@dentarthurdent @whohar

TP… have I the patience to read the whole canon? I read Colour of Magic and Small Gods many years ago. Very enjoyable and intelligent. But that would be a big commitment.

There was a discussion online about whether anyone could make a satisfactory series from Aldiss’ Heliconia books. Having been quite unimpressed by wha…[Read more]

@dentarthurdent, @ps1l0v3y0u and @whohar

I am reading the T.P books from the beginning. Half way through now. Death is one of the best characters but htey are all gold. I think if I have a preference, and it is only by a smidgen, it would be for the witches. Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and of course the fabulous Greebo.

The tv adaptation of…[Read more]

@whohar

I think ‘Fifth Elephant’ may well have been derived from ‘5th Element’. It’s very common in literature and drama, I think it’s perfectly legitimate and a nice nod to the original work.
There are plenty of examples in Doctor Who. ‘Spyfall’ obviously comes from ‘Skyfall’ (James Bond). ‘Empress of Mars’ is very obviously a tribute to Edgar…[Read more]

@whohar
I’m reading through Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, in order. This is a long-term project. I do love an author with a good turn of phrase, and Pratchett certainly has that. So does Steven Moffat (of which more in a moment).
In between that I’m reading [geek mode ON] Hamilton Ellis’s British Railway History, Part 1. Which is what it…[Read more]

@whohar   Thanks for that.   That article is actually excerpts from a video interview with Stephen Moffet, it very helpfully  gives a link to the interview, which is on Youtube here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T-wYCvusZ4

I know what I’ll be watching for the next hour and a half.    Moffat is always interesting to listen to.

@whohar @jeanetteb

Yes, I’ll be watching the new series of Ludwig. Gentle comedic mystery. The Other Bennett Sister was  dismissed as light-weight but that again was part off its charm: it actually worked.

Silo season 3 coming soon… in 2 minds about it, but I’ll watch it. Pluribus intrigued by I couldn’t stay with it; may go back to it. Also Slo…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb

That’s Entertainment! Well, Moff has no problems on that score. Could it even be a barb at another showmaker? Or an executive in drama?

But I would hope a new regime would also aspire to some kind intelligence. Like Moff. Cbeebies doesn’t fill me with confidence.

thank you for the link @whohar I was just thinking earlier about how universally loved Dr Who is. I was in a shop yesterday when the s.o rang to find where I was and the assistant immediately smiled at the ring tone and we started talking about Dr Who. Prior to the reboot that would not have happened, not in Australia anyway.

cheers

Janette

@whohar Right now I am not watching anything because the laptop I watch stuff on in the mornings is out of order and at night I am too busy working, writing and editing podcasts. Earlier this year I caught up with Ludwig which I really enjoyed and Derry Girls which was entertaining. (Took a while I know.) followed by How to Get to Heaven from…[Read more]

@whohar   Care to give us a link to that interview?   Thanks.

@dentarthurdent @whohar

Doctor Who was created by the BBC in 1963. It soon became a success. However, not everyone at the BBC liked it. By the end of the Second Doctor’s era, there were a lot of Doctor Who haters at the BBC who were plotting to cancel it. Luckily, the Doctor Who lovers at the BBC managed to defeat them by creating a new format f…[Read more]

@whohar

You’ve twisted my words. I HATE the BBC and want them closed down immediately so they can’t do any more damage to Doctor Who! The rights to Doctor Who would then no longer be with the BBC, so that would be great. What I want is lots of fan films INSTEAD of BBC approved or co produced Doctor Who, not as well as it.

As for a Blake’s Seven…[Read more]

@dentarthurdent & @whohar I disliked the movie when I watched it back in the 90s but rewatching it, I found it even worse than expected. yes it was very 90s American TV but it wasn’t even good at being that. The script was woeful, the directing was woeful and the acting was woeful. McGann is a good actor, was a good actor then but that is not…[Read more]

@whohar

I’m afraid you don’t understand. The BBC have killed BBC produced Doctor Who after wasting a whole year trying to find more funding since the last episode! Their latest propaganda is that it’s “out to tender”. Stop wishing your life away!!

Doctor Who doesn’t NEED any more funding. The Disney Plus episodes are evidence of how this fundin…[Read more]

@whohar

cbeebies… always look on the bright side of life. Or time for bed.

@translatorcircuit @nerys @janetteb @whohar

the cbeebies thing is frankly an insult. Kid’s show.

I might say the bbc’s behaviour was inexplicable but you may well get your wish @translatorcircuit, the days of The Corporation as we know it could be numbered. They know it. They literally cannot afford a challenging exciting show.

This may exp…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb @translstorcircuit

The Big Spoof? As you say, surely not. The only explanation must be the slow motion car crash. This was coming since RTD finished series 4 with The Parting of The Ways.

At some point the special was planned and The BBC then decided they couldn’t back it. It’s not the same institution that brought the show bac…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb @translatorcircuit

I did have a thought that this is all a bluff by the BBC / Bad Wolf / RTD, and that the Christmas special is already in the bag – with Tennant and Piper reverse bi-generating into the new Doc. Surely not though.

Assuming we take it at face value – and remember that RTD has basically admitted that he / BBC / B…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb @translatorcircuit

The cliff-hanger, as Belam says, does seem to be the key, almost a taunt. ‘You want a show based on continuity but without continuity? Try THIS.’ This suggests both sides knew what was coming.

I am actually very annoyed, mainly with the BBC. I’m afraid for The Corporation too; it’s been in right wing’s…[Read more]

@whohar I like that idea. I did write a draft of a story about J.W Doctor meeting up with Ian and introducing Alfred Enoch as Ian and Barbara’s grandson and potentially a new companion some years ago. I also had some convoluted theories to explain the Danny/Orson conundrum. I think though the challenge now is to explain who Billie Piper is and to…[Read more]