What's not to love about the Taran Wood Beast?He's the little chap who terrorises Romana in episode one of the Doctor Who adventure 'The Androids of Tara' and is quickly dispatched by the electro-sword wielding Count Grendall.
Some petty folk quibble at the paucity of the costume of this magnificent creature whilst other cast pithy comments of sarcasm in its general direction.
I recall some years back, someone in Doctor Who fandom - I forget the genius - who suggested that the "beast" was in fact a Taran villager in a traditional costume employed by the Count to wander around the forests of Tara and provide sport for the planet's huntsmen since all mammalian life on the planet had been hunted into extinction over the centuries. It's a nice bit of ret-conning isn't it?
I prefer the reality of the fact that the then production team had run out of money. They had to made do with an old gorilla costume and something from the Blue Peter Makes shed for the head! It's a lot more feasible.
I still love the little guy so I'm approaching the BBC licencing bods with a view to produce this...
See also "The Official Doctor Who Writers' Commemorative Plates Collection"
