Terrance Dicks

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

During his six years as script editor (1968–1974), Dicks oversaw the creation of enduring Doctor Who concepts that persist in the modern series. He co-wrote 'The War Games' with Malcolm Hulke, which concluded the Second Doctor's era and introduced the Time Lords and Gallifrey—a name he derived from Robert Holmes' earlier 'Galfrey'. His editorial guidance established the term 'regeneration', created companions Liz Shaw, Jo Grant, and Sarah Jane Smith, and codified TARDIS mechanics like the Dematerialisation Circuit and Telepathic Circuit. He also introduced plot devices such as the Blinovitch Limitation Effect in 'Day of the Daleks' and facilitated multi-Doctor stories like 'The Three Doctors'. His scripts often tackled social themes, from respect for all life in 'The Silurians' to metaphors for apartheid in 'The Mutants' and equality for women through Sarah Jane Smith.

In Their Own Story

Dicks' relationship with the franchise deepened when he adapted televised stories into novelizations for Target Books, writing 67 titles by his own count. In this role, he acted as an unofficial editor, often recruiting original scriptwriters to adapt their work; if they refused or were unavailable, Dicks would undertake the task himself. Notable instances include completing Robert Holmes' unfinished adaptation of 'The Time Warrior' and adapting 'The Mysterious Planet' after Holmes' death in 1986. By September 1980, these novelizations had sold three-and-a-half million copies across ten languages. His writing credits extended to the Fourth Doctor era as well; he wrote 'Robot', 'Horror of Fang Rock', and 'State of Decay'. For the latter, originally titled 'The Vampire Mutations', Dicks requested a pseudonym ('Robin Bland') due to dissatisfaction with rewrites, though the story was eventually broadcast under his name after production delays. His final script for the series was the 20th-anniversary special 'The Five Doctors' in 1983.

Reader's Guide

Dicks' career offers a clear map of Doctor Who's evolution from television to literature and audio drama. After stepping down as script editor, he continued writing scripts for successors like Robert Holmes, though his 'Vampire Mutations' was replaced by 'Horror of Fang Rock' due to scheduling conflicts with a BBC Dracula adaptation. He expanded into other media, penning two stage plays ('The Seven Keys to Doomsday', 'The Ultimate Adventure') and contributing to Big Finish Productions, including the first significant audio appearance of Sarah Jane Smith in 'Comeback' (2002) and his final career script, a Bernice Summerfield story in 2011. In the 1990s, he wrote three novels for Virgin's New Adventures line and later contributed to BBC Books, authoring the best-selling original novel 'The Eight Doctors'. His legacy was honored when the 2020 episode 'Spyfall' was dedicated to him following his death in August 2019.

Did You Know?

• Dicks co-wrote 'The War Games' with Malcolm Hulke, a friend he met while renting a room from him.
• He used the pseudonym 'Robin Bland' for 'The Brain of Morbius' because he was displeased with Robert Holmes' rewrites.
• By September 1980, his Doctor Who novelizations had sold three-and-a-half million copies in ten languages.
• Dicks served as the unofficial editor of the Target Books range, often adapting stories when original writers were unavailable.
• The 2020 episode 'Spyfall' was dedicated to Dicks after he passed away on 29 August 2019.