Doctor Who: Patrick Troughton's 10 Best Bits

9. 'The Highlanders'

Doctor Who The Highlanders Immediately following 'The Power Of The Daleks', there was 'The Highlanders'. When the Doctor, Ben and Polly find themselves in Scotland in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden,a stovepipe hat is swapped for a Tam o'Shanter ( the fetching headgear of choice for proud Jocks) and a new face joins the crew. Say hello to young piper Jamie McCrimmon. He quickly beds in to the extent that he becomes the longest-serving male companion in the history of the series. But I digress. This shows a side of the Doctor that had been almost completely absent from his First incarnation. Where he had been like your bad-tempered grandad in space, this new man seemed intent on grabbing 'mad uncle everyone loves' status. He'll always have hero status north of the border, and this story tells you why. Winning the trust of Jacobites €“ whom those who paid attention in history lessons will know were those hardy Scots in favour of doing away with the Hanoverian dynasty then ruling both Scotland and England €“ preferring the idea that Bonnie Prince Charlie could take the throne as a more palatable alternative. By helping treat their injured laird the Second establishes himself as a champion of the underdog. He then proceeds to cement this in the process of rescuing his companions and some grateful Caledonians from slavery in the West Indies by acting as an arms smuggler of sorts. Jamie is welcomed on board-and he and his new Time Lord best buddy presumably enjoy many an evening of jamming as a bagpipes/recorder combo. The rest at least up until 'The War Games' is history.
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