The Mothership Happy 50th Birthday David Tennant

 

It was at the end of Eccleston’s tenure as the Doctor that we were given Tennant as our Tenth incarnation of the Time Lord, and it was no longer fantastic, it was brilliant. Rose Tyler had tamed the rage inside the 9^th Doctor, so much so that we had the puppy eyed Doctor for the 10^th, all bounding and exciting, and if he’d have had a tail, he’d have surely thumped it hard against the ground. He’d run everywhere and only stop to take in the view, before hurtling off again in any direction, with a companion struggling to keep up. He had boundless enthusiasm for every new destination, and he was fiercely committed to fighting battles without the use of weapons. Except…towards the end, it was a gun in his hand as he pointed it at Lord Rassilon, as he stood before him, in a bid to claim Earth for a new Gallifrey. 

We grew with the Doctor. We laughed. We enjoyed, and we cried real tears when Rose was trapped in the parallel universe. We broke our hearts on Bad Wolf Bay. We never quite got over that feeling of grief for that episode, because even after 16 years and replaying that final episode with Rose, our hearts broke all over again, and we’d sob into a cushion. All of us. Even those, who never cry at such programmes. Even the Weevil. 

David Tennant, along with Chris Eccleston, reignited my passion for Doctor Who, and I would collect everything I could with David’s face on. I mean, I did.  Including Frubes. I had those empty tubes of yogurt in a drawer for years. Cleaned of course. I had action figures. I still have some of them. And I’ve a ton of trading cards. (Swaps anyone?) 

There were so many quotes from the 10^th Doctor era, that there was never a moment where I was stuck for something to say, wherever I went, with or without the family. And libraries? Don’t even get me started on books!!! 

I think I’m what’s known as an embarrassment when it comes to geeking out over certain things Doctor Who, including graveyards and statues, but that’s what comes of being a fan of Doctor Who and all that goes with it – but it’s Tennant’s era where this passion blossomed. Sure, I grew up watching Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, but I vaguely only remember certain episodes. I couldn’t quote anything from that – but Tennant…oh there are so many! 

When Tennant announced he was leaving the TARDIS and stepping away from Who, a whole nation of fans cried, or became extremely upset and vowed not to give the new guy a chance, but it’s Who, and you do, and you compare, but each Doctor brings something different to the table. Tennant wasn’t anything like Eccleston. Smith wasn’t anything like Tennant, apart from being skinny and tall. 

Before Tennant joined Who though, we saw him in Harry Potter as the mad, bad Barty Crouch junior, a very formidable character indeed. What Tennant gave us, was an insight to the character roles he could play, and we all love a bad boy, don’t we? 

Since that bad boy role, Tennant has gone on to play a host of others and they’ve been the lowest of the low, and deeper and darker and more threatening. His portrayal of Denis Nilsen was perhaps the most chilling of them all. Uncannily alike in portrait only, but his portrayal of that beast, who decapitated his victims and boiled them in pans in his kitchen, and buried the rest of the bodies under floorboards or in his back garden, and had no fear when the police came calling and arrested him. Tennant’s portrayal sent shivers down my spine. There was no emotion in his character, unlike that of Cale Erendrich in Bad Samaritan. A sick individual who had money and power and could manipulate to achieve his end goals, and became unpredictable towards the end when he saw his world turning against him by the one person he was setting up for a fall. An ingenious story and one I thoroughly enjoyed watching. 

Tennant plays bad extremely well, perhaps too well. 

It’s almost to the point that his good boy image of the Doctor, or his dangerous image of the Time Lord Victorious (towards the end) has disappeared. Now all I want to see of Tennant is the dangerous character roles that he’s so brilliant at portraying. 

Kilgrave in Jessica Jones was one such character. The Purple Man. I loved that series and you were often on the edge of your seat wondering whether he would appear, or if Jessica herself was going crazy by how much he was in her head. How much she couldn’t remember and how much she was trying to forget. 

I’ve not as yet watched Good Omens but as far as I’m aware, he plays a demon who although is cast as someone bad, is working alongside a good angel in trying to locate the anti-Christ before the end of the world.      

In the 2011 remake of Fright Night, Tennant played Peter Vincent, a vampire hunter, but not a very good one. His parents had been killed by the very vampire that was stalking the lead character in the story – Charley. It had plenty of jump scares but really didn’t do much on the ‘who to root for’ in the story, and I found it a disappointing film. Yes, there was gore and vampires and some bits were a touch eww, but it wasn’t Tennant’s best role – in my honest opinion. 

Bad Samaritan, now that was worth watching, and one I could watch over and over, after a few months apart. Most of his evil characters ooze the charm and draw you in when you least suspect them of being evil, but Cale isn’t a character you could warm to. You were always going to root for those who were trying to rescue the girl, and hoped the Police would put two and two together before the end of the film. Cale was very technically minded. He was good with the gadgets which no other characters Tennant has played appeared to be. They got through their scenes mostly on dialogue and charm alone. 

