Dr Who
Tonight's episode " School Reunion" saw The Dr encountering the Bats Out of Hell as they attempt to crack the Code to The Universe through school children pounding away at the computers with the green coloured screens - slight memories there of the original Amstrads!
However, in many ways the story of evil bats was secondary to the exploration of the relationship between The Dr and his assistants. The return of Sarah Jane Smith was excellently handled as he introduced himself as "John Smith" using the name that Jon Pertwee used in the role when he needed to have a pseudonym! Even with Sarah Jane recalling that, he did not give away who he really is! No, that is left until Sarah Jane in common with the others is prowling around the school late at night and chances upon The Tardis and then comes face to face with Dr Who!
Their encounter is filled with poignancy and the remembrances of times past. The electricity of their feelings sparkles across the screen even with Rose Tyler playing in Mickey's words "the Mrs" in exquisite style and Sarah Jane cast as his "ex."
We are given an insight into the emotional life or is that the emotional chasm of The Dr as he reflects upon the fact that whilst the humans he encounters and develops attachments to must pass away he will live on through time cursed by being a Time Lord.
We are also reunited with the second of the two iconic figures in the form of K9. Battered and lacking some parts he has been kept safe by Sarah Jane through all the years since The Dr left her in Aberdeen rather than Croydon - which are not next door to one another!
It is K9 that finally saves the day as he did so often in the past ably assisted by Mickey smashing through the doors of the school at the bidding of Kenny the young schoolboy.
So tonight we ranged through the emotional impact of Sarah Jane Smith's return with K9 at her side (well actually in her car boot!) and we see Rose Tyler playing a Dinner Lady! Finally Mickey Smith (our new Tin Dog?) becomes a real companion as he is accepted on board The Tardis.
We give tonight's episode a massive 10/10!
Dr Who
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Impressive Viewing Figures
Dr Who
As last night's episode opened 8.6 million people were glued to their seats anticipating the latest episode of Dr Who and within 30 minutes of it starting the viewing figures had risen to 9.5 million! The number of people watching BBC dropped to 6.1 million within 15 minutes of the show ending!
Where they had all gone? Were they hiding behind sofas? Or has watching the latest episode become the "must do" before people go out for Saturday Evening?
Dr Who
As last night's episode opened 8.6 million people were glued to their seats anticipating the latest episode of Dr Who and within 30 minutes of it starting the viewing figures had risen to 9.5 million! The number of people watching BBC dropped to 6.1 million within 15 minutes of the show ending!
Where they had all gone? Were they hiding behind sofas? Or has watching the latest episode become the "must do" before people go out for Saturday Evening?
Dr Who
Torchwood
Dr Who
As I mentioned in our review of last night's episode the events all took place at Torchwood House. As the episode ended Queen Victoria banished The Dr and Rose Tyler and stated that she wanted to establish the Torchwood Institute to investigate and prepare to protect the Earth from things outside of their current understanding. In her closing comment she said that The Doctor had better beware if he came back!
In the Christmas episode we saw the power of Torchwood as Prime Minister Harriett Jones unleashed it on the Alien Invaders! What more we will discover about Torchwood as the series unfolds?
We will keep you posted!
Dr Who
As I mentioned in our review of last night's episode the events all took place at Torchwood House. As the episode ended Queen Victoria banished The Dr and Rose Tyler and stated that she wanted to establish the Torchwood Institute to investigate and prepare to protect the Earth from things outside of their current understanding. In her closing comment she said that The Doctor had better beware if he came back!
In the Christmas episode we saw the power of Torchwood as Prime Minister Harriett Jones unleashed it on the Alien Invaders! What more we will discover about Torchwood as the series unfolds?
We will keep you posted!
Dr Who
Saturday, April 22, 2006
"We are not amused"
Dr Who
Tonight's episode of Dr Who took us back to Victorian Times as The Doctor materialised somewhere in the Scottish Highlands close to Torchwood House! No sooner had he arrived than he is introducing Rose to Her Imperial Majesty Queen Victoria. In a way very fitting to bring Royalty into the series on the same weekend that we celebrate the 80th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. However, if today's Royal Family and especially HRH The Princess Royal were watching I wonder what they would have made of the suggestion that they are all werewolves!
