BBC stunned by Grade defection
- Publication: The Stage and Television Today
- Date: 1987-11-19
- Author: Angela Thomas
- Page: 17
- Language: English
Exterminate ...exterminate — Doctor Who producer zapped by angry fans
FANS of TV's time travelling Doctor Who have launched a campaign to oust the series' producer in what they claim is a desperate final bid to save the veteran timelord from extinction, writes Angela Thomas.
Leading Doctor Who enthusiast, top record producer Ian Levine is following up a blistering attack on producer John Nathan Turner and the series' pantomime style published in the latest issue of the fanzine, DW Bulletin, with an appearance on a special edition of BBC2's Did You See?
Levine, who has himself previously worked on the once extremely popular series, said this week: "We are more than aware of the rot inside (Dr Who) that has been silently corroding away the magical essence of a once quite simply brilliant concept, but attempting to campaign at the BBC for a better series over the past couple of years has been like banging our heads against a brick wall.
"And it is the public as well as the fans whom the BBC have attempted to dupe into watching trashy, light entertainment panto antics which could just as easily be brilliant drama with a thoughtful change of producer, but it is purely because the British public are not capable of being duped in this way that they are not watching Dr Who any longer."
Levine's detailed attack which also criticises the quality of the writing, direction and casting of known lightweight stars in key roles, has been backed by the editor of the DW Bulletin, Gary Levy who has written to Michael Grade appealing for a change of production team.
Describing the new series as 'the most appallingly produced ever' Levy goes on to appeal for Nathan Turner to be taken off the next series which will mark the Dr's 25th anniversary year.
"The fans can't be expected to sit back and watch Doctor Who being decimated before their very eyes and so we have at last decided to take action. Whether it will go as far as demonstrations outside the BBC I don't know, but we aren't repared to see the show being systematically destroyed by a useless producer any longer."
A BBC spokesman said this week that plans were already under way for the next series which would go into production in the spring for an autumn transmission date. "We are well pleased with the ratings for the current series and as far as we are concerned John Nathan Turner will be making that series."
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- APA 6th ed.: Thomas, Angela (1987-11-19). BBC stunned by Grade defection. The Stage and Television Today p. 17.
- MLA 7th ed.: Thomas, Angela. "BBC stunned by Grade defection." The Stage and Television Today [add city] 1987-11-19, 17. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Thomas, Angela. "BBC stunned by Grade defection." The Stage and Television Today, edition, sec., 1987-11-19
- Turabian: Thomas, Angela. "BBC stunned by Grade defection." The Stage and Television Today, 1987-11-19, section, 17 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=BBC stunned by Grade defection | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/BBC_stunned_by_Grade_defection | work=The Stage and Television Today | pages=17 | date=1987-11-19 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=18 April 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=BBC stunned by Grade defection | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/BBC_stunned_by_Grade_defection | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=18 April 2025}}</ref>