One of the other things about Tennant that I love however are the eyebrow quirks, and his facial expressions. How many of us have tried to mimic them for any of our Who moments? The drop in the voice and the clearing of the throat, and oh that bobbing Adam’s Apple. Alas, I don’t possess one so prominent as that.    

David Tennant celebrates his 50^th birthday this April 18^th. We wanted to take this opportunity of expressing our love of the man who brought us a Doctor who we have loved and missed and would really love to see take up the sonic screwdriver again, even if it was just for another special. 

I had the wonderful opportunity, many years ago, of meeting David behind the scenes of Decoy Bride when they filmed at Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfriesshire, and I only wish I’d found my voice after he replied to my ‘HI David’ because I would have loved to have talked to him a bit about Who and had a photo opportunity with him. He’s a lot skinnier in real life! 

I’d love to meet him again, if he ever films up this way again, once this pandemic is over and we can all breathe freely and walk without fear of catching something deadly. 

Happy Birthday David. Have a super wonderful day. 

Love from everyone at Project: Torchwood

 

 

 

 

The Mothership Ronald Pickup

 

Ronald Pickup was born on 7^th June, 1940, in Blacon, Chester to parents Eric and Daisy. His father Eric was a lecturer in English and French, eventually becoming a Senior lecturer in the latter subject at the Diocesan Training College for Teachers, which later became the University of Chester. Ron, attended the King’s School in Chester before heading to Leeds University to read English. He won a scholarship to attend the Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts (RADA) from 1962 – 1964, where he met his wife Lans Traverse. 

In 2010, Pickup returned to the city of his birth to receive an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Chester. 

Once he’d graduated from RADA, Ronald stepped straight into his first on screen acting role also in 1964, in the Doctor Who story based around the French Revolution, playing the physician, in the Reign of Terror episode – The Tyrant of France. His fee was £30. Unfortunately, this episode was wiped by the BBC and is only now available to view as an animated version, complete with original soundtrack and dialogue, which was put together by a fan of the series. 

He made his theatrical debut on stage at the Phoenix Theatre in Leicester also in 1964, then spent two years at the Royal Court Theatre, before joining Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre Company at the Old Vic in London for the next seven years – from 1966 – 1973, working alongside such brilliant stars such as Sir Ian McKellan, Derek Jacobi, Maggie Smith and John Gielgud, to name but a few. 

It’s clear to see from the list of theatrical credits that Ron loved his theatre roles, and in some cases, he would return to one particular play more than once. From 1966 – 1997 he was extremely active in the theatre world, and most especially every year in the 1970s playing alongside many actors from the world of Who, and indeed Torchwood, such as John Normington, Clive Rowe, Eddie Marsan and Julian Glover to name but a few. I could name more, but it would be like listing Captain Jack’s back catalogue!!! 

His on-screen roles since Doctor Who, took him to play Don Pedro, for the television film of Much Ado About Nothing in 1967, a play in which he’d appeared in on stage more than once. In the early 70s, television programmes often covered Plays for Television, and there were many during this time, including Sunday Night Theatre, in ’73, and Play for Today in ’74. 

I remember him for one of my childhood favourite programmes during 1973 – 1982 as the Storyteller for Jackanory for 35 episodes. There was one story he read about fairground horses coming to life and making a bid for freedom. It was told over 5 nights and was a wonderful story for children. He also read A Stranger at Green Knowe by Lucy M. Boston in 5 parts in 1975. The Ghost of Thomas Kempe in 5 parts in 1977. Willow’s Luck in 5 parts in 1978. The Faithless Lollybird and Other Stories by Joan Aiken in 1981 and The Revenge of Samuel Stokes for 5 parts in 1982. 

In 1983 he played Elliott alongside Sean Connery in the Bond film Never Say Never Again. Also in this year he played Friedrich Nietzsche in Wagner for four episodes. Skipping up his long list of credits, he played Frank Gladwyn for 6 episodes of Moving in 1985, and Albert Einstein for the mini series about the man in question. 

In Fortunes of War he played Prince Yakimov in 1987 for 4 episodes, and voiced Aslan for the television mini series The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for 3 episodes in 1988. He returned to voice Aslan in the next chapter Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Prince Caspian for 5 episodes in 1989. And once more in 1990 for The Silver Chair. 

In 1990 he played Brian Appleyard for 7 episodes of Not with a Bang series. Appeared in Inspector Morse in 1991 for one episode as Ian Matthews, for the episode Who Killed Harry Field? 

