Nicola Bryant Movies

Four years after its "official" demise as a weekly series, Doctor Who briefly resurfaced in the form of a two-part, 14-minute special. Created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series' birth, Part One of "Dimensions in Time" was shown as a segment of the BBC's Children in Need Telethon. The plot proper pitted five of the Doctor's seven incarnations -- played by surviving series stars Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy -- against renegade Time Lady Rani (Kate O'Mara), who hoped to determine the outcome of the universe's evolution. This cliffhanger was resolved on November 27, 1993 with Part Two of "Dimensions in Time," shown as a six-minute component of the series' Noel's House Party. It was truly an "interactive" effort, with the home viewers calling in their suggestions for the outcome. Also appearing were several cast members of the popular British soap opera Eastenders (one of whom was selected by popular vote to "save" the Doctor). Written by John Nathan-Turner and David Roden, "Dimensions in Time" represented the Doctor's last TV appearance until the 1996 two-hour "revival" film. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The cast and crew of the satirical British comedy series Blackadder reunited for this perverse one-hour spin on Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Rowan Atkinson stars as Ebeneezer Blackadder, a kindly and beloved London businessman. Alas, Ebeneezer is too warm-hearted and generous to suit his greedy, grasping ancestors, who on Christmas Eve appear in spectral form to force their descendant to live down to Blackadder family tradition. Also appearing are Tony Robinson as Baldrick, Robbie Coltrane as The Spirit of Christmas, Miriam Margoyles as Queen Victoria, Jim Broadbent as Prince Albert, and Miranda Richardson in the dual role of Elizabeth I and Asphyxia XIX. A Blackadder's Christmas Carol made its British TV bow on December 22, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of the Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker), on trial for his life, is confronted with videotaped evidence of his "disobedient" behavior on the planet Ravolox. It is up to the Doctor and his companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), that their mission to Ravolox was intended to rescue the inhabitants from malevolent con artist Glitz (Tony Selby). Written by Robert Holmes and originally telecast on September 20, 1986, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 3 was technically the third chapter of a story arc subtitled "The Mysterious Planet." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the eighth episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of the Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker) refutes videotaped evidence of his "treachery" on the planet Thoros Beta. It doesn't look good for the Doctor, however, since the tapes suggest that he willingly served up a reluctant Peri (Nicola Bryant) as a body donor in a brain-transplant experiment performed by scientist Crozier (Patrick Ryecart) on the planet's leader Kiv (Christopher Ryan). The outraged Time Lords, ignoring the Doctor's insistence that the evidence is entirely misleading, are forced to take drastic measures. This episode served as the series swan song for co-star Nicola Bryant. Written by Philip Martin and originally telecast on October 24, 1986, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 8 is actually the concluding chapter of the four-part story arc "Mindwarp." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the sixth episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) continues to prosecute the Doctor (Colin Baker) for violating the Laws of Time. Videotaped evidence shows the Doctor and Peri (Nicola Bryant) travelling to the planet Thoros Beta, apparently to commisserate with intergalactic outlaw Sil (Nabil Shaban). But the Doctor contends that his mission to Thoros Beta was meant to be beneficial, citing the fact that scientist Crozier (Patrick Ryecart) intended to alleviate the suffering of the planet's leader, Kiv (Christopher Ryan), by using the Doctor's body as the temporary home for Kiv's brain. Will the Doctor be able to prove his point -- or will his erratic behavior, caught on video, condemn him to death? Written by Philip Martin and originally telecast on October 11, 1986, "Mindwarp, Episode 2" is listed in most sources as Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 6. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the fourth episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of the Time Lord," the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) uses videotaped evidence in hopes of proving that the Doctor (Colin Baker) was guilty of breaking the Laws of Time on the planet Ravolox. But the Doctor contends that he and his companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), were actually responsible for saving Ravolox from the villainous machinations of intergalactic con artist Glitz (Tony Selby). Written by Robert Holmes and originally telecast on September 27, 1986, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 4 was technically the concluding chapter of a four-part story arc subtitled "The Mysterious Planet." