 "The Massacre of St. Barthlomew's Eve" is more popularly known as "The Massacre".
A few original production documents state the name of this story as "The Massacre of St Barthlomew's Eve", although this is historically a misnomer, as the actual massacre took place on St Bartholomew's Day. Some have noted that as the original French name for the event (Massacre de la Saint-Barthélemy) lacks a day, the title actually refers to the lead up to the massacre itself - that is, the Eve of the Massacre of St Bartholomew, although to claim this does involve ignoring the conventions of modern English usage.
The BBC Radio Collection release gives the title as, variously, "The Massacre" and "The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve". The packaging uses the title "The Massacre", but the accompanying booklet uses both titles. The CDs have "The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve" printed on them and this is also the title announced by Peter Purves on the discs themselves.
This story was the final historical story written by John Lucarotti. This was also John Lucarotti's last broadcast Doctor Who adventure, although the Season Twelve story "The Ark in Space" started life as a concept by John Lucarotti which was then heavily rewritten by Story Editor Robert Holmes. John Lucarotti continued writing for television throughout the Sixties and Seventies, including programmes like Moonbase 3. In the Eighties, he novelised his three Doctor Who stories for WH Allen and Target Books, restoring "The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve" more closely to his original vision. John Lucarotti passed away on 20th November 1994.
Gerry Davis, who would later go on to co-create the Cybermen, became story editor as of part four, while outgoing story editor Donald Tosh received co-author credit with John Lucarotti on the final episode (though he'd rewritten the entire story extensively).
Leonard Sachs (who plays Admiral de Coligny) is better known as the presenter of The Good Old Days music hall shows and would appear again in Doctor Who in the Season Twenty story "Arc of Infinity".
Christopher Tranchell (who played Roger Colbert) would return to Doctor Who as Jenkins in the 1967 Second Doctor story "The Faceless Ones" and again as Leela's love interest Andred in the 1978 Fourth Doctor story "The Invasion of Time".
William Hartnell does not appear in episode two except in pre-filmed inserts as he was on holiday during the week when it was recorded. The Doctor also disappears quite extensively from the action at times as William Hartnell also portrayed the role of the Abbot of Amboise (for which he received dual credit in "The Sea Beggar" and "Priest of Death"). This is the first time that The Doctor faces an enemy who is his physical double. The next time this happens will not be until the Second Doctor story "The Enemy of the World".
The very end of this story featured a monologue by William Hartnell followed by a brief scene in present day London on Wimbledon Common, as new companion Dodo enters the TARDIS.
Further information about Dodo's arrival in the TARDIS - as well as further exploration of the resolution of the conflict between The Doctor and Steven Taylor as a result of his actions here - features in The Past Doctors Stories "Salvation", where the TARDIS, having left London, travels to New York - moving only in space rather than time for some reason - resulting in the three of them getting caught up in a confrontation with mysterious beings who claim to be The Gods.
Rumour has it that Dodo's surname, Chaplet, is meant to signify that she is a descendant of character Anne Chaplet (however this is quite improbable, given the fact that any surname of a descendant is more likely be from the male side of the family).
There has also been some speculation that Steven might even have been the father of that child, given that: there is room in the plot for him and Anne to have had relations on the night they both sleep at the shop; his reaction to Anne's likely death at the end is so strong; and he is immediately very protective towards Dodo. Alternatively, in John Lucarotti's novelisation Anne has a younger brother, Raoul, who could have survived to father a child and pass on the family name. However, The Doctor himself dismisses the suggestion of a connection between Dodo and Anne Chaplet, declaring that it was a very common French name.
It was originally planned (but later abandoned) that former companions, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright , would be seen in London as the TARDIS dematerialised at the end of the story.
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The Firsts:
The introduction (at the very end of episode four) of new companion Dodo played by Jackie Lane.
The first use of a monologue during the end credits to end a story.
The first Doctor Who story to be partially written by Donald Tosh.
The first Doctor Who story to be directed by Paddy Russell.
Gerry Davis' first involvement in the show as Story Editor.
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(Position = 94 out of 159)
(Position = 86 out of 200)
