This is the definitive set of interviews with the team who brought the Colin Baker era of Doctor Who to life! This documentary includes the best in-depth interviews with Colin Baker (the Sixth Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Bonnie Langford (Mel), Michael Jayston (The Valeyard), John Nathan-Turner (Producer) and Eric Saward (Script Editor) ever undertaken!
4. The JNT Years - Peter Davison and Colin Baker’s portrayals of the Doctor conceded with one of the most controversial periods of the programme’s history. Was the programme as good as it used to be… or just different? What did the production staff, both past and present, think? However, you’ll see lots of other personalities from other eras as we stop along the way to look at particular aspects of the programme.
As the very first Doctor, William Hartnell created the character that made Doctor Who a success. No other actor made such a lasting contribution to the programme or influenced it so greatly. In this special Myth Makers, Nicholas Briggs meets William’s friends, colleagues and family and explores the personality of this shy, complex and private man. With contributions from William Russell, Carole Ann Ford, Maureen O’Brien, Peter Purves, Verity Lambert, Michael Craze, Anneke Wills, Donald Tosh, Christopher Barry and a revealing interview with Jack Pitt, who was an extra in Doctor Who and shared William’s flat in London. Also featured is Jessica Carney, who has written a biography of the grandfather’s life titled Who’s There? This is not just a Myth Makers tribute… it’s almost a chance to meet the man himself.
1. The Main Event - What are PanoptiCons like to organise? What do the fans think of them? What do the stars think of the fans? All this, and there’s still time for a liberal sprinkling of stories from the production team! However, you’ll see lots of other personalities from other eras as we stop along the way to look at particular aspects of the programme.
In the 1980’s US public television station New Jersey Network produced some groundbreaking documentaries about Doctor Who following the programme’s huge success in America. The Home Whovian was planned to be the first in a series of video releases in the USA featuring interviews with the stars of Doctor Who. In the event it proved to be a one-off. Featuring interviews with Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and John Nathan-Turner. Unique material from a unique moment in Time Travel TV – when Doctor Who conquered America!
3. The Pertwee Years - We take an in-depth look at the Jon Pertwee era, which has been featured more thoroughly at PanoptiCons than any other. Experience the special mix that made this period one of the most popular in Doctor Who’s history. However, you’ll see lots of other personalities from other eras as we stop along the way to look at particular aspects of the programme.
In July 2002, an experiment took place… two Doctor Who actors, Sophie Aldred and Deborah Watling, travelled to France with director Christopher Barry and tutor Beverley Cressman, on a trip to educate, instruct and entertain a group of fans. During the following week six Doctor Who fans learnt how to use their own talents to act for the theatre and screen… and during the process they had a great deal of fun! The culmination was a dramatised rehearsal, directed by Christopher, where everyone got to perform in from of the camera and for the first time Victoria and Ace met! Is this indeed Full Circle? Doctor Who professionals teaching fans how to act? Was this a successful experiment? You bet it was!
While on a seemingly routine delivery run for the Brigadier, Benton finds himself close to his childhood home, where ghosts from his past have never rested easily… Trapped in a nightmare world where past and present are one, will he be lost forever or can he fight his way back to reality, where he is desperately needed?
6. Panopticon VII - 1986 was the 10th Anniversary of the DWAS and for the first time professional cameras were there to record the event. This special production includes highlights from the convention, home movies from early Panopticons (featuring Tom Baker and Patrick Troughton) and the reminiscences from organisers, actors and production staff about the early days of fandom. However, you’ll see lots of other personalities from other eras as we stop along the way to look at particular aspects of the programme.
Sadie Miller and Daisy Ashford share a bond. Daisy is the daughter of Caroline John and Sadie of Elisabeth Sladen. As all fans know, Caroline portrayed scientist Liz Shaw and Elisabeth journalist Sarah Jane Smith in the classic series of Doctor Who! In this touching and revealing documentary, Nicholas Brigss finds out what is was like growing up with such famous mothers and the heartbreak of losing them both so tragically early.
Undoubtedly, Nicola Bryant’s portrayal of Perpugilliam Brown has become one of the most popular assistants in the history of Doctor Who. When Nicholas Briggs first talked to Nicola in 1985, Doctor Who had been cancelled (for the first time) and its future was uncertain. Eleven years later in 1996, they met again to discuss her last season in the programme and life after Doctor Who. Both interviews are combined in this Myth Makers, giving us a fascinating insight into Nicola’s evolving life and career.
