P.R.O.B.E.

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P.R.O.B.E.
File:PROBE logo.jpg
Title card
Created by Mark Gatiss
Bill Baggs
Directed by Bill Baggs
Starring Caroline John
Hazel Burrows
Bill Baggs
Theme music composer Mark Ayres
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 5
plus 23 Case Files
Production
Producer(s) Bill Baggs
Release
Original release January 1994 (1994-01) –
present (present)
Chronology
Related shows Doctor Who
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

P.R.O.B.E. is a series of direct-to-video science-fiction films mostly written by Mark Gatiss and produced by BBV Productions. It was the first live-action Doctor Who spin-off series.

The series features Caroline John as Liz Shaw, working for the Preternatural Research Bureau. Many former Doctor Who actors, including former Doctors Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, appear in the series playing different roles. (Due to licensing restrictions, no overt reference to The Doctor is permitted.) Doctor Who alumna Louise Jameson co-stars with Caroline John in the original four films, as Patricia Haggard.

Originally released on VHS, the series was not widely available on video. When an interviewer commented to series author Mark Gatiss that he had never seen the series, Gatiss replied "No, and you never will. One, they're not available. And two, I forbid it. Christ, for all I knew, they were the only things I would ever get to make. And I learned a frightening amount from working on them."[1] The four original films were released on DVD on 3 March 2012 exclusive to Galaxy 4 shop with a 12 rating.[2]

A fifth film, written and directed by Bill Baggs, was released 20 April 2015 with Hazel Burrows taking over as Liz Shaw.[3]

In 2020 the P.R.O.B.E. series was revived by Arcbeatle Press, starting with the release of Shadows of Doubt. Under Arcbeatle Press the series made the transition to the prose format.[4]

The Zero Imperative (1994)

1 – The Zero Imperative
Production
Writer Mark Gatiss
Director Bill Baggs
Producer Bill Baggs
Executive producer(s) Andy Grant
Incidental music composer Mark Ayres
Length 60 minutes
Originally broadcast January 1994

The Zero Imperative was released direct-to-video in January 1994 by BBV.

Synopsis

Former UNIT luminary Liz Shaw and her assistant Bayliss are investigating a series of bizarre murders, all committed near a soon-to-be-closed psychiatric hospital.

When the hospital is unexpectedly reprieved by rich Industrialist Peter Russell events seem to move out of Liz's control. Are the incumbent director of the clinic, Doctor Dove and his predecessor Doctor O'Kane harbouring the killer? What is the centuries-old horror hidden in the grounds?

And what exactly is the secret of room zero?

Cast

Trivia

  • This film is occasionally listed as part of BBV's series The Stranger, although it is a standalone production. The only apparent connection besides production company is that Colin Baker stars in both.[5]

The Devil of Winterborne (1995)

2 – The Devil of Winterborne
Production
Writer Mark Gatiss
Director Bill Baggs
Producer Bill Baggs
Incidental music composer Mark Ayres
Length 80 minutes
Originally broadcast January 1995

The Devil of Winterborne was released direct-to-video in January 1995 by BBV.

Synopsis

When P.R.O.B.E. are summoned to investigate the savage murder of retired headmaster Mr. Whittaker and his dog, Liz Shaw is disturbed to find evidence of a satanic ritual near the scene of the crime. The trail leads of deceit and corruption extends to the current occupants of nearby Winterborne School, where it appears that someone is determined to cover up an ancient secret – at any cost. With another animal having bit the dust, the current headteacher accused of murdering a pupil, and one of the school's oldest employees having been stabbed with a knife, Liz finds herself under increasing pressure from all sides to produce results, especially with P.R.O.B.E. under threat from within – and the death toll mounting. However, a shocking revelation from headteacher Gavin Purcell reveals that The Devil of Winterborne is at large – and only Liz can stop it.

Cast

Unnatural Selection (1996)

3 – Unnatural Selection
Production
Writer Mark Gatiss
Director Bill Baggs
Producer Bill Baggs
Incidental music composer Mark Ayres
Length 47 min.
Originally broadcast October 1996

Unnatural Selection was released direct-to-video in October 1996 by BBV.

Synopsis

In 1975, the British Government quietly closed down a secret evolutionary project codenamed BEAGLE, ordering the destruction of all research materials.

Today, the horrific discovery of several oddly mutated bodies alerts Liz Shaw and P.R.O.B.E. to the fact that something is stalking the original site of project BEAGLE – something which may challenge the very nature of humanity itself!

With a crack security team at her disposal, Liz desperately attempts to track down the perverted results of the project.

But who or what is hunting whom?

Cast

Ghosts of Winterborne (1996)

4 – Ghosts of Winterborne
Production
Writer Mark Gatiss
Director Bill Baggs
Producer Bill Baggs
Incidental music composer Mark Ayres
Length 42 min.
Originally broadcast November 1996

Ghosts of Winterborne was released direct-to-video in November 1996 by BBV.

