Doctor Who: The Visitation (1982)

One thing Doctor Who always does well is 'historical' pieces, thanks to the BBC's love of period drama, and The Visitation is a case in point.

A simple tale set in 17th Century England sees Peter Davison's Doctor - along with Nyssa, Tegan and Adric - trying to foil a genocidal plot by some marooned alien escaped convicts to annihilate the population of Earth through germ warfare, so they can have the planet to themselves.

While the reptilian Terileptils and their android cohorts are comical in appearance - due the limits of 1980's Doctor Who budgets - this doesn't detract from the solid, straightforward story.

In fact, it's almost too straightforward, when the Tardis arrives outside a bakery in London, 1666, the fiery climax of The Visitation is clearly signposted, but nonetheless very satisfying. It could only have been more so if it had been Adric - rather than the Doctor - who accidently started The Great Fire of London. That would have given us just one thing to hate him for!

Adric is a fascinating character. He's that rare combination of a truly dreadful creation - petulant, annoying, sulky etc - played by an utterly useless actor (Matthew Waterhouse), given really annoying things to do and limp lines to deliver. The character's death - a couple of stories later - in Earthshock couldn't have come soon enough.

You just have to contrast him with Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) to realise that the Doctor was still capable of selecting worthy companions. Her cute charm aside, Nyssa is smart, resourceful and compassionate. Even "the mouth on legs" Tegan (Janet Fielding), while not always the most pleasant companion to listen to, could at least be witty in a sarcastic way.

The actor-turned-highwayman Richard Mace (Michael Robbins) would also have made a fascinating travelling companion for the Doctor - perhaps because he reminded me of Oliver Reed's Miles Hendon in the 1977 version of The Prince And The Pauper.

If only the Doctor had left Adric in the flames of Pudding Lane and convinced Richard to go travelling with him and the two young ladies!