Doctor Who Magazine 512

KNOCK KNOCK… WHO’S THERE?
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! David Suchet is the Landlord…
The OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the BBC television series
TRUTH
OR DARE
Can the Doctor discover the
secret of the Veritas – the book
everyone is dying to read!
NEW SERIES PREVIEWS!

n Knock Knock
n Oxygen
n Extremis
n The Pyramid
at the End of
the World
ISSUE 512
June 2017
PLUS!
Writers FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE
and SARAH DOLLARD and director
LAWRENCE GOUGH interviewed
MONOIDS! All you ever need to know about Hartnell space opera THE ARK
Pull to Open
31
50
44
PREVIEWS
16 KNOCK KNOCK
22 OXYGEN
24 EXTREMIS
28 THE PYRAMID AT THE
END OF THE WORLD
INTERVIEWS
12 DAVID SUCHET
44 LAWRENCE GOUGH
24
50 FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE
54 SARAH DOLLARD
FEATURES
58 THE FACT OF FICTION
The Ark
REGULARS
58
4 GALLIFREY GUARDIAN
7 BEYOND THE TARDIS
9 PUBLIC IMAGE
10 GALAXY FORUM
31 COMIC STRIP
The Soul Garden Part One
70 THE DWM REVIEW
22
78 CROSSWORD & COMPETITIONS
80 COMING SOON
82 WOTCHA!
83 NEXT ISSUE
78
EDITOR TOM SPILSBURY DEPUTY EDITOR PETER WARE ART EDITOR RICHARD ATKINSON
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS EMILY COOK, JOE DATE
PANINI UK LTD Managing Director MIKE RIDDELL, Managing Editor ALAN O’KEEFE, Head of Production MARK IRVINE, Production Assistant JEZ METEYARD,
Circulation & Trade Marketing Controller REBECCA SMITH, Head of Marketing JESS TADMOR, Marketing Executives JESS BELL, BECCI ANDREWS
BBC WORLDWIDE, UK PUBLISHING Director of Editorial Governance NICHOLAS BRETT, Director of Consumer Products and Publishing ANDREW MOULTRIE,
Head of UK Publishing CHRIS KERWIN, Publisher MANDY THWAITES, Publishing Co-ordinator EVA ABRAMIK [email protected] www.bbcworldwide.com/uk--anz/ukpublishing.aspx
THANKS TO: John Ainsworth, Chris Allen, Ian Atkins, Alan Barnes, Jonathan Barnes, Mike Bartlett, Peter Bennett, Ken Bentley, Nicholas Briggs, Kate Bush, Peter Capaldi, Emma Cooney, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Russell T Davies, Albert DePetrillo,
Sarah Dollard, James Dudley, Matt Evenden, Matt Fitton, Helene Fox, Peri Godbold, Helen Goldwyn, Lawrence Gough, Scott Gray, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Derek Handley, Peter Harness, Marcus Hearn, Tess Henderson, Nic Hubbard, Gareth King,
Bonnie Langford, Matt Lucas, Pearl Mackie, Gabby De Matteis, Christine McLean-Thorne, Jamie Mathieson, Brian Minchin, Steven Moffat, Jonathan Morris, Kirsty Mullen, Nicholas Pegg, Andrew Pixley, Mark Plastow, Simon Power,
Jason Quinn, Justin Richards, David Richardson, Edward Russell, Michael Stevens, David Suchet, Paul Vyse, Nikki Wilson, Catherine Yang, BBC Wales, BBC Worldwide and bbc.co.uk
Like our page at: www.facebook.com/doctorwhomagazine EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.doctorwhomagazine.com
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ADVERTISING Madison Bell TELEPHONE 0207 389 0859 EMAIL [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS TELEPHONE 01371 853619 EMAIL [email protected]
2 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

DWM 512
28
LETTER FROM
“I said yes before I’d even The Editor

W
read the script. Because elcome! How are you
enjoying the new
it’s Doctor Who! It’s even series of Doctor Who?

Assuming you’ve
more iconic than Poirot!”

bought this issue on
the day of release, we’re now a quarter of
the way through the new series, with nine
lovely episodes still to air. Still so many
treats to come!
Of course, there’s a chance that you
might be picking up an issue of Doctor
Who Magazine for the first time. We
always like to think that every issue is
someone’s first, but that’s even more
likely to be the case when a new series
comes on air. So if you are new, welcome
friends! A thousand welcomes! Surprise,
surprise! By jove, yes!
12
Okay, so we’re a tiny bit eccentric
around here, but our hearts are surely in
the right place. And we’re more
than a little obsessed by Doctor
Who! You can probably tell.
Anyway, right now our main
focus is on the Doctor’s brand-
new adventures, currently
airing each Saturday night on
BBC One, but we also like to
give attention to all 54 years
of Doctor Who’s glorious
Doctor Who Magazine™ Issue 512 Published May 2017 by Panini UK Ltd. history. (Yes, alright, alright,
Office of publication: Panini UK Ltd, Brockbourne House, 77 Mount Ephraim, some of those years were
Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8BS. Published every four weeks. All Doctor Who
material is © BBCtv 2014. BBC logo © BBC 1996. Doctor Who logo © BBC more glorious than others.
2009. Dalek image © BBC/Terry Nation 1963. Cyberman image © BBC/Kit I suppose 1998 might have
Pedler/Gerry Davis 1966. K9 image © BBC/Bob Baker/Dave Martin 1977. Licensed by BBC Worldwide
been a bit rubbish.)
54
Limited. All other material is © Panini UK Ltd unless otherwise indicated. No similarity between any
of the fictional names, characters persons and/or institutions herein with those of any living or dead So regardless of
persons or institutions is intended and any such similarity is purely coincidental. All views expressed
in this magazine are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views
whether this is your first
of Doctor Who Magazine, the BBC or Panini UK. Nothing may be reproduced by any means in whole issue, or if it’s your 512th,
or part without the written permission of the publishers. This periodical may not be sold, except by I hope you enjoy this
authorised dealers, and is sold subject to the condition that it shall not be sold or distributed with any
part of its cover or markings removed, nor in a mutilated condition. All letters sent to this magazine will latest edition – and that
be considered for publication, but the publishers cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, you’ll be staying with us.
photographs or artwork. Doctor Who Alternative facts #4: “There is no such thing as Macra! Macra
do not exist! There are no Macra!” Newstrade distribution: Marketforce (UK) Ltd 020 3787 9001.
Happy Times
ISSN 0957-9818 and Places!

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 3
All the latest official news from every corner of the Doctor Who universe...
The stars of
Doctor Who
meet their
public...
Peter Capaldi
greets a crowd
© SIMON HARRIES
of delighted fans.
T
he new series of
Doctor Who – the third
and final outing for
Peter Capaldi’s Doctor,
and the 36th series in
total – launched over the Easter
weekend with a blaze of publicity.
The hype kicked off with a press
launch on the evening of Tuesday 4
April (see box, right). Then, on the
morning of Wednesday 12 April, there
was a public appearance from actors
Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie, who
posed for photographs with the TARDIS
on London’s South Bank, beside a ‘3D
pavement painting’. This disorientating
image was created by artists 3D Joe &
Max and illustrated ‘a vast, deep and
magnificent alien landscape’, including
monsters from the new season.
Showrunner Steven Moffat was
also on hand at the location to chat
to Breakfast’s Tim Muffett on that
morning’s edition of the BBC One show
(see tinyurl.com/SouthBankMoff).
Recording officially wrapped on the
new season on Friday 7 April, which
will conclude with a two-part finale
written by Steven Moffat and directed
by Rachel Talalay. Episode 11 is titled
World Enough and Time, with Episode
12 titled The Doctor Falls. Recording is
due to resume next month, with work
on the 2017 Doctor Who Christmas
Special – Peter Capaldi’s final story as
the Doctor, and the last to be written
by Steven Moffat. In a correction to
last issue, the Christmas Special will be
produced by Peter Bennett.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: “Sorry to break it to
you. If you could have your time on Doctor
Who all over again –”
SM: “That would be very unreasonable.”
AUDIENCE MEMBER: “– and you could
change anything, what would it be?”
SM: “Well, I wouldn’t mind removing all
the mistakes I’ve made, but that would be
exhausting and take forever. Look, honestly,
... and the press!

it’s one of the spells of my life which has
been the most perfect, not because I did
© EMILY COOK
the job perfectly, because of course I did

it very imperfectly, but because I enjoyed
it so much, learned so much from it, and
made so many wonderful friends that I get
W
hen? Tuesday 4 April. PM: “It’s brilliant. Imagine working with PC: “(Laughing) I have asked Steven if he to keep, even though my time on Doctor
Where? Ham Yard Hotel, in people that you’ve watched on TV for, like, can. My favourite monster!” Who is coming to an end, as you shockingly
the midst of Soho, London. years and years. I’m, like, the luckiest girl in informed me. So what would I change? Oh,
Who? Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, Matt the world. It’s incredible... Working through On Peter’s electric guitar skills... I mean I suppose, if I could give my younger
Lucas, and showrunner Steven Moffat. all those scenes, especially early on, it was PC: “I can play it a little bit. But when it self advice, it would be, ‘Don’t listen to scary
Here are some of the highlights of the great, because I basically had absolutely no comes on the telly I seem to be able to play people from the future who are fatter than
2017 series press launch’s Q&A, hosted idea what I was doing –” it a lot better.” you,’ but it would be... er, I mean, I complain
by journalist Boyd Hilton, that followed PETER CAPALDI: “Neither do I.” a lot. I do. I complain. I whinge. I more or
the première screening of The Pilot... PM: “(Laughs) Well, it doesn’t show. You On The Tenth Planet-style Cybermen... less communicate in levels of complaint,
were very generous with rehearsal, and PC: “I’m very keen on the Mondasian and so I wish sometimes I didn’t just spend
On Bill being gay... you always made sure that I was really Cybermen... I don’t know whether Steven all my time saying, ‘Oh, I’m working so
STEVEN MOFFAT: “We are not expecting comfortable with it... [And] working with did it as a particularly kind gift to me –” hard. And what do I get in return for this?’
any kind of round of applause or pat on Matt is amazing. It’s lovely. You’re great. SM: “I serve at the pleasure of the Doctor.” ‘Paid!’... So no regrets. I mean, I wish I was
the back for that. That is the minimal level You’re so creative, and so funny... and PC: “– but I would certainly say they better at my job, and I wish I was better at
of representation you should have on such a lovely sort of positive energy to look amazing, and the whole building writing, but those things are impossible.”
television, and the correct response would have around. He’d was charged up
“I love when

be, ‘What took you so long?’... We didn’t have the whole to see [them]. On Peter Capaldi’s successor...
expect all the fuss, so the fuss stops now crew in stitches Because it’s quite PC: “I’m sure whoever that person is will
– I’m just now talking to the journalists –
because, you see, there are children here,
all the time.”
SM: “Do me now!
we do really a difficult, weird
thing. I think they
be wonderful. I just know that Doctor Who
is a wonderful part, and they’re going to
and they are much, much wiser than our Do me!” creepy things first appeared in, make, if they have not already done so,
generation. Honestly, they’re sitting there
saying, ‘What the hell are you making On Pearl’s
and give people like, 1967 [sic],
when they had
a wonderful choice, and whether that’s
a man or a woman is irrespective; just as
a fuss about –? I don’t understand! You
just did a headline about someone being
performance...
MATT LUCAS:
nightmares...” less money than
we have, but
long as they are right for the part. That’s
the important thing, so I’m sure that’s what
a fairly average person’... It is important “She’s incredible. PETER CAPALDI, THE DOCTOR they still looked will happen.”
that we don’t make a big fuss about this, That’s the first time pretty terrifying, ML: “Well, I think it should be played by
in a children’s show that communicates I’ve seen that [episode]... It’s magnificent. and I think it’s quite hard to replicate that twins speaking in unison. I feel strongly
directly with children... Young kids who I’m quite emotional... The big screen will look, even though we have more money, about that.”
regard themselves as boring, and normal, expose any weakness, and there is no so I think we were all a little bit concerned SM: “Twins are under-represented in the
and happen to fancy their own gender, we weakness there. It is really magical to be about it, but actually they look amazing media. Hamlet – never twins. Hamlet, Twins
don’t want to make them feel as if they’re involved, on a small level, in the beginning and very haunting. Really creepy. Steven of Denmark. It even works. King and Queen
some kind of special case. Because that’s of something very special in what Pearl and I love when we do really creepy things Lear. It would work. Come on, more twins
frightening. And it is not, journalists, your does there. I thought it was tremendous.” and give people nightmares.” on television.”
job to frighten children. It is my job to ML: “I suggested that they should call the
frighten children, and I will decide that.” On Nardole becoming a series regular... episode Keeping Up with the Mondasians.” On how it will feel to leave Doctor Who...
BOYD HILTON: “It’s your job to frighten ML: “I’d wanted to be in the show for a PC: “Very sad... It will be sad not to be
journalists, definitely.” while, but had been a bit nervous about On the Doctor’s real name... Doctor Who anymore, because that’s an
being in the show, partly because I’m a PC: “I think he does have a real name. incredible thing, to wake up in the morning
On Pearl’s audition... fan, and partly because my late partner I think ‘the Doctor’ is, like everything about and go, ‘Oh, I’m still Doctor Who!’ – and
PEARL MACKIE: “It was one of the most [Kevin McGee] was a huge fan of it – and him, a thing he’s come up with to make you can go and blow up some monsters,
amazing, nerve-racking things I’ve ever so it was an emotional thing for me, and himself understood by human beings. and that’s how you spend your day. Also
been through. Apart from today, which was I needed to be ready, and enough time I don’t think human beings could even when you walk around, people don’t see
also pretty scary... I can’t believe I was just had passed for me to say, ‘Okay, I’m ready really say his name, but I think they might Peter anymore. He’s not here. It’s Doctor
in Doctor Who!” to do this.’ And once I was ready, then be able to hear it. It’s like a frequency. If the Who they see, and he gets many more
SM: “She didn’t seem terrified or nervous I wanted to come back in it and be in it stars are in the right place, your heart is in smiles than I do. And so it’ll be sad to say
[at the audition] at all. (Teasing) I think more... I hope I haven’t spoilt it for too the right place, then you’ll hear it.” goodbye to all that.”
she’s lying.” many people.” SM: “Peter, you will always be Doctor
PM: “Nah, nah, trust me, I’m not lying.” SM: “Ah, you haven’t.” On this being Steven’s final series... Who. You retain the title forever. Ask your
SM: “You didn’t look nervous at all.” AUDIENCE MEMBER: “Steven, it’s your predecessors. They all think they’re the
PM: “I was acting. (Laughs)” On whether David Walliams will appear final season on Doctor Who –” real one. I’ve had Sunday lunch with Peter
in the series (again) any time soon... SM: “Is it?! Are they getting rid of me? This Davison and David Tennant, still eyeing each
On working with Peter and Matt... ML: “Not if I have anything to do with it!” is shocking news.” other. ‘It’s really me!’” BENJAMIN COOK

CAMFIELD BOOK
n A new biography
New companion to join the
Fourth Doctor on his travels!
of Douglas Camfield
is published this
month. During
T
his career, which
spanned 20 he Fourth Doctor – played, overall title of The Syndicate Masterplan, – and this time they’re in bigger numbers
years and 163 as ever, by Tom Baker – is with seven tales forming one big story. and deadlier than ever!”
productions, to get a new companion The storyline will kick off with The In the third tale, The Enchantress of
Douglas directed in his continuing series Sinestran Kill by Andrew Smith, in Numbers by Simon Barnard and Paul
numerous Doctor of audio adventures from which aliens have become involved in Morris, Ann takes a trip into history in, as
Who stories, from 1965’s The Big Finish... and she’s set to make a the London crime scene in 1978. Frank she and the Doctor meet Ada Lovelace
Crusade through to 1976’s The huge impression on his life! Skinner (Perkins in Mummy on the Orient (played by Finty Williams), the daughter
Seeds of Doom. Michael Seeley’s Say hello to police officer Ann Kelso, Express) plays DCI Scott Neilson and of Lord Byron and a Victorian computer
Directed By Douglas Camfield who, during the course of the strangest Glynis Barber (Soolin in Blake’s 7) plays pioneer. But who are the bird-masked
is available for £17.99 from investigation of her career in 1978, Kathy Blake. In Planet of the Drashigs by strangers that stalk the local village...?
www.miwkpublishing.com happens upon an battered old police box Phil Mulryne, Ann’s first trip into space The first box set ends with The False
and its eccentric occupant… throws the Doctor, Ann and K9 into a Guardian, which leads into the second
PANOPTICON: GENESIS “As this new series begins, the Doctor theme park where different species of box set’s Time’s Assassin – both written
n A DVD documenting the has just left Leela behind on Gallifrey,” Drashigs are about to run wild. Fenella by Guy Adams, and guest starring John
reunion on 8 April 2017 of explains producer David Richardson. Woolgar (Agatha Christie in The Unicorn Shrapnel, Blake Ritson and Jon Culshaw.
attendees and guests from “He’s alone and hasn’t even opened and the Wasp) plays Vanessa Seaborne. “I’d love to say more about these
Doctor Who’s first ever the box containing K9 Mark II yet – and “Who doesn’t love the Drashigs?!” episodes,” says David, “but there are
convention in 1977 will be then suddenly he’s running for his life says executive producer so many surprises! This is the point
available from 8 May from from undercover aliens and dragging a Nicholas Briggs. “The where the overall story steps up a gear...”
Reeltime Pictures. Panopticon: stranger called Ann Kelso to safety…” huge omnivores from In the sixth tale, Fever Island by
Genesis, hosted by John Leeson, Ann is played by Jane Slavin, who has 1972’s Carnival of Jonathan Barnes, the TARDIS lands on
and featuring Terrance Dicks and been a regular guest artist in The Fourth Monsters are a misty, mysterious island where
Mat Irvine, can be ordered from Doctor Adventures since 2011. Jane back in force scientists are conducting
www.timetraveltv.com for £10. previously played Onya in BBC Radio’s strange experiments, and
1993 audio drama The Paradise of Death, all may not be as it seems...
PSYCHOLOGY which starred Jon Pertwee. Gethin Anthony (from HBO’s
n Doctor Who “Ann is everything you’d want from Game of Thrones) plays
Psychology is a companion,” says Jane. “In real life, Jason Vane.
an unofficial in a TARDIS, in a crisis; she’s brave and The box set concludes
anthology of funny and absolutely up for adventure, with a double-length
in-depth essays regardless of risk. Justice is way more adventure, The Perfect
analysing the important than self-preservation. Let’s Prisoners by John Dorney. Ann’s
psychology of just drop everything and zip off to a investigations are reaching their
the Doctor, his different planet without so much as climax and the Doctor will have
companions and his enemies. a second look at Earth! She’s either to make one of the hardest
Published by Sterling, it’s out brilliantly brave or mad as a bat.” decisions of his many lives.
Tom Baker with Jane
now from Amazon, priced £9.99. The Fourth Doctor Adventures – The box sets are some way
Slavin who plays new
Season 8 will be released on two CD companion Ann Kelso. off yet – they are due for release
PAPER DOLLS box sets and for download under the in January and February 2019.
n BBC Books is to publish
Doctor Who: Paper Dolls by
Simon Guerrier and Christel
Dee, illustrated by Ben Morris.
The book contains a collection
BBC Live Lessons with the Doctor!
B
of ‘dolls’, printed on heavy art BC micro:bit is a system to solve a fictional disaster scenario:
cardstock, with over 50 different The Doctor designed for use in help the Doctor protect Earth from a
needs YOU!
outfits to change them into. It’s computer education in the supernova explosion while coming face
out on 24 August, priced £12.99. UK. In collaboration with the team to face with the Daleks. Watch this
behind Doctor Who, the micro:bit lesson here: tinyurl.com/DWmicrobit
WHOVIANS ON ABC is currently being put to the test During the second Live Lesson on
n Whovians is a new TV panel at the controls of the TARDIS in a Monday 24 April, the Daleks returned
chat show for Australian fans, series of ‘Live Lessons’. with a new plan – a Reality Bomb!
airing on ABC after each new The lessons are aimed at Using their ‘courage, inventiveness and
Doctor Who episode. For a taste, 11-13-year-olds, and are devised Key Stage 3 computing skills’, students
visit tinyurl.com/WhoviansAU around computational thinking skills. were able to save the universe from
Guest experts from the fields of web this new threat.
PENGUIN PODCAST search and computer gaming explore The first part of this mission –
n An April release of the and explain algorithms, different types ‘Mission Sonic’ – took place on
Penguin Podcast saw comedian/ of errors and the components that go Monday 24 April. Mission 2 took place
impressionist Jon Culshaw join into an algorithm. on Tuesday 2 May, while Mission 3 will
Meera Syal for a special Doctor The first Live Lesson took place on place on Monday 8 May.
Who-themed edition. Listen to Wednesday 29 March. Using their BBC For more information about BBC
it at tinyurl.com/PenguinPodcast micro:bit, students were challenged micro:bit go to www.microbit.org

Beyond the TARDIS COMPILED BY DOMINIC MAY
A round-up of what the cast and crew of Doctor Who have been up to away from the series...
CAPALDI COSPLAY TENNANT ALL OVER

David Tennant, star
n Peter Capaldi, who was a Graham n Peter Davison, who played Geoff Towler
of Don Juan in Soho,
Norton Show guest on 14 April, told in ITV’s Grantchester on 30 April, attended at the afterparty
The Sunday Times’ Lynn Barber (2 April), son-in-law David Tennant’s Don Juan in on 28 March 2017.
“I don’t really want to do another political Soho opening on 28 March (running until
thing. I’ve done enough of that, being a 10 June), while David was at the première
man in a suit shouting at other men in of Limehouse at the Donmar Warehouse
suits. I want to do something different, on 9 March. David joined Graham Norton’s
with a big wig. I want to get dressed Red Nose Day Big Chat Live on 24 March
up!” There were Doctor Who promotional (tinyurl.com/DTBigChat) and appeared
appearances on 12 April from Steven on The Andrew Marr Show on 26 March
Moffat on Breakfast (tinyurl.com/MoffFast) (tinyurl.com/TenMarr) and Billy Connolly
and Marie Claire magazine’s Girl of the & Me: A Celebration on 18 April, with
Moment, Pearl Mackie, on The One Show radio spots on Loose Ends, Steve Wright,
(tinyurl.com/OnePearl) with Pearl also on co-hosting The Christian O’Connell Show
Good Morning Britain the day following and playing himself on Radio 4’s Believe It.
(tinyurl.com/GoodPearl). Steven will
be at Gloucestershire’s Fairford CHRIS DOES SERIES 2!
Festival of Fiction on 3 June n Christopher Eccleston,
organised by Paul Cornell who plays Matt Jamison in
©DAN WOOLER/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
(tickets via tinyurl.com/ HBO’s final series of
FairMoff). The Leftovers, which
concludes on 4 June, is
CIVIL SCREENING recording in the Lake
n An HD restoration of The Pearl on The District until July reprising
One Show.
Naked Civil Servant starring the role of Maurice Scott,
John Hurt screens in Picturehouse grandfather of autistic child Joe, in
cinemas nationwide on 28 May with the six-part second series of BBC One’s The RIPPED SO LONG CAPTAIN FLASH
a Network Blu-ray/DVD following on A Word, which also stars Under the Lake/ n Arthur Darvill, applauded for his n John Barrowman and sister Carole’s
5 June. Executive-produced by Verity Before the Flood’s Morven Christie. 12 March London Palladium Honeymoon latest Orion Chronicles novel Nephilim
Lambert, it originally aired on 17 in Vegas performance as Jack, will return is published on 4 May. John showed off
December 1975 and was written by “I’M A DOCTOR!” as Rip Hunter for Legends of Tomorrow his vocal prowess in The Flash’s recent
Philip Mackie (Pearl’s grandfather). n Paul McGann commences recording Series Three, despite seemingly leaving musical episode Duet (see tinyurl.com/
BBC One’s Holby City in August as surgeon yet again in Series Two’s finale. Arthur has BarrowLove and tinyurl.com/BarrowMore)
THE REVISITATION Professor John Gaskell. Paul completes re-orchestrated and written new songs for and appeared on Good Morning Britain on
n Peter Davison played himself in touring Von Pfunz in Gabriel on 20 May, a feature film based on his 2009 Camden- 13 April (tinyurl.com/GoodBarrow).
BBC Four’s Brian Pern: A Tribute on 29 having publicised the play on Loose set musical Been So Long.
March recalling Pern’s ‘unique’ Doctor Women (tinyurl.com/LooseMcGann) QUICKIES
Who contribution, using adapted clips and The Graham Norton Radio Show. SENSUAL FREEMA n David Suchet – the Landlord in Knock
from 1982’s The Visitation. The programme Louise Jameson plays Beth in Timberlake n Netflix launches Sense8 Series Two on Knock – played Dr Fagan in BBC One’s
also featured Christopher Eccleston as Wertenbaker’s Winter Hill at the Bolton 5 May with Freema Agyeman’s Amanita recent Decline and Fall. Bonnie Langford
Luke Dunmore and Matt Lucas as Ray Octagon from 11 May to 3 June. in the trailer (tinyurl.com/FreemaSense2), performed at 100: A Tribute to Dame
Baker-Thomas. Matt, who was an ITV although Sylvester McCoy’s recurring Vera Lynn at the London Palladium on 18
Nightly Show guest on 10 April (tinyurl. FASHION QUEEN character remains unseen. Further to March. Nicholas Pegg wrote the text for
com/MattNightly) sees his Canongate n Jenna Coleman, who was a guest DWM 498, vampire picture Eat Local, with the Royal Mail’s recent commemorative
Books memoirs Little Me: My Life from A-Z at the Radio Times Festival on 8 April Freema playing Angel alongside Eve David Bowie stamps (tinyurl.com/PeggDB).
published on 3 October. Catherine Tate promoting ITV’s Victoria, also attended Myles as Vanessa, now has a
also made a Nightly Show appearance on the Miu Miu Show during Paris Fashion trailer (tinyurl.com/EatFreema). OBITUARY
20 March (tinyurl.com/CathNightly). Week with Maisie Williams, and features n Tim Pigott-Smith,
in May’s edition of Vogue. Victoria’s writer BILL WINS AGAIN star of Mike Bartlett’s
Daisy Goodwin recently commented that n Billie Piper collected forthcoming King Charles
Jenna will not be replaced by an older the Best Actress gong III BBC Two adaptation,
actress anytime soon as “we haven’t even at the Olivier Awards on who played Captain
caught up with her real age.” 9 April for Yerma, with Harker in The Claws of
Turn Left and Planet of the Tim Piggott-Smith. Axos and Marco in The
KAREN MARVELS Dead’s Noma Dumezweni Masque of Mandragora, died
n While shooting Avengers: Infinity War winning Best Supporting Actress on 7 April aged 70. Carl Conway,
on 2 April, Karen Gillan posed as Nebula for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The who played the US Correspondent in
with Marvel legend Stan Lee, posting the ‘In Memoriam’ section curiously omitted The War Machines and a Control Room
photo on Instagram. Karen, whose Nebula John Hurt. Billie plays Karen, troubled Assistant in The Ambassadors of Death,
is currently in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. ex-girlfriend of John Simm’s politician died on 10 February aged 95. Other recent
2, attended Las Vegas CinemaCon on 27 David Mars, in upcoming four-part BBC Two losses include The Monster of Peladon’s
March, where first footage of her as Ruby thriller Collateral, starring Blink’s Carey make-up supervisor Elizabeth Moss and
Roundhouse in Jumanji: Welcome to the Mulligan. Simm plays Rhys Bishop in ABC’s Warriors of the Deep’s OB Sound man,
Karen Gillan takes
Jungle (due December) was shown. The Catch, ending Season Two on 11 May. Chris Holcombe.
time out from playing
Nebula to pose with
Stan ‘The Man’ Lee!
Photo posted by Karen Gillan on Instagram.
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Public IMAGE COMPILED BY TOM SPILSBURY
How did Episode 1 of the new series fare in the TV ratings war? We have the stats...
“If you study

this table of the TOP 40 UK PROGRAMMES
week’s TV, you’ll Week covering 10-16 April 2017
see Doctor Who
performed well.” Pos TV Series (Channel, day) Consolidated rating (millions)
1 Britain’s Got Talent (ITV, Sat)...................................... 11.04m
2 Broadchurch (ITV, Mon)................................................ 10.66m
3 Line of Duty (BBC One, Sun).......................................... 8.48m
4 Peter Kay’s Car Share (BBC One, Tue)........................... 8.47m
5 Coronation Street (ITV, Mon)........................................ 7.74m
6 Coronation Street (ITV, Mon)........................................ 7.61m
7 Coronation Street (ITV, Wed)......................................... 7.44m
8 Coronation Street (ITV, Fri)............................................ 7.27m
9 Coronation Street (ITV, Fri)............................................ 6.81m
10 Doctor Who: The Pilot (BBC One, Sat)........................... 6.68m
11 Emmerdale (ITV, Mon).................................................... 6.48m
12 EastEnders (BBC One, Mon)........................................... 6.46m
13 EastEnders (BBC One, Fri)............................................... 6.44m
14 Emmerdale (ITV, Wed).................................................... 6.41m
15 EastEnders (BBC One, Thu)............................................. 6.36m
16 Emmerdale (ITV, Tue)...................................................... 6.34m
17 EastEnders (BBC One, Tue)............................................. 6.32m
18 Emmerdale (ITV, Thu)...................................................... 6.19m
19 Emmerdale (ITV, Fri)....................................................... 6.09m
The Pilot helps the

20 Emmerdale (ITV, Thu)...................................................... 5.99m
21 All Round to Mrs Brown’s (BBC One, Mon).................. 5.90m
22 Countryfile (BBC One, Sun)............................................ 5.71m
23 Antiques Roadshow (BBC One, Sun)............................. 5.50m
new season get off

24 Masterchef (BBC One, Wed)........................................... 5.40m
25 Our Friend Victoria (BBC One, Tue)................................ 5.40m
26 Masterchef (BBC One, Thu)............................................ 5.25m
27 Ten O’Clock News (BBC One, Tue)................................. 5.08m
to a flying start!
28 Maigret’s Night at the Crossroads (ITV, Sun).............. 5.04m
29 BBC News (BBC One, Sun).............................................. 5.02m
30 Ten O’Clock News (BBC One, Mon)............................... 4.94m
31 Holby City (BBC One, Tue).............................................. 4.88m
32 Benidorm (ITV, Wed)....................................................... 4.72m
R
33 Six O’Clock News (BBC One, Mon)................................ 4.69m
ejoice! Doctor Who returned for its It’s very pleasing to be able to report that this is a 34 Six O’Clock News (BBC One, Thu).................................. 4.49m
first new series in over a year and higher rating than for every single episode from the 35 BBC News (BBC One, Sun).............................................. 4.47m
a half on Easter Saturday – which, 2015 series. Peter Capaldi’s second year opened with 36 Pointless Celebrities (BBC One, Sat)............................. 4.43m
incredibly, marks the longest gap 6.54 million for The Magician’s Apprentice, and 37 BBC News (BBC One, Fri)................................................ 4.43m
between seasons since the great peaked with 6.56 million for the fifth episode, The Girl 38 Casualty (BBC One, Sat).................................................. 4.42m
39 Six O’Clock News (BBC One, Wed)................................ 4.31m
drought between 1989 and 2005. Who Died – while the lowest figure was 5.61 million
40 Masterchef (BBC One, Fri).............................................. 4.29m
As discussed by this column in DWM 492-496, the for Sleep No More. So we’re already ahead of all
2015 series had seen an overall decline of around one those. That said, The Pilot’s rating is still lower than All ratings in this chart are consolidated figures, taking in ‘live’ viewers
every episode from Peter’s début series in 2014, which and recordings watched within seven days of transmission. However,
million viewers since the 2014 series, and although the
the figures do not include online catch-up services (eg iPlayer watched
Twelfth Doctor’s second run still averaged a very peaked with 9.17 million for Deep Breath, with a low on a PC or mobile, rather than through a TV set), or repeats shown at
healthy six million viewers across its 12 episodes – of 6.71 million for Flatline. other times, but do include +1 channels. All figures: BARB www.barb.co.uk
more than enough Overall, The Pilot’s rating of
to make it a sure- 6.68 million is a very healthy one
fire hit for BBC One
– hopes were high
‘With 6.68 million, the for a drama series in 2017, albeit
not quite in the same league as
The most watched show of Saturday night – and
indeed the whole week – was, inevitably, ITV’s Britain’s
that the 2017 series rating for The Pilot the likes of Sherlock, Call the Got Talent, which returned for its 11th series with a
would see the ship
steadied, and that
is higher than every Midwife, Broadchurch, Death in
Paradise and Silent Witness,
gigantic rating of 11.04 million viewers. Nevertheless,
Doctor Who’s audience was high enough to reward it
ratings wouldn’t single episode from which have all topped at least with a Top Ten place in the weekly ratings chart (see
the 2015 series.’

decline any further. eight million earlier this year. above) – something it wasn’t quite able to manage
The signs were However, Doctor Who’s rating during the previous series. It’s instructive to note that
already looking was easily enough to beat its when Doctor Who returned at Easter 2008 with
good after 2016’s direct competition on ITV – the Partners in Crime, that episode also managed tenth
The Return of Doctor Mysterio managed to achieve a first episode of the light entertainment dating show place in the TV chart (behind nine soap opera
higher audience than the previous year’s Christmas Take Me Out, which returned for its ninth series and episodes), but with 9.14 million viewers. To maintain
Special, The Husbands of River Song [see Public Image had a consolidated rating of 3.25 million (including that chart placing with a notably lower rating helps to
in DWM 509], and the good news continued when those who watched on ITV+1). The Pilot was easily demonstrate just how much viewing figures have
the ratings were revealed for the first new episode of BBC One’s top-rated show of the day, beating the dropped across the board over the past decade or so,
2017. The Pilot managed an official BARB rating of show’s which aired either side of it – Pointless and how Doctor Who has managed to remain rather
6.68 million viewers – a number which includes all Celebrities (4.43 million) and Casualty (4.42 million) more robust than some other shows. Hopefully this
those who watched the episode as it was broadcast on – and even managing to gain a higher rating than the bodes well, and the Doctor’s ratings will remain just as
BBC One, or within the seven days which followed. popular All Round to Mrs Brown’s (5.90 million). strong over the next three months...

Ga laxy Forum
Your views
on everything
going on in the
hectic world of
Doctor Who...
tter
D Star Le
octor Who returned on Easter
Saturday with The Pilot, which
introduced Pearl Mackie as the
BRILLIANT BILL!
n SIMON FOX EMAIL
Doctor’s new companion Bill Potts. And of
Why couldn’t we have had Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts earlier? Doctor
course, it got you all writing in...
Who needs – and has always needed – a young companion who is
mouthy enough to prick the Doctor’s sense of self-importance, and
DID THE PILOT FLY...?
open enough to hold her own when faced with danger or a really
n PAUL BOWLER EMAIL
posh kitchen knock-through like the TARDIS.
What a great start to the series!
The chemistry between Pearl Mackie and Peter Capaldi is
The Pilot ticked all the right boxes;
wonderful, and there is a definite feeling of the reset button having
there were lots of fun references for
been pressed. And how apt for this Doctor to have a valet in the
fans to enjoy, but just as importantly
shape of Nardole. There will be children somewhere for whom this
the episode also provided a good
was their first-ever episode. I have to say, I’m rather jealous of them,
jumping-on point for new viewers.
discovering the universe with Bill. Having said that, seeing the TARDIS
Peter Capaldi was as superb as ever,
and other planets and times for the first time through new eyes
Pearl Mackie made a great début as
never, ever gets old.
Bill Potts, and Matt Lucas was also
great fun as Nardole. The Pilot made Simon’s letter wins him a copy of UNIT: Assembled, four
the Doctor Who universe feel fresh brand-new audio adventures from Big Finish starring
and invigorated again. One thing’s for Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and Ingrid
sure, if the rest of this series is as good Oliver as Osgood, available from www.bigfinish.com
Bill Potts at the start
as this episode, we are going to be in of her adventures! priced £20 as a CD box set or to download.
for one hell of a final jaunt around the
universe with Peter Capaldi’s Doctor!
all in less than 50 minutes! Her n CHARLIE FORREST (15) EMAIL and character development
n JOHN HOOD EMAIL introduction to the TARDIS is one of I absolutely loved The Pilot. The tremendously. The plot and its
I rather enjoyed The Pilot. Peter Capaldi, the best reactions I think I’ve seen. The chemistry between the Doctor and Bill resolution, in the grand scheme of
Matt Lucas and Pearl Mackie make for expression on Pearl’s face was perfect. is amazing, as is Matt Lucas’ comedic things, were underwhelming.
a triumphant trio. A soft reboot – an Nardole. Writer Steven Moffat handled As for the monster herself, well,
amalgam of the Russell T Davies and n BRIAN SILLIMAN NEW YORK Bill’s sexuality perfectly, and the she was disappointingly a rehash of
Steven Moffat eras – done right. I loved this first episode. Pearl Mackie references to old stories were a joy. the Flood victims from 2009’s The
is charming, funny, and very real. Matt Waters of Mars. Compared to the epic
n SUZANNA CURD EMAIL Lucas is a fantastic addition to the cast, n JACQUELINE RICKARD EMAIL and original story we got as an opener
What a stunning début from Pearl and Peter Capaldi remains absolute This season-opener could have for the 2015 series, this one just didn’t
Mackie in The Pilot! She has brought gobsmacking perfection. been brilliant, but I was left feeling hold water.
a real freshness to the role of the Best of all in this episode? New completely unimpressed by it, I’m
companion, showing intelligence, music from Murray Gold – the real afraid. The pace felt uncomfortably fast n MICHAEL WHITELEY EMAIL
curiosity, vulnerability and fear – and Doctor Who champion! and manic, rushing Bill’s introduction As a 20-plus-year-old fan who has
THE Daft DIMENSION BY LEW STRINGER

slightly lost interest in the show in
recent years, I thought that The Pilot
was really good! Bill Potts is shaping
up to be an amazing character whom
I absolutely adore already, Nardole was
brilliantly funny, and Peter Capaldi was
on top form as always. My faith in the
show is restored!
n CONNOR ALLEN (15) EMAIL

The time is 20:18. Eight minutes
following the airing of The Pilot. And
what can I say? How wonderful it is
to have our favourite Time Lord back
on our screens alongside the brilliant
Bill Potts and Nardole! The Pilot felt
so fresh. So brand new. It was a real
joy and I’m certain that this feeling
will remain throughout the rest of the
series. It was also wonderful to see a
snippet of John Simm’s Master in the
coming soon trailer, sporting a Roger
Delgado-esque beard! Ah, Doctor
Who, how I have missed you!

