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Doctor Who: BBC Radio Collection
Doctor Who: The Highlanders
The time travelers arrive in Scotland in the aftermath of the battle of Culloden, meeting up with a band of fleeing Highlanders. Polly and the daughter of the group's Laird, whose battle injuries are being treated by the Doctor, go off to fetch water and return to find that the others have been captured by Redcoat troops.
2 pages, Audio CD
First published January 7, 1967
37 people want to read
About the author
Gerry Davis
36 books10 followersGerry Davis was a British television writer, best known for his contributions to the science-fiction genre. He also wrote for the soap operas Coronation Street and United!.
From 1966 until the following year, he was the script editor on the popular BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who, for which he co-created the popular cybernetic monsters known as the Cybermen, who made several appearances in the series over the following twenty-two years. His fellow co-creator of these creatures was the programme's unofficial scientific adviser Dr. Kit Pedler, and following their work on Doctor Who, the pair teamed up again in 1970 when they created a science-fiction programme of their own, Doomwatch. Doomwatch ran for three seasons on BBC One from 1970 to 1972, and also spawned a novel written by Davis and Pedler, and later a cinema film and a 1999 revival on Channel 5.
Davis briefly returned to writing Doctor Who, penning the original script for Revenge of the Cybermen, in 1975, though the transmitted version was heavily rewritten by the then script-editor Robert Holmes. He also adapted several of his scripts into novelisations for Target Books. With Kit Pedler, he wrote the science-fiction novels Mutant 59: The Plastic Eaters (1971), Brainrack (1974) and The Dynostar Menace (1975).
In the 1980s Davis worked in America both in television and on feature films such as The Final Countdown (1980). In late 1989 he and Terry Nation made a joint but unsuccessful bid to take over production of Doctor Who and reformat the series mainly for the American market. Gerry Davis died on August 31 1991.
From 1966 until the following year, he was the script editor on the popular BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who, for which he co-created the popular cybernetic monsters known as the Cybermen, who made several appearances in the series over the following twenty-two years. His fellow co-creator of these creatures was the programme's unofficial scientific adviser Dr. Kit Pedler, and following their work on Doctor Who, the pair teamed up again in 1970 when they created a science-fiction programme of their own, Doomwatch. Doomwatch ran for three seasons on BBC One from 1970 to 1972, and also spawned a novel written by Davis and Pedler, and later a cinema film and a 1999 revival on Channel 5.
Davis briefly returned to writing Doctor Who, penning the original script for Revenge of the Cybermen, in 1975, though the transmitted version was heavily rewritten by the then script-editor Robert Holmes. He also adapted several of his scripts into novelisations for Target Books. With Kit Pedler, he wrote the science-fiction novels Mutant 59: The Plastic Eaters (1971), Brainrack (1974) and The Dynostar Menace (1975).
In the 1980s Davis worked in America both in television and on feature films such as The Final Countdown (1980). In late 1989 he and Terry Nation made a joint but unsuccessful bid to take over production of Doctor Who and reformat the series mainly for the American market. Gerry Davis died on August 31 1991.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 7, 2018
This was Patrick's 2nd story following on from Power of the Daleks .I once in 1980s visited the famous Battle Field of Culloden but it was only huge mucky wet field that cost over £10 to walk across.
Years later in 1990 I meet Frazer who told me that wasn't even filmed in Scotland . but in Frensham Ponds in Surrey & cost £11,575 to make. Which was huge amount in 17/12/1966- 07/01/1967 .when you could buy car for less than £500 or bug house £1000 .Ronnie Corbet once said he payed £800 for flat in London in 1965 (same flat that cost over 1million )
This one of last Historical stories with no monsters in it just pure history. It also was one last few stories of Ben & Polly too.
This very good story & is huge Shame that audio is all that exist unless so one finds a copy.
We have narrative & the cast .This Patrick at his best & then came The Underwater Menace.
Years later in 1990 I meet Frazer who told me that wasn't even filmed in Scotland . but in Frensham Ponds in Surrey & cost £11,575 to make. Which was huge amount in 17/12/1966- 07/01/1967 .when you could buy car for less than £500 or bug house £1000 .Ronnie Corbet once said he payed £800 for flat in London in 1965 (same flat that cost over 1million )
This one of last Historical stories with no monsters in it just pure history. It also was one last few stories of Ben & Polly too.
This very good story & is huge Shame that audio is all that exist unless so one finds a copy.
We have narrative & the cast .This Patrick at his best & then came The Underwater Menace.
April 21, 2021
A great Ending
August 1, 2025
This is the TV soundtrack to the original, missing story with some narration from the wonderful Frazer Hines.
The story itself is pretty mundane, the soundtrack isn't of great quality (but I know for the time this was mixed and edited they didn't really have the technology to sharpen it), but Hines' narration is pretty good and helps to visualise what's going on; but at times, I think a little bit more narration/description could have been needed. Perhaps the Target novelisation is clearer.
