Terrance Dicks obit

Terrance Dicks, Doctor Who writer and script editor, dies at 84

 He was not on the list.

British author Terrance Dicks, best known for his long association with Doctor Who, has died at the age of 84.

Dicks worked as script editor on more than 150 episodes of the classic sci-fi show. He also wrote numerous episodes.

Yet he is arguably better known for the many Doctor Who novelisations he wrote for the Target Books imprint.

Author Jenny Colgan said he had "helped more children (especially boys) develop a lifelong love of reading than almost anyone else who's ever lived".

Sci-fi writer Neil Gaiman also paid tribute, saying he would have never written for Doctor Who had Dicks not shown him how to do it.

Mark Gatiss, another member of the Doctor Who writing family, remembered Dicks as "a brilliant TV professional [and] a funny and generous soul".

He was also, Gatiss continued, "an inspirational writer who took so many of us on unforgettable journeys into space and time".

Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who's current show runner, said Dicks had been "responsible for some of the show's greatest moments and iconic creations".

"The lights of Doctor Who are dimmer tonight," he said in a statement. "He was one of the greatest contributors to Doctor Who's history, on screen and off.

"Everyone working on Doctor Who sends his family and friends our love and condolences at this difficult time."

Born in east London in 1935, Dicks joined Doctor Who towards the end of Patrick Troughton's tenure as the programme's second Doctor.

One of his best-loved episodes was 1983's The Five Doctors, the BBC show's 20th anniversary special.

Dicks also worked on such shows as The Avengers, The Diary of Anne Frank and a 1983 version of Jane Eyre starring Timothy Dalton.

Terrance Dicks was more than just another Doctor Who Writer. His stories were some of the most influential of the original classic series.

His first credited script for the show was 1969's The War Games with Patrick Troughton. Producer Derrick Sherwin had suggested the concept that the Doctor came from a race called the Time Lords.

The War Games script from Dicks and co-writer Malcolm Hulke took that idea and successfully introduced audiences to one of the series' most popular and longest-running elements.

As script editor, Dicks - together with producer Barry Letts - was one of the creators of the Doctor's arch-enemy The Master, introduced in the Jon Pertwee episode Terror of the Autons.

Just as importantly, the huge number of Doctor Who novelisations he wrote were instrumental in awakening a love of reading and an enduring passion for books in a generation of children.

Script and Continuity Department

Nicholas Courtney, Elisabeth Sladen, and Deborah Watling in Downtime (1995)

Downtime

5.4

Video

script advisor

1995

 

Patrick Malahide, Nigel Stock, and Clive Swift in The Pickwick Papers (1985)

The Pickwick Papers

7.1

TV Series

script editor

1985

12 episodes

 

Malcolm Sinclair and Victoria Wicks in The Prisoner of Zenda (1984)

The Prisoner of Zenda

6.7

TV Mini Series

script editing

1984

6 episodes

 

The Invisible Man (1984)

The Invisible Man

7.1

TV Mini Series

script editor

1984

6 episodes

 

Roy Marsden in Goodbye Mr. Chips (1984)

Goodbye Mr. Chips

7.6

TV Mini Series

script editor

1984

6 episodes

 

Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke in Jane Eyre (1983)

Jane Eyre

8.0

TV Mini Series

script editor

1983

11 episodes

 

Dombey & Son (1983)

Dombey & Son

7.1

TV Mini Series

script editor

1983

10 episodes

 

Anthony Calf, Jonathon Morris, and Benedict Taylor in Beau Geste (1982)

Beau Geste

7.2

TV Mini Series

script editor

1982

8 episodes

 

Tom Baker in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1982)

The Hound of the Baskervilles

6.9

TV Mini Series

script editor

1982

4 episodes

 

Stalky & Co. (1982)

Stalky & Co.

7.6

TV Mini Series

script editor

1982

6 episodes

 

Gulliver in Lilliput (1982)

Gulliver in Lilliput

7.3

TV Series

script editor

1982

4 episodes

 

Great Expectations (1981)

Great Expectations

6.9

TV Mini Series

script editor

1981

12 episodes

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

script editor

1968–1974

156 episodes

 

Ralph Bates, Fiona Gaunt, Donald Houston, and Barry Lowe in Moonbase 3 (1973)

Moonbase 3

6.8

TV Series

script editor

1973

6 episodes

 

Writer

Mindgame Requiem

Writer

Post-production

 

Doctor Who: Target Novelisation Audiobooks (2005)

Doctor Who: Target Novelisation Audiobooks

6.3

Podcast Series

written by

2007–2026

63 episodes

 

Edward Brayshaw, Frazer Hines, Philip Madoc, Wendy Padbury, David Savile, and Patrick Troughton in The War Games in Colour (2024)

The War Games in Colour

6.5

TV Movie

Writer

2024

 

Doctor Who: Classic Doctor Novel Readings (2012)

Doctor Who: Classic Doctor Novel Readings

Podcast Series

Writer

2016

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles (2007)

Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles

8.0

Podcast Series

writer

2011

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: The Stageplays (2008)

Doctor Who: The Stageplays

Podcast Series

writer

2008

2 episodes

 

Sarah Jane Smith (2002)

Sarah Jane Smith

7.2

TV Series

Writer

2002

1 episode

 

Mindgame Trilogy (1999)

Mindgame Trilogy

5.8

Video

Writer (segment "Battlefield")

1999

 

Mindgame (1998)

Mindgame

5.7

Video

Writer

1998

 

Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors (1997)

Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors

7.0

Video Game

Brigadier's video script written byMaster's video script written by

1997

 

Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans (1994)

Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans

6.1

Video

Writer

1994

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

bywritten by (uncredited)

1968–1983

35 episodes

 

Barbara Bain and Martin Landau in Space: 1999 (1975)

Space: 1999

7.3

TV Series

writer

1976

1 episode

 

Ralph Bates, Fiona Gaunt, Donald Houston, and Barry Lowe in Moonbase 3 (1973)

Moonbase 3

6.8

TV Series

writer

1973

1 episode

 

The Avengers (1961)

The Avengers

8.3

TV Series

written byteleplay byteleplay

1962–1969

4 episodes

 

Noele Gordon in Crossroads (1964)

Crossroads

4.4

TV Series

story byscript

1968

44 episodes

 

Producer

The Franchise Affair (1988)

The Franchise Affair

7.7

TV Series

producer

1988

6 episodes

 

Eve Matheson and Rebecca Saire in Vanity Fair (1987)

Vanity Fair

7.9

TV Series

producer

1987

16 episodes

 

Janet Amsbury in The Diary of Anne Frank (1987)

The Diary of Anne Frank

5.9

TV Series

producer

1987

4 episodes

 

David Copperfield (1986)

David Copperfield

7.2

TV Mini Series

producer

1986

10 episodes

 

Mark Greenstreet in Brat Farrar (1986)

Brat Farrar

7.9

TV Mini Series

producer

1986

6 episodes

 

Alice in Wonderland (1986)

Alice in Wonderland

6.6

TV Mini Series

producer

1986

4 episodes

 

Oliver Twist (1985)

Oliver Twist

7.3

TV Mini Series

producer

1985

12 episodes

 

Actor

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

Man (uncredited)

1970

1 episode

 

Noele Gordon in Crossroads (1964)

Crossroads

4.4

TV Series

Chauffeur

1969

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors (1997)

Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors

7.0

Video Game

Special contributions to the City of Thoughts

1997

 

The Lively Arts (1969)

The Lively Arts

4.7

TV Series

consultant

1977

1 episode

 

Thanks

Christopher Eccleston, Peter Capaldi, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who (2005)

Doctor Who

8.5

TV Series

dedicated to the memory of the Masterful

2020

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: Death Takes a Holiday (2004)

Doctor Who: Death Takes a Holiday

5.2

Short

advice

2004

 

Self

Doctor Who: The Fan Show (2015)

Doctor Who: The Fan Show

7.3

TV Series

Self

2016

1 episode

 

The BBC1 Classics Serial (1981-8)

Video

Self

2015

 

Ian Cullen and Toby Hadoke in Who's Round (2013)

Who's Round

8.1

Podcast Series

Self (voice)

2014

1 episode

 

William Hartnell: The Original (2013)

William Hartnell: The Original

8.3

TV Short

Self

2013

 

The U.N.I.T Family: Part Three

Video

Self

2013

 

The One with the Maggots (2013)

The One with the Maggots

Video

Self - Script Editor

2013

 

A Dandy and a Clown

Video

Self - Script Editor: Doctor Who

2013

 

The Military Mind (2013)

The Military Mind

7.3

Video

Self - Script Editor

2013

 

Axon Stations! (2012)

Axon Stations!

Video

Self - Script Editor

2012

 

Mars Probe 7: Making the Ambassadors of Death

Video

Self

2012

 

Second Time Around: The Troughton Years

8.1

Video

Self

2012

 

When Worlds Collide

Video

Self

2012

 

The Devil Rides Out (2012)

The Devil Rides Out

Video

Self - Script Editor

2012

 

William Hartnell, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Happy Birthday to Who (2012)

Happy Birthday to Who

Video

Self - Script Editor, 1969 - 1974

2012

 

People Power and Puppetry

Video

Self - Interviewee

2011

 

Barry Letts in Remembering Barry Letts (2011)

Remembering Barry Letts

Video

Self - Friend and Colleague

2011

 

IMC Needs You! (2011)

IMC Needs You!

