Doctor Who: The Talons of Weng-Chiang

One of the best classic Doctor Who storys of the 1970s. Tom Bakers' Doctor plays Sherlock Holmes in a marvellously realised Victorian London, with a wonderfully fish-out-of-water performance by Louise Jamesons 'savage' Leela. The plot owes much to Conan Doyle and the mythos of the Ripper murders as young women disappear off the streets. However here its into the clutches of Weng Chiang, aided by his siniser henchman- Magician Li H'sen Chang, the creepy ventrilloquist doll Mr Sin, and some, hilariously realised, and uninentionally adorable, giant rats. The Doctor and Leela take it upon themselves to solve the mystery with the help of their new friends- Police pathologist Professor George Litefoot, and Theatre Manager Henry Gordon Jago- played by Trevor Baxter and Christopher Benjamin. They are, to me at least, the best part of the story. Though nicely fleshed out characters by themselves, as soon as they first meet in part five they become a wonderful double act- just as much as the Doctor and Leela are, and by the end you believe in the friendship they strike. Apparently there was talk of giving them a Torchwood-esque spin off show at the time, and though sadly that never happened, both Baxter and Benjamin reprised their roles in 2009 thanks to Big Finish audio dramas. "Jago and Litefoot: Investigators of Infernal Incidents" is now on its fourth season, with another due next year. They are all available via itunes- so I don't think theres a problem with promoting it here. All in all, a great serial with a good script, and memorable scares, but its the characters that make the story shine.

UTTERLY BRILLIANT!

This is definitely one of the best ever Doctor Who story's. The Doctor and Leela arrive in Victorian London so the Doctor can teach Leela about her ancestors. A cry in the night rings out that Leela calls the 'sound of death'. Why have the Chinese Tong killed a London Cabby. What evil lurks beneath the local theatre? Why are young women disappearing from the streets of London? Has Jack the Ripper returned - or is it something far worse? Can the Doctor and Leela uncover the truth before a disaster strikes that could destroy the Earth? A clever mix of Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper ensures a ripping good story with plenty of thrills, creepy moments and cliff hangers. Tom Baker is in his elements, as is Louise Jamieson as Leela, and added to that a brilliant supporting cast ensure that this is well worth the £7.99 asking price.

Doctor, Leela, Tong in Victorian London. Remember watching this on transmission BRILLIANT buy

This is a really clever example of what the BBC does best, proper drama where character development is what drives it. Here is a snapshot of a time when television was experiencing a real high. The production values are first rate and the performances equally so. And, more than thirty years on, it still has some blood curdling moments, that wouldn't be gotten away with today. It's brilliant.

If you were a child of the seventies and liked Doctor Who it didn't get much better than this. Mixing Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Rippers London and a touch of hammer horror, plus a fantastically over the top Tom Baker, this was one of the best Doctor Who stories. Who wouldn't have nightmares about the chinese ventriloquist's dummy, Mr Sin.