SEARCHING FOR SPIRALS

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Season Eight opener, Terror of the Autons, features a nifty new laboratory for the Doctor. And lurking in the back is a rather interesting spiral staircase. Interesting because it seems to turn up in all manner of other shows. 


TERROR OF THE AUTONS, 1971

STEPTOE AND SON, 1962

The earliest I have been able to find the stairs is from the original run of Steptoe and Son, from 1962-65. They can be regularly spotted in the Steptoe’s junkyard, just next to their front door.

READY STEADY GO!, 1965

Scottish pop pixie Lulu starts her performance of ‘Shout’ on a familiar set of stairs in a 1965 edition of Associated-Redifussions music show Ready Steady Go! In truth, I’m not 100% certain this is the same staircase. The shape of the steps and the balusters is correct but this staircase feels longer and sturdier than the other examples I have found. Lulu is actually able to walk down half of it and not kill herself. So the jury is out on this one.

ADAM ADAMANT LIVES!, 1966

‘So clever…but oh so vulnerable’. An ever reliable source of recycled props, Adam Adamant turns up trumps again. It’s a bit hard to see but the stairs are at the top right of this image from the episode To Set A Deadly Fashion.

THE SEA DEVILS, 1972

One year after their appearance in Terror of The Autons the stairs are back. This time in Trenchard’s office in The Sea Devils

STEPTOE AND SON, 1972

Five years after its original run Steptoe was back on British TV screens and the staircase was back in the yard, albeit not in its original position and now painted white.

THE SUNMAKERS, 1977

Another ‘70s Doctor Who appearance. The Sunmakers shares a designer with The Sea Devils, Tony Snoaden. Maybe he was fond of spirals.

BLAKE’S 7, 1979

The final confirmed appearance I have found is from the Series B episode, Gambit. It can be seen in the back of Krantor’s opulent boudoir.

Here is the complete timeline as it stands. But of course, the search goes on. If you know of any appearances of our stairs please do let me know. 


In my search I also came across a couple of near misses. Similar stairs but ultimately not the right ones. I’ve presented them here out of a sense of completeness.

HERE COME THE DOUBLE DECKERS, 1970


THE BOOK TOWER, 1979


THE SNOWMEN, 2012

And finally. Just for fun it’s worth pointing out the extra long spiral staircase that ascends to the TARDIS in TheSnowmen. It’s not the same one but it is pretty damn similar.






 


 

 






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