In 1994 he played Daniel Byrne for 4 episodes of The Rector’s Wife, before playing Douglas Beaumont in Medics for 2 episodes. Between 1995 – 1996 he played the Duke of Battersea for 6 episodes of Black Hearts in Battersea series. In 1997 he played Waldemar Fitzurse for 5 episodes of Ivanhoe. 

In 2004 he played Ernest Sorrel in the children’s drama series Feather Boy for 5 episodes. Moving up the years, and from 2002 – 2007 played Bob Falstaff and Lord Charles Byrne for 22 episodes of Holby City. In 2011 he played Jeffrey Livingstone in The Jury for 5 episodes.

Returning to children’s television dramas, played Morgan in Young Dracula for 4 episodes in 2014. 

Pickup also walked the cobbles of Coronation Street in this year playing Len Sheldon. 

In 2014 he played Orpheus in Atlantis series for 3 episodes. Played a single role in Call the Midwife for 1 episode, but it’s probably as Norman Cousins for The Best and the Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that we remember him for now from 2011 & 2015, and his performance in Darkest Hour playing Chamberlain that stick in our memories. 

Ronald Pickup was still working as an actor, even in his 80s, (as many actors do). and still played roles in both television and film, including Summer of Rockets in 2019 as Walter for 4 episodes, completed filming of End of Term playing Damian Self alongside Doctor Who star Peter Davison, and played The Gambler in Schadenfreude which is currently in post production. 

After a long illness, Ronald Pickup sadly died on 24^th February 2021. He had brought such life to his characters. He had one of those voices, not unlike Burton, or Hopkins, or Jarvis that you could listen to forever and a day. The way he captured the story about the fairground horses is something I still remember, to this day. Rest in Peace Ronald. 

 

The Mothership Gordon's Lockdown Dalek Build

 

Most people during Lockdown bake banana bread or clear those massive to do lists they’ve been writing since the year dot, but not Gordon Hepburn. 

Oh no! 

Gordon began an epic build. 

Two, in fact. 

Enter left – Red Second Movie Dalek – Saucer Commander. 

“This build closely follows the original Dalek AARUII.I and is predominantly fibreglass.

Hand painted in a mixed red paint with aluminium belts and stainless steel. The fixings are traditional coach bolts and flat head screws. The claw arm is polished chrome as is the gun.”

Enter right – The Chase Guard Dalek

 

“Again, closely follows a first Movie Dalek. These Daleks were borrowed by the BBC for the Chase episodes they were too large for TV Daleks so they appeared fender less Static props acting as Guards. The build uses coach bolts and as close to the original fixings as possible.

Hand painted but, on a fender, and wheels to allow it mobility.”

 

“I'm presently building a Dead Planet Dalek MK1. 

The original classic and a MK3 80s Dalek. They should be finished later on in the year.

Both builds follow the same fundamental principle to keep as original as possible. Fasteners are of old-style design flat headed or coach bolt. Guns are made from Stainless steel and tig weld or chrome plated steel and silver soldered. Plunger shafts are Aluminium or Stainless chrome. And fully bushed.

 

Both Daleks are hand painted to classic RAL colours. The belts and collars are aluminium the slats mirror finish and bright aluminium mesh. Both Daleks have modulation Sync to Dome lights, the guard Dalek has fob relay remote gun fire which illuminates a blue Gun LED.”

If you have any questions for Gordon relating to his Dalek Builds, do post below and we will send them onto him.

 

 

The Mothership Earl Cameron, CBE

Earl Cameron was born in Pembroke, Bermuda on 8^th August, 1917 and died in Kenilworth on 3^rd July 2020 at the grand old age of 102 years. His acting career stretches from theatre to the silver screen, and to television, where in 1966 he played Glyn Williams, a black astronaut in the Doctor Who story The Tenth Planet. It was for this reason that it was worth dipping a toe into an expansive career of one of the most interesting actors in both the 20^th and 21^st century. 

Cameron joined the British Merchant Navy as a young man and travelled from Bermuda to New York and back. He'd always held a desire to travel as a young boy and during his time in the Navy, transferred to another ship, called the Eastern Prince that sailed to South America. Unfortunately, on the very second journey, war broke out, and the Eastern Prince became the property of the British Admiralty and sailed to Britain. Cameron landed on British soil on 29th October 1939. He fell in love with a young lady and when Eastern Prince set sail again, it left without him, 'and the girl walked out too.'

Finding work in the UK during the War was incredibly difficult, more so for Cameron, and he reluctantly took work in the hospitality industry as a dishwasher, taking whatever casual work came his way.

