Interviews Joseph Lidster by DJ Forrest

Joseph Lidster is an English writer, who first came to the attention of Big Finish in 2002 when he wrote Rapture, a Doctor Who story featuring the Seventh Doctor and his assistant Ace who visit a nightclub in Ibiza in 1997 called The Rapture where angels are brainwashing club goers.  Since then Joseph has written for TV, Radio and Audio Dramas for the Whoniverse and beyond.   

Project: Torchwood talked to Joseph about his favourite Doctor Who assistants, Torchwood, his personal life and his biggest fears, and what tips he could share with anyone wishing to become a writer. 

When you were in school, were you always writing, and from what age, and has it always been about the same kind of topics or did it vary? 

Joseph: Yeah, I did write from an early age. When I was a kid, acting was my big passion. I loved it. I was in the school drama productions; a local kid’s acting group and even the town's Operatic society – which was basically me, a friend of mine and a group of pensioners. But, as well as that, I did enjoy writing. I just liked telling stories really.

It was only as I got older that I started to concentrate on the writing though. There were a couple of reasons for this. I started to feel quite self-conscious in front of people – especially on the stage. Around the same time, though, we did a school play of Peter Shaffer's Amadeus in which I played the young version of Salieri. It was a fantastic production but it was the script that really grabbed me. I was blown away by just how amazing it was. It was a stunning piece of entertainment but also a fantastic character piece. There were no outright goodies or baddies. It was dark but funny. It had some astonishingly beautiful scenes and some moments that were simply terrifying. I just loved how it gave us, as actors, the opportunity to do something really very special. And I realised then that that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to entertain people. I wanted to make them laugh and cry. I wanted to make them think. I wanted to scare them and stun them into silence. I wanted to make them forget that there was a world outside of what they were watching. And I felt that I'd be able to do that more as a writer than as a performer.

I've written quite a lot of different stuff over the years, I guess, but I can see some similarities in everything I've done. Most of my scripts have been character-led and have often been about the difference between what people say - how they present themselves to the world - and what they're actually feeling, who they really are inside. I guess that that's a huge aspect of Salieri in Amadeus so, yeah, it was certainly a huge influence on me.

Were you encouraged to write from an early age, or did your family ever want a different career choice for you?

Joseph: They were always very supportive about what I wanted to do. My family has a strong work ethic and both my parents have encouraged me to do everything I can in life – both in terms of a career and in my personal life.

I wanted to know a bit more about Joe on a personal level, but on the internet there isn’t very much written about you, is this your choice to keep personal details offline and focus purely on your career or is this something you’d rather not share with people at all?

Joseph: I'm not sure what people would want to know, really! I'm just a bloke doing a job. If I'm honest, I'm not really keen on doing interviews and stuff because I don't really understand why anyone would be interested. Writing is, obviously, a huge part of my life but even then, I'd much rather be getting on with it rather than talking about it. I do keep things like my Facebook page private and I tend to use Twitter more as somewhere I can just have a laugh rather than a place to talk about my personal life or work or anything. So I guess you're right but I'm not sure if it's a big conscious decision or anything.

Had you always had a passion for writing and was it something you were encouraged to do from an early age?

Joseph: I suppose, like I said before, I had a passion for telling stories – whether that was an actor or as a writer. I had some fantastic teachers who always encouraged us to work hard at what we wanted to achieve and my mum was especially supportive when it came to that kind of thing.

Does creative writing run in your family, or script writing as a rule?

Joseph: Not particularly. My mum enjoyed acting and singing when she was younger but there are no other writers in my family. Saying that, my oldest niece loves it and, even if I'm biased, is really very good so she could be going places if she sticks at it.

Your writing biography on Wikipedia is quite extensive.  You’ve written a lot since The Rapture for Big Finish Productions in 2002.  From television, radio, audio dramas and short stories, what keeps you writing?

Joseph: Two reasons, I guess. One is that I need to pay the rent. The more, horribly pretentious reason is that it's who I am. It's what I want to do and I wouldn't be truly happy doing anything else.

Is writing your main job or do you have another job to compliment the other? 