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the two-part story "Vengeance on Varos," the Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) are trapped on the former prison planet Varos, where the population is held in mental slavery by a network of video screens, which offer a 24-hour diet of televised tortures (shades of the "video nasties" which were briefly popular in England during this period). The instigator of this outrage is a slug-like monstrosity called Sil (Nabil Shaban), the greedy representative of a despotic mining company. Written by Philip Martin, the "Vengeance on Varos" was originally telecast on January 19 and January 26, 1985; the two 45-minute episodes have since been recut into a four-part cliffhanger for American television. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of "Timelash," the Borad Robert Ashby, mutant dictator of the planet Karfel, declares war on the Bandrils, the better to wipe out his own followers so that he can create a new, "superior" race. Meanwhile, the Doctor (Colin Baker) attempts to rescue Vera Rennis (Jeanane Crowley), an old friend of Peri (Nicola Bryant), whom the Borad has exiled to the Timelash, a spectral time corridor. Yet another dilemma arises when Peri is chosen to replace the Borad in the long-ago accident which so horribly disfigured him. This episode was initially titled "Conquest of the Daleks," but the Daleks were ultimately written out of the story. Scripted by Glen McCoy, the two-part "Timelash" originally aired March 9 and March 16, 1985; it has since been edited into a four-part serial for American television. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the three-part adventure "The Two Doctors," the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) comes face to face with his predecessor, Doctor #2 (Patrick Troughton), and that worthy's traveling companion, Jamie (Patrick Hines). Rescuing the Second Doctor and Jamie from a Sontaran attack, the "current" Doctor must also cross swords with a voracious Androgum chef, who intends to feast upon the hapless time travelers. Also placed in jeopardy is the new Doctor's own companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), who is understandably confused by all this. Written by Robert Holmes, "The Two Doctors" was originally telecast in England on February 16 and 23, and March 2, 1985, then released in a six-part version in the United States. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the Doctor Who adventure "The Mark of the Rani," the title character, a despotic exiled Time Lady (played by Kate O'Mara), has materialized in 19th century England, where she is systematically draining the intelligences of the men behind the Industrial Revolution. In attempting to thwart the Rani, the Doctor (Colin Baker) must also contend with his old enemy the Master (Anthony Ainley), who is pursuing an agenda which could (as usual) spell the end of Civilization As We Know It. Written by Pip and Jane Baker, and largely filmed at Blists Hill, an open-air museum in Britain's Ironbridge Gorge, "The Mark of the Rani" was originally shown in two parts, the second of which aired on February 9, 1985; for American television, the two 45-minute episodes were subdivided into four 22-minute chapters. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

"Attack of the Cybermen," Doctor Who's 22nd-season opener, began its two-episode run on January 5, 1985. Having already captured a time vessel, the dreaded Cybermen also snatch the TARDIS. This action prevents the Doctor (Colin Baker) and his new allies, the alien Cryons, from thwarting the Cybermen's plans to harness the power of Halley's Comet to destroy the Earth. Once again, the sewers of London are turned into a battleground as the Doctor tries to square off against his perennial enemies. Written by Paula Woolsey, "Attack of the Cybermen" was originally telecast in two 45-minute installments; for American consumption, the adventure was re-edited as a four-part cliffhanger. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the three-part adventure "The Two Doctors," the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) rushes to Spain, there to (hopefully) rescue his predecessor, Doctor #2 (Patrick Troughton). Complicating matters is a false ally named Chessen o' the Franzine Grig (Jacqueline Pearce) and a band of surly Sontarans. The ending, in which the Sixth Doctor must not only save his "prior self" but also their respective travelling companions Peri (Nicola Bryant) and Jamie (Frazer Hines), hinges on a carefully laid trap. Part three of "The Two Doctors" originally aired on March 2, 1985. The entire adventure was later released in a six-part version in the United States. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While trying to take Turlough (Mark Strickson) to his home planet of Trion, the Doctor (Peter Davison) is unable to prevent the TARDIS from being drawn to the volcanic planet Sarn. This phenomenon is no accident -- in fact, it has been engineered by one of the Doctor's oldest and most malevolent adversaries. Nicola Bryant makes her first series appearance as Earth girl Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown, who sets the plot in motion while trying to sell an ancient artifact (actually an alien beacon), and whom Turlough has taken along for the ride on the TARDIS. Beginning its four-episode run on February 23, 1984, "Planet of Fire" was written by Peter Grimwade. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi