Star struck!
- Publication: Liverpool Echo
- Date: 1995-01-17
- Author: Peter Grant
- Page: 11
- Language: English
WHEN the BBC decided on a new six-part series on astronomy they picked an apt star Indeed — former Dr Who, Peter Davison.
And television's popular Time Lord says he thoroughly enjoyed working on the show, which starts on Sunday, because as a child he would often look to the skies.
"When I was a boy of eight I got a chance to look through my grandfather's telescope — a brass folding one. It was one of the things that 1 remember first got me interested in astronomy."
Peter will explain some of our heavenly puzzles such as why the planet Uranus started off being called George! And why the traditional White Christmas is now a thing of the past.
Modest home
He also pays tribute to a poor — but very bright — Liverpudlian who it seems found the key to one of the great mysteries of all time.
Peter says: "Since people first walked on the planet, it's clear they've been fascinated by the evens. "But it took Jeremiah Horrocks, from a modest home in Toxteth, to solve one mystery."
In 1632 Jeremiah went to Emmanuel College in Cambridge where he developed a keen interest in astronomical tables.
On graduation, he was employed as a tutor to a family near Preston where he continued to "star Raze."
Peter adds: "In common with other astronomers of his day Horrocks knew that the key to finding the size of the solar system lay with Venus which orbits the sun more quickly than the earth and overtakes the earth every 19 months.
"The self-taught Horrocks died at the tragically young age of 22, but his discoveries laid the foundations and were crucial to working out the ultimate question about the size of the solar system."
Actor Peter is not only known for his role as the famous Tardis traveller but in the current sitcom as Clive in Ain't Misbehaving (tonight, BBC I, 8.30pm) — but this was his first presentation role.
Conventions
The Londoner actually made his telly debut in The Tomorrow People. But then he was brought down to earth with an 18-month spell out of work.
Peter said: "I ended up working for the Inland Revenue and thought seriously about staying there at one point.
"Then I changed my mind and, lo and behold, a couple of months later I got a part in Love For Lydia and as Tristan in All Creatures Great And Small."
Yet it is still the good doctor that he is best remembered for. "There are lots of Dr Who fans out there for whom I'll always be the doctor.
"I still go to Doctor Who conventions both here and in America where they really throw themselves into the whole thing and I still get a thrill from having played the part.
"I watched Doctor Who right from the start as a child and I remember thinking when I began acting that I'd love to be in the series at some stage — but I never dreamed I'd end up playing him." Now Peter is hoping to play a nasty role at some time in the future.
Smiles Peter: "I have played a murderer in Miss Marple — but even he was nice until he was named as the guilty man ... right at the end."
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: Grant, Peter (1995-01-17). Star struck!. Liverpool Echo p. 11.
- MLA 7th ed.: Grant, Peter. "Star struck!." Liverpool Echo [add city] 1995-01-17, 11. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Grant, Peter. "Star struck!." Liverpool Echo, edition, sec., 1995-01-17
- Turabian: Grant, Peter. "Star struck!." Liverpool Echo, 1995-01-17, section, 11 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Star struck! | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Star_struck! | work=Liverpool Echo | pages=11 | date=1995-01-17 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=29 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Star struck! | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Star_struck! | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=29 March 2025}}</ref>
