Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
We’re thrilled to be able to bring you an exclusive interview with Classic Series star Bonnie Langford!
As followers of the Sixth and Seventh Doctors will know, the actress journeyed in the TARDIS from 1986 to 1987 and she kindly shared with us fond memories of playing the Doctor’s cheery computer programming companion Melanie Bush.
You can read our exclusive interview with Bonnie below, and a huge thanks to her for answering our questions.
Keep up to date with Bonnie via her official website and also follow her Twitter, here.
Q. Hi Bonnie! So how did your role as the Doctor’s companion come about?
A. I was asked by the then series producer John Nathan Turner. We met at the office and he showed me a character breakdown… of one paragraph! And that was that.
Q. Do you remember what was the public’s perception of the show was like when you joined the cast?
A. Yes. I think it was loved but it needed a revamp.
Q. What was it about the role of Mel Bush that particularly appealed to you as an actress?
A. It was an interesting departure for me, although at the time I had no idea of the extent of attention that Doctor Who attracted, and still does.
Q. In terms of production, was TV ‘made’ any differently in the 80’s?
A. There were a lot less visual effects available. We did use quainter which was very new then, but technology has moved on so fast. We couldn’t really keep up within the budget back then.
Q. The Classic Series still has extremely loyal fans. Would you recommend your serials to the show’s modern day audience?
A. I guess so. I never watch them myself, but people seem to really enjoy them.
Q. And what are your own experiences with meeting Whovians?
A. I have always enjoyed meeting the fans, even when they are dressed as aliens!
Q. What are your memories of working alongside the two Doctors Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy?
A. The set was always jolly. Colin and Sylvester are charming on set and off.
Q. Are you a fan of the revived series?
A. I haven’t watched it very recently but I loved it when it first returned. The scripts, production and casting is just superb.
Q. You’ve returned to the Doctor Who universe for many audio adventures over the years, so what’s it like stepping back into Mel’s shoes in front of a microphone as opposed to in front of a camera?
A. I enjoy making the audios, both the adventures and reading the books. I think it allows the listener to use their own imagination and not be restricted to wobbly sets!
Q. Now that Doctor Who is in its 50th year what would you say are the main factors that have contributed to its ongoing success?
A. Everyone loves a good story and the limits are endless when you are travelling in time and space.
Q. Finally, how does it feel to have played a part in Doctor Who history?
A. I’m very privileged and proud.
Bonnie’s currently starring as Lady of the Lake in the West End production of Spamalot.
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
We are thrilled to bring you an interview with Richelle Mead, the author of this month’s 50th anniversary e-short!
Richelle’s written a new adventure for the Sixth Doctor and Peri called Something Borrowed and has kindly chatted to WhovianNet about the inspirations behind this story, which is the latest instalment of Puffin’s series marking Doctor Who’s historic milestone this November (find out more here).
You can read our exclusive interview with Richelle below!
A big thanks to Richelle for answering our Q&As. Follow her on Twitter @RichelleMead!
Q. Hi Richelle! So when did you first realise you were interested in writing?
A. I wanted to write from a very early age! I’ve loved stories my whole life, and if you read enough of them, I think you eventually want to create your own. I started making my own “epic” picture books about unicorns and mermaids when I was in elementary school, and my interest increased – and evolved- from there.
Q. How did your involvement with Puffin’s Doctor Who series come about?
A. I was a fan of the show already but it was a total surprise when Puffin approached me. I was flattered that they’d consider me to be part of such an important project.
Q. In Something Borrowed, the Sixth Doctor and Peri attend a wedding on the planet Koturia. What was the inspiration behind this setting?
A. Koturians model their civilization on our current-era Las Vegas, so you’ve got flashing lights, glitz, games, and more. When the Doctor and Peri first arrive, they find out the locals keep getting attacked by mini-pterodactyls. When I was first approached about this project, I was reminded that with Doctor Who, you can create anything your imagination can come up with, no matter how out there it seems. I took this as a challenge. I mulled it over and tried to think of two concepts that would seem completely ridiculous if paired together. Las Vegas and pterodactyls were the winners, so I made them work!
Q. We’ve been told the story features the return of “a formidable old foe”. Is there anything you can tell us about this?
A. Not without giving too much away! It’s a foe we only see with the Sixth Doctor and Seventh Doctor on TV, one that I think is totally underrated and would LOVE to see rebooted in the current series.
Q. How did you approach your story at the start of the writing process in terms of your research?
A. I had to make myself an expert in everything Colin Baker/Sixth Doctor. I watched all of his episodes and then read up on anything else I could find about him – character concept and creation, fan reactions, etc. It was a lot of fun. I think Colin Baker is a brilliant actor and that his portrayal of the Doctor was phenomenal.