Joseph: It's my main job although I also co-produce a range of audios, for Big Finish Productions, based on the old American series Dark Shadows. I love it as it gives me the chance to work with other writers, actors and directors. I also recently script-edited a short film for my friends Simon and Tom Guerrier (http://www.guerrierbrothers.com/) which was a great experience as well.

When you first began writing, which outlets did you use to get yourself noticed?  Was it on sites like Doctor Who online or other such forums?  Where did you pitch your first story?  Although I know I’ve already asked that question on the debut of Big Finish, I just wonder how many other avenues you tried before Big Finish took you on board?

Joseph: I didn't really, no. I was never really part of a fandom or anything like that. I'd had a couple of poems published when I was a teenager but Big Finish were the first people I really pitched anything to – and I was very lucky and very happy that they said yes!

I’ve been a fan of Doctor Who since Peter Cushing came onto our screens in the movie with the Daleks and our wonderful Bernard Cribbins.  I’m assuming you’re a lot younger than me, bearing in mind your gorgeous photo on Twitter that put you at no older than 30 at a push. So who was your favourite Doctor if you have one and if not, which Doctor inspires you, and is easier to write for?

Joseph: Ha, sadly I'm now well over 30 but thank you! I'd say Sylvester as he was the one I grew up with. I can't say I find any of them harder to write for than the others. I tend to write for them as basically the same character. There are a few verbal and physical tics that differentiate them but, for the most part, I see the Doctor as one character. What inspires me, when I'm writing for him, is to find ways to explore and push him as a character. He shouldn't just be an alien superhero. He's got flaws and a sense of humour. He cares about people and he can make mistakes. It's always good, as a writer, to try and do something with the character and not just have him clutching his lapels, making speeches and then saving the day.

Out of the Doctor Who companions which ones shine out for you more than others and why?

Joseph: I love Martha Jones. I'll always love Ace as I grew up with her and I think Peri is very underrated. Nicola's such a great actor and the character had a lot of unfulfilled potential. And if I'm honest, I don't think there's been a bad companion – they've all had something a bit special about them. But, yeah, it's Martha for me. I adored Rose and was worried when she left as I wasn't sure how anyone could replace her but I think Russell, the writers and Freema did a fantastic job. I loved her journey and I loved how she was so mature in some ways but also still growing up. And whereas Rose had that teenage thing of expressing every thought and emotion, Martha would hide her true feelings. You'd see it in her eyes, when she had her back turned or when she was alone, but outwardly she was always nice and smiley and pretended that everything was lovely. I still think she had the best companion exit out of all of them – she learnt that, for once, she had to say how she felt and put herself first.  And, by doing that, she became one of the Doctor's best friends. I love that.

I have the audio book Lost Souls how much research did you have to do for that and does CERN interest you and the concept of developing black holes and the BIG BANG? 

Joseph: I'm going to sound incredibly stupid here but I'd never actually heard of CERN! Science isn't my thing really – I liked blowing stuff up at school but that's about it. So yeah, I had to do a lot of research. What was most important for me was that it worked as a piece of drama – it had to have a story and not just be about the science and technology. I wish there was more about the joy and wonder of science in there but, because of what it was, the play had to be about Torchwood and Torchwood dealing with the deaths of Owen and Tosh and it had to be about CERN and it had to have Martha in it and it had to have some kind of Doctor Who/Torchwood-style storyline. I'm not hugely happy with the finished script, to be honest. I think it works as fun, throwaway 45 minute Torchwood holiday special but I don't think it does anything stunningly new or clever or exciting. However it went down well – it got good reviews and it was the most iPlayered radio play or something – and it led to us getting further Torchwood radio plays so it must have done something right.

When you write about a character of yours in say a Doctor Who/Torchwood or Sarah Jane adventure, do you write it with an idea of who would play the character, or do you generally just write and hope that the production team find the character most suitable for the part? 

Joseph: Obviously you tend to know who are playing the regulars but other than that it's down to the casting director. Russell encourages us to make the character bios in scripts as brief as possible – usually limited to three or four words such as “ADAM (15, boyish, inquisitive charmer)” or “OLD RANI (65, weary, spiky)”. Everything else you need to know about a character should be revealed in the dialogue.

