GRM : As a kid, I would run home from the youth club to watch a certain programme and incarnation in particular. The Seventh Doctor. So, as it is his tenth anniversary I decided to do an overview of his era - from the clown of Season 24 to the manipulator and Time's Champion of Seasons 25 & 26, showing the new direction in which the show was heading. Some of the greatest ever stories come from the McCoy era (Remembrance of the Daleks & Ghostlight) - but then so do some pretty bad stories (Time & The Rani). You decide whether you agree or not.

Season Twenty Four (Autumn 1987)

[7D] Time and the Rani (4 episodes) (V)
WR - Pip & Jane Baker
DR - Andrew Morgan

The Doctor regenerates and in a post-regenerative mess battles the Rani (Kate O'Mara) in her bid to create Strange Matter.
GRM : Most regeneration stories aren't brilliant and this one follows the trend. In fact it's bloody awful. Sylvester is pretty bad, too much slapstick; Bonnie is Bonnie and Kate O'Mara just about pulls it off. 2/10
GKO : What can I say? A huge plastic brain, a screaming Mel, a daft Doctor with acting and direction straight from the bottom of the barrel. What a start to McCoy's time as the Doctor! Possibly the worst Dr Who story ever.
1/10 (for the effort on behalf of McCoy)

[7E] Paradise Towers (4 episodes) (V)
WR - Stephen Wyatt
DR - Nicholas Mallet

The Kangs form an uneasy alliance with the Doctor, in order to fight the cleaner machines and the Chief Caretaker/Kroagnon.
GRM: Though inspired by J.G.Ballard's High Rise, and containing veiled political messages, it's still pretty lightweight. 3/10
GKO: Neat idea, terrible story. Hammy acting with cringe inducing scenes - the Chief Caretaker is particularly awful. Oh dear - we aren't doing too well!
3/10 (for the concept - the novel is much better).

[7F] Delta and the Bannermen (3 Episodes) (V)
WR - Malcolm Kohll
DR - Chris Clough

The Doctor helps the Chimeron Queen and her baby (last survivors of their race) escape the clutches of the genocidal Gavrok and his Bannermen.
GRM: Quite enjoyable and fun. It reflects the new direction in which the show was heading, with the Doctor confronting Gavrok and dancing awkwardly with Ray. 5/10
GKO: This story doesn't suffer as much from awful acting (apart from Ken Dodd) Pity about the script. 4/10