h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/cult/news/drwho/2004/07/02/12671.shtml

Looks like the Dalek's have been finally defeated, not by the Molevellans, or the Thal's, not even the Doctor was involved. No the Dalek's have been killed by the Nation estate. Whether they used Nitro Nine or the Hand of Omega to achieve this is unclear at this point, but it looks unlikely that we will see them in the near future.

Rather short-sighted of Roger Hancock (whose fell hand I detect behind this), how long does he think the Daleks will retain any kind of popular currency without new appearances?

I suspect this may all be down to the fact that the BBC wouldn't promise not to show Daleks going up steps (no, seriously: Nation was livid when it happened in 1988). Oh dear.

It certainly smacks of some toy throwing somewhere. Considering how often Daleks turn up these days both "seriously" in Big Finish stuff and less seriously advertising biscuits or batteries I find it hard to think what RTD was going to do to them that was just too terrible for the Nation estate to handle. I wouldn't be surprised if it was money when it comes right down to it.

The biscuit stuff wasn't licensed, hence the sudden disappearance of the ad. I suspect BF gave the estate the story approval they demanded (interestingly, the estate vetoed the use of an image of a hovering Dalek from the cover of an early release).

I really would love to think that this is all a ploy to try and make all of us, and the public, believe that no Daleks were going to be in the series, only for us to be astounded to see them turn up in the biggest surprise since Earthshock.

Alas, I don't believe that...

<BB<

There's a thought, has there been any mention of the Cybermen for the new series? I can't remember seeing any. Mind you I would prefer new monsters where possible so it doesn't go to far up its own Farscape.

>> I suspect BF gave the estate the story approval they demanded (interestingly, the estate vetoed the use of an image of a hovering Dalek from the cover of an early release).<<

Almost; it was an image of the bubbleheaded Emperor Dalek, as seen in the 1960s comic strips that Mr Nation lent his name to. There was some feeling that the cover should instead depict the daleks as seen on TV, so it was changed.

I understand that it's simply a case of Big Finish always consulting the Nation family and Hancock's as a matter of courtesy. I believe the current situation has come about because for far too long they were either approached with ideas way too late or, in some cases, not at all. As 50% owners of the rights, they felt it was a bit off not to be consulted at all.

Ironically, the Daleks have recently appeared in an episode of Coupling, written by Steven Moffat (who's writing for the new series). Steven's wife is producer Sue Vertue, daughter of the legendary producer Beryl Vertue. Beryl was the one who brought Men Behaving Badly to the BBC, negotiated the sale of loads of 1970s sitcoms concepts to America (including Steptoe & Son, which became Sanford and Son)... and she was also the person who brokered the deal that gave Terry Nation that all-important 50% share of his Daleks - a detail they were keen to point out to Roger Hancock when he tried to veto the Daleks' inclusion in the 1999 Comic Relief special 'The Curse of Fatal Death'.

Darn it, yes; you're right about the BF thing.

Sticking a Dalek in the back of a set, as Coupling did, hardly consititutes major usage, and given the Vertue involvement it's not surprising they got the go-ahead. I just think this is a regrettable situation: any new series will, for a lot of people, not be truly Doctor Who (and not in any risible 'canon' sense, but in terms of essential 'right'ness) without the Daleks; and without new appearances 'in character' the Dalek brand is going to wither up and fade away. Both sides should have bent over backwards to make a compromise possible.

And I can't see a way for the Cybermen to work in a new show without a *major* reimagining, unless you want every casual viewer with even marginal SF-awareness going 'tch, Borg rip-offs!'