VISUAL EFFECTS DESIGNER: JOHN LAWSON

Visual Effects Designer Chris Lawson first started his career as a visual effects assistant on several Doctor Who serials. He along with other assistants would help make props and sometimes elements of costumes that were not handled by the costume department.

His first assignment as an assistant saw him help built the De-Mat Gun used by The Doctor in The Invasion of Time along with fellow visual effects assistant Peter Logan. Lawson solely constructed the rod-like weaponry used by Commander Stor and his Sontaran troopers. The rods were fully operational battery-powered props used throughout the episodes. Lawson next worked on The Pirate Planet where he helped constructed the chest unit and robotic arm worn by Bruce Purchase who played The Captain. Lawson worked closely with another regular visual effects assistant Peter Brace during the construction of the prop. The costume parts were constructed with the help of a body cast taken of Bruce Purchase.

Chris Lawson's hand standing in for the Great Vampire in State of Decay. His one moment of fame.

                For the studio-bound Nightmare of Eden, Lawson helped visual effects design Colin Mapson construct many of the props and other visual effects ‘effects’ that were required for the episodes. Lawson quickly worked on another couple of serials as an assistant with The Leisure Hive and State of Decay, the later of witch Chris Lawson himself had a small acting part. He played the role of the Great Vampire who began to rise from his slumber beneath the ground. A visual effects shot required the Great Vampire’s hand to smash its away from below the ground to wreak havoc on the universe once more. The hand belonged to Chris Lawson, who went uncredited for his role.

                His years of experience eventually rose him to elevate position of visual effects designer. Shortly before pre-production for Arc of Infinity, Lawson was promoted and was quickly booked for his services on the serial. His next serial Planet of Fire saw the production crew run into trouble from the Lanzarote Police. Chris Lawson used smoke bombs to create the impression of an active volcano, ready to blow its top off. However, the BBC did not inform the authorities of the production process, and two local motorcyclist policemen believed an impending volcanic eruption was imminent. An unfortunate misunderstanding that was swiftly dealt with. Lawson’s last affiliation with Doctor Who came with Attack of the Cybermen, a bloodthirst affair featuring the Cybermen that would go down as one of the worst serial ever produced, and one of the prime examples used by critics and higher-ups at the BBC to highlight why Doctor Who should be taken off the air.

                Outside of the world of Doctor Who, Chris Lawson had a successful career as a visual effects designer. His first ‘proper’ work came with Terry and June (1981) and then the comedy serial The Black Adder (1983). The unaired pilot episode was handled by fellow Doctor Who visual effect designer John Brace and Simon Taylor; Lawson ultimately got the job to work on the series. He was a long standing visual effects designer for Jonathan Creek (1997-2000) which was produced by one Verity Lambert, the first producer of Doct

or Who. Other long stints came with Last of the Summer Wine (1982-2007) and One Foot in the Grave (1990-2000) starring Richard Wilson and Annette Crosbie two actors that would land roles in the revived series of Doctor Who. Lawson worked on many other shows throughout his career, with his last assignments coming with episodes of Not Going Out (2012-13).

                Sadly Chris Lawson died in 2021, his death was reported in issue 572 of the Doctor Who Magazine