Doctor Who’s The Legend of Ruby Sunday saw the Doctor and UNIT investigate Ruby’s past. But as the Time Window revealed horrifying secrets from Christmas Eve, the mysterious Triad Technology unleashed the greatest evil of all… Sutekh.
Originally airing in 1975, four part story Pyramids of Mars saw the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) battle the almighty Sutekh – voiced by Gabriel Woolf.
As the Doctor and Ruby travel to the Pyramids of Mars in a brand new Tales of the TARDIS and face Sutekh in Doctor Who season one finale Empire of Death, we caught up Gabriel Woolf to find out all about returning to Doctor Who, introducing Sutekh to a new generation, and his favourite Doctor Who villains.
Interview with Gabriel Woolf (Sutekh)
How does it feel reviving Sutekh after nearly 50 years?
It felt sort of inevitable in a way. I’d never lost Sutekh because of the fans. They’ve kept him alive, organised conventions all over the place, so it feels kind of natural.
How does it feel knowing a whole new audience will discover the classic story of Pyramids of Mars when it is revisited in Tales of the TARDIS this week?
It’s excellent; they will have the complete backstory of Sutekh so they will know how it all began. Tom [Baker] and I play off each other and it was dramatic, it was a bit like a play. I hope it gives a tremendous added dimension to the excitement for the finale – the fact it’s spread out over cinemas and across the world is wonderful.
What was your reaction when you were asked to come back to Doctor Who?
I was over the moon, delighted and thrilled. It was wonderful. The fans have always said ‘Oh you must come back!’, and I always said back ‘It’s not up to me!’ – and now it’s happened. Extraordinary.
Did you ever think you would return to Doctor Who?
No. it’s been 48 years since we did it so I thought it was pretty unlikely. It was a big surprise but a good one!
Do you think anything is different about this version of Sutekh to the one we met in 1975?
Well, visually certainly, and I thought there has been some development of the character – but we do have the same classic lines here and there so he is recognisable, and he is destroying the same universe.
You’ve played another role in Doctor Who, can you explain this more?
Yes, the Beast. That was in The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit with David Tennant – I never met him or many of the people, I do things in a little box on my own!
What is the process when recording voiceovers? Do you imagine the finished result when recording?
You are always working in a vacuum with the character in your head and using your voice. It was only when I had a special viewing a couple of weeks ago that I could see what my voice was matching to – it was a big relief for me to see how well it worked together.
How do you hope fans will react when they see the big reveal of Sutekh’s return?
I would hope they’d be very excited and pleased, and that they’ll give themselves a pat on the back as it’s all down to them that this has happened.
Do you have a favourite Doctor Who villain, other than the ones you’ve played?
I enjoy the Daleks more than anything else, but then The Master is good… they’re all classic ones!
If you could travel anywhere in time and space, where or when would you go to?
I don’t think I’d want to go to the origins of the universe and see how it began or anything like that, I’m not a scientist (laughs). I love the Victorian age for literature, most of my life has been spent in Victorian literature and poetry – but I’m mostly remembered for Doctor Who which is funny, it was two weekends in 1975!
Doctor Who fans knit scarf ‘longer than Clifton bridge’
BBC launches new Wonder Chase experience on Roblox.
The BBC has entered the world of Roblox today, as it launches BBC Wonder Chase. People enter a free, fun, vibrant world, featuring some of the biggest BBC shows like Match of the Day, Doctor Who, EastEnders, and The Next Step. They will also meet some of the BBC’s most famous faces – including Gary Lineker, Zara McDermott, Louis Theroux, Hacker T Dog, and the Fifteenth Doctor.
People can play fun mini games, collect BBC iPlayer-themed coins, learn interesting nature facts and complete tricky obstacle courses. Along the way, they can challenge themselves to find and collect limited edition stickers or just take it easy, relax and chat with pals in their friends list while watching clips from some of their favourite BBC shows in the cinema area.
The new BBC Wonder Chase experience aims to reach young people where they are and bring the BBC to them. Roblox is enormously popular with younger audiences, and is used by over 71 million people every day. The experience is free on Roblox, and available on PC, mobile (iOS, Android), PlayStation, Xbox. To find it, just go to Roblox and search for BBC Wonder Chase.
