Naturally, this being the Doctor Who fandom, it’s caused something of a stir on Twitter, and for various reasons, we’re not electing to plough into that particular minefield. I would ask the writers who objected to my inclusion in the same book as them to reflect on that.”

People must be protected, ideas must never be. BBC Books immediately folded to these demands, and I was informed that although I would be paid my story would not be published, as they judged – wrongly, in my opinion – that a potential boycott would make the book ‘economically unviable’… I don’t believe my view should be protected either. Also, some of the other contributing authors to the book (I don’t know who) threatened to withdraw if I was involved. “At this point a section of the Dr Who fandom agitated for my removal. Information about the anthology title leaked early, and Roberts writes: We can only presume Roberts’ contribution was an extension of either The Lodger or Closing Time, both featuring the popular character, Craig Owens, played by James Corden (although Gareth’s TV serials include a number of favourites like The Shakespeare Code and The Unicorn and the Wasp). The Target Storybook is comprised of short stories intended to expand on Doctor Who episodes in the same way as classic Target Books.

Read more An adventure set in 1930s London, featuring the Fourth Doctor as played by Tom Baker and his companions Romana and K-9.BBC Books has withdrawn Gareth Roberts’ short story from the upcoming Doctor Who anthology, The Target Storybook after pressure from some fans and fellow authors over controversial opinions Roberts expressed on Twitter. What connects the isolated Sussex resort of Nutchurch with the secret society run by the eccentric Percy Closed? Why has millionaire Hepworth Stackhouse dismissed his staff and hired assassin Julia Orlostro? And what is the truth behind the infernal vapour known only as Zodaal? With the heat building, the Doctor and his friends set out to solve the mysteries. But the TARDIS is warning of time pollution. The Doctor, Romana and K-9 are hoping for a holiday in London in the sweltering summer of 1930. What connects the isolated Sussex resort of Nutchurch with the secret society run by the eccentric Percy Closed? Num Pages: 288 pages. Description for Doctor Who: The English Way of Death: The History Collection Paperback.

Gareth roberts doctor who