Battle in space to save Dr. Who
- Publication: Evening Echo
- Date: 1987-09-24
- Author:
- Page: 9
- Language: English
AS Dr. Who starts his latest adventures, his bitter enemies are not Daleks or Cybermen, but TV executives who think it's time the Doctor was grounded for good. But Dr. Who is fighting back with a new face, and abilities which range from driving a nail up his nose to putting a ferret down his trousers!
In the past 20 years, he's defeated the Daleks, stamped out the Cybermen, kept a fatherly eye on a dozen glamorous girl assistants, had seven different faces, and changed his height from six feet three to five feet six.
Now Dr. Who, the benign space-traveller who whizzes around the universe in a police box, faces the ultimate battle for existence. This time, his enemies are not from outer space, but TV network executives who think it's time the doctor was grounded for good.
And if the international viewing figures for the latest series, which starts in September, aren't up by at least three million on the last one, the doctor's chances of survival are less than those of a shooting star in a Black Hole!
Stepping into the Tardis to do battle with a new host of intergalactic baddies is a brand new Doctor 43-year-old Scottish actor Sylvester McCoy and a host of new friends.
Every episode will be packed with stars of stage and screen who are rallying round to try to save the Time Lord from extinction.
QUICK RESPONSE
The show has already had one stay of execution. A public outcry -- not least from the 3,000 members of the Doctor Who Appreciaton Society persuaded TV bosses to reprieve it after a decision had already been taken to shut the door on the battered police box for the last time.
But BBC boss Michael Grade is known to dislike the programme, and has told the producers that if Dr. Who is to survive, it must change an image that has become "violent and humourless".
Viewing figures have been on the way down as well. In its haeyday, Dr. Who could expect to have 12 million enthralled viewers, but the figures for the last series were only about half that number.
If figures drop any more, the Doctor will be banished to outer space for good.
There's been a quick response to the space rescue call.... A whole galaxy of stars will be involved in the new series.
Among them is comedian Ken Dodd, playing the part of a galactic gatekeeper in an episode to be screened in November.
NOT WORRIED
"I can remember watching the very first show", he said during at break from filming on location in South Wales. "I've wanted to be in the series ever since".
Doddy's appearance will not be a long one, however. The script demands that he meet his doom at the hands of Don Denderson - known to millions as the detective Bulman in Strangers and Bulman.
"It's an assignment that has the fearless detective a little worried. "After this, I could be known not as Bulman, but as the man who killed Ken Dodd", he laughed.
But the victim himself is not worried a bit. In a 30-year career, it's the first time he's had an opportunity to play a death scene. And he's relishing every moment of it.
BIG BREAK
"My death scene will be one of the longest ever", he said. "It's the first one I've ever done and I'm looking on it as my big acting break!"
Among the other stars in the programme will be Kate O'Mara from Dynasty, Richard Briers, from Ever Decreasing Circles, and the American funnyman Stubby Kaye. Wanda Ventham, Brenda Bruce, Elizabeth Spriggs and Judy Cornwell will all be appearing as well.
But the most important name on the cast list. will be a relatively unfamiliar one to most viewers. Sylvester McCoy is the seventh Doctor and, at five foot six, the smallest so far!
WORLD RECORD
And if the programme makers really wanted to bring more humour into the show, they could hardly have chosen better man. His comedy career started in a less than auspicious way, 16 years ago, when he became known as the man who put ferrets down his trousers!
Today, he still holds the world record, and claims he actually the craze. started "There's no trick", he say. "You can't train. ferrets and they do bite. But I've been lucky. I've only been bitten once on the finger!"
As a pub performer, one of his stunts was to hammer a six-inch nail up his nose. And his colourful background also includes three years training to become priest.
PUBS AND PRISONS
Late, he joined a roadshow which played pubs, clubs, and even prisons.
After that, Sylvester appeared in children's TV and in the TRV epic The Last Place on Earth, the story of Scott of the Antarctic. "People have been telling me for years I'mn make a good Doctor Who", he says.
So how does he see himself as the celebrated space doctor? "It will be more humorous, I hope, but it's not going to be a comedy half-hour", he says.
"I don't want to be slapstick, butg I would like to continue the dotty, zany humour that Patrick Troughton brought to the role. But most of all, I just want the doctor to survive. After all, he's been a hero to generatons of kids. Life in space just wouldn't be the same without him!"
Caption: Picture shows (left to right): Bonnie Langford as "Melanie" with new "Dr. Who" (Sylvester McCoy) and Kate O'Mara who plays the Rani.
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.: (1987-09-24). Battle in space to save Dr. Who. Evening Echo p. 9.
- MLA 7th ed.: "Battle in space to save Dr. Who." Evening Echo [add city] 1987-09-24, 9. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Battle in space to save Dr. Who." Evening Echo, edition, sec., 1987-09-24
- Turabian: "Battle in space to save Dr. Who." Evening Echo, 1987-09-24, section, 9 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Battle in space to save Dr. Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Battle_in_space_to_save_Dr._Who | work=Evening Echo | pages=9 | date=1987-09-24 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=27 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Battle in space to save Dr. Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Battle_in_space_to_save_Dr._Who | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=27 March 2025}}</ref>
