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 Bill D posted on Wednesday, 03 August, 2005 - 08:20 pm
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Thought it was time to put this in a new thread.
I stopped watching Dr Who about the mid-70s. Nothing against it. Just that I was never in. (Taekwondo finished at 5.00 and it was straight to the pub. Used to try to watch it in the pub!)
My brother's involvement in the 'The Nightmare Fair' was mainly to write and perform the theme. The fans get permission to make plays like that but it would cost too much to use the Ron Grainer theme.
Some of the Big Finish audio plays will be on BBC Radio 7 from the end of this week. |
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| Chris posted on Wednesday, 03 August, 2005 - 10:45 pm
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And, surprise, surprise, I'm the first one to reply!!!
I began to watch Doctor Who in the late 60s and remember some of the Patrick Troughton stories. Became a regular viewer in the '70s, with Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker (who are still my favourites). I love the stories from that era and will happily watch more or less anything from between 1970 and 1979 (although I wasn't that keen on K9!).
The programme went off, horribly, in the 1980s (in my opinion) and it was inevitable when it got the chop in '89. By this point it had passed its sell by date and needed a rest.
The new series has been generally very good and I was as shocked as anyone when Mr Eccleston announced he was quitting. He and Billie Piper have, between them, helped to re-establish the programme as a key-element of Saturday evening television. The reinvention of the Daleks, was quite breathtaking. And I can't wait for the return of the Cybermen next year! (Let's hope they destroy K9 once and for all...) Less successful were stories such as 'Aliens of London' and 'The Long Game'.
I am looking forward to the Christmas Special and the new series and am optimistic about David Tennant, as he seems to be just right to play the Doctor, as he seems to have a slightly young/old face. His costume looks like it's come from a charity shop, which is kind of cool! Plus, of course, he is a self-confessed and proud Doctor Who fan since childhood, so one can only imagine how he must be feeling right now...
He's back. And it's about time! Bloody good stuff, too!!!!
Thanks for prompting me, Bill. Be nice to think that some of the others will add their thoughts and memories/opinions to this thread. |
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| Bill D posted on Thursday, 04 August, 2005 - 09:57 am
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I was with DW from the start. (Almost. I missed the first bloody episode!)
At primary school, my surname got more and more corrupted until it ended up as a nickname, "Dalek". I was nuts about the programme and wore a big Dalek badge on the lapel of my school blazer.
I too was delighted with Christopher Ecclestone. (So was my brother who described himself as doing "Doctor Who methadone" for the past 20 years.) After the inital shock at this goofy character, it became plain that this guy was loving every minute of doing DW. All the more surprising then that he chucked it.
Don't know much about David Tennant but he has a big responsibility. Besides soaps, the last series was frequently top of the UK TV ratings.
Since this is primarily a music forum, I liked the new arrangement/mix of the theme. (I have just been listening to the original AND the "disco version" in the car.) |
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| chris posted on Saturday, 20 August, 2005 - 12:38 am
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Bill,
Noticed your brother's name in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine. I think he's done a preview article on the forthcoming William Hartnell DVD 'The Web Planet'. It's a great story from the early black & white days. I am, of course, far too young to remember it, but I have seen it a couple of times on video!
Chris |
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| Chris posted on Thursday, 27 October, 2005 - 08:58 pm
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Delighted that Doctor Who won no less than three awards at last night's National Television Awards. A cynic might say this just proves how much rubbish there is on TV today, but I prefer to think that it's confirmation that the programme has come back from the dead in style and that the public in general know a good thing when they see it.
I gather that a spin-off series, featuring the character of Captain Jack, entitled 'Torchwood' is about to go into production and will be screened late at night on BBC3. I also gather that this year's Children in Need will feature a short Doctor Who sketch (or scene) starring David Tennant and Billie Piper.
I would like to think that the success of the programme will usher in a new Golden Age of, if nothing else, British telefantasy... |
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| Bill D posted on Thursday, 27 October, 2005 - 10:32 pm
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This may be a naive view of how awards are chosen but I think the awards to DW reflect how amazed people were at how good it was.
It was also highest in the ratings, even beating the perennial ratings champions like Coronation Street.
