Hope it's not a scarf!
- Publication: Radio Times
- Date: 2020-12-19
- Author: Huw Fullerton
- Page: 58
- Language: English
What does the galaxy's No 1 Time Lord really want for Christmas?
The Doctor is in her own lockdown in the New Year's Day special, trapped in prison while the Daleks unleash their latest deadly plan. So it's up to her friends alongside Captain Jack Harkness - to save the day. And there are changes afoot in the Tardis. While Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill (Yaz) have no plans to leave the series, we'll be waving goodbye to fellow travellers Bradley Walsh (Graham) and Tosin Cole (Ryan).
JODIE WHITTAKER THE DOCTOR
In an ideal world, do you prefer big or small Christmasses?
My Christmasses are very extreme. My English family does a really small one, but every other year my American Christmas with my husband's family is massive. I also do a "Lifers' Christmas" with my best girlfriends, which has got bigger over the years as we added our other halves and kids. It's the most precious thing in the world to me - it's really tough that we can't all do that this year.
So what have you got planned?
Just as long as there's some Christmas tunes and ET on TV I'm like a pig in a sty. Cinema, music and TV are a real comfort.
What have you been like to with during lockdown?
I was really lucky because I and my nearest and dearest weren't poorly, but I've missed being in a crowd. My head was noisier than ever. Being stuck with just one or two people, I realised I'm quite high-maintenance. I had to tell myself, "Jodie, some things can be an inner monologue?' People always ask me what I'd do with a real time machine, and now I know - I'd go back and watch 17 gigs!
BRADLEY WALSH - GRAHAM
The new special finds the Doctor locked up and separated from her friends - do you think viewers will relate?
Oh absolutely! To make something like this now, with her locked up or locked down, is very relevant though we actually filmed it before lockdown.
How was your experience of lockdown?
I like to work and to be out and about. I'm not a big fan of being indoors unless I'm watching Columbo reruns. I've never sat down so much! I sympathise with everyone who's had problems with isolation and loneliness. To be honest, I found it pretty tricky.
Do you do well on your own, or are you happier in a big group?
I'm very gregarious and love having people around me all the time. Even in lockdown, we were having Zoom gatherings and quizzes, which was great fun. The Who cast and crew had some Zoom calls - I stayed in touch with the lovely guys and girls down there in Cardiff right the way through.
In an ideal world, do you prefer a big family Christmas?
Oh yes. We'd normally have them all over, or have our Christmas dinner at our local golf club. That's three to four families on as many tables, in a room of 300 people. And then everybody back to ours for drinks and a sing-song! I love it, I really do. We haven't made plans this year, but at least everyone's in the same boat.
MANDIP GILL - YAZ
Merry Christmas, Mandip! Do you prefer a big or small Christmas?
I've only ever had big ones - I'm one of seven kids, so when we were little it was 30, 40 people, and ten of them were my immediate family. It's proper noisy and well messy.
Are you OK not being in big groups?
I used to hate being alone. We film in Wales and my closest family members are in the Midlands, so I've had to get used to being on my own. Lockdown was really just an extended version of my weekends.
Doctor Who has tackled issues like loneliness and mental health - do you think that's important?
Yes, 100 per cent. TV has a responsibility to teach people about these issues and allow those who are suffering to see themselves.
It's been announced that Bradley and Tosin are leaving the series how does it feel to say goodbye?
It's gutting. We knew it was coming so we've had a while to get our heads around it. Brad and Tosin are such big characters, and I'll really miss them on set.
What made you decide to stay on with Jodie for the next series?
I just thought, "I'm not ready for this journey to end." Why leave something if you're enjoying it, it's working and there's development? I don't know when it will end for me because as a person and as a character, there's so much more to explore.
JOHN BARROWMAN - CAPTAIN JACK
Captain Jack Harkness had been away from Doctor Who for a decade, then made a surprise reappearance earlier this year - how did they get you back again?
I am never going to say no to being Captain Jack. I know how popular these specials are at this time of the year, and how much the fans look forward to them. So sit down and prepare this episode is going to be a rollercoaster ride of epic proportions.
Where have you been spending lockdown?
Right now, I'm sitting in my back yard in Palm Springs. I've got the screen down, because the sunshine is too bright, but there's snow on the mountaintops.
This whole lockdown period has been the longest I've ever been at home in one place. I loved it for the first couple of months, and then I'd had enough of rearranging cupboards.
In lockdown, you took part in online watchalongs of old Doctor Who and Torchwood episodes. Was it good to connect with fans in that way?
Normally, I do a lot of conventions, and I'm very in touch with fans, so I found connecting digitally really quite emotional. I shed a tear! Sitting in my living room feeling isolated and alone, but knowing we were all there together, felt very Doctor Who-esque.
Will you be coming together with family this Christmas?
My husband and I will be here with the dogs. My mum and dad live down the street - we'll have a two-week quarantine, we'll test twice, and then we'll get them into our bubble.
It'll be a small Christmas, but I started decorating early to make all of December festive and wonderful. Wait till you see my Tardis-decorated tree...
Caption: WHO YULE Jodie Whittaker and friends, including the soon departing Tosin Cole (above, who plays Ryan), are gearing up for Christmas
Caption: Zappy New Year The Daleks bring chills to 2021
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- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Hope it's not a scarf! | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Hope_it%27s_not_a_scarf! | work=Radio Times | pages=58 | date=2020-12-19 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=22 April 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Hope it's not a scarf! | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Hope_it%27s_not_a_scarf! | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=22 April 2025}}</ref>