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO... Galaxy Forum, Doctor Who Magazine, Brockbourne House, 77 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8BS.
Email: [email protected] (marked ‘Galaxy Forum’ in the subject line), or log on to Twitter and tweet us at www.twitter.com/dwmtweets
Partly because of your compassion. That’s just a tiny sample of the emails and
Brilliant Russell T Davies brought
Doctor Who back healthy and strong,
letters we received about The Pilot – which
the vast majority of you decided was a
WHO TUBE
and you took it to a higher level. definite hit! Meanwhile, in DWM itself, the This month’s pick of
No-one could think of some of the comic strip Doorway to Hell came to an end... Who -related videos
things you come up with. It’s like a
psychedelic explosion in a fun factory. HELLISHLY GOOD STRIP
You blow my mind! n CHRISTOPHER OWEN EMAIL
With the new series getting underway
n KEITH TUDOR ROMSEY I’ve been reflecting on this last year,
The Pilot was an excellent start to the with the Doctor being mostly absent
new series. Bill is already a fun and from our screens, and how that gap’s
Bill’s lost love, endearing companion. The water been filled so well by your comic strip.
Heather, in search effects were often creepy. There were I’ve loved the mini era of the Twelfth n Peter Capaldi is interviewed by
of a passenger... some great nods to the show’s history – Doctor having to stay on Earth during Graham Norton and explains why he’s
the picture of Susan (from the very first the 1970s, especially this last story, decided to leave Doctor Who this year.
n CONNOR GODDARD PERTH, AUSTRALIA story in 1963), the Movellans (from in which we finally found out how Go to: tinyurl.com/CapaldiNorton
The Pilot was such superb television Destiny of the Daleks), and the Doctor the Master first regenerated – wow!
– and made even better by being a working as a lecturer with his TARDIS I didn’t see that one coming!
Doctor Who episode! Peter Capaldi’s parked in the office felt like a nod to
Doctor is now well established, but Shada. The ‘coming soon’ trailer at the n PETER THORPE EMAIL
this allowed a new audience to view end was the icing on the cake, though. The Master is back! The original!
him as a respected senior lecturer It was a fantastic Easter treat! Doorway to Hell was the best comic
(not an alien) and also gave fans the strip since... well, there isn’t a ‘since’,
opportunity to see him in a slightly n DAVID EMERY EMAIL as all the comic strips are equally
different role. I thoroughly enjoyed Wow. The only word I can use to superb. Using the original Master in
the episode. I only hope we get to see describe The Pilot. Full of references, the story was simply breathtaking. n Pearl Mackie and Steven Moffat
more of the Movellan-Dalek war... thrills, excitement, scares, make their débuts on Doctor Who: The
humour and everything else n GARY WATSON Fan Show, talking to host Christel Dee.
n JENNIFER SHELDON LEICESTER that makes Doctor Who NORTHUMBERLAND Go to: tinyurl.com/FanShowPilot
What a revelation Bill is – a brilliant the greatest show on It was nice to see in the
companion with depth and intrigue, TV bar none, I couldn’t final part of Doorway to
but totally relatable – the best ask for a better way to Hell that Jess became
companion in years! A properly spend Saturday night. an art history teacher
rounded human being, with a solid 30 years after she said
The Master in
reason to be introduced to both the n KIM JANSEN EMAIL Doorway to Hell. goodbye to the Doctor.
Doctor and the TARDIS. I thought the first episode I wonder if Max became
of the new series, The Pilot, a comic book writer or the
n KAREN FLEMING TULSA, OKLAHOMA was absolutely smashing! We owner of a Forbidden Planet store? n Babelcolour shows us a glimpse into
Excitement equals Moffat plus Capaldi got introduced to Bill who I already an alternative reality which features
squared! Thank you, Steven Moffat, love. Nardole is hilarious as usual and Doorway to Hell’s writer Mark Wright says, some very different 1970s Doctor Whos!
and all your wonderful cast and crew. the Doctor is back as himself! What “Yes, Max became a comic writer. And a Go to: tinyurl.com/almostdoctors
Steven, you have replaced the a fantastic show this is. It’s also great very good one, too!” Next time, we’ll have
wonderful Robert Holmes as my to have an openly gay companion in your comments on Smile, Thin Ice, Knock
favourite Doctor Who writer. Why? the TARDIS. Knock and more. Keep writing!
7On this month... the Doctor Who audio range from Big Finish:
‘Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor finds himself on one of
10 YEARS AGO
the moons of Jupiter, face-to-face with some great
n Rare audio of Jon Pertwee being
guest stars, in Valhalla by Marc Platt.’ Among
interviewed by Radio Solent during
them, making her Doctor Who début, was Michelle
filming of The Sea Devils in 1971.
Gomez. ‘She plays Jevvan, who teams up with the
In May 2007, DWM readers were Doctor when her colony is infiltrated by a ghastly,
Go to: tinyurl.com/PertweeSolent
enjoying new companion Martha... insectoid threat,’ explained Nick. Teaming up with
the Doctor? Michelle?! The very thought...
‘BRAVO, FREEMA!’
n In DWM 382, DWMail, was packed with letters about MASTERLY CASTING
the new series – with particular praise for new companion n In small print on the news page, it was revealed that Episode
Martha Jones, played by Freema Agyeman. James Cleverley 11, Utopia, would feature a character called ‘The Professor’,
wrote: ‘Martha is already a great successor, and it’s played by Sir Derek Jacobi. And in the final
only her first episode! Bravo, Freema!’, while Simon two episodes, John Simm would feature as
Smith said: ‘Freema is brilliant, and Sir David of ‘Mr Saxon’. It would be the first of several
Tennant was superbly bonkers.’ notable appearances by John, and both n YouTuber Jake Dudman is the Doctor
he and Sir Derek would – in unforgettably in The Day of the Doctor’s ‘Great Curator’
GOMEZ & McCOY brilliant scenes – be revealed as two different scene. It guest-stars a familiar face...
n Meanwhile, in Gallifrey Guardian, Nicholas incarnations of the Doctor’s nemesis, Go to: tinyurl.com/GreatCurator
Briggs revealed the latest news about the Master...
11
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
THE INTERVIEW
CROSSING THE
THRESHOLD
David Suchet is about drama would have spent the previous evening
streaming episodes of The Fan Show, so he could
picture taken of me holding the key to the front
door [the publicity shot released last summer when
to make his (long acclimatise himself to its metier?
Chris and Christel are now zipping things up
David’s casting was announced] – well, what sort
of world does that door open into?… Question-
overdue!) Doctor Who around us as we begin our conversation. It seems
an oversight that Doctor Who has taken 54-years to
mark, question-mark, query, star, smiley!”
He does at least concede:
début – playing the offer a role to David. He’s entirely of the right stock
of actor one would assume had already appeared
“I’m not an ordinary landlord,
but seemingly the most charming
mysterious Landlord in the series.
“A lot of people have said that,” he smiles. “And
of people.”
Talk of that picture, which
in Knock Knock... somebody said to me, ‘Weren’t you asked to be the
Doctor?’ In fact, my Twitter page (@David_Suchet)
on its own proved fuel enough
for a myriad website think-
INTERVIEW BY JOHN PHILLIPS is full of it. They’re all telling me, ‘We want you to pieces, prompts us to ask if he
N
be the next Doctor!’” At this, he chuckles. “Well, was prepared for the level of
orth London in early April, I have not been approached, let me say that. So, scrutiny that accompanies a
and a small studio on an we’ll have to put that to bed. I would be flattered. role in Doctor Who.
industrial estate. Here’s David Of course, I would be flattered! But I probably “One hundred per cent
Suchet, and he’s quite taken wouldn’t want to do it, because it would take up not. I had no idea, from
with Doctor Who: The Fan Show’s so much time.” rumours being leaked
furnishings. Nonetheless, on Saturday 6 May David finally I was going to be in it,
“It’s a wonderful table!” steps into this world, playing the enigmatic to fans waiting outside
he advises producer Chris Allen who bends in to Landlord who is at the heart of Knock Knock. He’s the location to see me
remove it from the scene. Chris is deconstructing doing little right now to dispel any of that mystery. get out of a car, to
this morning’s set-up, having shot an interview “Well, the Landlord would suggest I’m in charge people tweeting. My
with David and host Christel Dee for the BBC of a property, that people have rooms to lease or Twitter page, I think it
Worldwide YouTube series. rent from me,” he hedges. “There was that famous went up from, I don’t
“Christel made it,” he tells the actor. “An Argos
table and a roll of Doctor Who wallpaper.”
“Did she do that?” exclaims David. “She’s so
creative!”
It’s a small moment, but one characteristic
of David Suchet’s approach to life. He’s a
multi-award-winning thespian who’s been in the
business forever, and known around the globe as
the definitive embodiment of Agatha Christie’s
Hercules Poirot – a herculean feat, if you’ll pardon
the pun, wherein, between 1989 and 2013, he
starred in adaptations of every single novel and
short story featuring the detective. Yet he can
still work up enthusiasm for a spot of Time
Lord decoupage.
In 20-or-so-minutes’ time, he will counsel
DWM: “The most important thing about life,
you speak to any philosopher or psychologist, is
to live in the present. I’ve always said, if you live
in the present, the present is the greatest gift you
can be given.”
But that maxim is immediately apparent even
before he gets to vocalising it. David works to find
delight in almost everything. He also delights to David Suchet
work. Who would have thought the man awarded is reunited with
Peter Capaldi in the
the Commander of the Order of the British Empire episode Knock Knock.
in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to

know, 25,000 to 35,000 followers, and they haven’t
even seen it! Yet, the Landlord is now an iconic The Landlord
comes a knock-
character to the fans of Doctor Who! Ha ha! knocking...
It’s extraordinary!”
T
his is from an actor who, when he was
playing Poirot, apparently enjoyed a
worldwide audience in the region of
750 million.
“But there are 900 million for Doctor Who, so
if Peter [Capaldi] brings his millions, and if mine
follow me, there won’t be many left who aren’t
watching, will there?”
From David’s point of view, he thinks his saying
goodbye to the Belgian sleuth was potentially one
reason Doctor Who finally came calling.
“I suppose I became so identified with
him, but when I was released from
that label, then they invited me.
I said yes before I’d even
read the script.” It’s the most iconic series, even more so than Poirot.
Why? To have that opportunity of appearing as a lead
“Because it’s protagonist, if you like, having already been
Doctor Who! in another big drama, was the greatest privilege.
I also loved the fact I was reunited
with Peter Capaldi.”
“Somebody said to me, Unsurprisingly, given their

careers, David and Peter have met
‘Weren’t you asked to be before. The first time was a 1991

episode of Poirot.
the Doctor?’ My Twitter “It was called Wasp’s Nest and he

played a very strange clown-like
page is full of it: ‘We want

figure.” Again, the following year,
in a BBC adaptation of Joseph
you to be the next Doctor!’”

Conrad’s The Secret Agent. “Well,
I was the secret agent, and he was
a very severe Russian diplomat in
the consulate. But this is the first
time we’ve worked together since then. His career
bloomed along its path, and mine along my path.
It was a grand reunion, and he is a great Doctor.
Plus, to be in a Mike Bartlett script, the great writer
of Doctor Foster and King Charles III [a play, and
soon to be a BBC One drama starring the late Tim
Piggott-Smith] – well, what a privilege!”
Peter has mentioned that when he recorded the
episode with David last July, he sought the actor’s
advice on how to keep a character engaging within
a long-running TV show [see box-out, overleaf ].
DWM mentions that conversation to David now.
“Oh yes, that’s right. This is Peter’s third series,
so after two he would already have been concerned
about maintaining that initial momentum and the
truth of his performance. He will also be up against
– possibly – certain creative directors who want
him to change. Those were all the things I went
through on Poirot, and we have to be protectors,
guardians of our characters, as well as being open
to move with the times, as long as it fits in with the
overall arc of who we have chosen to portray.”
It’s here he shares those thoughts about
appreciating the present, “because the most
difficult thing in life is not to be consumed by
what is going to happen. You’ve got to live in the
moment with everything. You must chew it and
enjoy it, and if you do that, the energy of creativity
will always be 100 per cent.”
Enjoyment is key to David’s approach. “But
I take the work incredibly seriously. I think one
journalist even said, ‘It’s time for David Suchet
13
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
THE INTERVIEW DAVID SUCHET
What is the
David Suchet Landlord’s
likes to keep secret?
it real.
to lighten up.’ In reply to that, no it’s not.

As soon as you lighten up, you let go in
the wrong way. No, I will take my work as
seriously as I need to. But you know what?
If it’s not fun, don’t do it. Give it up.”
With that in mind, how has he tempered
his performance to Doctor Who? Does he pitch it the backside to stop me doing
differently for fantasy? my shtick.” to Oppenheimer [1980], it’s a different
“You’ve got to be very careful if you do that not His shtick? type of performance. It’s more theatrical. I have to
to comment,” he cautions. “No character should “It’s those things you don’t have to work on. open myself up to be part of the modern day.”
ever seem to be commenting on what they’re Things that you know are effective. Peter Brook Is this something his peers also do?
doing. If I’m aware of being in a heightened world, [who directed David over 1978-79 in Anthony and “I don’t know, but I am aware of certain actors
that translates to screen as wink-wink, nod-nod. Cleopatra at the Royal who I see as being
No, my world is very, very real for me. What the
viewer will make of it is up to them.”
Shakespeare Theatre
and the Aldwych]
“Pearl Mackie has such a stuck where they were
in their forties, and
once said to me as an modern take. Acting has may be 70 now. I pray
D
avid also says he’s been influenced by actor, ‘Do you like that moved on, and I have to with all my heart that
the younger cast playing Bill and her
friends with whom he shares a lot of
moment, David?’ And
I said, ‘Yeah, I love it’. move with the times too.” I’m not one of those.”
Should David ever
screen time in Knock Knock. He said, ‘Lose it.’ It’s a seek reassurance from
“Take Pearl Mackie, for example – Bill, who is terrible expression, but in our business, we call it, DWM, we’d like to make it clear that he is most
this incredible character! She has such a modern ‘Learn to kill your babies.’” certainly not one of those. Especially as he tells
take, and I watch her as an old-time actor, and Sage advice, but it remains surprising that us that he’s looking at an upcoming role in a TV
she releases me. I can’t emulate it, but I’m someone as celebrated as David Suchet would drama in France. Although he’ll be performing it
observing the way she and the other young ones subject his own work to a regular audit. in English, he’s asked if he can also execute the dub
approach their roles and, yes, acting has moved on, “Well, I have to! I have to keep on my toes, to into French. “It’ll be fascinating!”
and I have to move with the times too. see where acting’s changed. If I go back to my early As for Doctor Who, he admits, he has little
“In fact, every couple of years, I go to New York work and watch myself playing Sigmund Freud personal history with the series.
and I’m with an acting teacher who kicks me up [in the 1984 mini-series, Freud] or I go right back “I wish I did – I make a very boring guest
for your interview! I don’t have any of those
stories, except that it was part of my growing-up
GOING THE DISTANCE It was very useful to have someone

who’d been around the block who
experience with early television, I suppose.
It’s part of my youth, when it appeared in black
PETER CAPALDI ON DAVID SUCHET could help.
“Plus, it was extraordinary to just
and white in the original day. When I think of
early television, with just one channel and the
“I’ve worked was on set, about the problems of watch him work, because he doesn’t men reading the news in evening dress, and then
with David being in long-running television stint on anything. He brings I think of what we have today. Well, where’s
before, and I have shows and how you maintain all of his intelligence and it going to go in the future? Will it be part of
great respect that. I said, ‘You’ll have to give talent and work ethic to an experience all around you? Will it be like a
DAVID SUCHET IMAGE ©ITV/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
for him,” says me some tips on how you do bear on it, and that’s great hologram? Are you going to be able to enter the
Peter Capaldi of the wrap-ups at the end of the to have around. I think world itself and change things? It’s so thrilling!
his Knock Knock episode, and stuff like that.’ He it brings everybody’s Where’s it going to end?
co-star. “He’s a wonderful actor, was very good at helping me game up, when you “I haven’t enough years left, but I have enough
and a shining example of how you deal with those certain kinds have people joining faith to know I’ll be watching from another place
can keep one role fresh, because he of acting issues that you the show who and applauding the world’s development. That’s
did Poirot for a long time. I actually only discover, the longer are that good and if we can learn to look after our planet and to care
spoke to him about that when he you do it. that committed.” for it. Then there will be nowhere else that’s quite
so exciting.”

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15
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
EPISODE PREVIEW
Knock
Knock
Knock knock. Who‘s there? Doctor!
Doctor… what? Oh no. Oh God, no!
Doctor, I can‘t move my foot!
HELP ME! DOCTOR, PLEASE!
HELP MEEEEEE!!!
PREVIEW BY BENJAMIN COOK
“As a kid, I was fascinated by how

the show was made. Being a Doctor
Who fan is, basically, being a fan of
BBC TV Centre.” – MIKE BARTLETT, WRITER

Saturday 6 May 2017
I
WARNING:
S _i le rs!
n the Doctor Who production office Trial of a Time Lord – “and I remember the [giant
po
– and in the DWM office, too – mechanical crab] robot in the pool in Paradise
there’s a real buzz about Knock Knock. Towers [1987], but I wasn’t a, sort of, fan back
Well, more of a creak. An ominous, then. Not until the 25th anniversary. I really
spine-tingling creaking sound. bought into that. It was a big thing – as big as
[It’s growing louder! – Ed.] No, but it could be in 1988 – and there was a book that
seriously, Knock Knock is an absolutely my mum bought me, a special 25th anniversary
cracking episode. book – I think I’ve still got it – that previewed the
“I’m a writer,” says Mike Bartlett, the man stories coming up, but also looked at the history
responsible, “so when I hear that, I go, ‘You’re of the show. That’s when I went, ‘Oh, hang on,
saying that to everybody,’ or, ‘You’re saying that to there’s a lot more of it.’
compensate for the fact that it’s not very good.’ As “Then I videoed all of that season. And then all
a writer, you learn to take everything with a pinch of Season 26. And then they cancelled it. But that
of salt; to treat praise and criticism the same. And was an opportunity to start buying the videos. I
the episode hasn’t gone out yet. The hordes of was into Doctor Who until my early teens. Then I
Doctor Who fans have not descended upon it, and became more interested in parties and girls, and
the audience hasn’t, so still, in my head, maybe I sort of pushed Doctor Who further and further
it doesn’t work and it won’t be liked. That’s just back in the wardrobe. But I bought DWM all
writerly insecurity.” through that period. It kept announcing that
Yeah, but ssh, it does work. Knock Knock is the show was coming back, and then in the next
exceptional. And it’s going to be adored. No joke. edition saying, ‘Oh. No, it’s not.’ Happy days! And
“Well, I hope so,” says Mike. “Given how long I kept all those Archives – the pull-outs – because
I’ve loved the show and how much it means to me, often they were stories that hadn’t been released
the pressure to deliver was vast. And you don’t get on VHS. Even as a kid, I was fascinated by how
to warm up or practise; you jump straight into it Doctor Who was made, and I loved what it was
and you’re writing ‘INT. TARDIS’. What I realised in British television. Being a Doctor Who fan is,
quite quickly – having tentatively written ‘INT. basically, being a fan of BBC TV Centre, isn’t it?”
TARDIS’ and tentatively written the Doctor – was
W
that, if you’re tentative, it won’t stick; the show hen the show was revived in 2005,
is like Teflon. You can’t do that. You have to deal Mike was blown away (“It became
with it confidently. That’s what I’ve tried to do. It the biggest show on television,
has to be 100 per cent, full-on, confident Doctor and I love that it’s a very unlikely
Who, or it just shouldn’t be there.” candidate – or certainly seemed to be at the time –
We like Mike. Not only is he one of the hottest to be that”), which begs the question: as a fan and
names in TV right now – his 2015 BBC One professional dramatist, how has Mike not penned
drama Doctor Foster was hailed by critics and an episode before now?
audiences alike, with viewing figures peaking at “No-one asked me! Also, I haven’t been doing
over ten million for the finale (unsurprisingly, a television for ten years. I’ve mostly been doing
second series has been ordered and will air later theatre.” Some background: in 2007, Mike was
this year), and his next major BBC One project Pearson Playwright in Residence at London’s
is Press, a drama series set in the world of print Royal Court, and his play My Child saw him hailed
journalism – but also, like all the best people, by The Stage as ‘one of the most exciting new
Mike is a loyal, long-time reader of DWM. talents to emerge in recent times’. In 2010, Mike’s
“When I saw, a few months ago, the first Cock – which had débuted at the Royal Court
time my name was in Doctor Who Magazine,” the previous year – won him his first Olivier. His
he marvels, “it was like, ‘That’s incredible!’ It’s other hit plays include 2008’s Artefacts at the
almost as big a deal as my name being on the Bush Theatre and Contractions at the Royal Court,
show, at the start of the episode. Yeah, it meant 2010’s Earthquakes in London at the National
a huge amount.” Theatre and Love, Love, Love, which premiered
Which was his first DWM? with a UK tour, and 2011’s 13 at the National,
“Well, I definitely bought the edition with where by then he was Writer in Residence. In
that clown from The Greatest Show in the Galaxy 2015, he won two more Oliviers: one for his
[1988-89] on the front. It was yellow, that cover,
with boxes –”
Who would live in
Issue 1… 4… something? [DWM 145, published
a place like this?
in January 1989 – Ed.] The Doctor takes
“If you know the number, I love that! Oh, I bet a look at Bill’s
you do. You’re just trying to style it out. It came new home.
out around the time of that season, didn’t it?
I’d have been seven or eight years old.”
Mike was born in Oxford in October 1980.
(POINTLESS TRIVIA KLAXON: right now, he’s
the youngest person on Earth to have written an
episode of TV Doctor Who.) So what’s his earliest
memory of the show?
“I remember seeing Sil and Colin Baker” – that
must have been either 1985’s Vengeance on Varos
or Parts Five to Eight of the following year’s The
17
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
The Doctor
EPISODE PREVIEW gets to know
Bill’s new
housemates…
drama short, Bull, at the Young Vic, and the other

for his ‘future history play’, King Charles III, which
had opened in London the previous year (and soon
transferred to Broadway, where it earned five Tony
nominations). Not bad, eh?
His first broadcast commission – 2007 BBC
Radio 3 play Not Talking, adapted from his
stage play of the same name – came via BBC
Writersroom, a department that works with and
develops writing talent, and over the next four
years Mike penned several more plays for BBC
Radio. He recalls that, during this time, “I think
maybe in 2010 – or earlier, when Russell [T Davies,
executive producer, 2005-10] was still running
Doctor Who – I did get my agent to send an email
[enquiring about scripting an episode], but word
came back that ‘We’re not looking for writers
right now’. I hadn’t written anything for TV then,”
– Mike’s screenwriting début was 2012 ITV mini-
series The Town – “so I totally forgive that,” he
smiles. “In a way, I’m quite pleased, because I don’t
know whether it would have been as good. Because
I totally would have said yes [if he’d been asked].
I’ve got more experience now.” together.” So Bill moves out of her foster mum “Maybe I’m quite jumpy as a person,” considers
Moria’s place and into a student house-share. What Mike, “but I’ve never been a huge fan of, like,
T
hese days, all the TV shows on the block could possibly go wrong? Well, actually: “When proper horror movies – nasty horror movies,
are knockin’ at Mike’s door – surely, no? you’re renting, you don’t always have a say over the with real gore – but I love Doctor Who being scary,
– so was it a shoo-in that Doctor Who conditions that you’re living in. And who knows and I suppose instinctively I knew where to pitch
would be first over the threshold or…? who lived there before you? Who knows what’s that. There’s nothing I wrote that anyone went,
“Well, I’d mentioned that I like the show, in an causing that noise? Is it the pipes?” A big, Bartlett ‘Too far.’ I feel that I know where the line is,
interview for BBC Writersroom [his 2015 chat with grin. “It’s fun, in a Doctor Who way, to speculate…” because that’s my line. Then again, once we got
the Writersroom website] – and Lindsey [Alford, “Stop it,” Bill tells herself, a little weirded out by into brainstorming, Steven said, ‘This has to be
Doctor Who’s script executive] picked up on that,” he groaning walls and creaking floorboards. “There’s the ultimate haunted house. We have to go as far
recounts. “She said, ‘Would you like to come in?’ no living puddles, or weird robots, [or] big fish. It’s as we can in that direction.’ What’s so much fun
So I went in and met Steven [Moffat, showrunner] just a new house and people you don’t know. Not about working with Steven is, you get to see how
and Brian [Minchin, executive producer], we had scary at all.” his brain works in real time, and he’s brilliant at
a bit of a chat, and then they said, ‘Right, what do Wrong! Knock Knock is seriously spooky. It those provocations and, with one note, clarifying
you want to write?’ Luckily, I had some ideas! I frightened the bejesus out of DWM. (“Good,” something for you. Also, wouldn’t it be terrible
don’t think they’d mentioned that I should come beams Mike.) So we want to warn you that if if you found out that the people making Doctor
with ideas, but I’d thought I’d better think of some your mummy and daddy are scared, you just get Who were awful? But everyone’s so enthusiastic
in case.” them to hold your hand. Or bury them under the and warm-hearted, and that’s what you want the
As a practised Who fan (“Generally I’m not a floorboards, kids. Really, it’s your call. people making Doctor Who to be like.”
huge sci-fi person; it’s very distinctly this show I
love”), was he bursting, teeming, swarming with
story ideas from his boyhood daydreams?
“To be honest, a lot of them had been done,” he
laughs. “Like, ‘What happens if the Daleks meet
the Cybermen?’ But then suddenly it’s an actual
job, and the other bit of my brain – the writer
bit, which has spent my entire professional life
writing plays – is put into service. I wanted to
serve the show as it is now; the tone of the show.
I was thinking, ‘What ideas might be good with
this Doctor and this new companion?’ I pitched
a few to Steven and Brian, and one was creaking
floorboards – what really causes them? – and the
idea that it’s… well, wait and see! I love those
Doctor Who stories that take bits of the world, and
make them strange, and make you look at them in
a different way. As a child particularly, that’s what
you do all the time – you activate the banal world
into a magical state.”
Knock Knock is also, says Mike, “a little bit based
on the housing crisis.” Okay, that’s less magical.
“More and more of us have to live with people
we don’t know very well, in shared places, and –
I didn’t know anything about Bill when I pitched
TARDIS
this, but – since Bill is working at a university, removals.
suddenly that fitted: a bunch of students living

Saturday 6 May 2017
But is writing Doctor Who hard, even for an

experienced dramatist?
“It is really hard. And I don’t think there are
any guarantees that one can do it. It was lucky
that I’d studied it quite closely! This is, of course,
the big danger: you need to have as much forward
momentum as possible and the arrogance to steal
it, to make it your own, to discard all of your
knowledge of it. You mustn’t look back too much,
because Doctor Who rides on the new, doesn’t it?
But I’ve watched enough of it to know the pitfalls –
things that don’t work. For instance, I knew that I
wanted to split up the Doctor and the companion.
I prefer that, because then you can crosscut
between the two and do double the amount of
story; they can meet different people, be different
things. Not to say that every episode needs to do
that, but I thought, ‘If I ever write one, that’s what
I’d do.’”
The stare!
In conjuring up Knock Knock’s house of horrors,
David Suchet
Mike drew inspiration from his own student days plays the Landlord…
at the University of Leeds. “Around Headingley [a
suburb of Leeds], they have these massive Victorian
S
houses – often raised up, because it’s quite a someone called pest control on those pesky statues. o who would live in a house like this?
hilly area – which have odd things like towers, Man, the landlord must really be on top of things –? Bill’s five housemates are best-friend-
and gargoyles, and those glass orangery things Oh. Oh no! (Wood that he were.) Played with since-school Shireen, plucky lad Harry,
stuck on the side. But they’re all quite run-down creepy relish by David Suchet, the Landlord – so cheeky Paul, nervy-but-nice Felicity,
houses, and a lot of them are let to students. So sinister he warrants a capital L – might not be the and hipster (he owns a record player) Pavel. “You
you’d get this weird thing, when you were looking kindly, old-fashioned gent that he first appears haven’t got long to introduce them,” says Mike,
for student houses, where it would say, ‘Eight to be (shocker!), nor as doting a daddy to Eliza “when there are that many new characters; to
bedrooms. Room for a pool table. An actual tower.’ (no relation to the Eliza – RIP – namechecked by clock who all of them are, and what they’re like,
You’d think, ‘What’s the catch?’ And I remember Goodthing a couple of episodes back, in Smile’s cold and what they want, so those things have to be
that real excitement – which you get in the episode open), and it doesn’t take long for tenant-landlord quite signature-y. If they’re too close or too much
– when you move out of halls or to uni for the relations to turn… weird. You might want to have like each other, you won’t get them; also, as an
first time, of, like, ‘It’s our house!’ – and running the exterminators (not those ones) on speed dial. audience, you’ll feel a bit left out of the group. But
all over the place. ‘Which bedroom is going to be What does Mike have against landlords? Has he they all bring different things to the party, so when
mine? Ooh, what’s in the basement?’ One of our had a bad experience? Mike, tell us which landlord you get them talking to each other, they’re funny,
student houses – this is totally in Knock Knock – had hurt you. they fancy each other, they wind each other up…
a dungeon-y basement. Also, there were meathooks “I’ve had terrible ones, yeah. More than one. “To some extent, they’re like what, if you were
hanging up! It was What I love about 14 and at school, you would imagine university
proper horror. television is when students to be like. These are not students who
We put a drum kit “This man was standing it relates quite are taking coke and sleeping around. You know,
down there to try
to take the edge
in the corner, and then directly to things that
everybody has had
if you were writing a different show, then maybe,
but these guys are all about the enjoyment of
off it.” he just… turned. And an experience of. It’s having your own house, and being free, and living
What is it that
so unnerves us in looked absolutely a very democratic
medium. Everyone’s
your own life. I didn’t want them to be debauched
students, the dropouts, ‘don’t care about the world’.
the contemplation
of the House of
terrifying.” MIKE BARTLETT, WRITER had a problem
with a landlord,
They’re great, exciting young people on the brink
of the rest of their lives – and that’s important for
Potts? (“The script haven’t they?” the story. You find out about other people who
is quite specific about the sort of house it is,” says In fact, Knock Knock’s Landlord (look, maybe his might not have had that chance.”
Mike.) Once a fair and stately palace, but now on bark is worse than his bite?) started life as a visitor Let’s single out one of Bill’s housemates: Harry,
the market for a knock-down price, the property to Mike’s childhood home. “There’s an image I portrayed by 30-year-old Colin Ryan (best known
is described in Mike’s script as ‘a large Neo-Gothic have – I found it absolutely terrifying – from when, for playing a young Lorenzo de’ Medici in 2011-
mansion… Steps up to it. Big windows and, at the I think, I must have been four, maybe younger. 12 CBBC series Leonardo). Like Bill, Harry attends
back, a tower… The house looks spooky. Ominous.’ I was sat having tea at the table in my little house. the Doctor’s lectures. A particularly memorable
And inside? ‘Light pours in through the dust… My mum and dad came into the room, and behind one, he says, was about the nature of matter. And
There’s wood everywhere – walls, floor, ceilings. them was this man in a suit, looking at us all, and Harry’s grandad went ‘greypacking’ on the Great
Old furniture. But everything is slightly at an angle I don’t know why he was terrifying, but I remember, Wall of China with his boyfriend, we’re told, but
– a little out of place.’ as a child, being chilled to the bone!” they got arrested for trying to steal a bit. (Bill:
The real-life location used for the Knock Knock Are you sure the suited man was there, Mike? “A bit of what?” Harry: “The wall.”) But Harry’s
shoot was Fields House, a Grade II listed Victorian Or might you have been the only one who could other grandad is, says Mike, another Harry: a
residence in Newport, South Wales. Eagle-eyed see him? former Royal Navy surgeon in the employ of
viewers will recognise it as Wester Drumlins, the “It must have been someone they brought in,” UNIT, companion of the Fourth Doctor, creator
old, uninhabited London house that Sally Sparrow he insists. “He was standing in the corner, and then of Zygon-unravelling gas Z-67 (also known as
and friends break into in Steven Moffat’s 2007 he just… turned. And looked absolutely terrifying. ‘Sullivan’s Gas’)…
episode Blink. In those days, Weeping Angels lurked Thankfully, that shot is in the episode. It’s the It’s only Harry Sullivan!
within, but Fields House has been done up since moment where they go into the room, and the “It’s true,” says Mike. “It was in the episode –
then – and, you know, transported to Bristol – and Landlord is there in the corner, and he turns –!” that Harry was Harry Sullivan’s grandson. It was
19
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
EPISODE PREVIEW
a reference that I enjoyed hugely, because I love

Harry Sullivan.” Played by the late Ian Marter, the
character appeared alongside Tom Baker’s Doctor
and Elisabeth Sladen’s Sarah Jane Smith in 27
episodes of Doctor Who, from 1974 to 1975 – “and
housemate Harry has, I think, a similar sort of
attitude, of energetic sort of pluck.” Sadly, the
nod to Grandpa Sullivan hasn’t made it into the THE 2017 SERIES
finished episode. “It was decided that, in 2017, EPISODE 4
people might not remember one companion from
40-odd years ago,” laments Mike, “so it got cut.” WRITTEN BY Mike Bartlett
But, listen, we still know than he’s Harry DIRECTED BY Bill Anderson
Sullivan’s grandson, right? STARRING Peter Capaldi (the Doctor), Pearl Mackie
“It’s surely
“Exactly. Let’s hope that nothing contradicts it on (Bill Potts), Matt Lucas (Nardole), David Suchet (the
someone else’s turn
screen, because then we can still say that he is that to do the washing up.” Landlord), Mandeep Dhillon (Shireen), Colin Ryan (Harry),
– Harry Sullivan’s grandson – and if it’s in Doctor Ben Presley (Paul), Alice Hewkin (Felicity), Bart Suavek
Who Magazine, then that’s established fact!” (Pavel), Mariah Gale (Eliza)
And it wouldn’t be the first time that Friend from the Future, the two-minute teaser that
grandfather/grandchild relationships have been aired on BBC One last April. However, “Steven’s IN A NUTSHELL
referenced in the 2017 series. The Doctor has conception of the character – and this is why you Bill is moving in with some friends, and they’ve found
a photo of his granddaughter, Susan, on his want a writer running Doctor Who – was quite the perfect house! So what if it’s strangely cheap to
desk at St Luke’s University, and in Knock Knock, clear, in terms of who Bill was and what made her rent, and the Landlord is a little creepy? The wind blows,
to avoid any awkward questions, Bill tells her tick. So the writer brain in you lights up and goes, the floorboards creak, and the Doctor thinks something
housemates that the ‘Great! I know exactly is very wrong. What lurks in the strange tower at the
Doctor is her (Bill’s) how to write ten scenes
grandfather. (Harry “People have amazing with her.’ The clarity
heart of the building – and why can’t they find any way
to enter it...?
is delighted. “Is that
your grandad? That’s
relationships with their of that meant that
the person I wrote,
awesome!!”) “It ties grandparents, so it’s imagining who Bill QUOTE, UNQUOTE
THE DOCTOR: “That’s your house?”
into the fact that
that’s the generational quite nice tapping into was, actually, when we
got the casting, wasn’t BILL: “Sharing. Yeah. Six of us. Renting.”
difference between
the Doctor and Bill,”
that.” MIKE BARTLETT, WRITER far off at all. I think
Bill is a phenomenally
THE DOCTOR: “I thought you were students?”
BILL: “Yeah. I was like, ‘What’s the catch?’ But actually
points out Mike, “but clever character to it’s fine, just a bit draughty.”
of course my fan brain was going, ‘The companion arrive in Doctor Who at the moment – a lot of fun THE DOCTOR: “Draughty? (Licks his finger, holds it up)”
is calling the Doctor “grandfather”!’ We haven’t to write as well – and Pearl [Mackie, who plays her] BILL: “I meant draughty inside.”
done this for a long time! It’s like William Hartnell is phenomenal.” THE DOCTOR: “Interesting.”
leaving Susan on the banks of the Thames [at the
S
end of 1964’s The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Ford’s till, at the time of our interview, Mike
final regular appearance as Susan]! ‘Go forward has only seen Episode 1, The Pilot, and a of people. I can’t comprehend that number. It’s an
in all your beliefs,’ and all of that. People have work-in-progress version of his episode. incredible thing to tell a story to millions of people,
amazing relationships with their grandparents, so “I’ve read the scripts for 2 and 3, but and a huge privilege in a way, and a pleasure.
it’s quite nice tapping into that. It’s not something I haven’t seen the finished episodes, which is as “When I watch it go out, I’ll find that I’m
we’ve seen too much in the modern series; the it should be. I don’t have any idea what happens watching it through entirely new eyes. That might
companions have always been either friends or after Episode 4. I don’t know what’s in mean I go, ‘Oh, for –! I should have done that
sort of love interests. But with this they’re the Vault. I certainly didn’t know [Snip! better,’ but it also might mean, ‘Oh, actually, I’d
more like family, certainly in my episode. Spoiler! – Ed] is coming back. It’s on a forgotten that happened,’ or, ‘That’s going to be
“The Doctor Who that I suppose is need-to-know basis – and it’s good for fun for the kids watching.’ The real question is, do
ingrained with me, really, from when I me, because I still get to watch this series I go on Twitter – or maybe the forums – afterwards,
was, like, seven or eight is Sylvester McCoy as a fan. It’s not ruined for me.” to see what people are saying? Don’t go on during,
and Sophie Aldred [who played Ace, 1987- Will he be watching Knock Knock when because it’s full of people who aren’t watching it
89], and there’s one scene [in Knock Knock] it airs on 6 May? and are tweeting about how bad it is. But going
where the Doctor sends Bill upstairs, knowing “I have to watch it go out. I don’t know if on afterwards is, for me, a bit like hanging around
that something is wrong with the house, but it’s because I sort of, basically, come from in the theatre lobby after the opening night. You
he lets her go anyway. That reminded the theatre; like, in a way, you have hear little snippets of conversation, and that is
me – and I wasn’t expecting this, to be there on your first night.” valid, but I suspect on Doctor Who I need to be a
actually – of what the Seventh If you miss it on BBC One, little bit more careful. I have my opinions on Doctor
Doctor used to do with Ace. it won’t have happened…? Who episodes. ‘What’s it going to be this week? Do
‘I know there’s danger, but for “Yeah, exactly. It’s I like it more than last week’s?’ Particularly as an
whatever mysterious, dark terrifying, but I have to adult, that’s how you enjoy it. As a writer, you’ve
reasons I have, I’m Bill’s housemate, be there for them while got to want that. If people are engaging with it, for
Harry, and his
going to let you grandfather,
they’re performing it in the better or worse, that’s a really good thing. But if we
walk into it.’ So Harry. television! That’s nonsense, speak a month after it’s gone out and I’m a sort of
I quite like that.” but it feels like that. Also, I sort hollowed-out shell of a man, then –”
By the time he of feel like – again, maybe it’s a You’ll have read the comments on fan forums?
delivered the final theatre thing – I don’t want to run “Exactly, yes. I just count myself so lucky to have
draft of his script, away and hide. You have to be there, written an episode, to be honest, and the fact it’ll
Mike had only seen and that is what you’re doing it for, be going out is just brilliant. Right now, I’m just
Bill on screen in is the moment it goes out to millions really excited about it.”

