8 Multi-Doctor Adventures Beyond The World Of Doctor Who
7. Doctors Past and Present Hand Out A Big Cheque
1985 was the year that Doctor Who was put on an 18-month hiatus by the BBC. The announcement led to letter-writing campaigns, threats to unleash Daleks on the Houses of Parliament, and an ill-advised charity single. However, watching that year's Children in Need on 22 November, it appears the series was in rude health.
Producer John Nathan-Turner was a real showman, and, for good or ill, really knew how to promote Doctor Who. On the charity telethon that night, 20 Doctor Who stars emerged from the TARDIS. Tom Baker is, as ever, notable by his absence, but Troughton, Pertwee and Colin Baker all emerge from the big blue box in costume, whereas Davison just wears a brown suit.
They're joined by companion actors including Peter Purves, Nicholas Courtney, Elisabeth Sladen and Nicola Bryant as they produce a comically oversized cheque from the TARDIS. Colin Baker and Patrick Troughton then present the real cheques to host Terry Wogan for an accumulated £1,100, before the three costumed Doctors start bickering with each other in true multi-Doctor style. It's a fun sketch that shows just how much Doctor Who was still loved by the public during the difficult 18-month hiatus.