Feature by JONATHAN MORRIS
Garrick Hagon as Ky, recording a sequence for Episode Six of The Mutants against a yellow screen at Television Centre on 28 March 1972.
Interviewed by Doctor Who Magazine in 1991, Christopher Barry remembered one moment from 1972 story The Mutants with particular pride: “The mutation of Garrick Hagon as he turns into this butterfly thing. It was a fascinating scene to shoot and I often quote that as an epitome of Colour Separation achievement.” He was right to be proud, as the effect is probably the most ambitious – and possibly one of the most successful – of the Jon Pertwee era. But why was this effect so challenging to achieve? Let’s take a look at the camera scripts and find out.