History of Warriors' Gate in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 5, 2025

Warriors' Gate is a serial in the 18th season of Doctor Who, a British science fiction TV series. Written by Stephen Gallagher, it was originally broadcast in four parts on BBC1 in January 1981. The serial is a story within the long-running science fiction series.

1950: Orphée Film Influence

In 1950, Jean Cocteau's film, Orphée, was released, in which mirrors provide a gateway into another world. This film later influenced Stephen Gallagher's writing of Warriors' Gate.

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1979: The Babylon Run Influence

In 1979, Stephen Gallagher wrote a radio serial called "The Babylon Run", which later influenced his script for Warriors' Gate.

March 1980: Warriors' Gate Commissioned

In March 1980, Stephen Gallagher was commissioned to write Warriors' Gate, after the original story, Sealed Orders, was abandoned. This was Gallagher's first script for Doctor Who, and it had the working title Dream Time.

August 1980: Scripts Finalized and Criticized

In late August 1980, the Warriors' Gate scripts were finalized but were criticized by Barry Letts for being confusing. Due to time constraints, the scripts could not be reworked further.

January 1981: Warriors' Gate Broadcast

Warriors' Gate, a Doctor Who serial written by Stephen Gallagher, was broadcast on BBC1 in January 1981. The serial was aired in four weekly parts, starting on January 3rd and ending on January 24th.

April 1982: Warriors' Gate Novelization Published

In April 1982, Target Books published a novelization of Warriors' Gate, written by Stephen Gallagher under the pseudonym "John Lydecker". The novelization contains elements abandoned during the story's production.

November 1997: Warriors' Gate VHS Release

In November 1997, Warriors' Gate was released on VHS as part of "The E-Space Trilogy" boxed set.

January 2009: Warriors' Gate DVD Release

In January 2009, Warriors' Gate was released on DVD, again in a boxed set entitled "The E-Space Trilogy".

May 2012: Warriors' Gate Release as part of Doctor Who DVD Files

In May 2012, Warriors' Gate was released as part of the Doctor Who DVD Files (issue 87).

2013: The Doctor Who Discontinuity Guide Review

In 2013, Paul Cornell, Martin Day, and Keith Topping praised the direction and Romana's departure from the series in their book, The Doctor Who Discontinuity Guide.

The Doctor Who Discontinuity Guide (Gateway Essentials Book 436)

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March 2019: Warriors' Gate Blu-ray Release

In March 2019, Warriors' Gate was released as part of The Collection - Season 18 Blu-ray boxed set.

July 2023: Warriors' Gate and Beyond Reprinted

In July 2023, the Warriors' Gate novelization was reprinted under Stephen Gallagher's own name as Warriors' Gate and Beyond. This edition includes two short stories by Gallagher: "The Kairos Ring" and "The Little Book of Fate".