Yahoo News Legendary 'Doctor Who' writer Terrance Dicks has passed away at 84
Tributes are pouring in for veteran Doctor Who writer and script editor Terrance Dicks, who has died at the age of 84.
He is most famous for his work on the original series of the show between 1968 and 1974, serving as head script editor from 1969.
Dicks earned his first writing credit on the show for co-penning 10-part serial The War Games, which aired in 1969 and marked the final story of Patrick Troughton’s Second Doctor.
He also wrote several stories for Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor, after he had left his script editor role.
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Author Steve Cole revealed the news on Twitter, and shared his own memories of the famed writer.
I’m so sad that Doctor Who legend #TerranceDicks has died. I know how many authors he inspired, and how many millions he entertained as a writer, script-editor, producer and raconteur. I first met him at a library talk when I was eight and edited his final short story this year.
— Steve Cole (@SteveColeBooks) September 2, 2019
Dicks’ connection with Doctor Who continued after he stepped down from his role as script editor, penning several stories for the show and a number of tie-in novels featuring the characters.
Other figures from the entertainment world also paid tribute to Dicks and offered their own stories of how they were inspired by his work.
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BBC entertainment journalist Lizo Mzimba, Doctor Who novelist Jenny Colgan and James Moran — who has written for both Doctor Who and spin-off Torchwood — were among those who took to Twitter.
Terribly sad news - writer Terrance Dicks has died at the age of 84, his agency has confirmed. One of the great Doctor Who storytellers, not just for the TV show, but so many fantastic novelisations too. And much more. A huge part of so many of our childhoods #RIPTerranceDicks pic.twitter.com/VwOMCBdp4A
— lizo mzimba (@lizo_mzimba) September 2, 2019
Terrance Dicks helped more children (especially boys) develop a lifelong love of reading than almost anyone else who's ever lived. I don't think he even got an OBE.
— Jenny Colgan (@jennycolgan) September 2, 2019
#TerranceDicks was involved with so many episodes and novelisations of Doctor Who, I think he was actually a Time Lord himself. So he’s not dead, he’s just regenerated. One of the people most responsible for my childhood (and continuing childhood) love of the show. RIP.
— James Moran (@jamesmoran) September 2, 2019
I'm proud to say I'm now a published author and there's no way that I would have achieved that if it weren't for the lifelong love of reading and writing instilled in me by #terrancedicks. Rest in peace, dude.
— Craig Charlesworth (@CCharlesworth2) September 2, 2019
Very saddened to hear #TerranceDicks has passed away. We had a great day with him in 2015 at the launch of the LS range, and he's been a great friend of the series since. pic.twitter.com/m0QrrVvbWo
— Lethbridge-Stewart - The Series (@LScandyjar) September 2, 2019
Moran, who wrote 2008 episode The Fires of Pompeii, credited Dicks with helping to craft his love of the show as a child.
“I think he was actually a Time Lord himself,” Moran wrote. “So he’s not dead, he’s just regenerated.”
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As well as his work with Doctor Who, Dicks wrote for TV soap Crossroads and sci-fi series including Moonbase 3 and Space: 1999.
He also wrote numerous books for children, independent of Doctor Who.
Dicks married his wife Elsa in 1963 and they had three sons together.