EPISODE PREVIEW
WARNING:
Sp_
oilers!
Oxygen
Answering a distress call, the Doctor, Bill and “Remember the Viking episode I did last time?”
asks Jamie. “People think of horned helmets when
Nardole find four survivors on Space Station they think of Vikings, even though that’s not
accurate historically. So do you spend three pages
Chasm Forge – plus an army of walking dead... talking about accuracy, or do you just put horns
on the helmets? When I read up on the science of
PREVIEW BY PETER GRIFFTHS space, I realised that your everyday person in the
street basically thinks it’s really cold up there. But
“Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this Angels [2010] – written by Steven himself, so he there’s a whole weird low pressure thing, and that
planet. We all breathe the same air.” could say that! means the boiling point on everything goes down.
– President John F Kennedy “Steven wanted to make space dangerous again, So you don’t freeze, you boil – but you boil at less
W
like in Apollo 13. If you haven’t prepared properly, than 100 degrees. It’s an odd thing to get your
e take the oxygen in you will die out there. He wanted to strip it back to head around.
our lungs for granted. basics. So that was the original brief, and the more “Anyway, we’ve gone with the more technical
You can step outside on we talked about it, the more we thought of space version rather than the man-in-the-street version,
a cool spring day and as the monster, separate from the other monsters and it was definitely good to get it right. We spend
take a deep breath, and we’d have.” a whole scene talking about what space is really
it costs nothing. It’s one How much research did Jamie do to make like, and it’s a good way of setting up the peril and
of life’s little pleasures. operating in the vacuum realistic? There are no foreshadowing something that happens to Bill…”
But that’s here on terra firma, in 2017. Up in the Four to Doomsday-style unprotected space walks and Ah yes, Bill, in her first visit to outer space.
vacuum of space, oxygen is your one and only cricket ball escapades to be seen here. There she is in the trailers, crying “Waahh!” as she
priority. And in the centuries ahead, capitalism
will ensure that it comes at a price. Welcome to
Jamie Mathieson’s future.
The DWM poll-winning writer has contributed
three popular episodes over the last two seasons –
Mummy on the Orient Express (2014), Flatline (2014)
and The Girl Who Died (2015). When it came to his
fourth script, showrunner Steven Moffat wanted
something specific from him…
“Steven emailed me and said he needed a space
idea – there was a gap for that sort of out-and-
out space adventure in the season,” Jamie tells
DWM. “He also wanted to redefine space a bit. He
felt it had got a little bit too safe and cosy, more
Dahh-Ren and Bill: put
like a jolly playground. The example he gave me Nardole are disturbed through
was River Song floating through the air corridor by what they see... the ringer!
between the ship and the TARDIS in The Time of

Saturday 13 May 2017
THE 2017 SERIES

EPISODE 5
WRITTEN BY Jamie Mathieson
DIRECTED BY Charles Palmer
STARRING Peter Capaldi (the Doctor), Pearl Mackie
Nardole, the Doctor
(Bill Potts), Matt Lucas (Nardole), Justin Salinger
and Bill – suited up for
their most dangerous (Tasker), Katie Brayben (Ellie), Mimi Ndiweni (Abby),
adventure to date... Kieran Bew (Ivan), Peter Caulfield (Dahh-Ren)
IN A NUTSHELL
comes face to face with the very blue Dahh-ren; “I went along to see some of the episode being Space Station Chasm Forge is cold and airless,
gaping out of a porthole as the scale of the Chasm shot, and the monsters are horrible,” shudders but not empty. The Doctor, Bill and Nardole answer
Forge station becomes apparent; and then in grave Jamie. “I was watching the filming and thinking, a distress call and find four survivors – plus another
peril as the Doctor shouts at her, “You’re about ‘Yeah, they’re not going to be able to use that shot.’ three dozen walking dead, a relentless space-suited
to be exposed to the vacuum of space!” And it’s Even the director [Charles Palmer, returning to the army seeking to claim more lives. Can the Doctor and
true that Bill is really put through the ringer here, show for the first time since 2007] said to me, his party stay one step ahead of the horde? In a future
suffering asphyxiation, explosive decompression ‘I can’t see them letting us get away with that’. where oxygen is currency, save your breath – it could
and worse. Much worse. I saw three or four monsters that they’d made up, make all the difference.
and they were quite hard to look at.”
“If the human condition were the periodic table, maybe When Jamie talks about the monsters in Oxygen,
love would be hydrogen at number 1. Death would be he references the hypothesis of the ‘uncanny QUOTE, UNQUOTE
helium at number 2. Power would be where oxygen is.” valley’. It’s the theory in aesthetics that human TASKER: “It’s all just maths now: oxygen divided
replicas which are very close to but not exactly by bodies. And none of us have more than 3,000
– Cloud Atlas author David Mitchell
like real human beings can appear eerie and breaths left.”
I
n space in the future, power will be where even revolting to onlookers. There’s a reason THE DOCTOR: “Then stop wasting them. I need a
the oxygen is. This episode has a corporate, the original Autons in Spearhead from Space (1970) map of the base and a full rundown on what’s
capitalist flavour to it, not just in who owns are so creepy. happened here.”
the air that you breathe, but also what “The eyes of the actors playing the monsters TASKER: “Who the hell put you in charge?”
happens when you need it and whether you’re aren’t visible some of the time – they’ve got fake THE DOCTOR: “I’m here to save lives. Anyone who
even permitted eyes that bulge doesn’t want me to, raise your hand now.”
it. ‘Unlicensed over their own,”
Oxygen Detected’ “I went along to see some of says Jamie. “That
reads an
unnoticed panel the episode being shot, and alone makes
you feel there is
back and say, ‘You’ve gone too far.’ But instead he
grabbed it and loved it.”
by the TARDIS;
“Oxygen is
the monsters are horrible.” something wrong
with the face. So
This is a story that hinges on menace from
its opening moments, as an oblivious Chasm
available for JAMIE MATHIESON, WRITER when you’ve got Forge crew member goes to her doom and the
personal use only, them marching TARDIS materialises in the dark, the space station
at competitive prices,” chirps a computer. down a corridor towards you, you’re like, ‘Yeah, walls all around creaking and groaning like an
“There’s a political, capitalism side to the story I don’t like this.’ The whole idea of a human body old submarine. But as the Doctor and Tasker’s
where the bottom line is that human life is not that’s been partially expanded due to being in dwindling crew fight for their lives, it’s not
worth much,” says Jamie. “I’m glad it’s in there. space is horrible; it’s like a swollen corpse that’s a slow burn.
The episode manages to be a little cerebral, a little been in a river. “I reread the script again before talking to
political, but hopefully also a thrill ride. you today, and it moves like a rocket,” enthuses
“As a writer, you look at what you’ve got and “Tell me how I’m supposed to breathe with no air, Jamie. “I’m confident in both myself and Steven
try to work out how many set pieces you can get Can’t live, can’t breathe with no air.” here, because obviously he sprinkled his fairy
out of a situation, how many different varieties – Jordin Sparks dust on it, but every scene in it sort of answers a
of sneaking up on people, pursuing them, killing question from a previous scene and raises a new
B
them, you can get out of it. And then you figure out ill’s travails in this episode were one, or a new problem. You’re continually being
an order to put them in! Once the final pieces of touched on earlier. But now we come propelled forward. I’ve read so many things that
the story were in place, I found writing it good fun.” to the Doctor, our hero, who faces a are supposed to be thrilling that don’t do that very
Sneaking? Pursuing? Killing? A classic movie truly testing time as he struggles to basic thing of keeping us moving, keeping the fire
poster once informed us that in space, no-one can save his friends. We can’t reveal what happens, but at our heels, keeping the momentum going.
hear you scream. That’s not quite true here – and it’s life-changing, even for a Time Lord. “Hopefully there are a few heart-in-the-mouth
you may also hear the screams of viewers, who will Jamie chooses his words carefully. “The Doctor moments where you don’t know how they’re going
be climbing the walls at the sight of the terrifying is a Gallifreyan, so he’s superhuman in some to get out of it,” adds Jamie. “You want a Doctor
monsters glimpsed in the trailer. Marching en masse ways. But at the same time, setting up this very Who where people can say, ‘This is going to scare
across the hull of Chasm Forge, unprotected from dangerous situation and putting the peril back my kids rigid, and should I allow them to see this?’
the vacuum with lolling bloated heads and sightless into space meant that what happens to the Doctor Steven always asks what the playground game
eyes – as Bill says to the Doctor at one point, “Are has to matter. It can’t be something he can just for the episode is, and I think there’s definitely
you trying to scare us?” shrug off. I half expected Steven Moffat to pull it a playground game in Oxygen…”
23
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
EPISODE PREVIEW
WARNING:
Sp_
oilers!
Extremis
A mysterious book, the Veritas, holds an essential,
terrifying truth. The only trouble is, everyone who
reads it takes the secret to their grave...
PREVIEW BY BENJAMIN COOK
‘The paranoid spokesman sees the fate of conspiracy in Who showrunner Steven Moffat, who’s known for Missy’s
apocalyptic terms – he traffics in the birth and death of plotting intricate, twisty-turny puzzle-box thrillers back!
whole worlds, whole political orders, whole systems of – riddles wrapped in mysteries inside enigmas
human values. He is always manning the barricades of crammed into Gallifreyan confession dials – and
civilization. He constantly lives at a turning point. Like yet this most tantalising of conundrums goes back Imagine if a Silent had died while cosplaying as a
religious millennialists he expresses the anxiety of those to basics. “It’s the simplest thing I could do – the member of the Sibylline Sisterhood, then was left
who are living through the last days and he is sometimes Doctor’s got a locked door – but it’s instantly to decay for a while, then was brought back to life –
disposed to set a date for the apocalypse.’ fascinating. I mean, you’d only have to be staying in if you could call it that – just in time for Judgment
– Richard Hofstadter (Harper’s Magazine), someone’s house Day. That’s
for a while and a Monk.
“This was my last chance to
November 1964
A
realise that one “I was looking
‘‘
long time ago, a thing
happened,” explained the
of the doors is
locked to become see how far you can bend for something
big in the middle
Doctor, in Smile. “As a
result of the thing, I made
impossibly
curious about
this show before it breaks.” of the series,”
explains Steven.
a promise. As a result of what’s in there. STEVEN MOFFAT, WRITER “That middle-of-
the promise, I have to stay That’s human the-series bit can
on Earth.” nature. There is something perfectly fascinating sag and you want something to hold it up, so I was
“Guarding a vault?” asked Bill. about a locked door. And we don’t have to wait trying to think of some mad, interesting plot arc.
“Guarding a vault.” a whole 12 episodes to find out what’s in there, At one point, I had a ridiculous idea that we could
Hm. You remember the Vault, don’t you? Hidden which I think is important, or you’d go mad.” blow up Earth – which is very exciting, but then
beneath St Luke’s? The university named after Luke Following the cataclysmic conclusion to Jamie you realise that you really don’t have a planet from
the Evangelist, patron saint of doctors and artists, Mathieson’s outer-space nail-biter Oxygen, Extremis that point on. And Chris [Chibnall, who’s taking
brewers and butchers? (Go on, search that for brings us back down to Earth and kicks off what over as showrunner from the 2018 series] would
clues!) In Extremis, we get to find out what’s in the DWM is loosely calling ‘the Monk trilogy’: three have been tremendously cross! So I decided not to
Vault – and you might not believe your eyes… episodes in which the planet is plundered by blow up planet Earth…
“It’s the absolute classic mystery, isn’t it? It’s the corpse-like creatures with desiccated, skeletal faces, “Then several things happened: Toby
locked door,” says the writer of Extremis, Doctor withered, claw-like hands, and burgundy threads. [Whithouse, writer of Episode 8, The Lie of the

Land] wanted to do a story about a sort of

Nineteen-Eighty-Four-like oppressive regime, The Doctor and
Nardole try to
Peter [Harness, co-writer – with Steven – of discover the
Episode 7, The Pyramid at the End of the World] Veritas...
wanted to do a story about Kung Fu Monks
[which isn’t quite how Episode 7 ended up; see
preview pages 28-29], and Jamie was scripting a
story in which the Doctor was [Snip! – Spoiler Ed].
As I was working on these stories, I thought that
we could actually get a kind of four-episode arc
out of that. I’d not call this a four-parter, or even a
three-parter, because they’re not, really. They’re all
still separate stories. But I thought we’d have a
nice little ‘To Be Continued’ run in the middle
of the series…”
B
ut Extremis – it means ‘at the end’
or ‘outermost’ in Latin – is so full
of shocking revelations that all the
preview tapes have been buried deep
in the most secret of BBC libraries, everyone
who’s seen it is now dead (subs, please check),
and even this DWM feature may drive you
to destroy yourself. Or take out an annual
subscription. But probably destroy yourself.
All hail the Monks! I mean who. I mean what.
“It’s a tricky one to write about in advance,”
acknowledges Steven, as we chat for this DWM
preview. “Crazy, cryptic, mindscrewy episodes
always are – and this is a proper mad one. But it was
my last chance to see how far you can bend this
show before it breaks. Forgive the indulgence.”
Not at all. Extremis is divine. Ludicrously
gripping, eerie as hell, and riffing on more galloping inequality, massed refugees, and our the World). He’s still the Nardole we know and love
conspiracy theories than your shadowy top brass cycle of political stasis and meltdown answers to – the Doctor’s eyes on the ground, and occasional
can shake a tinfoil hat at – all with a proper Hofstadter’s description.’ saviour – but now with added va-va-voom. And a
Bondian sweep to it (“Murray Gold’s best ever Open your eyes, sheeple! Speak truth to power! backbone of steel. Possibly literally.
score,” says Steven). “Those who seek the truth are “Only in darkness are we revealed,” points out “I did enjoy writing steelier Nardole,” admits
more than friends; they are brothers,” a wise man Nardole. On the upside, Extremis does, at last, Steven. “When Matt expressed an interest in
once said. So what ancient secret is shared by the explain why the duffel-coated one kicks it returning, I went back and looked at The
Vatican, the White House, and CERN? The Doctor with the Doctor. Turns out he isn’t averse Husbands of River Song [Nardole’s 2015
intends to find out. to a little subterfuge of his own. (Who début serial] – and you think, ‘What’s
“This is a [2003 Dan Brown novel The] Da Vinci said conspiratorial?!) “He knows some a guy like that really like? All right, he
Code-style thriller,” teases Steven, “with something secrets,” Matt Lucas hinted in DWM plays the duffer, but given that he’s
lurking underneath. Catacombs under the Vatican, 507. “Some people say – I’ve read on surrounded by the kind of people he’s
secret libraries, ancient texts, international Twitter – ‘I quite liked Nardole, but why surrounded by, he would, wouldn’t he?
conspiracies…” does he need to come back?’ Well, there He’s a bit silly at times. A bit like a big
In the mid-1960s, when US historian Richard is an answer. I can’t tell you why he needs kid. He’s got this surface-level – and
Hofstadter initiated the scholarly study of to come back, but I can tell you quite real – sort of duffer-
conspiracy theories, he claimed that ‘the paranoid that he does need to come ness, but obviously he’s
mind is far more coherent than the real world’, but back. There’s a job that actually super clever and
the mentality that nurtures it affects just ‘a modest needs to be done, and an absolute survivor.
minority of the population’. Only occasionally, in it’s not a job that the River Song wouldn’t
moments of crisis and calamity (step forward the Doctor can do on his have him around
Monks!), would this state of mind catch on to the own. Nardole is there if he weren’t useful,
extent that it could be ‘more readily built into mass to help him. It’ll all and neither would
movements or political parties… Certain religious become clear.” the Doctor.’
traditions, certain social structures and national What’s more, the “What I said to
inheritances, certain historical catastrophes or Monk trilogy exposes Matt at the beginning
frustrations may be conducive to the release of Nardole as a secret badass of this was, ‘When the
such psychic energies.’ (“Nothing secret about whole universe blows up
‘Times have changed,’ journalist Jason Wilson it, babydoll,” he insists in and everything’s dead,
wrote in The Guardian in April 2017. ‘Conspiracy Extremis), a ferocious knitter, out from under a stone
thinking and paranoia are highly visible, durable a dab hand at Tarovian will come Nardole.’ He’s
and institutionally sanctified in a range of liberal Martial Arts (he reached the the ultimate survivor,
democracies… Conspiracy thinking is increasingly level of Brown Tabard), and and he doesn’t have the
“normal”… The birth and death of political orders, one smart cookie (“I’m not Doctor’s unfortunate
existential threats, turning points – something in just sexy,” he declares in affliction of heroism;
our present moment of environmental catastrophe, The Pyramid at the End of he’ll just duck under
25
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
EPISODE PREVIEW
something. That just makes him much more fun; how it operates, but it works on me. It’s exciting.
much more cool. Yet, at the same time, he can be I absolutely loved Portal. I’ve played all of Portal.
just as silly as he ever was, in the same way that the I thought it was fantastic. I haven’t played a lot
Doctor can.” of other games because, as you correctly say, I’ve
been a bit busy! I might be playing them a bit
A
s befits an episode partly set in the more in the second half of this year. I’ve got a new
Vatican (it’s dustier on the inside), PlayStation, and I’ve got one of those VR helmets.”
Extremis poses some thorny existential Also, alongside those meddling Monks – and the
questions. Why are we here? How long-awaited return of Missy (“Goodbye, sweetie!”)
has it come to this? What noise do the pipes in – there’s an improbable addition to the Extremis cast.
Bill’s bedroom make? (We’re going with ‘vworp Did you spot him in the series trailer? Say hello
vworp’. In answer to all three.) And – surprisingly to the Pope (the Doctor: “Hello, the Pope!”) – as
– will gamers inherit the Earth? Yup, look out for played by Joseph Long, who last appeared in Doctor
references to video games like Portal, BioShock, and Who back in 2008, as Italian newsagent Rocco
Grand Theft Colasanto
Auto, amongst
others. From “We’ve brought in the American in Turn Left’s
parallel world.
the Vatican to
video games?
President. We’ve brought in the This time,
Long dons
Never let it Prime Minister. Why shouldn’t His Holiness’
be said that
Steven Moffat
the Pope turn up?” STEVEN MOFFAT, WRITER
shining white
chasuble –
doesn’t draw and even gets “I think you have to be kind,” says Steven, about
inspiration from eclectic sources. I wouldn’t have a lift in the TARDIS! The Pope needs the Doctor’s the idea of inserting the Pope – and religious
put him down as a gamer. (Apart from anything help with a hidden, sacred text: the Veritas. It means iconography – into Doctor Who. “That’s the rule.
else, how does he find the time?) ‘the truth’ – a truth so true that you can’t live with Kind and respectful. I mean, I did wonder about
“Well, I’m a rubbish gamer,” he confesses, it. Everyone who reads the Veritas takes their own it. I did wonder if I’m really allowed to do it.
“but I do like it. I’m quite compelled by gaming. life, even the most devoutly religious who believe Then I thought, ‘We’ve brought in the American
As a new art form, I think it’s astonishing. I don’t that suicide is a mortal sin. “They read the Veritas,” President. We’ve brought in the Prime Minister.
understand how they do it, or how they make it, or explains Cardinal Angelo, “and chose Hell.” Those things have been done in Doctor Who. Why
CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW!

this kept a secret till his episodes surprised and excited by things him – throughout Cardiff, and
air? He’d recorded all his scenes that happen on screen. At the having him stay in Cardiff, and
before March was out, including same time, you want to have nobody had spotted him. We
‘‘ S
ome people hate badges on certain features, some on the streets of Cardiff, information, and I don’t know were astonished that we’d got
spoilers, and to give you the choice, where without anyone clocking it what the best thing is... But in away with it. We just assumed
some people possible.) So if you shut your was him. The Doctor Who team the end it’s only like, you know, that the story would break. So
love spoilers, and eyes during – or somehow could have just not told us. Last someone telling you that you’ve then we had the option of, ‘Okay,
everybody hates me whatever missed – the teaser trailer that series, even Davros’ comeback got a surprise party later on – we could just keep it a complete
way they think about it,” Steven aired on 15 April after The Pilot, in The Magician’s Apprentice and you’ll still enjoy the party, secret, and it’s a big reveal later
Moffat declared at the 2017 maybe stop reading now. For the was kept as a surprise. But this you’ll still have a good time, in the series.’”
series press launch, on Tuesday 4 other 100% of you... year, ‘sanctioned’ spoilers are and perhaps, if you’ve been told
April, at which The Pilot – and the “I wonder if anyone actually everywhere. Is this a deliberate in advance, you might have a Which some fans would have
spoilerific ‘Coming Soon’ trailer did close their eyes for that change of policy? clean shirt. That wasn’t much of preferred, I guess.
that followed it – premièred. spoiler,” said journalist Boyd “Well, quite a lot of it’s an answer, was it? But it’s what “Yes, but I just thought, ‘It’s
“So this is my last attempt in Hilton, when he took to the accidental,” Steven admitted I’ve got.” never going to hold, because we
this role to avoid hatred.” He stage to interview Steven and on Sunday 9 April, at the BFI & Let’s see if DWM can get have to now continue making the
encouraged the world’s press and the cast for the post-episode Radio Times Television some more... show – you know, the tapes go
assorted fans to steer clear of Q&A. “Was anyone that Festival. “I’m sorry to tell everywhere, people see things,
the “enormous spoiler, a spoiler mad they wouldn’t want you that. In fairness, I So Steven, John Simm is people hear things...’ Because
that may actually melt your to know a really exciting do think we were a bit coming back – and that shot one can forget, in our little world
brains” by blinking during that thing that’s going to too retentive last year... of him in the ‘Coming Soon’ of Doctor Who, that John Simm
shot, as prompted by an on- happen in this series of A different approach? trailer is ridiculously exciting. is a very big deal indeed. It was
screen warning and three-second Doctor Who?” We never know But at the press launch, going to break. It was just going
countdown – “our frankly camp The shot what secrets are you urged the audience to to. So I had this idea that we
and ridiculous way,” he admitted, revealed going to stay... avoid the spoiler. “I promise would do the trailer with the
“of allowing people to remain that – deep We do what you, you’d be better off not close-your-eyes moment. And
unspoilered. If at this point you breath we can, and knowing,” you said. What then I had the stupid idea, as it
close your eyes and wait until – John I never quite changed your mind? Talk us turned out, that we’d show that
you hear the cliffhanger noise, Simm is know what to through your thought process. version to the press, and involve
PHOTO © CAN NGUYEN/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
you will have a better experience returning do about you “My process of – ha ha! – them in keeping the secret.”
in a few weeks’ time.” as the lot,” he said, changing my mind was roughly
DWM has had to think Master addressing this: we had got away, to You hoped the press would
carefully about whether to even later this the fans in our complete surprise, with keep shtum?
discuss the spoiler in our pages. series. the audience, shooting John Simm – not “Well, I thought, ‘If I make it
(You’ll note that we’ve started But why “because you actually shooting him, that voluntary, then people will say,
using ‘WARNING: SPOILERS!’ wasn’t want to be would be cruel, but filming “Oh, we must respect the right

to the works of an early Christian sect, the title has

survived: Veritas.
All copies of the sect’s translation disappeared, shortly
after their mass suicide. But then, a few months ago,
the Veritas was translated again. And what does it say?
THE 2017 SERIES No-one knows. Because everyone who worked on the
EPISODE 6 translation is now dead, by their own hand. All bodies
recovered. All except one...
WRITTEN BY Steven Moffat
DIRECTED BY Daniel Nettheim QUOTE, UNQUOTE
STARRING Peter Capaldi (the Doctor), Pearl Mackie (Bill THE POPE: “La vostra saggezza è stata lodata per molti
Potts), Matt Lucas (Nardole), Michelle Gomez (Missy), più secoli di quanto sembrasse possibile... E la vostra
Corrado Invernizzi (Cardinal Angelo), Joseph Long (Pope), benevolenza è risaputa da tutti coloro che vi hanno
Ivanno Jeremiah (Rafando), Laurent Maurel (Nicolas), incontrato. Vi preghiamo di mostrare anche oggi tale
Ronke Adekoluejo (Penny), Jennifer Hennessy (Moira) saggezza e benevolenza.”
THE DOCTOR: “You don’t do this. The Pope doesn’t zoom
IN A NUTSHELL around the world in the Popemobile, surprising people!
Whose desk is the There is a text buried deep in the Vatican. A text older Why would you do that?”
Doctor sitting at? than the church itself. The language is lost – but thanks THE POPE: “Extremis.”
shouldn’t the Pope turn up?’ And to have him not expect you to avoid a joke if there is one, but authority figure. He’s no more disparaging about
actually in the TARDIS – then that’s even funnier, they will expect not to be sneered at. You’re entitled the Pope that he is about the Brigadier. It’s all the
I think! But the moment Brian [Minchin, executive to watch a TV show and not be sneered at, if you’re same to him. We can’t just go around saying, ‘The
producer] read it, he had to go to the BBC and say, a perfectly kind, law-abiding citizen. Pope is corrupt and God’s just a made-up person.’
‘Look, Steven is doing this. What do we think?’ “So if you’re going to introduce the Pope in You can’t have the show say that, because that’s
You have to keep in mind that Catholics with great Doctor Who, he should be one of the nice ones. unkind and disrespectful to the people who think
regard for the Pope will watch this. They won’t I mean, the Doctor is fairly disparaging about the the opposite of that – and I don’t wish to be unkind
expect you to be completely uncritical, they will whole thing, but he’s fairly disparaging about any or disrespectful to them.”
of people not to know, and we coverage from those papers, and things about Doctor Who, which We’ve had a massive amount most amazing finale ever!” So
won’t tell them.”’ I thought sometimes they get frustrated are not true, by the way. He’s since the John Simm news broke. there are plenty of awesome
that would work. I was wrong. by the fact that I don’t allow a big fan. He even knows what It’s been huge compared to what surprises coming up?
(Laughs)” them to print anything. So I can a Mondasian Cyberman is! He we had for the last series, where “Absolutely. Yes, there are
understand why they would loves Doctor Who, so he wanted I think I held back far too much plenty of things that will come
In the official press release break the embargo. I thought to get his voice out there saying – I was trying to keep everything as a shock when they happen,
[issued by the BBC on I could persuade them to play how pleased he was to be back.” a secret – and I ended up without a doubt. The other thing
Thursday 6 April, once the along with our camp, mad trailer. starving the press of any useful we tend to forget is that ‘real’
Simm story had leaked] If I hadn’t done that, we’d have Edward Russell [Doctor Who’s information that they could use people don’t spend all the time
announcing John’s return, you had a camp, mad trailer after The senior brand executive] – an to drum up excitement. So I don’t reading articles about TV shows.
acknowledged, “Nothing stays Pilot aired, and everyone would authority on all things promo think it’s necessarily gone wrong. Literally, millions of people will
secret for long on Doctor have been talking about that, – tweeted [on Thursday 6 Russell [T Davies, showrunner, be surprised when John Simm
Who.” Especially if you put it so I’m a bit sad about it all. But I April], ‘Maybe this was the 2005-10] would probably tell me, turns up – they will – because
in a trailer and show it to the understand how it happens. No- plan all along, eh? Look at ‘You’re being a bloody idiot. Just they won’t have read anything
press, it turns out. one was trying to be evil. It was Pepsi [who, two days earlier, say everything exciting upfront!’ about it. Some of them have just
“Yeah, they just went and put it just me making a miscalculation.” had released a commercial Richard Curtis [TV and movie heard that Doctor Who is coming
in the papers. I wish we hadn’t full of protest imagery that writer, who penned 2010 episode back and it’s quite possibly going
shown that trailer to the press. In an interview with culminated in reality TV star Vincent and the Doctor] would to be Christopher Eccleston! So
Then we could have had the RadioTimes.com, [executive and model Kendall Jenner definitely say that. He always it’s not like everyone is inside
trailer go out on television – with producer] Brian Minchin offering a can of Pepsi to says, ‘Put all your best jokes in the the information bubble with us.
99% of the population keeping pointed out, “When people a cop, ending oppression trailer. It doesn’t matter if people I tend to think that everyone I
their eyes open, of course, but a heard John Simm was back, everywhere forever. The next are surprised; it matters that they walk past in the street is thinking
few people would have had the they were excited and they day, after a brutal backlash show up.’ And those guys are about John Simm coming back
fun of wondering what went on were happy, so I’d be a bit and global ridicule, Pepsi both cleverer than me, so...” to Doctor Who. (Laughs) It’s not
in front of their closed eyelids. churlish to be complaining pulled the commercial and true, and I know it’s not true
But it didn’t happen.” about that... We’re a show apologised]. They’ve had more Brian told RadioTimes.com, because how many times did
people like to find out news exposure in the past 24 hours “If you think you know we officially have the story that
Within 24 hours of the about and that they like to than ever!’ Is all publicity the spoilers of Doctor Who Michelle Gomez [Missy] was
press launch, The Sun was get excited about, and that’s good publicity? If the Simm Series Ten, you’re wrong. coming back? We did it, like, four
running with, ‘RETURN OF a good thing, really.” ‘leak’ has encouraged more There’s loads more to come. times. The press covered it every
THE MASTER: Doctor Who star “Exactly. Also, once it was all people to watch the series, is The story... is going to take time. ‘Michelle Gomez returns to
John Simm returning to do over the place, we had to do the it worth it? some very surprising turns, Doctor Who!’ You think, ‘That’s
battle with the new Time Lord official press release, and John “Yeah, no, um... it probably is. It’s things are going to happen the fourth time we’ve said it.’ But
as super-villain the Master.’ Simm wanted to say nice things probably no bad thing that we’ve to the Doctor that have never it’s still a story, because no-one
“I can understand why it about Doctor Who, because he had endless stories about what’s happened to him before... retains it. No-one remembers it.
happens. We expect a lot of was being quoted as saying nasty about to happen in Doctor Who. and we’re building to the Which is probably a good thing.”
27
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
EPISODE PREVIEW
The Pyramid at
WARNING:
Sp_
oilers!
the End of the World

How can a 5,000-year-old pyramid just appear Troubled nation Turmezistan – which once
harboured a Zygon training camp, you’ll recall
overnight? Could it be aliens? Monks? Whatever the – is back in the news. In a disputed area near
the border – a potential flashpoint, where the
explanation, it seems to spell the end of everything... Chinese, Russians, and Americans all have
troops – a 5,000-year-old pyramid has appeared,
PREVIEW BY BENJAMIN COOK literally, overnight. Which is impossible. And a
tad concerning. “The end of your life has already
‘Humanity has not been this close to oblivion since the draft under difficult personal circumstances. “Here begun,” explains the Doctor. “There is a last place
darkest early days of the Cold War, a team of scientists comes the sob story,” he warns. “It was at the time you will ever go. A last door you will ever walk
concluded yesterday. The scholars who control the my mum fell acutely ill and died, so I had no time through. A last sight you will ever see. And every
Doomsday Clock, a 70-year-old device warning of to do what I would normally have done, which is step you ever take is moving you closer. The end of
impending apocalypse, nudged it forward 30 seconds. The sit with Peter, have meetings with him, do big, long the world is a billion tiny steps – and somewhere,
hands now stand at two-and-a-half minutes to midnight.’ emails about the script. I didn’t have time. And I unnoticed, it has already begun.” (He’s in that kind
The Times, 27 January 2017 don’t feel great about that – Peter deserved better of mood.) As invasions of Earth go, you haven’t
A
from me, frankly – but we were right up against seen anything quite like this before…
nyone who remembers 2015’s production of that filming block [which comprised With the Furies breathing down your neck, team
The Zygon Inversion will know Episodes 6 and 7], and I’d barely got 6 in shape, so by team, reporters baffled, trumped, tethered…
that Peter Harness and I just had to take the script for 7, sit in the hospital it’s the end of the world as we know it. Whilst
showrunner Steven Moffat are next to my mum’s bed, and type. That’s all I could big ol’ modern-day Earth invasions were some of
one of twenty-first-century do. It’s as grim as all that.” ex-showrunner Russell T Davies’ favourite Doctor
Doctor Who’s most formidable But the end result is a stunning testament to Who stories to tell, they’ve taken more of a backseat
scriptwriting partnerships. So both writers’ tenacity, imagination, and flair for since Steven took over. “Well, it’s tricky,” he says.
be excited – very excited, and a little bit frightened penning edge-of-your-seat, heart-in-your-mouth “I didn’t particularly go against what Russell
– for The Pyramid at the End of the World, the pair’s Who. The Pyramid at the End of the World is the tale did, but if I’ve been sparing on it, it’s because it’s
most exhilarating collaboration yet. And it all of a planet – ours, unfortunately – on the edge of increasingly hard to conceal the cheapo way we’re
began with some Kung Fu fighting. (Just without destruction. The brink of disaster… doing it. As television gets more and more lavish
the Kung Fu. Or the fighting.)
“Peter wanted to do a story about monks,”
explains Steven. “We kept calling them Kung Fu Who’s going to sort
things out – the Doctor
Monks – not in the dialogue, just in the directions
or the men with guns?
– but we ended up removing the words ‘Kung Fu’ Place your bets now!
when Toby [Whithouse, writer of Episode 8, The
Lie of the Land], at the very last minute, pointed
out that they did absolutely no Kung Fu at any
point – which was a bit of a relief,” he laughs. “We’d
managed not to notice, for several months!”
Steven was dazzled by Peter’s early drafts. “He
is a genuine talent,” says the big boss. “What Peter,
whom I think the world of, is very strong at is kind
of reflecting, in a recognisably Doctor Who way,
modern-world tensions. Like, the Zygon story [The
Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion] does feel sort of
located now. You know, I sort of feel as though it
belongs in the newspaper somehow. Likewise, on
Pyramid, Peter did all the research on how to end
the world very quickly. Terrifying stuff! Frankly, I
was imposing too many things on Peter – put this in,
put that in – but he persevered. That’s why he’s a star
name in television. I think he’s brilliant.” Meanwhile,
Steven’s job was, he says, to “make the story work in
the context of what was coming in Toby’s and what
had just been in Episode 6 [Extremis]”.
As shooting fast approached, including four days’
filming in Tenerife, Steven completed Pyramid’s final

