Doctor Who

An original prop used in the production of the long running BBC television series Doctor Who.

This is an original communications crystal as used by Mark Strickson as Vislor Turlough throughout The Black Guardian trilogy comprising of the 1983 serials Mawdryn Undead, Terminus and Enlightenment. Such crystals are seen used at various points throughout these serials and represent a central plot device as the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall) conspires to kill The Doctor (Peter Davison).

This crystal is an original used in the production of the trilogy and is one of a number built by the BBC Visual Effects Department. Constructed from moulded resin the prop features a small hollow to the underside where a light could be rigged for the shots where the crystal was required to glow, this was achieved by Strickson holding a bulb inside this hollow with the wire running down his arm. The crystal stands approximately 2.5" high and remains in good production used condition with some discolouration to the resin and chipping to the top which does not detract from the piece as there are various instances of chipped crystals on screen.

A highly significant and displayable artefact from this long running science fiction series.