Fan Scene CT Oct to Dec 1984

 

OCTOBER

It seems like pastel-coloured covers and thinner paper are behind us with this issue which debuts thicker white paper though there’s still a flash of colour on the headlines which is quite effective. Mark Anthony is this month’s clever headline referring to Anthony Ainley’s return on `Mark of the Rani`; “he of the lecherous laugh and diabolical dentures”, as Dominic describes him.  There’s news too of story five, `Timelash` whose author Glen McCoy seems to have foxed the usually information heavy Dominic who can find nothing about him. Story six will be written by Eric Saward and directed by Graeme Harper, a combo who of course delivered `Earthshock`.

The biggest news though comes by way of a stop press near the end relating how several lost episodes have been found in Nigeria. All missing episodes (three in each story) of `The Time Meddler` and `The War Machines` were discovered along with a copy of `The Web Planet` which was already complete in the archives but you can never have enough chirruping. While this was welcome news, there wasn’t really a way we could see them for years and years.

Inside there’s a couple of pages on the Town and Country Show at Stoneleigh where Jon Pertwee and Colin Baker appeared as well as more details of the US convention which will feature seventeen guests including four Doctors and nobody in the UK is the slightest bit jealous. There are also some pictures and accounts of the Recall Unit play, penned by Richard Franklin which was staged in Edinburgh. Not something I saw, this play does look odd from the photos and the review is non committal (or polite) enough to give it a good write up calling it “a joy to watch” so perhaps it was.

One thing CT is doing a lot more of now is covering in some detail what is going to be in the next DWM and what is forthcoming bookwise from WH Allen. Along with various press cuttings, merchandise and fanzine reviews and also the People section, these issues are busy and information packed with several more pages than the ones earlier in the year.

Fanzines advertised this month include the final issue of `Cygnus Alpha`, Paul West’s excellent zine at £1.10 but it was worth every penny, the debut issue of `Androzani` which was edited in his inimitable style by Neil Hutchings. Issue three of `Cassiopeia` has rare interviews with Jackie Lane and also John Scott Martin in a fawn card cover! All for 80p. There’s also issue 3 of `Mondas` which is “all litho!” and what looks like an incredibly stacked issue 16 of `Views, News and Reviews` which boasts forty pages but the ad suggests there could be about 400! Also advertised is the similarly full issue 7 of `Aggedor` which boasts about its second place in the  Fanzine poll. Issue 7 of `Eye of Horus` includes an interview with Frazer Hines who, surprisingly, didn’t do that many fanzine interviews and there’s also a look at the Graham Williams era. Edited now solely by Kev Swann, sounds good value for 90p including P+P.

 

NOVEMBER

Mara in Rani reads this issue’s headline in red ink announcing Kate O’Mara’s debut as The Rani. “Will the Rani become the longtime conjectured Mistress?” ponders Dominic. Steven Moffatt probably saw that and was thinking “Aha..” One of the things you find reading these old CTs is the range of publicity events the programme was connected with, presumably due to John Nathan Turner’s belief that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. This issue relates details of a Radio 4 appearance in September wherein Andy Peebles guided listeners through the process of making the show, specifically relating to `The Two Doctors` (which some fans may say is the way not to make the show!) Various production staff were interviewed as was Colin Baker and Patrick Troughton. The latter claimed that everything in Doctor Who was true.

This issue the mystery of Glen McCoy is solved; you’ll recall last issue Dominic May knew nothing of him but it is confirmed he does exist and is not a pseudonym for a better known writer. This month being the twenty first birthday of the series, two pages are given over to a variety of press cuttings from the history of the show. It’s a shame photocopying was not that good back then but even so its an interesting collection. I wonder why nobody has compiled a book of the classic series’ press items? A snippet people may not have noticed because some never read the departmental columns is that DWAS membership has now risen above 3,000 after an ad in DWM. Another interesting bit is a reproduction of a book cover which is definitely copied from Lis Sladen’s photo in the 1973 Radio Times Special. The book though is called `No Need To Die` and penned by someone called John Creasey.

Pen Pals is still going and amongst this issue’s is one from someone called Ian Telos. Coincidence or a nom de plume? He wants to be a pen pal with “anyone with writing ability” which I’d imagine is essential for it to work. Someone else wants to correspond with “a female pen pal or about the same age with the same interests. Possibly with a view to meeting”. Before dating apps this is how it was done!

 

DECEMBER

A striking cover depicting a Dalek with the face of Mrs Thatcher and the headline `Powercut of the Daleks` heralds the final issue of the year. The story is related to the ongoing miner’s strike and rumours of power cuts that might take place in early 1985. These would naturally affect filming of `Revelation of the Daleks`. It’s a bit of a speculative non news story- in the end I don’t think there were any power cuts and I can report that the story was made as I was there for two night’s filming. Elsewhere it looks like someone has broadcast their phone number for all members; in fact it’s the box office number of the Gaumont Theatre in Southampton where Cinderella is being staged starring several Doctor Who alumni.

Other news about next season includes the participation of Paul Darrow in `Timelash` while in anticipation of The Master’s return, JNT has cleared up what that unsaid word was in `Planet of Fire` when the jackanapes was seen burning. “Would you do this to your own?” he would have said and not “brother” as had been speculated. There’s also a two page spread about Whocon 21 with some great photos though the text hints of issues with the hotel’s management. There’s a feature, with pictures, about the Doctor Who Sponsored Walk which took place on 21^st October. Amongst the walkers were Patrick Troughton in costume, Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Mark Strickson.

Fanzines on offer for festive reading include the “now fully lithographic” `Arc of Infinity` issue 3 which talks to Graeme Harper while Martin Wiggins looks at Frank Bellamy’s work relating to the series. `Arkensword` issue 11 interviews Colin Baker , Allan Moore and Steve Dillon for just 70p. `Enlightenment` issue 3 talks to Paddy Russell, another rare interviewee on those days. On the back page there’s an ad for the very first Myth Makers which back then came on video cassette and features Michael Wisher. Plus on the form you can select whether you want VHS or Betamax. I wonder what the people who ordered the latter eventually did with their tapes? Heralded as a “new professional production”, the Myth Makers are still going forty two years later but this is where it all began!