Fiona Campbell, controller of youth audience, BBC iPlayer and BBC Three, says:
“BBC Wonder Chase brings some of the biggest BBC shows from the worlds of sport, drama and the natural world alive in a game space that encourages play and social interaction between friends and also the show’s leading characters. Showcasing the breadth of BBC content on a platform with more than 71 million users.”
Patricia Hildalgo, Director of Children’s and Education, says:
“As the children’s media landscape is constantly evolving, we want to meet kids wherever they are. We know Roblox is hugely popular with children and we’re giving them the chance to interact and play with their favourite CBBC shows and characters, and discover more to love from across the BBC.”
The journey begins in Wonder Central, a fantastical city set on the water. Here, people will run into documentarians Louis Theroux and Zara McDermott, have a laugh with CBBC’s Hacker T Dog, or a red nose game from Comic Relief. From Wonder Central, they can also find portals to other parts of the experience – including:
Total Sport – a collection of sporty islands people can adventure around, surrounded by giant inflatables and activities, where they can meet and chat to Match of the Day stars Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
Deep Space Zone – an otherworldly planet where people will find Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday as well as a mischievous Goblin.
Tiny Planet – here people will enter an English country garden, but they’ll be the size of a bug! An interactive space for fun and learning about nature, and where players can chat to some of the BBC’s best known nature presenters, including Liz Bonnin and CBBC’s Deadly 60’s Steve Backshall.
Festival Park – a celebration of music, art and culture all set in a chilled out, magical festival. People can find and chat to Michelle, Kenzie and Eldon from the hit CBBC show The Next Step, or visit the BBC News rave tent.
BBC Wonder Chase world will evolve across the coming year with new content added and new worlds developed.
The experience was made by the BBC with Bristol based games developer Mobile Pie. The BBC has also used a number of accessibility tools for the experience, which are available on the Roblox platform. This includes the option to stop or pause motion such as grass or wind to reduce animations for those who may find them distracting. There is built-in support for Adaptive Controllers for people using PlayStation or Xbox, plus the ability to change what the buttons do so that users can control their experience. And there is a feature where users can automate a double jump, a key action, to help those who may have issues tapping twice in quick succession.
To find BBC Wonder Chase, click here or go to Roblox and search for BBC Wonder Chase.
Russell T Davies on reviving the Doctor Who Experience: “Once bitten, twice shy”
The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff was adored by fans, offering the opportunity to see classic costumes and props as well as take part in interactive experiences inspired by the BBC sci-fi series.
The exhibition closed its doors after five years in Cardiff in September 2017 – but could it ever return?
Though Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies isn’t ruling out the opening of a similar attraction in future, he did caution that any such project was unlikely in the immediate future during an interview on the Firecrotch & Normcore: They Like To Watch podcast.
“That Doctor Who Experience lost a lot of money,” Davies explained. “That’s not a secret, it just did”. “I loved it – it was brilliant, it was so lavish… no wonder it lost money. So it’s kind of ‘once bitten, twice shy’.”
The Doctor Who Experience
Davies said that he and the creative forces behind Doctor Who will “see how successful it becomes” before committing to any franchise expansions.
“If it starts to get the kids watching, if it starts to sell the toys, if it starts creating demand, then it’ll start to happen. Right now, it’s a difficult time for that.”
Davies did add, though, that “the early signs are great” for the new era of Doctor Who, which stars Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and sees the BBC partner with Disney for global distribution of the series.
The Doctor Who Experience.
The new season of Doctor Who is set to launch on 11th May in the UK, with the first two episodes available on iPlayer from midnight, with a BBC One broadcast following later on Saturday evening.
Millie Gibson will star opposite Gatwa’s Doctor as new companion Ruby Sunday, while other returning cast will include Jemma Redgrave (Kate Stewart), Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood), Michelle Greenidge (Carla Sunday), Yasmin Finney (Rose Noble), and Bonnie Langford (Mel Bush).
Joining the returnees will be new guest cast including Aneurin Barnard, Jinkx Monsoon, Indira Varma, and Lenny Rush.
Ex-showrunner Steven Moffat will also be back to write episode 3 of the eight-part series.
As we enter a new era of Doctor Who, we know that some spin-offs are on their way – and a new report on Production List suggests that one of them will begin production very soon.
An entry on the website suggests that a spin-off, titled “The War Between the Land and the Sea“, will start shooting on 4th March 2024.