A Monk – The new discovery

but is it of the confuses the planet’s
meddling kind? top scientific boffins. THE 2017 SERIES
EPISODE 7
around us, doing the news bulletins thing – ‘Oh, it held at the height of the Cold War. In January WRITTEN BY Peter Harness and Steven Moffat
they’ve blown up the Taj Mahal now’ – won’t quite 2017, the clock’s symbolic minute hand ticked to DIRECTED BY Daniel Nettheim
cut it. As I keep grumping, we’re being watched two-and-a-half minutes before the final hour, to STARRING Peter Capaldi (the Doctor), Pearl Mackie
by people who watch Game of Thrones [HBO, acknowledge “what a dangerous moment we’re (Bill Potts), Matt Lucas (Nardole), Togo Igawa (Secretary
2011-present] – and have you seen their budget? in,” the Bulletin’s executive director, Dr Rachel General of the UN), Daphne Cheung (Captain Xiaolian),
It worked perfectly when Russell was doing it, Bronson, told The New York Times, “and how Tony Gardner (Douglas), Ronke Adekoluejo (Penny)
absolutely perfectly, because we didn’t have a important it is for people to take note.” Citing
legitimate comparison on television, but we kind the increasing threats of nuclear war and climate IN A NUTSHELL
of sort of do now, so… change, Bronson explained: “We’re so concerned When a 5,000-year-old pyramid appears, literally,
“The idea behind Episode 8, Toby’s one, was to about the rhetoric and the lack of respect for overnight, Earth’s military leaders are baffled. But there
have a conquered Earth under the heel; a Nineteen- expertise that we moved it 30 seconds. Rather than are far more serious implications for the planet, which
Eighty-Four Earth, where the monsters are here and create panic, we’re hoping that this drives action.” soon become apparent...
they’ve won – because we haven’t really seen that If ever planet Earth needed a Doctor…
since… well, The Dalek Invasion of Earth [1964]? Would Episodes 6 to 8 – ‘the Monk trilogy’ QUOTE, UNQUOTE
So that was a cool thing to do, and we worked – have been scripted differently had they been THE DOCTOR: “There is a line in the sand, and I’m
very hard to realise it across all three of these intended for, say, the 2015 series, back when the man on the other side of it. You want to keep me
episodes – 6, 7, and 8 – even though the scale of it we were a mere three minutes to the day that way.”
was difficult. We thought, ‘We’re going to have to of Armageddon? THE MONK: “We will take this planet and its people.”
find other ways to make these episodes feel global, “I think so,” says Steven. “Two years ago, we THE DOCTOR: “You will be stopped.”
in a way that isn’t always completely possible in a felt stable, didn’t we? We have no idea what’s THE MONK: “No.”
big shed in Cardiff.’” happening at the THE DOCTOR: “You will be prevented. You will be
“TV shows don’t ‘tackle’ moment. We don’t fought.”
I
t’s getting closer even know if we THE MONK: “No. We will be invited. We will take the
to midnight.
Across the world,
problems. Other people should be scared.
We get headlines
Earth, but only when we’re asked. We will talk again.”
THE DOCTOR: “When?”
every clock tackle them. We reflect about a nuclear war THE MONK: “At the end of the Earth.”
reverts to 11.50. “They’re
giving us a countdown,”
them.” STEVEN MOFFAT, CO-WRITER
about to start, and
we’re saying, ‘Is that
realises the Doctor. bad? I mean, is it “It’s really hard to knock the Doctor back a step,”
“To what?” asks Bill. really? I don’t know. Is it going to be a bad nuclear considers Steven. “He’s sort of made of Teflon.
“The end of the world.” war or…?’ But I don’t think we’ve ever set out, on If you do something to him, then you make him
Forty-five-minutes later, the clocks jump to Doctor Who, to talk about the contemporary world. the centre of a story for the moment, whereas the
11.55. Before long, they’re at 11.57 – three minutes The trouble is, it’s battering you from all sides, Doctor’s normal function is to sort of introduce
to doomsday. The day of reckoning. “There are all the time. It creeps into the story by osmosis. We the story, disappear for a while, then come and
currently seven billion people alive on this planet,” realised, at a certain point, that Toby’s episode, switch it off towards the end. That’s very obvious
says the Doctor, “any one of whom might be for example, is a story about ‘fake news’. We sort if you look at the four-episode structure of the
marching us into oblivion.” of didn’t know that when he was writing it. It just old Doctor Who stories. The Doctor is sort of kept
Scarily, this is drawn from real life. (Well, sort of happened. All shows made at speed and out of the villain’s control room for ages in classic
of course.) Every year since 1947, the Bulletin with focus probably end up being about the world Doctor Who, and he quite often spends Part Three
of the Atomic Scientists, a magazine founded by you’re sitting in right now. locked up, because you’re just trying to stop him
members of the Manhattan Project, has gathered “I always cringe when we say of television that turning off the whole damn show.
a panel of Nobel laureates, scientists, nuclear and we ‘tackle’ problems. We don’t. We make shows “That remains a problem. His job is to be
climate experts, and other luminaries to update about them. That’s not really tackling problems. unimpressed by the aliens and quash the invading
the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic gauge of the Other people tackle them. We reflect them. You menace. That’s what he does, and he does it
likelihood of a human-caused global catastrophe. write about the world you’re in because you almost incredibly quickly. So if he’s not going to have
[Famously, the clock was fictionalised in Watchmen, the have no choice. It’s an unstable, scary world at the that function – if he’s going to be a bit haunted,
1986-87 comicbook series by writer Alan Moore and moment, where we’re never told the truth, and like he was in Listen [2014], or if he’s, as in Pyramid,
artist Dave Gibbons – Ed.] In 1991, as the Cold War that’s what Episodes 6, 7, and 8 are about.” trying to conceal that he’s weakened and nearly
was ending, the clock was set to its safest point And the Doctor’s role in this unstable, scary pulling it off brilliantly, but maybe, actually, doing
ever: 17 minutes to midnight. world? Truth is, by The Pyramid at the End of the more harm than good – that puts him in the
In 2010, when Steven took over as Doctor World, the seismic events of Oxygen and Extremis centre of the story, which is nice to do with him.
Who showrunner, the Doomsday Clock was at have taken their toll. This is a diminished, more Otherwise it’s surprising how easily it becomes
six minutes to midnight – its lowest point since despondent Doctor (“We don’t live in an ideal entirely the story of the companion, which doesn’t
2002. However, over the course of Steven’s tenure, world,” he tells Bill. “Right now, the best we can bother me, because I kind of think Doctor Who
we’ve been edging closer and closer to oblivion. A hope for is any world to live in at all”), who’s is, but it’s nice to, you know, give Peter Capaldi
coincidence? Yes. In January 2016, after increased finding it hard to focus – and is liable to make something to do – you know, not just be the
military tensions between Russia and NATO, and mistakes. When the Doctor is desperate, he gets explanatory genius flying in at the end with the
the Earth’s warmest year on record, the Bulletin dangerous, and Bill is disconcerted to discover a off switch. And Peter is, of course, remarkable in
pushed the clock forward to 11.57, the same level more warlike side to the Time Lord… this episode.”
29
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
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THE INTERVIEW
A NEW Lawrence Gough,

director of The
START
Pilot and Smile,
tells us how he’s
taken Doctor
Who back to basics!
INTERVIEW BY ALISTAIR McGOWN
T
he effects of wibbly-wobbly he tells us. “Then I went straight off to do another
timey-wimey don’t just affect our job, which I’ve only just finished. I worked on that
favourite Time Lord. It would for eight months.”
appear its reach also extends to This was Snatch, the TV gangster drama adapted
television directors. When DWM from the 2000 movie, which he shot primarily in
last spoke to Lawrence Gough Manchester. Indeed this is really the first proper
in December 2016 [see The 2017 break from working Lawrence has had since
Yearbook] to chat about his helming Pearl Mackie’s making Friend from the Future.
introductory scene – Friend from the Future – the “Then Snatch finished and then I see that Doctor
previous April, he had already shot and completed Who is obviously coming out. I was at the big
the two episodes that open this latest series of première last week – that was good! It looks great
Doctor Who. Now, over eight months after the on the big screen and there seems to be a really
director completed principal photography on The good bunch of press, the reactions all seem to have
Pilot and Smile, Lawrence is enjoying a pre-Easter been very positive, which is good.”
break with his young son when DWM catches When we last spoke to Lawrence he was unable
up with him again, mere days before his début to talk in detail about his brace of episodes, even
Lawrence Gough on episodes of the show air on BBC One. though they were already in the can. He did tease
location for Smile. “I think I finished the whole thing in DWM’s readers however when he said, “They’re a
September 2016, once we had locked episodes,” nod back to old school Doctor Who, which is great.”

core to the programme, where you
don’t have to necessarily deal with
in-jokes or ‘in-stories’ but with
bigger broad strokes.”
A
s director on Block
One, Lawrence
oversaw the first
two episodes in
production, which in this case
were also the first two episodes
transmitted.
“We pretty much shot
Episode 1, and then went
onto Episode 2,” he explains.
“We didn’t try to shoot all the
Lawrence joins
scenes in the TARDIS at once the Doctor on
for both episodes or anything. stage for his lecture.
We tried to finish one, then
go onto the next. That’s quite
rare because normally you do
mix it up but we made efforts to schedule it that “Of course. Pearl was cast because of the sort of
way. For Pearl as well, and for Peter; to separate energy that she brings. So you don’t want to push
the episodes, because there is so much going on against that.”
in the first one.” As Pearl herself explained when interviewed on
So with Lawrence having shot Friend from the The One Show on Wednesday 12 April, she, Peter
Future in just a few hours on 13 April 2016, Steven Capaldi and Lawrence had a runthrough of the
Moffat’s shooting script for The Pilot was dated 16 opening scene on set, ahead of the crew coming
June and recording was underway by 20 June... in. Lawrence had very deliberately ensured this
“I think I began prepping around the end of opening meeting scene was recorded on the very
April,” he recalls. “I had longer prep than anyone first day of shooting.
else, so I probably had about seven or eight weeks “Yes, Day 1 was Scene 1. I insisted it was done
of prep, to cover both episodes. Since we were in chronological order, for everyone’s sake. I was
going out to Valencia [for Smile] as well; to prep all like Bill – or like Pearl I should say – because I was
that takes longer.” new, the Doctor is becoming a new Doctor in a
One particular challenge in being the director sense, having been a university lecturer for the last
of the first block was that Lawrence was working 50 years or whatever, the setting was new and so
with Pearl Mackie on her first shoots. How did on. So it made sense to do it chronologically.”
he and Pearl get into the performance, particularly That opening scene, all taking place on one
in this day and age where so many bemoan the set, is five minutes long before we reach the
fact that television no longer has weeks allocated title sequence. How did Lawrence approach
for rehearsal? this crucial shoot?
“Well, obviously a lot of it comes down to what’s “You start off asking about the broader strokes
So just what does written, and what Steven wants from the episode,” and the bigger picture: what’s the scene about,
‘old school Doctor Who’ he replies. “Once you’ve given back the obvious what’s the point of it and what’s the journey
mean to him? notes on a script and you get down to the shooting through? She’s brought in by Nardole, she
“Essentially what we script, there isn’t much leeway to change that. discovers the TARDIS in the room and then she
were trying to create was the Once you get the shooting script then there you and the Doctor start having their audience, and
notion that everything that you need to are, you’ve got to take that to the screen. then he makes the offer to help with her studies, to
know about Doctor Who should all be contained “But obviously you still get to talk about the be her personal tutor. So you’re literally working
in that episode,” he says of the season’s opening character, the core through-line of this character, with that. Above all you’re asking what’s the
instalment, which he shot as A Star in Her Eye, what’s her arc and her relationship with the world emotional connection here and you need to be
but was cheekily retitled The Pilot in time of the Doctor. You kind of get the shape of it. You sure that dictates specifics – like when do you
for transmission. can see where the links are – we learn about the reveal the TARDIS, when does the Doctor sit, and
“That’s why it’s ended up being called The Doctor via Bill, she paints us into the Doctor’s all those kind of difficult things – you ensure they
Pilot, the notion that if someone tunes in now, at world. We therefore discover the Doctor, you start come from the emotional content, which actually
whatever age, they’ll watch this episode and they’ll seeing the through-line, the connections, their comes from the script.
understand the context of what Doctor Who is and relationship. You see into the world of Bill, and see “It was quite a challenge,” Lawrence admits.
would not need to be a kind of guru or an expert. she’s cooking chips and wants to improve her life “You’ve got the Doctor, you’ve got Pearl who’s
So in that way you are going back to basics: a nod without realising it. So you start breaking it down new... I’m new, it’s a new set, it’s a new storyline.
to the old school, true elements of Doctor Who… to broad strokes, then the finer detail.” How do you create that opening? The shots need
any person coming across the idea of the Doctor, Presumably much of the character comes from to be comprised in a way where we are aiding
discovering the TARDIS for the first time and all Pearl too? Bill to discover the room before the Doctor even
that stuff. So that was the notion that Episode 1
kickstarts these new/old concepts.”
Lawrence seems to have relished this fresh
approach, in what appears almost a reboot of
“We learn about the Doctor via Bill –
twenty-first-century Doctor Who after nine seasons.
“I think that’s what I enjoyed most about it she paints us into the Doctor’s world.”
really. They are the things, for me, this wonderful
45
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
THE INTERVIEW LAWRENCE GOUGH
comes in. So you have to think, we don’t want the
Stephanie Hyam and Pearl Mackie
direction to get in the way of that, you just need run through the scene where
to allow the actor space to breathe and then the Heather and Bill say their goodbyes.
audience will be drawn into it.
“Particularly that opening shot, that nice wide
shot of the two doors, where we track round slowly
and turn round and show the rest of the room and
she walks over to the TARDIS. It’s subtle things.
On the day I wanted to take even longer, but of
course when you get to the final edit, pace gets
thrown back into it as you have to kind of hit the
timescale across the whole episode.”
Even after watching the episode a few times, it’s
still hard to tell if the Doctor’s study is a set, or if
it’s a real location?
“We built that in studio, yeah,” Lawrence
confirms. “Because we knew that it was going to go
through the whole season, so we had to get it right.
I remember we had the conversation how best to
do it. Everyone’s done a fantastic job on it – the
designer and the photographer.”
The exteriors for ‘St Luke’s University, Bristol’
were in reality shot at Cardiff University last
summer, weren’t they? Talking of summer, was it deliberately planned “We did the TARDIS reveal with a camera
“Yes it was all Cardiff,” Lawrence affirms, but that the shoot at Cardiff University would be on a wire,” Lawrence explains. “Right from the
reveals the shoot was not as easy as it might outside of term time when it would be less busy? door, right to the back rafters of the TARDIS.
first appear, with the location asking big stylistic “I think it was just luck really – it was just the We wired up the lights in a sequence, so we could
questions for the production. “That was quite a way the schedule fell. We didn’t go to Cardiff Uni control them as we pulled back. It’s never been
challenge. I was really pushing to go down the until later in the shoot, after the study scenes and done before!”
whole Hogwarts route, which is how it originally so on.” From the episode’s Earthbound beginnings,
read in the earlier drafts. But then Steven said, Despite clement summer weather for the shoot, the TARDIS then takes Bill on a variety of travels
‘Maybe we shouldn’t.’ We discussed it a lot and Lawrence had to record a Christmas sequence, throughout time and space in just over 15 minutes
arrived at the notion of ‘Well, hold on a minute, complete with snow! How was that achieved? of screen time. So what was Lawrence’s reaction
let’s not paint a university that’s slightly elitist. “We just snowed the whole of the front of at having to create trips to Australia, an alien
Let’s paint a university that Cardiff University with planet 23 million years in the future and a Dalek/
anyone could be in, and Bill snow machines!” he Movellan battle?
could be in serving chips’.” “I was thinking, ‘Can we laughs. “I only shot about “That’s what is so great about that script,” he
The look and feel thus do it in a quarry, but do three or four set-ups but smiles. “That in the one episode you are going to
moved from Harry Potter-
styled ‘olde worlde’ fantasy
something with it?’” literally a centimetre
outside of that wide
help Bill discover the TARDIS and then they’re
gonna start flying around in time and space. It’s the
to something more modern frame it’s just blistering perfect episode to come into it. And for me, going
and concrete: “So we thought, ‘Why don’t we try heat and green. I insisted that we’d try to do it ‘in into it, to start off with that excitement. That’s
a balance – let’s have the Doctor in his oak-panelled camera’, rather than in post-production with CGI. really why I wanted to do Doctor Who.”
study with a Hogwarts feel to it, and then we’ve All the way through both episodes we tried to do So how did you come to realise the brief visit
got the whole side areas, by the puddle, which are things for real, if possible.” Down Under?
a lot more … real, I guess. That’s another example This approach clearly extended to the episode’s “We knew that Australia would be a bit of green
of a nod back to the old school of Doctor Who, standout sequence, the beautiful moment where screen,” says Lawrence. In fact Steven Moffat’s
where real people find themselves flying through the TARDIS interior is revealed to Bill for the first shooting script concedes this, describing ‘some
time and space.” time. Just how difficult was it to pull back and back award-winning green screen’. “We shot that in Cardiff
Was the setting of the puddle scenes meant to and back like that? Harbour. That was one of those things that didn’t
look as unremarkable and as ordinary as possible?
“There was a lot of design gone into that, to
create that effect actually,” counters Lawrence.
“We got there in the end so it looked quite natural,
but a lot of it was very specially lit. We had to
create things like the door areas, so it looked
exactly right. We had a lot of wind machines
blowing through to create flapping on the sheeting
in the corners, rubbish flapping on the ground.”
We first see the puddle ground in winter and
then later in high summer, leading to two very
different approaches.
“We had smoke vapour billowing through
as if it was coming out of a side of the building.
I love the shot particularly when Bill walks back
over to the puddle and sees Heather standing
over it. It has almost a sort of American feel.
Stephanie Hyam is kept
It took a lot for us to find that setting, where
A close-up thoroughly soaked for
we had real buildings and the right effect for on the Doctor. her role as Heather.
the light and so on.”

DW10: EP 1 “A Star In
Her Eye” by Steven Moffa
16/06/16 t – SHOOTING SCRIPT
–
16
INT. STUDENT BAR – NIG
HT 5 – 21.40
16
Packed and noisy.
EJECTED FROM THE PILOT… Bill, at a table, lau

with her friends.
ghing and joking
D
WM was intrigued to notice “It was just one of those things,” Closer on Bill, drinki
ng a coke, laughing.
that there were two scenes Lawrence continues, “but it was a There’s music playin
g – electric guitar
so she glances to see –
from Steven Moffat’s shooting shame, because it was a lovely sequence. who’s playing.
script for A Star in Her Eye (as Peter’s guitar was amazing. We had all
And there he is, on
it was then) which didn’t appear in the the extras in there and he did this whole a little raised platfo
the Doctor. He’s pla rm,
yin
broadcast episode. We asked Lawrence routine and everyone was just mesmerised soulful – we might rec g something sad and
ognise it as Clara’s
if they were actually recorded? by it. I play the guitar as well, so me and theme.
Peter had a little bit of a session, so that
SCENE 16 (RIGHT) was good.” Bill is caught by him
, in this moment.
His face is so sad,
“Yes, we shot it and it was fantastic!” says All that remains of this scene in the as he plays, and he’
so lost in himself. s
Lawrence. “It was absolutely brilliant. I loved broadcast episode are a couple of frames She hasn’t seen him
this before. And tha lik
it. Bill was in the bar and she’s with her where you can, with the help of freeze t music – so mournful. e
friends and we hear the guitar and everyone frame, spot the Doctor’s left hand on the So curious now. She
looks to the drinks
in the crowd parts and we see the Doctor. neck of his guitar in the background. If everyone around her of
– mostly empty.
And when the girls meet, we spin all the way you don’t believe us, go take a look...
round them and as we spin round them, BILL
on the far side we see the Doctor, as if in a SCENE 21 (BELOW) I’ll get them in.
way he had some kind of hand in their fate, Lawrence confirms that this scene –
in this attraction, in this great saga. where Bill meets Nardole for the first And she stands, intend
ing to make her way
“I can’t quite remember why we ended time – was also shot, but deleted from the bar (but really, to
she
up cutting it. I think it was to do with pace. the final broadcast version. closer look at the Doc ’s going to take a
tor.)
We were keen to inject quite a fast pace in “Yes, that was very funny, a great
And she collides wit
this episode. We didn’t want to linger too little sequence from Matt Lucas. Bill h –
long. Steven wanted a montage – there’s starts quizzing him and she sees the
– Heather. The girl
the fast cutting between the chips, the little scar on his neck. It’s part of her with the star in her
And we freeze frame eye.
lecture, all asked for in the script – and the discovery, her inquiry. But yeah, it’s on this moment, with
face to face. them
scene ended up tied into that sequence. another one of those things...”
–
t – SHOOTING SCRIPT
DW10: EP 1 “A Star In DW10: EP 1 “A Star In
16/06/16 16/06/16 t – SHOOTING SCRIPT
–
21
– 14.25
INT. CANTEEN – DAY 7
21
NARDOLE
is now mostly empty. Who?
The bustling canteen
his plate of chips.
Nardole is finishing
ks it up and met hodically licks it,
He pic face and out-flopped She gives him a look
it dow n ove r his – oh come on.
drawing p over the top of the
eye s pee
tongue. As his BILL
plate, he notice s –
Where does he go, whe
n he’s not
osite. Freezes. here? Where does he
– Bill now sitting opp does he do?
live, what
BILL
Carry on. NARDOLE
... I must be going.
then starts rotating
Nardole considers – He’s getting hurriedly
aga ins t his face. We can hear the to his feet.
the plate na.
Hesitates, takes the
plate.
gue on chi
squeak of ton
Bill notices –
plate down. My God,
Finally he puts the
it’s gle ami ng! – round Nardole’s nec
k
It appears crudely sti there is a scar.
BILL tched. Nardole regist
her interest, quickl ers
you on the y hides his scar.
Blimey. We should get
washing up.
BILL
You been in a fight?
NARDOLE
It’s been known.
NARDOLE
I lost my head.
s that thought, puts
He winks. Bill absorb
it away.
And he hurries away.
BILL
Tell me about him.
47
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
THE INTERVIEW LAWRENCE GOUGH
work quite so well. I was a little bit disappointed
with that. I wondered if there was another way we
could have done it, to make it look like we had gone
to Australia, rather than in post-production doing
a cheapie reveal with the Sydney Opera House.
But really, you know it has to be a green screen.”
The TARDIS next journeys to a planet in the
far-flung future.
“I’m on the fence about this one,” reveals
Lawrence. “I’m aware Doctor Who has always filmed
in quarries quite a lot, so yes, there’s that – but at
the same time I remember watching episodes with
Tom Baker, where the quarry was a kind of motif in
a way, through the ages. So I was thinking, ‘Can we
do it in a quarry, but do something with it?’”
The show’s effects team at Milk added some
CGI matte work and wavy-frond plants in post-
production, but Lawrence remains tough on
himself; “I’m not quite sure if we really pulled it
The crew records in
off,” he muses. “So that’s why I wished we had
Valencia – the setting for
maybe gone to another environment to create an amazing futuristic city.
something that we’ve never seen before. But I don’t
know what that would have been. I mean we don’t
W
have deserts here, so unless you’re going to fly off that rather than try to fight it and completely ith shooting on the season-opener
somewhere... But it’s still fine, I think it still works. reinvent things.” under his belt, Lawrence and his
I don’t know if it’s as good as it could have been. The sequence obviously dovetails into Friend crew set about realising a futuristic
“I think we were there three days,” he continues. from the Future, which was a similar but not colony world build by robots gone
“It’s quite a trek to get down. It takes about 40 identical sequence. So how did they go about wrong for Smile.
minutes just to get everyone in the trucks and drive making that tie-in while not slavishly following it? Much of the episode is about the performances
all the way to the bottom of the quarry. Taking a “We just thought that having done this little of Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie, as the duo settle
whole film crew, taking the TARDIS there, doing preview teaser it would be quite good for the into their new partnership – but the stunning
your set-ups, getting your angles right. But we got fans to make it part of something bigger. So we backdrop virtually acts as guest star. Much of the
there in the end.” managed to find a way of folding it in, reshooting episode was shot in the City of Arts and Sciences in
The TARDIS next jumps to another destination, it and rebuilding it, to construct a shortened Valencia, Spain – chiefly the Príncipe Felipe Science
this time a skirmish between the Daleks and – to version of it and build it into the episode. I just Museum – which provided a ready-made futuristic
the delight of long-term fans – the disco-flavoured wanted to find a way of city, set in a small
robots the Movellans, last seen in 1979’s Destiny
of the Daleks. Lawrence would be too young to
tying things up so you
realise you are watching
“When you go abroad, fans man-made lake.
So how did
remember the Movellans from their original something with a bigger fly in from all over Europe.” Lawrence come to
appearance, wouldn’t he? picture. It’s not the choose this location,
“I didn’t remember them, no, but I’m aware perspective that you thought it was, because you bearing in mind the logistical headache that an
of those episodes, which I watched. Again, in a only knew a small element of it.” overseas shoot entails?
bit of a nod, the way that we constructed that It’s a lovely piece of due care and attention from “Again, it was part of my drive to do everything
set, I was quite keen on trying to get that slightly Steven Moffat and his director, as one suspects fans in camera if I could,” says Lawrence. “I thought, I’ve
retro feel Doctor Who.” Indeed it’s all gloomily-lit might have felt cheated had we never learned how done Episode 1 now, so how do we visualise it to
corridors and pieces of arched girder. “It didn’t that teaser tied-in. another level? So I started scouting around really,
take much to get that kind of nostalgic Doctor Who “Yeah, exactly,” agrees Lawrence, “so now places in England and Europe… and then landed
set, really, with all the characters in, with sparks you can kind of know that really it’s Bill’s first up with Valencia. I just thought it looked incredible,
and explosions. In a way it’s really good to embrace adventure – or a particular element of it.” so me and Peter [Bennett, producer] flew out there
and had a look and it was just an instant yes, really.
In every way it was perfect. It was almost like it was
GOUGH’S LITTLE VENTURE

terraform another planet, but on a purpose-built for Doctor Who. It was just a matter
one-way trip, with no coming back. So of time before someone discovered it. I said to Pete,
they needed someone from an older ‘We’ve got to make it happen here, this would just
A
fter winning a Arts in June 2014 as part of its generation who, rather than sit around give us so much.’ So we did the deal and we flew out
Trailblazer award for Playhouse Presents series, which in an old people’s home, would go there and filmed as much as we could. We were very
Best Newcomer at the draws DWM’s curiosity however. off in a spaceship to another planet. keen on trying to open it right up, going wide, to see
Edinburgh International “Yeah, Ralf Little wrote it, Simon Callow and Richard Wilson the space. And after the initial shoot we were able
Film Festival for his début feature that’s how we first met and we were the leads and we got Robert to colourise the turquoise skies and the reflective
Savage (2009), a horror movie really hit it off. And we’re Vaughn in as the voiceover water in post to make it perfect.”
starring Neve McIntosh, Lawrence working together on projects of the ship’s computer. It’s a The crew was shooting in Valencia in late July, so
went onto much television work, first now, trying to get a couple great little story.” how did they manage to achieve this in the height
with Hollyoaks (2013), then large of ideas together. It was a Featuring cryogenically of Valencia’s tourist season?
primetime projects including Misfits lovely little piece, he wrote frozen space travellers dealing “It was tricky,” admits Lawrence. “You realise
(2013), Atlantis (2015), Endeavour it with Nick Moran. Sky Arts with an onboard computer that when you go abroad, wherever you go with Doctor
(2016), The Aliens (2016) and, most commissioned it and we begins to have ideas of its own, Who, there are fans flying in from all over Europe.
recently, Snatch (2017). shot that in Poland.” Lawrence laughs when the The people that were there, they weren’t local
It’s a half-hour sci-fi comedy “It was a short story about thematic similarities to Smile are Valencian people, they were from all over! Every
Space Age, originally aired on Sky two older guys who fly out to pointed out. day, we had 300 to 400 people turning up, once
word got out that Peter and Pearl were there.

“That was another challenge,” Lawrence
continues, “so we used lots of frames and tracking
shots with very carefully positioned cameras. We
were trying to cordon off as many areas as we
could, out of frame. The rest is a paint job – taking
out the things we didn’t want in post-production.
We did a little bit of CGI, blocking out the tourists
and the cars.”
Uunsurprisingly, the futuristic city in Valencia is
not, in reality, surrounded by acres of wheatfields.
So how did Lawrence make it work, blending the
two shoots of the city and a local crop field?
“Well, I storyboarded both episodes, frame for
frame. So I did thousands of story frames and knew
what each particular shot would require. Because
I went out to Valencia and prepped there, I was
able to say, ‘This particular shot will require this,
this and this to be removed.’ You can get it signed
off before you even go about filming it, because
everyone knows what you’re trying to achieve. You
can’t just make it up on the day – obviously there is
The team tracks Peter
some stuff you find in the moment – but it has to be Capaldi and Pearl
prepped. Prepping really is the key.” Mackie’s movements.
Lawrence reveals the fields were shot a little
closer to home: “The wheatfield was just outside
Cardiff, heading along the coast. We tried hard with spikes coming out of it. The fact that it is the actually have something that really feels right, that
not to have to come back later to reshoot anything opposite makes it slightly macabre. So that was fits, and that works as an interface between the city
as the wheat would have got higher and changed the remit. It was a matter of throwing references environment and the humans.”
colour. We were there for two days, and it was in, and the designers showing us their designs, We see hundreds of robots throughout the
blistering sun, so we all got really burnt – we were discussing it, going back and forward many times. episode, but how many were there really?
completely exposed in those fields with no tree But we got to the point where we realised that it “We just had two! Layered up using various
cover. I was really brown after that!” would take six weeks to build, so I got Kiran Shah tricks. It was crazy conditions shooting under glass
Though not immediately obvious, anyone who in and started getting it constructed.” in Valencia, for all of us. It was a hundred degrees
has ever faked a crop circle might have realised one Shah played the first Emojibot and is a veteran inside those costumes. There are nice little nods to
practical problem with this shoot... Kenyan-born actor, double and stunt performer, horror effects in there, like the notion of looking
“Yes,” agrees Lawrence, “one of the hardest standing at four foot two, who has appeared in up and seeing things staring out the window.
things to do was to get the TARDIS into the field everything from Return of the Jedi to The Lord of the Wherever you look, they’re there. They might
without damaging the wheat!” Rings. In Doctor Who he was previously the mysterious suddenly be at the end of the corridor, walking
presence in Listen. But even with the complex along. They’re just everywhere.”
O
bviously the Vardy Emojibots are a chief costumes made, Lawrence still had concerns... Talking of chilling sequences, the whirlwind
ingredient of the episode, so how did “It was a real worry. The only time I knew we death-by-Emojibot scenes are rather frightening.
Lawrence work with the design team to had something was when we placed one in the How did you achieve those and how can you be
realise his vision? Science Museum in Valencia, where I could see sure that you’re not overstepping the mark for a
“It was a key part of the challenge. I was really them against the pristine white. The bots are family show?
worried about it,” admits Lawrence. “I came up slightly scarred, like R2-D2 in the Star Wars movies “I just think to myself, we’ve got a great story,
with ideas and reference points – ideas of how – a bit scuffed and rough round the edges, with so let’s go as far as we can with it,” says Lawrence.
it could work. We wanted it to be cute and look slightly brushed metal, so it’s not pristine. Only “It’s a mixture of, again, keeping it in camera, using
harmless, but of course the flipside is that it doesn’t when I saw that big wide door open in Valencia, the dust and powder and things. Personally I’d like
have to be running around like a crazed animal opening to reveal the Emojibot, then I thought we to have gone a bit further with the gore but you
can’t really if you’re going out at 7:20pm, so you
need to find the balance. If you read the BBFC [film
Shooting a The camera gets a good certification] guidelines, if you’re not showing the
death scene! shot of the emoji on blood and gore you can actually achieve quite a lot
the Doctor’s back.
with the dry bones and get away with it.”
With the Emojibots, the city, and Peter and Pearl
carrying most of the episode, there’s not much
room for guest performers, so it’s a surprise to see
the well-known faces of Mina Anwar (in a cameo as
Goodthing) and Ralf Little (as Steadfast) in small
roles. How were such big names convinced to come
into play what are, for them, very small parts?
“Mina is someone I’d never worked with before
but Brian [Minchin, executive producer] knew her
and that connection was made and she was keen.
Ralf is a friend of mine [see box-out, opposite], he
was up for doing anything really, he was happy to
work with me again. It’s a shame they’re not in it
more, but it was good to get them in.
“I’m really hoping this episode will be a hit with
the fans.”
49
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
THE INTERVIEW
THE CROOKED
Sm i l e
Frank Cottrell-Boyce,
punctuated with moments of silence, centring
on the Doctor and Bill investigating the empty
asks those questions that you might think about,
then realise that nobody has asked them before.
walkways of the futuristic buildings found on ‘Where’s the toilet?’ – that’s a great moment! And
writer of Smile, tells colony world Gliese 581 D. Pearl Mackie is fantastic. I remember watching
DWM why his episode “The brief was to write Bill’s first big adventure
in space,” explains Frank, “so I wanted it to be a
her first try-out tapes, and thinking, ‘Wow, this is
a new way of writing the companion.’ She’s not
is set on a Utopian two-hander, and part of that two-hander is just

them sharing quiet together and letting her work
just an actress, she’s a new way of writing the show
because she gives you a whole range of questions
world, and explains how out who the Doctor is, for us, again.”
It’s a remarkably traditional opening…
that you normally wouldn’t ask. When she realises
it’s dangerous on this planet, and asks ‘Can’t you
Dystopian fiction has “Yeah, it feels like a 1960s episode of Doctor
Who, and there was a lot more of that in the
ring the helpline?’; it’s a new, special relationship.”
Smile started from a foundation of bringing
morphed into reality... script. There was a lot more walking around
and I wanted that 60s thing. If you think about
a new companion to an alien world aboard the
TARDIS and having a poke around until sinister
INTERVIEW BY MARK WRIGHT William Hartnell’s Doctor, the current Doctor is things start happening. It’s a traditional approach
D
now a teacher, and back then they had that sage to writing Doctor Who, but also something that goes
‘‘
id you like it?” asks Frank old man who knew stuff; the Gandalf figure, that deeper into the structure of classic storytelling, the
Cottrell-Boyce in a softly spoken, wise old chap. ‘into the woods’ feeling that was also present in In
relaxed Liverpool accent that “This is an episode to explore, for Bill to explore, the Forest of the Night.
suggests he’s anything but what the Doctor is. Who he is, and what he is. He’s “Yeah, they’re heading towards that empty
worried. “I’m so nervous about it.” not just a teacher. And Bill’s got a moment where space in the middle of it all, walking towards the
DWM is catching up with she realises this is a police box. Her question is, creature on the map. That’s something I love to
Frank just over a week before the ‘Why can’t we just walk away from this?’ That’s bring out in my stories, the hero’s journey to the
broadcast of Smile, the second episode of the 2017 because he’s the Doctor. What’s been fun about heart of the labyrinth. Doctor Who is about the
series of Doctor Who – and Frank’s second script for writing Bill, and I’m sure everybody else will say nearest you get to being around a camp fire these
the series, following on from 2014’s In the Forest of the same thing, is that it’s making you look right days. It’s something that’s multi-generational, and
the Night. Considering a lengthy CV that stretches back at the core of Doctor Who to see what it is, it has that feeling of the same tale told over and
back 30 years and takes in TV, film, books and because you’ve got a new, very, very inquisitive over. Doctor Who plugs into something very ancient.
critically acclaimed Olympic opening ceremonies, companion who wants to know the answers. You It’s a ritual, it has that same theme music, it’s got
are nerves just a part of the job for a ‘first night’? get to ask all those questions again – and answer mythology that grows and grows, it has phrases
“Only for Doctor Who,” admits Frank. “You feel them – in a fresh way. You go back to the core. She that are repeated just like in Homer. We watch
really nervous about Doctor Who because you grew together with lots of generations. It’s become a
up with it and there’s a vocal fan base out there, national myth, it brings together so much of our
but you’ve got to just forget about that, come off national identity: the eccentric genius, the police
Twitter and not think about it.” box icon. It pulls more and more of that together
It’s the Easter holidays, which means Frank is as it goes on.”
in the thick of domestic activity during our phone
A
conversation. “Everybody’s coming home for mong the many questions posed by
Easter, so I’m picking things up, dropping things young Miss Potts during Smile is:
off,” he says apologetically while preparing lunch. “What’s Utopia?” Two words that
As a father of seven, it makes for a lively home pin down one of the themes running
life. “I live in a noisy, chaotic house, and I think it throughout the episode; Gliese 581 D represents
maybe makes you value silence more.” a new Utopia for the human race, but who exactly
Frank Cottrell-Boyce
In a contrast to Frank’s domestic reality (which does it belong to? It’s a typically big idea that the
remembers to keep smiling.
he clearly thrives on), the first half of Smile is episode’s writer likes to wrestle with.

