The Tin Dog Poll- An Introduction to K-9. Words by @Zeiton_7 and Pictures by @cheezypeas

"Good dog

Affirmative Master"

The Inner workings of K-9 or K-9 Naked!

On Saturday we in The Doctor Who Bar are paying tribute to the ultimate of all doggies, K-9.
There have been four versions of K-9 over the years and its amazing to think that he wasn't ever intended to be a regular companion.

K-9 first appeared in The Fourth Doctor story- The Invisible Enemy and was created by Professor Marius. The original, or Mark 1, version decided to remain on Galifrey with Leela at the end of the story The Invasion of Time. However, he had proved to be so popular The Doctor is seen unpacking a box labelled K-9 MK II.

Throughout his many adventures with The Doctor K-9 proved to be a useful companion and even boasted a laser for self defence, which was concealed within his nose. Whilst often the butt of The Doctors jokes and frustration, he was regarded with sentiment and affection.

However some of the crew and production team did not share this sentiment for the erstwhile dog. The limitations with K-9 were largely due to the difficulties experienced when K-9 had to traverse anything other than a flat, smooth service. To put it bluntly he wouldn't move!

This is best seen when K-9 is given the task of following the Marsh Men in Full Circle. Our doggy hero is thwarted by a very small ditch! This was the main reason why K-9 was finally written out of the series at the end of Warriors' Gate. I think people got fed up with the limitations they felt were apparent with a dog that just wouldn't play ball.

K-9 featured in the anniversary story The Five Doctors, albeit very briefly, and even had his own spin off series, K-9 and Company. After a pivotal and decisive role in the Tennant story School Reunion he was finally given to Sarah Jane Smith and featured regularly in The Sarah Jane Adventures.

K-9's final appearance in Doctor Who to date is in the final part of the end of season  two parter, Journeys End. He did feature in an Australian spin off series called er K-9. The problem with this series was that they totally redesigned K-9 and most Whovians really didn't like the reboot or the series as a result.

K-9 is loved by fans both young and old. I was recently at a conference where he made a guest appearance and immediately reverted back to childhood. Indeed, a collective cry of joy could be heard as the tin dog wheeled onto the stage. It is this universal affection that makes K-9 such an adorable and wonderful creation. Intelligent and witty he even beat The Doctor at chess once!

As the saying goes, slightly amended, "you can't keep a good dog down" and I am sure that we haven't seen the last of K-9 on our screens. What was that K-9? "Affirmative master"

 So join us on Saturday for a K-9 double bill. We will watch the winning story and the runner up. The bar opens at 7.30pm and we press play at 8pm. Please bring some doggy treats as K-9 gets upset! #DWBAR

Sarah Jane Smith: My Memories of Elisabeth Sladen by @Via_The_Void

 

My first viewing on television of the lovely Elisabeth Sladen would be in her cameo appearance in the Twentieth Anniversary Special The Five Doctors. Her first little scene with K9 is a favourite of mine.  I loved her surprise when she meets the Third Doctor again, and her banter on the commentary (of The Five Doctors Twenty Fifth Anniversary Edition) that Jon Pertwee pinched her line that "You became all teeth and curls!"

When I started buying the Doctor Who videos back in the mid-eighties, my first proper introduction to the character in a full Doctor Who story was the Jon Pertwee adventure Death To The Daleks, which ironically is being released on DVD very shortly!

Her banter with Jon Pertwee's Doctor was a delight to behold.  Sarah actually takes centre stage for much of this particular Dalek adventure, and when she escapes one of the Daleks goes a bit bananas as he blows himself up.  It's Sarah who devises a plan to get the Parrinium supplies aboard the Earth Marine Space Corps ship so that the Daleks can't get it. Good for Sarah.

This girl could act, she could stand her ground and she could give a good scream too.  All great abilities for a traditional Doctor Who companion.  However this character is not just a traditional companion, she starred alongside two of the best actors ever to play the role, the late Jon Pertwee and his successor the great Tom Baker.  I have no doubt that the pairing of Elisabeth Sladen with Tom Baker heralded a golden age of Doctor Who which for many can never be repeated.  The good news though are the stories are available to view for many years to come thanks to 2|Entertain and now BBC Worldwide.

However back to my memories of Lis.  The most painful memory was her tragic death last year, I had just bought Planet of the Spiders, Tesco didn't have it but Asda did when they checked their store room and I eagerly snapped it up intending to watch it that night later on.  Turning on my telly to read my favourite pages on Ceefax, I was unprepared for the revelation I was about to get on the entertainment news section.

I hadn't the heart to watch the Planet of the Spiders DVD, because I realised that in the final scene prior to the regeneration all of the main stars were no longer with us, and that hurt.  I couldn't watch it, and it took me a good three to four months before I did, and of course that final scene set me off!  I blubbed like David Tennant when he said goodbye to Rose!

I do have happier memories though.  She is a favourite companion of mine and I eagerly snap up her stories on DVD.  Even the K9 Boxset in order to see Sarah in the first spin off series K9 & Company, it's not half as bad as everyone makes out.

She was terrific in many of her stories but ones which stand out are The Hand of Fear, The Brain of Morbius, Pyramids of Mars and The Time Warrior.  I love her performance in Jon Pertwee's final outing when she gets possessed by the Queen Spider.  I have a soft spot for Planet of the Spiders and for Jon Pertwee's Doctor in general but when he says: "A tear Sarah Jane."  Elisabeth as Sarah Jane looks as if she's about to burst into tears at the thought that she's about to lose the Doctor.  She doesn't realise that although it's the end for the Third Doctor, she's about to meet the mad as a hatter Fourth Doctor!  And what a pairing together these two had, I love the dynamic these two actors had together.

Elisabeth Sladen was instrumental in Doctor Who's success during her tenure on the show, especially alongside Tom Baker as the Doctor. She will never be forgotten, and it is a testament to the success of her character that she returned to the role in The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Who can forget her first appearance in The Time Warrior and later in the The Sontaran Experiment when Styre says that as the female of the species her thorax is of a different construction! That is a classic Doctor Who line. She met the Daleks creator in Genesis of the Daleks and then again years later in The Stolen Earth/Journey's End.  It was a wonderful moment for me when she recognised Davros's voice.

She was a brilliant actress and will be very sadly missed, but I wont despair now because through the power of DVD coupled with a blogger site called the Doctor Who Bar (shameless plug!) I can enjoy her terrific performances for many years to come.