Doctor Who: The Peter Davison Years

Already popular with TV audiences as Tristan in the BBC family drama All Creatures Great and Small, Peter Davison brought a youthful exuberance and innocence to the role. A fan of the show when he was growing up, Davison drew inspiration principally from the first two Doctors, his own characterisation being a mixture of William Hartnell's brusqueness and Patrick Troughton's vulnerability-with a dash of English gent thrown in, reflected in the Doctor's typically dotty dress sense: cricket sweater, striped trousers and regency-style coat. Davison's era is notable for the return of some classic old monsters like the Daleks, Cybermen and the Sea Devils, and for the show losing its traditional Saturday teatime slot, going out instead twice on weekdays. Fans were kept happy with a feature length film and two 45-minute specials.