7. The First And Second Doctors TARDIS
This might seem sacrilege as this is what kicked everything off, but its impossible to admit that it has been executed better since. Look at the facts, there are only two walls, a panel of photo blow up roundels on canvas and the rear fault locator, which is just a massive computer bank. This set works best in its first appearance. It has all of the above in full working glory, the hexagonal lighting unit that I think was only seen once after and a set of internal doors. Sadly it was all downhill from here as studio space requirements meant hasty rearranging of the scenery. Even in this appearance you can see the edges of the set, which destroys the illusion. In each subsequent appearance the various elements would get more and more battered and beaten, leading to the illuminated roundels needing to be replaced in the second season, and over the years, even these would deteriorate, at one stage the walls developed a serious case of mould. Maybe this is where the idea for the coral came from. By the end of the Second Doctors era, they were making do with just the photographic blow-ups. It was seriously undignified look for the ship. Arguably in this time we saw more of the TARDIS than ever, rooms would appear or vanish as and when the story required them. The Web Planet featured the Doctors workshop which apparently hadnt been seen before because it was on the opposite side of the console room we never saw up to that point. I have no problem with this, but the design of it basically consists of plain white walls. Now we have seen the architectural configuration chamber, I kind of just think the Doctor was in there, got three quarters of the way through the console room and just got bored and gave up. Though clearly at other times he got a bit carried away as nothing else stayed the same. The fault locator for example eventually vanished for the Second Doctors time replaced by a multitude of other computer banks over the years, before making a return in The War Games. In The Mind Robber the Power Room, a room that has never been seen before appears, and is then never seen or heard of again. The funny thing is the Doctor mentions it like its a place he goes to all the time. Its really frustrating and at times hilarious spotting the various inconsistencies. For the first few years at least a consistent attempt was made to make the TARDIS seem hospitable for its inhabitants. There is a bedroom, with really uncomfortable looking fold out beds and a lounge area. The food machine makes up for a lack of kitchen, but vanishes after the second season. The Doctor even has a second workshop where he attempts to repair the space-time visualiser he nicked from a museum. But with all that, I have to respect this console room as it is the original and stitching all these variations together is the one constant. The console. I salute that prop as through thick and thin it reminded us that this was the TARDIS and has stuck fast through 50 years of time and space. A turbulent time for decoration, but overall the original TARDIS is charming to say the least and familiarizing yourself with its little faults at least gives it personality.