New To Who: Interview with Christopher H Bidmead

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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!

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Episode 20 - Logopolis

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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…)

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Episode 18 - The Caves of Androzani

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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

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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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