Bugger.

[khaosworks]

Daleks go missing from new Dr Who
Jason Deans, broadcasting editor
Friday July 2, 2004

The Daleks have been exterminated from Dr Who before production has even
begun on the new version of the sci-fi classic because the BBC has been unable to agree terms for their return with the estate of the show's creator, Terry Nation.

After eight months of negotiations, the BBC has admitted defeat just weeks
before filming is due to begin, claiming Nation's estate had demanded
unacceptable levels of editorial control over scripts featuring the Time Lord's most famous foes.

The Daleks were due to make their return, and send a whole new generation of children diving behind sofas in terror, within a couple of episodes of the new series.

But now Queer as Folk creator Russell T Davies, who is leading the writing team on the show, has had to come up with a new nemesis for the Doctor to grapple with, which he said "will keep viewers on the edge of their seats".

"After lengthy negotiations, the BBC and Terry Nation's estate have been unable to reach agreement over the terms for the use of the Daleks in the new series of Dr Who," a BBC spokesman said.

"The Dalek rights are jointly held and their use has to be jointly agreed. We offered the best deal possible, but ultimately we were not able to give the level of editorial influence that the Terry Nation estate wanted to have."

A BBC insider said there were still hopes of reaching an agreement allowing the use of the Daleks in time for a second series of Dr Who, but it looked unlikely for the first run.

"It's looking pretty bleak. Negotiations have basically collapsed. But never say never - we're still hoping to get it sorted for the second series," the source added.

"The disagreement is about money, approval, checks and a level of interference that's really would be impractical and unworkable."

Comments

[missfairchild.livejournal.com]

It's a real shame, but far rather that than a storyline that has the Nation estate's fingers embedded in it, and a vision for the series that suddenly has to be discussed by committee.

[plaid-dragon.livejournal.com]

Oh :(

I liked the Daleks. Definitelty the best of the villians (as far as I remember). It's a pity the estate have refused to come to terms, I'm sure Terry Nation himself would not have wanted the beeb to be unable to use the Daleks.

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

Part of the background to this is that TN grumbled a lot about how they were used in their last few TV appearances, and the agency acting for his interests has basically inherited a mandate of "Don't let the Beeb screw it up again!" - Even though not many people other than Nation thought they *had* screwed it up. =:o\

The Daleks have only ever appeared in the novels (either Virgin or BBC) when penned by John Peel, because he was a pal of TNs and got the great man's permission just before he pegged it. Both JP's original Dalek novels are universally panned... No one seems very keen to commission him to do any more of them, but the Nation estate won't let anyone else do any either.

I was amazed and delighted when Big Finish got the approval to use the Daleks on audio, and I don't know how much of this is because the Nation estate think of Big Finish as small fry who can't seriously damage the "public image" of the Daleks whatever they do, and how much down to Nick Briggs managing to win them over his pitch of "They'll be just like they were in the 1960s comic strips!" (Most of which, ironically, were written by David Whitaker - whose solo-penned Dalek TV stories Nation didn't like much either!). "Jubilee" certainly didn't fit that description, but for my money is the best "performed" Dalek story of all time! I was really hoping Rob Shearman would get the chance to write for them on telly. Maybe it'll happen yet...

And don't get me started on how TN totally shafted poor old Ray Cusick (the guy who actually *designed* the Daleks, and whose work has been painstakingly reproduced on a zillion school exercise book covers)...

[eviltofu.livejournal.com]

Doh! I like those homicidal tin cans. "Exterminate!"

[cheshyre]

Noooooooo!