The series is specifically listed as a Doctor Who spin-off and the entry states it will feature the Sea Devils. The iconic monsters first appeared in the show in the 1972 Jon Pertwee story The Sea Devils and, more recently, they returned in the 2022 Jodie Whittaker special Legend of the Sea Devils.
Production List reports that filming will take place in Cardiff, Wales, and lists Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and producers Phil Collinson, Vicki Delow, Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner as crew members.
Davies previously confirmed that new spin-offs are on the horizon as Doctor Who enters its “next stage” after the 60th anniversary of the show.
Speaking about why it was the right time for him to return to Doctor Who, Davies told GQ:
“So I thought – with no criticism whatsoever towards the people who were running it at the time, because they were running it within the BBC’s measures – it was time for the next stage for Doctor Who.
“I thought the streaming platforms are ready, the spin-offs are ready; I always believed in spin-offs when I was there. I did Torchwood as a spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures as a spin-off.
“Those spin-offs declined when I left, and I can see why. And I very much left after 2008, when the money became scarce. I think that’s fair enough for the public service broadcaster that the money is spent on other things.”
While confirmed details on what exactly the spin-offs will include have been thin on the ground, there have also been rumours about a spin-off relating to UNIT – especially after Jemma Redgrave’s return as Kate Stewart in the 60th anniversary specials.
An interactive Doctor Who sculpture made out of regenerated technology has materialised on London’s South Bank.
To celebrate the return of Doctor Who and as part of the brand’s 60th anniversary celebrations, BBC Studios has teamed up with Back Market – the global online marketplace for refurbished tech – to create a showstopping installation on London’s South Bank. This mind-bending 180-degree interactive sculpture showcases the current Doctor, David Tennant, seamlessly regenerating into the Fifteenth Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa.
The Doctor’s regeneration into a new physical form at the end of each series is an iconic trope of the show. The installation, which acts as a homage to the process, can be seen on London’s South Bank from Friday 8th until Monday 11th December.
The ART OF REGENERATION sculpture is made from hundreds of discarded devices, acting as a physical embodiment of Tennant’s iconic character leaving the show and transforming into Gatwa’s Doctor.
The 7ft by 9ft anamorphic sculpture has been handcrafted by Global Street Art using unused regenerated tech as an artistic representation of the estimated 100 tonnes of e-waste thrown into landfill every minute. Alongside the usual tech you’d find on the B Corp’s marketplace, eagle-eyed Doctor Who fans will spot special devices recycled from the space-time continuum, including the TARDIS, sonic screwdrivers, plus a few additional easter eggs.
There is a wealth of activity happening on the South Bank around the activation:
On Friday 8th the ART OF REGENERATION sculpture will have a very special guest appearance from the TARDIS (10am-2pm only).
On Saturday 9th we are hosting a cosplay event, inviting fans to get dressed up and come down to the pop-up for a photo call at 12pm. So dust off that bow-tie and pull out your tweed blazer to join your fellow Whovians at the South Bank this weekend…COSPLAYERS ASSEMBLE!
On Sunday 10th between 11am and 2pm, fans will also be able to come down and see the Fourteenth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver as well as for the first time, Ncuti’s brand-new Sonic Screwdriver as part of the exhibit.
After the activation, the sculpture will return to BBC Studios’ Television Centre headquarters, where it will live until it’s dismantled, and the tech used to create the installation will be recycled.
For those looking to cash in on old devices before Christmas, Back Market is inviting the public to make use of its Trade-in service by selling unwanted electronics to professional refurbishers. To make the process super easy, Back Market is giving away recycled envelopes to pack with your old device and seal with a pre-paid Back Market postage label generated online, plus exclusive Back Market and Doctor Who merchandise for those who can flex their superfan skills.
Back Market and BBC Studios’ Doctor Who sculpture the ART OF REGENERATION is available for free public viewing from Friday 8th until Monday 11th December at the Queen’s Stone on the South Bank’s bustling Riverside Walkway, next to the OXO Tower.
Bristol stars in Doctor Who: The Giggle airing 9th December
The TARDIS returns to BBC One and iPlayer in the UK from Saturday 25th November with the first of three Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials, taking viewers on an otherworldly adventure in space and time each Saturday.
The third episode in the long-awaited trilogy, ‘The Giggle’, was filmed extensively in Bristol’s Old City last year with support from Bristol Film Office and will premiere on Saturday 9th December.
About the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials
Airing on 25th November, the first episode in the trilogy – ‘The Star Beast’ – sees the Doctor and Donna Noble come face to face after all these years, but just how, and why, is about to be revealed. Joining them in the trilogy is a stellar cast including Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble, Miriam Margolyes as the voice of the Meep, Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble, Karl Collins as Shaun Temple, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne-Bingham, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker, set to cause all kinds of mayhem. It’s going to be an unmissable cosmic adventure, all before Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa gets the keys to the TARDIS over the festive season.
Part three: ‘The Giggle’
Bristol Film Office facilitated the filming of major action scenes for the third episode in the trilogy – ‘The Giggle’ – on and around Clare Street in Bristol’s Old City in June 2022, featuring the Doctor (David Tennant), Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and Hollywood and Broadway star Neil Patrick Harris as The Toymaker. With staged explosions, tanks, soldiers, wrecked vehicles, large numbers of supporting artists and crew – and of course, the TARDIS – the elaborate shoot generated a great deal of excitement from the Bristol public.
Clare Street’s junction with St Stephen’s Avenue and Marsh Street will be recognisable to viewers thanks to the distinctive flower pattern on the road surface. Tennant and Tate also filmed scenes in and around the nearby churchyard at the historic St Stephens Church. Nearby Broad Street was also used during filming. Creperie Chez Marcel was redressed to become a toyshop called ‘Mr Emporium’. Filming also took place in a nearby alleyway connecting Broad Street to neighbouring Small Street, where the TARDIS was parked.
Neil Patrick Harris stars as The Toymaker in The Giggle (image: BBC)
As an iconic production that has been successfully made in Wales since its reboot 20 years ago, Bristol’s neighbouring locations are easily accessible, appealing and convenient to Doctor Who’s production team. Bristol Film Office has been proud to assist with locations support on many occasions over the years – but last Summer’s shoot in the busy central streets of Bristol’s Old City was by far the biggest and most ambitious Doctor Who shoot we have ever hosted.
The Film Office team did a superb job of working with the production to ensure all necessary preparations were made and filming ran smoothly. With the TARDIS, David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Neil Patrick Harris featuring in the action-paced scenes, the spectacle definitely attracted the crowds and it’s fair to say the city was buzzing! It will be a joy to see Bristol feature on screen in The Giggle when it airs on 9th December.
Bristol Film Office’s new ‘Doctor Who in Bristol’ Movie Map gives you the lowdown on every Bristol location that has been used by the show since the 70’s – a must for any Doctor Who fans living in, or visiting, our city.
LAURA AVILES, HEAD OF FILM, BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL
The Doctor Who 60th Anniversary trilogy is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios and Disney Branded Television. Watch ‘The Star Beast’ on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6.30pm on Saturday 25 November. The second 60th anniversary special, ‘Wild Blue Yonder’, will follow at 6.30pm on Saturday 2 December.
‘The Giggle’ will air from 6.30pm on Saturday 9 December, completing the trio of anniversary specials. A special episode of Doctor Who Unleashed will follow, going behind the scenes of The Giggle and speaking to the Toymaker, Neil Patrick Harris.
(from left to right, Toyah Willcox, Ian Kubiak, Christopher Guard, Barnaby Eaton-Jones, Dee Sadler, Kenton Hall, and Sophie Aldred)
Once upon a time, there was a circus. A Psychic Circus, to be precise. A glorious haven for the misfits of the universe.
But then, as is so often the way, it was hijacked by a trio of malevolent Gods. Things grew unpleasant.
Now, years later, the Gods are gone, but the scars of those who survived the Circus remain. After all, you can’t change the past. Unless you’re the Children of the Circus… and you’re willing to sing.
Based on Doctor Who’s The Greatest Show in the Galaxy by Stephen Wyatt, Children of the Circus is a brand-new, original, musical play on audio from AUK Studios; written by Kenton Hall (with songs by Christopher Guard) and based on an idea by Barnaby Eaton-Jones.
Starring Christopher Guard as Bellboy, Dee Sadler as Flowerchild and Ella, Sophie Aldred as Captain Gren and AJ, Toyah Willcox as The Band of Infinite Harmony, Ian Reddington as Delios and the Chief Clown, and Sylvester McCoy as the High Poet.
With Daisy Dunlop, Verity White, Kim Jones, Kenton Hall, Barnaby Eaton-Jones and Ian Kubiak.
