JNT: the Life and Scandalous Times of John Nathan-Turner

(with thanks to Miwk Publishing and Richard Marson - yes, the same - for helping me get a copy of this book when all other avenues of supply has failed)

John Nathan-Turner is a figure who looms large in the history of Doctor Who, and a controversial one at that. A lot of the facts are well known thanks of more scholarly efforts by David Howe, Mark Stammers, etc. And JN-T himself attempted to set the record straight when he penned his memoirs in Doctor Who Magazine in 1996/1997 (and while they were an interesting read, you sort of got the feeling he was holding things back). And Andrew Cartmell shared his remembrances in Script Doctor (which was an eye opener). Over then years since JN-T passed away, I believe this book sets the record straight.

Richard Marson is a man who knows his Doctor Who and the knows the BBC. And he assembles a impressive cast. Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, every companion from the 80s, Christopher H. Bidmead, Andrew Cartmell, assorted creative and technical staff, BBC execs, members of fandom, even Russell T. Davies  line up to either praise of damn JN-T (former BBC1 controller Jonathan Powell does not come out of this well. In fact he comes across as being a complete arsehole. I wonder is professional jealousy was involved because people are still watching the programme JN-T produced. When was the last time you watched anything Jonathan Powell produced?). One person is notable by his absence; former script editor Eric Saward (read into that what you will).

No topic is off limits in this book. JN-T's rise through the ranks of the BBC to become the producer of it's most troublesome programme, his relationship with fandom, the cancellation, the allegations of impropriety (which the newspapers have made great hay out of. Even newspapers here in  Australia),the fall out with Eric Saward, Doctor Who's eventual cancellation in 1989, his departure from the BBC and decent in alcoholism and death. All are dealt with honestly and there are a number of surprising revelations (including who the girlfriend JN-T alluded to in his memoirs. He hinted it was someone who'd had many credits on the show and for some reason I thought it was Dorka Nieradzik).

It's easily the best Doctor Who related book I've read in many years (probably since Cartmell's Script Doctor). I can give it no higher praise than that.

The Mind of Evil

"Do you think for once in your life you could manage to arrive before the nick of time!"

The real disappointment of The Mind of Evil is that it's the last Doctor Who story writer Don Houghton and director Timothy Combe had any involvement with. It was the last of the more adult style of storytelling before the cosy UNIT family rot set in. While the story itself may not be at strong as Houghton's Inferno the year before it's still one of the strongest Pertwee stories made. And Combe had the potential to join Douglas Camfield and David Maloney as one of the great classic series directors. But circumstances (or BBC politics) prevented that from happening.

The other thing about this realise (aside from being the last Pertwee one. Yep, that's everything from that era) is that it's the first time The Mind of Evil has been seen in colour since it's original broadcast. It looks good, but I still prefer the black and white version that I'm more familiar with. Parts of the black and white version can be seen on the documentary about the story which evidently was filmed some time ago because not only is Barry Letts in it, but also (and what a joy it was to see) the late,. great Nicholas Courtney!

The other extra on this disc was a half hour documentary from the early seventies on a day in the life of the BBC Television Centre. Aside from being a fascinating insight into how BBC Television worked at the time, watch out for a very young Helen Mirren in what was possibly one of her early TV roles.

Doctor Who Prom 2013

It's BBC Proms time. And, fittingly, they've chosen to honour Doctor Who in it's own special concert at the Royal Albert Hall. I believe the whole event has been filmed for later broadcast, but a few clips have made their way on-line.

First, Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman make their appearance - in character of course.

Next, the work of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop is recognised with Mark Ayres and Peter Howell joining the National Orchestra of Wales for this medley of music from the classic series (love the old style BBC cameraman on stage too). The full version of this but is further down the page.

And finally, what else do you conclude the night with?



Now for the full version of the classic series medley (taken, I think, from the Radio3 broadcast). What can I say other than WOW! The stories they've taken it from are The Daleks, Tomb of the Cybermen, The Sea Devils, City of Death, Logopolis, The Five Doctors, The Mark of the Rani and Curse of Fenric. I loved hearing the piece of music from City of Death. It's the first Doctor Who story I can remember watching so it has a special place in my heart anyway. But the music for this story, like many from the sixties and seventies, was composed by fellow Australian Dudley Simpson.

Hearing the music brought a smile to my face. I can only imagine the smile on Dudley's, hearing his music performed at the Royal Albert Hall and the crowd's reaction to it.

Doctor Who and the Ark in Space

In his introduction to this reprint, Steven Moffat (for it is he) states that The Ark in Space is his favourite story. As this is the man who's given us The Silence, The Whispermen and The Weeping Angels I'm not the least bit surprised. The TV version of The Ark in Space  (of which I'll be review shortly - be patient!) is where the Tom Baker era really beings and herald the start of three years that would be Doctor Who's golden age.

But what of this novelisation? I think Ian Marter (who of course played Harry in the TV series. And is, I think, the only person to novelise a story he appeared in) wrote very adult novelizations (his novelisation of Enemy of the World is the first Doctor Who book to contain a swear word) with the transformation of Noah being a lot more graphic here than would ever have been allowed on TV. But I felt let down by this book. I don't know why. Maybe it's because The Ark in Space has such a reputation that seeing anything other than the TV story is going to be let down. Which is a pity.