Doctor Who isn’t really known for its villains having a high level of creepiness for anyone over the age of 10 but if you have any sort of clown phobia, this adventure is sure to confirm your worst fears about them. The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and his companion Ace land on a barren planet that is hosting the Psychic Circus, which has fallen on hard times. Now, any soul unfortunate enough to stumble into the big top is forced to entertain in the centre ring with typically fatal results. The Doctor tries to find out who or what is behind it all and the resulting story comes off like an allegory for the series itself. After a creative slump in the mid-1980s, Doctor Who was finding its footing again, although the story is burdened by throwing as many disparate elements as possible (including an animated corpse, a wolf girl and even the Gods of Ragnarok) into the mix. The Gods, not unlike the audience, demand to be kept entertained, but for the most part the best the Doctor can do is some cheap conjuring tricks while waiting for the inevitable climax. The most effective element throughout is the menace provided by Ian Reddingon (a regular on EastEnders) as the Chief Clown, sending victims to their doom with wave of his hand and a perpetual smile painted on his face. –Ryan K. Johnson
The greatest McCoy story in the galaxy! Greatest Show In The Galaxy is a cherishably surreal voyage into previously unknown territory. Taking as its starting point the oft-repeated maxim that clowns are scary (they are, you know), the story plays with some deliciously bizarre imagery, such as clowns driving a silent hearse, or brightly coloured kites being used to track down fleeing prisoners. As a subversion of childhood images of stability and reassurance, it really hits the mark – but it can also be enjoyed as that straightforward SF standby (much used in Dr Who) of an ancient evil about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world.The story meanders slightly in parts 3 and 4, but these are minor quibbles in a production that boasts so much – among them chilling incidental music, terrific visual effects (especially the monsters, whom I am not giving away), and Ian Reddington’s terrifying performance as the Chief Clown.This is a McCoy story that you should buy and cherish.
Strange and brilliant. If Doctor Who could frighten anyone over the age of ten, this is one story that could do it. There has always been something peculiarly sinister about clowns and it is amazing that the series really hadn’t used them before. The visual effects are quite good and Ian Reddington is outstanding as the chief clown. T.P. McKenna is somewhat laid back in this adventure but I disagree with a previous reviewer that he was poor: remember, one can be sinister without doing very much. The way the Doctor and Ace are trapped in a very large and complex tent is excellent and the weird family in the audience are just spooky. This was an excellent Doctor Who of all time.