Things I've Learnt from Watching My Favourite Doctor Who Stories: Part 22 - The Ambassadors of Death

 22: The Ambassadors of Death 

Not all Ambassadors spoil you with Ferrero Roche...



Everyone of a certain age remembers the famous advert of the Ambassadors reception where a butler hands out those posh chocolates that you can actually get from a petrol station. Well us Doctor Who fans can name the butler: John Abineri, veteran character actor of four classic Doctor Who stories, some more classic than others. And this is probably his finest hour.

Abineri plays General Carrington, the villain of the piece, except he isn't really, that's Reegan played by the William Dysart. Or is Taltallian, the oh-so French scientist who taunts the Doctor and pulls a gun on him at the end of episode one...

That's the problem with this story, received fan wisdom (Oh joy!) derided this story as rather confusing and convoluted as if our favourite show shouldn't do confusing and convoluted. As a result, it was one of those stories that seemed to get forgotten, apart from the fact Liz Shaw wears a fantastic hat. However, once I saw it I didn't think it's confusing or convoluted. It is complex and there are a couple of slips in plot logic but for me this stands up very well.

This was one of the last Pertwee stories I saw (ironic given it was one of the earliest) it's arrival in the VHS schedules was 2002, with only Invasion of the Dinosaurs still to come. It's three Season Seven bedfellows had long been released and cherished as examples of Who at its very best. However I'm including this one on my list over those as this one was a revelation to me, because of how good it was, or rather how much better I had been told it was. All four stories could have been on this list, but this represents all of them as that season is one of the very best of Classic Who. 

The director was Michael Ferguson, already on this list with The Seeds of Death and this is as stylishly directed as that adventure, if not more so. There are some great action setpieces such as the warehouse fight in Episode One and the nerve-wracking chase with Liz in Bessie as the cliffhanger to Episode Three.  

The cast is large and with some memorable actors. John Abineri gives a fine performance as the shifty General Carrington, his paranoia and irrational hatred are all too believable. I've mentioned Taltallian, and yes Robert Cawdron does sound as if he's about to proclaim the Brig's mother was a hamster, but it's a solid performance. And it always makes me laugh when we see him on film telling Liz to get in his car and his accent has mysteriously vanished... 

Michael Wisher's authoritative voice as John Wakefield, the TV reporter speaking direct to camera, gives those introductory scenes the right amount of intrigue. Ronald Allen plays cool as a cucumber Ralph Cornish, head of Space Control. Allen's performance is light years away from his villainous Dominator Rago or his character from Crossroads. William Dysart is fabulous as the callous Reegan, and I have to mention Cheryl Molynneaux who plays Miss Rutherford in the first couple of episodes. She's also cool as Cornish and the way she says the word communications is strangely sexy.

I haven't even mentioned the regulars - and they're brilliant too! Jon Pertwee's comedy talents are on display as he pretends to be an old buffer with Bessie to bamboozle the baddies, while he shows his sarky side in the fabulous scene where he snaps at Cornish "The man's a fool! How can I possibly tell who the message is from until I know what it says? Let me explain this to you in very simple terms." His quiet assurance to Carrington that he understands why he did what he did is very powerful and understated. It's one of my favourite Pertwee performances  

Caroline John is superb as Liz Shaw especially the line "Don't worry I won't hurt you!" which she says cheekily to the henchman guarding her. Nicholas Courtney's Brigadier is also very strong here. Believable and adaptable, he listens to the Doctor, and trusts him. This is an excellent example of their onscreen friendship. 

And that music! It's such a shame Dudley Simpson went all electronic in the next few seasons as his score for this story is beautiful. The evocative organ music for the Recovery 7 scenes and the jazzy score for the chase with Liz in Bessie are some of his best work. 

So that's the Ambassadors of Death - surely you're spoiling us with these wonderful seven episodes! 


Next Time: I suppose a Flux is out of the question? 

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