I know some of the stories were a bit silly. Of course they were. It's Doctor Who for God's sake! But it was all great fun and Christopher Eccleston was breathtakingly good and enthusiastic.
When you're that good, how the hell can you chuck it in after one series? :-) |
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| Chris posted on Tuesday, 11 April, 2006 - 04:40 pm
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With the advent of the new series only days away (BBC1, 7.15, Saturday, in case anyone hasn't noticed!!!), I just thought I'd comment on similarity of the new Doctor's outfit to the one Herbie was wearing at the Westminster Abbey concert back in '81.
David Tennant is wearing a brown pinstripe suit, with shirt and tie and rather incongruous tan baseball boots.
Herbie was wearing what appears to be a brown suit, shirt and tie and rather incongruous white baseball or basketball boots.
I wonder if the costume designer (or Mr Tennant himself) was a sky fan?
Who knows...?
Sorry. I'll disappear now and leave you all in peace. Just thought I'd mention it. |
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| Bill D posted on Wednesday, 12 April, 2006 - 08:25 pm
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| How do you fancy a Sky version of the Doctor Who theme? |
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| Chris posted on Thursday, 13 April, 2006 - 12:18 am
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Now there's a thought! I'm sure Herbie could manage the famous bass line (especially if he's wearing aforementioned suit/boots ensemble!) and how would the melody sound played on a Gibson L5S or Ovation classical guitar? And I can just hear Tristan's eerie waterphone in the background, together with sweeping sci-fi soundscapes from Mr Monkman's Prophet 5.
Memo to Russell T. Davies - instigate a reunion and sign them up immediately! Stranger things have happened!
I know, I'm completely off my rocker, aren't I...?
(And guess where I'll be, Saturday at 7.15? Same place as about ten million others, I guess!!! Although maybe not literally!!!) |
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| Bill D posted on Monday, 17 April, 2006 - 07:19 pm
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| Well it was 8 million! Close enough. |
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| Chris posted on Monday, 17 April, 2006 - 11:32 pm
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Apparently it got the highest viewing figures of the evening (of any channel) and got roughly double the viewers of the Harry Potter film that ITV put up against it. So, a triumphant return with the British viewing public giving it a resounding thumbs up!
I've been babysitting all day today and have watched it again. Twice! Strangely enough, I enjoyed it more than I did on first viewing. Next week's Werewolf episode looks brilliant and I think there are some incredible episodes yet to come. Last year I felt that it went from strength to strength as the series progressed and I feel that this year will be the same. Personally, I can't wait for Rise of the Cybermen/Age of Steel and Army of Ghosts/Doomsday. But as I am now beginning to sound like an anorak, I'll shut up!!!! |
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| Bill D posted on Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 - 12:21 pm
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I used to be a bit of an anorak over this, as a teenager. However, I still know what the Zarbi are!
But of all the assistants to bring back...Sarah-Jane! Lovely girl but always snivelling and whining.
And K-9? Could they not bring back Bessie instead? |
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| Chris posted on Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 - 07:54 pm
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For some bizarre reason, K9 always seemed to be popular with the general public and so I guess they are hoping the massive shared nostalgia associated with the character will give the episode a ratings boost. Personally, I never much cared for K9 at the time and always found it annoying and funny that he always had to be left inside the TARDIS if they landed anywhere that didn't have a flat studio floor!!!
Sarah-Jane Smith, however, I always liked and I get the impression that (maybe due to her association with the massively popular fourth Doctor) she is generally well liked and remembered. Certainly, I thought she was pretty good.
The Zarbie were just a little before my time - although I did read the novelisation as a kid and did eventually see the serial on video and DVD.
I'm hoping that they bring the Zygons back next. Absolutely incredible design, even by today's standards. Apparently David Tennant thinks so too, according to an interview I read somewhere. In the meantime; a werewolf in an old Scottish castle! I might have to down a few drams of the Macellan to help me get through that one! Seriously, though - can't wait! |
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| Chris posted on Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 - 07:58 pm
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P.S. OK, so I've just spelt Zarbi wrong! Not such an anorak after all!
Bessie - but should anyone but the third Doctor ever be allowed drive her? A rhetorical question, as I know both the 4th and 7th actually did!
Ooops, I'm showing a leeeeetle bit too much knowledge now, so I shall sign off!
All the best! |
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