There is also a moment to raise a glass to the much-loved John Leeson, whose passing prompts a fond look back at the voice behind K9, and a discussion about just what made that mechanical dog such an enduring part of the Doctor's world.
And with that, the Emporium gets back to business...
The Music Box (although perhaps we should call it the Record Box this week) sends us down a particularly fascinating rabbit hole involving a familiar piece of Doctor Who artwork. The BBC sound effects LP, its mysterious TARDIS photograph, and the question of precisely which model we're looking at. What appears to be a straightforward image turns out to involve a little photographic trickery, several different TARDIS models, and some rather impressive detective work. Along the way we encounter the effects work of the 1960s and 1970s, reminisce about The Savages, and ponder the curious afterlife of television props and models. Who knew a record sleeve could contain so many secrets?
The Travel Trunk takes us to Manchester, where Gavin has been appearing as a fully operational Dalek at the marvellous Gallifrey Cabaret. There's an account of the performance, the mechanics of operating a Dalek, and the rather extraordinary coordination required to make one of these creatures come alive. Head, eyestalk, gun, lights and movement: it's a job that seems to require considerably more than two hands. But the audience loved it, and the Emporium's own Dalek has clearly enjoyed its moment in the spotlight.
But there is unfinished business from our previous excursion into the world of independent Doctor Who productions. Mike has finally watched the notorious Zygon: When Being You Isn't Enough, and his verdict is... interesting. The discussion revisits the Wilderness Years, the remarkable work of Bill Baggs and Reeltime Pictures, and the curious journey that took this particular production from its beginnings in 2003 to its eventual completion in 2008. There are questions about storytelling, continuity, artistic choices and, perhaps most controversially, whether certain creative decisions were really necessary at all. Let's just say that not everyone is entirely comfortable with what they have witnessed.
Finally, The Tool Box reveals a collection of laboratory equipment and a subject very close to Mike's heart: the proper use of scientific apparatus on television. Why do film and television laboratories insist on filling glass vessels with brightly coloured liquids? Why is there invariably a mysterious bubbling contraption in the background? And why does the humble Bunsen burner so often appear to be doing precisely the wrong thing? Mike has some rather strong opinions, and the trio venture into the scientific shortcomings of Doctor Who, with a little help from Breaking Bad and the occasional unfortunate human-pig hybrid.
And so another visit draws to a close. We've honoured a familiar voice, investigated a photographic mystery, sent a Dalek out into the world and discovered that even the most experienced television scientists could do with a refresher course in chemistry.
The missing episode may have disappeared, but this one, thankfully, is safely in the can.
Until next time, do keep your eyes on the eyestalk, your hands away from the laboratory equipment, and your recovery software up to date.
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Gavin's Twitter and Bluesky: @themindrobber
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Paul's Twitter: @paulcarmichaelv / Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk
Music by Graeme Allan
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