Bill’s hungry... But there’s
“We’ve imagined what no time to stop for food.
bad is for a long time,

so should we start
imagining what good is?”
“That’s the thing about Doctor Who, it lets you stirring up passions to take back paradise
work out your obsessions,” says Frank. “It’s a great from the robots that built it in the
laboratory for that, a hothouse to explore different first place?
themes. You’re inserting yourself into a national “Utopia is somebody else’s idea,” Frank
conversation, and it’s kind of magic to say, ‘I think considers. “Somebody else has designed it and you
we should be talking about Utopia. Oh! I know, just have to live within it. So, it’s their Utopia, but
I’ll write a Doctor Who about it,’ and then we will it might not be your Utopia. Utopia has to defend
be talking more about Utopia.” itself, it’s my Utopia, so you can’t have it! They’re all
So why should we be talking more about things and thoughts that are worth exploring. As
Utopia? soon as the humans wake up, they’re going for
“I’m not just bored with Dystopia, I think the gun locker, they’re defending a Utopia.
there’s a question that Dystopian fiction may “But it stopped being the humans’
have normalised some of our modern politicians. Utopia while they were sleeping. Because
Now, we’re living in Dystopia and are we living there’s the other thing in there – who
in Dystopia because we imagined it too much? does it really belong to? Does it
Has it become too close to home? When people belong to the people who built it,
in power do shocking things, perhaps we’re not which are the robots? That’s the
as shocked as we should be because we’re familiar other thing I’m interested in,
with it from The Hunger Games or Divergent or rights for robots and AI. If you
whatever. I love, absolutely love The Hunger Games. can make a robot that feels, then
Dystopia is supposed to be satirical, but has it doesn’t that robot have rights?
made us normalise bad things in government? So A new robotic life form has come
should we therefore be trying to think…” Frank about through a glitch that couldn’t
cuts himself off, laughing in mock embarrassment have been envisioned, so they’ve all got to learn to
as he lets the idea run away for a bit into what he share it. It’s not their Utopia at all any more, it’s
called ‘Frankland’ in last issue’s episode preview. only Utopia if you can learn to accommodate the
“Anyway,” he continues, “we’ve imagined what bad people who didn’t design it.”
is for a long time, so should we start imagining Yes, let’s talk about the people who designed
what good is?” the Utopia of Gliese 581 D, the other big idea
Imagining what good might look like is in Smile. The robots – the Vardies and their
something that Doctor Who has a solid track interface, the Emojibots. Last issue, in his
record in, along with the monsters that try to rounding up of the stories featured in this series
destroy those inherently good things, whether of Doctor Who, showrunner Steven Moffat wrote
they be murderous Emojibots and Vardies – of Frank: ‘Brian Minchin phoned him a while
or even human beings. back and asked if he had any new ideas for the
“Yeah, as soon as the humans wake up, they show, and I rather adore what Frank then did: he
start firing guns!” asked scientists what they were worried about.’
Is that a problem with Utopian ideals – there “I was already into those conversations,”
will always be somebody like Ralf Little’s Steadfast confirms Frank. “I was already in touch with and
working with Andrew Vardy – after whom the
Vardies are named – on another thing, but I’ve kept
Bill comes face-to-face on with my interest, and I’m writing a book about
with the Emojibots.
robots at the moment. So it’s never gone away,
Doctor Who is part of that ongoing conversation.”
Andrew Vardy is Associate Professor of
Computer Science and Engineering at Canada’s
Memorial University of Newfoundland. We’re
assuming that relationship didn’t come about by
chance encounter down the local supermarket?
“A company in Manchester called Comma
Press likes to hook up scientists with creative
writers, and that’s their thing, so all those
relationships that I’ve got with scientists really
THE INTERVIEW FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE
On Gliese 581 D, not
all come from that. That’s how I met Andrew. You smiling has severe
get hooked up and just talk, and you’re supposed consequences...
to write a short story off the back of it, but the
conversations just go on and on and on. I speak to
Andrew all the time.”
The use of robots in Smile goes much deeper
than merely a parable on giving robots too much
control to the point where they’ll ultimately
destroy humanity – although warnings are there in
the episode...
“We are in an age of increasing robot tech,
increasing automation, robots are getting cleverer
and cleverer and cleverer, but they are controlled by
fewer and fewer people. We were told that Utopia
would be that robots would do all the work, and
that we’d be sitting round writing poetry having
a great life. That’s not what is happening. It used
to be that robots would do all the drudgery, but
actually robots are taking over middle class jobs,
and people are being left with the jobs that are too
menial for robots to do. When people are cheaper
than robots, that’s just wrong. Automation is going
to produce a huge amount of time, but only a very
few people are going to have access to that time.”
That’s rather a chilling thought. Is there good
stuff in there about robots?
“It’s that thing of micro robots like the Vardies
being such a huge thing, and the idea that they
could have a group intelligence. We couldn’t really
do justice to that in the episode, but that’s such an “K9, exactly! You can use that robot more like to do a Doctor Who, and that idea is used up by
interesting thought. The guy who is running the effectively because you can imagine it as a dog. the time the titles come up. It’s like three minutes!”
robots exhibition at the Science Museum in London If you knew exactly what was going in there, you From his infectious enthusiasm, we get the
[Ben Russell] at the moment told me robots bring wouldn’t be able to use it, but what you need is impression that Frank really likes Doctor Who.
into question what is truly human. Because if a a metaphor, so it’s like a dog.” “I was writing Doctor Who stories in my
robot can think and if a robot can feel and a robot notebook when I was at school, the way you do.
F
can make decisions, what is a human being? A or an episode that feels so simple I had a little scrapbook, during the Jon Pertwee
distinguishing characteristic of human beings is on the surface, Smile tackles some era, where I used to cut... I don’t know why I did
that they anthropomorphise other things, and that pretty weighty themes and ideas for this, but I used to cut the synopses out of the Radio
seemed a really interesting thought to play with a Saturday evening adventure series. Times. I suppose now, you’d just look them up on
too. As humans, only because you see the Vardies “I think Doctor Who can absorb all that, can’t the internet. I used to cut them out and glue them
as a flock of starlings can you communicate with it? Hard science and fairytales. You’ve watched into this notebook, so I’d have a dictionary of
them. If you see them as they really are, you just episodes that are great romances, episodes that Doctor Who. I’d have been around ten I think. That’s
can’t make any sense of them. But we do that with are great allegories, episodes that are politically a big change that I lived through; when it had been
our computers all the time. When you sit down at satirical. Because the Doctor is such a massive on telly, Doctor Who was gone, unless it magically
your computer, you know it doesn’t have desktop, character, he can suck all that in. He’s a story came back one Saturday morning during the
but you have to project the metaphors onto it. You vortex, he really is. Because you go to Doctor Who holidays, so I was trying to compile these pictures
say it has files and a desktop and folders, and these with what you think is your best idea, and it will and synopses and doing these little drawings so
things that are not really there, but you are making use your best idea, your second best idea, your it wouldn’t just vanish. Terry Nation [creator of
them be there through your imagination.” third best idea and your fourth best idea, before the Daleks] was the first name of a writer that I
It’s a thought that could extend to Doctor Who’s the titles have even come up! You go in thinking was aware of as being a writer, not just a name on
most famous robot creation? this would be a great movie, and they ask if you’d the front of a book. I’d seen his name in the Radio
Times, there was a photo of him with a Dalek and
that was very cool.”
OLYMPIC hasn’t it? You’ve got the EU

Referendum at one end, and the
helmed the film adaptation of
Frank’s first book Millions.
So Doctor Who was a big influence while growing
up in the 60s and 70s?
OPENINGS Olympics at the other, and that’s
how it’s come to be seen. Here’s
“Yeah, he’s amazing is Danny.
We’re always talking about stuff.
“Yeah, Doctor Who and Star Trek. That was all
there was to watch really. I had loads of Michael
I
n 2012, Frank one Utopian vision of Britain, and With films, things fall apart, and then Moorcock books, I used to binge read Moorcock’s
DANNY BOYLE IMAGE © MATT DUNHAM/AP/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
Cottrell-Boyce was then here’s another, which is a come back together again. We got Elric books, Frank Herbert’s Dune. I’m so over
involved in writing the different Utopia.” close to making a film together the familiar with those books. These things I guess
script for the Opening Misgivings aside, year before last, that just hit the pushed me towards wanting to be a writer. Those
Ceremony of the London Olympics, the Opening Ceremony wall at the last minute. Sometimes Doctor Who stories I wrote are the first pieces of
one of the most memorable and was a chance to continue it’s not about the films you make, non-school writing I remember doing, adding bits
acclaimed cultural events of the early a fruitful working you learn as much from the films among the synopses.”
twenty-first century in the UK. Oddly, relationship with you don’t make. There were no other career aspirations beyond
however, it’s something Frank is the ceremony’s It’s about your the written word?
reticent to talk about. director own creativity, just “I’ve never had a job, I’ve only ever been a writer!
“It’s that weird thing,” he says, Danny Boyle hanging around with There was a day in Year 6 when my teacher read
“it’s sort of become the bookend (right), who Danny is so nice.” out a piece of work I’d done to the class. I thought
this was the perfect combination of getting loads

Steadfast arms
himself.
SMILING out on location to Valencia where the
futuristic exteriors of Gliese were shot
or something, so it’s a safe place to
work, and it looks epic. It’s a place
ON SET for Smile, he was happy to enjoy a
more industrial experience.
you’ll never see, so it’s unfamiliar, and
of course we got there and it was
‘‘
O
h yeah, of course. “When they find a grungy working! No idea why. But it was
That’s the whole spaceship inside this beautiful building working, there must have been a need
point!” laughs Frank – I love the idea of buildings inside for extra capacity, so the noise was
when asked if he takes buildings. We filmed in a back-up just deafening and everything that was
the opportunity to go on the Doctor power station in Newport. Theoretically shot there had to redubbed afterwards.
Who set when his episodes are being it should only ever be working if But it was incredibly atmospheric. It
made. Although the writer didn’t get England is in the World Cup finals really was like being in a spaceship.”
and uncles watched it, your cousins were proud If there’s a theme that runs through Frank’s
of you – they were interested in it. The show was work, is that much of it involves cultural icons
made in the same building that the meetings were – from Doctor Who and Coronation Street, to
happening in, and that’s a lovely thing. You get continuation’s of Ian Fleming’s Chitty-Chitty
a little bit of that in Cardiff on Doctor Who. The Bang Bang in a series of books, even the depiction
of attention, but no-one’s actually looking at you. carpenters were there, the electricians were there of the Manchester music scene in the film 24 Hour
If she’d made me read it out, then I might have and the people who really made it work are there as Party People. His next film project to see release
wanted to be a comedian… well as all the execs. I was there at the same time as is Goodbye Christopher Robin, depicting the life
“I went to Oxford and stayed on to do a Russell T Davies.” of Winnie-the-Pooh creator AA Milne.
doctorate for completely personal reasons. Among his television and film work, not to “Yeah, maybe,” concedes Frank. “I do love
I got married when I was a student, and married mention the critically acclaimed Opening playing with that national toy box. It brings with
students’ university accommodation was so Ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics [see it a nerve-racking element, because you can really
good, I just stayed on. box-out, below], come unstuck, obviously…”
It was heavenly! Frank admits to
“I was writing Doctor Who
‘‘
O
I was writing Brookside loving doing one h yeah, they hated it!” says Frank good
[Channel 4 soap opera stories in my notebook thing over anything naturedly as conversation comes back
1982-93] when I was
still a student. Well, when I was at school...” else. “I prefer writing
children’s books.”
round to Doctor Who, specifically his first
commission for the series, In the Forest
I called myself a His first book, of the Night. “I kind of missed the whole reaction to it
student, but I was a post graduate. Anybody Millions, was published back in 2004, just as I was in Toronto for another film I’d written, The
could have got on Brookside if they had a Liverpool ahead of its film adaptation, and went on to Railway Man, that was at the Toronto Film Festival,
address! They just wanted to avoid paying win the 2004 Carnegie Medal, awarded by the so I completely missed the broadcast date and the
overnight accommodation.” country’s librarians. fan reaction. I think it had started to settle down by
This was in the late 1980s, with the 1990s “It’s a strange thing to say because I find it really the time I’d got back. It’s the Marmite episode, isn’t
seeing Frank working on film screenplays – his first hard work and I don’t think I naturally have the it? You either hate it or you loved it.”
collaboration with director Michael Winterbottom knack for it. It’s blood sweat and tears, but having Frank remains philosophical about the reaction
was 1990’s Forget About Me. By 1991, Frank was written a children’s book, it’s such a great feeling, to In the Forest of the Night. Despite coming bottom
writing episodes of another national institution. I love the longevity of children’s books, I love of the 2014 DWM Season Survey, the episode was
“I loved working on Coronation Street – there’s the impact that a book can have when you read very well received by the general audience with a
that sense of national ownership. Your aunties it that age.” strong appreciation figure of 83. Is he bothered by
the reaction from some fans, three years on?
“A little bit yeah, because you want everybody
to love everything that you do. Of course you do.
But you’ve got to move on from that and say well,
Marmite is a great product!
“I’ll get nervous next Saturday when Smile goes
out, and I’ll unplug the internet,” Frank laughs,
bringing us back to the present. “Yeah, we’ll be
watching. We’ll get all the family together. It’ll be
brilliant. I watched Doctor Who with my family
when I was a kid, and that’s why Doctor Who works
so brilliantly with traditional storytelling, because
it’s about how traditional stories are told today.”
It’s that sense of just wanting to tell a thumping
good story with big ideas that brings together
generations that is the essence of Frank’s approach
to all his work, and Doctor Who specifically.
“That’s what I remember loving about Doctor
Who. I remember it being, not in a pedagogical
way, but: look here’s the world of science, here’s the
world of history, and they belong to you. And I still
feel that very strongly. I like playing with national
Recording Frank’s icons, I also felt they belonged to me. If there’s one
previous Doctor Who
great message to take from this and Doctor Who it’s
story, 2014’s In the
Forest of the Night. this: here, all this stuff is yours. Go and do stuff
with it, go and play in the national toy box!”
53
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
THE INTERVIEW
THE FUN OF
ALL the write r behin d th e recent
Sarah Dollard, s DW M w h y s he would
e, tell
episode Thin Ic ost fair...
e fr
love to go to th INTERVIEW BY
PETER GRIFFI
THS
I
It’s March 2017, and Doctor Who incredibly arc-heavy, so it had to change any time
Magazine is meeting with Sarah Dollard things changed in episodes before it – or after it,
to discuss a murder. because Steven hadn’t conceived everything in
It’s been almost 18 months since Clara Episodes 11 and 12 at that point. I’d say this time
Oswald bravely faced her own mortality round seemed almost, well, cavalier in comparison!
on a gloomy London Trap Street. Millions Thin Ice is more of a fun episode and has a kind
of viewers gasped as the spectral Raven of B-movie, creature feature aspect to it, so by its
passed through her and she crumpled to the nature it doesn’t have to be quite so considered.”
ground in slow motion, a victim of the Quantum
O
Shade and her own overconfidence. Even as the ne of the first things Sarah herself
numb Doctor regarded her lifeless body, the considered was the kind of story she
Sarah Dollard with
internet was already convulsing in shock. Clara wanted to tell this time. Something
showrunner Steven
was stone cold dead! And lovely Sarah, writer of Moffat in 2016. different, yes, but in what way?
Face the Raven, was the author of her misfortune… “Different not in the stark terms of, say, ‘this one
“Yes I was!” she chuckles gleefully. “Seriously will be set in space because my other one was on
though, it was amazing being at the Gallifrey One Sarah’s second script for Doctor Who. Fans around Earth’ – it was more of a tonal thing for me. Face
convention in Los Angeles last year, a few months the world have now experienced all the fun of the the Raven had been quite a dark and emotional
after the episode went out, and having people talk frost fair on screen, but Sarah and I meet about episode by virtue of what it was. This time the key
to me face to face about the story and Clara’s fate. six weeks prior to transmission. As talk turns word was fun. That was very much the brief from
One woman started crying when she talked about to monsters in the Thames and details of a new Steven and the gang as well.”
what Clara meant to her, and then I started crying! companion, we keep our voices low and cast the That shines through in the humour and thrills
I’d cried every time I wrote or edited Clara’s death odd suspicious look at nearby patrons. Potential of the finished episode. But Doctor Who’s idea of fun
scene, so all of those emotions were still there.” spoiler fiends, every one of them. is generally intertwined with mysterious deaths on
It must have been nice for Sarah to realise, The longer-than-usual production the icy Thames in 1814, that sort of thing. What
via feedback on Twitter, that the episode had break between Peter Capaldi’s second was the germ of the story? What got Sarah’s brain
gone down well? In some quarters, they and third series meant that Sarah could ticking over?
were raven about it! be commissioned for a storyline after “Well, there was going to be a new companion,”
“The fans were nice to me,” she nods Face the Raven went out, yet still provide she says. “The show always does a kind of restart
with relief. “Of course, you read five or ten a finished script for one of the early with new companions, and I was asked to think
nice things about your work, but then slots this season. about the story for her as a series of firsts. This
one person hates it and you go away and “It’s hard to say how long it took, was before we even knew it was Bill, before she
think about that person who hated it because I wasn’t working on Doctor had a name. I wanted to find things for her to do,
for the next year. Obviously that’s what Who full time,” she says. “You don’t and that she would be tested by, that would let
I did! But no, the fact that people who just clock in in March and clock the audience get to know her more. So I started
love the show responded to my episode out in August, for example. I was thinking about an historical episode and what that
meant so much to me.” working on a bunch of different stuff might look like. It had to be a story that would be
That was then, this is now. Sarah at the same time. I had three scripts exciting for Bill, but also one that showed what she
has taken time out of her busy in production – I worked on [ITV was made of, what she’s like when faced with peril.
current schedule to sit down with period drama] The Halcyon and “The frost fair was there from the start, because
DWM at the Picturehouse Central an episode of The White Princess, a who wouldn’t want to go the frost fair?” continues
cinema on Shaftesbury Avenue. As Starz mini-series that’s just started airing. Sarah. “I know I’d like to go to the frost fair! In
it turns out, it’s a good and not-so- It was certainly a much quicker process day-to-day life at that time, the classes never really
good choice of venue – good because Sarah than Face the Raven. Much quicker. Part of mixed, but the fair brought everybody out and
enthuses over how it’s one of her favourite that was down to being positioned at the brought them together. Early on, I had the image of
places to hang in London, but not so good start of the season – Thin Ice was filmed in someone being pulled down into the ice, so there
because the members’ bar doesn’t open until the second block this time, whereas there was a lot of exploring what might do that. And
midday, and we’ve pitched up for morning was a long run-up to the end of last season. there were other elements, too – you know when
tea. Oh well. The bustling downstairs café “I was a new writer then, they didn’t you watch something on TV and it’s supposed to
will have to do. know me,” continues Sarah. “Dealing with be really cold, but they don’t have the frosty breath
The main topic of conversation is Thin Ice something as huge as a companion death coming out of their mouth? I played with that,
– the third episode of the current season, and warranted closer attention. Raven was also went down that road in the story for a little while.”

“A Doctor Who script
ultimately becomes about
your characters – but
initially the story has to be
about a flashy concept.”
So we had a
general ‘where’ with
the frost fair and a ‘what’ The Doctor and
with people being dragged Bill dress up for
to their doom. But then, aha! the frost fair.
A light-bulb moment between Sarah
and head writer Steven Moffat provided
the ‘why’.
“Steven posed a question: why is the Thames
shaped like it is?” explains Sarah. “When you have
that EastEnders opening shot looking down on the
STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS CREATURES
I
river, why does it look like a snake? So an idea that t’s a rare film or TV script Doctor replies: “Actually, the on Earth that are so strange that
started out as more visceral or ‘realistic’ horror that makes it to screen with pangolins ARE alien. Point is, this they must be alien. I’m obsessed
ended up becoming a creature feature of sorts. no cuts, but Sarah was sad planet’s surface is 70% water, and with deep sea creatures and how
I got excited about that. to lose one exchange in humans have explored a tenth of it completely messed up they are!
“Steven is very good at character, yet he’s also particular regarding the nature of the at most. You lot have no idea what’s I can’t even look at them. The
good at bouncing from high concept to high beast in the Thames. down there in the dark.” discussion over whether this could
concept. I wish my brain could do both things The scene came after the Doctor “A lot was cut in the be a terrestrial creature or
so effectively, but I lean towards being more of a and Bill have investigated the edit – a lot,” says an alien was one of the
character plotter. Doctor Who is a different beast riverbed in their diving gear. The Sarah ruefully. “My most interesting parts
from a show like The Halcyon. A Doctor Who script Doctor declares: “Plenty of Earth favourite bit was of the episode for
ultimately becomes about your characters and creatures look alien the first time you the pangolins. me, in addition to
their needs and their flaws, but initially the story see them. The platypus, for instance, That’s kind the human and
The pangolin.
has to be about concept. It has to be flashy. So The Yeti-crab. The star-nosed mole.” of where the social stuff.
when Steven says to me, ‘The monster is the shape “The pangolin!” chimes in Bill. idea for the episode And it all
of the Thames,’ I’m like, ‘That’s fun! I can make “I love pangolins.” To which the came from – creatures got cut!”
that work’. I get the benefit of Steven’s big ideas.”
55
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
THE INTERVIEW SARAH DOLLARD
The last time DWM spoke to Sarah, back It’s no surprise that the Doctor’s new character in her writing, what kind of impact did
in issue 494, she mentioned that she was companion does that effortlessly. No really, Bill’s development have on the story?
nervous in her initial meetings with the Doctor she fits the Bill. But the Doctor is another case “Bill is the kind of person who’d get a lot from
Who team for Face the Raven. Being more of an entirely. Putting aside his awkward attempts at going backpacking around the world for nine
experienced hand this time around, was she just getting down with the kids (Hang tight! Laters! months,” says Sarah. “Clara was pretty difficult to
as nervous? More nervous? An imposing tower Awesome!), he comes up with an inappropriately shock right from the start; she was a bit world-
of confidence, perhaps? grim bedtime story to keep them enthralled. weary even when we first met her. But with a
“Haha! A little bit less nervous, I think,” “That actually wasn’t in the script!” laughs person like Bill, there is something in their world
she says. “There weren’t so many unknowns. Sarah. “When Bill and Kitty are talking, it just that they need to escape. Their life or outlook
You know the people, you know how things work. says in the script that the Doctor is telling the could be improved by having their world opened
I was also more comfortable because the fans other kids a story by the fire. I’d imagined that up. Donna [that’s Donna Noble, Chiswick temp,
had been nice to me on Face the Raven. Of course, we wouldn’t hear any of that, that they’d just Pringles aficionado and companion to the Tenth
all that could change at any moment, so you be sitting rapt in the background. I remember Doctor] was another good example of that. So
continue to be nervous! Every blank page is being in the tone meeting, and Nikki Wilson, the yeah, it was clear Bill would be a companion who’d
nerve-racking, but there were some ‘knowns’ producer, had written on her scripts, ‘Dialogue??’ be more childlike than Clara. Not childlike as in
this time.” I was like okay, they’re immature, but as in excited by new things and
Children have always going to ask me at adventure. In fact, someone ideal for kids who
loved Doctor Who, we “A key note from Steven some point to write might come to Doctor Who for the first time in this
know that. But especially Moffat was that Bill the story the Doctor series and be experiencing it all new.
since Steven Moffat took
over as showrunner in needed to discover a tells. But what they
ended up doing was
“A key note from Steven was that Bill needed
to discover a new thing about the Doctor in every
2009, the programme new thing about the finding a really old episode,” continues Sarah. “At one point, she was
has showed some love in
return, often putting kids
Doctor in every episode.” German fable, and
had the Doctor read
going to learn in my episode just how old he is –
the scale of him being around for so long. There
front and centre in the that to the children. was originally a line where she got an inkling of
action. Think of young Kazran Sardick, “The scene opens on a little bit of that, and that. She said, ‘Wait, you can go anywhere in time
Captain Avery’s son Toby and brother-and-sister it’s terrifying!” continues Sarah. “I was like, and space and you’re coming back to the frost fair?
duos Angie and Artie, Lily and Cyril, and ‘What is this?’ and so I Googled the lines and Why would you do that?’”
Francesca and Digby, among many others. worked out it was this old German story about Finding out a little further down the track
And that’s not to mention young Amelia Pond. a kid getting his thumbs chopped off. It kind that Bill was a woman of colour got Sarah
Why did Sarah choose to have a gang of mudlark of makes sense that the Twelfth Doctor has five thinking about that in the context of the story
urchins in Kitty, Spider and co play a key role in minutes to entertain these children, and tells she was developing.
her narrative? something gruesome and wrong!” “Originally, after the disaster Bill experiences in
“I wanted characters who knew the area well, Episode 2 – where she goes to the future and it’s
W
and street kids would have to know everything to e’ve seen Bill in action over three terrible, and there’s genocide – the pitch in Thin
survive,” the writer tells DWM. “And it was partly episodes now, and she’s roared out Ice was the Doctor saying, ‘Right, we’ll make up
because they are invisible people. If a homeless of the gate, kooky, sparky and eyes for that with one more adventure. Where would
child goes missing, it can be anonymous or wide with wonder at the sights she’s you like to go?’ Because the new companion had
overlooked. One of the things I love best about seeing by the Doctor’s side. But when Sarah first become a student of history while studying with
Doctor Who is when the companion makes friends got to work writing, the only real note she had him, she’d seen the woodblock prints of the last
with locals and otherwise invisible people, even if to work from was that Bill would be a different great frost fair, and chose to go there.
it’s just moments of empathy and connection. All character from Clara. As she fleshed out her “But I started pondering, ‘What person of
along it was important to me to find characters in episode with Steven, more details about Bill came colour would want to go to the past?’ There’s
1814 who Bill would connect with.” rapidly – but given that Sarah is heavily focused on a great quote from Louis CK [American writer,
comedian and genius] about there not being stories
of black people and time travel. Why would you
The Doctor discovers want to do something where there’s diminishing
something fishy...
returns the further back you go?” (The quote from
Louis CK runs: “Here’s how great it is to be white
– I can get in a time machine and go to any time,
and it would be… awesome when I get there! That
is exclusively a white privilege… A black guy in a
time machine’s like, ‘Hey, anything before 1980, no
thank you. I don’t want to go.’”)
Accordingly, Sarah considered the story through
Bill’s eyes, and discussed it with Steven Moffat and
the team in Cardiff. “I sort of said that it changed
things for me. Did I still want to set it in 1814? But
we talked through ways to make it a part of the
text. You didn’t want to make the episode about
it, but at the same time I didn’t want to negate or
erase Bill’s experience.”
One of the elements that changed was that,
instead of it being Bill’s choice to visit the frost fair,
it became the TARDIS’ decision. “And a knock-on
effect of that change was that we got the lovely
moment at the end of Episode 2 with the elephant.
It was my idea, but Frank [Cottrell-Boyce, writer
of the second episode, Smile] stole my elephant!”
Sarah laughs and shakes her fist in mock anger.

Cheeky street urchin
Spider runs off with
the Doctor’s sonic.
“I learned about Bill being gay when I read the

finished version of Episode 1,” says Sarah. “One
of the things I liked best about it – and I wrote a
gushing email to Steven after I’d read the episode
– is that Bill’s sexuality is not an ‘add on’. It’s an
organic part of Bill and her life that you find out
just as naturally as where she works. And as in life,
it’s not the most interesting thing about her.”
For Sarah, does it feel different from Clara’s
throwaway references to being attracted to
women? Clara definitely had a thing for and/or
with Jane Austen. (Maybe if she’d loved her less,
reader, she might have been able to talk about
The Doctor and Bill
it more.)
watch on as they free the
creature under the Thames. “There’d been a bit of teasing about Clara being
bi, but she never defined herself using that term,”
muses Sarah. “It’s canon that she’s kissed women,
“Bill also brings up the fact that slavery is still could think was: ‘Now everyone’s going to think and I think there was part of fandom – myself
a thing – and can I just say that Peter plays that that I’m making a deliberate reference to that!’ included – that was very excited that Clara could be
moment wonderfully,” continues Sarah. “You could “To get the Doctor to a place where he could read as bi. On the other hand I think some viewers
have had paragraphs-long discussions between punch someone, you need to go to a bleak place might have overlooked those references, or just
him and Bill about slavery, and what it means for as well,” the writer tells us. “I have to say, I’m assumed they were offhand jokes. That’s why it’s
her to go out into that world, but Peter does it all uncomfortable with the Doctor being violent, so even better now that we have a character whose
in one look. It’s extraordinary. There are those having him break in a moment like that framed the queerness is dealt with directly and openly. Bill is
wonderful moments where you see the centuries in violence in a way that I could understand. He’s met gay, and she talks about girls she likes in just the
the Doctor’s face, everything he’s witnessed about this guy before. He might have had a different face same casual way that Amy and Donna used to talk
the worst human beings can do to each other, and from Sutcliffe or been in a different time, but the about guys. Her gayness is just one facet of her life
it’s one of those. Peter did a lot of work for us in Doctor has seen that kind of abuse over and over.” and not a big deal for her, sure, but equally it’s not
that moment.” When leading lady Pearl Mackie happened to something that can be erased or misinterpreted.
Towards the end of the episode, Bill is the target mention in a pre-transmission interview with BBC The show is unequivocal about it, and I think that’s
of Lord Sutcliffe’s vile yet almost offhand racism News that Bill is gay, the newspaper headlines that really great. People in real life are queer, and TV
– prompting the Doctor to launch himself at the followed predictably focused on that. Pearl had should reflect real life. Doctor Who should reflect
villain with a killer punch. Sarah is keen to point said, “It shouldn’t be a big deal in the twenty-first- real life.”
out that the scene was scripted long before white century. It’s about time, isn’t it?” And showrunner
A
supremacist Richard Spencer was punched on live Steven has since expressed his frustration at the s Sarah and I say our goodbyes, there’s
television by a bystander on the day of Donald sheer amount of coverage. “It’s important that we one last thing to consider. When we
Trump’s inauguration. As some corners of the don’t make a big fuss about this,” he stressed at the previewed Thin Ice last issue, we teased
internet were celebrating in meme form, all Sarah screening of Bill’s first episode, The Pilot. a moment to do with Bill that became
Sarah’s favourite of the episode. We can now reveal
that it comes at the very end of the story, when
INCLUDE ME
as to whether Ashildr might have the Doctor’s latest companion realises the role she
also enjoyed a pie at the frost fair... played in saving Kitty and the children, and giving
“Thin Ice is set around the end them a future they would otherwise have lacked.
A
shildr – alias ‘Me’ and of the Napoleonic Wars, which was “Bill’s look of wonder at the power she now
‘the Knightmare’ – was also the time at which Ashildr came has is magical,” confirms Sarah. “I saw that scene
born in the ninth century to Trap Street,” she muses. “That’s in some rushes very early on, when they sent bits
and lived until the end of by the by, of course, but at one point of Bill on tape out to all of the writers. And Pearl
the universe. En route, she spent time I was trying to think about whether plays it so beautifully – exactly how I’d imagined
as mayor of the alien refugee camp Ashildr could actually have been it, but more and better. Getting to that moment of
Trap Street, as detailed in Face the around in this episode. And you know Bill realising that this isn’t just fun, that she might
Raven. Sarah gave brief consideration what, she could have been!” be able to do some good, was really important
to me.”
57
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
Scratching beneath the surface of Doctor Who’s most fascinating tales...
The Ark
The TARDIS takes the Doctor, Steven and Dodo
into the far future, where they meet the last
humans – and witness the end of the world...
FEATURE BY ALAN BARNES
T
he Earth destroyed by a sun,
as seen on a spaceship scanner The Steel Sky The TARDIS team
viewed by refugee humans en FIRST BROADCAST: 5 MARCH 1966 enters another
route to a lush, extraterrestrial spaceship.
Eden? Surely a few of the parents In a Jungle, a reptilian biped (Eric Blackburn,
of Doctor Who’s most avid uncredited) turns around… revealing its
viewers must have been reminded Cyclopean eye. n Whipsnade Park Zoo, just outside Dunstable,
of the closing moments of When Worlds Collide n In the camera scripts, all this was indicated first opened to the public on 22 May 1931.
(1951), producer George Pal’s epic sci-fi saga simply as ‘Jungle sequence’ – and appears, n Originally, Dodo’s dialogue was given in
of just 15 years earlier – in which, well, the therefore, to have been largely director Michael Northern dialect: “I come [sic] here once before
Earth was destroyed by a rogue sun, as seen on Imison’s invention. The monitor lizard seen in with the school,” for example – not “came here
the scanner of a spaceship crewed by refugee the opening shot was supposed to be filmed close once”, as said on screen.
humans en route to a lush, extraterrestrial Eden. enough so it looked “like a huge monster” until the n Likewise her line, “Earth? Well, it couldn’t be
But the idea of an interstellar Noah’s Ark goes hornbill came into view – but, according to Imison, anywhere else now, could it?” was written as:
back further still; such an undertaking, to be “the cameraman couldn’t find a lens that would do “But it couldn’t be nowhere else, could it?”
crewed by successive generations of humans, that, or misunderstood what I wanted…”
was described by Russian spaceflight pioneer n Imison claims the monocular Monoids, as She points out a chameleon, a monitor lizard
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935) in his paper they’re known, were his invention – having thought and a locust.
The Future of the Earth and Mankind (1928). By writer Paul Erickson’s original monsters “fairly n As scripted, Dodo first drew Steven’s attention
the late 1970s, the idea was familiar enough indefinite” (but what were they? See Origin of Species to ‘one of them flower things… There. They eat
to be satirised by Douglas Adams, in his radio box-out, page 62). Freelancer monster-makers Jack bugs and flies and things’ (meaning a Venus flytrap,
comedy The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and John Lovell made the latex rubber Monoid perhaps, or some other carnivorous plant?). She
(1978) – in which we learned that humankind costumes from Daphne Dare’s designs. As Imison then spotted a stick insect, and finally a chameleon.
was descended from the management had imagined, each Monoid’s eye was actually n Stage directions flagged up aspects of Dodo’s
consultants and telephone sanitisers packed a painted ping-pong ball level with the actor’s character – her braggadocio, for instance. When
aboard the Golgafrincham B Ark. tongue; yak hair ‘Beatle wigs’ were added to hide Steven asked how she knows all this, she replied:
So The Ark is nothing new in sci-fi terms; eye- and nose-holes from the viewer. “Learnt it at school, didn’t I?” – then was directed
space arks, indeed, went out with the Ark. But to continue, “(boastfully) nothing you can tell me
it was rare, even in 1966, for Doctor Who to Elsewhere in the Jungle, the TARDIS about nature study.”
venture into the realms of ‘true’ science-fiction. materialises. Steven (Peter Purves) chastises
But The Ark is a drama of consequences, too new crewmember Dodo (Jackie Lane) for Dr Who (William Hartnell) exits his Ship, telling
– two linked 50-minute episodes, effectively, rushing out – without waiting to be told it’s his companions that this may indeed be Earth…
the second exploring the consequences of safe to do so. Dodo insists that she knows n William Hartnell mangles his very first speech
what transpired in the first. Rather like (say) where they’ve landed… – giving “very strange” not once (as scripted), but
The Woman Who Died and The Girl Who Lived n “You do?” boggles Steven. In the camera script, twice; and misplacing the concluding ‘indeed’.
(2015)? Or The Pandorica Opens and The Big he was directed to do a ‘(double take)’, then repeat
Bang (2010)? Or The Sound of Drums and Last of himself: “You do!” … but that reptilian biped is watching on.
the Time Lords (2007)? In that respect, at least, n In the original, we gained our first glimpse
‘The End of the World and The Return of Doctor … just outside London, she says, at a place of a monstrous Monoid when the camera zoomed
Who’ (1966) seems very modern. Very new. called Whipsnade. back here, to show a hand letting foliage fall across

“Refusis will be ours.
We will land there.
We will create a
Monoid world.”
the shot: ‘Not an ordinary hand – one roughly

shaped in the human mould but covered in heavy
ESSENTIAL Compact. Late in May 1965, Erickson n All four episodes were then
INFO
reptile scales. We see no more of the watcher – was commissioned to write scripts recorded over four consecutive Fridays
for the moment…’ for a four-parter entitled The Ark. The at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith,
first two episodes were delivered by beginning on 18 February – by which
Elsewhere: a number of humans are gathered Wednesday 1 September, then time Erickson had negotiated
on a Main Deck, where another of the reptilians extensively revised later a joint writing credit for
delivers a printed-out verdict to the Commander n The Ark was the first full adventure in the month; the final his wife, Lesley Scott...
(Eric Elliott): ‘20 – 0 = GUILTY’. to feature new companion Dodo, two instalments were retaining sole copyright
n The teleprinter was an innovation arrived at drafted into the TARDIS crew after delivered by Monday 1 for himself. Notably, final
after the scripts had been written. Originally, a stopover on Wimbledon Common November, then revised episode The Bomb was
Paul
the scene opened thus: ‘C.U. [close up] reptile in the closing moments of the by Thursday 18 November. recorded almost entirely
Erickson.
hand writing. Pull back as paper is handed to previous serial, The Massacre of St (None of these versions are out of sequence – a first for
Commander sitting on dais…’ Bartholomew’s Eve (1966). And it was known to survive – most or Doctor Who – because Imison
the last to be credited to producer all of which predated Tosh’s ad hoc was obliged to schedule the night’s
Two of the reptilians escort a prisoner in (David John Wiles, who’d first proposed a devising of Dodo in autumn 1965. work around the movement of the
Greneau, uncredited). By leaving open a valve story set aboard a ship “so big that So who was the Doctor and Steven’s full-size Launcher prop.
in the Heat Exchange Unit, he might have you could get the whole of South fellow traveller in those early drafts –
caused an explosion fatal to both the human London into it. You could drive cars, Vicki? Katarina? No-one knows...) n The Ark was hugely expensive: The
race and their “friends”, the Monoids. The ride bicycles – the whole notion of Steel Sky was the most costly Doctor
Commander sentences him to miniaturisation forests floating in the air...” n The scripts were again overhauled Who episode made to that point
in the Minifier; he’ll be returned to normal at the behest of first-time Doctor Who – coming in at £5,678 against an
size in approximately 700 years’ time… n Wiles’ idea was given director Michael Imison, prior to average of £2,500. In total, the serial
n “… when it can no longer be a danger to us.” to Paul Erickson, who’d four days’ pre-filming at Ealing went £1,259 over budget... some of
‘It’?! (As scripted, this was, more naturally, ‘he’.) recently written for the between Monday 31 January which had to be clawed back through
n It’s not much of a punishment, is it? Given BBC sci-fi anthology and Thursday 3 February 1966 underspends on the following
that all that the prisoner has to look forward Out of the Unknown... – largely covering ‘Monoid adventure, The Celestial Toymaker.
to on the Space Ship is the inevitability of death but whom script editor battle’ scenes for the fourth
after a lifetime’s worth of dreary plumbing Donald Tosh knew from episode, and scenes involving n The Ark ranked 184th (out of 241)
maintenance, The Fact of Fiction would have left the soap opera live animals for the first. in DWM’s First 50 Years poll of 2014.
that Y valve open on purpose in the hope of being
New recruit:
Dodo.
59
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
reborn on a paradise planet in seven centuries’ n “Why are you dressed in these stupid clothes?”
time – wouldn’t you? he continues. “Have you been footling about in
my wardrobe? … What do you think you’re playing
Prosecutor Zentos (Inigo Jackson) accepts the at, ‘Crusades’?” Although former companion
sentence. The Commander’s daughter, Mellium Vicki (Maureen O’Brien) had disguised herself
(Kate Newman), pleads that “anyone can make as a pageboy in a tabard with a single stripe
mistakes” – but the Commander insists that the throughout the first three episodes of The Crusade
only alternative is expulsion. (1965), she’d changed into a mediaeval lady’s
n Originally, Mellium asked her father, “Aren’t dress after the deception was brought to light –
you being rather severe?” – then named the so it seems unlikely that Dodo was ever intended
otherwise nameless prisoner: “Opallo’s not likely to be wearing Vicki’s page’s outfit (as has been
to do it again.” suggested), since it was left behind in twelfth-
n In Paul Erickson’s Target Books novelisation, century Jaffa!
published 20 years after transmission of the n Which raises the question: what’s the Doctor "Nellie the Elephant
packed her trunk,
original, the prisoner is given another name doing with a mediaeval pageboy’s outfit inside his and trundled back
– Niash – and gets to speak, telling Mellium: private wardrobe…? to the jungle."
“Sometime in the future I will remember you, n According to Jackie Lane, Dodo’s dressing-up
but in the meantime, travel in hope.” was meant to be a character trait – “the
idea being that the TARDIS had a vast
Defender Manyak (Roy Spencer) accepts the
verdict. The prisoner is placed inside the Minifier
wardrobe that Dodo couldn’t resist
raiding, usually ending up with quite
‘The mystery of the picture
– and reduced to microcell size. unsuitable clothes.” But it seems this of the two-headed zebra is
n Stage directions indicated that ‘a large cabinet’
should be ‘wheeled out in front of the Commander’
was dropped as unceremoniously as her
Northern accent, perhaps at the behest never explained...’
during his dialogue with Mellium. In the event, the of incoming producer Innes Lloyd – who
Minifier cabinet simply appears in situ, like magic! made an early visit to the Doctor Who set
n The miniaturisation was pulled off by pulling when he attended Ealing filming for The Ark? ‘(sotto voice)’, according to stage directions.
back from a photograph of actor Greneau, n The Doctor suggests they take a last look round The implication is that, despite appearances, the
crouching; this was then laid into the surrounding before getting Dodo “off to bed” – a departure humans don’t quite trust the Monoids – which
static shot of the cabinet by electronic means. from the script, in which he’d said they’d look is, presumably, why the script also specified that
around, then “be on our way.” as Zentos hurried off with the original Monoid,
In the Jungle, Dodo sees an elephant (Monica, n In the Target retelling, a tiger emerges from ‘the attendants belonging to Zentos and the
uncredited). She gives the elephant a banana. the woods and charges at Dodo – only to begin Commander exchange a look and then part’.
n “Hey, look at him then,” says Dodo as the licking her hand, then rubbing itself against the
elephant approaches. A few minutes ago she Doctor and Steven’s legs. The Doctor, of course, In the Jungle, Dodo points out pictures painted
proudly told Steven how, “There’s nothing you can won’t stand for any of it: ‘he glared at the tiger and on a rock – including what looks like a zebra
tell me about nature, simply nothing” – except, ejaculated: “Shoo!”’ Which is a novel way to rid with two heads.
that is, how to distinguish the male Asian elephant oneself of the attentions of a tiger, however tame… n Responding to Dodo’s deployment of 1960s
from the female. Because this elephant is plainly (Later, the tiger’s docility is accounted for by the vernacular – ie, the slangy “fab” – the Doctor says
tuskless – making her a female: Monica. (See Queen Commander: via genetic engineering, humankind she’ll have to do something about her English.
of the Jungle box-out, opposite.) bred out its own aggression around the 20th “What’s wrong with it?” she asks – killing the
Segment of Time; the same programme was later scripted joke, since her reply was again meant
According to the Doctor, she’s an Indian extended to the Jungle creatures.) to be given in dialect: “What’s wrong with me
elephant – which is strange, given that they’ve English?” (Most irritating.)
also seen flowers from America, birds from The watching Monoid sees them walk off, n The camera on Steven and Dodo judders
Africa and a snake from Brazil. He directs his then heads to the Main Deck… where Zentos alarmingly as the shot cuts to Steven’s comment on
companions’ attention to the ‘sky’ – in fact, a relays his report to the Commander: there are the rock artist’s imagination…
metal roof radiating light. intruders in the Jungle. n The mystery of the picture of the two-headed
n Here, the episode’s title featured in a stage n The Monoid-driven electric cart, first seen here, zebra is never explained. Perhaps it really was an
direction: ‘we see the rivets in the steel sky’. featured nowhere in the script. In fact, it was a imaginative depiction, as Steven speculates. Or
BBC scenery cart – borrowed and redressed by perhaps it was meant to represent the history of
He’s detected a “mechanical vibration” in the designer Barry Newbery. the Space Ship – so not a two-headed zebra, but
ground, too… a pair of zebras, the various species having been
n As he straightens up, William Hartnell is clearly Live images of the Doctor, Steven and the brought aboard the Ark two by two. Or perhaps
quite unaware that there’s a leafy branch directly TARDIS are relayed to the screen on the Main it represents a lost story element…? (See Origin of
above his head! Deck. The Commander orders the travellers to Species box-out, page 62.)
be invited for questioning.
Dodo sneezes violently. “We must do something n “Are we sure this is nothing to do with the An alarm sounds in the distance. Steven goes
about that cold of yours,” says the Doctor. Monoids?” the Commander asks Zentos – in to check on the TARDIS – and sees Monoids
Don’t you feel small? Doctor of medicine!

