Much ado about Dr Who
- Publication: The Age
- Date: 1981-06-11
- Author: Jill Morris
- Page: Green Guide, p. 5
- Language: English
WHO'S afraid of 260, 'Doctor Who' fans? Apparently not the ABC.
Fans of the "good doctor" have deluged the Green Guide with letters of protest, following the ABC's announcement that they will not be showing the new series until 1982, and that there will be no screening of 'Doctor Who' at all this year
They had been expecting the new series to begin in early May.
"We're not seriously planning a 'Doctor Who' series until next year," says Colin Stockbridge, manager of TV drama for Victoria.
"Programme policy is, generally speaking, flexible, but our programme planning activities which determine future action over a reasonable period of time occur only once a year "
Evidently the decision has been made for this year. Mr Stockbridge refuses to commit himself on whether or not the decision Is irreversible.
This week, with the help of some young 'Doctor Who' viewers, I presented the letters of protest to the commissionaire of the ABC's studios at Ripponlea.
We were not allowed to deliver the letters to Mr Stockbridge personally nor would be agree to descend from his office to the foyer to discuss the vanished doctor with the fans.
The reason, given by an ABC representative three days earlier a personal presentation would be tantamount to accepting a petition, and this would set a dangerous precedent for other groups wishing to make approaches to the ABC.
"For various reasons," says Mr Stockbridge, "networks can't chop and change at short duration to suit particular groups. We certainty are aware of the interest in 'Doctor Who', through the efforts of the Green Guide, and It's important to get this sort of feedback.
"The fans have obviously spoken their piece," he said, "and that will be taken into account."
Twenty-eight new episodes of 'Doctor Who,' the last starring Tom Baker, having been completed by the BBC, are now gathering dust on ABC shelves.
They will stay there. Unless the ABC changes its mind.
Caption: And this was as far as the Dr Who protesters got ... the foyer of the ABC and the commissionaire.
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- APA 6th ed.: Morris, Jill (1981-06-11). Much ado about Dr Who. The Age p. Green Guide, p. 5.
- MLA 7th ed.: Morris, Jill. "Much ado about Dr Who." The Age [add city] 1981-06-11, Green Guide, p. 5. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Morris, Jill. "Much ado about Dr Who." The Age, edition, sec., 1981-06-11
- Turabian: Morris, Jill. "Much ado about Dr Who." The Age, 1981-06-11, section, Green Guide, p. 5 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Much ado about Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Much_ado_about_Dr_Who | work=The Age | pages=Green Guide, p. 5 | date=1981-06-11 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=24 April 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Much ado about Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Much_ado_about_Dr_Who | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=24 April 2025}}</ref>