For therein lies the central theme of tonight's episode that an alien had taken the form of a Werewolf and the only way it could be stopped was with the use of the The Koh-I-Noor Diamond which Prince Albert had ensured could be used to protect the life of Queen Victoria!
It was an excellent episode echoing some of the darkness of some of the previous series of Dr Who with a very Gothic feel to it, whilst retaining the tongue in cheek humour which David Tennant seems to be making one of his trademarks.
We would give it a great 9/10!
Dr Who
Tonight's episode of Dr Who took us back to Victorian Times as The Doctor materialised somewhere in the Scottish Highlands close to Torchwood House! No sooner had he arrived than he is introducing Rose to Her Imperial Majesty Queen Victoria. In a way very fitting to bring Royalty into the series on the same weekend that we celebrate the 80th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. However, if today's Royal Family and especially HRH The Princess Royal were watching I wonder what they would have made of the suggestion that they are all werewolves!
For therein lies the central theme of tonight's episode that an alien had taken the form of a Werewolf and the only way it could be stopped was with the use of the The Koh-I-Noor Diamond which Prince Albert had ensured could be used to protect the life of Queen Victoria!
It was an excellent episode echoing some of the darkness of some of the previous series of Dr Who with a very Gothic feel to it, whilst retaining the tongue in cheek humour which David Tennant seems to be making one of his trademarks.
We would give it a great 9/10!
Dr Who
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Dr Who and Rose Tyler Visit New Earth
Dr Who
Tonight's opening episode of the new series was quite different to what we had become used to with Christopher Eccleston although that was to be expected with David Tennant aiming to establish his own Doctor and bring his own distinctive personality to the role ! We saw Dr Who (David Tennant) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) boarding The Tardis and visiting New Earth, mankinds' new home far in the future.
At first all appears well as they head towards a luxury hospital. There they encounter the Cat Nuns who we learn hide a great secret! The diseased and plague ridden half lives who inhabit the Intensive Care Unit enable the rest of humanity to live a disease free existence but at what price?
A further twist saw the return of the "last human" Lady Cassandara whom of course we had all thought was dead following her appearance in the last series with Christopher Eccleston. However, she soon shows that she is very much alive when she decides to take over Rose's body. The Whovian Universe nearly came crumbling down when Rose appears to snog the Doctor to within an inch of his life! Thank God she was in the persona of Cassandra - the very thought of The Dr and his Assistant entering into any form of physical relationship is enough to set William Hartnell spinning through time and space!
The biggest step change in the series was the introduction of a new starnd of humour - one which called on all the worst puns and double entendres imaginable! How will this pan out in the coming episodes? Well without wanting to sound too corny - only time will tell! Tennant made a good start in the Christmas special and introduced a wry sense of humour and whilst it was slightly overplayed in this opener for the series I am sure it will settle down as the series progresses.
The trailer for next week's episode promises Werewolves at the court of Queen Victoria - now that should be worth seeing!
We give the opener a 7/10 - great potential but needs to get a grip and not with Rose!
Dr Who
Tonight's opening episode of the new series was quite different to what we had become used to with Christopher Eccleston although that was to be expected with David Tennant aiming to establish his own Doctor and bring his own distinctive personality to the role ! We saw Dr Who (David Tennant) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) boarding The Tardis and visiting New Earth, mankinds' new home far in the future.
At first all appears well as they head towards a luxury hospital. There they encounter the Cat Nuns who we learn hide a great secret! The diseased and plague ridden half lives who inhabit the Intensive Care Unit enable the rest of humanity to live a disease free existence but at what price?
A further twist saw the return of the "last human" Lady Cassandara whom of course we had all thought was dead following her appearance in the last series with Christopher Eccleston. However, she soon shows that she is very much alive when she decides to take over Rose's body. The Whovian Universe nearly came crumbling down when Rose appears to snog the Doctor to within an inch of his life! Thank God she was in the persona of Cassandra - the very thought of The Dr and his Assistant entering into any form of physical relationship is enough to set William Hartnell spinning through time and space!
