Vislor Turlough is a fictional character played by

Mark Strickson Mark Strickson (born 6 April 1959) is a British TV producer and actor best known for his acting role as the character of Vislor Turlough, a companion of the Fifth Doctor, on the television series ''Doctor Who.'' Early life Strickson was born ...

in the long-running British

science fiction television Science fiction first appeared in television programming in the late 1930s, during what is called the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary ...

series ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

''. He was a companion of the

Fifth Doctor The Fifth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Peter Davison. Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old alien Time Lord from ...

, being a regular in the programme from 1983 to 1984. Turlough appeared in 10 stories (33 episodes).

Character history

When Turlough first appears in the serial ''

Mawdryn Undead ''Mawdryn Undead'' is the third serial of the 20th season of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was originally broadcast in four twice weekly parts on BBC1 from 1 to 9 February 1983. The serial is set in an Engl ...

'', he is a student of retired

Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, generally referred to simply as the Brigadier, is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', created by writers Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln and p ...

(himself a former companion of the Doctor) at the Brendon

Public School Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...

, but it becomes apparent that he is not what he seems. He is contacted by the malevolent

Black Guardian This is a list of villains from the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. For other, related lists, see below. See also * List of ''Doctor Who'' supporting characters * List of ''Doctor Who'' henchmen * Lis ...

, who offers to take him home if he kills the Doctor. He also appears familiar with concepts of

time travel Time travel is the concept of movement between certain points in time, analogous to movement between different points in space by an object or a person, typically with the use of a hypothetical device known as a time machine. Time travel is a w ...

and matter transmission. At the end of the serial, Turlough asks to accompany the Doctor. Despite Tegan and Nyssa's suspicions, the Doctor accepts Turlough as part of the TARDIS crew. During the course of the next two serials, ''

Terminus Terminus may refer to: * Bus terminus, a bus station serving as an end destination * Terminal train station or terminus, a railway station serving as an end destination Geography *Terminus, the unofficial original name of Atlanta, Georgia, United ...

'' and '' Enlightenment'' (collectively known, together with ''Mawdryn Undead'', as the Black Guardian Trilogy), Turlough finds himself unable to decide whether or not to carry out his assignment from the Black Guardian, but eventually rejects him in favour of loyalty to the Doctor. Although always slightly cowardly, with excellent instincts of self-preservation and a streak of ruthlessness, his relationship with the Doctor and Tegan improves with time (Nyssa having departed at the end of ''Terminus''). He is one of the few companions capable of operating many of the TARDIS's systems, being able to run a diagnostic in ''

The Five Doctors ''The Five Doctors'' is a special feature-length episode of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', produced in celebration of the programme's 20th anniversary. It had its world premiere in the United States, on the Chicago ...

'' and program the TARDIS to retrieve the Doctor in ''

Planet of Fire ''Planet of Fire'' is the fifth serial of the 21st season in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 23 February to 2 March 1984. In the serial, the Doctor's ...

''. Initially expressing a desire to return home, he continues travelling with the Doctor and Tegan until Tegan leaves at the end of ''

Resurrection of the Daleks ''Resurrection of the Daleks'' is the fourth serial of the 21st season in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on BBC1 between 8 February and 15 February 1984. The serial ...

''. In the very next serial, ''

'', it is revealed that Turlough is a junior ensign commander from the planet Trion. Following a civil war on his home planet, in which his mother was killed, Turlough's family were branded political prisoners. His father and younger brother Malkon were exiled to the planet Sarn whilst Turlough himself became a political exile to

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...

watched over by an eccentric Trion agent disguised as a solicitor in

Chancery Lane Chancery Lane is a one-way street situated in the ward of Farringdon Without in the City of London. It has formed the western boundary of the City since 1994, having previously been divided between the City of Westminster and the London Boro ...

. Also revealed for the first time in this serial is Turlough's first name, Vislor. At the end of the serial, Turlough discovers that political prisoners are no longer mistreated on Trion and decides it is time to return home. An image of Turlough appears during the Fifth Doctor's

regeneration Regeneration may refer to: Science and technology * Regeneration (biology), the ability to recreate lost or damaged cells, tissues, organs and limbs * Regeneration (ecology), the ability of ecosystems to regenerate biomass, using photosynthesis ...

scene in ''

The Caves of Androzani ''The Caves of Androzani'' is the sixth serial of the 21st season of the British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 8 to 16 March 1984. In the serial, the Doctor ...

