Koch Media, out now

The second Doctor’s era as seen through the eyes of his companions…

Twenty years ago, I had the pleasure of being involved with a convention on the Isle of Man which brought together all of Patrick Troughton’s companions in one place. Sadly, not too long after that, Michael Craze passed away, and the generation of fans who’ve flocked to the show in the aftermath of its revival in 2005 have lacked a chance to enjoy his company and hear his anecdotes. Luckily there are various recordings from conventions – and his Myth Makers tape. Having the opportunity to watch this is just one of many good reasons for buying this new release.

As with the earlier Jon Pertwee Years, the main body of this two-disc set comprises the Myth Maker tapes (as they were then), containing interviews with the companions. There’s a documentary at the start to place things in context, which goes far beyond the standard clichés about the era which are trotted out as soundbites. It includes footage of the man himself and from that you can see exactly why it is fifty or so years later, those who worked with him still recall that period fondly.

The interviews are of varying technical quality – inevitable given the age of some of them – but look beyond the trappings to what’s contained within, and there are plenty of stories that will be new to many fans. For those of us who’ve been knocking around for a few decades, it’s a chance to relive some highlights; for those who have come to the era via the animated Power of the Daleks, or Big Finish’s recreations of the time, it’s a passport to a perhaps slightly more innocent time.

Verdict: Another essential addition to the Doctor Who DVD library. 9/10

Paul Simpson