Michael Grade, Controller of BBC One (1984-1987), put the series on an 18 month hiatus in early 1985 and explained his decision at the time by claiming the series was producing disappointing ratings (averaging about seven million during this period) and he accused the series of becoming too violent, losing its imagination and wit and the people making it of becoming complacent. He has admitted in a number of interviews since that he wanted to cancel the series outright in 1985 because he thought the cheap production values were pathetic compared with films like Guerre stellari (1977), Incontri ravvicinati del terzo tipo (1977) and E.T. - L'extra-terrestre (1982). After pressure from fans and a campaign by the British press, Grade brought the series back after the hiatus the following year, although he insisted that star Colin Baker was replaced at the end of that season. Grade, along with BBC Drama Head Jonathan Powell, approved the casting of Sylvester McCoy as the new Doctor and oversaw his first season in the role before leaving for Channel Four in 1987. Powell replaced Grade as BBC One Controller and oversaw two more seasons with McCoy before it was permanently cancelled in 1989 by the BBC's new Head of Series, Peter Cregeen, following four seasons of very poor ratings since Grade's hiatus (only two episodes from these four seasons had won more than six million viewers, proving that the hiatus and the subsequent firing of Colin Baker had completely failed to improve the series' appeal). The last three seasons had been scheduled against Coronation Street (1960), the most popular series on the BBC's rival channel, ITV.
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05-03-2025 alle ore 08:35
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