‘Then suddenly, one year, there was no spring.’ In the UK, news in the second half of the 2010s was dominated by cross-party implosion following the Tory Brexit Referendum, and the Trump presidency. But at the beginning of 2020, just as Series 12 of Doctor Who was airing, rumour grew of a shadow in the East. By the end of February, hundreds were dying every day in China, and the virus was creeping closer to home. On 12^th March 2020, my entire business was put on a fortnight’s “working from home trial”. I didn’t regularly return to the office until 19^th August 2021.

With the whole UK in lockdown after 24^th March 2020, enterprising fans seized this new opportunity. What Doctor Who Magazine termed the “Lockdown Season” included tweetalongs organised by their own Emily Cook, prequel or sequel short stories by the likes of RTD and Moffat, and webcast “minisodes” featuring stars of the show. Some of the most notable are:

Message from the Doctor, by Chris Chibnall (25/3/2020): The 13^th Doctor provides a typically upbeat and reassuring message – be kind, listen to science – while self-isolating (hiding) from Sontarans. She says she’s brilliant at bad jokes but notably doesn’t tell one.

Incoming Message, by Russell T Davies (26/3/2020): Hot on the Doctor’s heels comes a much less reassuring message from the impossibly glamorous Yvonne Hartman/Tracy-Ann Oberman, restored as head of Torchwood in Jack’s absence (and her own crossover from Pete’s World – hear the Among Us series for more details) to threaten anyone who disobeys One Rule (stay indoors).

United We Stand, 2m Apart, by Chris Chibnall (8/4/2020): Another message from the 13^th Doctor, talking about how to cope with isolation. Mention of being imprisoned is very on brand following the end of Series 12: maybe she made this for herself to keep from going insane in Judoon custody.

Farewell Sarah Jane Smith, by Russell T Davies (19/4/2020): As it became obvious lockdown was for the long haul, creatives started to look for other outlets and the Lockdown Adventures got more ambitious. Case in point: this epilogue to The Sarah Jane Adventures featuring on-camera appearances from Katy Manning, Mina Anwar, Sophie Aldred, Daniel Anthony, Tommy Knight and Anjli Mohindra. The idea of a well-attended funeral for Sarah Jane is unfortunate given the appalling experiences of anyone who lost a loved one during lockdown, but it’s a beautiful fond farewell with a gorgeous closing monologue for Rani.

Shadow of a Doubt, by Paul Cornell (24/4/2020): Bernice Summerfield (Lisa Bowerman) meets Daughter of Mine, still trapped in the mirror from Human Nature. A chilling vignette, alluding obliquely to the idea that the same stories happen many times, and to many Doctors.

The Secret of Novice Hame, by Russell T Davies (30/5/2020): Anna Hope and David Tennant provide the voices for a semi-animated elegy for Novice Hame that perfectly recreates Gridlock’s mix of sadness and joy and its final moments of uplifting, eternal hope.

The Best of Days, by Steven Moffat (7/6/2020): On the flipside, from Moffat we got this comedic slight return for Pearl Mackie and Matt Lucas, following on from the end of The Doctor Falls. Still in touch via futuristic e-mail, Nardole plans a barbecue while battling Cyber-incursions and Bill gripes about the downsides of dating a goddess.

There are numerous others, including new stories by the likes of Peter Harness, Robert Shearman and James Moran, and featuring actors including David Bradley, Ingrid Oliver, and Sophia Myles. Most have a charming make-do-and-mend quality. Defiant creativity in the face of adversity, these are disposable and makeshift, but also significant artefacts that connected us in a moment of shared crisis.

Next Time: Revolution of the Daleks