Doctor in Distress (single)

Doctor in Distress is a pop music single related to the BBC television programme "Doctor Who".

In 1985, when the production of the series was suspended for a year and it looked as if it faced cancellation, a charity single was produced and released in March. It was written by the series' unofficial continuity advisor Ian Levine and freelancer Fiachra Trench and performed by a group of 30 mid-level celebrities under the banner "Who Cares". Participants from "Doctor Who" included Colin Baker (the Sixth Doctor), Nicola Bryant (companion Peri Brown), Nicholas Courtney (recurring character Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart) and Anthony Ainley (the Master); musicians who participated included members of the bands Bucks Fizz, The Moody Blues and Ultravox. The music was played by Hans Zimmer on a Fairlight II synthesizer; Zimmer was later to have success as a film composer. [cite web |url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3232285&postcount=93 |title=Re:TV Cream rumour |accessdate=2006-11-26 |last=Levine |first=Ian |authorlink=Ian Levine |date=2006-11-25 |format=free registration required |work=Outpost Gallifrey forum] [cite web |url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3235353&postcount=170 |title=Re:TV Cream rumour |accessdate=2006-11-26 |last=Levine |first=Ian |authorlink=Ian Levine |date=2006-11-26 |format=free registration required |work=Outpost Gallifrey forum]

Proceeds from the single went to the charity Cancer Research. The single was universally panned. Levine himself later told "The Guardian", "It was an absolute balls-up fiasco. It was pathetic and bad and stupid. It tried to tell the "Doctor Who" history in an awful high-energy song. It almost ruined me." [cite news
first = Stuart
last = McGurk
title = Shows of support
url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,,1597993,00.html
format = free registration required
work = The Guardian
date = 2005-10-22
accessdate = 2006-11-26]

The video for the single is included on Disc Four of the The Trial of a Time Lord DVD boxed set.

References

External links

* [http://www.genecowan.com/cacophony/index.php/cacophony/doctor_in_distress A paragraph of information, including link to audio recording.]
* [http://www.millenniumeffect.co.uk/audio/tributes/songs2.php#cares More in-depth information/review, including lyrics and video.]