Sil (Doctor Who)

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Sil
Doctor Who character
Sil the mentor.jpg
First appearance Vengeance on Varos (1985)
Last appearance The Trial of a Time Lord: Mindwarp (1986)
Portrayed by Nabil Shaban
In-universe information
Species Mentors
AffiliationGalatron Mining Corporation
HomeThoros Beta
Home era23rd–24th century

Sil is a fictional alien character from the television series Doctor Who. His first appearance was in the 1985 Sixth Doctor, serial Vengeance on Varos . Sil was portrayed by Nabil Shaban.

Contents

Overview

Sil was the representative of the Galatron Mining Corporation present on the planet Varos to extract concessions from the current Governor. Unbeknownst to the Varosians, the mineral Zeiton-7 which was abundant on their planet was not as they thought nearly valueless, but in fact rare, particularly to time travelers. The Varosians lived barely above the poverty line due to the exploitation of companies like the Galatron Mining Corporation and others.

Sil was a particularly vile creature by any standard, more so since a fault in his translation device made his voice sibilant, with a ululating laugh. Devoid of morality and dedicated to getting the cheapest price he could for Zeiton ore by any means, he also enjoyed the various tortures which passed for entertainment on Varos. He found delight in making the Sixth Doctor's companion, Peri undergo a transformation into an avian creature. The Doctor interfered with Sil's plan and informed the Varosians of the true value of their natural resources, forcing Sil to offer the true value of the Zeiton-7.

The Sixth Doctor and Peri encountered Sil once again on the planet Thoros Beta, where he was that time involved in arms dealing. At the end of the segment of evidence presented by the Valeyard in the Doctor's trial, it appeared that Sil was killed by a rampaging King Yrcanos. It later transpired that the evidence of the Matrix had been tampered with, so it is not clear whether Sil in fact survived.

Other appearances

Sil also features in the Philip Martin's novelisation of the never-made serial Mission to Magnus , in which he was in league with the Ice Warriors. Big Finish Productions released a new audio version of Mission to Magnus in December 2009, with Nabil Shaban reprising his role as Sil. Sil made another appearance in the Big Finish Audio story Antidote to Oblivion in 2014 alongside the Sixth Doctor and Flip. [1] A script was pitched for the never-produced Season 27 where he would return along with the Autons and UNIT. [2]

In early 2019, Reeltime Pictures announced Nabil Shaban would reprise his role as Sil in a new film, entitled Sil and the Devil Seeds of Arodor . Also starring Sophie Aldred, the production was released as DVD, Download, Stream and Blu-ray.

List of appearances

Television

Audio

Web/Home Entertainment

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References

  1. Gardener, Chris (14 July 2014). "CD review: Doctor Who – Antidote to Oblivion". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  2. "The Hidden Planet - the Patrick Troughton Era". Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2006.