Doctor Who: The Lost Stories (A·B)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
?

Action At A Distance see Crime Of The Century

Alexander The Great see Farewell Great Macedon

The Aliens In The Blood The Second Doctor
Writer: Robert Holmes Notes: Holmes submitted this idea on October 22nd, 1968, shortly after completing work on The Krotons. It was drawn from a proposed series Holmes had developed in 1967 called Schizo. Script editor Terrance Dicks was wary, feeling that OSCOC bore similarities to the eponymous facility of The Wheel In Space. He was also concerned that Holmes' notion of the Mark II Humans being distinguished by a physical feature like an extra-long thumb was reminiscent of the American TV series The Invaders. “The Aliens In The Blood” was rejected soon thereafter. Years later, however, Holmes was commissioned to write an amended version of the serial -- now set in present-day Chile and with the Doctor and his companions replaced by Dr John Cornelius and Prof Curtis Lark -- for BBC Radio 4. Co-written with René Basilico, it was transmitted in six weekly episodes as Aliens In The Mind from January 2nd, 1977.
Characters: The Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe
Episodes: Unknown
Planned For: Season Six
Stage Reached: Storyline
Synopsis: In the 22nd century, the Outer Space Commission Of Control (OSCOC) regulates the flow of traffic in the spacelanes. OSCOC is located on an island in the Indian Ocean, and its staff -- led by Dean Thawne -- are in frequent conflict with the primitive natives. The TARDIS materialises on the island in the midst of a rash of sabotage which has resulted in the loss of many Earth spaceships. Although the natives are suspected, it transpires that the culprits are actually mutant “Mark II” humans, who have infiltrated OSCOC. These mutants have gained the power of ESP but are cold and emotionless, and now intend world conquest. The Doctor defeats the mutants by constructing a device which broadcasts along their psychic wavelength and burns out their superhuman abilities.
References: Doctor Who Magazine #242, DWM Winter Special 1994, DWM Special Edition #4

Alixion The Seventh Doctor
Writer: Robin Mukherjee Notes: Mukherjee was new to television when he was commissioned to provide a storyline for “Alixion” on November 18th, 1987. It was still being worked on a year later and was a candidate for inclusion in Season Twenty-Six, but development was slow due to Mukherjee's inexperience. It then became a strong possibility for the final slot of Season Twenty-Seven, before the cancellation of Doctor Who in 1989.
Characters: The Seventh Doctor, Ace
Episodes: 3
Planned For: Seasons Twenty-Six and Twenty-Seven
Stage Reached: Partial(?) scripts
Synopsis: The giant beetles of the planet Alixion, led by their Queen, produce an intelligence-boosting elixir. However, the Doctor discovers that this is because the Abbot of a human monastery on Alixion is feeding people to the beetles. The Abbot now intends to see what happens when the beetles consume a Time Lord.
References: Doctor Who Magazine #255, DWM Special Edition #10

The Amazons see The Prison In Space

The Angarath The Fourth Doctor
Writer: Eric Pringle Notes: On August 11th, 1975, Pringle was commissioned for the first two episodes of “The Angarath” by producer Philip Hinchcliffe. They were delivered on September 27th butm after receiving no reply from the Doctor Who production office as to their suitability, Pringle eventually decided to complete the serial regardless. He submitted the final two parts on March 10th, 1976. Hinchcliffe had no intention of proceeding further with the story, however, and the situation was finally dealt with on June 23rd. Several years later, Pringle would write The Awakening for Season Twenty-One.
Characters: The Fourth Doctor
Episodes: 4
Planned For: Season Fourteen
Stage Reached: Complete script
Synopsis: Concerned a race of people offering human sacrifices to sentient rocks.
References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #8

The Ants The Second Doctor
Writer: Roger Dixon Notes: This idea was submitted on January 16th, 1967.
Characters: The Second Doctor
Episodes: Unknown
Planned For: Season Five
Stage Reached: Story idea
Synopsis: The TARDIS brings the Doctor and his companions to the Nevada Desert, where they discover they have been shrunk to a tenth of an inch in height. To make matters worse, they learn that the local ants have been made super-intelligent by atomic bomb tests and plan to take over the Earth.
References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #4, The Doctor Who Chronicles: Season Five

Arcade see The Nightmare Fair

Ark In Space The Eighth Doctor
Writer: John Leekley Notes: This was one of several storylines which appeared in Leekley's series bible for Philip David Segal's version of Doctor Who, released on March 21st, 1994. It was based on Robert Holmes' 1975 serial The Ark In Space.
Characters: A reimagined version of the First Doctor
Episodes: 1 (45 minutes)
Planned For: 1995 series
Stage Reached: Story idea
Synopsis: The TARDIS lands aboard a space station which houses all of humanity in suspended animation, waiting until the disease-ravaged Earth is hospitable again. However, a malfunction has extended their slumber for aeons and, in the interim, an insectoid alien species has invaded the station. Now they have infected the humans' leader, Noah, as a first step towards the conquest of the Earth.
References: Doctor Who: Regeneration

