 "Full Circle" is the first of three loosely connected stories known as the E-Space Trilogy. This trilogy continues in the next story, "State of Decay", and concludes in "Warriors' Gate".
This story also introduces Matthew Waterhouse as The Doctor’s newest companion, Adric. The following story, "State of Decay", was recorded first but as "Full Circle" was broadcast first the character of Adric is introduced here.
Adric’s name was suggested by Script Editor Christopher H. Bidmead as an anagram of eminent physicist P.A.M. Dirac, who in 1930 was the first person to predict the existence of antimatter.
This story was written by Andrew Smith, a 19-year old fan of the show. He was eager to establish a career as a writer and had previously submitted material to comedy programmes such as Not The Nine O’Clock News. In 1978 he had offered a storyline called "The Secret of Cassius" to The Doctor Who production office but this though was rejected by the then Script Editor Anthony Read.
When new Doctor Who Script Editor Christopher H. Bidmead began reviewing the programme’s files in early 1980, his attention was drawn to another of Andrew Smith’s submissions, entitled "The Planet That Slept". As Christopher H. Bidmead was urgently seeking scripts for Season eighteen, and he and Producer John Nathan-Turner both wanted to encourage new writers to the show, Andrew Smith was invited to expand on his submission into what would become known as "Full Circle".
Buoyed by the success of this story, Andrew Smith submitted several further ideas to the Doctor Who production office. These included "The Torson Triumvirate", later in 1980, and "The First Sontarans" in 1984. However, none of his ideas were taken forward, and so "Full Circle" became his only contribution to the show. His subsequent credits included comedy sketch programmes on both television and radio.
The director assigned to this story was Peter Grimwade, who had previously worked on Doctor Who as a production assistant dating back to 1970 Third Doctor story "Spearhead From Space". He had come to know John Nathan-Turner when both were involved with All Creatures Great and Small. Peter Grimwade had recently completed the BBC’s internal directors course, and had already worked on an episode of The Omega Factor. He was also a writer, having contributed to Z Cars, and had submitted an idea called "Xeraphin" to the Doctor Who production office which was, at the time, being considered for this season’s final story.
This story’s roots include The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Alan Rowe, who played the part of Garif, makes his final Doctor Who appearance. He had previously appeared as Doctor Evans and the voice of Space Control in the 1967 Second Doctor story "The Moonbase", as Edward of Wessex in the 1973/74 Third Doctor story "The Time Warrior" and as Skinsale in the 1977 story "Horror of Fang Rock".
George Baker, who played the part of Login, went on to star as Inspector Wexford in the police drama series The Ruth Rendell Mysteries.
The baby Terradonian was played by Alys Dyer, the daughter of Production Unit Manager Angela Smith. Alys Dyer had also been the infant Pangol in "The Leisure Hive".
There is no voice credit for John Leeson in the third episode as K9 does not speak in this episode owing to his head having been knocked off by the Marshmen.
At the beginning of this story The Doctor and Romana are summoned to Gallifrey, although the recall circuit (see the 1976 story "The Deadly Assassin" and the 1983 Fifth Doctor story "Arc of Infinity") is not used as The Doctor asks K9 to set the course (the binary coordinates are 1001100 zero by 02 from galactic zero centre, as in the 1975 story "Pyramids of Mars").
The Doctor is heard to say that he is looking forward to seeing Leela and Andred again and that the original K9 can meet its twin. Mention is also made of The Key to Time when The Doctor says to Romana ‘Yes, well, you only came to help with the Key to Time’.
The Doctor is heard stating that short trips in the TARDIS usually don’t work, and that reversing them is even more difficult, but despite this he manages the required journeys (see the 1975 story "Planet of Evil").
It is revealed that the Starliner was originally from the planet Terradon.
Adric is given a homing device in order to find the TARDIS again (see the 1965 First Doctor story "The Chase" and the 1982 Fifth Doctor story "The Visitation").
When the Image Translator is replaced it confirms The Doctor’s worse fears and that they have passed through a Charged Vacuum Emboitement into Exo-space, an entirely different Universe. Nothing else is revealed about CVE’s in this story, apart from their incredible rarity.
It is also revealed that the planet Alzarius occupies the same coordinates as Gallifrey in E-Space. The technology of Gallifrey and Alzarius/Terradon also seem to be interchangeable as The Doctor is able to use the Image Translator from the Starliner in the TARDIS.
Look out for the scene where the TARDIS is seen drifting through E-Space, the background stars can be seen in front of the TARDIS.
This story was repeated on BBC One in August 1981.
A novelisation of this story, written by Andrew Smith, was published by Target Books in September 1982. The novelisation opens with the Starliner crashing on Alzarius.
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The Firsts:
The introduction of companion Adric played by Matthew Waterhouse.
The first Doctor Who story to be written by Andrew Smith.
The first Doctor Who story to be directed by Peter Grimwade.
The first of three loosely connected stories known as the E-Space Trilogy.
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(Position = 52 out of 159)
(Position = 101 out of 200)
