10 Doctor Who Fates Worse Than Death
7. Married to Brian Blessed
Following complaints of too much violence and horror in the Colin Baker era, Doctor Who returned after an 18-month hiatus, refreshed, renewed and ready to take those criticisms on-board. Yeah right.
The Trial of a Timelord features the Doctor apparently commit genocide, Carry On favourite Joan Sims being electrocuted to death and, most controversially, the Doctor's companion Peri being shot dead. Although the fraudulent nature of the Doctor's trial suggested that all was not as it seemed, we were led to believe that she was dead and that the Doctor was unable to save her.
In what feels like a crisis of conscience on the part of producer John Nathan-Turner, Peri's death was hastily retconned six episodes later. It is revealed that her life was saved and she's now happily married to the Warrior King Yrcanos, as played by Brian Blessed. Is that better? She's basically swapped one bombastic old ham for another.
Not only that, but throughout her time in the TARDIS, Peri was lusted after by various older men, lascivious monsters and cannibal chefs. Is her happy ever after really with the Warrior King who, six episodes previously, shot her to death?