Brilliant, says Matt as he steps into the Doctor's new boots on a Welsh beach
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- Publication: Western Mail
- Date: 2009-07-21
- Author: Lisa Jones
- Page: 14
- Language: English
DRAPED in a tweed jacket, bow tie, rolled up trousers and black scuffed boots, the new Doctor Who looks every inch the young professor.
Actor Matt Smith, 26, yesterday revealed his distinctive new look for the 11th incarnation of the popular Time Lord, as filming began on the fifth BBC Wales series in and around Cardiff.
Scottish actress Karen Gillan plays Amy Pond, the Doctor's latest companion. They meet in the first episode of the new series.
The Doctor's new bookish style marks a distinct change in sartorial direction to David Tennant's "geek chic" look of sharp blue, pin-striped suits and cult footwear Converse All-Stars.
The old-fashioned look - ironically, worn by the youngest ever Doctor Who lead - has echoes of former Doctor, Patrick Troughton, who wore a floppy bow tie when he played the role from 1966 to 1969, as well as Jon Pertwee, who played the Doctor from 1970 to 1974 often wearing a bow tie.
From Tom Baker's scarf and floppy hat and Peter Davison's lapel celery, to the riot of question marks of Sylvester McCoy's outfit, the costume of the Doctor has always been an endless point of interest.
Speculation has been rife on fan sites about the likely path the Time Lord will take in the new series, which is due to air next spring, and how he is to be portrayed by Smith as a result of the revelation of the Doctor's new image.
A spokesman for BBC Wales, which produces the award-winning sci-fi show, refused to comment on storylines for the series.
However, he said: "We are letting people reach their own conclusions from looking at the pictures. But we've had positive feedback about the new-look Doctor.
"Some people have said he's got more of an academic look. Lots of people seem to be thinking along the same lines, that he's going to be a more cerebral character.
"Whether or not that's going to pan out in the series, the viewers will have to see as it progresses."
Film and television critic Gary Slaymaker said the look was a way of dressing down Smith's distinctive features.
He said: "It's a cross between Oxford don and Teddy Boy. He's got a distinctive face so it makes sense to dress him down in a professorial look.
"It could work to his ad-vantage. The idea to dress him down is to make him even more normal than the last Doctor."
Antony Wainer, of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society didn't think there would be any distinct change in the Doctor's character as a result of his new costume.
He said: "The new Doctors are very traditional and in clothes that you would expect to see in the streets. Christopher Eccleston's character wore a black leather jacket and T-shirts whereas in previous regenerations they have worn costumes. Colin Baker wore yellow trousers and a multi-coloured jacket. "It's in the whimsical nature of the Doctor for him to look professorial.
"We will have a continuation of what we are used to. They won't stray away from what David Tennant brought to the role.
"This is a younger actor coming along to play the same character and will be an extension of that. It's no longer an old man's part. It's slightly wacky but the character is in safe hands."
Speaking at the start of filming for his new role, Smith said: "I feel very privileged and proud to be part of this iconic show.
"The scripts are brilliant and working alongside Karen and the rest of the crew is an inspiration because their work ethic and passion for the show is so admirable.
"I'm excited about the future and all the brilliant adventures I get to go on as the Doctor."
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How the Time Lords compare through the ages The ruthless old dear First Doctor: William Hartnell, 1963- 1966 The original Doctor Who could easily be dismissed as a frail old man who wouldn't look out of place in a dressing gown and slippers. However, the First Doctor turned out remarkably strong, both mentally and physically. A mysterious presence, he fashioned an Edwardian-style ensemble teamed with piercing eyes.
The cosmic hobo Second Doctor: Patrick Troughton, 1966- 1969 Patrick Troughton chose the role of Cosmic Hobo for his portrayal of the Second Doctor. A secretive and anarchistic man, the Doctor's clothes seemed dirty and unkempt. His trademark, a grubby old handkerchief, stayed with him through his three years as Doctor Who - along with his rather tuneless recorder.
