Ships in Space Complete in a Deadly Race: ENLIGHTENMENT

The Doctor and his companions meet a group of Eternals who are taking part in a space race where enlightenment. But who is sabotaging the race and why is someone going to great lengths to win the prize? And will Turlough carry out his task to kill The Doctor, or is the influence of the Black Guardian to much for him to handle? is the prize

Cast

Peter Davison (The Doctor), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Mark Strickson (Turlough), Keith Barron (Striker)

Lynda Baron (Wrack), Valentine Dyall (Black Guardian), Cyril Luckham (White Guardian)

Christopher Brown (Marriner), Tony Caunter (Jackson), Clive Kneller (Collier), James McClure (First Officer)

Leee John (Mansell)

UNCREDITED CAST: Richard Bonehill, Tim Oldroyd, Peter Jessup, Michael Bauer (Officers [Shadow])

Pat Gorman (Strike's Crew: Grogan), Barney Lawrence, Laurie Goode, Alan Crisp, Reg Woods, Kevin Goss

Pat Shepherd, Greg Marlowe, Terence Duran, Steve Roxton

Douglas Roe, John Holland (Strike's Crew/Edwardian Sailors), John Cannon (Helmsman [Shadow])

Byron Sotiris (Citras the Greek), Dolore Whiteman (Aunt Vanessa [Photo]), David Rogue, Joseph Anderson

Mick McKenny, Robert Goodman (Buccaneer Guards/Wrack's Deck Crew), Alan Riches, Tony Liotti

Arturo Venegas, Graham Stagg (Buccaneer Guards), Paul Baden, Jerry Judge, Lloyd Williams

Stuart Myers (Buccaneer Officers), Dennis Masuki, Arnold Lee, Vincent Wong, Raymond Chan

Lusan Wong (Chinese Guests), Robert Pearson, Cy Town, Laurie James, Kenneth Sedd

Ray Sumby, James Jackson (Guest Gamblers), Mike Handley, David Rouge, Mick McKenny, Miles Ross

Joseph Anderson, Robert Goodman, Laurie Goode, Pat Gorman, Mykel Mills

Bunny Lane (Wrack's/Striker's Deck Crew)

Crew

Barbara Clegg (Writer), Malcolm Clarke (Incidental Music), Dick Mills, BBC Radiophonic Workshop (Special Sound)

Jennie Osborn (Production Manager), June Collins (Production Associate), Patricia O'Leary (Production Assistant)

Ian D'Tottle, Val McCrimmon (Assistant Floor Managers), John Walker, Paul Hellings-Wheeler (Film Cameramen)

Jim McAllister (Film Sound), Michell Boyd, Ian McKendrick (Film Editors), Mike Kelt (Visual Effects Designer)

Dave Chapman (Video Effects), Alan Jeffrey (Technical Manager), Alec Wheal (Senior Cameraman)

Paul Wheeler (Vision Mixer), Rod Waldron (Videotape Editor), Fred Wright (Lighting), Martin Ridout (Sound)

Dinah Collin (Costume Designer), Carolyn Perry, Jean Steward (Make-Up Artists), Eric Saward (Script Editor)

Sid Sutton (Title Sequence), Colin Green (Designer), John Nathan-Turner (Producer), Fiona Cumming (Director)

Broadcast

EPISODE	DATE	TIME	VIEWING FIGURE	CHART POSITION	APPRECIATION INDEX
1	01/03/1983	6:55-7:20pm	6.6M	89th	67
2	02/03/1983	6:45-7:10pm	7.2M	76th	65
3	08/03/1983	6:55-7:20pm	6.2M	99th	68
4	09/03/1983	6:45-7:10pm	7.3M	68th	70

Connections in the Who-Niverse

Lynda Baron was the narrator and singer of 'The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon' for The Gunfighters and later returned to modern Doctor Who for Closing Time as Val. Tony Caunter was Thatcher for the historical First Doctor serial The Crusade and was Morgan for Colony in Space.

The Black and White Guardian meet at last. The battle of good and evil. The whole of creation hangs in the balance.

Plenty of background and supporting extras were long time contributors to Doctor Who. Vincent Wong was Ho for the final instalments of The Talons of Weng-Chiang, and was previously the uncredited Chinese Delegate for Day of the Daleks. Tim Oldroyd wandered the background of The Leisure Hive, State of Decay, Kinda, Time-Flight and Terminus. Laurie Goode can be seen (but not limited to) as a Mutt for The Mutants, a Time Lord for The Invasion of Time, a Bandit for The Creature from the Pit, a Tharil for Warriors' Gate and a Colonist for Frontios. John Cannon held small credited roles in The Hand of Fear and The Armageddon Factor, and was a background actor for The Pirate Planet, Time-Flight, Mawdryn Undead and The King's Demons et al. Robert Goodman, after many years of being an extra on the show appeared as Reg for Listen; previously and amongst his uncredited Who roles were a Mandrel for Nightmare of Eden, a Gallifreyan for Arc of Infinity and a Crewmember for Resurrection of the Daleks. As ever Pat Gorman can be seen in the background. Douglas Roe made his final contribution to the show, having been a supporting artist for The War Games, The Claws of Axos, The Pirate Planet and The Leisure Hive.

