mixer)

Alan Arbuthnott (Technical Co-ordinator), Alec Wheal (Studio Camera Supervisor), Hugh Parson (Videotape Editor), Don Babbage (Studio Lighting)

Brian Clark (Studio Sound), John Hearne (Costume Designer), Dorka Nieradzik (Make-Up Designer), Eric Saward (Script Editor)

Andrew Howe-Davies (Designer), John Nathan-Turner (Producer), Ron Jones (Director)

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Television Centre: Studio 1

  • Television Centre: Studio 6

  • Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven, E Sussex

Deaths

  • Kiv [killed by King Yrcanos]

  • Frax [killed by King Yrcanos]

  • The Lukosker [shot and killed by a Guard]

  • The Raak [accidentally killed by The Doctor]

  • Verne [aged to death]

  • Linna [aged to death]

Production Days

  • 8 days between Tuesday 27 May - Monday 16 June 1986

Production Errors

  1. After the Raak attacks The Doctor and Peri, and dies, a shadow of a boom microphone can be seen above Colin Baker's head very briefly

Working Titles

  • Mindwarp

  • The Planet of Sil 

Verdict

A mind wrapping story which is all over the place. The end is result is what feels like a series of completely different stories each more boring than the one before. For such a brightly designed story; costumes, the planet Thoros Beta, the Raak, sets etc., everything is hidden in far too many darkly lit scenes. A cast of horribly developed and weak characters and Brian Blessed playing a King playing Brian Blessed makes one want to block their ears with their fingers. The courtroom scenes continue to annoy, and The Inquisitor becomes a bland character as does The Valeyard. A forced love relationship is thrown in for any people who like that kind of stuff and a very lazy ending. A plot point of mind swapping is unique but is thrown in far too late to be interesting. It is great to see the return of Sil and Nabil Shaban once again gives his all as does Christopher Ryan. Whilst the ending to episode four (eight in the Trial of a Time Lord season) is one of the best. Mindwarp is best to get out of the mind as quickly as possible. **​

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