The biggest step change in the series was the introduction of a new starnd of humour - one which called on all the worst puns and double entendres imaginable! How will this pan out in the coming episodes? Well without wanting to sound too corny - only time will tell! Tennant made a good start in the Christmas special and introduced a wry sense of humour and whilst it was slightly overplayed in this opener for the series I am sure it will settle down as the series progresses.
The trailer for next week's episode promises Werewolves at the court of Queen Victoria - now that should be worth seeing!
We give the opener a 7/10 - great potential but needs to get a grip and not with Rose!
Dr Who
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Less than a week to go!
Dr Who Series Two
Less than a week to go and Dr Who in the form of David Tennant accompanied again by Rose played by Billie Piper!
The BBC have been trailing the return for a little while of Russell T Davies amazing interpretation of the programme which has kept television audiences enthralled for so many years.
Tonight BBC 3 has been showing again the Christmas Special 2005 in which Harriett Jones MP has become Harriett Jones PM. Dr Who appears dressed in his pajamas and Howard's Dressing Gown to save the Earth from enslavement marking a stunning debut for David Tennant. David brings his own unique style to the role of Dr Who!
Preceding the Christmas Special 2005 we were given a behind the scenes peek at some of the excitement that awaits us in the new series. This included the ominous Cybermen returning to terrify a new generation of Whovians as well as a glimpse of New Earth! What else awaits us we have yet to discover but over the coming weeks you can check back here to keep up-to-date with the developments and our review of the series.
Dr Who Series Two
Less than a week to go and Dr Who in the form of David Tennant accompanied again by Rose played by Billie Piper!
The BBC have been trailing the return for a little while of Russell T Davies amazing interpretation of the programme which has kept television audiences enthralled for so many years.
Tonight BBC 3 has been showing again the Christmas Special 2005 in which Harriett Jones MP has become Harriett Jones PM. Dr Who appears dressed in his pajamas and Howard's Dressing Gown to save the Earth from enslavement marking a stunning debut for David Tennant. David brings his own unique style to the role of Dr Who!
Preceding the Christmas Special 2005 we were given a behind the scenes peek at some of the excitement that awaits us in the new series. This included the ominous Cybermen returning to terrify a new generation of Whovians as well as a glimpse of New Earth! What else awaits us we have yet to discover but over the coming weeks you can check back here to keep up-to-date with the developments and our review of the series.
Dr Who Series Two
The Dr Who Actors Part 2
The Dr Who Actors
You have learnt about the stories behind the first four Doctors, and now it’s time to learn about the remaining ten.
Peter Davison became the next Doctor, wearing the mantle from 1981 to 1984. Going up against Tom Baker, Davison didn’t have much of a chance of becoming popular and so he didn’t stay long. This was really the beginning of the downfall of the Doctor.
A very jolly Doctor, Davison become known for dressing like a cricketer and having a piece of celery sticking out of his front jacket pocket. Exactly what the celery was for, no one knows, maybe it was a secret weapon, or maybe it was just a snack for when he got hungry.
It was in 1984 in the four episode story arc entitled The Caves of Androzani that Davison’s reign as the Doctor came to an end. In fine tradition, he lost his life saving another person, which is when Colin Baker stepped in to the role.
Playing the Doctor from 1984 to 1984, Colin Baker was an attempt to capture the magic that Tom Baker had. In an attempt to capture the Bohemian style of the earlier Baker the producers failed, resulting in a bright, loud and disorientating costume. Much more brash than earlier Doctor’s, he had the traditional terrible trouble with his regeneration.
And it was during Colin Baker’s tenure that Doctor Who’s ratings began to nose dive enough for the BBC to act. Unfortunately, he was let down by terrible scripting and the BBC messing around with the formula in an attempt to boost ratings. Effectively fired from the role, he refused to return to film the regeneration scene. Given a chance, and had he been supported by good script writing, Colin Baker could easily have been as popular as his predecessor Tom Baker.
