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September 2nd, 2019 14 comments

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Terrance Dicks 1935 – 2019

Writer Terrance Dicks has died at the age of 84. One of the greatest names in Doctor Who History.

He wrote several TV stories and was script editor on many others as well writing numerous Doctor Who Books and had always been a fan favorite. His final televised Doctor Who script was the 20th anniversary story The Five Doctors.

Other work included The Avengers, Crossroads, Moonbase 3 and Space: 1999.


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14 comments

  • The Moffat Paradox

    September 6th, 2019 - 8:52pm

    Anyone who knows ANYTHING about classic Who knows that he was one of it’s big beasts behind the set. RIP.

    Reply
  • The Temporal Jelly Baby

    September 4th, 2019 - 2:44pm

    He will certainly be very fondly remembered for all that he’s done for Doctor Who. ‘The Brain of Morbius’ and ‘Horror of Fang Rock’ are up there with my favourite Doctor Who stories. He was clearly a fantastic writer, and a great script editor too. RIP Terrance Dicks.

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    September 3rd, 2019 - 6:03pm

    Very sad news. So gutted I never got to meet him in person. His contributions to this wonderful show are many. A true legend.

    Reply
  • Gordon

    September 3rd, 2019 - 2:45am

    The word legend or icon can be seen as being overused but in this case the words legendary icon is just perfect for Terrance dicks. He really has left a massive stamp on the show as large as verity Lambert and Sydney Newman did. His history of working on the show has pulled some legendary stories on tv. He Co-wrote the end of the Troughton era which also had the debut of the time lords. As script editor he along with Barry Letts oversaw the pertwee era which is my favourite era. The 9th doctor made me like the show but the 3rd doctor’s era made me a fan. As script editor he had a hand in creating some unforgettable characters. Liz shaw, sgt Benton, jo grant, Mike Yates and Sarah Jane Smith. His era also had the debuts of such classic monsters such as the Auton’s, Silurians, Ogrons, draconian’s, drashings, giant maggots, agador, alpha centurion, sontaran’s. He helped name the master and shaped the unit family in his time as script editor. Introduced the multi doctor story. The word Gallifrey was introduced. The list of things that became mainstay’s of the series is long. He really did change it from a show struggling from the possibility of cancellation to a ratings winner in 5 years. Once leaving as script editor he wrote the 4th doctor’s debut which also was Harry Sullivan’s debut and he also wrote in jelly baby’s for tom which became synonymous with tom. He wrote brain of Morbius which terry disowned as Robert Holmes changed too much. There is definite terry traits so Personally I still see it as a terry script especially as how good it is. Horror of fang rock is just another great terry story and turns what could have been a dull premise of a lighthouse story into an absolute cracker of a story. State of decay introduces vampires into doctor who lore and despite Christopher Hamilton Bidmead’s attempts to add hard science to it it’s still one of the better season 18 scripts. The five doctors shouldn’t have worked. A laundry list of doctors and companions to work around and a 4th doctor that refused to do it but he made it work and even better he made it so much fun. In my opinion the best multi doctor story. You can’t talk about Terrance and doctor who without mentioning his novelisations. He may have not started the target range but with more than 60 target books under his belt he made the range his own. He also contributed to the new adventures and past adventures and did a couple of contributions to the 8th doctor plus who can forget the making of doctor who which influenced quite a few people that went to work on the show. He also did a massive amount of non who books. I estimate over 100. For a lot of people terry helped them learn English. His writing was that influential. He even did some work for big finish and wrote the sontaran spin off shakedown and also Mindgame. Later years he relished the opportunity to appear on the dvd documentary’s and commentaries. He did have a tendency to repeat certain stories but terry had a knack of telling you in a certain way that it’s always fun to hear it. Non who work he worked on such shows as the avengers, crossroads, moonbase 3, space 1999 and even got plaudits for the work on the classic serial and even a bafta nomination. Always a fantastic ambassador for the show and no one had a bad word to say about him. He will be missed rip

    Reply
  • Who rules

    September 3rd, 2019 - 12:19am

    I decided to read the web of fear, one of my favourite stories and one of my favourite target books after learning of Terrance’s passing earlier. I’ve just finished it. Great stuff from a great writer. I imagine Terrance is up there reminiscing with Barry letts and Jon pertwee, raising a glass with loved ones and old friends. We who are left behind have the body of his work to remember him by. A true gent. And one who will be thoroughly missed. Now on to the next book, fang Rock I think…

    Reply
  • Nicholas Dickens

    September 2nd, 2019 - 10:52pm

    God bless you Terrance Dicks. Truly a legendary writer, gentleman and wonderful human being. I can only imagine how much your loved ones, and friends feel at this sad time. From all Whovians – Bless you.

    Rest in Peace Terrance Dicks.

    Reply
  • Daz

    September 2nd, 2019 - 7:10pm

    I was lucky to meet Terrance Dicks along with Barry Letts who was sitting next to him a few years ago now at an event, I remember he was very nice and posed for photos after signing my Five Doctors DVD cover.
    I have just started to get some Target books to re-read and some to read for the first time he gave so much to Doctor Who and will be missed by all fans.

    Reply
  • Obsie

    September 2nd, 2019 - 6:24pm

    Enjoyed all of his novelisations of the series. He had me searching my dictionary so many times when he used, some archaic words, complicated (for a 13yr old at the time) or seemingly non existing ones, ( they did exist). If ever someone’s mind, experiences, imagination and all that he was would qualify for uploading to the Matrix on Gallifrey, Terrance Dicks was that man. R.I.P and thank you for unlocking my own imagination with your storytelling.

    Reply
  • GuyTheZygon

    September 2nd, 2019 - 5:39pm

    Such a very great loss, he contributed so much to so many childhoods! Just missed out on meeting him at the 50th Anniversary ExCel Stadium event, made it up to the room he was in to find he’d left only minutes before… but many great memories of his numerous Target books. R.I.P. Terrance!

    Reply
  • Tim M

    September 2nd, 2019 - 5:24pm

    Very sad news. Terrance Dicks was one of the best writers Doctor Who ever had. His body of work for the show and it’s books is immense. Terrance knew what made good Doctor Who, and understood it’s premise and potential. Thankyou Terrance for devoting so much of your talent to this unique TV phenomenon. You helped make us all fans. Thankyou. R.I.P

    Reply
  • Stephen Moxon

    September 2nd, 2019 - 4:52pm

    Very sad to hear this. His role in the history of Doctor Who, and English literature, will not be forgotten. His books taught me to read. And he was a very nice man when we met. What a legacy he leaves behind!

    Reply
  • The ergon

    September 2nd, 2019 - 4:50pm

    So saddened to hear about Terrance Dicks. He oversaw so much and wrote some of my all time favourite stories To all us Whovians he has left a legacy we will always be truly thankful for and his legend will live on for future generations. RIP.

    Reply
  • Who rules

    September 2nd, 2019 - 4:45pm

    R I P Terrance dicks. So sad, his work was instrumental in getting me through a difficult childhood. He has passed at the age of 84 and so another who great leaves us. I was so looking forward to the October release, the target storybook, now it will be bittersweet to read Terrance’s final doctor who work. Right I’m off to read a Terrance dicks book, so many to choose from…

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    September 2nd, 2019 - 4:45pm

    RIP Terrance Dicks. The world has lost a great person and the doctor who community has lost one of the most important parts of its collective history. He will be sorely missed.

    Reply

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