The dandy activist Third Doctor: Jon Pertwee, 1970- 1974 Branching away from his predecessors' "crazy scientist" looks, the Third Doctor was elegant and old-fashioned, sporting a velvet jacket, a white frilly shirt with a dark red bow tie and ironed trousers. His rudeness fitted his expensive look well, although he also held strong moral values and a passion for the environment.
King of Bohemianism Fourth Doctor: Tom Baker, 1974- 1981 Sporting an impossibly laid-back dress sense and attitude, the Fourth Doctor entered a new realm of style with his multi-coloured scarf, long coat, brown hat and tweed trousers. Jumping quickly from humorous clowning around to quiet moodiness, the Fourth Doctor was a serious yet remarkably eccentric man.
Boyish charm Fifth Doctor: Peter Davison, 1981- 1984 In beige and orange jacket with a decorative celery stalk, striped trousers and plimsoll shoes, the Fifth Doctor seemed to emulate the style of a cricketer. With a sensitive personality to match his boyish look, the Fifth Doctor was likeable and charming.
The explosion in a rainbow factory Sixth Doctor: Colin Baker, 1984- 1986 It would be fair to describe the Sixth Doctor's fashion sense as the wildest - and most tasteless - of all the Doctors. With his pantomime-style costume of clashing colours and his slapstick personality, Colin Baker's Doctor seriously lacked the quiet dignity and refined style of his predecessors.
The calm after the storm Seventh Doctor: Sylvester McCoy, 1987- 1989, 1996 In his formal attire consisting of an off-white jacket teamed with a red scarf and matching handkerchief, the Seventh Doctor's dress sense sparked a sigh of relief after his predecessor's faux pas. However, McCoy's calmer style far from represented his crafty character, with this Doctor providing the show with an intriguingly darker kind of presence.
The Byronesque beauty Eighth Doctor: Paul McGann, 1996 The Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann, quickly became a heart-throb, both on and off-screen. He wore old-fashioned, 19th century clothing, including a stolen cowboy-style costume. His character was a mixture of the Fifth Doctor's boyish charm and the Seventh's darker character traits.
The man of mystery Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston, 2005 Dressed in a black leather jacket, a jumper and dark trousers, the Ninth Doctor sported a certain air of mystery. An intelligent and reserved man, he was also prone to bouts of energetic behaviour. However, guilt over the Last Great Time War made him a sadder and perhaps deeper presence than the other Doctors.
The chic geek Tenth Doctor: David Tennant, 2005- 2010 Although no less dark and dangerous than the first nine Doctors, Tennant's character seems far more jovial and chatty than his predecessors. Exuding a sense of style which can only be described as "stylish geek", he dresses in a dark brown or blue suit and tie, but renders this formal ensemble quirky and original with a simple pair of baseball boots.
The 1930s professor Eleventh Doctor: Matt Smith, 2010 onwards Yet another dramatic change in style is on the cards for the next Doctor Who, with Matt Smith photographed filming in a bow tie, tweed jacket, black trousers and scruffy boots. Unlike Tennant's modern dress sense, Smith's ensemble seems to resemble a school professor from the 1930s. Whether the Eleventh Doctor's character matches his bookish style remains to be seen.
GRAPHIC: TIME LORD: New Doctor Who Matt Smith with assistant Karen Gillan filming the new series of the BBC show at Southerndown Beach, South Wales, yesterday CO-STAR: Alex Kingston yesterday
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- APA 6th ed.: Jones, Lisa (2009-07-21). Brilliant, says Matt as he steps into the Doctor's new boots on a Welsh beach. Western Mail p. 14.
- MLA 7th ed.: Jones, Lisa. "Brilliant, says Matt as he steps into the Doctor's new boots on a Welsh beach." Western Mail [add city] 2009-07-21, 14. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Jones, Lisa. "Brilliant, says Matt as he steps into the Doctor's new boots on a Welsh beach." Western Mail, edition, sec., 2009-07-21
- Turabian: Jones, Lisa. "Brilliant, says Matt as he steps into the Doctor's new boots on a Welsh beach." Western Mail, 2009-07-21, section, 14 edition.
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