So in 1987, Doctor Who returned, played this time by Sylvester McCoy, who stayed in the role for just two years until 1989. This was yet another attempt to emulate Tom Baker and recapture the earlier magic. The shows became increasingly more comical and wacky, and for many the magic had gone. It was in 1989 the axe was finally taken to the show and many thought the Doctor was gone forever.
The series immediately went underground and surfaced as radio plays and novels, and there were constant rumours of the television show’s revival.
And then in 1996, fans were in for a huge treat. Doctor Who was revived for a joint US / UK venture with Paul McGann playing the Doctor. After an excellent show, well received in the UK, reviving the series was stopped, much to the incredible disappointment of fans. Why? Because the US ratings were not high enough.
Again, the series went underground, the fans continuing to follow the Doctor’s adventures in other media.
Rumours began to surface in 2003 that the Doctor would be returning. Over the coming year more details were leaked and the main actor announced. Christopher Eccleston would be the new Doctor. Lasting for just a single season, he captured the original magic of Doctor Who perfectly. With excellent special effects, tight script writing and enough references back to earlier seasons to satisfy hard core fans, Eccelston captured the hearts of the nation as Doctor Who. With his catchphrase of “Fantastic”, his broad grin and happy go lucky attitude he proved to be the best Doctor for a long time.
Sadly, Eccleston feared being type cast and after the first season declared he would step down from playing the Doctor. Naturally, fans were up in arms, but the BBC quickly selected a new Doctor, an actor by the name of David Tennant.
Filming began and fans were left wondering, would Tennant be a good Doctor? Was the show going to spiral into decline again? With an excellent writing team and tight control on the scripts, the BBC seemed determined to keep the formula without straying into the danger areas that let down earlier seasons.
Tennant’s first outing as Doctor Who came during a five minute special for the BBC’s Children In Need show. In this, you see him after the regeneration in the TARDIS with his assistant Rose, with her struggling to get to grips with his regeneration. This proved enough to whet the appetite of fans who impatiently waiting for a full length episode.
On Christmas Day 2005, David Tennant made his full length debut as the Doctor. In a well received show he proved to the world that he had what it took to be a great Doctor, allowing fans to breathe a sigh of relief and curse the three month wait before the new series started.
How long Tennant will play the Doctor no one knows, but he is an ardent fan of the Doctor so will probably hang around for some time.
Having two more regenerations and three lives left, Doctor Who’s lifetime may be finite, but you can be assured the script writers will find a way around it to extend the Doctor’s lifetime.
The Dr Who Actors
You have learnt about the stories behind the first four Doctors, and now it’s time to learn about the remaining ten.
Peter Davison became the next Doctor, wearing the mantle from 1981 to 1984. Going up against Tom Baker, Davison didn’t have much of a chance of becoming popular and so he didn’t stay long. This was really the beginning of the downfall of the Doctor.
A very jolly Doctor, Davison become known for dressing like a cricketer and having a piece of celery sticking out of his front jacket pocket. Exactly what the celery was for, no one knows, maybe it was a secret weapon, or maybe it was just a snack for when he got hungry.
It was in 1984 in the four episode story arc entitled The Caves of Androzani that Davison’s reign as the Doctor came to an end. In fine tradition, he lost his life saving another person, which is when Colin Baker stepped in to the role.
Playing the Doctor from 1984 to 1984, Colin Baker was an attempt to capture the magic that Tom Baker had. In an attempt to capture the Bohemian style of the earlier Baker the producers failed, resulting in a bright, loud and disorientating costume. Much more brash than earlier Doctor’s, he had the traditional terrible trouble with his regeneration.
And it was during Colin Baker’s tenure that Doctor Who’s ratings began to nose dive enough for the BBC to act. Unfortunately, he was let down by terrible scripting and the BBC messing around with the formula in an attempt to boost ratings. Effectively fired from the role, he refused to return to film the regeneration scene. Given a chance, and had he been supported by good script writing, Colin Baker could easily have been as popular as his predecessor Tom Baker.
