Doctor Who - Season 15 (1977)

Costume Design by:

- Raymond Hughes ( notable efforts: Countess Dracula (1971), The Pallisers (1974), The Merchant of Venice (1980), Othello (1981), The Far Pavilions (1984), Young Sherlock Holmes (1985), Return to Oz (1985), Space Precinct (1994) )

- Christine Rawlins ( notable efforts: The Signalman (1976), An Englishman's Castle (1978), The Merry Wives of Windsor (1982), The Box of Delights (1984) )

- Rupert Jarvis ( notable efforts: Treasure Island (1977), Blake's 7 'Project Avalon' to 'Orac' (1978), Jane (1982 - 1984) )

- Dee Robson ( notable efforts: Moonbase 3 (1973), Blake's 7 (Season 3, 1980), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981), Doctor Who 'Arc of Infinity' & 'Terminus' (1983) )

Costume Design Genre: futuristic

'The Invisible Enemy'

Costume Design by: Raymond Hughes

This serial involved a medical space crew under attack by a space virus, and so keeping in with the medical theme of this story, almost all the outfits featured involved the colours white and green (to no doubt fit in with the medical theme), with the most detailed designs being the spacesuits worn by the crews – enough time was spent on them that they even had the character’s names written on each one, with the commander having three red lines on one arm.

A design sadly not seen past the first episode is the grey uniform worn by Lowe (Michael Sheard, in one of his many Doctor Who roles), which seems basic except for the grey plastic strap on the side as well as the triple red lines on his arm - a rather pleasing design despite its relatively dull colour scheme, and in a war feels oddly modern.

This story also saw the introduction of the Doctor’s lovable robot dog K9 (voiced by John Leeson), built by Professor Marius (Frederick Jaeger) who wears a dark green open jacket (adorned with lining and shoulder flaps) over his medical shirt.

The other staff of the hospital are dressed in identical white coveralls and skullcaps, ony being distinguished by the lines that the higher ups have (such as Marius’ aide who has a dark olive green line down his coveralls, or the unlucky medical officer infected by lowe who sports a red line). The nurses of the station meanwhile instead wear green latex overalls with their skullcaps being fitted with plastic face shields.

'The Sun Makers'

Costume Design by: Christine Rawlins

This serial involved the population of Pluto being oppressed by the greedy ‘Collector’ (Henry Woolf) and his main henchman, Gatherer Hade (Richard Leech), who has one of the more memorable outfits of the story, with his bulbous felt hat (with large golden logo piece on the front) and sweeping cloak of pink and mauve cut in a striped pattern.

Hade’s assistant Marn (Jonina Scott) wears a single piece suit of shining gold and copper, with the trouser part cut in a way that honestly is very 1970s.

'Underworld'

Costume Design by: Rupert Jarvis

This serial was a scifi lift on the Greek myth of Jason’s quest for the golden fleece, which explained the rather more archaic costume design this story took. The crew of the Minyan vessel attempting to find their species’ lost race banks are all glad in shining golden spacesuits, with piping all over. Only in very few scenes do they don the bulbous domed helmets that complete the suit design.

The rest of their people have been enslaved by the supercomputer ‘Oracle’ whose main figureheads are the robotic ‘Seers’ – their robotic identity is kept secret thanks to the hoods they wear with their brown and gold-buttoned outfits.

The officers of the Minyan guards under the Seers control dress in similar hooded garments, but of black with silver buttons instead, and with a ‘v’ shaped fabric down the front instead of the rectangle. The grunt guards meanwhile are dressed in garments of the same general cut as the Seers and officers, but in a drab greym and much more loose and tattered with no buttons except for on the front.

'The Invasion of Time'

Costume Design by: Dee Robson (credited as Dee Kelly)

This serial once again saw the return of the Time Lords, whose general dress sense had not changed much at all since ‘The Deadly Assassin’ a season before, with the assigned costume designer Dee Robson mostly reusing James Acheson's designs for 'The Deadly Assassin' The story also saw the return of a ‘Castellan’ as a major character, with this story’s one, Kelner (Milton Johns) wearing a reuse of Spandrell's gowna and cloak in ‘The Deadly Assassin’ buth with a more ornate golden skullcap (covered in threading arranged in a curling pattern) as well as a medallion. In one of these screenshots you can see the rather dull uniforms of the invading 'Vardan' aliens - who just are in overalls with insignia on their belts and boots, as well as helmets.

This story also saw the return of Borusa (this time played by John Arnatt) whose gown was now a much deeper shade of purple and made of a much shinier fabric, and this skullcap also being more ornate in design, with the threading forming a v-pattern - Borusa however again wears his collar over his silver lined gown, but this time the collar has been altered with more glittery lining.

One main subplot was the Doctor being crowned ‘President of Gallifrey’, the coronation ceremony of which involves him in a frilly gown as the ‘gold usher’ (Charles Morgan) gives him the ‘Sash of Rassilon’ and ‘Crown of Rassilon’. The gold usher’s robes are cream and brown, with a skullcap covered in even more threaded patterns.

The navigation controller Rodan (Hilary Ryan) sports what is presumed to be the female equivalent to the Time Lord’s gowns, though her s is only really distinguished by less pronounced shoulder flaps, with the general design still having the ‘v’ stripe motif.

We see some ‘extra’ Time Lords, especially in the scenes of the Doctor’s coronation, as well as some random ones harassed by Andred, one in a dark orange gown with shiny chevrons, and the other in a lilac gown with purple chevrons. These would not be properly seen in this serial however, instead being seen more clearly in 'Arc of Infinity' a few years later, which also had Dee Robson assigned as costume designer!

Also returning are, of course, the Chancellery Guard, this time lead by Andred (Andy Coleman) whose helmet as commander is very similar to Hildred’s in ‘The Deadly Assassin’ (possibly same prop?), but this time actually doesn’t wear his armor for most of his scenes, instead just having yellow lanyards over his tunic. When he does sport his chest armor, it turns out to have received the same revamp as most of the other outfits in this story, with detailed carvings over it.