Aneurin
Guardian Of Gallifrey
Favourite Doctor: Eleven
Favourite Companion: River
Posts: 5764
Formally River Song
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E is for...
Earthshock
Earthshock was the sixth story of season 19 of Doctor Who. It was notable for its high ratings, the deliberately unannounced return of the Cybermen, and the apparent death of Adric.
Indeed, this serial and Time-Flight together offered producer John Nathan-Turner his highest consistent chart positions. Earthshock was the only serial in JNT's producership whose episodes were all in the top fifty of programmes watched on British television.
JNT took a now-well-known publicity gamble with this serial by deciding that he wanted to keep the return of the Cybermen a surprise. Normally, there was a public gallery overlooking the studio floor at Television Centre which allowed public viewing of proceedings. For Earthshock, JNT closed it and security kept people out. Nathan-Turner also turned down a Radio Times photo shoot to ensure this secret.
The death of Adric was also a considerable gamble, since no long-running companion had ever been killed on Doctor Who before. Special, downbeat titles were commissioned for the end of part four, making the final part the only episode, as of August 2013, to have no end theme music.
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