Skip to content

Classic Who S25 • Serial 2 · (3 episodes)

The Happiness Patrol

Sets:
Doctor Who (1963-1996)
Seventh Doctor

72% 508 votes

Doctor Who Season 25

Watch on iPlayer

Watch on BritBox

Novelisation: "Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol"

TARDIS Wiki

First aired Wednesday, November 2, 1988
Production Code 7L
Written by Graeme Curry
Directed by Chris Clough
Runtime 75 minutes
Time Travel Future
Tropes: (Potential Spoilers!) Political commentary Robots
Inventory: (Potential Spoilers!) Spoons
Locations Terra Alpha
Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives on the planet Terra Alpha, where the Seventh Doctor and Ace discover a society in which sadness is against the law - a law enforced zealously by the brightly uniformed Happiness Patrol. The planet is ruled by Helen A with the aid of her companion, Joseph C, and her carnivorous pet Stigorax, Fifi.

3 Episodes:

First aired Wednesday, November 2, 1988
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Graeme Curry
Directed by Chris Clough
UK Viewers 5.3 million
Appreciation Index 67
Synopsis

The Earth colony Terra Alpha, the future. With the aid of her sweet-natured executioner, Helen A, ruler of the planet, has ensured the population is happy - on pain of death! The Doctor and Ace decide to fight for the right to be miserable.

First aired Wednesday, November 9, 1988
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Graeme Curry
Directed by Chris Clough
UK Viewers 4.6 million
Appreciation Index 65
Synopsis

The Doctor and Earl manage to escape from the Kandy Man and join up with the planet's natives, the Pipe People, enlisting their help to rescue Ace.

First aired Wednesday, November 16, 1988
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Graeme Curry
Directed by Chris Clough
UK Viewers 5.3 million
Appreciation Index 65
Synopsis

As the Doctor leads the Pipe People towards reclaiming their world, Helen A faces betrayal from those closest to her.

Signal Strength: 50%

What's this?

Also featuring:

Stigorax  Kandy Man