One of the crew
is sentenced to
miniaturisation.
Homo Sapiens Feet first! Work

statue designs. begins on the statue.

The Ark
QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE joined Rosaire in a soundproofed

booth on the Hughie Greene-
hosted Associated-Rediffusion quiz
B
anana-scoffing jumbo in 1956. There, she was sold to show Double Your Money (1955-
Monica was The Ark’s Fossett’s, along with two bull 68; precise edition uncertain);
standout star – seen elephants – Jimmy and Blackie supposedly, he won £250... and
in Jungle scenes pre- – bringing Fossett’s troupe of she won 250 currant buns. She
filmed at Ealing on Thursday 3 elephants up to five. At the time, probably featured in at least
February 1966. Director Michael Fossett’s elephant trainer and one edition of the Associated-
Imison had insisted on getting presenter was ex-Chipperfield Rediffusion circus variety show
shots of the Doctor, Steven and employee Ivor Rosaire (1911- Hippodrome (broadcast 26
Dodo interacting with Monica 2005). In June 1965, Monica July 1966), billed as one of
since he’d “gone to the trouble made the pages of the Berwick ‘Baily Fossett’s Elephants with
of getting a real animal in rather Advertiser after she caught Ivor Rosaire’. Also on the bill
than using some stock footage. I sight of a schoolboy who closely that night: actor Tony Randall,
actually had the elephant in a van resembled Rosaire’s son, Derrick, ventriloquist Shari Lewis and
outside my flat overnight because and mistakenly followed him past-their-peak beat quartet The
gathered around it, all bearing sticks. The he [sic] had to be driven down through the gates of Tweedmouth Searchers. A ‘Moni the elephant’
Doctor, Steven and Dodo hide in a cave as the from somewhere in the north of County Secondary School and is also listed as having featured
searching Monoids pass. England and the BBC wouldn’t into the school building itself in the earlier 12 July 1966 edition
n Far from being mute, here the Monoids can give the driver anywhere to park – trashing a door in the process – of Hippodrome, alongside Alan
be heard from off, beyond the cave entrance on the premises. The driver fed it before being led away by Rosaire. Sherman, Linda Bennett and The
– ‘beating the bushes with their sticks and [sic] and then went off to some According to headmaster IF Gleig, Zombies. If ‘Moni’ was indeed our
grunting questioningly’, exactly as stage directions hotel and he asked if I could keep Monica was some Monica, as seems likely, then she
demanded. an eye on it [sic, again].” Dodo distance away as could easily
actress Jackie Lane later recalled the boys entered have been
Steven leads the way back towards the Ship… how Monica “behaved beautifully the school: the Moni who
but stops when he catches sight of a city- throughout”. That’s unsurprising, “It followed featured in
like structure beyond the trees. “All this is a though – because Monica on, went into the 29 October
spaceship!” realises the Doctor. Suddenly, they was, very probably, a seasoned the corridor 1961 edition
find themselves surrounded by Monoids. professional... and was then of Val Parnell’s
n Here, the central ‘city’ is represented by means It seems most likely that The recovered,” he Sunday Night
of a caption – but as scripted, the travellers found Ark’s Monica was the same said. at the London
themselves ‘looking down on the grill of a large Monica then touring the UK with The Ark was Palladium (1955-
cage, beyond which we can see the Main Deck. We Sir Robert Fossett’s Circus and Zoo. not Monica’s 67). Whether
zoom in past them to discover the Commander, Born in the wild in Sri Lanka circa only television or not she did
Mellium and Zentos impassively watching…’ The 1954, Fossett’s Monica was one appearance. a twirl for host
‘cage’, of course, implied that (as Dodo surmised at of 15 Asiatic elephants brought Around the Bruce Forsyth goes
the outset) all this is a zoo… to Ireland by Chipperfield’s Circus time, she unrecorded, sadly.
Soon after, on the Main Deck: the Commander

questions Steven about their means of arrival – (at least, not at this point in their development); they’ve been doing in the background, beginning
the TARDIS. and what would have been the point of the with Steven’s line, “Look, who are you…” The
n Curiously, the Commander asks: “You travel alarm heard in the Jungle when the TARDIS was implication, then, is that it’s actually the Monoids
in that black box?” – when most 1960s viewers discovered, if the Monoids couldn’t have heard it? who are doing the stirring here, and that it’s
would have known a police box to be dark blue! n In Erickson’s novelisation, the Guardians’ ship is they who fear the unknown Refusians – which
The line is given exactly as scripted – but even if “two thousand leagues long”, and contains not only is intriguing, in the light of later events. (Much,
cast and/or crew had realised the error at the time, a jungle, but also “lakes and rivers, deserts… even much later events…!)
it’s unlikely they could have done a thing about it. simulated polar regions”.
Because here we see the Commander’s words being Arriving with Dodo, the Doctor points to his
printed out on a Monoid-manipulated machine as The Guardians and the Monoids are travelling companion’s cold as proof; the virus used to be
he speaks them: ‘YOU TRAVEL IN THAT BLACK together to the planet Refusis Two, since the quite common in humans, before it died out.
BOX.’ Presumably the print-out must have been doomed Earth will soon burn up – pulled into While the Doctor and the Commander converse,
prepared in advance by the props department, who the Sun. Zentos despatches a Monoid to the TARDIS.
must have taken the text directly from the script n Irrespective of the Commander’s later claim, Meanwhile, the Doctor has been describing a
– meaning that actor Eric Elliott would have had these aren’t the only human refugees fleeing the few of his adventures to the Commander…
to deliver the line exactly as typed on the night of sun’s destruction – at least, not according to n … including his encounter with the Emperor
recording… however wrong! Frontios (1984), in which the Fifth Doctor meets Nero (in The Romans, 1965) and his and Steven’s
n Or perhaps the Main Deck screen is black “one of the last surviving groups of mankind”, exploits in the Trojan Wars (in The Myth Makers,
and white…? struggling to survive in the Veruna system. also 1965).
The Commander confirms that they are indeed Zentos casts doubt on Steven’s story, suggesting … who claims that those events occurred in
aboard a huge spaceship, and explains how he that the travellers might be Refusians, come to the First Segment of Time; now, it’s the 57th.
and his fellow Guardians come from Earth – sabotage their mission. According to “audio-space research”, Refusis
which the Monoids landed on many years ago, n What leads Zentos to make this accusation? has Earth-like conditions – but the Space Ship
when their own planet was dying. As indicated in the script, throughout Steven’s won’t get there for 700 years. It’s like Noah’s
n Originally, the Commander commented on how dialogue with the Commander: ‘A Monoid has Ark, reckons Dodo – carrying “the Earth’s full
the Monoids ‘lack speech and hearing’ – but this been making furtive signs to Zentos who eyes population, human and animal” in cabinets full
was lost. It’s never stated that the Monoids are deaf Steven suspiciously…’ Which is exactly what of miniaturised millions.
61
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
Dodo is
manhandled
by a Monoid.
n At the Commander’s suggestion, Mellium takes as scripted: “Eh. what’s [sic] that? All that carry on
Steven and Dodo to see a Statue, while the Doctor –” (Pure Coronation Street!)
talks to “chief controller” Manyak. But the final
part of this scene was lost from the camera script The Launching Bay door slides open to admit
– without which, the Commander’s later collapse an electric cart, carrying a prostrate Monoid –
comes pretty much unprompted! Moving away, who’s suffering from a fever.
the Commander asked Zentos if the ‘Suleiman n The business with the cart-borne Monoid was
Reading’ had been taken, since the temperature absent from the original script. We’ve already seen
“seems to have risen abruptly”. Glancing at how the author intended the Jungle to be bordered
controls, Zentos said that the relevant indicator by a ‘cage-grill [sic]’, as in a zoo. As written, we
appeared unchanged. “Extraordinary. It feels so now cut back to near the grille, where: ‘Two of the
warm,” said the Commander – who then fretted: Monoids have re-approached the bars. On this
“Could something have gone wrong?” A camera side several attendants have clustered near them
cue followed: ‘Zoom to CU Commander.’ in order to see what is going on. The one Monoid
is frantically communicating by means of sign
Mellium shows Steven and Dodo the feet of language – whilst the other staggers and clutches
the statue of a male Guardian, Homo Sapiens – the bar, seemingly very ill, almost delirious…’
which will be built up over the next 700 years. n The camera was specifically directed to ‘Take
n According to Barry Newbery, the platform in focus in and out’ on the shot of Zentos telling the
front of the statue was designed to resemble a Commander about the “strange disease… spreading
hydraulic lift: he’d worked out that each of its nine among the Monoids” – to convey the hallucinating
sections would lift two feet six inches apart, giving Commander’s POV, apparently! webbed hand gripping the cage. Then suddenly the
a maximum elevation of 22’ 6”. If that were the hand lets go – and falls to the floor…’
case, then the finished statue (including its plinth) The Commander reels; he, too, has the fever.
might have stood 22’ 6”, plus the average height of The Doctor realises that none of them have Zentos invokes Galactic Law against the
a Guardian standing on the topmost platform – so any resistance to the Dodo’s common cold, strangers, ordering them to be held in custody:
roughly 28’ [8.6 metres], all told? since it was wiped out many generations ago; “… later they will be made to suffer for the
n Mellium claims that the statue is made from it might be fatal to them. The Monoid is dead, crime that they have committed!” As the Doctor,
everlasting “Gagarian Rock” [sic; as scripted] – declares Manyak. Steven and Dodo are taken away, Zentos tells
named after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (1934-68), n Again, the manner of the Monoid’s demise Mellium that her father may die: “But then
the first man in space, perhaps…? differed significantly from the author’s intention. again, so might all of us. In which case, it was
n The alarm sound prompts Dodo to make one of As written: ‘Manyak glances towards the cage-grill pointless leaving.” The wall screen shows the
her most blatant surviving Mancunianisms, again [sic]. The second Monoid is lying on his back, one image of the distant Earth.
n The ‘distant, tottering, calamity stricken’ Earth
in stage directions – not that any of those things
ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES the battle situation...’ Most telling

of all is the capitalisation in the
scripted version of Dassuk’s line
are apparent in the model shot!
A
ccording to director trial scene in The Plague: ‘We see during the battle, said to his fellow The Plague
Michael Imison, the the uproar on the Deck with the Guardians in the Launcher: ‘Now! FIRST BROADCAST: 12 MARCH 1966
monocular Monoids reptile creatures moving in on the While the Reptiles [sic] are attacking
were his idea: “I can’t glass cage...’ In The Return: ‘Caption: one another.’ The Doctor, Steven and Dodo – who is now
remember what they were called holding on the head of the reptile It seems reasonable to speculate, feeling better – are shut in a Side Room.
originally,” he said in Doctor Who creature…’ It might be particularly then, that the Monoids originally n As scripted, Dodo took the Doctor’s line about
– The Handbook: The First Doctor significant, though, that the word went by the “fairly indefinite” their usually excellent health to mean he was
(Virgin Publishing, 1991). “They is all over the pre-filmed sequences name, the Reptiles. But if that blaming her, sniffing: “Me again.” Then, after Dodo
were fairly indefinite creatures, for The Bomb – the first full scenes were the case, what else might we began to cry, her TARDIS-mates were directed to
but I had this idea, which I thought recorded for the production, prior surmise? On screen, the Monoids ‘exchange a look of long suffering’! (Which was
was brilliant, of having actors with to studio rehearsals: ‘[Monoid] Four are said to be refugees from a meant to suggest – what, exactly? ‘Women, tcha!’?)
ping-pong balls in their mouths pauses and addresses the other planetary catastrophe – but what if
so that they could play these reptiles’; ‘A couple of reptiles glance the Reptiles had an origin of their On the Main Deck, Zentos watches live
one-eyed creatures...” at One, hesitating’; ‘The reptiles own? The ‘rock painting’ scene in pictures of Monoids falling ill, all over
We can’t say for sure what scatter, taking positions in the first episode stands out as a the Space Ship. In the Commander’s Room,
the late scriptwriter Paul Erickson dead end, storywise: what’s with micro-virologist Rhos (Michael Sheard) tells
called his monsters originally the unexplained business about Mellium that data covering this type of fever
– neither storyline documents, two-headed zebras? The Fact of was lost “in the primal wars of the Tenth
nor draft scripts are known to Fiction can’t help but wonder: what Segment”. The Commander implores Mellium
have survived – but we can take if that was originally intended to ensure the voyage continues in the event
an educated guess from reading to set up the idea that, over of his death.
the camera scripts, which (in pre- the many centuries since the n “Of course, Father…” begins Mellium actress
word processing days) would often Guardians’ Ark left Earth, the Kate Newman – whereupon Commander Eric
incorporate physical fragments Jungle fauna had continued to Elliott comes in too early with his next line,
of former drafts, literally pieced evolve? What if the monstrous beginning “What –” before she’s come out with,
together. Frequently, one word in Reptiles were originally just “... but soon you’ll get well.”
particular is applied to the Monoids. that – reptiles from the Jungle? n Mellium’s face mask doesn’t quite cover her nose,
At the beginning of the first Main Lizards, perhaps, who’d become so it’s quite surprising that she doesn’t catch her
Deck scene in The Steel Sky, for bipedal as their intelligence had father’s lurgi. Doubly surprising, in fact – because
example: ‘C.U. [close up] reptile of th e grown – but who hadn’t yet the Commander is seen to be holding the hand
The se cret
hand writing...’ At the end of the onoi d’s no se ! developed speech...? at the end of her bare-skinned arm! Official NHS
M
advice warns that one can easily catch the common

The Ark
Monoids alike that the strangers will answer for n As Zentos gets up from the Control Deck, check
their crimes at a hearing, to commence at once. out the closest of the Monoids in the background.
n “Yes, they must be tried and punished,” declares There’s no room for him to sit on the bench with
the 1st Guardian (Stephanie Heesom), in one of the other Monoids, so he’s leaning with his elbow
several unscripted utterances (originally just ‘a on the edge of the flowerbed… playing it cooool.
murmur of approval from all gathered’).
The Commander hails Zentos, ordering him to
Baccu (Ian Frost) will put the charges; Manyak release the travellers – but only if the Doctor
and Mellium volunteer to speak for the uses Steven as a guinea pig in his researches:
prisoners. The Doctor and Dodo watch from a “If he succeeds in curing him, then I will set
screen in the Side Room. aside the verdict…”
n “Look Doctor, they’ve switched the television n In Erickson’s novelisation, the Doctor and Dodo
on,” says Dodo – but as scripted, she exclaimed, are brought into the main area for sentencing
common as muck: “Eh, Doctor. They’ve switched – where the Doctor seizes the opportunity to
on the telly.” demonstrate how Dodo’s temperature has
dropped, because she has “antibodies in her
Via the screen, Mellium says that one of system” that the Guardians have long since lost.
them must give evidence; Steven volunteers. His explanation causes Zentos to relent before the
Soon, Steven is sealed in a booth on the Main Commander is forced to overrule him. (Later, we
Deck while Baccu lays the charge: that he discover just how different the Guardians have
and his friends are agents of the become to humans of Dodo’s epoch – they’ve each
intelligences that inhabit Refusis, got two hearts , for instance! Monoids, though,
‘We discover how different who came to the Space Ship with the
intention of spreading the disease.
“have no heart at all.”)
the Guardians have become n Steven asks how Zentos intends Soon: the Doctor tells Mellium to keep
to humans of Dodo’s epoch… to cope with the unknown – “By

destroying us? By ejecting us into
Steven warm…
n Here, Mellium is quite right to query the
they’ve each got two hearts.’ space?” But until that point, he Doctor’s advice. The last thing one should do
can only have heard Zentos refer to a patient with a fever – usually defined as an
to “expulsion from the ship” as a increase in body temperature to above 37.5°C, as a
cold virus by ‘touching the skin of someone who possible penalty via the Side Room monitor – so response to infection – is to raise their temperature
has the infected droplets on their skin and then why should he presume ‘expulsion’ means killing further still!
touching your mouth, nose or eyes…’ them by means of forcible ejection?
… then gives Dodo a list of items to fetch from
A mournful drumbeat draws Dodo and the Steven insists that the Doctor could experiment the TARDIS.
Doctor’s attention to a Monoid funeral procession to find a cure, if he were released – but Zentos n Baccu volunteers to go with Dodo – which is
passing through the Corridor outside… rouses the Guardians by asserting that this is a probably just as well, given the deadly fauna she’ll
n As directed: ‘Steven shows no great reaction trick, so they might spread the fever further and pass in the Jungle. Are we to take it, then, that
but we should not be conscious of this’ – ie, not faster. Watching Steven falter, the Doctor and Baccu sees the inside of the Ship? If so, he makes
to spoil the reveal that he, too, is falling ill Dodo fear that he may have caught the virus, no later comment on it – which must be some kind
(we presume). too. Manyak appeals for reason: if the Doctor of first!
n Featured here: stock music track Drumdramatics and his friends are the only people among them
No. 11, composed and conducted by Robert who might be able to cure the sickness, there’s Next, the Doctor begins to describe the virus to
Farnon. No drummer is seen, so presumably no sense in ejecting them. Rhos. Later, Rhos tells Baccu that the Doctor is
the beat is being played over the Space Ship’s n Originally, the 2nd Guardian (Paul Greenhalgh) trying to rediscover a lost vaccine, derived from
loudspeakers! conceded: “The Defender may have a point in animal membranes…
n Again, it’s unclear whether or not the Monoids what he is saying.” n Rhos claims that a vaccine for the common cold
are an entirely deaf species – but even if that’s the was used “as long ago as the twentieth century”,
case, it’s possible they might have developed a Baccu reports news that one of the Guardians has before being “lost in the time of the Primal Wars”.
purely percussive music, as here. died from the fever. Zentos urges the Guardians Erickson was being more than a little optimistic
to deliver their verdict: “Guilty!” He gives the in anticipating the development of such a vaccine
The procession enters the Main Deck, Monoids the privilege of executing the prisoners within 34 years of The Ark’s transmission; 51 years
where Zentos orders the body committed – but as they advance, Steven collapses. later, there’s still no such vaccine!
to space burial… n At the beginning of this sequence, Steven was n Dodo’s cold affects space pilot Steven just as
n … whereupon the dead Monoid is placed on installed in a cage with open bars – but suddenly a badly as it affects the Guardians and the Monoids
the back of the electric cart, and driven through clear plastic material has been applied to the inside – so perhaps the common cold had been entirely
the Launching Bay door. As we’ve seen, the cart of the bars! When and by whom, exactly? (Stage eliminated by his own future epoch, and therefore
featured nowhere in the scripts, where instead: directions referred to ‘the glass cage’.) he never received the vaccine?
‘Two Guardians are standing at a small hatch- n Zentos’ declaration that the prisoners would be
like door that is built into the wall… they use “expelled from the Ship” was supposed to prompt … meaning they must capture various
the manual handle to open the hatch door. ‘a surge towards the cage’ – by bloodthirsty specimens from the Jungle. Baccu volunteers
The Monoids move forward with their dead Guardians, we presume. to organise the hunt; soon, Monoids begin to
companion. They ease him in through the open n As written: ‘Steven is suddenly seized by a violent gather the necessary samples.
hatch door (as would a torpedo be loaded into the choking fit’, then ‘spins round and falls’ – but in the n It’s barely visible on screen, but an extra
firing hatch of a submarine). Then they step back. event, Peter Purves simply slumps against the back shot – ‘MCU Monoid with test tube’, recorded
The two Guardians close the door. They operate of the cage… which wobbles alarmingly. in the Commander’s Room – is intentionally
the switches and levers alongside…’ superimposed over the film sequences featuring
Steven is returned to the Side Room. Via the Monica and the monitor.
… and soon, the corpse is ejected into space. screen, the Doctor remonstrates with Zentos, n In Erickson’s novelisation, Guardians and
Deputy Commander Zentos tells Guardians and but to no avail. Monoids pair up to extract saliva and other
63
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
Cast and crew
board the Ark's
control deck.
samples from various of the Jungle animals

– reaching into ‘a goat’s throat’ with a ‘swab-
probe’, for example. In the process, one of the
hunting Guardians finds himself gripped by a boa
constrictor; ominously, his Monoid partner seems
‘fascinated by the action of the boa… By its scaly
skin that was so much like its own, by its obvious
strength, and by its aggressiveness.’ The Monoid
strokes the snake’s head, and it eases its grip –
‘as though having picked up a message from its
own kind.’
In the Side Room, a Monoid assists the Doctor

as the samples arrive. The Doctor claims that
two membrane fluids can be combined to create
the vaccine…
n The first part of the Doctor’s opening speech
– “Yes, I know I’m a bit of a quack…” – was an
unscripted embellishment.
n Given his earlier, terrible advice to Mellium,
to heap blankets on the fevered Steven… is the n Erickson’s novelisation massively expands on apple/26”, to be precise) – so the First Doctor
Doctor telling the absolute truth here, when he this, with the Doctor, Rhos and a Monoid assistant underestimated quite significantly when he said,
calls himself a quack? In The Moonbase (1967), travelling far and wide to administer the vaccine to in the previous episode: “We must have jumped at
the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) will (very some of the Ship’s remotest inhabitants: across a least ten million years…”
vaguely) claim to have been a proper, medical desert, complete with a recreation of the Pyramids;
doctor at one time: “I think I took a degree once then to a farmhouse in the cultivated zone; and Later, beside the statue, the travellers bid
in Glasgow. 1888, I think. Lister…” But as The Fact finally to ‘the icy regions of the polar cap’, where farewell to the Guardians…
of Fiction established in DWM 426, by 1888 the they encounter a polar bear. n Stage directions stated: ‘The Doctor, Steven and
pioneering surgeon Joseph Lister had long since Dodo are standing in front of the TARDIS. The
moved on from the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and An hour or so later: Steven tosses and turns, Commander, Mellium, Zentos and others have
was working at King’s College Hospital, London reacting to the vaccine – but at last, his fever come to see them leave…’ Was this a hangover from
– casting serious doubt on the existence of the breaks. The Doctor and Dodo give the Guardians an earlier draft, in which this was a Jungle scene? If
Doctor’s medical credentials. Quack, indeed! the good news. so, it might have been relocated to avoid recreating
n As written, the action cut away after the n As scripted, Dodo burst into the Main Deck a portion of the Jungle in studio for one single
Doctor’s line about his Monoid helper being yelling, ‘Yahoo!’ scene in this episode.
more knowledgeable than people realise, to a
dialogue-free scene in the ailing Commander’s Dodo checks on the Commander; his fever has Zentos apologises for mistrusting the
Room. While nursing the Commander, Rhos gone down, too. Doctor – who tells him that he must “travel
glanced at Mellium: ‘anxiety written all over his n “Oh, splendid, splendid,” says the Doctor – with understanding as well as hope.” A Monoid
features. We pan off them to see their attendant who doesn’t yet know whether or not his vaccine drives the travellers back to the TARDIS,
watching, watching…’ works on the Monoids, who have an entirely which soon dematerialises from the Jungle…
different biology. Come to think of it: has the then rematerialises in the Jungle. Stepping
… which he administers to Steven by means of vaccine been given to the Monoids at all? We’re out, the Doctor thinks something must have
a metal disc, placed on his arm. not told, but if it wasn’t – why, that’s the sort of gone wrong…
n Here, the Doctor tells Dodo that he needn’t use discrimination that might create a quite justified n “Well now, that’s inexplicable,” says the Doctor.
a hypodermic needle to administer the vaccine, sense of resentment… In the script, however, he arrived at the most
since “That went out a long time ago…” Just ten obvious explanation right away: “We moved – but
months later, the cliffhanger to the first episode of Baccu draws everyone’s attention to the scan of we only travelled through the time barrier. No [sic]
The Underwater Menace (1967), in which companion the distant Earth, meeting its final, fiery end. that is extraordinary.”
Polly (Anneke Wills) is menaced by a surgeon n Here, stage directions indicated: ‘The planet
wielding a hypodermic, would cause some small flares, huge meteor flames streaming out from They go to the Main Deck, but find no sign
controversy – so it’s intriguing to note that here, its circumference – and then, after a moment, it of life. “Doctor, Steven – look!” cries Dodo.
the Doctor Who production team went out of its plunges out of orbit and the scan picture flares to She points towards the now-finished statue…
way not to show the same… white as the Earth lurches towards the sun.’ complete with the head of a Monoid.
n Right now, the Ninth Doctor (Christopher n According to designer Barry Newbery, sculptor
While Dodo waits, the Doctor and the Eccleston) is also watching the Earth’s destruction John Friedlander – better known for having crafted
Monoid depart, to deliver the as-yet-unproven from the orbiting Platform One space station – as many 1970s monster masks, including that of
vaccine to the rest of the sick – including seen in The End of the World (2005)! There, the Dalek creator Davros – made the model statue
the Commander. world’s end is dated to the year five billion (“5.5/ featured here.
A sweaty
Steven!
The Monoids get

The end of settled for their
Chicken wings! the world! trip to Refusis.

The Ark
The Return
FIRST BROADCAST: 19 MARCH 1966 WHERE ELSE HAVE I SEEN…?
700 years have passed, says the Doctor – hence TERENCE BAYLER Survivors (various episodes, 1975) as drama, 2001] as Count Orsino.
the leaves littering the ‘grotty-looking’ Deck. (1930-2016) Yendorm Charmian Wentworth. Other TV appearances: See The
n “But we’ve only been gone a few seconds,” Other Fact of Fiction: The Invisible Enemy
protests Dodo – to which the Doctor replies, “It’s Doctor Who INIGO JACKSON (1933-2001) [DWM 362].
pretty hard for you to understand.” As scripted, appearances: Zentos
he replied, less patronisingly: “It’s hard for you to The War Games TV appearances TERENCE WOODFIELD
believe, isn’t it?” (1969) as Major include: The Maharis
n What has happened, though, to cause the Barrington. Saint: The Man Other
TARDIS to travel only in time, not space? In TV appearances Who Liked Toys Doctor Who
Erickson’s novelisation, the fatigued Steven was include: Mystery and Imagination: (1964) as Albert appearances:
ordered to keep an eye on the main controls, but Carmilla (1966) as Nemeth; Rutland Costello; Man The Daleks’ Master
failed to notice when his sleeve ‘caught the lever Weekend Television (various roles, in a Suitcase: Blind Spot (1968) as Plan: Volcano/The
of one of the main instruments and altered 1975-76); The Rutles: All You Need is Stephane; Department S: The Last Abandoned Planet
its position’. Cash (1978) as Leggy Mountbatten; Train to Redbridge (1970) as Bray; (1966) as Celation.
She-Wolf of London: Can’t Keep Jason King: A Royal Flush (1972) TV appearances include:
Steven sees that the Space Ship is nearing a Dead Man Down (1990) as Sir as Corso. The Avengers: Mission to Montreal
Refusis Two – guided automatically. The Doctor Robert; Lipstick on Your Collar (1993) Film appearances include: (1962) as Reporter/School for Traitors
activates the Deck scanner, tuning in to the as General. The Brigand of Kandahar (1965) (1963) as Green; Object Z: The World
Commander’s Room –where ‘subject Guardian’ Film appearances include: Monty as Captain Boyd; Twins of Evil (1971) in Fear (1965) as Man/Object Z
Maharis (Terence Woodfield) kow-tows to a Python’s Life of Brian (1979) as as Woodman. Returns: The Monsters (1966) as The
superior Monoid. Gregory; Time Bandits (1981) Voice [voice only]; The Tomorrow
n Cringing Maharis is serving his master from a as Lucien; Brazil (1985) as TV MICHAEL SHEARD People: War of the Empires (1979)
genuine 1960s BBC tea trolley! Commercial Presenter; The Remains (1938-2005) Rhos as Sorson Captain.
of the Day (1993) as Trimmer; Harry Other
Next, they see Guardians working like slaves in Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Doctor Who MONICA (born circa 1954)
a Kitchen – where a Monoid overseer targets (2001) as The Bloody Barron. appearances: Elephant
a careless Guardian with its energy weapon. The Mind of Evil TV appearances
Steven alerts the Doctor and Dodo to the arrival EILEEN HELSBY (1971) as Dr include:
of three armed Monoids, all wearing numbered Venussa Summers; Pyramids Val Parnell’s
collars, and two Guardians – including Yendom TV appearances of Mars (1975) as Sunday Night
(Terence Bayler). include: Laurence Scarman; The Invisible at the London
n “Doctor, look,” says Steven, while holding Doomwatch: Enemy (1977) as Lowe; Castrovalva Palladium (1961,
the Doctor’s gaze – but it’s only then that Peter Tomorrow, the (1982) as Mergrave; Remembrance of unverified) as Herself; Double Your
Purves turns to face screen right, towards the new Rat (1970) as the Daleks (1988) as Headmaster; Money (date unknown) as Herself;
arrivals! Joyce Chambers; The Stones of Venice [Big Finish audio Hippodrome (1966) as Herself.
Monoid Two (Ralph Carrigan, voiced by John

Halstead) activates a switch on his collar, Maharis share a brief exchange of
asking: “Who are you?”
n Since the Monoid actors had ping-pong
‘The Return marked the début dialogue, exactly as written… but then,
holding the fruit, One turns his shoulder
balls blocking their mouths, the creatures’ of Roy Skelton, who’d go on to away – as if he’s placing whatever-it-is
lines had to be delivered from off by one of two
voice artistes – which is why they mostly spoke
voice Daleks and Cybermen.’ in a secret mouth in his upper chest,
hidden behind his voice box!
in duologues. And since the Monoids didn’t n One’s chest-chomp substituted the
have visible mouths, their collar-switches helped are taken to the Commander’s Room – where scripted scene’s closing beat: ‘One chuckles
indicate which of them was speaking (as with the Monoid One (Edmund Coulter, voiced by Roy again and returns to the TV scan. He switches it
Daleks’ head lights). Skelton) informs them that the virus brought by on and starts watching it. We close and hold on
Dodo mutated, sapping the humans’ will. Maharis. For a brief moment, as he looks at One’s
The Doctor tries to explain. n In Erickson’s novelisation, it’s been many back, his features cloud in frustrated defiance…’
n “We are visitors to this, uh, Space Ship…” begins generations since the Monoids’ revolution: One n Erickson’s original monsters had visible mouths:
the Doctor – but at exactly that moment, two more is actually Monoid One the Seventeenth, direct as scripted, for example, this scene opened with
unwanted ‘visitors’ can be glimpsed in the far left descendant of Monoid One the First. One ‘eating fruit from a tray that Maharis is
background, moving about! n The Return marked the Doctor Who début of Roy holding’. Plainly, they must have nasal organs, too
n “These strangers, they –” begins Yendom, before Skelton (1931-2011), who would go on to give – or how else could they have caught and spread
Seventy separates him from the other Guardian. voice to a great many creatures throughout the common colds in the previous episode?
The choreography doesn’t allow his scripted line series’ twentieth-century run – including Daleks n What does a Monoid sneeze through, anyway?
to be delivered as it was doubtless intended, as an and Cybermen. Perhaps it’s best not to ask. We can guess how a
unheard aside to his fellow human: “Perhaps these Monoid smells, though. Awful, bdm-tish!
strangers can help.” The Guardians themselves developed the n In his novelisation, Erickson amends the
n Michael Imison had previously directed Yendom Monoids’ voice boxes and ‘heat prods’ – and creatures’ appearance, giving them ‘three shrunken
actor Terence Bayler in an episode of soapy were quite unprepared for the Monoid uprising. nostrils and a small, thin mouth from which a
women’s magazine drama Compact: The Mighty One orders Two to take the travellers to the tongue occasionally flicked out’.
Fallen (1963). Security Kitchen, and then call a Grand Council.
n As scripted: ‘One watches them go with a chuckle. In the Security Kitchen, Venussa (Eileen Helsby)
Following a recent revolution, the Monoids are Then reaches for a fresh piece of fruit from the whispers news of the strangers’ arrival to her
now the masters. The Doctor, Steven and Dodo tray that Maharis is holding…’ On screen, he and fellow slave, Dassuk (Brian Wright).
65
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
n Eileen Helsby was the sister of Imison’s Assistant Voice (Richard Beale) orders Two to put the vase
Monoid
on The Ark – Thelma Helsby. down… then an unseen something physically
ambush!
n Brian Wright had twice before appeared forces him to replace it.
in dramas directed by his former Oxford On the Main Deck, One tells Three that
acquaintance Imison: first as Colin Prentice in a once the Monoids have left for Refusis, he’ll
Compact: Stolen – One Cigarette Case, Gold (1963); destroy the Ark and the Guardians by means
then as a Doctor in a W Somerset Maugham of a fission device. Maharis is eavesdropping
adaptation, Liza of Lambeth (1965). At the time of from a Second Side Room – but doesn’t see
production, he was starting out on a parallel career One point to where he’s hidden the bomb:
as a TV scriptwriter – and a few short years later, inside the head of the statue.
his Doctor Who storyline The Mists of Madness would n Camera directions confirm that the striking
be developed as a possible for the 1970 season. top-down shot of One and Three seen here was
achieved by pointing Camera 3A at a mirrored
She reminds him of the legend about a doctor surface angled above the actors’ heads, and
and a young couple who visited the spaceship ‘maximum security’; rather ‘security’ in the sense shooting the reflection (as with a similar shot
hundreds of years before, and named it the Ark. of ‘something deposited somewhere, which may of the Doctor, Steven and Dodo at the top of
Just then: Two leads the Doctor, Steven and be forfeited in particular circumstances’. So the the episode). But the numbers on the Monoids’
Dodo into the Kitchen…! Security Kitchen is where the Monoids work the collars are seen the right way around, suggesting
n Amusingly, a public telephone’s hood is humans they hold as securities… against the other that Camera 3A’s output was transposed during
mounted upside-down on the wall beside the door, humans’ good behaviour! recording by means of ‘reverse scan’ – flipping a
as some kind of futuristic storage unit! switch, basically. (Yes, in 1966!)
The Ark’s Launcher sets off… and soon, the
Shortly afterwards, One addresses the Monoids’ Doctor, Dodo, Yendom and Two step out into a Maharis hurries to the Kitchen, where he tells
Council on the Main Deck. Refusis will be a Refusian Landscape. the prisoners about the
Monoid-only world... since One plans to destroy
the Guardians. They know nothing about the
n Cunning stage directions
tried to make the Launcher ‘In the novelisation, plan to blow up the Ark.
In the Castle, the
Refusians, so One intends to send a forward landing easy, by cutting if Refusis proves invisible Refusian tells
uninhabitable, the
landing party. directly from the model the Doctor that his
n The slider on One’s voice box is only partly open shot to the Landscape set: people knew that the
throughout his speech to the Council. ‘We hear the sound of the
Launcher approaching and
Ark might journey Ark was coming – and
built “places like this”
In the Kitchen, Dassuk pooh-poohs Steven’s plan making its landing as the on to another to accommodate its
to seize a Monoid heat prod.
n The magic potato pot, in which new tubers are
camera pans the landscape
and comes to a stop on the planet – Trang.’ population. A giant
solar flare caused the
instantly reconstituted by placing powder in water Launcher…’ Refusians to lose their
(just ‘roll-back and mix!’) featured nowhere in the visible form – but they are happy for the planet
script. They set off in search of Refusians… but then to be repopulated by peaceful beings.
an invisible presence enters the Launcher, trying n In the Target telling, the Refusian gives Dodo
Two arrives to fetch the Doctor and Dodo. When out its door. Further along, Two causes Dodo to the run of the place, which reminds her of ‘Castle
Venussa distracts Two, Steven and Dassuk try suspect that the Monoids don’t intend to bring Coch’ [sic] – properly Castell Coch, a Gothic revival
to grab the monster’s prod – but Monoid Three the Guardians to Refusis; Yendom is shocked. castle just outside Cardiff. Its exterior façade and
(Frank George) arrives unexpectedly, and blasts The Doctor points out a distant structure, interior Banqueting Hall must also, therefore, be
a Guardian. Two escorts the Doctor and Dodo like a space age castle. Soon, they enter its reminscient of those in Osterhagen Station 1 in
away; Steven will be held hostage while his immaculate Main Hall. Germany, as seen in Journey’s End (2008); and its
friends are on Refusis. n The gates to the left of the Castle doors were Courtyard that of the Calvieri residence in Venice,
n Note Two’s words to Steven: “You will be repurposed by designer Barry Newbery, who had as seen in The Vampires of Venice (2010)!
held as a security for their [ie, the Doctor and used them as the gates to the seraglio of Saracen n Wandering around, Dodo meets (and later plays
Dodo’s] conduct.” Held as a security… in the baddie El Akir’s palace in The Crusade (1965). tennis with) a Refusian girl, who spontaneously
Security Kitchen! Over the years, many have names herself Mary; the other Refusian is her
mocked the name, but the ‘Security’ in ‘Security Two tries to summon the Refusians by throwing brother, whom Mary arbitrarily names Charles.
Kitchen’ doesn’t mean ‘security’ in the sense of a vase to the floor… then another. A Refusian
Outside, Yendom tries to prevent Two from
returning to the Launcher to warn One about
RECYCLED CYCLOPEANS
directly re-encountered the Monoids the Refusians’ nature. The Doctor and Dodo
– but the Seventh Doctor’s sometime hear the sound of a heat prod… and soon
spin-off associate Benny has! discover Yendom’s corpse. Two calls One from
A
lthough director a puppet Eleventh Doctor is seen Jacqueline Rayner’s audio adventure the Launcher, but fails to complete his report
Michael Imison squaring up to a puppet Monoid Professor Bernice Summerfield and after the Launcher explodes, killing him. Beside
imagined that the during the course of a Punch and the Kingdom of the Blind (Big Finish the wreckage, Dodo asks the Doctor what
Monoid ping-pong Judy show put on for the benefit of Productions, 2005) is a prequel to they’ll do if the Monoids go to another
ball eye “would be a great thing the children of Christmas, on the The Ark, detailing the Monoids’ planet instead.
for BBC Enterprises to market”, the planet Trenzalore. Monoid fans can origins as a race of slavers on whom n On the face of it, Dodo’s fear is pretty
Monoids were never destined to but dream that the the telepathic groundless – but in Erickson’s novelisation, One
join the pantheon of the Doctor’s Doctor (Matt Smith) Halavans exerted a has already revealed to Two that if Refusis proves
greatest enemies... alas. Nonetheless, was re-enacting an terrible retribution – uninhabitable, they might yet journey on to
a singular Monoid made a surprise as-yet-unseen taking away another far-distant planet, Trang – only ‘“it will
reappearance (of sorts) in Doctor adventure of his own... their speech, and take a long time for the Ark to reach it…”’
Who 46 long years later, in The Time No other Doctors their individual
of the Doctor (2013) – in which are known to have identities. In that case, the Doctor tells her: “We shall just
have to stay here.”