In 1941, Cameron was given a theatre ticket by his friend Harry Crossman to see a revival of Chu Chin Chow at the Palace Theatre. His friend Harry was an actor and along with five other black actors, each had a small part in the West End production. Cameron wanted a job that gave him meaning – which dishwashing was never going to achieve, and he asked Crossman if there were any spare roles available. Sadly, at the time, none were, but a few weeks later, one of the actors didn’t show, and Cameron, after an arranged meeting with director Robert Atkins, became part of the cast, albeit a walk on role.

In 1945 – 1946, Cameron toured with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), entertaining the British armed forces personnel out in India in 1945, and the following year out in the Netherlands, playing one of the Dukes in The Duchess and Two Dukes. Later in 1946, Cameron returned to Bermuda for five months before returning to the UK to work as an actor. He worked as an understudy in the theatre play Deep Are the Roots which was written by Arnaud d’Usseau and James Gow. It played in London’s Wyndham Theatre for six months before going on tour. It was in this very production in Coventry, where he worked alongside Patrick McGoohan. 

Cameron’s acting break was in the film Pool of London, in 1951. It was directed by Basil Dearden and set-in post-war London. It was a powerful film, which involved racial prejudice. Cameron’s character was a merchant sailor who was to fall in love with a young white woman, played by Susan Shaw. The story also involved a diamond robbery. Cameron won much critical praise for his part in the film which was considered “the first major role for a black actor in a British mainstream film.” The film was a milestone in the sensitive way it handled a relationship between a black worker and a young white female. 

His next major film role was playing Peter Karanja in the 1955 film Simba. It was set against the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya. In the same year, Cameron was to play the Mau Mau general Jeroge in Safari. 

Cameron found that work as a black actor in the early days was especially hard to come by. Unless a role was specified for a black actor, nobody was going to change a white part for a black part, so most of his roles were extremely small, which frustrated him greatly.  

He appeared in two Tarzan films in the 60s, playing two different characters before playing Captain Abraham in Guns at Batasi in 1964. In 1973 he worked alongside Sidney Poitier in the film A Warm December, playing the role of an African Ambassador in the UK. 

Before his role as Pinder in the James Bond film Thunderball in 1965, Cameron had been considered for the role of Quarrel in Dr No (1962), but was considered unsuitable by Harry Saltzman, the producer, who cast John Kitzmiller for the role instead. 

In Sidney Pollacks film The Interpreter, he played dictator Edmond Zuwanie, who was a fictional version of Robert Mugabe, the then leader of Zimbabwe. Both the Baltimore Sun and Rolling Stone praised Cameron’s performance in this role, writing that he was magnificent as the slimy old fraud of a dictator, or that he was subtle and menacing. 

In later years, he appeared in a cameo role as the portrait artist in the film The Queen, working alongside Helen Mirren. In the film Inception he played the Elderly Bald Man. 

His television roles began with Emergency Ward 10, The Zoo Gang and Crown Court, as well as reading five Brer Rabbit stories for the popular children’s programme Jackanory in 1971. He was also in an episode of Dixon of Dock Green.

There is much debate about Cameron being the first black actor to play an astronaut in a television series, although I haven’t found claim to who was the first in this role as Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhuru in Star Trek first saw her character head out beyond the stars a few years after Cameron’s role as Glyn Williams, in Doctor Who story The Tenth Planet. So, we can at least say he was one of the first black actors to play an astronaut on British television. 

Cameron became the oldest surviving Doctor Who actor to reach 100 after Zohra Sehgal and Olaf Pooley died. And after Cameron’s death in 2020, this title has now passed to Arnold Yarrow. 

Although I haven’t listed ALL of Cameron’s film and television achievements, you can still find a huge list on his IMDB account. There are an incredible 93 credits dating back to 1951 and his role as Johnny Lambert in Pool of London, right up to 2013 when he played Grandad in a film short – Up on the Roof.  

In 2009, in the New Year Honours list, Earl Cameron was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire or in short, the CBE. In Hamilton, Bermuda, the Earl Cameron Theatre was named in his honour when he attended a ceremony there in December 2012, and in 2013 he received an honorary doctorate at the University of Warwick, in the January of that year. 

Earl Cameron was married twice. His first wife, Audrey (nee Godowski) died in 1994. They were married in 1954. He had five children from his first marriage, Simon, Jane, Helen, Serena and Phillipa. His oldest son Quinton comes from an earlier relationship he had with Marjorie Astwood. He is survived by his second wife, Barbara (nee Bower). He has eight grandchildren, Louisa, Kalan, Siria, Sophie, Isabella, Fiorella, Karmeta and Kelly with two great-grandchildren, Kasra and Zander. 