In Torchwood which is your favourite character to write about and why?  The same question applies for Doctor Who and Sarah Jane Adventures

Joseph: I genuinely loved them all really. They were fascinating characters to write for because they had so many dimensions. I suppose if I had to choose a favourite it would have to be Owen because I really got to explore his character. As with Clyde in The Sarah Jane Adventures, he was someone who presented an outward image to the world that was at odds with how he was truly feeling inside. You've got someone like Gwen who wears her heart on her sleeve but it's more interesting, as a writer, to find ways to reveal how someone like Owen is feeling. But, generally, I loved that team. They all meant well but they all made mistakes and were so human. In The Sarah Jane Adventures it would be Clyde for the same reason or Rani just because I loved her humour and attitude. I've written quite a few Doctor Who audio plays and short stories so it's harder to think of a single character. I tend to try and make every character, no matter how small, have something interesting for the actor to latch on to.

If you weren’t a writer what other career option would you have taken or was it always a choice to become a writer?

Joseph: I'd still love to be an actor but I'm just not good enough. I go to the theatre a lot and every single time I'm a little bit jealous of the people on the stage. To be honest, though, I've had a lot of jobs over the years and I've found something to enjoy in all of them (with the possible exception of pig-farming – I did not enjoy pig-farming). Although I'm so lucky to be fulfilling my ambition and doing my dream job, part of me does miss working in an office or a restaurant as I used to love the banter.

Do you still face rejections even now as an established writer?

Joseph: Yes! All the time! It's part of the job. It's not something that's ever easy but, basically, you have to accept it and you usually get something worthwhile from the experience.

What’s your biggest fear, in either writing or life?

Joseph: Blimey! Well, I guess it's a combination of failing and being lonely. I've always worked hard but I've always had a good social life as well – you get plenty of time to sleep when you're dead. So yeah, it's important to me that I keep pushing myself as a writer and that I always make time for my friends and family. My biggest fear, therefore, would be failing at either of those things.

I used to follow David Bishop’s guide to Writer’s Block, but if you ever come up against it, what do you do to combat it?

Joseph: I come up against it all the time. I'm lucky in that I'm usually working on a few different things at the same time so if I get stuck on one project, I can switch to another. But yeah, sometimes it's a case of just turning off the computer and doing something else for an hour instead. It could be reading, having a bath, going for a walk, going for a drink – it doesn't really matter. You can sometimes overanalyse being a writer but, in many ways, it's a job like any other. And in any job, you need to take breaks. The other thing that I find sometimes helps is simply talking to someone else and telling them what the problem is. They, themselves, might not have a solution but just the act of explaining it out aloud means you stop stressing and seeing it as being a case of “I'm stuck” and you, yourself, start to analyse what the problem is – which all then helps in working out a solution.

Do you have any projects you’re working on at the present moment?

Joseph: I've just achieved a long-term ambition by writing a play for the stage. It's only ten minutes long but it's going to be performed! By actors! On a stage! It's part of a theatre festival that'll be on later this year – http://www.theoffcutfestival.com/off-cut-2012/– and we were really pleased to win the audience's favourite writer and the industry experts' favourite director awards. Other than that, I'm working on more Dark Shadows, a comic and I wrote a Dorian Gray audio drama for Big Finish - http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-fallen-king-of-britain-836  – and I'd love to write another one of those in the future. I've just written a second story for the children's TV series Wizards Vs Aliens and I'll hopefully be writing the blogs for Sherlock again - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws/features/disclaimer  I've got my fingers crossed that they'll want me back on the Sherlock blogs as I love doing those. And I'm writing a film! It's going to be produced by Tom Guerrier –

http://www.irresistiblefilms.com/news/2012/6/1/irresistible-welcomes-guerrier-brothers. So yeah, I'm keeping busy!

What was your favourite episode to write, for Torchwood?

Joseph: I only wrote the one – A Day In The Death – so it'd have to be that one! It was my first telly and it meant so much to me. It was such hard work but so rewarding. I'm also very proud of my first Torchwood talking book - In The Shadows. It really gave me a chance to explore the whole team and to tell a story that really worked as an audio piece. It's one to listen to on headphones and I think Eve's performance in it is amazing.

