Fish Fingers and Custard - A Doctor Who Fanzine - FFAC2

On day three of our pissing over the legacy of Doctor Who by writing quick, random and let’s face it, poor reviews, we’re covering stories from two Doctors who never changed their trousers. The Five Doctors No, I haven’t cheated. The fact that my random drawing system produced the 20 th Anniversary story is purely coincidental. I wanted Caves of Androzani . I’ve seen this story a few times and I must admit, I enjoy it more with each watch.   There’s (obviously) references flying all over the place, some hammy (but great) acting and of course – there’s Five Doctors.   Well, technically only 3 of the actors returned – William Hartnell sadly passed away 8 years previously, so the role of the First Doctor was played by Richard Hurndall. Tom Baker declined to return, so clips from the unused Shada were used in this.  Hartnell does appear at the start though - the marvellous clip of him saying goodbye to Susan in The Dalek Invasion of Earth is used as the pre...

On Day Two of our random journey through 50 years and 11 Doctors, we have a couple of episodes that are historically important because of two very different reasons. One introduces a major villain, a new companion and a recurring character, or ‘semi-companion’ if you will. The other never got broadcast, well, it was never actually made. Terror of The Autons The opening story of Season 8 proved to be significantly important for a number of reasons – it introduced the characters of The Master, played by Roger Delgardo, as The Doctor’s best enemy, and Jo Grant (Katy Manning) as The Doctor’s best friend.  Richard Franklin also made his bow as Captain Yates, as the producers decided to lock the revolving Captain door that had existing during the previous year.   More common soldiers were used as monster fodder instead. The Doctor has a new assistant. But that’s not all – there’s a robbery in the UNIT vaults and a mysterious man, with a beard, is going around hypnotisin...

I was amazed that someone wanted to do it on stage. When I wrote the piece it was obvious to me I could not write about a good boy. Who wants to read about a good boy? So I piled on the awfulness and everybody laughed – Tom Baker A s soon as I heard about this adaptation coming to the stage, I snapped up tickets as soon as I could.   Written by Tom Baker (knowing Tom, presumably after many drinks. Then again, knowing Tom, he probably doesn’t need to drink to think this story up!) it tells the tale of a boy, Robert, who ‘likes to kick pigs’ and generally wreak havoc for people. I’m sure we’ve met children like him!   The story is very cartoonish but does show what impact misbehaving can achieve.   The theatre company Kill The Beast seem to revel in bringing this cartoonish violence to life and you can see that, just by watching this performance.   It’s something that’ll be difficult to put together if its cast and crew ‘didn’t get it’ but this one does. Taki...

It’s proved to be a difficult 12 months or so for the Doctor Who world, even more so recently, as we have lost Mary Tamm, just over a week after Caroline John.  Known by fans for playing Romana during the Key To Time series, Mary brought a touch of class, which only reinforced her character as an equal to The Doctor.  I particularly enjoy her teasing of The Doctor throughout that series and the dynamic, which makes The Doctor look a bit uncomfy in his own TARDIS, was played out brilliantly. Mary left before filming of the next series, which saw Lalla Ward take over as her next regeneration.  Despite willing to come back and film a regeneration scene, she was never invited to do so, which makes the scene at the start of Destiny of The Dalek s, all the more baffling.  Mary’s reason for leaving in the first place, was because she felt that her character wouldn’t have been developed. To be honest, I think that reason has to be admired.  I much prefer someone ...

It's this point of the year where Doctor Who fans all over the world dig out their old episodes and celebrate the birthday of our favourite programme.  Not many television programmes can have such an hold over their viewers, which just shows how successful it is.  Who would have thought that 8-episode children's show would last 48 years and be so loved all around the world? Like last year, we've done some digging around and are proud to present a interview with Tom Baker, Mary Tamm and Carole Ann Ford, on Nationwide in 1978 - Doctor Who's 15th anniversary.  Tom is on top form and its well worth checking out! Enjoy and make sure you watch an episode later!

I was sad to learn of the passing of Nicholas Courtney last night, a true Doctor Who great who will always be remembered by the fans of the programme. His character of Brigadier Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart was a regular in the series throughout the Jon Pertwee era, from 1970-1974 and made recurring appearances from then on. He was often the stuffy, straight-man to The Doctor and often produced some classic one-liners, with a voice of delivery as smooth as silk. I know it’s a phrase often banded about, but if Nick DID read the phone book - I could sit and listen all day! Nick’s first appearance in Doctor Who, was as Bret Vyon, a character in the William Hartnell serial ‘The Daleks Master Plan’, in 1965. I was fortunate enough to spend a whole day with him once – assisting him at a signing event in London in 2009. Being a fan, I was a little bit nervous at meeting him, but he was an absolute gentleman, very funny and very spritely for his age! Nothing was too much trouble for him and he g...