Production
| Episode | Broadcast date | Run time | Viewers |
Archive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Episode 1" | 17 December 1966 (1966-12-17) | 24:38 | 6.7 | Only stills and/or fragments exist |
| "Episode 2" | 24 December 1966 (1966-12-24) | 23:41 | 6.8 | Only stills and/or fragments exist |
| "Episode 3" | 31 December 1966 (1966-12-31) | 22:54 | 7.4 | Only stills and/or fragments exist |
| "Episode 4" | 7 January 1967 (1967-01-07) | 24:19 | 7.3 | Only stills and/or fragments exist |
The script was commissioned from Elwyn Jones, who proved ultimately too busy to actually write it. Script editor Gerry Davis stepped in to write the serial. Jones and Davis shared on-screen credit although Jones did no work on the script. The working title for this story was Culloden; however, a few years previously the BBC had aired a docudrama titled Culloden which resulted in the changing of the name of this story.
The Highlanders was the last purely historical story until Black Orchid in 1982. Patrick Troughton encouraged the move away from historical stories, according to his son Michael, out of an interest in exploring "real science in drama" as well as a desire to further distinguish his era from that of the previous Doctor, William Hartnell.
Producer Innes Lloyd and script editor Gerry Davis were initially uncertain whether the character of Jamie would work as an ongoing character, and although Hines' contract had an option for three more serials an ending was filmed with Jamie staying behind when the TARDIS departed. Hines' performance during shooting ultimately convinced them that the character had potential and the ending was re-shot. His popularity with the public ensured Jamie became a longtime member of the TARDIS crew.
While still an actor in the early 1960s this serial's director, Hugh David, had been considered for the role of the First Doctor but being only 38 years old at the time was deemed to be too young by the series' original producer Verity Lambert.
All four episodes have been wiped by the BBC. See Doctor Who missing episodes.
Read more about this topic: The Highlanders (Doctor Who)
Famous quotes containing the word production:
“Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality.”
—Erich Fromm (1900–1980)
“... if the production of any commodity necessitates the sacrifice of human life, society should do without that commodity, but it can not do without that life.”
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940)
“In the production of the necessaries of life Nature is ready enough to assist man.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)