Doctor Who: Spearhead From Space/Timelash

Spearhead from Space, from January 1970, not only introduced us to Jon Pertwee's Earth-bound, full-colour Doctor, but the animated plastic Auton dummies, who would eventually return to Earth to plague Rose Tyler in the first episode of the new incarnation of Doctor Who.

As a 'jumping-on' point for the series (i.e. the introduction of a new Doctor), it's a reasonably simple story, as our hero teams up with UNIT and the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) to battle the invading aliens - who have taken over a plastics factory to manufacture new shells for themselves.

As with most old Who, it's only really the effects that let this story down - especially when the Doctor is wrestling with the tentacles of the of the Nestene, which controls the Autons (and resembles nothing more than a giant, puckering sphincter with arms), and things degenerate into slight slap-stick. Pertwee's background as a comedy actor is also evident as he takes this opportunity to mug for the camera and several scenes earlier in the story wouldn't have looked out of place in a Benny Hill sketch!

In contrast, Colin Baker's Timelash is an exercise in excess, as ambitions skyrocketed and budgets contracted. This story has an awful reputation in fan circles for its low production values, lacklustre direction, and overacting. But in the cold light of day, it's not as bad as it's made out. Sure, Timelash is never going to win any awards, but the stark, minimalist corridors of Karfel have a certain verisimilitude, and the central story of a deformed dictator controlling his minions through a cat's paw is entertaining - if not wholly original.

Unfortunately some of the set dressing and props wouldn't look out of place in a primary school play, with the worst offender - tragically - being the central "Timelash", a tunnel in space and time that seems to connect Karfel with medieval Scotland! This is made up of flashing lights, tinsel and Styrofoam pillars which visibly flake when people rub against them. When people talk about the wobbly sets on Doctor Who - this is what they are talking about.

Hampered by an inexperienced writer - and some late scene padding - the Doctor and Peri seem intent on acting out of character, the Doctor suddenly reverting to his 'shouting' mode and Peri is a helpless 'girly-girl' who spends most of the story in various forms of bondage (trust me, not as exciting as it sounds), while the Doctor teams up with HG Wells!

The story has that grand ambition that makes Doctor Who great, and while it reaches high and falls further, it still carries the ambience of a 1960s BBC historic play (especially with Paul 'Avon' Darrow swanning through every scene he's in like a misplaced Roman senator).