The True Story Behind Doctor Who's Abandoned Anniversary Movie

3. Dimensions in Time Replaces The Dark Dimension

Classic Doctor Who
BBC

If Segal was concerned that the script for The Dark Dimension was "silly" then who knows what he would have thought of the script for its replacement, the infamous Dimensions in Time. Fans were understandably disappointed that a dark and brooding 96-minute feature-length movie special was replaced by a light and fluffy romp through Albert Square, in 3D, for 1993's Children in Need telethon.

Viewed through the prism of an "Anniversary Special", Dimensions in Time is unbelievably disappointing. It's a crossover with BBC soap Eastenders, the Doctors don't quite feel right, the companions are thumbnail sketches of how the characters are remembered by writers John Nathan-Turner and David Roden. Worse than that, Tom Baker *still* doesn't share screen time with the other Doctors.

But fans should have lightened up. Dimensions in Time a bit of daft fun for a good cause. Funnily enough, Adrian Rigelsford's wish for light entertainment host Noel Edmonds to introduce The Dark Dimension on Noel's "Who" Party came true. Edmonds announced the winner of the phone vote that would decide which Eastenders character would save the Doctor from the part 1 cliffhanger. He was then joined by Jon Pertwee, in character as the Doctor, who instructed audiences to put on their 3D glasses. It wasn't a feature-length movie, but it was still a laugh.

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Citizen of the Universe, Film Programmer, Writer, Podcaster, Doctor Who fan and a gentleman to boot. As passionate about Chinese social-realist epics as I am about dumb popcorn movies.