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.