Out of all the characters good and evil, which is your favourite, and it doesn’t have to be your own character, can be any.

Joseph: I'm not sure I have a specific favourite character but I do love Agatha Christie's writing because of her characters. She's so good at establishing who someone is in just a few, seemingly-simple, light-hearted words.

Who do you find easier to write for out of the Torchwood 3 characters?

Joseph: You mean Jack, Gwen and Ianto? Gwen probably as she – and Eve - has such a distinctive voice. Jack's the hardest as he'd be very easy to write as a one-dimensional character. With him you have to work hard to explore what's under the heroic bluster and flirting and cockiness. It was one of the things I enjoyed about writing the audio books In The Shadows and Red Skies. It gave me the chance to look at how others see Jack but also to explore who he is behind all that showmanship.

If Torchwood were to return to the UK and possibly Cardiff, would you consider writing an episode or two?

Joseph: Oh, I'd love to. I adore Torchwood – I have done since that very first episode went out in 2006. I love how it's expanded and developed and changed over the years. I love how it's created its own mythology. But I'd love it if it went back to its Cardiff roots, though. It would have to change again - maybe have more of an official Government presence or something - and obviously there'd be a new team but if there's one thing Torchwood has shown is that it can develop and do whatever it likes! It never has been - and never will be - predictable!

If Torchwood were to delve further back than the present date, to episodes from before Ianto and Owen and Tosh etc, would you consider writing some episodes for it?

Joseph: Definitely! Personally, though, I'd keep such things for novels and audios. I think the television series, itself, should always be looking forward.

Aside from episodes from tv and radio plays involving characters from other writers, have you ever written anything that was completely your own work that has been published for Big Finish or in book form?

Joseph: Other than my play, I've written a couple of TV pitches and I'm working on my film script at the moment. I'd love to write a novel one day but I find writing prose really difficult.

When an episode of yours is aired, do you sit and watch the finished product?  Do you ever cringe or blush at your own work or are you quite proud and watch it as eagerly as anyone else who is watching it as a fan?

Joseph: I usually watch them a couple of times as, to be honest, I'm just proud of having written a script that's been made and it's exciting to see what the cast and crew have done with it. The day that I don't feel like that is the day I should stop writing. And, yeah, it is handy to watch them back and look out for things that haven't worked. After that, though, I tend not to – at least not for a long while. It's better to be working on new ideas and thinking about the future rather than dwelling on what you've done.

What does Joe do on his day off from writing, how do you relax?

Joseph: I just like hanging out with my mates really. I used to love clubbing but I'm old and boring now. These days, I tend to go to the pub, the theatre, watch films, go around cemeteries and museums and so on. It's important to me that I have a life – and friends – outside of the world of Doctor Who and writing in general.

When you’re writing do you do it in complete silence or with music or background sounds like tv or other?

Joseph: Both. I love dance music and movie soundtracks – they're both great to write for but I also write a lot in silence if I really need to concentrate. At the moment, I'm alternating between Paul Oakenfold and the music from the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

What’s the last book you read?

Joseph: I'm reading an Agatha Christie at the moment – Cat Among The Pigeons. As ever, I've no idea whodunnit but I'm loving it.

Who is your favourite sci fi writer, or your favourite writer in general? Book wise.

Joseph: I don't actually read a lot of science fiction. My favourite novel writers are probably C.S. Lewis, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Douglas Coupland but I love discovering new writers. A couple of years ago, I read my first John Wyndham novel and I'm loving catching up on his other books.

If you could be a super hero, who would you be and why, and what super power would you have and why?

Joseph: The one ability I'd love is to be able to teleport to places as I'm far too lazy and I seem to spend half my life on that train to Cardiff! I'd also love to be able to read minds to find out what people are thinking but I'm not sure that'd be a particularly healthy ability to have!

When you write, how far will you push your characters, or do you push them beyond their limits and then wonder how they’ll get out of the mess (like I do quite often). 

