New To Who: Interview with Christopher H Bidmead

/
New To Who: Interview with Christopher H Bidmead

NEW TO WHO meet CHRISTOPHER H BIDMEAD

It is with great pleasure that we give Our #SweetDorks an interview with the Script Editor of Doctor Who during the Season 18 and writer of Logopolis, Christopher H Bidmead.

Dan, Steven, and Col are joined by Christopher, who relates the story of how he became a writer, actor, and script editor of Doctor Who.

Over the course of our chat, we hear Christopher talk about what it was like to inherit the show from his predecessor, Douglas Adams, what it was like to work with Tom Baker, and what parts John Nathan-Turner and Barry Letts played in the shaping of the vision of Season 18, the last of the Fourth Doctor and the first of the 1980s.

Great thanks go to Christopher H Bidmead for appearing on New To Who!

Read More

Episode 20 - Logopolis

/
Episode 20 - Logopolis

NEW TO WHO - LOGOPOLIS

In theory Dan and Steven should be able to change †heir appearance to blend in unobtrusively wherever they happen to materialise. In practice, however, because of a fault in the chameleon circuit, they always look like a police box - a minor inconvenience the they now hope to correct.

Fixing the mechanism involves a visit to Perth and a trip to the planet Logopolis - normally a quiet little place that keeps itself to itself.

But on this occasion the meddling presence of Col ensures the disruption of normality. And even Col is horrified by the threat of total chaos he unintentionally precipitates - until he finds a way to turn the imminent destruction of the universe to his own advantage...

New to Who concludes its trilogy of regeneration stories with this, the final story of the Fourth Doctor as played by the inimitable Tom Baker. It is also the introductory story featuring the first Australian companion, Tegan Jovanka played by the lovely Janet Fielding, who joins existing companion Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) who rejoins the cast in what will become known as the ‘crowded TARDIS’ in the following season.

LOGOPOLIS was written by the Season 18 script editor, Christopher H Bidmead, and is beautifully directed by the late, great Peter Grimwade, his second story as director for the programme. Peter Grimwade would go on to write three Fifth Doctor stories.

The cover of the original imprint of the 1982 Target novelisation for LOGOPOLIS is by Andrew Skilleter. The novelisation is written by Christopher H Bidmead, who also reads the audiobook, which is available from Audible.

Intro theme by Our Colin (2019), and outro music by Bridget (2019).  Much love and thanks, Col and Bridget! ❤︎

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

Special thanks to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.

 

NEW TO WHO WILL RETURN

(One day. Yes, one day…)

Read More

Episode 18 - The Caves of Androzani

/
Episode 18 - The Caves of Androzani

NEW TO WHO AND THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI

From the moment they land on the planet Androzani Minor, everything goes wrong for Dan and Steven and their young companion, Bridget.

They become involved in the struggle between brutal gun-runners, ruthless Federation troops, and the hideously mutilated Sharaz Jek, who lurks in the depths of the caves with his android army.

Key to this struggle is spectrox, the most valuable substance in the universe. Suitably processed, spectrox is an elixir of life, but it in its raw state it is a deadly poison - a fact which will cost the Doctor another of his Time Lord lives…

New to Who continues with its trilogy of regeneration stories with this, the final story of the Fifth Doctor - and Our Steven’s favourite as a kid - the wonderful Peter Davison. It is also the second story featuring the first ‘American’ companion, Perpugilliam Brown - or Peri for short - played by the charming Nicola Bryant.

Widely regarded as a true classic of the entire series, THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI topped the 2014 Doctor Who Magazine Mighty 200 poll. It was written by the late, great Robert Holmes, and is impressively directed by Graeme Harper, his first story as director. Harper remains the only director to have worked on both Classic and New Who.

The cover of the original imprint of the 1985 Target novelisation for THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI is by Andrew Skilleter. The novelisation is written by Sir Terrance Dicks. The audiobook is read by the Doctor himself, Peter Davison.

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

This month’s outro music - “Anywhere In The Universe” - comes courtesy and with the kind permission of THE SEVATEEM from their concept album, THE CAVES. Please check out their amazing ‘80s/Androzani-aesthetic-inspired website, and while you’re there please donate and download from Bandcamp, particularly as The Sevateem support a worthy and humanitarian cause in the form of Medicine Sans Frontier (US).

Special thanks to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.

 

NEXT MONTH: LOGOPOLIS

Read More

New To Who: Interview with Andrew Cartmel

/
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...)

Read More

Episode 15 - Ghost Light

/
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

Read More

Episode 14 - Vengeance on Varos

/
Episode 14 - Vengeance on Varos

NEW TO WHO - VENGEANCE ON VAROS

Dan and Steven have stalled in Sydney, and it is only on the planet Varos that they can find his precious Zeiton-7 ore they need to continue their podcasting through time and space.

Arriving on the planet, Dan and Steven meet the rebel Todd Beilby and incur the wrath of Richard Stone, representatives of the most excellent Doctor Who podcast, Flight Through Entirety.

The hunt is on for these rebel friends. And as they are pursued through the corridors of the deadly Punishment Dome, Dan, Steven, Richard and Todd discover that the people of Varos have some very disturbing ideas of entertainment ...

The second story of the troubled Season 22, VENGEANCE ON VAROS is arguably the most indicative story of the Colin Baker entire era.  It's a dark story with strong dystopian overtones echoic of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.  It is famous or introducing one of the most memorable monsters of the decade in Sil, played so wonderfully by Nabil Shaban.

Join Dan and Steven and special guests Todd and Richard from our favourite Doctor Who podcast, Flight Through Entirety, for a story that underscores some of the best of Colin Baker as the Doctor, and the wonderful Nicola Bryant in her only full season as Peri Brown. 

The cover of the original imprint of the 1988 Target novelisation for VENGEANCE ON VAROS is by David McAllister.  It is written by Philip Martin and is based on his original 1984 script. 

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

Special thanks to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.


NEXT MONTH: GHOSTLIGHT

Read More

Episode 12 - Enlightenment

/
Episode 12 - Enlightenment

NEW TO WHO - ENLIGHTENMENT

In response to a warning of great danger given by Rob Irwin from The Doctor Who Show podcast, Dan and Steven set new co-ordinates and the TARDIS materialises on the heaving deck of a Sydney racing yacht.

But as they all soon discover, this is no ordinary yacht – and no ordinary race. Dan, Steven, and Rob are competing for an unusual prize – ‘Enlightenment’...

The cover of the original imprint of the 1984 Target novelisation for ENLIGHTENMENT is by Andrew Skilleter.  It is written by Barbara Clegg and is based on her 1983 original script. 

Intro theme by Our Colin (2017), and outro music by Bridget (2018).  Much love and thanks, Col and Bridget! ❤︎

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

Special thanks to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.

Next month:  THE ROBOTS OF DEATH!

Read More

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.

Read More

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

Read More