Reference

Brian Baxter article with The Guardian

Wikipedia (not always helpful in factual articles, but nevertheless)

IMDB credit list

 

The Mothership The Caretaker poem by Matt Rabjohns

​

Meet my selfless time lady with two hearts​

The place where the true adventure starts​

Hurtling right through all of space and time​

Such a roller coaster thrill ride to me you and mine​

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A pretty rainbow right across her T-shirt​

How she tries to keep friends from being hurt​

But it is such a dark and broken universe​

So sometimes living feels like a curse​

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Things like the Daleks and the cybermen​

Rearing their ugly mutated heads yet again​

To smite the vortex with grief and pain​

Till our sweet hero takes a stand again​

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Her hearts beat with a clear and clean vision​

Saving the helpless from evil is her mission​

And she won’t ask the high up's permission​

Before she puts the wicked plans to nuclear fission​

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Then she will go back to her big blue box​

Even after every time her spirit takes a knock​

Then it’s off to the next wounded planet​

Yes, every psychotic deviant, you just can it​

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You may think you are winning for a while​

But by the climax you won’t own a smile​

Because your schemes will quickly fall to dust​

All in the name of the Good Doctor we trust​

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The care taker of the whole of existence​

The one lady who will truly go the distance​

To uplift the oppressed and broken and overtaken​

Her hearts full of compassion that is never shaken​

​

And if she takes a kind shine to you​

Will you go with her, what will you do? ​

Will you go for the adventure of your life​?

I think this time lady is well worth all the strife​

​

The Mothership Our Mrs Whittaker by Matt Rabjohns

Jodie, you make me smile every single day

When I give my Doctor Who DVDs a play

I can't thank you enough for the immense joy

You have bought to this mad keen fan boy

Jodie you make me wanna jump with delight

Your performance is enough to light up the night

I can't thank you enough for the hope

You've given me in my own personal pain to help me cope

You're a tonic, you're a breeze

Just like a friend who brings me to my knees

You're a friend, even if we've not met

If not down here then we'll have heaven yet

How you have made me forget my woe

One day I hope to be able to show

And to meet you and let you know

How much happiness and tears have been on the flow?

Since the first time you fell through that train's roof

Just to hit me with the truth

That you are perfect for the role of the Doc

And I know I'm not the only one in this flock

Jodie you make me feel good with that smile

I can even raise my own for a little while

Watching you brandish your sonic with a flourish

Is just so fulfilling and lovely and moreish

Jodie, you make me want to punch the air

You are a time lady and you truly care

I’ve heard it from fans who’ve met you out there

That would be a dream for me, oh, what a vision to share

You're a talent, you're a blast

Even when lying hates have their shadow to cast

We know with fans like us it won't last

We sail the good ship Whittaker and we raise the mast

How you fight the monsters and the evil

Takes away the very edge of my own upheaval

Makes me think there is some good to life

The man who’s your husband has such a treasure of a wife

The Mothership Forgive Me by Matt Rabjohns

Forgive me for being such a dumb short sighted bloke​

I wasn't sure a woman could take hold of the rope​

Of a show long led by thirteen rather splendid blokes​

Now I know better and my silly bit of mindlessness chokes​

​

And I am glad that I’ve been proven a right prat​

Now that Jodie is our awesome Doctor and that is that​

She has just blown the show right out of the water​

And I'm glad to lay my stupid preconceptions to slaughter​

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All you great girls out in the world who must love this​

Would you please forgive me, no, no need for a kiss

But I feel truly bad for being quite so stupidly un-enlighted​

I can’t imagine how my views could have been so small and benighted​

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Now I am keen as mustard only to come along for the ride​

And now one truth I really don't want to ever hide​

Now I’ve gone from being iffy to be rock sure of this time lady​

And now my elation and gratitude are beyond just steady​

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I would just love to be the one to travel with this being​

Where I could help save history and never believe what I'm seeing​

Aiding the whole universe to keep evil and wrong at bay​

That's why for years and years I now hope Jodie will stay​

​

I will never again remain so blinkered and short sighted​

Not now that Jodie has me so excited and delighted​

I will now state I’ve never been gladder to be proven wrong​

A lady can be the Doctor, it was so obvious all along​

The Mothership The Pain of a Time Lady by Matt Rabjohns

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A tussle with the Master, her former friend​

And I think she now wants the horror to end​

She sets her sights on finding him again​

She must somehow feel she's to blame​

​

Then her eyes befall a broken, desolate plain​

And the haunted pain comes back again​

A home she thought safe now lost once more​

She feels the crush of the burden and sinks to the floor​

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Her Gallifrey in ruins, her hearts in tatters​

She's maybe struggling to know what truly matters​

She rages inside, with sorrow and torture and regret​

Perhaps this is one pain she'd like to forget​

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Our ageless wonderful hero, now sadly finding out​

Her past may be false or restrained, plagued with doubt​

She feels so sad, lost, broken and lonely​

Her friends alone now make the TARDIS homely​

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For she admits, her true soul they hardly know​