Joseph: Oh, I always push them as far as they can go. It's far easier to tone it back afterwards. To me there is nothing worse than a piece of writing – no matter who or what it's for – that's boring. Why bother if it's going to be dull and boring? There's just no point to it! I'd always far prefer someone to hate something I'd written than to think it was merely okay. Obviously, though, I'd prefer them to love it!

Were you ever interested in comic books as a kid?  Do you remember Whizzer and Chips and Topper?  Beano and Dandy?  Or were you into Warlord, 2000AD and other great comic books?

Joseph: I've never hugely been into comics, no. I used to read the Beano but that's about it. I loved the Bash Street Kids.

As a script writer, can you go into this business without qualifications, perhaps on a few short lessons in writing, or is it best to attend uni and come out with the grade to work in television especially in Doctor Who and/or Torchwood?

Joseph: I don't know really. I did a Media degree which I don't think necessarily helped me to get a job but it introduced me to films and writers I'd never heard of and it gave me experience in writing scripts that would actually be produced. These days it's harder for anyone to get a job so every little helps! I do think, though, that the last line of that question is slightly problematic. You shouldn't want to write for Doctor Who and/or Torchwood. I've been so lucky to have the opportunity to write for my favourite series but it's never really been about that. First and foremost, you should want to be a writer. You should want to tell stories. You should want to tell your own stories.

After you’ve written a script for a particular episode do you get to follow the film crew when they are out on set?

Joseph: I tend to go out on set for one of the filming days as it's such a blast to see your work being made but you do feel a little bit like a gatecrasher. I've been lucky in that the cast and crews of the different shows I've worked on have been incredibly friendly but, at the end of the day, they've a job to do so you don't want to get in the way. Plus it's usually cold. Very very cold.

Which Doctor growing up was your favourite and how many of the Doctor’s have you met?

Joseph: Sylvester was the one I grew up with so he'd be my favourite – although I adored Christopher Eccleston. I think I've met all the living ones in some way or other except Tom, Chris and Matt.

Do you go to Conventions and like the many, do you still go out to obtain signed photos from people or do celebrities not do that very often?

Joseph: I went to one in 1993 but no, I've never really been into that. I'm 100% a proud fan of Doctor Who and Torchwood but I've never really got the autograph or convention thing. I've been to a few as a guest, though and that's always fun. Everyone's just so friendly and welcoming.

Have you ever roleplayed a character on a social networking site or a roleplaying website to see how well a character is received and if he is pliable as a round character or works better as a flat one?

Joseph: Never done anything like that.

In, 'A Day in the Death' you touched on some very strong emotional themes, such as suicide, death and aging. What was it that inspired you to write the episode and what was your reaction to seeing it played out so beautifully on screen. 

Joseph: I was asked specifically to write a character piece about coming to terms with being the living dead! At first it was for Ianto and then it changed to Owen. Obviously, I've no experience of being the living dead so I had to find a way to make it something that an audience could relate to – and I decided that it would be similar to suffering from depression. It was then a case of thinking about my own experiences, and that of others, and finding a way to express all that dramatically. The story could have simply been Owen and Maggie telling each other how they felt so the real challenge was in finding ways to show it visually and to tell a story that used the themes rather than it being simply the themes themselves. I didn't sit down and think about what themes I wanted to explore – it was more during the writing and afterwards that I was able to say what it was I'd written about.

If there is one character you wish you could have thought up, who would it be and why?

Joseph: I suppose it would have to be the Doctor. I think he's probably the greatest fictional character ever created.

Where’s the best place for you to find inspiration?

Joseph: For me it's always been about people. Strangers, workmates, neighbours, my friends and my family. I've three nieces and a nephew all under the age of ten and I've just been on holiday with them. It was fascinating watching their behaviour and seeing how they interact with each other and with me and their parents. Seeing which ones know which buttons to push to get the others into trouble. Comparing one niece who expresses every thought and emotion to another who hides her true feelings and so on.
And, again, what's inspiring is knowing that I'm writing for them. They – and the rest of my family – are who I write for.

You can find Joe https://twitter.com/joelidster
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2779744/
Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Lidster

Special thanks to Joseph Lidster for the interview, BBC, Wiki and Google Search for photos and research.