Nobody could hoodoo Dr Who
- Publication: The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
- Date: 1985-12-09
- Author:
- Page: The Green Guide, p. 28
- Language: English
THE new series of the science fiction cult series Dr Who is the most controversial in the program's 20 year history.
It supposedly led to the temporary axing of the series, a move which caused howls of protest from fans around the world.
Reluctantly, the BBC put Dr Who back into production. but the show's future is still as shaky as a rough trip in the Tardis.
The new shows, which premiere tonight on the ABC at 6.35, feature Colin Baker, the sixth actor to play the ever-changing doctor.
But it wasn't his performance that attracted the ire of BBC programmers, but the scripts, which they said relied too much on violence.
Dr Who has been traditionally a fairly non-violent show, relying more on scientific solutions to ticklish situations.
Indeed, past doctors have had an absolute repugnance for physical conflict.
Tom Baker, the actor with the longest run of any of the doctors, always proffered a Jelly baby in preference to fisticuffs, while John Pertwee occasionally involved himself in some elegant karate moves, but always in the best of taste.
But the new series features more physical encounters with the Cybermen, Daleks and Sontarans as the doctor wings about the galaxy in the Tardis.
The deciding vote was eventually cast by the Dr Who fan clubs around the world, who wrote to the BBC declaring their support for the new adventures and threatening dire retribution if the shows was allowed to be axed.
It stayed, and looks like flourishing again in 1986.
The first, four part, adventure sees the Cybermen up to their nasty little tricks again, attempting to steer Hal-ley's Comet into earth to bring about the destruction of us earthlings, so long their mortal enemies.
But the good doctor, and the earth, survive, to fight another day.
Neither the Cybermen nor the BBC can keep a a good Timelord down.
Caption: Faith Brown as Flast and Colin Baker as the Doctor in the new Dr Who series
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.: (1985-12-09). Nobody could hoodoo Dr Who. The Daily Telegraph (Australia) p. The Green Guide, p. 28.
- MLA 7th ed.: "Nobody could hoodoo Dr Who." The Daily Telegraph (Australia) [add city] 1985-12-09, The Green Guide, p. 28. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Nobody could hoodoo Dr Who." The Daily Telegraph (Australia), edition, sec., 1985-12-09
- Turabian: "Nobody could hoodoo Dr Who." The Daily Telegraph (Australia), 1985-12-09, section, The Green Guide, p. 28 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Nobody could hoodoo Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Nobody_could_hoodoo_Dr_Who | work=The Daily Telegraph (Australia) | pages=The Green Guide, p. 28 | date=1985-12-09 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=30 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Nobody could hoodoo Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Nobody_could_hoodoo_Dr_Who | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=30 March 2025}}</ref>