Q. The Sixth Doctor is well known for being unpredictable and portentous, sometimes even quite volatile. How easy was it to convey his personality and various mannerisms on page?
A. I love characters who are larger than life, even ones with a few darker quirks. They’re a joy to write, and I really had a good time with him. I especially enjoyed doing the story through Peri’s POV. I wanted to capture the up-and-down nature of their relationship, how they bicker and snip at each other sometimes but are ultimately filled with mutual affection and respect that powers them through their many tasks together.
Q. If you hadn’t written for the Sixth Doctor, which other incarnation would you have liked to have explored?
A. My next favorite is the Eleventh Doctor. With him being right in front of everyone right now, I think I would’ve been too intimidated to attempt him for the fans!
Q. What did you set out to achieve with the story and do you think you have accomplished your aim?
A. I hope my story really captures the Doctor’s personality and what makes the Sixth Doctor/Colin Baker unique. It’s a common misconception among non-fans that the Doctor is exactly the same person, just with a different appearance, but that’s not true. Each actor lends new nuances, and each regeneration grows in different ways. It was important for me to show that Six is not Ten or Seven or Five, etc. I hope this comes through and that readers will want to learn more about him.
Q) From your own personal experiences, what one piece of advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
A. Write what you’re passionate about. Passion is what makes a story work. I’ve heard people worry about whether their idea is too like what’s already out there or if it’s too farfetched to be likeable. You can’t worry about that. If you care deeply about what you’re working on, it’ll come through in the writing. Good writing can make a story weve heard a hundred times sound new and fresh.
Q. Finally, have you got any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
A. My latest book for adults, Gameboard of the Gods, just came out this month and takes place in a futuristic country that’s banned religion – but suddenly finds itself plagued by supernatural phenomena. My next young adult book, The Fiery Heart, comes out in November and is the fourth installment in my Bloodlines series, about a young woman who works for a “Men in Black” type of secret society that covers up the existence of vampires. More information about all my books can be found at www.richellemead.com.
Something Borrowed will be available to download from 23rd June for £1.99.
As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations we’re delighted to bring you the highlights from our recent chat with actress and Classic Series star Louise Jameson!
Louise was born on 20th April 1951 and knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in showbiz, as she told us how, aged 4, she “won a huge round of applause for playing Little Miss Muffet”. Encountering that spider no doubt prepared her for all the scares she would grow up to face in the TARDIS as an adult! “I was hooked,” she recalled.
After attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and spending two years at the Royal Shakespeare Company – starring in productions of Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew – Louise set her sights on conquering the small screen. “My agent decided I needed to be in a TV series,” she explained. “So we just held out until one came along.”
The waiting paid off as that one was of course Doctor Who, when Louise was cast as the Doctor’s new companion Leela and she had her debut in The Face of Evil. “I loved her instinct and her intelligence,” Louise said on what attracted her to the role. “Despite not being educated she had a very quick mind.” At the time she joined the series in the 70s, “it was regarded as a kiddy show”, but stepping aboard the TARDIS as a savage leather clad barbarian warrior helped to broaden the audience demographic somewhat as Louise chortled: “I think I added a few dads to the viewers!” We’re sure they were thankful too!
Altogether Louise starred in 9 stories, and described her time on set as “huge fun”. She remains “proud and flattered” to have been a part of such an iconic series. “Doctor Who unites people who have ever felt excluded – like the Doctor himself,” she suggested as the secret of the show’s success. “It’s single-handedly made being a geek trendy!” And she is ever thankful for the “loyal and slightly barking” fans who continue to support her.
Over the years Louise has reprised the role in the Big Finish audio adventures. “It is no secret me and Tom Baker didn’t get on back then as well as we do now,” she admits (in reference to reports that the Fourth Doctor actor initially disliked Leela’s character and her violent nature). “I now love working with him on the audios. There’s more laughter.”
We would like to thank Louise for answering these questions! Visit her official site here.
Great news for fans of Big Finish’s Who audio adventures – their license has been extended until December 2016!
Their executive producer, Jason Haigh-Ellery, described it as a “privilege” as they look to the future of their collaboration with the BBC and AudioGO.
“This year marks my 7th anniversary as executive producer at Big Finish,” Nicholas Briggs added. “I am looking forward to the possibilities and the exciting developments ahead.”
Line producer David Richardson commented: “We couldn’t be happier. We have so many tales to tell for the first eight Doctors and the companions that will surprise and delight.”
The artwork for the upcoming Blu-ray release of the Classic Series serial Spearhead from Space has been revealed.
