Ding dong merrily we're high, la la la la la la laaaaa...
In the fine WHOers tradition of cobbling the last of the years interviews together by way of a festive gift to our (poor misguided) audience, here's some stuff for your ear. The irrepressible Nick Briggs and writer John Dorney talk (mostly) about Tom Baker and the upcoming Big Finish for 2012.
Stick this in your stocking. Part 2 to follow the next time we're sober.
Happy Doctor Who Day y'all! :)
[They were] "purchased by film collector Terry Burnett at a village fete near Southampton in the early 80s. He had been unaware that the canisters contained material missing from the BBC."It's really fantastic news, since there are over one hundred episodes that are still missing. Missing because, back in the 60's and 70's the episodes were wiped by the BBC and recorded over with other shows to save money and space. (This seems unbelievable to us whovians now, but I suppose it made sense to some heretical non-whovian BBC efficiency expert at the time.) There are 27 incomplete Doctor Who stories (composed of multiple episodes). 106 of those 256 episodes are still missing. Occasionally, over the years a few would be recovered, usually from overseas broadcasters. Luckily for Doctor Who, it has legions of dedicated fans who recorded the show. Many missing episode stills and short video clips have been found, enabling reconstructions of the episodes and giving fans a peek into those missing stories.
Thanks to the kind loan by Mr Burnett, the classic footage has been shown today at the British Film Institute's annual "Missing Believed Wiped" event at the National Film Theatre in London. Host at the event was Doctor Who writer and actor Mark Gatiss who said: "Christmas has come early for Doctor Who fans everywhere. It's always wonderful when a missing episode turns up but it's been years since the last one so to have two is just brilliant. Add to that a proper bit of action from the legendary Chumblies (and the horrifying Rills!) plus the utterly mesmeric Patrick Troughton on great form. Well, what more could we all ask for?"
Research has shown that the returned episodes originated from the ABC channel in Australia. In fact, the copy of The Underwater Menace is still missing a few short sections which were removed by the Australian censors upon its original transmission Down Under. Fresh scans of the missing material have been made by the National Archives of Australia and will be incorporated into the restored episodes ahead of a DVD release.Preview clips from the two recovered episodes:
Details of a commercial release will be announced by 2 entertain in 2012.
Pour an extra brandy. You're going to need it at the end.
Our one-off Nicholas Courtney tribute special, with the usual muppets plus contributions c/o Tim Drury, Who director Mr. Graham Harper, series writer and Big Finish chappie Rob Sherman, the inestimable Nev Fountain, myth maker and Mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe Mr. Nick Briggs, and Mr. Frazer Hines talks fond memories and poker.
A labour of editing love and collecting from The Prof and Fuschia. Nicholas and The Brig are sadly missed, and fondly remembered, and we take this time to raise a glass or 3 to the great man's memory.
To The Brig. Forever in Peru.
So, I don't write a whole lot here, but this one has been wanting out of my system for a while – much like taco night gone wrong.. When people ask me who my favorite Doctor is, I always have trouble answering. I claim that every Doctor had at least one story that ranks as the best in the show's history. So, to back up that claim, I'm listing my top 11 stories in the show's history – one from each Doctor. Please, feel free to call me a dumb ass, but only if you post your own list :-).
Hartnell – The Edge of Destruction
Sci-fi perfection. Virtually no budget or special effects. Just 100% story with rock solid acting and directing to back it up. Twilight Zone eat your heart out.
Troughton – The War Games
The first of a couple outstanding regen eps. Troughton shows us a Timelord playing the big game for the first time, really. It just all works here, and is brilliant Who. For all his clown act, Troughton's Doctor knows what it means to be a Timelord as well as any.
Pertwee – The Daemons
Perfect ensemble cast. Great story. Great production values (for the era). 'Nuf said.
T Baker – The Deadly Assassin
In spite of all the amazing companions during Tom's era, he is just badass in this serial. The Doctor's character played to perfection, and Doctor Who telling a story that no other venue in sci-fi could ever tell.
Davison – The Caves of Androzani
An ok story completely stolen by Peter Davison, who simply acts the every-living-crap out of every scene. He is just amazing straight through.
C Baker – Attack of the Cybermen
Arrogance tempered with compassion, but on a scale that only a Timelord can appreciate. This is The Doctor as Colin Baker envisioned him, and it was written and played to perfection in this story.
McCoy – The Curse of Fenric
We see the character development cut short in the Colin Baker era played out here. McCoy's Doctor is just damn creepy here, playing a game on a scale that would make the Master blush at his own small mindedness. 10th Doc take notes – this is how you BE a god, and not just play one in the mirror.
McGann – well, duh. We only the one, but it had to be one of the strongest out-of-the-gates performances to date. Oh, what we could have had from him...
Eccleston – Dalek
Our beloved hero got screwed up by the Timewar. And Eccleston plays it brilliantly here. His emotional collapse (recovery?) at the end is exactly what we would expect. The badass-ness we saw develop with McCoy had to come to a head, and the human side of the Doctor we saw in Davison just couldn't cope with what he'd become.
Tennant – Blink
It may be “Doctor lite”, but still outstanding. This is how a Timelord should steer history. A perfect intervention into the course of history, with Tennant's few scenes reminding me of having just a few sips of a fine Scotch and realizing that more would spoil it.
Smith – The Doctor's Wife
Look at the evolution of the relationship between The Doctor and the TARDIS from Edge of Destruction to here. It's simply amazing, and something unique in all of sci-fi and all of TV. I'm a TARDIS freak, and I can't imagine this episode being written, acted, or directed any differently.
