Hidden Talent

"I'm prepared to make the sacrifice to become a star."

Writer: Andrew Spokes

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 14

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

Adventures in time and space are no fun if there's no one to share them. the Doctor has taken along many people on his travels – humans, aliens and robots. Did he really care for any of them? What in their previous life fitted them for the role of companion – and how did they cope after they left the TARDIS?

These seventeen stories look at the Doctor's trusty companions, before, during and after their travels with the eccentric Time Lord. Discover the truth about Romana's regeneration, find out what happened when Zoe encountered the Doctor again, and learn which of his companions the Doctor cared for the most...

Verdict

Hidden Talent was a very good story to continue my reading of the Companions edition of Short Trips! After over six months off work on paternity leave, my weekly commute has seen me return to this terrific little collection of short stories. And this was a fine adventure to come back to reading. I really liked that Jo was the companion present here and whilst the focus of this collection has tended to not be on the Doctor, this felt like a very balanced approach between Doctor and companion. I thought the way the 1970s era was captured was very well done and impressive to get it done so well on the page. I really like the unique setting of a talent show and that’s a fine place to do a Doctor Who adventure. The concept of those who are eliminated from the competition going missing was very exciting, so for Jo to get involved in the competition was pretty intriguing! The Doctor essentially using her as bait and a way in to start his investigations was good and I was actually surprised that we didn’t have any UNIT involvement! A Brigadier line about talent shows could have been glorious. I liked how Jo was getting to know some of her fellow contestants and Chris in particular was the front runner to win. He’d garnered some huge popularity amongst the young female contingent of the viewers and people like Lucy were out to be famous. She wanted the money. I couldn’t blame her! I thought Chris feeling like the competition was rigged in his favour with the more popular songs was fun and it all just seemed a bit barmy. What could anybody gain from rigging a talent show? I must admit I wasn’t expecting the Master to be the one behind things but his appearance was a delight. I loved that because I didn’t see it coming at all. I thought the humour behind the talent show being named Make a Star and the Master using that as basically another disguise for his involvement was glorious. The way he was trying to goad the Doctor about that and I’m not too sure I believe him when he says he doesn’t actually care for the Doctor and Jo. How couldn’t he? His delight almost at Jo being a part of the show as a contestant was basically an invitation for the Doctor to try and stop him. His method of gaining control of Earth was audacious to say the least in getting the performers to sing songs that had yet to be written. Fame being performed in the 1970s is an amusing prospect, although the Master utilising the tissue compression eliminator on those voted out was deadly. The other contestants seeing them as mass produced dolls was pretty sad considering they were the actual people! The Master alluding back to Terror of the Autons and the plastics factories was great and I also really enjoyed Jo and the Doctor looking back on Planet of the Daleks with Latep. The Doctor remembering the fate of Jamie and Zoe when it came to them losing their memories in The War Games was a somber moment as Jo realised she might leave soon. She was so appreciative of her travels with the Doctor despite enjoying a little bit of time on Earth again. The way the Doctor stopped the Master by altering the output and ensuring future songs weren’t broadcast was pretty simple, and it was amusing for the renegade Time Lord to just run away in his disguised TARDIS! The Doctor didn’t get the chance to rub his nose in it which was a shame. Overall though, a terrific little adventure!

Rating: 8/10