Synopsis

The Devil of Winterborne has only recently been exorcised by P.R.O.B.E.

But when the body of its last victim disappears, and a book of black magic spells is stolen from a local museum, Liz Shaw begins to wonder if the ghosts of the past have really been laid to rest.

Forced into an unholy alliance with the school's disgraced headmaster, Liz must fight not only her own warring emotions, but a festering evil that threatens to corrupt the Earth again after 100 years.

But how do you fight a shadow from hell?

Cast

Story Notes

  • The end credits list Mrs. Wyndham's first name as Barbara, rather than her on-screen name of Margaret. However, Mrs. Wyndham's deceased twin sister, Ms. Taploe, was also named Barbara.
  • Until the release of Zygon: When Being You Just isn't Enough in 2007, this was the only Doctor Who-related product to be given an 18 certificate although in 2012 Ghosts was re-rated 12.

When to Die (2015)

5 – When to Die
Production
Writer Bill Baggs
Director Bill Baggs
Producer Bill Baggs
Incidental music composer Olivia Thomas
Length 63 min.
Originally broadcast 20 April 2015 (2015-04-20)

When to Die was released direct-to-video on 20 April 2015 by BBV.

Synopsis

Liz investigates the government execution of an immortal Corporal who 'no longer has a use'.

Cast

  • Liz Shaw - Hazel Burrows
  • Patricia Haggard - Georgette Ellison
  • Giles - Bill Baggs
  • Secretary of State for Defence - Matthew Ellison
  • Security Guard - Danni Fletcher
  • Josie Williams - Clare Groome
  • Receptionist - Kathrina Gwynne
  • Major Johnson - Neil Gwynne
  • Charlie Reynish - Ken Hann
  • Bennett - Marcus Kinsella
  • Soldier - Ruben Sanchez
  • Bosnian Diplomat - Brian Stansbridge
  • Corporal 7891Alpha - Peter Ward

Shadows of Doubt (2020)

6 – Shadows of Doubt
Production
Writer Hunter O'Connell, James Wylder, James Hornby
Length 3 minutes
Originally broadcast 28 April 2020 (2020-04-28)

Shadows of Doubt was released on YouTube on 28 April 2020 by Arcbeatle Press.

Synopsis

Giles fears for his team in light of the upcoming perihelion.

Cast

  • Giles - Bill Baggs

Case Files (2021 - present)

7 – Case Files
File:PROBE Case Files.jpeg
Cast
Starring

Bill Baggs
Production
Writer James Hornby & Bill Baggs
Producer Bill Baggs
Length approx 6 minutes
Originally broadcast 22 January 2021 (2021-01-22)

Case Files is a series of video diaries initially released on YouTube under the initial title P.R.O.B.E. Online starting 22 January 2021 by BBV Productions,[6] later released exclusively to the BBV Productions website.

Episodes

Presented as Case File video-diary entries by main character Giles, often including illustrations and references to various Doctor Who-related media. On 16 April 2021, episodes became available on the official BBV website & on DVD 10 June 2021. This lists ordered per the DVD releases.[7][8]

Volume 1

Case file Title Written by Release date
1 "First Entry" James Hornby 10 June 2021 (2021-06-10)
2 "Kelpie" James Hornby 10 June 2021 (2021-06-10)
3 "Peckham Poltergeist" James Hornby 12 February 2021 (2021-02-12)
Giles and Archie investigate a home haunting.
4 "Manchester" James Hornby 5 February 2021 (2021-02-05)
Giles struggles to come to terms with the death of PROBE agent Archie MacTavish.
5 "Stacey Facade" James Hornby 22 January 2021 (2021-01-22)
Giles finds love, but not all is as it seems.
6 "Shadow People" James Hornby 26 February 2021 (2021-02-26)
Giles and the PROBE team are stalked by mysterious beings.
7 "Varunastra" James Hornby 12 March 2021 (2021-03-12)
Giles contends with a mythological weapon.
8 "Doctor X" James Hornby 26 March 2021 (2021-03-26)
Giles recovers a lost episode of 1950s television series Doctor X. Originally created by author Iain McLaughlin.
9 "Goo!" Bill Baggs 21 April 2021 (2021-04-21)
Giles and Liz investigate a conspiracy behind the global lockdown.
10 "Sherwood Sorceress" James Hornby 24 April 2021 (2021-04-24)
Giles helps Liz save a kidnapped child.

