“Shada” is the name of a Doctor Who episode that was supposed to have been completed in 1979 but never was. What happened was that the engineers went on strike, with the result that it could not be completed. Otherwise, it is interesting to note that “Shada” had the distinction of having been written by Douglas Adams, the famous author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who passed away in 2001.
Regardless, “Shada” was completed by Tom Baker, who made a return as the Fourth Doctor complete with his signature long-coat and striped scarf. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the new scenes needed to complete the episode were filmed at the BBC Television Center, which can be found in London. There, they actually used the original Tardis for the filming, which combined with new music as well as new sound effects made using the original equipment from the 1970s to result in something most nostalgic.
As for the content of the completed episode, well, suffice to say that it features the Doctor and one of his companions Romana facing off against an alien named Skagra in the town of Cambridge. Some Doctor Who fans might be familiar with the narrative of the episode, whether because they have heard it come up in their interactions with other members of the same fandom or because they have listened to the radio play that was based on the episode. Whatever the case, the completed episode should nonetheless provide something new and exciting for Doctor Who fans, particularly since Tom Baker hasn’t shown up as the Fourth Doctor since 1981 outside of a single special that was meant for charity.
How Can Doctor Who Fans Get a Hold of “Shada?”
For those who are curious about how they can lay their eyes on “Shada,” there are a couple of options for them. First, they can buy it as a DVD special from BBC Worldwide, which should suit those who prefer having something tangible in exchange for their spending. Second, they buy it as a digital download from the same, which should prove to be the more convenient solution by far. Interested individuals should not expect to be able to catch “Shada” on either BBC One or one of the other channels under the same organizational umbrella because there are no plans to broadcast it thus at this point in time.
Further Considerations
On a final note, “Shada” could prove to be an interesting way for Doctor Who fans to tide themselves over while waiting for the special that will be coming out on Christmas, which has been titled “Twice Upon a Time.” Said special promises to be a stand-out even among other specials for a number of reasons. After all, it will not just see Steven Moffat’s final efforts for the series because of his upcoming departure, it will also see the transition from the Twelfth Doctor played by Peter Capaldi to the Thirteenth Doctor played by Jodie Whittaker. Suffice to say that this will be the first time that the Doctor will be played by a woman, meaning that it will be a historical moment for the franchise as a whole.
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