Eric Saward

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Lore & Background

Saward's most defining contributions involved revitalizing the Dalek mythos with high-stakes narratives. He wrote Resurrection of the Daleks (1984) and Revelation of the Daleks (1985), stories that featured intense violence including executions by laser, acid baths, and cannibalism. These elements sparked a public and internal BBC controversy during Colin Baker's first season as the Sixth Doctor. Saward argued these scenes were necessary to warn audiences against real-world violence, contrasting sharply with the disapproval from fans and Michael Grade, who cited the darkness as a reason for the series' 1985 hiatus. Beyond television, Saward expanded the universe through other media. He penned the 1983 short story Birth of a Renegade for the Radio Times special marking 'The Five Doctors' (20th Anniversary) and wrote the 1985 radio play Slipback for Radio 4. He also novelised The Visitation, Slipback, The Twin Dilemma, Attack of the Cybermen, and eventually both of his Dalek stories in 2019.

In Their Own Story

The working relationship between Saward and producer John Nathan-Turner was often strained, rooted in disagreements over hiring practices. Saward frequently objected to Nathan-Turner's insistence on using novice writers, leaving him to struggle with unsuitable scripts from inexperienced contributors. Despite this friction, he successfully brought veteran writer Robert Holmes back to the series, where they became friends before Holmes' death. Tensions peaked during the production of The Trial of a Time Lord in 1986. Saward had previously disagreed with Nathan-Turner's casting of Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor. Following the hiatus, the conflict escalated until Saward resigned as script editor before completing the season's scripts. He later denounced Nathan-Turner publicly in an issue of Starburst. When asked in July 1988 what he would change if he could restart his career, Saward replied simply: 'the producer.'

Reader's Guide

For those exploring Eric Saward's specific contributions, focus on the four television stories he wrote: The Visitation (1982), Earthshock (1982), Resurrection of the Daleks (1984), and Revelation of the Daleks (1985). Note that while he novelised The Twin Dilemma and Attack of the Cybermen, Earthshock was novelised by Ian Marter. His Dalek stories were not novelized until 2019. Readers should also look for his short story Birth of a Renegade in the Radio Times special for 'The Five Doctors' (1983) or his radio play Slipback (1985). In the modern era, Saward continued his association by writing linking narration for missing episode audio releases and appearing on DVD interviews. He created the character Lytton, who appeared in Resurrection of the Daleks and Attack of the Cybermen, and returned to write the eponymous limited comic series Lytton in 2020.

Did You Know?

• Saward was working as a teacher when his radio drama career began and he was approached by Christopher H. Bidmead.
• He novelised both of his Dalek stories, Resurrection of the Daleks and Revelation of the Daleks, but they were not published until 2019.
• Saward resigned as script editor during the production of The Trial of a Time Lord in 1986 before completing the season's scripts.
• In 2020, Saward made his first foray into comics with the series Lytton, based on a character he created for Doctor Who.
• His long-term partner is Jane Judge, who served as the BBC production secretary for the Doctor Who office when he became script editor.