Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol (1988)

Dates of Original Broadcast: 2 November 1988 - 16 November 1988
Number of Episodes: 3
Average Episode Running Times: 25 mins
Format: colour
Sound:

PRODUCTION
Production Company: BBC
Producer: John Nathan-Turner

SCRIPT
Script: Graeme Curry
Script Editor: Andrew Cartmel

DIRECTION
Director: Chris Clough

PHOTOGRAPHY
Studio Lighting: Don Babbage

MUSIC
Title Music: Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Title Music Arranger: Keff McCulloch
Incidental Music: Dominic Glynn

SOUND
Special Sound: Dick Mills
Studio Sound: Scott Talbot, Trevor Webster

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Make Up: Dorka Nieradzik
Costumes: Richard Croft

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects: Perry Brahan

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Designer: John Asbridge

OTHER CREW
Production Associate: June Collins
Production Assistant: Jane Wellesley
Assistant Floor Managers: Lynn Grant

CAST
Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor)
Sophie Aldred (Ace)
Sheila Hancock (Helen A)
Ronald Fraser (Joseph C)
Georgine Hale (Daisy K)
Rachel Bell (Priscilla P)
John Normington (Trevor Sigma)
Lesley Dunlop (Susan Q)
Richard D Sharp (Earl Sigma)
Harold Innocent (Gilbert M)
David John Pope (The Kandy Man)
Tim Barker (Harold V)
Jonathon Burn (Silas P)
Mary Healey (Killjoy)
Philip Neve (Wences)
Ryan Freedman (Wulfric)
Tim Scott (forum doorman)
Steve Swinscoe (first sniper (David S))
Mark Carroll (second sniper (Alex S))
Annie Hulley (newscaster)
Cy Town (execution victim)
Bilent Hassan, Charles Martin, Steven Martin, Lee Pearse (pipe people)
Argie Alaime, Olwyn Atkinson, Heather Downham, June Easther, Selvia Gilbert, Julie Lawrence, Carole Mudie (The Happiness Patrol)

PLOT SUMMARY

On an alien planet unhappiness is outlawed enforcable by death at the hands of the Kandyman robots. The Doctor and Ace help the planet's people fight the tyrannical ruler.

Much hassle ensued from the use of the Bertie Basset look alike Kandyman but it is certainly a startling monster and resonates for those who grew up with the sweets. Entertaining story with guest star Sheila Hancock relishing the central role in the story.

UK
Television Distributor: BBC
Video Distributor: BBC Video

1988
November
2: Part One television broadcast (on BBC1)
9: Part Two television broadcast (on BBC1)
16: Part Three television broadcast (on BBC1)

The Crooked Smile - working title
Die Macht der Frohlichkeit - German title

BOOKS

Doctor Who: The Television Companion pp.
credits, synopsis, review (by David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker)

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

KEYWORDS

aliens, time travel

Last Updated: 8 March, 2009