The Peterloo Massacre, one of the heaviest Fifth Doctor stories I’ve come across and one of the darkest pure historicals Doctor Who has ever put out, which is surprising considering the writer, Paul Magrs, whose usual style is more light-hearted and bizarre. Then I read that he lives in Manchester along with his partner and it all made perfect sense. The TARDIS crash lands on the grounds of a factory owner and his family, who offer shelter to the time travellers and they each separate with a member of the family and one of the servant girls Cathy. The Doctor tags along with the factory owner and witnesses the appalling conditions his staff (including children) work under. Tegan goes with his son William into the city and sees just how rough the less privileged had to live by, and Nyssa meanwhile goes with Cathy who’s hoping to deliver a speech at an upcoming march in the city in the hopes of improving conditions for those in her class, so that she can provide a better life for her baby “brother”. But the Doctor realises to his horror that they’ve arrived on the eve of one of the worst events to ever take place in this country’s history and the darkest day in Manchester’s history.

If you know already about the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 then it shouldn’t surprise you why this is one of the heaviest Doctor Who stories of all time. The event where the working class took to the streets to march in protest to the horrible conditions they were forced to work and live under, only to be met by the militia who charged on horseback through the crowd resulting in a stampede which led to about 18 deaths and between 400 – 700 injured, injured who couldn’t even afford treatment for their injuries which led to more deaths in the aftermath. And this story doesn’t shy away from the brutal reality of this event. Being a pure historical, there’s no aliens, no grand plots for world domination, there’s not even any proper villains per say, just the horrible despicable actions of the militia upon those they felt deserved no better.

This is an outstanding story and one of the strongest pure historicals Doctor Who has ever put out, do give this a listen but be warned, it’s not a pleasant listen with little to no moments of levity.