10. The Third Doctors TARDIS (The Time Monster)
The Third Doctor has quite a patchy history when it comes to interior design. The Third Doctors first year saw the console removed from the interior itself and for much of the following seasons saw various existing parts reused including the photographic blow up background from the 60s, which on one occasion, bizarrely appeared outside the doors as if there was a room between the console room and the police box doors. Another occasion saw only the wall with the doors and the console used for the opening scene of 'The Curse of Peladon'. The Time Monster is the first time a regular structure is applied to the interior, however this design was used once. It is a little garish I admit, the washing up bowl roundels and frosted glass lamps embedded inside. This is largely hated by the fan community, however I have a confession to make: I actually like this design. It is a sign of the times admittedly, but also, as it is only seen in three episodes of this one story. As such for a long time it developed something of a mythical quality in my eyes and was a bizarre motive for wanting to get hold of The Time Monster. A desire I dont think many Doctor Who fans experience. Admittedly, if this set had been seen in any other story I wouldnt hold it, in anywhere near as much regard. It would probably bring down any superior story as well, so it is an odd effect. Credit where it is due however, the designer did take into account the part of the Master in the series and his need for a TARDIS. Previous stories had taken the set for the Doctors TARDIS and shot it from another angle, with some little bits added. In this story, which also required the Masters TARDIS to appear, the set was shot in exactly the same way, because concealed on the far side of the Doctors console room was a second sliding plug type double door for the Masters TARDIS. Making the set dual purpose was a brilliant idea and would have saved the production team a lot of headaches with all the chopping and changing between TARDISs. The only difference is the central column, which is quite obviously a dustbin painted silver with a lamp on top. The only issue that even I have is that it is one heck of a coincidence that the Master decided to redecorate his TARDIS in exactly the same way as the Doctor at more or less the same time, as Jo Grant comments as she boards the ship. The set was apparently extensively damaged in storage, resulting in another new set for the following story.