The controversial Who faces a testing time

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• Publication: Sandwell Evening Mail
• Date: 1986-08-16
• Author: Michael Burke
• Page: 17
• Language: English

It wasn't a Tardis that the gaudily dressed Dr Who stepped from in a busy London street yesterday -- but a London taxi.

Heads turned and mouths fell open as the time-travelling Doctor Colin Baker strode into a London Hotel next to Hyde Park. "I didn't have time to change." explained Colin, the sixth Doctor Who.

There has been more said about Dr Who since it was pulled off the air for being too violent, than has been said in its incredible 23-year history.

Fantasy

There were calls from on high that the Doctor's adventures had become too violent, and that his glamorous assistants weren't wearing enough clothes.

But Colin Baker finds it hard to see what all the fuss was about.

"Of course the public is concerned about violence, but I think they can distinguish between real violence and fantasy. A programme like The A-Team has always been far more violent than Doctor Who.

"I love playing The Doctor," said six-foot-two Colin. "And people say it's the very best job to have in television. I am inclined to agree."

He said the new series will be the first in which his baby daughter Lucy will be able to watch "Daddy" on TV at their home in Buckinghamshire.

"I've seen the first episode, and I'm very proud of it." said Colin.

The whole series will see the Doctor on trial by the other Time Lords, who are fed up with his roguish, single handed adventures across time and space.

Each episode will consist of new "evidence," looking at some of the recent adventures, which have taken place while the series has been off the air.

Nicola Bryant, who again plays the Doctor's assistant Peri, is in the first eight episodes. She is then replaced as the Doctor's new assistant for the rest of the series by Bonnie Langford.

Nicola said she herself wanted to leave the series, which had given her her first ever job three years ago.

"Three years is a long time to play one part. I've got a new show in the West End," said Nicola.

She also revealed that curvy Peri ordered her own "cover-up" of the vital statistics, which helped make the show a success with some male viewers.

"The clothes I wore in the series were a bit blatant, shorts and leotards and things, so this time I've chosen some of my own clothes, much more ordinary,"

"The decision that I would go that John (producer) and I took together."

John Nathan-Turner, whose parents Kathleen and Sam live in Erdington, revealed it would be the most star-studded Doctor Who ever, with several guest appearances by well-known actors.

"It's not that we had to tone down Doctor Who, we still have some frightening monsters, but in parts we have been aware not to show any lingering shots of violence, such as people being hit over the heed or stabbed.

Companions

"I'm sure people will find it's one of the best series were ever done," said John, who has just written a book, Doctor Who - The Companions, about the 20 women and six men who have been the Doctor's companions over the years.

Michael Grade, director general of BBC Television, who pulled Doctor Who off the screens, said the Doctor is on trial in more ways than one. He will be watching the series before deciding if another should be made.

But Colin Baker was optimistic: "I'm sure we will be making another," he said.

Caption: Nicola Bryant, who plays Dr Who's assistant Peri.

Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org

• APA 6th ed.: Burke, Michael (1986-08-16). The controversial Who faces a testing time. Sandwell Evening Mail p. 17.
• MLA 7th ed.: Burke, Michael. "The controversial Who faces a testing time." Sandwell Evening Mail [add city] 1986-08-16, 17. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: Burke, Michael. "The controversial Who faces a testing time." Sandwell Evening Mail, edition, sec., 1986-08-16
• Turabian: Burke, Michael. "The controversial Who faces a testing time." Sandwell Evening Mail, 1986-08-16, section, 17 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=The controversial Who faces a testing time | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/The_controversial_Who_faces_a_testing_time | work=Sandwell Evening Mail | pages=17 | date=1986-08-16 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=3 April 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=The controversial Who faces a testing time | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/The_controversial_Who_faces_a_testing_time | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=3 April 2025}}</ref>