Time throws a spanner in the Tardis's works as Dr Who celebrates his 30th birthday
- Publication: The Guardian
- Date: 1993-04-28
- Author: Sally Weale
- Page: 6
- Language: English
DUE to traffic congestion on our primitive planet, celebrations to mark Dr Who's 30th birthday would be delayed by 10-15 minutes, the Time Lord announced.
What matter minutes in this world of Tardis time-travel? Indeed, what matter months? For as all good Who aficionados know, the Doctor and his battered blue police box did not appear on our screens until 23 November, 1963. They went out of production in 1989, and since then fans have had to make do with re-runs.
Yesterday's press launch might have been running late, but the BBC enterprises and licensing departments are getting in early. The 30th anniversary party for the world's longest-running self' show, which is sold to 74 countries, is under way.
With it comes a bewildering range of commemorative merchandise. There are videos, including such classic adventures as Terror of the Autons, Vengeance on Varos, The Keeper of Traken, Doctor Who and the Silurians, and special boxed sets of Remembrance of the Daleks. Among the more conventional products there are T-shirts, chess sets and ceramic jugs of each of the Doctors. But for discerning fans after something a little more unusual there is a Tardis money box which plays the
Doctor Who theme when a coin is put in, a Tardis badge with blue flashing light and Tardis take-off sound effect, and a heat-sensitive mug on which the Tardis disappears from one side to the other.
Four of the seven Doctors (two have died and Tom Baker, the one with floppy hat, knitted scarf and wild eyes, had a prior engagement) emerged from time-travel retirement to attend the launch in the futuristic setting of the Ark, an innovative but empty office building in Hammersmith, west London.
Jon Pertwee (No. 3) dressed for the occasion in trademark purple velvet smoking Jacket and frilly shirt, but all four were united in their call to the BBC to bring the Doctor back. "It's the only sensible thing to do," said Sylvester McCoy, the seventh and most recent incumbent. "Doctor Who makes money for the BBC. I find it strange they are not making it."
Tony Greenwood, director of BBC home entertainment, said discussions on the Doctor's future were under way.
Caption: Who's Who ... From left, Richard Hurndall (standing in for the late William Hartnell), Peter Davison, Tom Baker (by Madame Tussaud), Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, the last Dr Who
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- APA 6th ed.: Weale, Sally (1993-04-28). Time throws a spanner in the Tardis's works as Dr Who celebrates his 30th birthday. The Guardian p. 6.
- MLA 7th ed.: Weale, Sally. "Time throws a spanner in the Tardis's works as Dr Who celebrates his 30th birthday." The Guardian [add city] 1993-04-28, 6. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Weale, Sally. "Time throws a spanner in the Tardis's works as Dr Who celebrates his 30th birthday." The Guardian, edition, sec., 1993-04-28
- Turabian: Weale, Sally. "Time throws a spanner in the Tardis's works as Dr Who celebrates his 30th birthday." The Guardian, 1993-04-28, section, 6 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Time throws a spanner in the Tardis's works as Dr Who celebrates his 30th birthday | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Time_throws_a_spanner_in_the_Tardis%27s_works_as_Dr_Who_celebrates_his_30th_birthday | work=The Guardian | pages=6 | date=1993-04-28 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=20 April 2024 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Time throws a spanner in the Tardis's works as Dr Who celebrates his 30th birthday | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Time_throws_a_spanner_in_the_Tardis%27s_works_as_Dr_Who_celebrates_his_30th_birthday | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=20 April 2024}}</ref>