Death the Constant Companion

The only casualties of the Boat Space Race are Critas' human crew, who are killed when 'their' ship explodes. Critas himself is sent back to the 'vastness of eternity', as are the other Eternals throughout the space race. The other human characters are all spared grizzly fates and are returned to their own respective time zones.

Episode Cliffhangers

(1) The Doctor and Tegan are taken to the Wheelhouse of the Shadow, where things are not right. The Doctor notices a map with marker buoys - of Earth' solar system's planets, and Tegan notices Marriner operating. electronic controls. A screen activates revealing The Doctor and Tegan are not on an Edwardian sailing yacht - they are on a spaceship in space.

(2) The Doctor, Tegan and Turlough are taken to the decks of the Shadow. Once outside in the vastness of space, Turlough hears the voice of the Black Guardian taunting him. Turlough, unable to take it anymore, jumps onto the railing of the Shadow and leaps overboard.

The Doctor and Tegan witness a ship spiraling out of the race. But to an Eternal, what is a human life? Or several?

(3) Captain Wrack has lured Tegan away from the party, and freezes her in time. Captain Wrack places a red crystal on Tegan's tiara. But its not a precious stone or a gift of friendship. Its a deadly advice that will ensure the Shadow will not reach Enlightenment. Captain Wrack laughs at her devious dastardly plan.

(4) The Eternals have been returned to their own realm, and the sailors from all the ships have been returned home. Turlough (who 'won' the Eternal race), refuses to take the price of Enlightenment. Turlough hurls ends his agreement with the Black Guardian, and hurls Enlightenment at him. The Black Guardian disappears in a flame of fire. The White Guardian warns The Doctor, the Black Guardian will return. Turlough asks to be returned to his own planet.

Fun Facts

(1) Production for Enlightenment marked the first time a Doctor Who serial was both written and directed by female production personnel, the show had female directors in the past, apparently Eric Saward noted the lack of female writers on the show and was determined to get one to work on the show; (2) Writer Barbara Clegg came up with the idea that the Eternals should not blink whilst on-screen. Clegg apparently got a say in the casting process, whilst finding actors who could pull off such performance; (3) Actress Dolore Whiteman, who previously played Aunt Vanessa for Logopolis, was required for a single day photo shoot. A photo of Whiteman was used to decorate Tegan's cabin on the Shadow. The actress would go uncredited for her appearance; (4) Unlike previous

The Shadow docks at Enlightenment, but is winning the race all that matters?

serials which used stock costumes, the dress worn by Lynda Baron was specially designed and made for production. Apparently it was the most expensive costume for production; (5) During production of the scene when Turlough threw himself overboard, actor Mark Strickson injured himself, after the wires he was attached to failed. Strickson injured his groin and his injury lasted a few weeks; (6) Visual effects designer Mat Irvine did some research at the National Maritiem Museum before designing the model spaceship boats that were used extensively for the model shots; (7) It was originally hoped that the boat set could vbe mounted on rollers, in order to stimulate the turbulance and rocking of the ships. This would have been too expensive and the idea was dropped; (8) Actor Peter Sallis was originally booked to play Captain Striker, Sallis attended one day of rehearsals, before he had to drop out due to other commitments; (9) The interiors of the ships were not specifically designed for the serials. The sets were all designed from surviving stock material and meshed together to create all the sets

Recording Days

The Eternal's ship engaging in the race. Who will come out on top, and who will sink into the never ending space abyss?

In total Enlightenment was complete in 13 production days between Wednesday 3 Nov 1982 - Tuesday 1 February 1983. The first three recording day saw the team working at Ealing Film Studio Stage 3B between Wednesday 3 - Friday 5 November 1983. Due to the numerous model shots required for the four episodes, five days were spent at Ealing Film Studios (Monday 8 - Friday 12 Nov) capturing all model shots. The production team returned to their usual home of Television Centre (Studio 1) for five more recording sessions. Recording took place on Monday and Tuesday evenings over a fortnight between Monday 17 January - Tuesday 1 February 1983. One more recording session took place in between production on Sunday 30 January 1983.

Verdict

At last, a worthy finale to a series trilogy. A beautifully written and directed tale, much like Death to the Daleks the opening few minutes are marvellous drowned in atmosphere. Great camera work from the swaying camera movements to low angles create a claustrophobic and uneasy atmosphere. The model shots of the ships are also a delight, full of detail which just leap off the screen. The interiors shots of the Buccaneer and Shadow are also pleasuring to watch and enjoy, full of detail and effort. The costumes are some of the best, the clean, sleek, well-kept uniforms for the Edwardians Sailors and the robust, colourful uniforms for the barbaric and savage Wrack and her fellow pirates hungry for power and glory. The music creates many unique atmospheres and settings, slow, quiet music for the space scenes, happy, go-luck melodies for the Shadow and a menacing for the confrontation between The Black and White Guardians, although Cyril Luckham seems to have lost part of his characters personality. A well-crafted story which is a true delight on a number of levels which not only ties up one of the most unusual trilogies in the show’s history but also one of the most underrated series, ah, not quiet, next serial. *****