Then they strike back with the wonderful glow​

They have seen enough to know she deeply cares​

About the wild and troubled universe out there​

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They see her great merit; they feel her great woe​

They will still give her the true incentive to go​

Back out and do good in that big old universe​

Even if at times that action feels more like a curse​

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They just won't let her ever forsake her calling​

That she is the Good Doctor, despite tears falling​

They will stand with her as her dependable friends​

Even if it is to be that death comes as the end

The Mothership The Woman Who Fell to Earth by Matt Rabjohns

And so, Ryan Sinclair tries hard to learn to ride a bike​

Then discovers a blue tear drop in the wood, of unknown origin​

As a train crashes, with his Nan and Graham aboard, a sudden spike​

And a strange alien woman then drops through the roof's skin​

​

This is an alien who is confused yet energetic and spry​

Finger up her nose before she sleeps for a while​

Till the teardrop cracks open, she awakes with a cry​

And then gives all her new found friends a sunshine smile​

​

And then emerges from the blue tear an enemy so vile​

A foe who steals his victim’s teeth to wear on his face​

And to allow this evil to run free is not our ladies style​

So, she will attempt to do her best to put him in his place​

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By all their collar bones bombs coded to their DNA​

And so, this lady knows she has to face this menace​

But she'll need a sonic screwdriver, making her own'll be the way​

With spoons and Sheffield steel and a blow torches' mini furnace​

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Who would have guessed it would end with a metal crane​

Where the confusion at last lifts from this lady’s thoughts to find​

After she has jumped from one crane to another to reclaim​

The trophy human back from this villain so dark and unkind​

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That Tzim Sha is arrogant, he thinks the murders he's committed are but a game​

But the lady before him, a dash of outrage clearing her mind​

Now has her recall just exactly who she is, the Doctor is her name​

And to the repulsive Tzim Sha she is still willing and kind​

​

To offer a better way to live than leaving human trophies to rot​

He does not take it, but he doesn’t realise her plan​

She's been clever removing the bombs and now he has got​

Then all back in himself so he is a rather desperate alien man​

​

His face quickly starts to melt, now the only chance he's got​

Is to escape back home and be glad her mercy isn’t a fake​

She is for but a second glad she has saved Earth's lot​

But then comes a scenario which has her hearts shake​

​

In the unbearable touch of horror as Ryan's Nan sadly has to die​

Trying to rid our world of the alien threat halfway up the tower​

Sparks fizz, she falls, and of course her husband and Grandson are broken and cry​

Graham them states he once had cancer, so he should be gone instead in this bleak hour​

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Yet the friends are all strong, and the Doctor feels it’s time to go​

But she's lost her ship so she will need her companions to assist​

But I'm not sure that materialising in space was a part of her show​

Let’s hope she and her friends are rescued before lack of breath has them kissed!

​

​

The Mothership The Life and Career of Jon Pertwee by Matt Rabjohns

John Devon Roland Pertwee was born in Chelsea, London on the 7th July 1919. His surname Pertwee was an anglicisation of the French surname "de Perthuis de Laillevault"! He was the son of screenwriter and actor Roland Pertwee and also the distant cousin of actor Bill Pertwee. His Mother, Avice Scholtz, broke up with his father when Jon was still young. The actor Henry Ainley was a close friend of Jon's father, and coincidentally was the father of Anthony Ainley who would of course one day act as the Master in Doctor Who, including a special 20th anniversary tale, The Five Doctors, where he appeared alongside Jon on screen. ​

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John went by the name Jon Pertwee through his acting career. He reportedly used this spelling as he was fed up of his name always being misspelt by all and sundry. Jon was also an avid fan of sports, particularly water sports. ​

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Jon was educated at several schools, and most of which he was also expelled from! His schools included Frensham Heights School in Surrey, and Sherborne School in Dorset. Soon after he completed his schooling Jon joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) where he was also to wind up being expelled because he did not wish to be cast as a Greek "Wind" during one of the lessons. Jon claimed this to be nothing short of a waste of his time and his father's money. He was also accused of writing graffiti about his tutors on the lavatory walls!

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Jon also performed for a short time in a school's circus where he rode "The Wall of Death" on a motorbike with none other than a toothless lion in the passenger sidecar. After a small stint in repertory theatre he was then contracted by the BBC as as actor.

With the event of the Second World War Jon spent six years working in the Royal Navy. He served aboard HMS Hood and he was transferred off the ship just three days before it was sunk by the German Battleship Bismarck, where all but three men of the crew tragically lost their lives. Jon was then seconded to the very secretive Naval Intelligence Service where he worked with none other than James Bond creator Ian Fleming. His work within this service also meant he reported directly to Winston Churchill and the Deputy Prime Minister Clement Atlee.

