Sylvester McCoy Movies

The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) arrive on Terra Alpha, an earth colony ruled by the Happiness Patrol. Strictly forbidding anyone to express sadness, the Patrol metes out horrible punishments for violation of the rules. David John Pope guest-stars as the robotic Kandyman, who dispenses those punishments on behalf of dictator Helen A (atypically played by gifted comic actress Sheila Hancock). The first episode of the three-part "The Happiness Patrol" was written by Graeme Curry, and originally aired on November 2, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

About 350 years ago, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) launched into space a statue made out of a deadly living metal called Nemesis. Now the statue has returned, threatening the universe in general -- and earth in particular -- with total destruction. Watch for a cameo appearance by British jazz great Courtney Pine. Written by Kevin Clarke, the first episode of the three-part story "Silver Nemesis" was originally shown on November 23, 1988. Appropriately enough, it was also the "silver" 25th anniversary of the very first Doctor Who telecast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the three-part story "Silver Nemesis," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) steps up his efforts to hurl the deadly living-metal Nemesis statue back into Deep Space. Meanwhile, Ace (Sophie Aldred) finds herself locked in mortal combat with the Cybermen, who want to get their hands on the precious validium within the statue. Musical-comedy favorite Dolores Gray makes a rare TV appearance as Mrs. Remington. Written by Kevin Clarke, "Silver Nemesis, Episode 3" originally aired on December 7, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the three-part story "The Happiness Patrol," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) sparks a revolution against Helen A (Sheila Hancock), dictator of Terra, where the punishment for not expressing constant happiness is death. Once he has neutralized Helen A's robotic henchman, Kandyman (David John Pope), the Doctor goes to work on the dictator herself -- and he doesn't intend to resort to violence. A poignant ending caps Graeme Curry's teleplay for "The Happiness Patrol, Episode 3," which first aired on November 16, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Battlefield," the ages-old battle for possession of the Sword Excalibur continues to rage on -- this time with dangerously high-tech weapons -- in the England of the 1990s. According to the scenario at hand, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) is Merlin and Ace (Sophie Aldred) is the Lady of the Lake -- but who, pray tell, has been "cast" as King Arthur? This question must be answered before the sorceress Morgaine (Jean Marsh) is able to lay claim to Excalibur by unleashing the dreaded Destroyer of Worlds. Originally telecast on September 27, 1989, "Battlefield, Episode 4" was written by Ben Aaronovitch. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the three-part story "The Ghost Light," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) have arrived in Ace's home town of Perivale, in hopes of finding out the cause of the girl's horrible nightmares. Arriving in the village in the year 1883, the Doctor is plunged in the middle of a raging Evolution vs. Creationism controversy, and also discovers that all is not well at the Gabriel Chase house. Meanwhile, Ace meets several new friends -- if indeed, they are friends. Written by Marc Platt, "Ghost Light, Episode 2" originally aired on October 11, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the four-part story "Battlefield," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy), armed with the powers of Merlin, squares off against the minions of Mordred (Christopher Bowen) on the same battlefield where the battle for possession of the sword Excalibur was fought centuries before. Meanwhile, the Doctor's friend, Ace (Sophie Aldred), and extra-dimensional warrior Shou Yuing (Ling Tai) are trapped in a hotel room, faced with dangers ranging from the rampaging sorceress Morgaine (Jean Marsh) to an all-out nuclear holocaust. Originally telecast on September 20, 1989, "Battlefield, Episode 3" was written by Ben Aaronovitch. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the four-part story "The Curse of Fenric," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) learns that an act of espionage at a British naval base in the final months of WWII has reactivated an ancient Viking curse. Using a 2,000-year-old Norse vessel as its headquarters, the spirit of Fenric causes the dead to rise from sea -- with potentially horrible consequences for Mother England, not to mention the rest of the world. Written by Ian Briggs, "The Curse of Fenric, Episode 3" originally aired on November 8, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy," the three evil rulers of the Psychic Circus, disguised as a "typical" tourist family, demand entertainment from the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) -- threatening instant death if that entertainment is not forthcoming. In trying to escape this fate, the Doctor activates the fabled "Old Devil Moon" effect, with startling consequences. Written by Stephen Wyatt, "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Episode 4" first aired on January 4, 1989, as the final episode of Doctor Who's 25th season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the three-part story "Survival," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) are baffled by the strange goings-on in Ace's hometown of Perivale. While trying to help Sgt. Paterson (Julian Holloway) solve a series of disappearances, Ace herself vanishes, only to reappear in the Hunting World, where death is not the worst thing that can happen to her -- at least, not so long as the Cheetah People are around and about. First telecast on December 12, 1989, "Survival, Episode 2" was written by Rona Munro. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) materialize at a secret British naval base off the Yorkshire coast during the final months of WWII. Almost immediately, the two time-travelers are plunged into intrigue involving a revolutionary code-breaking device. As if this were not enough, the base has apparently been targeted for destruction at the hands of a Viking ghost. British TV quiz show host Nicholas Parsons is here cast as the local vicar. Written by Ian Briggs, episode one of the four-part Doctor Who adventure "The Curse of Fenric" originally aired on October 25, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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

Coproduced by the BBC and America's Fox Network, the two-hour movie Doctor Who was an attempt to revive the phenomenally popular science-fiction series which orginally ran from 1963 to 1989. Sylvester McCoy, the last of seven actors to play the Doctor, here repeats his familiar role--albeit briefly, inasmuch as he is shot by a San Francisco street-gang member on the eve of the 21st century. Rushed to a hospital, the Doctor undergoes his eighth regeneration, whereupon Paul McGann takes over the role. Now the Doctor must do battle with his longtime foe The Master to prevent the latter from harnessing the Time Lords' "Eye of Harmony" for his own nefarious purposes. Only one problem: The Doctor is suffering from amnesia, and has no idea who he is or what he is supposed to do. Written by Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who first aired in America on May 14, 1996, and in England thirteen days later. Unfortunately, the pilot did not result in a full-scale Doctor Who revival. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi