New-look Dr Who for autumn
- Publication: The Herald
- Date: 1986-04-12
- Author:
- Page:
- Language: English
DR WHO returns to television in the autumn after an 16-month break with a new look — less violence and more humour.
The changes come after recent criticism of the programme by BBC 1 controller Mr Michael Grade, who threatened to axe the show last year.
"The humour won't be slapstick — we're not turning the programme into a Carry on Doctor," said producer Mr John Nathan Turner. "But we want to highlight the humorous content because there is a place for it in the programme.
"Violence is a sensitive area everwhere m broadcasting and we will be watching that very carefully. The object of Dr Who is to scare audiences, but not to terrify them.
"The series has been running for 23 years and has gone through many different phases. hi the 1970s there was a lot of criticism about violence in the programme, but when Tom Baker took over the title role it altered and became more whimsical. The show can take changes."
Mr Grade said earlier this year he felt Dr Who had become too violent, had lost much of its humour, and was let down by thin story lines.
Mr Nathan Turner disagreed that Dr Who was on trial because of what Mr Grade had said. "All BBC programmes are on trial all the time inasmuch as they all come up for review each year," he said.
He was speaking during a break on location at Butser Hill, near Petersfield, Hampshire, where the first of Dr Who's three adventures in the next 14-week series is being filmed.
Colin Baker, 43, who plays Dr Who, said he did not think the last series was too violent.
"Dr Who is a character who has always abhorred violence, and has resorted to it only in the very last resort," he said.
He was surprised at the decision to shelve Dr Who just as the last series — which was scrapped — was about to go into production.
"I had only just taken over as the new Doctor and was worried it might have been something to do with me, but I was assured it wasn't," said Mr Baker.
"After reading newspaper reports that Dr Who was coming back on trial, I was rather worried I might feel hunted after what had been said, but t don't, and I don't believe Dr Who will ever be taken off for good."
Nicola Bryant, who leaves the show half-way through the new series to make way for a new Doctor's assistant, said: "Everyone was very upset and rightly so about comments that have been made about Dr Who. It is a very popular show and I got a lot of response from the public in favour of the programme."
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- APA 6th ed.: (1986-04-12). New-look Dr Who for autumn. The Herald .
- MLA 7th ed.: "New-look Dr Who for autumn." The Herald [add city] 1986-04-12. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "New-look Dr Who for autumn." The Herald, edition, sec., 1986-04-12
- Turabian: "New-look Dr Who for autumn." The Herald, 1986-04-12, section, edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=New-look Dr Who for autumn | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/New-look_Dr_Who_for_autumn | work=The Herald | pages= | date=1986-04-12 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=25 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=New-look Dr Who for autumn | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/New-look_Dr_Who_for_autumn | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=25 March 2025}}</ref>