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Jon in an interview is quoted as saying: "I did all sorts. Teaching commandos how to use escapology equipment, compasses in brass buttons, secret maps in white cotton handkerchiefs, pipes you could smoke that also fired a .22 bullet. All sorts of incredible things."​

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It was soon after the war ended that Jon first became associated with comedy. Perhaps his most fondly recalled comedy show for radio that he recorded for over 17 years was The Navy Lark. During these years his main role was that of Chief Petty Officer Pertwee. Other stars of huge renown who appeared with him in The Navy Lark included Ronnie Barker and Judy Cornwell. In a funny coincidence, one of the lesser known characters Jon played in The Navy Lark was a villainous character called the Master, the self-same name given to the Doctor's long-time arch enemy in the BBC's Doctor Who! ​

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Another notable film appearance for Jon was as Charlie Stirling in the 1953 movie “Will Any Gentleman?", which coincidentally also featured future first Doctor Who William Hartnell as Inspector Martin. ​

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On the stage, he played the role of Lycus in the 1963 London production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Frankie Howerd and he then appeared in the slightly smaller role of Crassus in the 1966 film version. He appeared as Sidney Tait in the comedy film "Ladies Who Do" (1963). In 1966, Jon starred alongside Donald Sinden in the original West End production of the long-running comedy "There's a Girl in My Soup" and in this period appeared in several of the world renowned Carry On films: Carry On Cleo (1964), as the soothsayer; Carry On Cowboy (1965) as Sheriff Earp; and Carry On Screaming! (1966) as Dr. Fettle. (Carry On Columbus, with Jon in his fourth and final Carry On role, this time as the Duke of Costa Brava, was released in 1992). In 1967, he was first chosen by Dad's Army producer David Croft for the role of Captain George Mainwaring, but Jon declined the role – because he preferred to extend his role on Broadway in There's a Girl in My Soup​

Jon also appeared in the Avengers Episode "From Venus With Love" and with the Goodies in the episode "Wacky Wales."

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Then in 1969 just prior to his relinquishing his producership of the series of Doctor Who, Peter Bryant cast Jon as the Third Doctor, to take over from Patrick Troughton who was set to leave the show with a ten-episode epic story "The War Games". Jon was originally Peter's second choice for the role, but his first choice, Ron Moody proved unavailable and so Jon took on the mantle of the Doctor. Jon imbued his Doctor with a love of gadgets and cars.

The yellow Roadster Bessie being one of his most famous vehicles, although there was also the Whomobile. He also had an intensely moral core, and also was more than any of the Doctor's previously a man of action. He also locked horns with several unsavoury political types to which he constantly gave short shrift! His embodiment of the Doctor was one of the first I truly fell in love with as a child. I can never thank Jon enough for how his dashing dandy character did good in the universe up until the events of his swansong, Planet of the Spiders in 1974. During Jon's era the show's popularity skyrocketed, with audiences of ten million frequently tuning in to watch his wonderful escapades under the affirmed and superb producership of Barry Letts. The Jon era to this day is fondly recalled as one of the best and most enduring periods of the show’s history. He struck up an instant rapport with all his co-stars, especially Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Nicholas Courtney (The Brigadier), The Master (Roger Delgado), John Levene (Sergeant Benton) and Richard Franklin (Mike Yates). It was in fact mainly down to the tragic death of Roger Delgado that Jon finally felt compelled to leave the role of the Doctor and the fact that Katy Manning left the show in 1973. ​

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Jon would return to the role again though for the aforementioned twentieth anniversary special The Five Doctors. He would also be instrumental in helping to get Doctor Who into the radio medium. The Paradise of Death and The Ghosts of N Space were the only two stories for radio Jon managed to complete before he sadly passed away. Jon also appeared in the stage show "The Ultimate Adventure", which went down as a bit of a pantomime but hugely enjoyable nonetheless. One amusing incident Jon related in interview sometime was how the TARDIS console on stage started to slide all over the place and he, still in full Doctor but ad-libbing valiantly, ordered it to return to him! Due to poor health though Jon had to sadly bow out of the Ultimate Adventure half way through its run, and Colin Baker, the sixth Doctor actor, took over the part of the Doctor. He also graced the spin off The Airzone Solution playing the character Oliver Tretheway in 1993. And several of his lines from the show were used in the Lego Dimensions Games released in 2015.  ​

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Jon also appeared in the Children in Need Special "Dimensions in Time" where he helps to foil a scheme by Kate O Mara's Rani. ​

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Shortly after completing Doctor Who, Jon became fascinated with the character of Worzel Gummidge. After several attempts to gauge interest in the character from several TV stations, he finally found a willing receptacle in Southern Television, who saw the potential of the character. Under the superb guidance of James Hill as producer, and the wonderful scripting craft of Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, an instant hit show was born again. Worzel was mischievous and naughty, but immensely lovable. His unrequited love for Una Stubb's love to hate Aunt Sally frequently brought tears to my eyes. Jon was utterly captivating and alluring as Worzel. Indeed, Jon himself stated frequently that Worzel was the best character he had ever been given the chance to play. I still frequently watch his adventures today and still find my heart stirred by his wanting Cups O' Tea and Slices O' Cake!

