Who Is Who
- Publication: Starlog
- Date: 1987-01-06
- Author:
- Page: 8
- Language: English
... Over the past few years, I have read with great interest many letters in American publications concerning the BBC series Dr Who. The majority of these letters seem to ask A) whether the series could survive the departures of Tom Baker and Peter Davison as the Doctor, or B) which was the best Doctor, with some writers having been fortunate enough to see John Pertwee's portrayal.
As a fan of the series for more than half my life (I am 23 now and have watched since I was eight, having seen Jon Pertwee's debut episode when I was six), I can honestly say that they are all the best. Patrick Troughton bore the controversy of the first change of lead actor with a bravely different interpretation of the Doctor. Jon Pertwee brought a dashing heroism to the role and was the spectacular character who first compelled me to follow the series.
Tom Baker held the show together throughout the worst plots ever devised for Dr. Who, and even managed to increase the viewing figures with his magnetic performance.
Peter Davison breathed new life into the series and "cleansed" the character after Baker's epic seven years. And now, Colin Baker has brought back the domineering, arrogant, single-mindedness which has been missing for so long.
But the Doctor was the one who was laughed at for saying that Doctor Who could run for as long as five years if handled properly—William Hartnell, who lived just long enough to see his original estimate doubled. I have seen only a few clips of Hartnell's Doctor in "Earth Shock," the TV news report of his death, and the repeat of the very first story, "An Unearthly Child," not to mention his all too brief appearances in "The Three Doctors." But, for me, he was the personification of this mysterious, enigmatic alien. It is unfortunate that all his stories are in black and white, as TV companies around the world, the BBC included, seem to be afraid to air such programs for fear of offending the more unimaginative elements of the viewing public. It is, in my opinion, a tragic loss to all fans, British and Americans, who have never seen this great actor's work in establishing the most popular TV science-fiction hero ever. Troughton's era is similarly neglected, although it featured the ultimate destruction of the Daleks, the creation of U.N.I.T. and the establishing of the Cybermen adventures.
Needless to say the first question is rhetorical. Doctor Who did survive Baker and Davison's respective departures, has always survived changes and stands a good chance of surviving another 20 years.
Chris Parkes
28 Chell Green Avenue
Chell, Stoke-on-Trent
England ST6 7JY
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- APA 6th ed.: (1987-01-06). Who Is Who. Starlog p. 8.
- MLA 7th ed.: "Who Is Who." Starlog [add city] 1987-01-06, 8. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Who Is Who." Starlog, edition, sec., 1987-01-06
- Turabian: "Who Is Who." Starlog, 1987-01-06, section, 8 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Who Is Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Who_Is_Who | work=Starlog | pages=8 | date=1987-01-06 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=16 April 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Who Is Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Who_Is_Who | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref>