Video

Self - Script Editor

2011

 

Blasting the Past (2011)

Blasting the Past

Video

Self

2011

 

The U.N.I.T Dating Conundrum (2011)

The U.N.I.T Dating Conundrum

6.9

Video

Self

2011

 

The U.N.I.T Family: Part Two

Video

Self

2011

 

Down to Earth: Filming Spearhead from Space

Video

Self - Script Editor

2011

 

Roger Delgado in Life on Earth (2011)

Life on Earth

7.4

Video

Self - Doctor Who Script Editor 1968-74

2011

 

Plastic Fantastic (2011)

Plastic Fantastic

6.9

Video

Self - Script Editor

2011

 

Regenerations: From Black and White to Colour

Video

Self

2011

 

The Doctor's Moriarty (2011)

The Doctor's Moriarty

7.6

Video

Self - Script Editor 1970 - 1975

2011

 

The Final Curtain

Video

Self

2011

 

Destroy All Monsters! (2011)

Destroy All Monsters!

Video

Self - Script Editor

2011

 

Lords of the Red Planet

Video

Self

2011

 

On Target: Ian Marter

Video

Self

2011

 

Mutt Mad (2011)

Mutt Mad

Video

Self - Script Editor

2011

 

Newsnight (1980)

Newsnight

6.1

TV Series

Self

2010

1 episode

 

Warriors of Mars

Video

Self

2010

 

Roger Delgado: The Master

Video

Self

2009

 

The Perfect Scenario: Lost Frontiers

Video

Self

2009

 

The Perfect Scenario: The End of Dreams

Video

Self

2009

 

Shades of Grey

Video

Self

2009

 

War Zone: The End of an Era

Video

Self

2009

 

The Frighten Factor

Video

Self

2009

 

The Vampire Lovers: The Making of 'State of Decay'

6.3

Video

Self

2009

 

Getting a Head

6.8

Video

Self

2008

 

The Elusive David Agnew

Video

Self

2008

 

The Rise and Fall of Gallifrey

Video

Self

2008

 

Celebration (2008)

Celebration

6.8

Video

Self

2008

 

Going Underground

6.5

Video

Self

2008

 

Hello Sailor!: Making the Sea Devils

7.2

Video

Self - Script Editor

2008

 

What Lies Beneath

7.4

Video

Self

2008

 

Hammer Horror

5.2

Video

Self

2007

 

Rogue Time Lords

Video

Self

2007

 

Terror Nation: Terry Nation and Doctor Who (2007)

Terror Nation: Terry Nation and Doctor Who

5.9

Video

Self

2007

 

Beginning the End: Making 'The Time Warrior'

8.2

Video

Self

2007

 

Are Friends Electric

7.1

Video

Self

2007

 

Built for War

6.1

Video

Self

2006

 

Evolution of the Invasion

7.4

Video

Self

2006

 

Changing Time: Living and Leaving Doctor Who

6.7

Video

Self

2006

 

Can You Hear the Earth Scream

7.4

Video

Self

2006

 

The U.N.I.T Family: Part One

6.9

Video

Self

2006

 

Genesis of a Classic

7.0

Video

Self

2006

 

The Dalek Tapes (2006)

The Dalek Tapes

7.9

Video

Self

2006

 

The Planet of the Doctor (2005)

The Planet of the Doctor

5.0

TV Series

Self

2005

2 episodes

 

Terrance Dicks: Fact & Fiction

7.3

Video

Self

2005

 

ReUNITed

Video

Self

2004

 

The Story of 'Doctor Who' (2003)

The Story of 'Doctor Who'

7.4

TV Movie

Self

2003

 

Behind the Sofa: Robert Holmes and Doctor Who

8.4

Video

Self

2003

 

Adventures in Space and Time (1999)

Adventures in Space and Time

6.6

TV Special

Self

1999

 

Carnival of Monsters (1999)

Carnival of Monsters

6.8

TV Special

Self

1999

 

Sophie Aldred, James Bree, Nicholas Courtney, and Mark Strickson in Lust in Space (1998)

Lust in Space

6.1

Video

Self

1998

 

Katy Manning in Where on Earth Is... Katy Manning Because She'd Really Like to Know! (1998)

Where on Earth Is... Katy Manning Because She'd Really Like to Know!

5.8

Video

Self

1998

 

Roger Delgado in Myth Makers: Roger Delgado - A Tribute (1997)

Myth Makers: Roger Delgado - A Tribute

Video

Self

1997

 

Keith Chegwin, Chris Evans, Gaby Roslin, Peter Smith, and Paula Yates in The Big Breakfast (1992)

The Big Breakfast

6.9

TV Series

Self

1994

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: Thirty Years in the TARDIS (1993)

Doctor Who: Thirty Years in the TARDIS

7.9

TV Movie

Self

1993

 

Open Air (1986)

Open Air

6.9

TV Series

Self

1987

1 episode

 

The Media Show (1987)

The Media Show

4.8

TV Series

Self

1987

1 episode

 

The Lively Arts (1969)

The Lively Arts

4.7

TV Series

Self - Script Writer

1977

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Frank Skinner in Terrance & Me (2021)

Terrance & Me

Self (archive footage)

2021

 

Time Space Visualiser (2020)

Time Space Visualiser

Self (archive footage)

2020