LONDONER'S DIARY
DR WHO has received sacks of mail from his fans, and all the letters contained money. But sadly for Tom Baker, who plays the Doctor in the television series, he has had to send all the money back.
This extension of his superior powers from merely travelling through time to magnetically drawing pound notes towards him arose through a misquote in a newspaper. Baker, who has taken the Dr Who audience past the 13 million mark, decided he would like to make a Dr Who film.
There have been two previous films, both starring Peter Cushing|Peter Cushing, but Baker wanted to do one himself. He has written his own screenplay and called it Dr Who Meets Scratchman.
He set out to get finance for the film. and the British Board of Film Finance promised £250.000 half the amount he needed. Baker mentioned this in an interview. but the remark came across as an appeal to his fans for funds.
They quickly proved what a loyal bunch they are. Baker has received 8000 letters containing varying amounts. They have come from children, from parents, from grandparents.
Baker was amazed, but when he inquired into the legitimacy of raising money, even inadvertently, in this way, he was told he would have to send the lot back. He was advised that he should have started a company, advertised shares, and promised a dividend.
So 8000 contributions are being returned to the donors. And Baker is looking for one backer prepared to provide the full £250,000 required. He has already had an approach from a City bank. But they were interested in doing three films rather than one.
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