While the Tour has been beavering away on a massive project which will still take quite a while to complete, there are a few pin pricks of Doctor Who which have otherwise penetrated the fog for the ever dwindling Tour Faithful during these times of testing for all Doctor Who fans.
The Tour Honchos have finally gotten around to a series of TV movies for “The Saint” which aired in 1989. “The Saint” is one of those properties which, at least on TV, seems to return with diminishing effect in each iteration/updating/re-interpretation attempt. If that in its own, somewhat sad, way reflects back to Doctor Who and its long and storied history, it’s intended to.
Back in ’89 however the lead was Simon Dutton, who actually has a Doctor Who connection having appeared, somewhat briefly, in the Matt Smith story The Time of Angels. The TV movie of particular interest this time around was ‘Fear in Fun Park.’ a story set and shot in Australia and cast almost entirely with Australian actors. Dutton himself, and the Saint is one of those titles whose success is almost entirely reliant of the ‘presence’ of the star, doesn’t impress too much for our taste, but what got us to pay attention was a brief, almost throwaway, scene by one of those phone-a-friends, who supply information for the story lead just when the plot needs and directs.
That was Mark Strickson, looking quite lean and blond on the other end of the phone. This was during Strickson’s post_Doctor Who Australian phase. It’s important to remember what a revelation Turlough was back in 1983 and was the focal point of the Black Guardian trilogy of 5th Doctor stories. He was the first un-trustworthy companion, and even after the end of his original 3 story arc, always maintained an edge of not quite knowing whether he would be acting in his own best interest or not.
An important marker which nu-Who would later observe.