The adventure first aired in 1970 and it is the first full-length story to feature Jon Pertwee in role as the Third Doctor. The first serial to be filmed in colour, it’s been restored in HD for the Blu-ray release and the disc comes with exclusive bonus features, including the ‘A Dandy and a Clown’ documentary detailing the life and career of Jon Pertwee, and ‘Carry On’, a special tribute to the late Caroline John (Liz Shaw).
The Blu-ray’s released on 15th July 2013 RRP £20.42. Pre-order it from Amazon.co.uk!
Exile! The Time Lords have banished the newly regenerated Doctor to Earth…
But the Doctor isn’t the only alien to have arrived, as a swarm of meteorites have crashed into the sleepy English countryside, bringing with them a terrible new threat to mankind.
As the Nestene plan takes shape, UNIT, the Doctor and his newly appointed scientific advisor, Liz Shaw, race against time to stop humanity from being replaced by a terrifying plastic facsimile race.
With an Auton army on the rise, and no TARDIS to help him, could the Doctor’s latest incarnation be over before it has truly begun…?
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
Puffin’s 50th anniversary ebook series continues this month with the release of the Sixth Doctor adventure and this one marks the return of a formidable old foe!
In Something Borrowed by fantasy writer Richelle Mead a wedding on the planet Koturia becomes a place of terror for the Sixth Doctor and Peri, but can the Doctor outwit the villain, save his companion and stop the wedding in time? All will be revealed on 23rd June when the e-short is released for download, priced £1.99.
“I’ve always loved watching Colin Baker as the Doctor,” Richelle said. “When he’s on the screen you can’t take your eyes off him. I’m not talking about that infamous wardrobe! Everything about him is larger than life and while he is one of the darkest Doctors yet, through it all, that heroism and need to do what’s right never fails. That what makes him so fascinating to me and it’s an author’s dream to be able to write a character like that.”
A paperback anthology compiling all the 11 stories will be published on 23rd November.
Please join us as we raise our glasses to wish Colin Baker a very happy birthday today!
The actor – who played the Sixth Doctor from 1984 to 1986 – turns 70 today and we hope he enjoys his celebrations. To commemorate his special day we’ve launched our dedicated Sixth Doctor mini-site featuring videos and guides relating to his tenure in the TARDIS. To mark the 50th anniversary we are devoting each month to a different Doctor and June is all about the Sixth in all his patchwork coat wearing glory.
We first met the Sixth Doctor in The Caves of Androzani (see the classic scene here) and while his era was a relatively short one it wasn’t without its drama. The Doctor faced turbulence both on and off screen as the BBC called for an 18 month hiatus of the series in 1985. He returned with a vengeance in The Trial of a Time Lord, but the 14-part adventure was to be the Sixth Doctor’s last. What are your best memories of Doctor #6?
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
FXGuide have an interesting article offering insights into the creation of some of the visual effects seen in Series 7.
One of the series’ biggest challenges for Stargate Studios, who produce the visual effects for the show, was developing the opening of The Name of the Doctor (for reasons clear to those who have seen it). VFX supervisor Mark Spatny has explained the varied process of creating this sequence and discussed the foundations of the ‘time rift’ plus the “volcanic feel” of Trenzalore.
2013 doesn’t just mark 50 years of the Doctor, it also marks 50 years of his greatest adversaries and to give you a clue, they first appeared in a serial called The Daleks!
The manic mutant monsters have been “exterminating” their way through time and space for nearly half a century and to commemorate this, Doctor Who Magazine’s published a new collector’s issue all about them! As DoctorWho.tv reports, it features 116 pages charting every Daa-lek adventure with exclusive interviews and rare photographs and illustrations.
Doctor Who – 50 Years: The Daleks is available from newsagents now, priced £9.99.
Two further special DWM issues celebrating the 50th anniversary will be coming soon.
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
The latest Doctor Who book in Puffin’s new 50th anniversary series has been released today.
Tip of the Tongue is written by multi-award winning Patrick Ness who’s known for his Chaos Walking trilogy. The e-book adventure features the Fifth Doctor with Nyssa as the duo investigate a new craze for Truth Tellers in America. But the truth is far more sinister than anyone could have imagined…
“The Fifth Doctor is the Doctor I have thought most likely to be a novelist,” Patrick said. “People sometimes call him passive, but I think that it is more that he was observing, watching, waiting on the fringe to make his move. Just like any good writer. That is why I’ve made this story one of those – which I’ve always liked – where the Doctor stays a bit out of the action. We see what happens through a non-canon character so we get a whole different point of view. It is how it feels when you’re watching as a young viewer.”
A paperback anthology of all eleven e-books will be published on 23rd November 2013.
WhovianNet is an unofficial Doctor Who fansite. We are not endorsed by or affiliated with the BBC or any other companies connected with Doctor Who and its spin-offs. The official site can be found at bbc.co.uk/doctorwho.
