Celebrate Record Store Day 2024 this Saturday, 20th April, by picking up a zoetrope spinning TARDIS copy of ‘The Edge of Destruction’ on vinyl.
The two-part serial was only the third story in the classic series’ original twenty-six year run. Broadcast in February 1964, ‘The Edge of Destruction’ features the original TARDIS crew, with William Hartnell as the First Doctor, Carole Ann Ford as his granddaughter Susan, and William Russell and Jaqueline Hill as school teachers Ian and Barbara.
Unusually, ‘The Edge of Destruction’ takes place entirely within the confines of the TARDIS, and features only the ship’s crew, with no guest actors. Intended as a way of reducing costs by recycling sets and minimising the cast, ‘The Edge of Destruction’ could easily have been a forgettable filler adventure, bridging viewers between the epic seven-part Dalek serial and an adventure with the Italian explorer Marco Polo. Not a bit of it. David Whitaker’s hastily-written yet original and intelligent script is brought vividly to life under solid direction by Richard Martin and Frank Cox (who took an episode each). The end result is an intense and claustrophobic experience. ‘The Edge of Destruction’ broke new ground for the fledgling science-fiction series, reinforcing just how weird and creepy a direction the family show could travel in.
Strange events occur on board the TARDIS. The crew is rendered unconscious, and when they come to, they act strangely. Susan becomes paranoid and threatens the teachers with a pair of scissors. The carriage clock melts. The ship emits warning sounds but the indicators suggest there isn’t a fault. As tensions rise, the crew turn on one another and the Doctor accuses Ian and Barbara of sabotage. Only by working together can they uncover the reason for the seemingly inexplicable events, but even then it’s a race against time to save themselves from destruction.
With a single setting and few characters, the dialogue-driven ‘The Edge of Destruction’ is an ideal addition to Demon Records’ range of ‘Doctor Who’ titles on vinyl. The tight, two-episode story works brilliantly as an audio experience. It is augmented by linking narration from Carole Ann Ford, who ensures that listeners new to the story know exactly what’s happening.
This release of ‘The Edge of Destruction’ also comes with a lovely bonus interview with Carole Ann Ford. She recalls the making of the serial in Lime Grove Studios (boo-hiss!). Even with a distance of six decades since the serial was made, she recalls the polar opposite approaches of the two directors. It is touching to hear her explain how ‘Doctor Who’ was a hit from the first episode, and how she began to be noticed in the street as a result of the show’s success.
Demon Records’ audio version of ‘Doctor Who – The Edge of Destruction’ is released as an attractive single vinyl record as part of Record Store Day 2024. The disc features the iconic image of the melting clock on Side A and a zoetrope effect of the TARDIS spinning in the vortex on Side B. A digital version will be released a little later on 2nd May and will be available through Audible, Spotify, Apple and Amazon (digital or CD).
Enjoy this classic piece of 1960s science-fiction in whichever way you like to consume these adapted-for-audio adventures. This is a whole new way of relishing the creepy, unsettling weirdness of ‘Doctor Who – The Edge of Destruction’.
Cast: William Hartnell, Carole Ann Ford, William Russell, Jacqueline Hill Writer: David Whitaker Directors: Richard Martin and Frank Cox Running time: 60 mins Released by: Demon Records and Penguin Random House BBC Audiobooks Release dates: 20th April and 2nd May 2024 Buy ‘Doctor Who – The Edge of Destruction’ on vinyl and on audio
