We get to see the Doctor play football in The Lodger but it's not the first time he's dazzled us with his sporting prowess!
In the 1982 story, Black Orchid, the Doctor and his three companions arrive in Britain between the wars. There's a case of mistaken identity and the TARDIS crew are whisked away to the opulent Cranleigh Hall where the Doctor is given the chance to play in a cricket match. It's an opportunity he relishes, initially going in to bat and smashing a series of sixes before showing he can bowl a bit, too.
The first episode of Black Orchid was set in England on 11 June, 1925. That's 85 years and a day before The Lodger's first broadcast but more significantly it shows the Doctor has long been a bit of a sportsman on the quiet! Black Orchid had dramatic moments but it's full of fun and whimsy - the Doctor playing cricket, driving through beautiful countryside in a Rolls-Royce and a masked ball all offer sunny memories.
Viewers weren't to know that the following adventure would see the return of the Cybermen and the death of a companion. Next week's Step Back in Time features that story, but for the moment let's enjoy a light moment from Black Orchid.
8 июн 2010
