Peter Purves reads John Lucarotti's novelization of his classic First
Doctor TV adventure. The TARDIS lands in Paris on August 19, 1572.
Driven by scientific curiosity, the Doctor goes to meet and exchange
views with the apothecary, Charles Preslin. Before he disappears, he
warns Steven to stay "out of mischief, religion and politics." But in
16th Century Paris it is impossible to remain a mere observer, and
Steven soon finds himself involved with a group of Huguenots. The
Protestant minority of France is being threatened by the Catholic
hierarchy, and danger stalks the Paris streets. As Steven tries to find
his way back to the TARDIS he discovers that one of the main persecutors
of the Huguenots appears to be . . . the Doctor! Peter Purves, who
played Steven in the original BBC TV series, reads this novelization of
a fondly remembered classic story, the original episodes of which are
lost from the BBC archives.