New To Who: Interview with Andrew Cartmel

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New To Who: Interview with Andrew Cartmel

NEW TO WHO meet ANDREW CARTMEL

We are privileged to bring you an extended interview with the Script Editor of Doctor Who during the entirety of the Sylvester McCoy era; Andrew Cartmel!

Join us as Andrew charts the behind-the-scenes story of a golden period for Doctor Who, starting as an aspiring writer working in a technology firm before getting a call from Producer John Nathan-Turner...

Along the way, we discuss such things as the team of writers who brought the Seventh Doctor and Ace to life, how the BBC hierarchy viewed the programme at the time - and the time when Alan Moore almost came to write for Doctor Who!

(PS Make sure to stay listening until the very end...)

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Episode 15 - Ghost Light

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Episode 15 - Ghost Light

NEW TO WHO - GHOST LIGHT

Perth, 2018

In the sleepy, rural parish of Perth, New To Who is by far the most imposing edifice. The villagers shun the grim pod, but the owners, the reclusive and controversial Dan and Steven, receive occasional visitors.

The Reverend Nathan Bottomley and James Sellwood (of the Flight Through Entirety podcast), have travelled from Sydney to refute Dan and Steven's blasphemous theories of Doctor Who.

The very last story filmed and the third to last story screened of Classic Doctor Who, GHOST LIGHT presents a dark, twisted version of Victoriana that - when scratched - reveals something nasty (and supremely intelligent) beneath.

Sylvester McCoy's performance as the Seventh Doctor matures into a more Machiavellian figure, seemingly manipulating not just events but also his companion, Ace, played by the wonderful Sophie Aldred.

Again drawing on a number of literary and cultural influences, lifelong fan Marc Platt turns in a stupendously funny, macabre, and smart script that the production team then realised into perhaps the greatest 'oddball' story of the entire era.

The cover of the original imprint of the 1990 Target novelisation for GHOST LIGHT is used with the kind permission of Alister Pearson. The novelisation is written by Marc Platt, based on his original 1989 script. The audiobook is read by Ian Hogg, who played the sinister Josiah Smith in the televised serial.

Intro theme by Our Colin (2017). Much love and thanks, Col ❤︎

Special thanks to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.

NEXT MONTH: GENESIS OF THE DALEKS

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Episode 8 - The Curse of Fenric

/ New To Who/
Episode 8 - The Curse of Fenric

"It's a bit Michael Jackson 'Thriller'"

After seventeen centuries trapped in the shadow dimensions, Steven and Daniel are reunited with Bridget, only to discover that they are all themselves descendants of the original Vikings who carry THE CURSE OF FENRIC!

The last story of the original series of Doctor Who save one, this post-modern masterpiece is written by the creator of Ace, Ian Briggs, and showcases the best qualities of the show under the script editorship of Andrew Cartmel.

Displaying an at-times dizzying bricolage of influences, references, and philosophies, this is where Doctor Who can be seen to graduate with first-class honours in every relevant field.  It's such a shame that Season 26 was the last regular series of the programme until 2005, as it hints at a more mature direction very much in tune with the televisual landscape of the coming decade and beyond.

Our thanks again go to Alister Pearson for his kind permission for the use of his revised cover for the 2015 audiobook of the original 1990 Target novelisation of THE CURSE OF FENRIC, written by Ian Briggs (and highly recommended by Our Steven).

Intro theme by Our Colin (2017), and outro music "Wolves of Fenric" by Bridget, as Pizza Pocket (2017). 

If you enjoyed Bridget's music and would like to hear more, please check out her band Simone & Girlfunkle.

Special thanks again to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.

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Episode 4 - Remembrance of the Daleks

/ New To Who/
Episode 4 - Remembrance of the Daleks

"Time will tell - it always does."

If you have never seen REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS before, we envy you! Doctor Who's silver jubilee season kicked off in incredible style with a return to its very beginnings set in 1963, and a London already infiltrated by Daleks. 

Written by BEN AARONOVITCH, this story established what Doctor Who could and would be in the 1990s - and beyond. The story also introduces many of the more domestic and character-driven elements we would later see when the series returned in 2005, most notably in its foregrounding of a sparky London teenage girl as the show's co-protagonist.

Special thanks to Alister Pearson for his kind permission for the use of his cover painting for the original 1990 Doctor Who Target novelisation of REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS by Ben Aaronovitch.

© all original music copyright New To Who 2016 and 2017

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