Although I will say the Doctor seamlessly switching between pretending to be a German doctor to an old woman to a redcoat was mildly amusing.
This story is really only notable for Jamie's introduction, and without that, I reckon this story would be almost as forgettable as The Twin Dilemma or The Tsuranga Conundrum.
The story itself is pretty mundane, the soundtrack isn't of great quality (but I know for the time this was mixed and edited they didn't really have the technology to sharpen it), but Hines' narration is pretty good and helps to visualise what's going on; but at times, I think a little bit more narration/description could have been needed. Perhaps the Target novelisation is clearer.
Although I will say the Doctor seamlessly switching between pretending to be a German doctor to an old woman to a redcoat was mildly amusing.
This story is really only notable for Jamie's introduction, and without that, I reckon this story would be almost as forgettable as The Twin Dilemma or The Tsuranga Conundrum.
May 31, 2021
Jaimes first appearance. One of the last Doctor Who stories that contain no monsters, aliens, or other such beings. This story is one of History and History alone. (Also I love Scotland so..) As long as you’re aware that the older doctor who “books” usually have a less clear quality (because of when they were created) it’s great to listen to. I always end up back at Doctor Who when I have nothing to read.
(Me, reading this book. is that. Is it? Jaime?..Jaime!)
(Me, reading this book. is that. Is it? Jaime?..Jaime!)
April 16, 2019
DNF @ 58%
I really enjoyed the premise of this, but found it so hard to follow. I do look forward to reading the novelization of this story.
I really enjoyed the premise of this, but found it so hard to follow. I do look forward to reading the novelization of this story.
November 2, 2021
The Highlanders is notable for a few reasons, it is the last purely historical story of classic Doctor Who and it is the first to feature the character of Jamie McCrimmon. Jamie would go on to be one of the best known companions of the Patrick Troughton era and gets to shine in the Highlanders.
The Highlanders works because of its humor and Patrick Troughton's excellent performance. It's his Doctor who with wit and humor dances rings around the clueless villains. Companion Polly also gets to shine as she is responsible for the rescue of the captive highlanders.
It's a historical adventure where the Doctor and his friends have to save captive highlanders and stop a plan to sell the highlanders into slavery.
The Highlanders works because of its humor and Patrick Troughton's excellent performance. It's his Doctor who with wit and humor dances rings around the clueless villains. Companion Polly also gets to shine as she is responsible for the rescue of the captive highlanders.
It's a historical adventure where the Doctor and his friends have to save captive highlanders and stop a plan to sell the highlanders into slavery.
February 10, 2022
I am so excited about the discovery of all the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary shorts which are done by all the authors I already love. It's like the perfect match. I have really enjoyed the variety of worlds and troubles that these adventures explore. I hope to read them all one day.
This retro one was okay.
This retro one was okay.
July 27, 2022
I read the novelization a few months ago and decided to listen to this to compare.
I think I prefer the novelization, honestly? Hearing everyone was nice but it dragged in a few places, in a way I don't really remember the book doing. Or maybe my brain is inventing memories to mess with me. Overall the two versions are fairly similar.
I think I prefer the novelization, honestly? Hearing everyone was nice but it dragged in a few places, in a way I don't really remember the book doing. Or maybe my brain is inventing memories to mess with me. Overall the two versions are fairly similar.
August 7, 2021
Introduction of Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines).
October 19, 2022
ターゲットの本を読む前に試してみたらあんまりよく飲みこめなくて、本を読んでから聴いたらどういう状況かわかりやすくてそれなりに楽しく聴けた。
いろんなことがめちゃくちゃ起こるので気を抜くとすぐ迷子になってしまう。
いろんなことがめちゃくちゃ起こるので気を抜くとすぐ迷子になってしまう。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2025
Slightly borning. This lost episode of Doctor Who was disapointing and not very interesting.
June 20, 2016
I was disappointed with this, expecting an interesting story of how Jamie came to link up with the Doctor. Instead I wanted to have an argument about informed consent!
Of course a very interesting setting for the Doctor and shows him steering a careful humanitarian course between Scots and English, and I enjoyed the dressing up and role playing (which is pretty good going considering we're only going on the audio track from a TV serial, with added narration) But it did surprisingly little for me.
Of course a very interesting setting for the Doctor and shows him steering a careful humanitarian course between Scots and English, and I enjoyed the dressing up and role playing (which is pretty good going considering we're only going on the audio track from a TV serial, with added narration) But it did surprisingly little for me.
June 28, 2014
Really loved this book, but it was a bitter sweet read. Most of the 2nd Doctor's serials are missing, and I would have loved to see his adventures through the highlands. And Polly was such a hero, it's sad there is only one surviving serial with her in it. She seems pretty amazing!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews