The New Doctor! A Doctor Who Alternate History Story

Part 6 - BBC Memorandum, Jan 18, 1992

CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM

From: Peter Creegan, Program Director

To: Johnathan Powell, Controller

Date: January 18, 1992

Re: The Millenium Pilot/Proposal

Seems to be the usual rubbish, certainly no worse than we've seen from Doctor Who the last few years, though it seems to be made more efficiently. That in itself is hardly a recommendation to buy in. The short subject, on the other hand, falls just short of brilliant and suggests that there may be potential here. The star, David Burton, is quite good in a hugger-mugger 'wink at the audience' sort of way, but is otherwise an unknown. The only person in Millenium that we've got any history with is Paul Bernard, he's done some directing in the past, the word is he's credible. His backers are largely unknown to us, but most emphatically do not include John Nathan-Turner, which is a plus. Even with all that, I might be inclined to pass it by, but the proposal does seem to line up with John Birt's ideas about privatization. Given his recent ascendence, this isn't something to overlook. So, subject to BBC Enterprises weighing in, we might consider finding a time slot for it, and see how things turn out."

******

Largely unknown to Bernard and Levine at Millenium productions, the winds of change were beginning to sweep through the BBC as the organization struggled to deal with the impact of the Margaret Thatcher years. Thatcher and her Conservatives viewed the BBC with considerable hostility, considering it both a haven for left wingers and a bloated, inefficient bureaucracy.

Between 1982 and 1987, Alasdair Gordon Milne was Director-General of the BBC, and directly beneath him was Michael Grade, as Controller of BBC1.

Michael Grade, the BBC1 Controller, had worked hard to reform the BBC.  Along the way, he had done a great deal of damage to the program during his tenure, from 1984 to 1987. Grade had a personal grudge against Colin Baker, he'd had a close relationship with Baker's wife as their marriage had broken down acrimoniously years before. He also loathed Bakers' theatrical style. 

After Baker's first season, he put the series on a hiatus, a sort of backdoor cancellation, that was finally reversed after 18 months. He'd meddled with the scheduling, moving it to a difficult time slot against Coronation Street. He'd shifted the show from 24 half hour episodes, to 12 hour long episodes. After the hiatus, he'd moved the show back to half hours, but kept it at 14 episodes. Unwilling to support the show in any way, it was starved of funds. Finally, in 1986, he fired Colin Baker. After Grade's departure in 1987, the show would limp on for another few years, but it was mortally wounded.

At the top levels, however there were far reaching changes in 1987, that extended beyond the departure of Michael Grade. Alasdair Gordon Milne had been forced out as Director-General of the BBC, a position he'd held since 1982. He was replaced with Michael Checkland, a cautious accountant, as Director General, and John Birt, a tory stalwart, as Assistant-Director General. Birt's initial remit as Assistant Director-General , and Thatcherite hit man, was to manage News and Current Affairs.

Initially, this had very little impact on entertainment programming and day to day productions in other areas like drama. Checkland was principally an accountant and a cautious fellow. He was about managing effectively, and not the fire breather that the Conservatives really wanted.

When Grade moved on in 1987, replaced by Johnathan Powell as Controller. It wasn't especially a political appointment, and BBC policies continued.

But things didn't get better for Doctor Who. Powell despised Doctor Who producer John Nathan-Turner. By that time, the series was mortally wounded and limping along, there was no one else but John Nathan-Turner. The series would receive no assistance.