Doctor Who: 10 Myths And Legends That Should Be Explored
6. Ghosts Of Cornwall
While Doctor Who has done ghosts very recently in the Series 7 episode Hide (2013), they very rarely tie into real world legends; like Hide and the Seventh Doctor story Ghost Light (1989) being set in fictional locations. Which is really missing a trick since British mythology is full of ghost stories that could be adapted. Cornwall in particular is supposedly teeming with ghosts and the general area has a lot of history that ties into these supposed hauntings. Which could be mined for some pretty decent Doctor Who stories. There are inns, mines, and prisons all over the region that are claimed to have resident ghosts; all with backstories that tend to be pretty tragic and could lend a Doctor Who episode some decent emotional depth. Especially if the ghost used was of a child. Although its nothing new for Doctor Who; in a sci-fi context ghosts have a lot of potential and can be rationalised in various different ways whether its alien intervention, time distortion from another dimension, or a cause closer to home. Theres a lot of room for telling a good story and its a classic formula that can yield excellent results. And, although its now pretty well worn, the incredibly unnerving trope of a childs ghost never seems to lose its impact.
JG Moore is a writer and filmmaker from the south of England. He also works as an editor and VFX artist, and has a BA in Media Production from the University Of Winchester.
