Doctor Who

An original costume design created during the production of the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who.

This is the original costume design for the decaying Master as portrayed by Peter Pratt in the 1976 serial The Deadly Assassin starring Tom Baker as The Doctor. Accomplished in watercolours and pencil on paper by costume designer Joan Ellacott it features a number of hand annotations inscribed in pencil, titled 'DR.WHO' followed by the production number '02346/2131' and 'THE MASTER (Peter Pratt)'. The design is further annotated 'Re-vamped cloak from Flying Dutchman, add hood', an interesting note which refers to the fact that the costume was to be a revamp of a cloak previously used in The Flying Dutchman (1951), this would have been sourced from Bermans and Nathans, world leading costumiers to the entertainment industry who often reused stock garments in later productions.

The Master subsequently appeared in a similar guise portrayed by Geoffrey Beavers in the 1981 serial The Keeper of Traken.

The costume design is accomplished on paper measuring approximately 16" x 8" which has been stapled to a larger sheet making the overall design measurements approximately 16" x 12". The design remains in excellent condition, having been kept in the archive of designer Joan Ellacott for many years after the production, and exhibits only minor wear. Very fine.

A stunning example of hand painted principal character costume design art from one of the most highly regarded serials in the history of this long running science fiction series.