This will be the first in a series of semi-regular blog posts celebrating different elements, moments, stories, characters, etc from Doctor Who.

I love to celebrate the show, I love to love it so let’s go back to my roots a bit with this one. Why I love The Keeper of Traken.

My Doctor Who journey started way back in August 1980 with episode one of the Leisure Hive. But from that season a few things stood out to very young me. The cactus Doctor of Meglos, the terrifying Full Circle, but one story stole my heart and scared me witless. The Keeper of Traken.

From the Keeper appearing in and indeed taking control of the TARDIS in the stories opening scenes, and setting the stage for the unfolding story it just felt different.

The beautiful sets and costumes and some old Doctor Who hands bring this story a realness that made the Doctors struggle and success feel more vital to kiddy me. Did I understand all that was happening? Not at all at that age, but that really didn’t matter, the drama and energy and music all served to sweep me away into a rich and deep Universe.

But it was the Melkur and the decrepit Master within that really sealed the deal. The lopsided and asymmetrical Melkur absolutely scared me witless. The addition of Geoffrey Beevers gentle voice that just dripped charm and threat in equal measure, coming from the calcified ruin of a creature that was not just a statue but could roam at will (a thought occurs that maybe this is why the Weeping Angels have become a true modern Who success) truly unsettled me, and I think that combination still works today. I’d listen to Beevers read the telephone book and be chilled and soothed in equal measure!

As a child the world is a big and scary place, but when that scariness is contained within the safe confines of 25 minutes on a television set it becomes bearable, even thrilling and that is the magic of Doctor Who to me. First and foremost it will always be my escape and the Keeper of Traken is perfect escapism. It gels together so we’ll, a marriage of vision, sound, imagination and atmosphere. This is why I love The Keeper of Traken … Oh, and Nyssa, of course. I wished she was my big sister (and I share the same birthday as Sarah Sutton)