Special guest appearances by Ricco Ross as The Ringmaster, Jessica Martin as Mags, Chris Jury as Deadbeat, Deborah Manship as Morgana, Gian Sammarco as Whizz Kid, Daniel Peacock as Nord, and Dean Hollingsworth as the Bus Conductor and Station Announcer.
Produced and directed by Barnaby Eaton-Jones, for AUK Studios.
Ever since producer/director Barnaby Eaton-Jones saw the original broadcast of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, he was fascinated by the world that Stephen Wyatt had created…
“There was such a wild mix of horror, science fiction, music, and fantasy, that it blew my adolescent mind; with images and characters forever stuck in my head. I wanted to revisit some of the characters and introduce new ones. With the permission of Stephen Wyatt (who came up with the title for this new production), and the help of writer Kenton Hall and actor/musician Christopher Guard, we were able to create something rather unique in the audio medium.”
Kenton Hall himself says:
“Like most swinging, modern people, I receive a daily deluge of emails that begin with the fateful words “would you be interested in…” As a result, I have developed a tendency to give them, at best, a brief, withering glare.
In this case, however, it read “would I be interested in playing in the sandbox of Stephen Wyatt’s marvellous ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’?”
Does the lesser spotted gumblejack smell faintly of cinnamon?
Spoiler: the answer to both questions is yes.”
Songwriter, Christopher Guard, who played Bellboy in the original TV serial, added…
“As with all the best things in life, I don’t remember quite how or when it began. I think I’d sent some of my songs – recent and ancient – to Barnaby just as he was dreaming up a sequel to ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’. It was more a shooting star than a light bulb moment. Irresistible synchronicity had struck, and ‘Children of the Circus’ was a THING!
It was just a question of time. Or timelessness.
Stephen Wyatt blessed us, Kenton Hall seized his cosmic pen, and the rest is mystery. Unravelled. With music.
How amazing to act and sing with so many of the original cast, to slip into Bellboy’s loons once more, and to travel seamlessly beyond our wildest dreams.”
Returning as his co-star, Dee Sadler (who played Bellboy’s partner, Flowerchild), got to not only play her original role but a completely new one as well…
“What a complete joy and a privilege it was to be reunited with everyone again after a mere 35 years, and on such a brilliant, funky script, too.
Nothing much had changed between us in the interim and the chemistry was still evident. Playing opposite Bellboy again, as Flowerchild (as well as her mysteriously connected Ella) was pretty special. More than!”
And it wouldn’t be a proper sequel without the return of Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor) and Sophie Aldred (who played the Doctor’s travelling companion, Ace). So, they’re here. But not as you’d expect. Sylvester gives us High Poet; all befuddled charm and with a whisper of duplicity and danger. Sophie gives us two magnificently different characters in the form of Captain Gren (the gruff owner of a Time Ship) and AJ (a sentient piece of rust, who navigates the Time Ship).
(Sylvester McCoy, with AUK Studios CEO, Paul Andrews)
Sylvester himself sums it up rather beautifully…
‘To return to the worlds of Stephen Wyatt’s imagination, but as a wholly new character called the High Poet, means I get to be involved with the Psychic Circus rather than fighting against it! As a lover of the circus myself, juggling this new role was a joy (though I’m sad I didn’t get to play the spoons).
What fun to be reunited with all the wonderful cast from ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’ again, 35 years later, and I hope you’ll all enjoy this time-sliding, sidestepping sequel from Barnaby Eaton-Jones and his bunch of clowns!”
Producer and director, Barnaby Eaton-Jones, was delighted to reunite the entire surviving voice cast of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy…
“The fact that everyone who was asked, without fail, did their best to accommodate my requests for a cameo, shows the love that they hold this Doctor Who serial in. Even with Ricco Ross living in America and being a big star there, and Gian Sammarco retiring form showbusiness 30 years ago, nobody refused, and everyone was delighted to be reuniting.”
Joining the cast in a major role was 1980’s icon (singer/actress/songwriter), Toyah Willcox. It’s long been known she was a fan of Doctor Who, as she appeared in Kevin Jon Davies’ acclaimed documentary 30 Years in the TARDIS, but to get her to create a multi-voiced role as The Band of Infinite Harmony (and get her own solo song, which can heard in full after the end credits as a bonus extra track) was something she clearly relished…
“At last, I get to play all four members of the band and still have the last say…. love it. Seriously it was wonderful to play THE BAND and equally wonderful to hear this rather fab story unfold, a rock and roll odyssey of comic proportions.”
