The Doctor is Dead, Long Live the Doctor

Last night when David Tennant said, "I don't want to go" as he was regenerating, I suspect I wasn't alone when I shouted at the TV, "I don't want you to go either."

I've been a fan of Doctor Who from the very beginning when the irascible William Hartnell took the role of the first Doctor. I was never one for hiding behind the sofa; I wanted to be right there in the Tardis with him journeying on new adventures through galaxies and time. In the old series before the brilliant Russell T Davies stories my favourite two Doctors were Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker. I loved Jon's romantic look, dashing about saving earth with his cloak flying out behind him, a Victorian gentleman on speed. Tom Baker to me was always larger than life. I loved the humour he brought to the character. I'm sure jelly baby sales must have increased dramatically during his time as the Doctor. I also remember being permanently attached to my 20 foot long knitted stripey scarf worn in homage to the time traveller.


Elizabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane was my favourite companion to the Doctor. My Dad for some reason got very interested in Doctor Who when Leela played by Louise Jameson became the Doctor's companion. The sofa used to get very crowded on Saturday nights. I was pleased to see Elizabeth come back to work with David Tennant in 'School Reunion' in 2006 and star in her own spin off series 'The Sarah Jane Adventures'.


Favourite story has to be 'The Sea Devils' . I loved the moment when they emerged from the sea with their huge rubber heads and fishing net costumes. The episodes were filmed not too far from here at No Man's Land Fort in the Solent. Recently on a visit to St Mary's House in the village of Bramber, the guide was eager to show me a tiny bit of blue paint left by the Tardis on the old wooden beams when Silver Nemesis was being filmed there.


I've never felt the need to collect a lot of Doctor Who memorabilia preferring to enjoy great story lines and adventures instead. However I will admit to wearing my Dalek socks whilst writing this blog. You gotta enter in to the spirit of the thing! Over the years I've been easy to buy presents for - anything to do with cats or Doctor Who always got my mojo working. I've been given Doctor Who calenders, Tardis money boxes and keyrings, even a Doctor Who birthday cake.

(David Tennant - good enough to eat!)

However the one thing I always wanted was a Dalek suit. I plagued my Dad for years for one of these but it never materialised and even now at the tender age of (deliberately left blank) I still have a hankering to run around wearing one (counselling should maybe help here).

Coming back to the present day I am in awe of Russell T Davies' innovative writing for the series. He has got the most incredible imagination. If there was an accolade of Sci Fi Laureate he would win it hands down. Watching episodes over again I can see where he has dropped in words and signs that had no apparent relevance but in later episodes have become central to the plot. A master storyteller. I'm sorry he has departed the series along with David Tennant but I live in hope that he has handed the mantle on to another excellent writer.

Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor has got a hard act to follow but having seen his previous work I think he can pull it off and in spades!