The Doctor's Companion Blog

We have a new logo for the Doctor.  The new administration are obviously keen to sweep very new, as it is quite different from the  Russell era one.  Its blue for a start. Its very clever with its 3D tardis but I have to say that I will rather miss the orange one.  It was nice and warm whereas the new one is a bit cold and midnightish. For the new, new, new Doctor.

Still no doubt I will get used to it in time.

The BBC Doctor Who site also has a video showing all the past logos, together with a slide show also showing all the old logos, and a video about the design of the 2005 logo.

I think I like the 2005 one best,  mainly because I like the warmer colours.  Which one do you like best?

The BBC has kindly allowed us all to embed a short video showing the new tardis/logo landing, so who am I to refuse an invitation like that?  And the new logo is growing on me already …

It was interesting to read (a while back now) that Richard Curtis has been commissioned to write (or rather has already written) an episode for the new Who from Moffatt/Smith.  He is a great writer, and it will be interesting to see what he comes up with.

I think it unlikely (as some have speculated) that Blackadder will feature.  Blackadder is a powerful personality, who I do not think would fit well in the Doctors world.  Anyway he has already done time travel.

There are also rumours that the old Stephen Fry episode, which was supposed to be part of the (if I remember right) second series, but which got put aside, might be revived.

The writers are important as they create the mood and think up the storyline, (although in the past apparently often heavily edited by Russsell – it will be interesting to hear how heavy handed Moffatt is with the red pen).

Mind you, I would like to see a few more by past Doctor Who authors. Mat Jones for example, who wrote the wonderful Impossible Planet/Satan Pit duo.  Toby Whithouse who wrote the fantastic School Reunion, which brought back everyone’s favourite ‘classic’ companion, Sarah Jane Smith (plus K9).  And of course the brilliant James Moran, who wrote the Fires of Pompeii, not to mention Sleeper for Torchwood, as well as being joint writer of the extraordinarily powerful week long Children of Earth episodes (his being episode 3).

Is there anyone I don’t want back?  Well I have to say that I am not hugely keen on Chris Chibnall’s writing.  42 is perhaps my least favourite of all New Who, and I was not terribly keen on a lot of his Torchwood writing either (although some were good). The series one finale he did was abysmal.

What new writers would I like to see?  Well I would really like to see what sort of episode Noel Clarke would do.  I liked the episode he did for Torchwood, and I am sure he would do something interesting with the Doctor.  After all he did win a BAFTA.   It would be nice to see Mickey back in the program too.

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I was sorry to hear of the death of Iain Cuthbertson (reported here).  He was absolutely brilliant in the (1978) Ribos Operation (a fourth Doctor story), where he played con man Garron. In fact I would go so far as to say that his performance is one of the best things in this episode (although this is not to say that the rest of it is not brilliant too).  You get the feeling that he really enjoyed playing the part.

The Ribos Operation, you will remember, is the first in the quest for the key to time series, where Garron trys to sell the planet Ribos to the Graff.  The key to time is disguised as a ….   But you will have to watch to find out.

I’ll do proper review when I can get hold of the DVD.  It is sold as part of the (rather expensive now if you can get hold of it) Doctor Who: The Key to Time (Limited Edition Numbered Complete 7 Disc Box set) [DVD] [1978] and so far as I am aware, is not available on its own.