When it comes to Douglas Adams and Doctor Who, surely one of the first stories people think of is ‘City of Death.’ Written in the midst of a strike-riddled UK in the late 1970s, the adventure is notable for achieving the highest viewing figures of any Doctor Who story in the programme’s history.
Admittedly this is because ITV was on strike, so the viewing public could either watch ‘City of Death’ or a blank screen, but still – the story remains high on many fans’ lists! With exotic chase sequences, time warps, shrinking chickens, multiple Mona Lisas and a surprise cameo from comedian John Cleese, there’s so much to love about ‘City of Death.’
And if you haven’t watched it yet, then you need to right away. Here’s everything we love about this classic Doctor Who story…
So there we are – even if ‘City of Death’ is the only dose of Douglas Adams and Doctor Who that you ever get, your time will not have been wasted! And if you ever find yourself at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and feel the urge to scream “bye bye, Duggan!” then make sure you’re properly dressed. Don’t go to Paris without your Fourth Doctor scarf (18 ft. long, of course…)
But tell us – what’s your favourite thing about ‘City of Death’? Is it your favourite Douglas Adams story? Or even your favourite Doctor Who story?! Let us know in the comments below.
Doctor Who 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) scarf – 18 ft. season 16 – 17, official BBC scarf. Order now from the Lovarzi shop!
Love seeing the Doctor on location and his cheeky conversation with the bad guys.
“You’re a beautiful woman…probably….”
Good wee feature
I remember winning this through Look-In Magazine, first Tom story I ever owned! Enjoyed it a lot!!
Love watching City of Death. Ah Paris!
I love it because it was one of the first Doctor who serials I watched!
Douglass Adam’s and Dr Who a match made in TV heaven.
City Of Death incorporates some of the very best facets of Doctor Who: Science, action, great characters, amazing dialogue, comedy, great locations and an ingenious plot to boot! What is not to love about this record breaking story. And, of course, there is the famed scarf in all its glory! As near perfection as ever there could be.
Love this article.
Tom was my first Dr and Douglas Adams my favourite writer. When you put the two together in Paris, with Romana Catherine Schell, Julian Glover & Camios by John Cleese & Eleanor Bron it doesn’t get any better. A true classic
The bizarre romana outfit as in school girl
😁
There is so much to love about the City of Death: Paris location, Tom Baker & Lala Ward enjoying a Douglas Adams script with so many delicious lines ( like a good wine), it has a bouquet! A wonderful cast including Julian Glover and Catherine Schell. The only appearance of the formidable Jaggaroth and that first mask removing cliff hanger, I remember watching as a child.
Your review just sums it up. Pure genius! Shame we did not get more Adams work on later seasons. I wonder why!😉
I had only just turned 6 when these episodes of Doctor who first aired but I remember seeing them as repeats.
I have watched them a few times since as my Favourite 20th Century Doctor is Tom Baker!
I am currently knitting myself The 4th Doctors scarf from s12 but to win one to cosplay in until I’m all knitted out would be wonderful.
Just a little add, my name is genuinely “Sarah Jane”, and I cosplay 5 old and new characters plus I have plans for 4 more
I love everything about “City of Death” – the brilliant, witty, tightly plotted script, the gorgeous Paris locations, the perfectly pitched performances from everyone involved, the chemistry between Tom Baker and Lalla Ward, the fabulous cameos from John Cleese and Eleanor Bron … I’d also like to give a special shout-out to the lovely, spiraling, melodic musical score; in my opinion, this was Dudley Simpson’s finest work for Doctor Who, and I wish we could have a soundtrack album of it, as I think it easily stands on its own as a coherent and thoroughly enjoyable piece of music.
Definitely my favorite DW story of all time, fun plot, great characters, and some of the best dialogue in science fiction
There’s a story behind Lala Wards out fit worn in city of death. Originally she was supposed to wear a skin tight silver space suit but she felt it was too out of place so she thought why not the school uniform instead. Reason for that was she wanted to show young girls at the time to not be embarrassed in the uniforms. In the end she got the positive feed back she wanted. However She also got some love letter form there perverted dads as well. lol
Truly a gem! A script that simply sparkled; a fab locale & a group of ppl clearly having a blast while giving some of the best performances ever! 70s writing at its finest. 🍻
Got got love the line “ I say what a wonderful butler he’s so Violent”
One of my favourite lines and the first story of my favourite classic series !!
I love this serial so much would have to agree with it being in the top 10 if not the top !!
Location filming.. Wonderful dialog. Classic repartee between the Doctor and Romana.. And John Cleese!
Tom Baker was my favourite Dr. Who for my time!!!
First overseas shoot and we have a lovely Dudley Simpson score with a nice romp through Paris, littered with some great dialogue and a cast clearly enjoying themselves. What’s not to love. Oh, and some really great model work.
City of Death is a Classic Doctor Who episode!
The music, the location, the direction and the performances all come together to make an unrivalled story. It more than deserves to have had the highest ratings of any Doctor Who episodes, even though 1979 was more of a table wine it can hold its own against all the years.
City of Death is one of those stories I can watch over and over again.
It’s funny, charming, the scenes in Paris are beautifully filmed and the music is wonderful. Tom and Lalla are great together and the rest of the cast give great performances, especially Julian Glover who is one of my favourite actors of all time.
While the rest of season seventeen may be a bit more like a table wine, City of Death is the Beaujolais Nouveau of Who.
It’s classic !
Tom Baker, my favourite of all the Doctors. Great to see him again as the great curator in the 50th anniversary episode.
One of the best episodes
One of the best episodes love tom baker
One of the best episodes love tom baker love Paris
The story has so much going for it. My personal highlight is the John Cleese/Eleanor Bron cameo towards the end. That’s a hoot.
As a small child I found the cliffhanger where Scaroth takes off his human mask to reveal his green, brain-like head underneath and Cyclops-like eye to be terrifying. Even today it’s an effective cliffhanger.
Great writing by a wonderful writer who was taken from us far too soon. So many of Doctor Who’s wonderful creative talents are sadly long gone, Graham Williams, Ian Marter, Elisabeth Sladen, Mary Tamm, Douglas Camfield.
They will live on forever though in their remarkable work and especially in the great Doctor Who they made.