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{{article | publication = Western Mail | file = | px = | height = | width = | date = 2003-11-25 | author = Catrin Pascoe | pages = 9 | language = English | type = | description = | categories = | moreTitles = | morePublications = | moreDates = | text = Hundreds Of E-Mails Petition Welsh Writer FANS of Doctor Who have gone into cyberspace to launch an e-mail attack on television writer Russell T Davies. They've bombarded the top dramatist with messages since learning he has been commissioned to write a new series of the hit television show. Swansea-born Davies will start work in January, developing scripts for seven episodes of the cult drama which celebrates its 40th birthday this week. But sci-fi devotees have been plaguing the Welsh screenwriter with demands that he bring back the Daleks and Cybermen. Davies, who created the controversial Channel 4 series Queer As Folk, said the fans had even tracked him down to his home in Manchester. 'I don't know how they managed it, but some of them have got hold of my personal e-mail address,' he said. 'Since it became known that I was writing the next series, they've been sending me loads of ideas and suggestions. There's about a thousand of them out there. 'They must think I'm rude for not replying, but it has got to the stage where I can't respond to them because there's just so many coming in. 'Doctor Who was a great show and I remember watching it as an eight-year-old and hiding behind the sofa during the scary bits. In fact, it was one of the programmes which made me want to go into television. 'It's still incredibly popular and the fan base is so passionate that you have to be respectful.' He suggested there may be problems with bringing back popular characters such as the Daleks and Cybermen because they were copyrighted. Davies, 40, added, 'I might be known as Mr Controversy because of Queer As Folk, but it is important to be able to do other things, and to be involved with Doctor Who is wonderful.' Davies was keeping tightlipped about the new Doctor Who but it is expected that the dreaded Daleks will make a comeback. The programmes will be produced by BBC Wales. Head of drama Julie Gardner said, 'It will be a thrill to work with him on such a landmark TV series. 'This is very early days and it is unlikely anything will be on screen for at least two years but it is very exciting and I can't wait to get started.' The original Doctor Who - played by William Hartnell - was first seen on November 23, 1963. He was followed by seven more, before the series was axed in 1989. Sylvester McCoy was the last actor to play the Doctor in the TV series and Paul McGann recreated the role in a TV-movie version in 1996. Queer As Folk was slammed because of its graphic portrayal of the gay sex scene. But Davies insists there will be no controversies in his latest project, Mine All Mine, an ITV comedy set in Swansea. The series, to be screened in March, stars Griff Rhys Jones as taxi driver Max Vivaldi who inherits the city from a relative's will. 'There will be nothing in this which is going to upset anyone,' said Davies. 'It's good, old-fashioned family entertainment, very much like one of those old Ealing comedies, which I love.' Davies, who is screenwriter and executive producer, decided it was time that Wales had a lighter profile. 'Wales is always being portrayed as a depressing place with lots of rain and teenage girls having babies in fields - I thought it was about time we created a good comedy here instead. 'Some of the views from Mumbles are superb. It's been a great place to film and everyone here has been fantastically helpful.' MANIC Tom Baker was voted the greatest-ever Doctor Who in a poll to mark the cult show's 40th anniversary. In the role, Baker was famed for his boggle-eyed stare, mop of curls and his multi-coloured scarf as he outsmarted Cybermen, Daleks and Zygons. Baker played the fourth incarnation of the Doctor, taking over from second-placed Jon Pertwee in 1974 and playing him until 1981. The Radio Times survey found the top five favourite Doctor Whos are: 1. Tom Baker 2. Jon Pertwee 3. Patrick Troughton 4. Peter Davison 5. Sylvester McCoy Cybermen were voted the favourite villains in the series. }}

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