Attack From The Mind The Sixth Doctor
Writer: David Halliwell Notes: Halliwell was part of the original writing team for what would become The Trial Of A Time Lord. He and Jack Trevor Story were asked to develop the “future” element of the evidence against the Doctor. These would be two linked two-part adventures, which would share most of their sets (as had also been done in 1975 with The Ark In Space and Revenge Of The Cybermen). Halliwell's story would introduce new companion Melanie Bush. After an initial meeting of the writers with script editor Eric Saward on July 9th, 1985, Halliwell quickly set to work; Saward assigned his segment the title “Attack From The Mind” in mid-August. In mid-September, Saward requested various changes to the scripts. The planet Fred (which stood for FRee Equal Democracy, with Penelope an acronym for PENultimate ELegance Order and PoisE) would now be planet Trike, and the Trikes would not speak with the East End accents Halliwell had intended. Conflict would be generated amongst the Trikes by dividing them into militaristic and visionary camps. Several elements were excised, such as the Doctor being willing to use the TARDIS to change history, he and Mel being miniaturised by the Penelopeans, and the Doctor shooting his enemies dead. The story would now end with the Penelopeans losing their powers and the Trikes in control, to segue into Story's “The Second Coming”. However, Story was struggling mightily, and Saward found “Attack From The Mind” listless. Consequently, after five drafts, Halliwell's scripts were abandoned on October 18th. The “future” segment of The Trial Of A Time Lord was ultimately written by Pip and Jane Baker.
Characters: The Sixth Doctor, Mel
Episodes: 2
Planned For: The third segment of The Trial Of A Time Lord for Season Twenty-Three
Stage Reached: Full scripts
Synopsis: At the Doctor's trial for meddling, the Valeyard presents evidence from the future to show that the Doctor will not learn the error of his ways. The TARDIS is lured to the planet Fred, where tunnels are being excavated by the rodent-like natives, who are plagued by vivid mirages. The Doctor and Mel are captured by the Freds, but the Doctor is freed by the lemurine Penelopeans, beings who now dwell within their own imagination. The Freds are hunting for their control centre to prevent them from returning to corporeal form; the hallucinations are the Penelopeans' defense system. The Doctor agrees to bring a Fred back in time so that the Penelopeans can devise a form of protection against them. However, he is recaptured by the Freds, who complete their excavation. In fact, the Penelopeans are homicidal beings who retreated into their own minds so that they would not wipe themselves out. They have been toying with the Freds -- a peaceful race -- out of boredom. The Doctor and Mel escape to the TARDIS as war breaks out between the Penelopeans and the Freds. The Valeyard explains that the intervention of the High Council would be required deal with the consequences of the Doctor's meddling.
References: Doctor Who Magazine #201, DWM Special Edition #3

The Automata The Third Doctor
Writer: Robert Holmes Notes: Holmes was commissioned to write a storyline for “The Automata” on January 16th, 1973. It did not find favour with producer Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks, however, and was rejected ten days later. Holmes was commissioned to write The Time Warrior instead.
Characters: The Third Doctor
Episodes: 4
Planned For: Season Eleven
Stage Reached: Storyline
Synopsis: Unknown
References: Doctor Who Magazine #246, DWM Special Edition #2

Avatar The Seventh Doctor
Writer: David A McIntee Notes: “Avatar” was inspired by the works of horror pioneer HP (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft, creator of the Cthulhu Mythos in the early twentieth century. The serial's Arkham setting was a fictional town created by Lovecraft, and indeed a supporting character was called “Howard Phillips”. Since location filming in New England was not feasible, McIntee was asked to rewrite “Avatar” for Cornwall; he also anticipated that lack of content would result in the story being trimmed from four episodes to three. He had completed the script for Episode One when Doctor Who was cancelled in September 1989, resulting in the story's abandonment. McIntee would later write numerous Doctor Who novels for Virgin Publishing and BBC Books, beginning with another Lovecraft-inspired tale, White Darkness, published in June 1993.
Characters: The Seventh Doctor
Episodes: 4
Planned For: Season Twenty-Seven
Stage Reached: Partial script
Synopsis: In 1927 Arkham, Massachusetts, aliens with the ability to possess and reanimate cadavers plan to clone the fossilised remains of a Silurian god.
References: Doctor Who Magazine #255, DWM Special Edition #10

