Unfinished Doctor Who Story 'Shada' Explored in New BBC Sounds Documentary
A new BBC Sounds documentary, Doctor Who: Lost in Cambridge, revisits the 1979 filming of 'Shada,' a Douglas Adams-penned Doctor Who serial shot in Cambridge but never completed. Doctor Who Magazine editor Marcus Hearn shared his father's recollections as a Clare College porter, describing how Tom Baker repeatedly fell into the River Cam while learning to punt and needed blankets and brandy to recover his mood.
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Shada has long been one of Doctor Who's most famous unfinished productions, and firsthand accounts like this add rare texture to its troubled production history. The documentary offers fans and historians new insight into the practical difficulties of location filming and the human side of a beloved sci-fi legacy.
- BBC Sounds released a documentary on the unfinished 1979 Doctor Who serial 'Shada'.
- The story was written by Douglas Adams and filmed on location in Cambridge.
- Tom Baker struggled with punting during filming, repeatedly falling into the River Cam.
Doctor Who Shada DVD/Blu-ray Set — Relive the unfinished 1979 Cambridge shoot with this special release of Shada, completed using animation and narration to fill in the missing scenes. It's a fascinating piece of Doctor Who history, penned by Douglas Adams himself, perfect for fans curious about this legendary lost adventure.
See Doctor Who Shada DVD/Blu-ray Set on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: bbc.co.uk — Watch Our Pick Of Standout Clips Across The Bbc, 2026-09-13
Published there as: “Douglas Adams and the exterminated Doctor Who adventure”
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