Doctor Who season 23

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Doctor Who Season 23: The Trial of a Time Lord

Season 23 aired on BBC1 from 6 September to 6 December 1986 and stars Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor, with Nicola Bryant as Peri, Bonnie Langford as Mel, along with Lynda Bellingham and Michael Jayston in key roles. The season contains four connected adventures—The Mysterious Planet, Mindwarp, Terror of the Vervoids, and The Ultimate Foe—for a total of 14 episodes. It marks the last regular appearance of Baker as the Doctor.

The story is framed as a Trial of the Doctor by the Time Lords, with the Valeyard acting as prosecutor. Evidence from the Doctor’s past and present is shown in the first two episodes, future events are revealed in the third, and the concluding episode has the Doctor facing the Valeyard and the Master to clear his name.

Production notes: The season followed changes aimed at making Doctor Who less violent and more humorous. Episodes were 25 minutes long, and the total run time was about 350 minutes. Filming took place from April to August 1986. The season faced problems, including the death of writer Robert Holmes and the resignation of script editor Eric Saward. John Nathan-Turner produced the series. Peri leaves the show during Mindwarp, Bonnie Langford debuts as Mel in Terror of the Vervoids, and Anthony Ainley returns as the Master in The Ultimate Foe.

Reception: Audience appreciation improved compared with the previous season, but ratings were still modest. Critics were mixed: some felt the trial format worked and praised Baker’s performance, while others disliked the structure or certain stories. Mindwarp included Brian Blessed in a notable role, while Terror of the Vervoids drew mixed opinions about the writing and Langford’s performance.

Ending and Baker’s exit: The final episode’s ending was changed to avoid a very dark cliffhanger, and Baker was dismissed from the role after the season, though accounts vary on whether this was BBC policy. The Trial introduced the Valeyard and the Inquisitor, and featured the Master in its final part.