Bring back Alpha Centauri

[Mitty]

I think one of the major things I recall about early Doctor Who growing up as a kid were the two Peladon stories: The Curse of Peladon, and The Monster of Peladon. I'm not sure how they are regarded by fans, but I just loved them, and I think the thing that most sticks in my mind is the character of Alpha Centauri. Yes, the costume was probably a bit silly but for some reason Alpha Centauri just seemed very likeable. I'd go so far as to say it would have been awesome to have him/her/it as a regular companion.

The other great thing was that we saw Peladon at two different points in it's history. Alpha Centauri was the bridging character (and is obviously reasonably long lived) so they could easily bring the character back, even if it wasn't on Peladon.

The stories aren't well known enough to warrant a return in the new series at some point, but then we got the Macra and they were pretty unknown as well.

Anyone else love Alpha Centauri?

 

[Anachronus]

I have a fondness for those two stories as well, I would love to see Alpha back. Even if just in passing.

 

[Mitty]

^I actually thought it would have been great for Alpha Centauri to show up in the Sarah Jane Adventures, since Sarah met him/her/it as well. Would have been an amusing little story to have Alpha crashland on Earth and Sarah and the kids have to keep her safe until someone arrives to rescue her (I think I've decided she was a she).

 

[Guy Gardener]

There's always already an Audio Story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bride_of_Peladon

It's Erimem's last story.

I guess because she's the bride.

 

[Rarewolf]

^ have you heard it?

There's The Prisoner Of Peladon Companion Chronicle as well, with David Troughton back as King Peladon.

 

[Cutter John]

I'd watch it. The question of course is costume, or cgi?

 

[Guy Gardener]

There's no point in making "it" (i think that's right? I remember the Doctor saying that Alpha Centauri wasn't female.) CGI unless it's going to fight with a light sabre in the rain.

Same rules as Yoda.

 

[diankra]

BTW, Jane Goddard, who took over as Alpha's voice for the Big Finish plays, is married to ROb Shearman, who wrote Dalek (among other things).

 

[23skidoo]

I'd rather keep Alpha in my mind's eye, if it's all the same. His/her/its appearance in the Peladon stories was good for a laugh, visually, and it's great to have AC making appearances in the Big Finish series, but just like the Gorn belongs to 45-year-old Star Trek TOS memories, so too does Alpha Centauri belong to the DW of the past. They could CG AC quite easily, just as they CG'd the Gorn in Enterprise. But that fell flat, as would a remake of Alpha Centauri. People are still complaining over the reimagining of the Silurians (though I loved it, mainly thanks to Neve McIntosh's performances) - does anyone really believe a 2011 version of Alpha Centauri would look anything like what we saw back in the Pertwee era?

Alex