Terrance Dicks was the
last of the big beasts of classic Doctor
Who and his place in the pantheon of its writers is legendary. Not only did
he oversee one of the most popular periods of the programme’s history but he
also penned many Target novels which kept us close to the series when it wasn’t
on. Later on his genial yet open responses in countless interviews earned him
the kindly sobriquet `Uncle Terrance` though he had claws when he wanted to
notably his reaction to the 1996 TV Movie or calling John Nathan-Turner “not
fit for purpose” or in reference to 70s campaigner Mary Whitehouse- “If there’s
one thing she hated more than sex, its Doctor Who”. More than anything- in
fiction and in life- he told it how it was.
