There were two breakthroughs for me; when I used samples of the original theme embedded in the music and when I chose to make each strand of the story have a different sound. The scenes with Borusa played by Philip Latham would underpin the whole thing with Fairlight generated sounds based on time. A metronome-like sound constructed in the Fairlight is programmed on the composer page and then laid on to the multitrack. But what gives all these ideas perspective and provides the backdrop for all the action is that distant tower and the Horn of Rassilon. 

The Five Doctors was the only opportunity I had to write music for the Daleks or the Cybermen. It just so happened that all the other adventures I scored featured neither of the iconic adversaries. I also used the Fairlight in the Dalek scenes, only this time making a series of developing sounds constructed from unique sources. They were all very percussive in nature but with a rasping electronic edge.

I was pleased that the adventure went down so well with the viewers. It has gone through a few re-incarnations, including the splendid double album re-release by Silva Screen Records. If ever there was proof that artwork on a 12 inch sleeve makes it a collector’s item, this is it. It’s one of those projects I’m proud to have been involved with.