The Ark
escaped the Kitchen. As scripted, the scene
concluded with Dassuk suggesting they separate:
“That will give us a better chance. Venussa – you go
with Steven…”
On the Main Deck, One orders the activation of

the main landing order signal. Settling into a
Launcher, he tells Three that the bomb is set to
explode in 12 hours’ time. The Monoids depart
the Ark in three Launchers…
n … as seen by Steven and Venussa on in one of
the Main Deck screens. Luckily, the wire on which
the Launcher props are visibly suspended distract
us from the fact that the camera shooting the
monitor screen is reflected in its surface!
Soon, the Monoids arrive on Refusis,

where Three points out Two’s destroyed
Launcher. Four tells some of the Monoids
that they must challenge One and return
to the Ark “before it is destroyed” – but the
Doctor and Dodo are eavesdropping. When
Not Whipsnade
Zoo after all. the Monoids leave, they sneak inside a
Launcher… from where the Doctor hails
the Ark, making contact with Steven.
n Of the trusting Guardians, Three tells One: n When the action cuts back to the Main Deck,
The Bomb “They are a blind people. They deserve their fate.” Steven is pointing to a close-up of a schematic of
FIRST BROADCAST: 26 MARCH 1966 It would be intriguing to know whether or not the spherical Ark’s interior – giving us by far the
this line predated the creation of the Monoids – best view of its plan! He indicates the Corridors,
Despite the break of communications with because if not, it’d be tempting to imagine that the Jungle and the cultivated lands – but where’s
Two, One decides to proceed with the Monoid Three’s observation was intended as some slight the Main Deck? We know from the first episode
landings. Three warns him that Monoid Four allusion to the famous maxim attributed to the that it’s visible from the Jungle in the bottom
(John Caeser) is questioning his decisions. Dutch scholar Erasmus (1466-1536): ‘In regione left quadrant; but we’ve just seen how the Deck
n Erickson’s novelisation expands Four – who caecorum rex est luscus’ – ‘In the country of the blind is directly adjacent to the Launching Bay, which
queries One’s ‘total enslavement’ of the Guardians, the one-eyed man is king.’ is (necessarily) along the Ark’s outer edge, so…
thinking it a mismanagement of the humans’ somewhere bottom right, perhaps? (Later stage
talents: ‘after all, long ago their forefathers had Maharis returns One’s tray to the Kitchen. He direction places the Launching Bay in the ‘belly
achieved a high level of civilisation…’ notices Dassuk’s absence – but Venussa points of the Ark’.)
out a bench on which a blanket-covered shape
In the Castle, the Doctor alleges that the Refusian can be seen, apparently sleeping. In fact, Dassuk The Doctor promises to find out the bomb’s
destroyed the Launcher – which the Voice fails has sneaked past the open door, into the location from the Monoids; in the meantime, he
to deny. The Refusian gives the humans one day Corridor outside – so when Maharis exits the will send some of the Launchers back to the Ark.
to rise up against the Monoids… Kitchen, he’s able to release the slaves. n Several Guardians come over to look at the
n “… before we think in terms of employing n As originally written, Maharis’ exit prompted image of the Doctor on the Main Deck screen – but
defensive measures.” Veiled it may be, this is surely Venussa to move to the blanketed shape on the because the ‘screen’ image is laid over the picture
a threat… but to do what, exactly? Destroy the Ark? bench, pull back the covers – and reveal ‘cushions via ‘inlay’, the top of their heads get cut off!
or vessels that have been stacked to represent
In the Kitchen, the Monoids’ frantic activity the shape of a man’. Which would have been How, wonders Dodo? The Doctor proposes that
leads Venussa to suspect they’re preparing to an entirely pointless reveal, of course! Stage the Refusian flies them back, so the Monoids
leave. But the Kitchen door can only be opened directions continued: ‘She is about to speak when won’t know who’s taken them…
by a Monoid… or by a subject Guardian, like Steven motions her into silence’ – because he had n “And as for me talking to them, or speaking to
Maharis. On the Main Deck, Three watches heard the Monoids passing by in the corridor them, as you say,” concludes the Doctor, “well,
as trays of miniaturised Monoids are carried outside, perhaps? the problem’s quite simple…” Clearly, this is one
through to a Launcher… n Instead: the business with Steven looking out of William Hartnell’s more garbled speeches – not
n … then confers with One, who’s seen placing at Maharis through the window in the Kitchen least because Dodo had wondered how he’d “talk”,
chicken bones in a tray – a neat bit of unscripted door as two Monoids approach was worked out not “speak”, to the Monoids! In fact, the Doctor’s
continuity with the previous episode, when we in rehearsals. line, as scripted, was tragically straightforward:
saw chicken wings being reconstituted in the n “First we’ve got to find that bomb that the “And as for my speaking to them – that will be no
Security Kitchen! Monoids left behind,” says Steven, once he’s problem.” On the evidence here…
The finished “Are you still there?” The

statue… with Doctor has a chat with
a Monoid the invisible Refusians.
head!
The magnificent The Doctor

building on Refusis II. has vanished!
67
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
The Refusian agrees. Outside, the returning
Three arrests the Doctor and Dodo… and is
astonished to see the Launcher take off. Soon,
Steven and the Guardians look inside the
returned Launcher – only to find it apparently
empty. The Refusian laughs.
In the Castle, One demands that the Doctor
tell him who flew the Launcher back to the Ark.
n If the Doctor had his wits about him, he
could shut One up in an instant by telling him
that Yendom was responsible – since One has
absolutely no idea that Yendom’s dead!
The photogenic
Four decides to challenge One, saying he’s
future of humanity
placed them all in danger. One tells the rebels pose for the press.
they may return to the Ark – in which case,
they’ll have to find a way to dispose of the
hugely heavy statue, before the bomb explodes. they can’t remove the statue to a Launching the Guardians to settle on his planet – provided
(The Doctor hears.) Bay – but the Refusian believes he can help. they make peace with the Monoids.
n In Erickson’s novelisation, this crucial piece of And so… n In Erickson’s novelisation, the Doctor,
information isn’t revealed during the course of n Here, a seemingly crucial explanation was lost Steven and Dodo stick around long enough
One’s argument with Four; rather, One waits until from the camera script. “How?” asked Steven – to to see the first of the miniaturised Earthlings
Four and his rebels have gone before gloating to the which the Refusian Voice replied: “Because you ‘re-enhanced’ on the surface of Refusis – among
Doctor and Dodo about where he’s hidden the bomb cannot see me you have no idea of my size – or them Niash, the prisoner condemned to the
– “In the last place they will think of looking…” of my strength.” Why was this omitted? Perhaps Minifier 700 years before, when the TARDIS
someone realised that the Refusian’s size had first landed: “I travelled in the time of the First
Four’s rebel Monoids depart… then One tells been shown elsewhere – by the dimensions of its Commander… and his daughter, Mellium!” he tells
Three that they will destroy them in the open. (normal-sized) bumprint on the Launcher seat the Doctor and friends.
n The vase full of strange-looking (Japanese) in the previous episode, for example! And if the
flowers entirely disappears from the Hall table Refusian really was super-big and super-strong The Doctor, Steven and Dodo exit to the
between shots, just after – well, it Jungle… and soon, the
Four departs! (Perhaps could have TARDIS dematerialises.
a Refusian swiped them ‘Dodo’s fab new gear squashed FURTHER Later, the TARDIS begins to land.
while everyone else was
distracted!) appears identical
to an outfit worn by
Two’s
Launcher
underfoot,
INFO n Originally, Steven was to be seen
piloting the TARDIS here – and one
can easily imagine William Hartnell’s
Aboard the Ark, Steven rather than DVD reaction! So the pair swapped lines,
proposes that some of Scots pop pixie Lulu.’ having COMPANY more or less.
their number should caused it to BBC Worldwide n The fact that they’re landing
go to Refusis to help explode, by YEAR 2011 means “the gravitational bearing
the Doctor. Venussa nominates the useless some unstated means. So we’re left CAT NO must have rectified itself”, says
Maharis – who soon sets off with Dassuk and with no explanation whatsoever of BBCDVD 2957 the Doctor. Are to infer from this
two other Guardians. what happens next – which is: AVAILABILITY Out now that a faulty ‘gravitational bearing’
n Stage directions named the other two Guardians caused the TARDIS to move only
in the landing party: ‘Dassuk, Maharis, Enstor and The Refusian contrives to VIDEO in time, but not space, when last
Krakor start towards the corridor…’ transport the colossal statue COMPANY it materialised…?
through the air… BBC Video
On Refusis, One’s loyalists confront Four’s rebels n “Let’s hope the movement doesn’t YEAR Dodo enters the Control Room,
– and they begin to shoot it out with heat set it off,” Steven tells Venussa – an 1998 wearing a new outfit.
prods. The returning Launcher lands amid the amendment from his original line: CAT NO BBCV 6609 n Incredibly: Dodo’s fab new
battle. Maharis rushes out to meet One – but is “Let’s hope it doesn’t blow up in the AVAILABILITY Deleted gear appears identical to an outfit
prodded dead by his master. Refusian’s face!” (Does a Refusian worn by Scots pop pixie Lulu on
Dassuk goes to the Castle, where he have a face, even?) SOUNDTRACK an edition of ABC’s Saturday night
persuades the Doctor and Dodo’s sentry to go COMPANY pop show Thank Your Lucky Stars,
to One’s assistance. They rush to the Launcher, … into the Launching Bay, BBC Audio broadcast either 15 January or
passing by Four, sole survivor of the slaughter; and out into space – where YEAR 19 February 1966 – ie, just a few
he throws his prod away. it promptly explodes. 2006 short weeks before The Bomb was
n Oh, the humanity! Er, Monoidity… n Since the bomb was on a timer, NARRATOR Peter Purves recorded. But since Thank Your Lucky
n In Erickson’s novelisation, the Doctor, Dodo, exactly 12 hours must have elapsed AVAILABILITY Out now Stars was then being broadcast
Dassuk et al come across Four on the floor of a since One and his cohorts departed opposite Doctor Who in most regions,
ravine, having broken his leg after falling out of the Ark – or it wouldn’t have blown NOVELISATION Doctor Who’s regular audience would
a tree. Soon: after Two is ‘hit and extinguished’, up. That’s just about feasible, COMPANY never have noticed…!
One flees the field – and tries to jump a waterfall especially if the various Launcher WH Allen & Co
to safety. Eighteen spots him, however, and opens journeys between the Ark and Refusis PLC/Target The Doctor sneezes – and
fire… and One plunges ‘into the swirling waters Two took rather longer than would Books when his companions turn to
hundreds of feet below’. otherwise appear. But talk about the YEAR 1986 face him, they see him fading
nick of time…! BOOK NO 114 in and out of view: “This is some
From the Launcher, the Doctor contacts AUTHOR Paul Erickson form of attack!”
Steven… who tells the others that the bomb is Some time afterwards, on the Main AVAILABILITY n Next Episode: The Celestial
in the head of the statue. Without lifting gear, Deck, the Refusian offers to help Out of print Toyroom.

THE REVIEW
The latest Doctor Who episodes and products reviewed by our team!
TELEVISION
with codified plot points and arcane perils – like
BBC ONE
something buzzing on Netflix. They’re the markers
BROADCAST Saturday 15 April 2017
of quality drama, yes? But when I’m back at work
on Monday morning, the truth is, it does my heart
The Pilot
good to hear from the mums and dads and aunties
and uncles who are reporting in about the fun
their family had on Saturday night. Doctor Who
is for everyone.
And while, you can already tell, I’ve judged
The Pilot a success, it’s partly so because the story
hasn’t been created to stand up to the obsessively
Let’s look back at the opening episode of the new detailed appraisal my word-count here demands.
When you get this close to it, you see its thinness:
series, which introduced new companion Bill Potts, a linear chase story, resolved to be – oh yes, that one
– malfunctioning tech. But the slightness also lets
and saw the Doctor take on a very different role... through light to illuminate those within.
Bill’s good. Even before the titles, Pearl
REVIEW BY GRAHAM KIBBLE-WHITE Mackie has assured us of that. The character
R
communicates a lot in those opening moments,
egimes have changed, beloved It’s a rarefied commodity, Saturdayness, easier not just her sexuality, but her own small prejudices
figures have passed away, and to recognise than encapsulate. Here it is, in big, (“I’d fatted her” – with slight disdain) and her
bitter cultural winds have torn up brilliant, broad bursts. intense curiosity. Even more pleasing, Mackie
the land. Plus, hoo-boy, the Shadow An introduction to new travelling companion shows she can grab Moffat’s most writerly and
Kin. A lot has happened since there Bill Potts, Steven Moffat’s story is also a witty dialogue and deliver it conversationally,
was last a series of Doctor Who. reintroduction to the show itself, and the lightest, rather than as repartee. A little later in the episode
It’s true. A cosmos without the Doctor scarcely most accessible, least intimidating episode for ages. she has a line about her expressive face, and it’s
bears thinking about. But now he’s returned, This is Doctor Who which doesn’t look true. There’s so much to see. Which isn’t to say
maybe the world can get back in kilter. On the uncomfortable in the gravitational field of Pointless she’s greedy on screen, but that she’s giving herself
basis of The Pilot, it seems hopeful. He’s breezed Celebrities, or a few tiers up and along on the EPG to it entirely, catching every moment; thought-
in as if he’s never been away, whipped out that from Britain’s Got Talent. I probably align myself processes mapped out in looks. “I always wanted
screwdriver and reignited the seam of Saturdayness more with the less lovable, more introverted parts to come here,” she tells the Doctor, in reference
that has lain latent, until now, in those evenings. of our show. Those that flatter the intelligence to the university. “Just to serve chips?” he replies,
unkindly. The merest glimmer of heartbreak
crackles across her features. She has become,
The Doctor faces up already, the person we check in with when we need
to an “old friend”.
a steer about what’s going on. How freaky is this?
Ah, yes, fairly freaky.
I also like her name. Bill Potts. It’s got that
loaded feel of the ordinary, and the same mix of
proper and common noun that worked for Amy
Pond – except Bill isn’t like her. She comes more
from the world of Rose Tyler: big dreams, low
income, still living at home with a flighty maternal
figure. She’s a real person, saying real things like,
“Hey! I’ll make you a cuppa for the bath!” Some
sources (I don’t know which, it all becomes mulch)
claim she was named in recognition of La Piper,
and certainly her final scene in this episode is a
homage to the last moments of Rose. I think that
makes sense. A decade on, that first ‘modern era’
companion still feels like the baseline for all who’ve
followed. It is a good point from which to relaunch
Doctor Who.
Where Bill departs from Rose is in how she
shapes the Doctor.
Year One, Peter Capaldi’s Time Lord was
resistant, defined by his inability or refusal to

As seasoned fans squeal
with delight, Bill remains
blissfully unaware of the
Doctor’s collection of
sonic screwdrivers.
level of intimacy between them. But should we read

anything more into their later exchange? The one
where the Doctor declares, “Never underestimate
a crush,” and Nardole comes back, “Ooo, you’re
telling me!”
At the press launch for the series, Lucas spoke
movingly about what Doctor Who meant to him,
and his hope that he hadn’t now “ruined it” for
viewers. It seemed a strange anxiety, further
described when he sought to assure the room he
will be less comedic as the series continues. It’s
as if he wants to box-in those qualities we most
associate with him. Actually, it is true that when
Nardole and the he’s grabbing hard at the funny stuff, I liked him
Doctor sneak off to
a bit less. That “I’d give it a minute if I were you”
check up on the Vault.
But what lies within? line is pretty well-thumbed, but would have been
improved if he’d thrown it away a little more.
No, he’s at his best when the character is busy.
emotionally engage. And Shuttling off on side missions, punctuating his
angry. About something.
Year Two, a redeemed
‘For the first time since Pertwee, work with a stream of small, effete exclamations.
He’s a capable Frank Spencer, if that’s not an
hero, reconnecting with the Doctor becomes a guardian... oxymoron, and that works well enough for me.
life. Although at times
that swung a little too it makes immediate sense of the He certainly hasn’t ruined Doctor Who.
H
far – the overuse of dark
glasses and electric guitar
Doctor and companion dynamic .’ ere is our show for 2017. The Doctor
and Nardole, who are guarding a vault
were like a campaign for some reason, upholding a promise
for approval from the cool kids. But mostly a progressive gender-bending analogy. Not that our hero has made to someone or other.
nicely cranky and operatic Doctor. The process of Bill is the perfect ingénue. She’s au fait with sci-fi I’m going to guess we won’t see inside the thing for
softening his frightening elements continued over clichés, and her response to the TARDIS – “It’s another couple of months, and that’s a fine tease.
two Christmasses, to the point he was becoming a like a… kitchen!” – plus her refusal to do the old Then there’s Bill, who is fun, funny, capable, and
little lost. The detail burnished off. But in The Pilot, ‘Doctor who?’ gag going into the title sequence, new. From the set-up, to the direction (a brilliant,
we see him adopt a new role. For the first time all put him on the back foot. But not so much that fluid début from director Lawrence Gough) to
since Jon Pertwee’s stint, the Time Lord becomes a they’re sparring, thank God. Yes, it’s a good place Murray Gold’s overhauled score (notably sparse at
guardian. That feels apt for this incarnation, and, for the Doctor to be, a vantage from where he can times, with really beautiful woodwind and bass for
perhaps, this actor, but also it makes immediate remain remote, an authority figure of sorts, but a Bill) the whole thing feels lighter on its feet. It’s as
sense of the Doctor and companion dynamic nurturing one. if it’s divested of a hundredweight of luggage.
– which in this modern era has required some That’s how it’s working with Bill, and I’m going It comes at an unlikely time, perhaps. These are
underlying thesis (usually, she fancies him). to think of her – at least for the time being – as the last days of this regime, as Peter Capaldi, Steven
“I noticed you,” he tells Bill, his eyes flickering the Doctor’s charge, because that’s a nice Doctor Moffat – and more besides – will all be gone quite
to check-in with the photo of his granddaughter, Who phrase and you don’t see it so much. Matt soon. But rather than winding down, the show is
Susan (does that have some greater portent?). Lucas’ Nardole, meanwhile, is his assistant. Sort of. winding up the mechanism, its own, wonderful
There’s a melancholic kindness about his Although he demurs to the guvnor as ‘Sir’, their “What the hell?” gesture as it takes back Saturdays
offer to tutor her, in that he’s recognising her gentle bickering as they tinker with the Vault’s once again. The Pilot won’t be the greatest story this
disappointments. It’s instructive, then, how quickly mechanics (“So turn it, and then it’ll…”/“I’m turning year, but it is great. I’m so happy to see Doctor Who
she comes to him when she’s in trouble. This is it!”) is the kind of thing you’d hear from a couple again, and that feels reciprocal. As if it’s happy to
our hero as ‘the mother hen’, to use Pertwee’s own trying to start the family car, and gently confers a see all of us too.
71
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
Bill tucks in
THE REVIEW to some blue
grub. Yum.
TELEVISION
BBC ONE
Smile
For her first ‘proper’
trip in the TARDIS, the
Doctor takes Bill to a
future Earth colony. But
did this episode leave us
with smiles on our faces?
REVIEW BY GRAHAM KIBBLE-WHITE
‘‘
I
’m happy, I hope you’re happy too.” Doctor, cheekily highlighting an inconvenient truth the episode had remained a two-hander, the
This is how the Doctor mollifies of monster costuming. “It means there’s a reason Doctor finding some sort of equilibrium before
an Emojibot. It’s a line that’s they don’t have to run.” Ah, yes! That works! the colonists – who, in truth, are quite boring
undergone a little revision from the Meanwhile, the plot is tapping into Doctor Who’s colonists – stepped out. I could have hung around
shooting script, and it’s tempting to ongoing background narrative about the doomed with him and Bill all day. Particularly when the
think it was Peter Capaldi himself future-history of the planet Earth (cf. The Ark, robots force him to adopt a smile. It’s a hilarious
who twisted it into Bowie. Perfect for Doctor Who’s The Ark in Space, Frontios, The End of the World) but thing, hanging there like a barbecue gazebo on a
own Thin White Duke. Perfect, in fact, to think elevates it up from exposition to incident with listed building.
the time traveller might be a devotee of ‘Zavid’. Bill discovering the information for herself. “Did In many ways, this is a brutal tale, lightly told,
Particularly – and, yes, I’m going to stretch this something terrible happen?” she asks the Doctor. almost disdainfully so for the casualties. The two
thought right out until it gets me to where I need to When you put it like that, well, yes it did, actually. deaths (which take place before the title sequence)
be – as by the end of Smile, he’s become the man It’s good to be reminded that the series jogs along are bodily rendered, as the shoal of Vardies destroy
who sold the world. quite happily on top of epochal tragedies. flesh, leaving a flurry of bones clattering down.
Quite how the colonists have any basis for Asking questions, shining new lights, proves to One of their victims, it turns out, is played by Mina
commencing a bartering relationship with their be Bill’s MO in this episode. While she’s still in that Anwar, which is a rum final note for Rani’s mum
new landlords will have to remain a mystery. It’s new companion glow, she wants to know why the off of The Sarah Jane Adventures. From Bannerman
hard to know what the ’bots would want, despite chairs in the TARDIS are so far from the controls, Road to Compost Corner…
their ker-ching of £ signs. Oiling? But that doesn’t how much the thing actually cost, why the Doctor In every way, the meat in this story is reserved
feel like a weakness in the story. Frank Cottrell- stole it, why he’s Scottish, and how come he takes for the automata, and while their swarming variant
Boyce’s script sketches out a practical kind of it upon himself to be the person who puts right is conceptually interesting, it doesn’t have the
optimism, and so it seems okay to assume they’ll what’s gone awry. The latter brings about a lovely visual appeal of the Emojibots, who are perfectly
find some sort of compromise. line from the traveller: “I happen to be passing by, placed – like the Chumblies before them – on the
Practical optimism – goodies prevailing over so I’m mucking in.” cute/evil axis. Okay, they do represent another
baddies, after a fashion – is the warp and weft of This is really the joy of these 45 minutes, instance where malfunctioning technology
Doctor Who, and this adventure proves Cottrell- hanging out with a couple of characters who like is the root of a story’s ills, but at least it’s a
Boyce gets it. He gets our show; his show too, being together, and who co-operate gently to move malfunctioning technology with something of a
let’s be honest. “Do you know what it means a story forwards across a series of entertaining, point of view. And while I don’t feel there’s quite
when something chases you very slowly?” asks the free-ranging conversations. One almost wishes enough here to really convince us these servitors
have ascended beyond a Fitbit, I appreciate the
principle of the Doctor going into bat for the ‘dry
brains’. One would like to think that somewhere
out there, their brethren, the Mechonoids, were
chirruping and wobbling in appreciation. Finally,
colony robots getting some representation.
In the stead of The Pilot, Smile continues to be
free-flowing, easily enjoyable, beautiful-to-look-
at Doctor Who. There’s sufficient to ruminate on,
and very little to confound. It’s straight ahead
entertainment, featuring highly likeable characters
and a realistic morality. That seems to be a solid
The Doctor course for the early part of this run, particularly as
explores “Mum is dead.
we know there are quite masterful complications to
Gliese 581 D. Smile, smile, smile!”
come somewhere up ahead…

TELEVISION BBC ONE
Thin Ice
A period setting, a mystery, and a
monster. The perfect combination for
a chilling episode of Doctor Who...
REVIEW BY GRAHAM KIBBLE-WHITE
I
t’s a moment in between moments that the final unmasking Sutcliffe: not
such a good
sticks with me from Thin Ice, and it comes of a marooned and
ambassador
early into the story. Bill points out that malevolent alien for humanity.
she might appear obtrusive in London, menace (speculation
1814, thanks to one thing: melanin. of Sutcliffe requiring
Although it’s peopled by despots and rocket fuel), but in the end, it turns out he’s just Time Lord steps in and retrieves it with visible
robots, the Doctor’s world can be morally naïve, a local toff, in it for the money. His racism isn’t relief. “Save him,” says Bill. “I can’t, he’s gone,” he
essaying its unpleasantries only in allegory. With what defines him – other than as being definitively replies, opening up discussion yet again about how
that in mind, it looks like he’s going to shake off the human – because the script isn’t pushing too his response to death seems cold to we humans.
complicated portents of his companion’s comment. hard on that pedal. Rather it informs his tawdry While I didn’t buy the line about, “I’ve never had
Then she continues: “Slavery is still totally a thing,” sense of privilege. That means when the Doctor time for the luxury of outrage” (how pompous!)
and that’s where we find it. The pause before he socks him across the jaw, and when our hero then the exchanges regarding how many times he’s
answers, with so much in the balance. delivers his, “That’s what defines a species…” watched people die and, moreover, how many of
“Yes it is.” speech (Peter Capaldi doing so with a well-judged those he caused himself, went right to the core of
With this admission, Doctor Who lets in the real gentleness that doesn’t strive to take the floor), this incarnation. The one who reserves “smug”
world in a way it’s rarely done before. Following neither feel like the trite, simplistic victory against for himself actually looked a little embarrassed.
directly on from an adventure where we saw prejudice they possibly could have become. At last there’s someone bright and bold enough
humanity’s guileless subjugation of a species of This is a great story. So great, it can risk basing to properly skewer him.
Kenwood-type automatons, there’s no bright- its central line around the harvesting of monster It’s a satisfying moment, all the more because
future trappings here. No moral get-out clause. guano, with all the easy possibilities that affords the story doesn’t dawdle over it. Before you know
It’s a head-on acceptance that, actually, there are a mean-spirited reviewer. It also ventures into it, the Doctor is back to being this year’s agreeably
some things dispiritingly bleak and horrible about other hazard areas, by exploring the theme from scary grandfather figure, reading from Der
humanity. Allowing that through the door is huge. this Doctor’s début year which had painted him Struwwelpeter (stories of misbehaving children and
The exchange is a credit to writer Sarah Dollard, as a little too remote and uncaring for… well, at their gruesome comeuppances) to the youngsters
who does well to then offer up a story full of fun least for my liking. We see young Spider consumed and producing stolen pies from a top hat.
and danger, which doesn’t diminish the sentiment from below, only his hand remaining above the There is perhaps one production shortcoming
with which it began. Let me signpost another ice, still holding the sonic screwdriver. The in Thin Ice, and it feels okay to mention that
moment between moments, in fact, that gets us kind of thing nowadays when
there. It’s as the Doctor and Bill are scampering visual failures are a rarity in
down the steps onto the frozen Thames; he looks ‘It’s a head-on acceptance Doctor Who, and that’s the final
back at her and flashes an easy smile, as if, this is
what I’ve been telling you about! that, actually, there are some images of the beast below, now
free, leaving the Thames. Not
No wonder, because this is favoured Doctor Who
territory – a period setting, a mystery, a monster,
things dispiritingly bleak and that what we see looks bad, it’s
just there isn’t enough of it.
apple-cheeked street kids – but given a fresh airing. horrible about humanity.’ Glimpses of a wafting fin only
All the familiar connectors are there towards direct your attention to the fact
there’s no satisfying long shot
of the creature for its final goodbye. Sometimes,
Little thief! The Doctor you can’t help but long for the impunity of
goes diving.
the Skarasen.
If the Doctor doesn’t have time enough for
rage, I lack the space to fully communicate my
enthusiasm for this adventure. A few paragraphs
more, and I’d be quoting, almost verbatim, the
master class of exposition that is the conversation
with the overseer about what’s going on in
Sutcliffe’s factory (“All the way to Hampton?...
Hampton is code for the steel mill”). But there’s a
velocity, anyway, to Doctor Who right now which
keeps shuttling us forward. Knock! Knock! Knock!
What’s next?
73
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
THE REVIEW
AUDIO FREQUENCIES
With a cast of this calibre, a bit more
BIG FINISH
philosophical fat-chewing and a shade less
AVAILABLE FROM bigfinish.com
functional plot chatter might have been
desirable. But if Dorney’s script lacks the
emotional heft of Absent Friends, it makes up
The latest audio adventures from Big Finish for it with a mix of zingy dialogue and a genuine,
urgent sense of peril, building to a real doozy
see the Fourth Doctor go to the movies and the of a cliffhanger.
The effects of that cliffhanger continue to
Eighth Doctor trapped at the end of the universe... resonate throughout Matt Fitton’s Songs of Love,
which shifts the focus back to the genocidal
REVIEW BY PAUL KIRKLEY Cardinal Padrac as he plans
to bring about the end of
Its final chapter, then, is days. “When the future
REVIEWED THIS MONTH very much an Event. But, like becomes unclear, people want
n Doom Coalition 4 (featuring the Eighth Doctor) its immediate predecessor, certainties,” he tells the
RRP £20 (CD/download) which opened with the BBC High Council, topically,
n The Silent Scream (featuring the Fourth Doctor) Audio Award-winning Absent outlining what could firmly be
RRP £10.99 (CD), £8.99 (download) Friends, Doom Coalition 4 starts described as a ‘Gallifrey first’
n Zaltys (featuring the Fifth Doctor) small with another tight, John foreign policy.
RRP £14.99 (CD), £12.99 (download) Dorney-scripted bottle episode. Robert Bathurst gives
Hurtling into a ‘murdered a fabulously purring
A
future’ in an escape shuttle that’s performance as the DC’s senior
rcs are a fairly recent anything but, the Doctor and partner, whose urbane charm
phenomenon in Doctor Who (as companions Liv and Helen are the masks the ruthless streak of a man willing to wipe
opposed to arks, which were only beings left alive in an eternity of emptiness out the whole of creation without once showing
ten-a-penny back in the day). – which, as a way of setting up a three-hander for signs of (I’m so sorry) cold feet. His manipulation
And even now, in an era when Paul McGann, Nicola Walker and Hattie Morahan of the empathic, time-splintered Caleera (Emma
seasons build towards a finale, without fear of interruption, is certainly extreme. Cunnife), in particular, is horribly abusive, though
as opposed to just carrying on until they stop, Convinced he’s finally been beaten – and, worse, he does betray a chink in his armour by falling
continuing story threads – a Bad Wolf mention that his talent for incorrigible meddling has for River Song’s laser-guided flirting. (This story
here, a Vote Saxon poster there – tend to manifest handed his enemies their victory – the Doctor cuts catches Alex Kingston’s saucy star maiden on her
as background noise that your causal viewer might an unusually dejected figure. “There’s always a way way to her “final destination”, though don’t ask
not even notice. out,” he laments. “Until there isn’t.” me which one, because I’ve lost my spreadsheet.)
Doom Coalition is something else. At 16 episodes, Liv, by contrast, is the very model of We also welcome back split personality Time Lord
it’s been called ‘the biggest single story in Doctor indefatigable – a proper Pollyanna who, when sociopath the Eleven, played with snarling relish
Who history’. That’s not to say it hasn’t wandered Plans A and B go belly up, simply insists there’s by Mark Bonnar, who is literally in everything
off down many an enjoyable plot cul-de-sac – still the best part of an alphabet of plans to these days. Look, there he is coming through your
with the Doctor, there’s always time for a quick work through. So many plans, in fact, that, for a door now.
adventure before tea. But, across four box sets, its chamber piece largely set in one room, Ship in a Fitton also scripts the set’s third instalment,
centre of gravity has stayed the same, with events Bottle develops into a surprisingly action-packed in which the Angels take Manhattan. Again. Set
always returning to the eponymous cabal of Time affair, complete with space walks and an attempt to in 1970s New York, The Side of the Angels finds
Lords and their plot to save Gallifrey by bringing sail the time winds by rigging actual sails, that you Cardinal Ollistra – played in Big Finish’s War
about the end of… everything else. suspect wouldn’t come cheap on the telly. Doctor audios by Jacqueline Pearce, and here by
ILLUSTRATION BY JAMIE LENMAN