Bad Destination see Earth Aid

Bar Kochbar The Second Doctor
Writer: Roger Dixon Notes: This idea was submitted on January 16th, 1967.
Characters: The Second Doctor
Episodes: Unknown
Planned For: Season Five
Stage Reached: Story idea
Synopsis: In early 2nd century Palestine, the Doctor and his companions become involved with the efforts of the Jewish leader Bar Kokhba to organise an army against the Romans.
References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #4, The Doctor Who Chronicles: Season Five

The Beasts Of Manzic The Fourth Doctor
Writer: Robin Smyth Notes: This storyline was formally rejected on May 13th, 1975.
Characters: The Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane
Episodes: 6
Planned For: Season Thirteen
Stage Reached: Storyline
Synopsis: Unknown
References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #8

The Big Store The Second Doctor
Writers: David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke Notes: Ellis and Hulke were writing “The Big Store” by the fall of 1966, the department store setting having been suggested by story editor Gerry Davis. Their storyline was submitted on November 15th. Davis and producer Innes Lloyd liked the ideas, but felt that they would work more effectively in an airport setting; Lloyd also desired a six-part serial. “The Big Store” was therefore abandoned, and Ellis and Hulke reworked the concept into The Faceless Ones.
Characters: The Second Doctor, Polly, Ben
Episodes: 4
Planned For: Season Four
Stage Reached: Storyline
Synopsis: The TARDIS lands in a department store in 1973 London. The store has been taken over by two species of aliens -- a master race and a faceless slave race. The store employees have been abducted to the aliens' spacecraft, while some of the faceless aliens have been transformed into their duplicates, and the unprocessed slaves pose as mannequins. The master aliens intend to colonise the Earth, subjugating humanity by releasing a new strain of bubonic plague. The Doctor convinces the aliens to leave the Earth in peace.
References: Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #4, Doctor Who: The Handbook: The Second Doctor

The Bog Men see The Suicide Exhibition

The Brain-Dead The Third Doctor
Writer: Brian Hayles Notes: This idea was submitted in early 1971. It was rejected by script editor Terrance Dicks, but its inclusion of the Ice Warriors inspired the development of The Curse Of Peladon.
Characters: The Third Doctor, Jo, UNIT
Episodes: Unknown
Planned For: Season Nine
Stage Reached: Story idea
Synopsis: The Ice Warriors, led by Commander Kulvis, plan to invade modern-day Earth using a weapon called the ‘Z’ beam, which is capable of freezing anything it touches to absolute zero. In particular, the Ice Warriors can use it to freeze a human brain, turning the afflicted individual into a subservient Brain-Dead. The Ice Warriors hijack a communications satellite and use it to take over the crew of its receiving station, whom they set to work constructing a giant ‘Z’ beam transmitter. They plan to use the satellite network to broadcast the ‘Z’ beam around the world, enslaving mankind and adjusting the Earth's climate to something suitable for Martian habitation. Realising that metals are extremely conductive at absolute zero, the Doctor overloads the ‘Z’ beam transmitter just at the point of broadcast, destroying the Ice Warriors and the Brain-Dead.
References: Doctor Who: The Seventies, Nothing At The End Of The Lane #3

The Brain Drain see The Spare-Part People

Britain 408 AD The First Doctor
Writer: Malcolm Hulke Notes: “Britain 408 AD” was first submitted on September 4th, 1963. Story editor David Whitaker asked Hulke to revise his original storyline, however; he felt that the plot -- with its many opposing factions -- was too complicated, and also that the serial's conclusion echoed that of 100,000 BC too closely. It was hoped that an amended version of “Britain 408 AD” might occupy the sixth slot of Season One (Serial F), to be directed by Christopher Barry, but on September 23rd it was decided that the production block did not need another historical story and Hulke's serial was abandoned. The spot in the schedule was ultimately occupied by The Aztecs, while Hulke began work on “The Hidden Planet” instead. Following Whitaker's departure, Hulke resubmitted “Britain 408 AD”. It was rejected on April 2nd, 1965 by Whitaker's successor, Dennis Spooner, because the Romans had already featured in his own The Romans.
Characters: The First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara (original submission; the resubmission presumably replaced Susan with Vicki)
Episodes: 6
Planned For: Seasons One and Three
Stage Reached: Storyline
Synopsis: Involved the departure of the Romans from Britain around the start of the fifth century in the midst of clashes against the Celts and the Saxons, culminating with the time travellers fleeing the local peoples back to the safety of the TARDIS.
References: Doctor Who: The Handbook: The First Doctor, Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition #7

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
?