THE HAPPINESS PATROL

Written by Graeme Curry.

Directed by Chris Clough.

Transmitted originally: 2 November 1988 to 16 November 1988.

"You see I make sweets. Not just any old sweets, but sweets that are so good, so delicious that sometimes, if I'm on form, the human physiology is not equipped to bear the pleasure." - The Kandy Man

THE STORY

The Doctor and Ace arrive on Terra Alpha, a future Earth colony where the people are forced to be happy. The planet is ruled by Helen A, with the aid of her companion Joseph C and her vicious pet Stigorax, Fifi. The law is enforced by the Happiness Patrol and those seen to be breaking the law mysteriously disappear, either after 'auditioning' for the Happiness Patrol or drowned in boiling candy prepared by Helen A's executioner, the robotic Kandy Man (he's a sweetie really...), aided by his creator, Gilbert M.

The Doctor helps to bring about a rebellion with the aid of Earl Sigma, a blues musician, Susan Q, a disillusioned patroller and the Pipe People, the original inhabitants of the planet. The Kandy Man is eventually destroyed by his own 'fondant suprise' and Joseph C and Gilbert M flee the colony, leaving Helen A to grieve for the dead Fifi, killed in an avalanche of candy crystals and realising that happiness cannot exist without sadness...

CAST:

The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy), Ace (Sophie Aldred), Helen A (Sheila Hancock), Joseph C (Ronald Fraser), Daisy K (Georgina Hale), Priscilla P (Rachel Bell), Gilbert M (Harold Innocent), Trevor Sigma (John Normington), Susan Q (Lesley Dunlop), Earl Sigma (Richard D. Sharp), Harold V (Tim Barker), Silas P (Jonathan Burn), Kandy Man (David John Pope), Killjoy/Daphne S (Mary Healey), Forum Doorman (Tim Scott), Snipers (Steve Swinscoe, Mark Carroll), Wences (Phillip Neve), Wulfric (Ryan Freedman), Newscaster (Annie Hulley).

FACTS:

The howl of Fifi the Stigorax was actually the modulated sound of director Chris Clough's own voice.

The TARDIS is painted pink by the Happiness Patrol, thankfully they paint it blue again afterwards.

OTHER FORMATS:

The Seventh Doctor Novelisations

Seventh Doctor Videos

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