Broadchurch’s Carolyn Pickles – striking a dangerous
bargain with the temporal scavengers in order
to provide refuge from Cadrac’s forthcoming VINYL Fury from the Deep with a
surprising amount of added
interesting listening. Of all the
Doctor Who records released
cataclysm. DEMON RRP £24.99 extra horror. The presence of over the years, it’s the only one
Her fixer for the deal is none other than the Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen purpose-built as an LP. It sounds
Monk, of meddling fame, who’s camped out in gives The Pescatons an air of warm and full on vinyl, and it’s
REVIEWED THIS MONTH
NYC in the guise of a preacher. (“Did the Doctor go authenticity, but Pemberton fun to hear it as nature intended.
n Doctor Who and the Pescatons
to school with anyone who isn’t a Time Lord super doesn’t really get their characters Also included within the
n Doctor Who Sound Effects
criminal?” asks a despairing Liv.) It’s a bumptious right, so although they sound attractive double gatefold cover
performance from Rufus Hound, whose ding-dong familiar, they’re a little off. That is a bonus reissue of the Doctor
R
Terry Thomas act provides a nice contrast to the ecord Store Day said, although Pemberton’s Who fan’s 1977 accessory of
Noo Yoik accents everyone else is rocking. (Is it celebrated its tenth professorial, piccolo-playing choice, the BBC Radiophonic
just me who has a problem with British actors anniversary this year. Fourth Doctor isn’t quite right, Workshop’s Sound Effects No.19
speaking in those “Gee, Officer Krupky” West End Among the vast array Tom Baker is in his element LP – 22 tracks of inventive
musical voices?) of exclusive releases was Demon as narrator, particularly when and quite bonkers sounds and
Liv and Helen continue to lurch from Records’ reissue of a genuine describing the Doctor’s eerie atmospheres from the show’s
one hot mess to another with barely time to curio: the first ever ‘original’ journey to the ocean floor and mid-70s era. Pressed on gleaming
catch their breath between scrapes – something Doctor Who audio drama, the Pescaton attack on central translucent orange vinyl, it’s not
Litton acknowledges with a nice gag about them Doctor Who and the Pescatons, London. We’re even treated to likely you’ll reach for it at parties,
being tied to a railway line. (It’s surely only a released on handsome the incongruous sound of Tom but Kraal Disorientation Chamber
matter of time.) Their trials include an encounter heavyweight sea-green vinyl singing Hello Dolly to a ravenous is strangely relaxing, and there’s
with an Angel emerging from a video screen that’s complete with replica sleeve. alien shark monster, which isn’t always the option of treating
virtually a carbon copy of Amy being menaced in Originally issued as a something you hear every day. your neighbours to the closing
The Time of Angels – but as that’s one of Who’s standalone LP in 1976 by Argo Poor Lis Sladen gets a bit of a eight tracks of miscellaneous
all-time great scares, it’s hard to begrudge this Records, this tale of the Fourth raw deal by comparison, saddled shrill gun blast effects. These
repeat performance. Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith’s with the task of breathing life albums were the start of Doctor
Indeed, the whole episode plays like an Angels’ encounter with shark-like alien into an unrecognisably grumpy Who’s illustrious career on
greatest hits album, complete with “don’t blink”, invaders is both an interesting Sarah Jane, but she makes it audio, and so it’s fitting to see
people being sent back in time to “live to death” experiment and an odd fish, if work, even when Pemberton them paired together here.
and the creatures taking the voice of a recent you’ll forgive the pun. Produced bizarrely gives her a baby to MARTIN RUDDOCK
victim, and it’s none the worse for that. It’s a story decades before the well-crafted, mind. Tom and Lis are joined by
that takes a while to get going but really ramps up quality-controlled output of Big American actor Bill Mitchell
the tension in a thrilling final act, as the city is hit Finish, it’s an independently made as Pescaton leader Zor, who,
by a blackout. “If New York is going dark,” warns approximation of Doctor Who that tasked with playing a giant fish
the Doctor, “it will be a hunting ground for the doesn’t quite gel. Reputedly, the has to be heard to be believed,
Angels.” Eek. series was licensed to Argo for a delivering B-movie lines like
And so, after a full 16 hours of storytelling, it pittance due to an administrative “We have been wading for
falls to Stop the Clock to provide a satisfying pay-off error, much to the annoyance of youu Dag-durrrrrr” absolutely
to the Doom Coalition saga. Does it succeed? Pretty the then-production team. straight, but in the laid-back
much. For a real-time race against the clock, it’s The script, by Troughton-era transatlantic drawl of a 70s
surprisingly sluggish out of the blocks, and the writer Victor Pemberton is a FM Radio DJ. For all its faults,
plotting feels a bit overstuffed at times, with so revamp of his 1968 TV story The Pescatons still makes for
many bluffs and counter-bluffs of the “I’d kill
you now, except…” nature
D
it’s on the verge of becoming octor Who in La La Land? It’s the sort
ridiculous. There’s also a scene
in which the Eleven taunts
‘There’s a genuine, electric of idea you can imagine would have
crossed script editor Christopher H
his armed captor – shades of sense of the listener being Bidmead’s desk pretty quickly on its
Hannibal Lecter and Clarice
Starling, not to mention Missy present at a critical moment way to the bin. And yet, here we are, with the 1980
vintage Fourth Doctor whooping it up in Twenties
and Osgood – that manages to
be both deeply silly and utterly
in the history of the universe...’ Hollywoodland like Bidmead’s predecessor,
Douglas Adams, had never left.
chilling at the same time. Lalla Ward explicitly makes the point that The
Then, in the last half-hour, John Dorney’s universe and Rose’s transformation into the Silent Scream – in which faded screen sirens find
story begins to build up a real head of steam, Bad Wolf. that a new career in the talkies comes at a deadly
until there’s a genuine, electric sense of the listener This, really, is how Doctor Who ought to price – reminds her of one of her dear friend
being present at a critical moment in the history do Armageddon. It’s big, and epic, spanning Douglas’ ideas. A light, spritzy, comedy time-travel
of the universe. the whole of space and time – even going beyond remake of Sunset Boulevard (now that’s an elevator
For all the apocalyptic, end-of-everything high space and time – but, in the final analysis, it’s pitch), it’s such a departure from the house style
stakes, though, Dorney once again keeps his focus a story of heroes; of extraordinary people and of the 1980/81 series
small and sharp. Yes, he sets the scene for the places, but also of ordinary people being terribly it’s hard to picture Tom
Time War, which can’t help but feel huge, but even brave in the face of incredible danger. Across its Baker in those sober
then he does it by rehearsing the very personal 16 discs, Doom Coalition, expertly marshalled by shades of burgundy and
moral dilemma – Gallifrey or the universe? – the director Ken Bentley, has been all these things. purple. In fact, Baker is
Doctor will face after his next regeneration. He And what finer trio of actors than Paul McGann, at his very sauciest here,
also prefigures one of the great themes of twenty- Nicola Walker and Hattie Morahan – surely a flirting with every dame
first-century Doctor Who – the potential of small, contender for the most supercharged TARDIS in town and saying
seemingly insignificant people to do great things team ever – to provide the series with its beating, things like “Is that soda
– in scenes that satisfyingly recall both Donna’s human heart? Or half-human heart, in the case of water? I’m tingling for
elevation to the most important temp in the one of them. a fizzy sip!”
75
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
THE REVIEW
James Goss provides him with several signature

Fourth Doctor moments, like the way he goes
from goofing about in front of the camera to
deadly serious in a heartbeat. He also declares that
“cinema is the chance to see the world through
the eyes of a child, and when you’re as old as I am,
that’s magnificent”. Which sounds like as good a
mission statement for this Doctor as any. Lalla
Ward is at her gutsy best, too, “bursting in, all
Mary Pickford,” while John Leeson has fun turning
K9 into the world’s earliest in-car sat-nav.
Goss packs his script with witty asides and meta
jokes (“A rescue attempt in the final reel? How
heroic”), even daring to poke fun at screenplays
which reduce their leading ladies to nothing
more than scream queens. I can’t think what he’s
referring to, can you readers? There’s also a sly dig
at a certain stripe of collector who, in their lust to
own and control their hobby, have forgotten why
they once enjoyed it in the first place. And just A taste of
in case the imputation isn’t clear, the character Doctor Who
1982-style
in question describes something as “a curate’s with Zaltys.
egg” – a phrase surely only used in the twenty-first
century by Doctor Who fans. Case closed.
For all its larky nature, The Silent Scream has – writer Matthew J Elliot delights
something to say about our fear of being forgotten,
and the human desire to leave a footprint on the
in piling on vivid, technicolour
characters and imagery, including
‘The script is sprinkled with in-
world. The fact it does it with such a light touch a psychic wolfman and a woman jokes about ventilation shafts,
is just one of this lovely story’s many charms, so
hooray for Hollywood.
who’s half fish, while the planet
itself is a lurid landscape of twisted ankles and corridors
orange beaches and purple that all look the same. ’
I
f The Silent Scream delights in being skies that would have required
nothing like the TV season in which it is some dangerously experimental
set, Fifth Doctor adventure Zaltys is made Quantel Paintbox in 1982. The story suffers somewhat from this lack of
of pure 1982. So much so that the first ten It’s a vampire tale, at heart, but not a narrative oomph, despite fine work from a strong
minutes could have been recorded against a couple particularly scary one, full-blooded Gothic horror cast (take a bow, in particular, Sean Barrett, Niamh
of TARDIS wall flats, as the regulars snipe and not really being de rigueur during this period of Cusack and Philip Franks). But that’s okay – not
moan at each other about all the usual suspects like Doctor Who. Instead, Elliott adopts a rather relaxed every Doctor Who story can be an apocalyptic epic
maths and E-Space and Heathrow. and perambulatory approach, liberally sprinkling spanning more discs than the entire recorded output
When the action moves to Zaltys – the so-called his script with nod-and-a-wink in-jokes about of The Beatles, and even the Doctor can’t be expected
‘planet of the dead’ where the natives have gone ventilation shafts, twisted ankles and corridors that to save the entire universe every week. Really, two
into hibernation to avoid an imminent catastrophe all look the same. or three times a month is all we ask.
of the piece Monarch is great is a pitch-perfect recreation The sound design is up

TALKING BOOKS BBC AUDIO
fun, the actor giving a perfect of an era the author was to the usual high standard
frog-in the throat rumble. intimately involved in, as was across both releases this
not to be sniffed at when By the time you get to the reader Richard Franklin, aka month, but The Mind of Evil
REVIEWED THIS MONTH you consider the television last act, the beleaguered Mike Yates. really pulls out the stops.
n Four to Doomsday story Terrance Dicks’ novel is Urbankan sounds like he’s Franklin brings his usual There’s a lot for the editor to
(featuring the Fifth Doctor) adapting. It’s all a bit average, got a bad case of indigestion, polished and clear manner get stuck into here: brutally
RRP £20 (CD) as is the novel itself, but with Waterhouse suffering to the release, bringing a rendered prison riots, fist
n The Mind of Evil it really comes alive as gamely for his art. wide range of characters fights and a sinister Keller
(featuring the Third Doctor) an audiobook. It’s a jump back in time into being with skilful Machine. There’s even a
RRP £20 (CD) Waterhouse gives this his and down to Earth for our oration. After three releases cameo from a Nicholas
all, logging faithful renditions second release from the in a row with Franklin as Briggs-voiced Dalek that
I
t’s a lovely thing of the TARDIS regulars of Target audiobook range this narrator, it’s perhaps time corrects a vocal inaccuracy in
that decades after the day. In fact, his Fifth month with The Mind of for a little variety to the Jon the TV original, once again
their time in the Doctor impersonation is Evil, about as perfect a slice Pertwee novels. A return for showing the attention to
TARDIS came to an astonishing. Unlike other of Pertwee era, UNIT family Katy Manning or even Jon detail that is a hallmark of
end, Doctor Who performers Doctors who provide clear adventure you’re likely to Culshaw would be welcome this always excellent range.
have the opportunity to ply vocal characteristics to ape, find. The novel comes from on a future release. MARK WRIGHT
their trade and show us what Peter Davison has a much latter-day Terrance Dicks,
they’re really capable of. more neutral cadence, but when the godfather of
Matthew Waterhouse’s Waterhouse injects the Doctor Who fiction found
reading of Four to Doomsday character here with that a second wave of creativity
is engaging, full of well- breathless enthusiasm that after a period of seemingly
drawn characters and is so perfectly captures this dashing these things off in a
hugely entertaining – a feat incarnation. Elsewhere, villain lunchtime. The Mind of Evil

Pr i zes TO BE WON!
Bag yourself all the latest Who goodies!
CROSSWORD 1 2
Do you know Smile from the
Smilers? You do? But can you
solve this month’s puzzle?
3 4 5
THE NINTH
DOCTOR CHRONICLES! 6 7 8 9
N
ew from Big Finish is The Ninth Doctor
10 11 12
Chronicles – four new stories from the
Ninth Doctor’s era performed by Nicholas
13 14
Briggs, and featuring Bruno Langley as Adam
Mitchell and Camille Coduri as Jackie Tyler. The stories 15 16
are: The Bleeding Heart by Cavan Scott, The Window on
the Moor by Una McCormack, The Other Side by Scott 17 18 19
Handcock and Retail Therapy by James Goss.
The adventures take the Doctor and his companions
to Galen, the renowned ‘planet of peace’ where
people come to heal; the Yorkshire moors, where 20
Rose meets Emily Brontë; inside an abandoned cinema
which sources a temporal tsunami disturbance that is
preventing the Doctor from taking Adam Mitchell
home; and on the Powell Estate, where Jackie Tyler is 21 22 23
a star saleswoman.
The Ninth Doctor Chronicles is available from 24 25
bigfinish.com in May, priced
£23 on CD and £20 to 26 27 28
download.
DWM has FIVE box 29 30 31 32
sets to give away to readers

who can successfully 33 34
rearrange the letters in the

yellow squares to form a
threat encountered by the
Ninth Doctor. 35 36
ACROSS 34 Mrs ___ – character invented by Dr Moon 27 He was killed by Shockeye (5)
1 Character played by Ralf Little (9) when talking to Donna (3) 28 He thought he’d been killed at Demon’s Run (5)
4 _____ Fair – the Doctor took Bill here (5) 35 Grace abandoned him at the opera (5) 30 Norse god impersonated by the Mire (4)
6 World’s ___ – district of London, possibly 36 She had to smile even though her mum was 32 A Cryon (4)

where the Daleks landed their saucer (3) dead (9)
9 Early name for the character Captain Jack (3)
ANSWERS NEXT ISSUE
10 (and 21 Across) Recommended reaction to DOWN LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS
Chloe Webber (4,3) 1 Davros turned him into a Dalek (7)
11 (and 16 Across) Prolific Doctor Who writer (6,6) 2 Daphne ____ – costume designer (4)
13 He fought the Emojibots (4) 3 The Doctor has a photo of her on his desk (5)
16 See 11 Across 4 “You made us, man of evil, but we are ____” (4)
17 Mavic Chen’s spaceship – The ____ (4) 5 Patsy _____ – played the Ghoul (5)
18 (and 22 Across) The Fourth Doctor said it was 7 What 33 Across called the Doctor (9)
in June (3,4) 8 Heather’s retinal defect (1,4,2,3,4)
20 Where the Doctor met Bill (2,5,10) 12 Production code of The Mutants (1,1,1)
21 See 10 Across 14 Salamander –____ of the World (5)
22 See18 Across 15 One of the Swampies (6)
25 He was recruited by the Mentiads (6) 18 Robots involved in a skirmish with Daleks (9)
26 How Gerrill described Sarah (4) 19 Street urchin who stole the sonic screwdriver (6)
LAST ISSUE’S PRIZE WORD: VASTRA
29 The “same thing” as quantum physics (6) 20 The Doctor has a photo of her on his desk (5)
31 Roman emperor who the First Doctor met (4) 23 The Master used one to stalk the Doctor (7)
33 One of the Wolves of Fenric (3) 24 Alien from an unmade William Emms story? (3)

UNIT ASSEMBLED CDs!
K
ate Lethbridge-Stewart and needs its eco-friendly credentials checked, and to download. We’re giving away
her UNIT team investigate alien Kate calls in an expert: Jo Jones. FIVE box sets – if you would like to be
attacks on Earth in this new In Retrieval, also by Guy Adams, as in with the chance of winning one, all
five-disc box set from Big Finish. the Silurians reclaim their birthright, you need to do is correctly answer the
In Call to Arms by Matt Fitton, Mike UNIT must stand against them. following question:
Yates braves a stormy night in the Lakes Finally, Matt Fitton’s United sees
to help celebrate a milestone for John the Silurians hold Great Britain under As revealed in the 2015 episode
Benton. But a long-buried past is about siege. With Kate trapped, Jo, Mike and The Zygon Inversion, what is
to catch up with them. Benton are ready to do their duty and Osgood’s first name?
The second story in the set is Tidal stand united. A Petronella
Wave by Guy Adams. When an UNIT Assembled is available in May B Cinderella
experimental tidal power generator from bigfinish.com, priced £20 on CD C Nutella
PLANET OF GIANTS TALKING BOOK!

C
arole Ann Ford, who played a maze of ravines and menaced by Planet of Giants is available now
the Doctor’s granddaughter gigantic insects. However, the insects from BBC Audio, priced £20. We’ve got
Susan in Doctor Who during are dying. Every living thing is dying… FIVE copies of the CD to give away to
the show’s inaugural year, reads Meanwhile, in a cottage garden, readers who can correctly answer this
Terrance Dicks’ novelisation of the the man from the Ministry arrives to simple question:
1964 serial Planet of Giants for this stop the production of a pesticide with
new release from BBC Audio. the power to destroy all life forms. But In Planet of Giants, what is the
The Doctor is feeling confident: this the men who invented it will stop at name of the deadly insecticide that
time the TARDIS has landed on Earth nothing – not even murder – in their threatens the environment?
– in England, 1963. But when he and desire to see their plan succeed. A DN6
his companions Susan, Ian and Barbara Can the one-inch-tall Doctor foil B MP3
venture outside, they are soon lost in their plans? C ITV
CLASSIC TV ADVENTURES CDs!

P
atrick Troughton, Jon Devils and The Curse of Peladon (with BBC Audio’s Classic TV Adventures:
Pertwee and Tom Baker star narration from Katy Manning, who Collection One is out now, priced £40.
as the Doctor in Classic TV played Jo Grant); The Monster of We’ve got FIVE copies of the CD to
Adventures: Collection One – seven Peladon (with narration from Elisabeth give away to readers who can answer
full-cast TV soundtracks of classic Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith); this logical conundrum:
Doctor Who TV serials. The Pirate Planet (with narration from
The stories featured are: The Tomb John Leeson, who voiced K9) and Who are the Daleks locked
of the Cybermen (with extra narration Destiny of the Daleks (with narration in war with in the 1979 story
from Frazer Hines, who played Jamie from Lalla Ward, who played Romana). Destiny of the Daleks?
McCrimmon); Doctor Who and the The set also includes some bonus A Movellans
Silurians (with narration from Caroline interviews with each of the narrators, B Mo Farrah
John, who played Liz Shaw); The Sea who recall their roles on TV. C ‘Big Mo’ Harris
A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME LORDS BOOK!

T
he Time Lords are an a hardback guide to the Time Lords DWM has FIVE copies of the
immensely civilised and of Gallifrey, a civilisation that inflicted book to give away to readers – so if
immensely powerful race. some of its most notorious renegades you’d like to be in with the chance
Yet very little is known about them, and criminals on the universe – such of winning one, simply answer this
apart from the fact that they can as the Master, the Rani, the Monk, easy question:
live forever (barring accidents) and the War Chief – but was also the
possess the secrets of space and benevolent power that rid the cosmos According to 1976’s The Brain of
time travel. Their history has been of its most fearsome enemies. Morbius, from whom did the Time
shrouded in myth and mystery. Featuring a wealth of full-colour Lords source the elixir of life?
Until now... illustrations, this rich volume is A The Sisterhood of Karn
Published this month by Penguin, available from Penguin Books from B The Brotherhood of Man
A Brief History of Time Lords is 18 May, priced £12.99. C Uncle John from Jamaica
HOW TO VISIT www.doctorwhomagazine.com/competitions

ENTER
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The competitions open on Thursday 3 May and close at midnight on be the first correct entries drawn after the closing date. No purchase necessary. DWM will not enter into any
Wednesday 31 May 2017. One entry per person. The competitions are not open to employees of Doctor Who correspondence. Winners’ names will be available on request. Entrants under 16 years of age must have
Magazine or the printers, or anyone else connected with DWM, the printers or their families. Winners will parental permission to enter.
79
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
Coming Soon … We talk to the creative talents behind
the upcoming Doctor Who releases...
AUDIO DRAMA
BIG FINISH
RRP £23 (CD), £20 (download)
RELEASED MAY
The Ninth Doctor

Chronicles The guest voice for the third
episode is Bruno Langley, reprising
the role of short-lived companion
Adam Mitchell, while the fourth
I
brings back Camille Coduri as Jackie
n 2013, Doctor Who’s characters,” observes director Helen Tyler, Rose’s mum.
50th anniversary was Goldwyn. “When we record it, Nick “The Other Side is by Scott
marked with the Destiny conjures up these characters with such Handcock, and is placed between
of the Doctor audio
series: a talking book for
skill – particularly the
Ninth Doctor – and it’s
Dalek and The
Long Game,” Matt
TALKING BOOK
WRITTEN BY Cavan Scott,
each Doctor, narrated brilliant. Once you’ve Una McCormack, Scott elaborates. “It’s BBC AUDIO RRP £20
RELEASED 1 JUNE
in the third person by a got the special effects Handcock and James Goss running with the idea
Delta
cast member from the era, with one and the music, it feels that [then-showrunner]
additional guest actor per release. just as expansive as a STARRING Russell T Davies had
and the
The Ninth Doctor’s instalment, Night full-cast drama.” Nicholas Briggs.......... Narrator of Adam as ‘the
of the Whisper, was read by Nicholas The set contains four Claire Wyatt...... Adriana Jarsdel companion who
Bannermen
Briggs, who had voiced various new episodes, overseen Bruno Langley.... Adam Mitchell couldn’t’. We know
monsters opposite Christopher by script editor Matt Camille Coduri........ Jackie Tyler The Long Game was
Eccleston’s Doctor on screen. Fitton and set directly his first far-future
“My vocal indication of Christopher before, or during, the 2005 TV series. adventure, so it’s something closer to
WRITTEN BY Malcolm Kohll
Eccleston seemed to go down pretty “Our first story is The Bleeding home, and we explore his potential
READ BY Bonnie Langford
well,” Nick recalls. “Christopher is Heart by Cavan Scott,” Matt explains, – he takes a few steps towards
currently passing on the opportunity “which is the Doctor on his own prior becoming companion material, but FEATURING The Seventh Doctor
of playing the Ninth Doctor on audio, to Rose, so then a few
‘‘
D
but he wishes us well. So we looked at he’s still quite steps back elta and the
other options, and we thought, ‘Why raw from the “Nick Briggs conjures again! And Bannermen was great
not try something a bit like Night of Time War. The up these characters Retail Therapy fun,” smiles Bonnie
the Whisper and the other Destiny
of the Doctor stories – more like
Window on the
Moor is Una
with such skill – by James Goss
is looking at
Langford, who played
companion Mel in that 1987 serial.
audiobooks, but with two voices – and McCormack particularly the the Doctor “We shot most of it around Barry
tell Ninth Doctor stories that way?’”
The result is The Ninth Doctor
writing the
‘celebrity
Ninth Doctor.” and Rose’s
adventures
Island in Wales, and on the final
day, Ken Dodd [who played the
Chronicles, which Nick historical’: HELEN GOLDWYN, DIRECTOR from Jackie’s Tollmaster] came in and shot through
narrates. “The format the Doctor and perspective, the night, which was a lovely end to
is quite different Rose meet Emily Brontë, with a when he’s still something of an it all. That one was quite theatrical,
to usual audio strange portal to alien worlds. It unknown to her, and she’s not and there were a heck of a lot of
dramas from Big felt nice, with it being the Ninth completely bought into this strange people involved. It all seemed a bit
Finish, because Doctor, to place it in the North, man taking her daughter off and bizarre, but quite fun and colourful.”
much of it is because Emily Brontë was having adventures.” The story was novelised in 1989,
descriptive, and from Yorkshire.” “The characters come and Bonnie has lent her voice to
the narrator to life so vividly,” Helen that text for a new talking book from
becomes all enthuses, “and the actors BBC Audio.
the different have fallen right back “I love doing audiobooks,” she
into the pattern of that explains, “but I did it in one day,
dialogue. It’s written so and I was absolutely exhausted by
brilliantly that it’s as if the end of it – there are a lot of
no time has passed.” characters in that book, so it really
DAN TOSTEVIN did test me. There were so many
Welsh characters, and my Welsh
accent is well dodgy! You just do an
accent enough to differentiate the
characters, so that the listener knows
who’s speaking – it’s just a nod to the
character – but if I listen to it myself,
I’ll probably be cringing! But I really
Nick Briggs with Camille loved it.”
Coduri and Bruno Langley.

UPCOMING
Reader Bonnie Langford
in the TV version of
AUDIO READING BIG FINISH RRP £2.99 (download)
RELEASED MAY RELEASES
Falling
Delta and the Bannermen.
One of Jonathan’s aims was to make BOOKS
full use of the Short Trips format. THURSDAY 18 MAY
“I think the short story form is so n A Brief History of Time Lords
F
alling opens on the interesting for Doctor Who, because it’s by Steve Tribe. Penguin, £12.99
Doctor’s former not an obvious fit, is it?” he ponders. THURSDAY 1 JUNE
companion Polly Jackson “A Doctor Who story tends to be n Doctor Who Origami
(née Wright) long after her longer, it tends to have the beats of an by Mark Bolitho. Penguin, £12.99
travels in the TARDIS. adventure narrative. There have been THURSDAY 29 JUNE
“This is Polly much, much later in some terrific Doctor Who short stories, n Myths and Legends
her life,” explains writer Jonathan but it’s a big challenge. What you by Richard Dinnick. Penguin, £12.99
Barnes, “and she’s at a key juncture, don’t want to do, I think, is just try to
making a very difficult decision which compress an ordinary Doctor Who story BOOKS – PARTWORK
everyone has to make at some point. into the short story form, because it’s WEDNESDAY 17 MAY
Then we flash back to when she was going to feel like you’ve concertinaed n Doctor Who: The Complete
a young woman aboard the TARDIS, it in, and it’s going to feel unsatisfying. History Issue 45 Panini, £9.99
How did the story itself stand up, with the First Doctor and Ben.” So I wanted to try to write – without WEDNESDAY 31 MAY
three decades on from the original? The flashback story takes place in wanting to sound grandiose about it n Doctor Who: The Complete
“It’s a lovely one,” Bonnie the final days of the First Doctor’s life. – a Proper Short Story; one that has a History Issue 46 Panini, £9.99
enthuses. “Sometimes they can be “It always fascinates me, that moment of epiphany in it.” WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE
quite repetitive – this is what I used period towards the end of a Doctor’s The travellers meet a fascinating n Doctor Who: The Complete
to find when I was playing Mel. tenure,” Jonathan new creature. History Issue 47 Panini, £9.99
‘Which corridor am I running down admits. “Almost WRITTEN BY Jonathan Barnes “I know something
now?!’ Whereas Delta and the inevitably, whether
READ BY Anneke Wills
that Ian [Atkins, AUDIOS
Bannermen has a lot going on, and it’s in the writing producer] is keen MAY RELEASES
FEATURING The First Doctor
a lot of different threads of different or not, it has that on is bringing in n The Ninth Doctor Chronicles
storylines that all come together. It’s wonderfully doom- new mythological [Ninth Doctor] by various. Big Finish,
very sweet, it’s very charming. It’s a laden quality. I’d argue that the elements,” says Jonathan. “It’s quite £23 (CD), £20 (download)
love story.” personal sadnesses surrounding exciting, because it gives you a much n Vortex Ice/Cortex Fire
As usual, the audiobook’s William Hartnell’s departure from blanker canvas to work on. So we have [Sixth Doctor] by Jonathan Morris
sound design and music come from the role kind of infect those stories. a creature whose story mirrors that of and Ian Potter. Big Finish, £14.99
Simon Power. Even though it’s not as doom-laden the Doctor and his companions. I had (CD), £12.99 (download)
“During my time working on the as Logopolis [1981], The Caves a bit of fun imagining how it looked, n The Haunting of Malkin Place
classic audiobooks, there have been of Androzani [1984], or The End and how they might have done it in [Fourth Doctor] by Phil Mulryne.
some really challenging moments of Time [2009-10], there’s that 1966 on a BBC budget – that slightly Big Finish, £10.99 (CD), £8.99
– and sometimes it’s not what you wonderful end-of-an-era quality, so I sepia, tinselly effect! (download)
might expect,” he explains. “The wanted to capture that, because I’m “This story is about the need to n Falling [First Doctor] by Jonathan
Devil bursting forth from a church often interested in and attracted by let go,” Jonathan sums up, “and it’s Barnes. Big Finish, £2.99 (download)
wall may easily fall into place, melancholy. But there’s always that about the need to accept change. n Torchwood: Corpse Day
whereas it’s the detailed atmospheric joyous aspect as well, because the That’s manifested in different forms for by James Goss. Big Finish,
sounds that often tend to be the old has to give way so the new can all the characters in the story, who are £9.99 (CD), £7.99 (download)
most difficult ones to perfect. Delta be born, so I wanted to capture that all at different points in their lives. And n UNIT: Assembled
and the Bannermen is a good case too. I think it’s probably the single ultimately, it’s also about hope. The by Matt Fitton and Guy Adams.
in point. There’s a toll port landing most joyous thing I’ve written for aim of this was to be life-affirming.” Big Finish, £20 (CD or download)
strip floating in space, a flying tour quite a number of years.” DAN TOSTEVIN JUNE RELEASES
bus, a battle between Bannermen n The First Doctor Volume Two
soldiers and the Chimerons… But [First Doctor] by various. Big Finish,
then there’s a seismic shift where £20 (CD), £15 (download)
the action moves to a Welsh seaside n Shadow Planet/World Apart
holiday camp, where the sound [Seventh Doctor] by AK Benedict and
design details had to be far more Scott Handcock. Big Finish, £14.99 (CD),
subtle: that bleak icy-cold breeze £12.99 (download)
blowing through the camp, the n Subterranea [Fourth Doctor] by
chalet-rocking party at the Shangri-La Jonathan Morris. Big Finish, £10.99
dance hall, and the convoy of bikes (CD), £8.99 (download)
driving across the Welsh countryside. n How to Win Planets and Influence
These details were very important People [Fourth Doctor] by James Goss.
to convey the right atmosphere for Big Finish, £2.99 (download)
the piece. But with Bonnie’s terrific n The Lives of Captain Jack by
storytelling to drive the action along, James Goss and Guy Adams. Big Finish,
I think this one is a brilliant addition £25 (CD), £20 (download)
to the series. n Torchwood_CASCADE_CDRIP.TOR
“It’s really action-packed, but by Scott Handcock. Big Finish, £9.99
also humorous and satirical, just like (CD), £7.99 (download)
a good Doctor Who should be,” THURSDAY 1 JUNE
he sums up. “And I won’t put out n Delta and the Bannermen
Director Lisa
any spoilers, but let’s just say that [Seventh Doctor] by Terrance Dicks.
Bowerman with
the climax is sweeter than a box of reader Anneke Wills. BBC Audio, £20 (CD)
Sugar Puffs!” DAN TOSTEVIN
81
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE
▲ FURY FROM THE SHEEP ▲
▲ REVENGE OF THE CYBERHEN ▲
▲ THE DAIRY OF RIVER SONG ▲
▼ CATTLEFIELD ▼
▼ THE MOOBASE ▼
The page that has gone upmarket – it’s doing little tubs of coleslaw now.
BY THE WATCHER ▲ BULL CIRCLE ▲
▲ TURNIP LEFT ▲
▼ THE HEDGE OF DESTRUCTION ▼
Indeed, the drudgery of preparing ▼ THE ARMAGEDDON TRACTOR ▼
reveals that the show has a longstanding love-
A History of
hate relationship with chips. Zesty remarks potatoes is another constant in Doctor Who, ▲ THE GREATEST SOW ▲
IN THE GALAXY
to Bill notwithstanding, the Doctor himself representing subjugation and downfall.
seems to like them – he happily orders steak In The Enemy of the World, Victoria is set to
Doctor Who
and chips in Boom Town – but his companions work in a kitchen and ordered to “peel those
are altogether more conflicted. An offer of spuds”. A similar scenario befalls Sarah in
the novelisation of The Time Warrior
chips is sniffily rejected by Clara in Deep THE
in 100 Objects...
Breath. That most gastronomically (a story which introduces another
extravagant of serials The potato theme, but let’s leave
the Sontarans out of this) –
STOCKBRIDGE
Two Doctors undercuts the
haute cuisine pretensions of Rose ‘fatted’ a problematic detail, because ENGLISH DICTIONARY
_______________ #81 _______________
Shockeye and Oscar when the kids of The Time Warrior is set several
BILL’S CHIPS Peri lets slip a rather snobbish
Deffry Vale. centuries before potatoes BILL POTTS: Mr Hartnell plays
line about “tourists eating arrived in England. Mind you, snooker.
“That’s life, innit?” muses Bill Potts during her MURRAY GOLD: a popular garde
n
paella and chips”. Time and this temporal anomaly occurs
first conversation with the Doctor. “Beauty flower in the West Midlands.
again, Doctor Who seems intent only in the book: the time-travelling
or chips.” This startlingly bleak philosophical ORM AND CHEEP: working title
on positioning the blameless chip as an tubers don’t appear on screen.
proposition is developed a few moments later for The Underwater Menace.
index of the lowbrow, the downmarket Imprisoned in another castle a couple of
when her asseveration that she always wanted RON GRAINER: getting Helen
and the ordinary. Sometimes this can be a years earlier, the Doctor tells Jo in The Mind mixed up with Jac.
to go to university is countered by the Time
plot advantage: in School Reunion, children of Evil about the time he shared a cell with FACE THE RAVEN: what the
Lord’s snarky response: “Yeah, to serve chips?”
are sneakily fed modified chips which assist Sir Walter Raleigh, the man ultimately Black Guardian says when taking
We’ve been here before. This is far from
the Krillitanes in their sinister plan, while responsible for the drivel you are currently a photo.
the first time that Doctor Who has used the
in Time-Flight, Professor Hayter urges the reading. “He kept going on about this new THE TIME OF ANGELS: an early
hapless chip as a totem of all that is mundane, evening BBC1 slot between 1975
hapless Angela Clifford to focus her mind on vegetable of his he’d discovered, you see,”
unambitious and underachieving in the human and 1983.
fish and chips to overcome the psychotronic explains the Doctor, once again connecting
experience. Consider the case of Rose Tyler,
doo-dahs of the Xeraphin. Sound advice, but the potato with the fall of great men.
who initially clings to chips as a comforting
once again it reinforces the chip as a symbol And talking of great men involved in falls,
reminder of home: immediately after her first
of boring normality. we come with a certain inevitability to George
trip to the future in The End of the World,
THE Six Faces OF
Other methods of preparing potatoes Cranleigh, that intrepid explorer of the very
she makes a beeline for their salty
region where potatoes originated. Intriguingly,
DELUSION
embrace. But by the time we reach the fare differently, repositioning the
humble solanum tuberosum in when Adric is stuffing his face with Madge
emotionally charged chip shop scene
a more desirable, aspirational Cranleigh’s cold collation in Black Orchid,
in The Parting of the Ways, they’ve
context. Roast potatoes appear the one dish that he politely declines (at The Time Warrior: it’s a
come to represent everything that
in The Christmas Invasion without 05:30 in Part Two if you’re looking) appears wonderful tale. As well
Rose perceives as unsatisfactory
attracting censorious comment. In to be potato salad. The plot thickens when as not featuring any
about her former existence. “Get
City of Death, Scarlioni’s rapidly one remembers that a potato salad was the anachronistic potatoes,
up, catch the bus, go to work,
withdrawn offer of a slap-up meal very contribution made to that seminal 1986 the rehearsal script
come back home, eat chips and
for the hungry Professor Kerensky volume The Doctor Who Cookbook by no less includes numerous
go to bed – is that it?” she
includes a side order of pommes a personage than the show’s original producer, lines that were cut
wails. “The Doctor showed
sautées. And prominently Verity Lambert. Can it be that Adric’s refusal of from the final story.
me a better way of living
displayed in The Ark’s dreaded potato salad in Black Orchid is a subconscious Which five of the following are
your life!”
Security Kitchen is a tub of admission that the story flies in the face of genuine lines cut from The Time
The symbolic resonance of
new potatoes: such are the every hope and dream that Verity Lambert ever Warrior, and which one have I just
deep-fried potatoes in Doctor
delicacies an enslaved mankind had for Doctor Who? made up?
Who is a topic which has
been largely overlooked, but is forced to prepare for its Answer revealed at the bottom of the page.
Has Bill had IN A NUTSHELL: Unlikely.
even the most cursory glance Monoid overlords.
her chips?
1 head
“Kill this fellow and bring me his
in a sack.”
2 eyes and dine on your offal!”

“Sparrowhawks will pluck out your
SUPPORTING business. We’re at 18:02 in the final episode of like an Olympic gymnast compensating for a
3 lay“Cluck cluck cluck! Linx, you will
an egg the way your tongue
ARTIST of the month

The Moonbase, and we’re admiring a fabulous duff landing. I like to think he’s John Levene, but
money-shot of no fewer than eleven of the I have no proof. Naughty, but nice. clatters.”
The 1960s Cybermen are such naughty

silver scamps striding naughtily across the
lunar surface to the accompaniment of their
4 “Let us march together among the
stars and sack the golden castles
monsters, aren’t they? That’s why they have naughty music. Now, keep your eye on the one of heaven!”
special naughty music. You know, that Space
Adventure tune that goes “I am a naughty
to the far left. It all goes splendidly until 18:29,
when the poor fellow loses his footing in a
5 “I know a pig’s bottom from a
peacock’s!”
Cyber-MAN / Hatching a naughty Cyber-PLAN.”
Or is it just me who sings that? Anyway, to
crater and takes a decidedly un-Cyberman-like
stumble before pulling off a graceful recovery,
6 “You would make a good
Sontaran.”
others are all the genuine work of Robert Holmes.

The Six Faces of Delusion: Number 2 is the fake. The
NEXT Issue...
ICE TO PREVIEWS OF FOUR MORE

BRAND-NEW EPISODES
SEE YOU?
THE LIE OF THE LAND
EMPRESS OF MARS
THE EATERS OF LIGHT
Sssomething ssstirs on WORLD ENOUGH
the red planet, Mars – but AND TIME
is it sssafe or hossstile?
PLUS NEWS, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS – AND ALL YOUR USUAL FAVOURITES!
DWM 513 available at , newsagents and comic shops from 1 June 2017 price £5.99

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What are the main stories previewed in this issue?

What are the main stories previewed in this issue?

What interviews are featured?

What interviews are featured?

KNOCK KNOCK… WHO’S THERE?

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! David Suchet is the Landlord…

The OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the BBC television series

NEW SERIES PREVIEWS!

2 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

“I said yes before I’d even The Editor

it’s Doctor Who! It’s even series of Doctor Who?

more iconic than Poirot!”

... and the press!

the job perfectly, because of course I did

“I love when

6 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

CAPALDI COSPLAY TENNANT ALL OVER

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE!

8 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

“If you study

The Pilot helps the

new season get off

the 2015 series.’

THE Daft DIMENSION BY LEW STRINGER

n CONNOR ALLEN (15) EMAIL

10 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

12 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

“Somebody said to me, Unsurprisingly, given their

‘Weren’t you asked to be before. The first time was a 1991

the Doctor?’ My Twitter “It was called Wasp’s Nest and he

page is full of it: ‘We want

you to be the next Doctor!’”

to lighten up.’ In reply to that, no it’s not.

GOING THE DISTANCE It was very useful to have someone

14 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

“As a kid, I was fascinated by how

16 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

drama short, Bull, at the Young Vic, and the other

18 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

But is writing Doctor Who hard, even for an

a reference that I enjoyed hugely, because I love

20 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

22 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

THE 2017 SERIES

24 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

Land] wanted to do a story about a sort of

CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW!

26 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

to the works of an early Christian sect, the title has

the End of the World

28 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

A Monk – The new discovery

“TV shows don’t ‘tackle’ moment. We don’t fought.”

Eighth Doctor Paperbacks - New Past Doctor Paperbacks - New

A NEW Lawrence Gough,

44 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

46 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

EJECTED FROM THE PILOT… Bill, at a table, lau

GOUGH’S LITTLE VENTURE

“I said yes before I’d even The Editor

“I love when

“Somebody said to me, Unsurprisingly, given their

“As a kid, I was fascinated by how

“TV shows don’t ‘tackle’ moment. We don’t fought.”