Three alien beings - a Sontaran officer, a Draconian nobleman and a Human mercenary - find themselves transported to a remote asteroid by a mysterious alien who wants to test their worthiness for his race's masterplan! Now in one complete set you can experience the complete Mindgame story in this five part epic!
By her own admission, Katy Manning is ‘as blind as a bat’ and never knows where she’ll end up. When she suddenly arrived in the UK, Katy was probably as surprised as the rest of us! Determined to thank the legion of Doctor Who fans who had written and supported her during her years abroad, Katy embarked on a whirlwind tour of British conventions and shops before leaving (yet again) for Australia… Along the way bump into Nicholas Courtney, Richard Franklin, John Leeson, Sophie Aldred, Sylvester McCoy, Michael Sheard and other surprise guest stars!
Many fans will best remember the late Michael Wisher for his definitive performance as Davros, creator of the Daleks. In truth Michael was the most gifted of actors, a chameleon who could transform his voice and appearance, and who worked many times in Doctor Who during the 1970’s. Michael loved his time in the programme and appeared in several spin-off dramas including Wartime and Shakedown. In this special production we recall Michael’s life and career in the company of Nicholas Briggs, Peter Miles, and Michael’s son, Andy.
To coincide with a new era for Doctor Who we take a nostalgic look back at the glory days of the programme in a tribute to its unsigned heroes. Ever wondered what it’s like inside a Dalek? How, exactly, of you portray a Fish Person? What was it like recording Doctor Who during its 26 year run? And just how do you get to be a Doctor Who monster? Now you can find out as, for the very first time, we speak to the men and women who ensured we spend out Saturday nights behind the sofa. Their stories are funny, moving, unbelievable and sometimes tragic. Presented by the seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, and containing unique film and newly discovered photographs, this all adds up to an entertaining trip down memory lane – go on treat yourself to a slice of nostalgia!
5. Dragonfire - How is a Doctor Who story made? Cast and crew from the Doctor Who story Dragonfire got together at Panopticon IX in a lively and sometimes hilarious discussion which covers every aspect of the making of a television programme. However, you’ll see lots of other personalities from other eras as we stop along the way to look at particular aspects of the programme.
It seemed like a great idea! Yee Jee recording a video diary during his first signing tour of the UK. But after a gruelling flight over and jumping into a car to be at Memorabilia the same day – all he wanted to do was sleep, not record a diary! But he stuck with it, through signings, two long studio sessions with Big Finish, and finally a photo call at Battlefield with Sylvester McCoy! During all this, Yee Jee managed to record a highly personal video diary of his trip…
How can a personality like Sylvester McCoy be contained within the format of Myth Makers? Point the camera at him and say ‘Action!’ During a non-stop trek around the location for the Doctor Who story Battlefield, Sylvester gives us a hysterical history tour of his life and career. As always, Nicholas Briggs is there to ask the questions – but this time he’s so enthralled by Sylvester’s incredible story that he has to rely on emergency questions supplied by his Ace production assistant Sophie Aldred! And which famous, splendid, military fellow from Doctor Who awaits the team at journey’s end for a pint?
In April 1983, Roger Stevens and James Russell were given “Access All Areas” passes to the BBC’s Doctor Who celebrations at Longleat. Armed with a Ferguson Videostar camera they set out to record as much of the event as they could. While the BBC’s official footage amounts to only a few minutes for news broadcasts, James and Roger recorded several hours, and their material includes interviews with both Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker. Some of this material has been used in other productions by both Reeltime Pictures and BBC Video, but the original tapes were thought to be lost forever – until rediscovered earlier this year. So now enjoy another chance to take a trip to Longleat in 1983. The sound may not be perfect and the pictures come from ageing VHS tapes – but the atmosphere is unmistakable. So avoid the queues, and get to the front of the line with a trip down memory lane!
Theis documentary contains the best in-depth interviews with Paul McGann (the Eighth Doctor), Daphne Ashbrook (Grace Holloway), Yee Jee Tso (Chang Lee), Eric Roberts (The Master), Philip Segal (Producer) and Geoffrey Sax (Director). Presented by Sophie Aldred, Robert Dick and the voice of the Daleks Nicholas Briggs.