''. Strickson has humorously commented that, not knowing what to do with him, the writers of the television series would often have the villains capture or lock him up, leading to Turlough ending up in various "states of bondage".

List of appearances

Television

;Season 20 *''

'' *''

'' *'' Enlightenment'' *''

The King's Demons ''The King's Demons'' is the sixth and final serial of the 20th season of the British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who'', which was originally broadcast on BBC1 on 15 and 16 March 1983. This serial introduced Kamelion, voiced by G ...

'' ;20th anniversary special *''

'' ;Season 21 *''

Warriors of the Deep ''Warriors of the Deep'' is the first serial of the 21st season of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 5 to 13 January 1984. In the serial, two human power b ...

'' *'' The Awakening'' *'' Frontios'' *''

'' *''

'' (cameo in episode 4)

Audio dramas

; Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures *''

Phantasmagoria Phantasmagoria (, also fantasmagorie, fantasmagoria) was a form of horror theatre that (among other techniques) used one or more magic lanterns to project frightening images, such as skeletons, demons, and ghosts, onto walls, smoke, or sem ...

'' *''

Loups-Garoux ''Loups-Garoux'' (French for werewolves) is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. Plot In Brazil in the year 2080, the Fifth Doctor and Turlough are confronte ...

'' *'' Singularity'' *''

Cobwebs A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web, or cobweb (from the archaic word '' coppe'', meaning "spider") is a structure created by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets, generally meant to catch its prey. Spid ...

'' *'' The Whispering Forest'' *''

The Cradle of the Snake ''Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures'', formerly titled the ''Main Range'', is a series that consists of full-cast audio dramas based on the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who'', produced by Nicholas Briggs and Big Finish ...

'' *'' Heroes of Sontar'' *'' Kiss of Death'' *''

Rat Trap A rat trap is a trap designed to catch rats. Designs are often larger variations on mousetraps. Types of traps Spring traps for large rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are character ...

'' *''

The Emerald Tiger ''Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures'', formerly titled the ''Main Range'', is a series that consists of full-cast audio dramas based on the British science fiction television programme '' Doctor Who'', produced by Nicholas Briggs and Big Finis ...

'' *'' The Jupiter Conjunction'' *''

The Butcher of Brisbane ''The Butcher of Brisbane'' is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It's the second sequel to the 1977 story '' The Talons of Weng-Chiang'' following after '' The ...

'' *''Eldrad Must Die!'' *''The Lady of Mercia'' *''Prisoners of Fate'' *''Mistfall'' *''Equilibrium'' *''

The Entropy Plague ''Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures'', formerly titled the ''Main Range'', is a series that consists of full-cast audio dramas based on the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who'', produced by Nicholas Briggs and Big Finish ...

'' *''The Memory Bank and Other Stories'' *''Devil in the Mist'' *''Black Thursday / Power Game'' *''The Kamelion Empire'' *''The Blazing Hour'' *''The End of the Beginning'' ; Doctor Who: The Lost Stories *''Nightmare Country'' ; Doctor Who: The Fifth Doctor Adventures *''Forty: Volume One'' **''Interlude: I, Kamelion'' ; Doctor Who: Special Releases *''

The Light at the End ''The Light at the End'' is a 1986 vampire novel by John Skipp & Craig Spector which became a ''New York Times'' bestseller and is often credited as the book that started the splatterpunk movement. Story The book takes place in the 1980s punk ...

'' ; Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles * '' Ringpullworld'' * '' Freakshow'' ; Doctor Who: Short Trips *''Gardens of the Dead'' *''The Monkey House''

Novels

;Make Your Own Adventure * '' Crisis in Space'' by Michael Holt ; The Companions of Doctor Who * '' Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma'' by Tony Attwood ;

Virgin Missing Adventures The ''Virgin Missing Adventures'' were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series '' Doctor Who'', which had been cancelled in 1989, featuring stories set between televised episodes of the p ...

* ''

The Crystal Bucephalus ''The Crystal Bucephalus'' is an original novel written by Craig Hinton and based on the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It features the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Turlough and Kamelion In the long-running BBC ...

'' by

Craig Hinton Craig Paul Alexander Hinton (7 May 1964 – 3 December 2006) was a British writer best known for his work on various spin-offs from the BBC Television series ''Doctor Who''. He also wrote articles for various science fiction magazines, and ...

* '' Lords of the Storm'' by

David A. McIntee David A. McIntee (born 31 December 1968) is a British writer. Career McIntee has written many spin-off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', as well as one each based on ''Final Destination'' and '' Space: 1 ...

