Season 23, or The Trial of a Time Lord, is pretty abysmal television, let alone Doctor Who, but it did give us this rather unique villain and one that the show should have explored further. Up until episode 13, the Valeyard had been a rather sarcastic prosecutor in the Doctor's trial. However, the Master pops up in episode 13 and reveals that the Valeyard is actually... the Doctor! Alas, this great potential is squandered in behind the scenes turmoil where the script editor refuses to allow his finale script to be made, leading to poor producer John Nathan-Turner having to commission a different one. The broadcast part 14 makes little sense and reduces the Valeyard to wandering around dressed as Eddie Yates from Coronation Street and throwing exploding quills. Still, the idea of a dark Doctor, distilled from all the evil qualities from between his twelfth and thirteenth self, is a brilliant one and Michael Jayston plays him with relish. Though not appearing again in the TV show (though he has been name checked), Big Finish have expanded upon the character in their audio range.
Writer of The Blog of Delights, a review site covering film, TV, cult TV, books and audio. Fan of Dr Who, Bond, X-Men and Marvel. Also the writer of e-book 'Fictional Legends: Doctor Who - the TV Adventures' for Collca.