Out of the Shadows

Case file Title Written by Release date
N/A "Out of the Shadows[9]" James Hornby 10 October 2021 (2021-10-10)
Released on Arcbeatle Press's YouTube channel

Volume 2

Case file Title Written by Release date
11 "A Message From Sir Andrew[8]" TBA February 2022 (2022-02)
12 "Daylight Savings" James Hornby 6 June 2021 (2021-06-06)
Crossover with the Faction Paradox line of spinoffs.
13 "Ichor[10]" Bill Baggs 5 July 2021 (2021-07-05)
Giles contends with the blood of the Gods.
14 "Out of the Shadows of Doubt[8]" James Hornby, Hunter O'Connell, James Wylder & Lucy Wood-Ives
from an initial concept by Aristide Twain		 February 2022 (2022-02)
15 "Fog[10]" Bill Baggs 6 July 2021 (2021-07-06)
Giles meets a curious alien prisoner.
16 "Lauren Anderson[10]" James Hornby & Bill Baggs 7 July 2021 (2021-07-07)
Giles tangles with shapeshifters.
17 "Living Fiction[10]" Warren Lewis 8 July 2021 (2021-07-08)
A mysterious film-reel is analysed by PROBE, proving to be very complex & deadly.
18 "The Only Cure[8]" James Hornby February 2022 (2022-02)
19 "Ex-President[8]" James Hornby February 2022 (2022-02)
20 "Legend[8]" James Hornby February 2022 (2022-02)
Crossover with BBV's Brigadier series.

Volume 3

Case file Title Written by Release date
21 "Maxie Masters" Bill Baggs March 2022 (2022-03)
22 "O'Kane" Bill Baggs 1 January 2023 (2023-01-01)
23 "Mist Mystery" Bill Baggs 1 February 2023 (2023-02-01)

Cast

Crew

Audiobooks (2021 - present)

P.R.O.B.E. Audiobooks
File:PROBE Audiobooks.jpg
Cast
Starring

Bill Baggs (reader)
Production
Writer James Hornby & James Wylder
Producer Bill Baggs
Length approx 40 minutes
Originally broadcast 8 May 2021 (2021-05-08)

P.R.O.B.E. Audiobooks are a series of narrated short stories released on the BBV Productions website.[11]

Audiobook Title Written by Release date
1 The Door We Forgot James Hornby & James Wylder 7 May 2021 (2021-05-07)
A free streaming/download version of this story read by Aubrey Guest was released by Arcbeatle Press 5 May 2020.
2 9 to 5 James Hornby 14 May 2021 (2021-05-14)
3 She Came From Another World! James Wylder 17 June 2021 (2021-06-17)
4 What Happened in Manchester James Hornby 25 July 2021 (2021-07-25)
5 Broken Bonds James Hornby 3 October 2021 (2021-10-03)
6 Silver-Tongued Liars James Wylder 15 January 2022 (2022-01-15)
7 A Worthy Successor James Hornby & James Wylder 14 June 2021 (2021-06-14)
8 New Companions: Maxie Bill Baggs 4 February 2022 (2022-02-04)
9 New Companions: Sam Myers Trevor Spencer 9 June 2022 (2022-06-09)
10 Giles: The Beginning Bill Baggs 8 August 2022 (2022-08-08)
11 First Case Bill Baggs 19 December 2022 (2022-12-19)
12 Bold Bill Baggs 26 December 2022 (2022-12-26)

Short Stories

Short prose stories published by Arcbeatle Press

  • "The Door We Forgot" (by James Hornby and James Wylder, 5 May 2020)[12]
  • "She Came From Another World!" (by James Wylder, 8 August 2020)[13]

Anthologies

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  • Out of the Shadows (ed James Hornby & Genevieve Clovis, 12 October 2021)
    • "Prologue" (James Wylder)
    • "Preternatural Days" (James Hornby)
    • "There, but Not Seen" (Kylie Leane)
    • "The 262" (Stuart Douglas)
    • "How To Appear Human In Several Uneasy Lessons" (John Peel)
    • "A Honeycomb of Souls" (James Wylder)
    • "The Last Few Pages" (Hunter O'Connell)
    • "The One That Got Away" (Steve Lyons)
    • "The Forest in the Fog" (E Southern)
    • "Nowhere Women" (James Wylder)
    • "What Lurks in the Shadows" (James Hornby)
    • "Out of the Box" (Aristide Twain)
    • "Preternatural Nights" (James Hornby)
  • True Origins (ed James Hornby & Jame Wyler, 8 January 2022)
    • "Silver-Tongued Liars" (James Wylder)
    • "A Worthy Successor" (James Hornby & James Wylder)
    • "She Came From Another World!" (James Wylder)
    • "9 to 5" (James Hornby)
    • "What Happened in Manchester" (James Hornby)
    • "The Door We Forgot" (James Wylder)
    • "Broken Bonds" (James Hornby)
    • "The Blue Scream of Death" (Tyche McPhee Letts)

References

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External links

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