;

Past Doctor Adventures The ''Past Doctor Adventures'' (sometimes known by the abbreviation ''PDA'' or ''PDAs'') were a series of spin-off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series '' Doctor Who'' and published under the BBC Books impri ...

* ''

Deep Blue Deep Blue may refer to: Film * ''Deep Blues: A Musical Pilgrimage to the Crossroads'', a 1992 documentary film about Mississippi Delta blues music * Deep Blue (2001 film), ''Deep Blue'' (2001 film), a film by Dwight H. Little * Deep Blue (2003 ...

'' by Mark Morris * ''

Imperial Moon ''Imperial Moon'' is a BBC Books original novel written by Christopher Bulis and based on the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It features the Fifth Doctor, Turlough, and Kamelion. Synopsis While returning ...

'' by

Christopher Bulis Christopher Bulis is a writer best known for his work on various Doctor Who spin-offs. He is one of the most prolific authors to write for the various ranges of Spin-off (media), spin-offs from the BBC Television series ''Doctor Who'', with twelve ...

* '' The King of Terror'' by

Keith Topping Keith Andrew Topping (born 26 October 1963 in Walker, Tyneside) is an author, journalist and broadcaster. He is most well known for his work relating to the BBC Television series ''Doctor Who'' and for writing numerous official and unofficial g ...

Short stories

*"Birth of a Renegade" by

Eric Saward Eric Saward (; born 9 December 1944) is a British radio scriptwriter who worked for the BBC as a television script editor and screenwriter on the science fiction series ''Doctor Who'' from 1982 until 1986. He wrote the stories '' The Visitation' ...

(''

Radio Times ''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...

Doctor Who 20th Anniversary Special'') *"Zeitgeist" by

('' Decalog 3: Consequences'') *"Qualia" by Stephen Fewell ('' Short Trips: Companions'') *"Rome" by

Marcus Flavin Marcus, Markus, Márkus or Mărcuș may refer to: * Marcus (name), a masculine given name * Marcus (praenomen), a Roman personal name Places * Marcus, a Asteroid belt, main belt asteroid, also known as List of minor planets: 369001–370000#088, ( ...

('' Short Trips: The History of Christmas'') *"Comforts of Home" by Pete Kempshall (''Short Trips: The History of Christmas'') *"One Wednesday Afternoon" by Alison Jacobs ('' Short Trips: A Day in the Life'') *"The Assassin's Story" by Andrew Collins ('' Short Trips: Repercussions'') *"Observation" by Ian Farrington ('' Short Trips: Life Science'') *"Lant Land" by Jonathan Morris (''Short Trips: Life Science'') *"White Man's Burden" by John Binns ('' Short Trips: Past Tense'') *"Last Minute Shopping" by Neil Perryman ('' Short Trips: A Christmas Treasury'') *"The Misadventure of Mark Thorne" by Andy Frankham ('' Short Trips: Snapshots'') *"Piecemeal" by

James Swallow James Swallow is a British author. A BAFTA nominee and a ''New York Times'', ''Sunday Times'' and Amazon #1 best-seller, he is the author of several original books and tie-in novels, as well as short fiction, numerous audio dramas and video ga ...

(''Short Trips: Snapshots'') *"Do You Believe in the Krampus?" by Xanna Eve Chown ('' Short Trips: The Ghosts of Christmas'') *"One Step Forward, Two Steps Back" by Chris Thomas ('' Short Trips: Defining Patterns'') *"Gudok" by

Mags L Halliday ''History 101'' is a BBC Books original novel written by Mags L Halliday and based on the long-running British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. It features the Eighth Doctor, Fitz and Anji. Synopsis Set in the Spanish Civil W ...

('' Short Trips: Transmissions'') *"The Darkest Corner" by Adrian Middleton (''Shelf Life'') *"Fair Exchange" by Mike Morgan (''Shelf Life'')

Comics

*"The Lunar Strangers" by Gareth Roberts and Martin Geraghty (''

Doctor Who Magazine ''Doctor Who Magazine'' (abbreviated as ''DWM'') is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Launched in 1979 as ''Doctor Who Weekly'', the magazine became a monthly publication the followi ...

'' 215–217)

References

External links

Vislor Turlough on the BBC's ''Doctor Who'' website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turlough, Vislor Doctor Who aliens Doctor Who audio characters Doctor Who companions Male characters in television Television characters introduced in 1983