Worzel Gummidge still is one of the strongest and most enduring children's programmes ever made. ​

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Jon's talent didn't just come to the small screen. He was in several films, the first, A Yank At Oxford, from 1938, to his final film appearance in Cloud Cuckoo in 1994. He presented a whopping 41 episodes of the well-known sleuth Game Show Whodunnit. And he famously appeared as a fiend of the fanged kind in the well-known Horror Film The House That Dripped Blood with scream Queen Ingrid Pitt in 1971.  He was also the face of a special Green Cross Code road safety advert! ​

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And believe it or not but Jon was also a pretty decent singer, and he had several albums released during his lifetime, including a wonderful single WHO IS THE DOCTOR! for Purple Records. Which was basically him doing a narration piece over the theme music from the show. He also contributed to several children's albums, namely "Children's Favourites" in 1966! He also collaborated with June Whitfield on the album "Wonderful Children's Songs" in 1972. His Song "Worzel's Song" from the album Worzel Gummidge Sings, even got to Number 33 in the hit charts in 1980. ​

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John was married twice during his life. Firstly, to actress Jean Marsh in 1955. He then divorced Jean in 1960 to quickly marry Ingeborg Rhoesa. Together Jon and Ingeborg had two children who would both also grow up to be actors. Daughter Dariel, was born first in 1961 and then son Sean in 1964. ​

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Jon wrote two autobiographies of his life and career. The First Moon Boots and Dinner Suits, focused mostly on his career before Doctor Who. The second book, I Am The Doctor - Jon Pertwee's Final Memoir was worked on from 1995 to 1996, and featured Jon reminiscing about his Doctor Who years and subsequent career onwards from that time. ​

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Jon was an avid attendee of conventions. He almost always appeared in full Doctor's costume at several venues all over the world. Some where he would hilariously clash with Patrick Troughton, on one occasion chasing after the poor second Doctor with a full jug of water!

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Just a short time before his death Jon appeared in full Doctor's costume for the last time in an episode of Cilla Black's "Surprise Surprise" where a young fan was treated to a meeting with the dashing dandy and a dalek! ​

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Jon very sadly passed away from a heart attack whilst asleep on the 20th May 1996. He was 76. His death was keenly felt by the Doctor Who fraternity and of course all Worzel Gummidge lovers everywhere. At the time of his death, his successor in the role of Doctor Tom Baker is quoted as saying ​

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""I am very sorry to hear the news. I was a great admirer of such a stylish actor.". ​

Sixth Doctor Colin Baker also reminisced sweetly on Jon's wonderful memory, saying ​

"He was a man of such presence and stature. I can't believe he has gone – it is a great shock. Of all of the interpretations of the Doctors his was the most straight in terms of avoiding comedy"​

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Another small posthumous special moment was when Jon's voice was incorporated in the Fortieth Anniversary Radio Doctor Who adventure "Zagreus", after his wife Ingeborg apparently gave her blessing for Big Finish Productions to incorporate lines John spoke from the fan made Doctor Who spin off video "Devious". This was such a touching moment for me to hear. Whilst for the most part Zagreus was a bit of a mess and far too long winded for my liking, I had a real lump in my throat when I listened to Jon speaking. It was wonderful to hear his voice so many years after his bittersweet passing from this world. Since Zagreus also, Big Finish have produced The Third Doctor Adventures, where Jon's role is performed by actor Tim Treloar. Tim gives a very decent and wonderful interpretation and memorial to this most amazing of characters.

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And more recently, footage of Jon's Doctor has frequently been utilised in the modern era revival of Doctor Who. Yet another lovely re-iteration of Jon's amazing and wonderful legacy.

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John was cremated at Putney Vale Crematorium with a toy figurine of Worzel Gummidge affixed to his coffin, this being at Jon's own request. A poignant and fitting last act from a man who brought joy and happiness into so many households through his wonderful work on screen, disc, radio and film. The Doctor Who Appreciation Society then also honoured Jon with a blue plaque at the New Wimbledon Theatre in 2016.   ​

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He had a massive presence wherever he went, a colourful and very, very funny man who endeared himself to countless people. His presence on TV screens cannot go understated, as Tom Baker rightfully quotes​

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"Jon was like a tall light bulb, he glitters!"​

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Long may his wonderful memory live on and light up us fans hearts and lives. ​