(Christopher Guard, Barnaby Eaton-Jones, and Toyah Willcox – at Yellow Shark Studios)
FULL CREDITS
CHILDREN OF THE CIRCUS (Based on ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’ by Stephen Wyatt)
CAST
Bellboy – CHRISTOPHER GUARD
Ella / Flowerchild – DEE SADLER
Delios / Chief Clown – IAN REDDINGTON
Captain Gren / AJ – SOPHIE ALDRED
Mel’Dee / The Band (Lead Voice) – TOYAH WILLCOX
The High Poet – SYLVESTER MCCOY
Gregoria – KIM JONES
The Tooth – BARNABY EATON-JONES
Barkeep – IAN KUBIAK
The Ringmaster – RICCO ROSS
Deadbeat – CHRIS JURY
Mags – JESSICA MARTIN
Morgana – DEBORAH MANSHIP
Whizz Kid – GIAN SAMMARCO
Nord – DANIEL PEACOCK
Bus Conductor / Announcer – DEAN HOLLINGSWORTH
Rag – BARNABY EATON-JONES
Na – KENTON HALL
Rok – KIM JONES
Ella (Singing Voice) – DAISY DUNLOP
Flowerchild (Singing Voice) – VERITY WHITE
SONGS
Resident – BELLBOY
Fishing For Stars – BELLBOY / ELLA
How You Feel – BELLBOY / ELLA / DELIOS
Doing Something Right – DELIOS
Welcome To Me – BELLBOY / FLOWERCHILD
Blind Side – DELIOS
Fear – BELLBOY / ELLA / DELIOS / THE BAND
Darkest Moment Well Connected – MEL’DEE
Heaven – BELLBOY / FLOWERCHILD / DELIOS / GREN
PRODUCTION
Script – KENTON HALL
Songs / Arrangements – CHRISTOPHER GUARD
(‘Resident’ & ‘Darkest Moment Well Connected’, co-written with Indians In Moscow)
Additional Lyrics – KENTON HALL
Incidental Music – ABIGAIL FOX
Sound Design / Editing – JOSEPH FOX
Cover Art – TIM KEABLE
Graphic Design – ROBERT HAMMOND
Musical Production – KENTON HALL & CHRIS IILETT
Script Editor – BARNABY EATON-JONES
Executive Producer – PAUL ANDREWS
Director / Producer – BARNABY EATON-JONES
Recorded at Sound Shack Studios by Gregory Wlson-Copp, Arpeggio Creative by Alex White, Yellow Shark Studios by Ollie Gray, and Voice Over Soho by Tom Sichel.
With thanks to Stephen Wyatt (for his creative sandbox), Stu Walton (a musical genius), Wink Taylor (for stand-in duties), and Simon McInnery, Florin C Pascu & Kosmas Mylon (for the sessions).
The BBC is to mark the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with a Bargain Hunt special.
In this popular daytime show, two teams of novice collectors go head-to-head to snag the top deals, and in a series of three special episodes there are some unique ‘hunters’.
In the Doctor Who-themed episode, Eric Knowles dons his scarf and wields a sonic screwdriver to host an exceptional instalment celebrating the 60th anniversary of the UK’s most cherished action-adventure series.
Eric Knowles and Doctor Who memorabilia collector, Chris Balcombe, with a Dalek.
After a close encounter with a Dalek and a quick getaway into a TARDIS, he finds himself at a Carmarthen antiques fair, meeting two teams of fervent fans, each with ambitions to outdo the other. Assisting them for the day are experts Richard Madley and Kate Bliss, both adorned in attire reminiscent of iconic Doctors.
Which team will triumph in the galactic quest for the most substantial auction profit?
Eric also converses with an avid fan who possesses an impressive and valuable assortment of original Doctor Who memorabilia, some harking back to the show’s inception – this includes extraterrestrial costumes, Cybermen helmets, and, unmistakably, a formidable Dalek.
The Bargain Hunt Doctor Who special will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday, 23 November at 12:15PM.
Eric said:
“Having watched the first episode as a 10-year-old in 1963, it’s great to be celebrating Doctor Who’s anniversary on Bargain Hunt and sharing the love of this beloved programme with two teams of super fans. Over its long life, treasures of all kinds based on the series can be found, making it the perfect theme for a special episode”.
