N.B. there might (or might not) be spoilers in this article!

You hear tales of people running away to join the circus, but running away from the circus? That’s an attention-grabber right there!

“Although I never got to see the early days, I know it’s not as good as it used to be but I’m still terribly interested.”

Whizzkid, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy: Part Three

Yet again we have a story that appeals to the New Adventures fan in me. It’s seemingly small-scale: a circus, its performers and a (very) few guests, but immediately the Doctor senses ‘something evil’ and by the end we’re dealing with grand-scale villains of the omnipotent ancient evil from the dawn of time ilk.

As with Paradise Towers, Stephen Wyatt has given us an engaging set of supporting characters — the lycanthropic Mags, the post-traumatic Deadbeat / Kingpin (and indeed Bellboy), the postmodern Whizzkid — who wouldn’t seem out of place in one of those early 90’s novels. But to dwell on its being a forerunner of something is to ignore its own strengths.

“And besides, I find circuses a little sinister.”

The Doctor, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy: Part Four

Other than the aforementioned, Ian Reddington as the Chief Clown has been rightly praised over the years. My son found his hand gestures particularly creepy. I wonder if The League of Gentlemen drew any inspiration from his performance when they created Papa Lazarou 10 years later?

Whilst each incarnation of the Doctor seems to bring out certain characteristics of his overall personality. I rather like the idea of the Seventh Doctor as an aging hippie, albeit a particularly mysterious and manipulative one. I can’t be the only person to notice that Captain Cook seems very much like the Doctor would be if you played up the British colonial aspects of his character.

But I’ve always loved that title, said with a sweep of the palm in front of your face: Doctor Who, the Greatest Show [pause for dramatic effect] in the Galaxy.

And whilst it’s by no means perfect, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy rounds off what has been a very good season with another story that shows this era of Doctor Who has well and truly found its groove. (Sophie Aldred’s reading of the novelisation is also superb!)