Malcolm Hulke

Malcolm Hulke (died July 6, 1979) was a British television writer, notable for his work on the science fiction series Doctor Who.

Related Topics:
July 6 - 1979 - Doctor Who

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His first major television work was a series of children's science fiction serials - Target Luna, Pathfinders in Space, Pathfinders to Mars, and Pathfinders to Venus - which he co-wrote with Eric Paice for the British ABC network. The producer of the series was Sydney Newman, who was later responsible for the creation of Doctor Who as Head of Drama at BBC Television.

Related Topics:
Target Luna - Pathfinders in Space - Pathfinders to Mars - Pathfinders to Venus - Eric Paice - ABC - Sydney Newman - Head of Drama - BBC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In addition to the Pathfinders series and Doctor Who, Hulke contributed scripts to The Avengers, The Protectors, Danger Man, Crossroads, United! and Gideon's Way.

Related Topics:
The Avengers - The Protectors - Danger Man - Crossroads - United! - Gideon's Way

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His scripts for Doctor Who were noted for avoiding black-and-white characterisation and simplistic plotting. One of his best-known contributions to the series is Doctor Who and the Silurians, which depicts an encounter between the human race and the remnants of a technological reptilian race that ruled Earth in prehistoric times in a way that avoids casting either side as heroes or monsters. The novelisation of the serial was translated into Finnish as Tohtori KUKA ja luolahirviöt in 1976.

Related Topics:
Doctor Who and the Silurians - 1976

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He also contributed to Target Books' range of Doctor Who novelizations, adapting all but one of his scripts before his death, as well as 1973's The Green Death. Unlike many Target novelizations, which tended to offer little that wasn't in the original script apart from the words "he said" and "she said" in the appropriate places, Hulke's novelizations were noted for providing a wealth of additional background detail and character depth.

Related Topics:
Target Books - The Green Death

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was a friend of Terrance Dicks, with whom he collaborated on The War Games, Dicks' first Doctor Who script, and on the non-fiction book The Making of Doctor Who.

Related Topics:
Terrance Dicks - The War Games

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hulke also wrote a highly regarded guide for television writers, Writing for Television in the 70s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~