So in 1987, Doctor Who returned, played this time by Sylvester McCoy, who stayed in the role for just two years until 1989. This was yet another attempt to emulate Tom Baker and recapture the earlier magic. The shows became increasingly more comical and wacky, and for many the magic had gone. It was in 1989 the axe was finally taken to the show and many thought the Doctor was gone forever.
The series immediately went underground and surfaced as radio plays and novels, and there were constant rumours of the television show’s revival.
And then in 1996, fans were in for a huge treat. Doctor Who was revived for a joint US / UK venture with Paul McGann playing the Doctor. After an excellent show, well received in the UK, reviving the series was stopped, much to the incredible disappointment of fans. Why? Because the US ratings were not high enough.
Again, the series went underground, the fans continuing to follow the Doctor’s adventures in other media.
Rumours began to surface in 2003 that the Doctor would be returning. Over the coming year more details were leaked and the main actor announced. Christopher Eccleston would be the new Doctor. Lasting for just a single season, he captured the original magic of Doctor Who perfectly. With excellent special effects, tight script writing and enough references back to earlier seasons to satisfy hard core fans, Eccelston captured the hearts of the nation as Doctor Who. With his catchphrase of “Fantastic”, his broad grin and happy go lucky attitude he proved to be the best Doctor for a long time.
Sadly, Eccleston feared being type cast and after the first season declared he would step down from playing the Doctor. Naturally, fans were up in arms, but the BBC quickly selected a new Doctor, an actor by the name of David Tennant.
Filming began and fans were left wondering, would Tennant be a good Doctor? Was the show going to spiral into decline again? With an excellent writing team and tight control on the scripts, the BBC seemed determined to keep the formula without straying into the danger areas that let down earlier seasons.
Tennant’s first outing as Doctor Who came during a five minute special for the BBC’s Children In Need show. In this, you see him after the regeneration in the TARDIS with his assistant Rose, with her struggling to get to grips with his regeneration. This proved enough to whet the appetite of fans who impatiently waiting for a full length episode.
On Christmas Day 2005, David Tennant made his full length debut as the Doctor. In a well received show he proved to the world that he had what it took to be a great Doctor, allowing fans to breathe a sigh of relief and curse the three month wait before the new series started.
How long Tennant will play the Doctor no one knows, but he is an ardent fan of the Doctor so will probably hang around for some time.
Having two more regenerations and three lives left, Doctor Who’s lifetime may be finite, but you can be assured the script writers will find a way around it to extend the Doctor’s lifetime.
The Dr Who Actors
The Dr Who Actors Part 1
Dr Who Actors
Doctor Who is the longest running science fiction show on the television. So far there have been ten actors playing the Doctor. Who were these people, why were they chosen and what did they do in their reign as our favourite Time Lord?
William Hartnell was the first Doctor, playing the role from 1963 to 1966. The first Doctor was an old man, and the TV shows were recorded live because of technical challenges with editing programs then. Frequently Hartnell would forget his lines and other actors would help him remember them.
Unlike other sci-fi shows, Doctor Who wasn’t all about the special effects. It was more about the dialogue and that acting, where the characters felt human and real to the point that you were concerned for what happened to them and cared for them.
The first episode to air in 1963 was called An Unearthly Child, where the Doctor travels back to the prehistoric age to discover cavemen who had forgotten how to make fire.
This first year also introduced the Daleks, one of the most popular of the Doctor’s many enemies. In fact, the Daleks were so popular that any time the shows ratings dropped, the producers would quickly air a Dalek episode to get their audience back.
And then in 1966, William Hartnell hung up the mantle of the Doctor. His final episode, The Tenth Planet, introduced the Cybermen to the world. At the end of this episode, the famous regeneration took place, where the Doctor dies and takes on a different body. It’s through this premise that Doctor Who has survived so long with so many actors.
Patrick Troughton was the next Doctor, reigning from 1966 to 1969. He brought more comedy to the role and was often described as a hobo clown. To ensure audience acceptance and ratings, the first episode he starred in, The Power of The Daleks, brought the Daleks back once more.
Troughton’s Doctor was well known for this recorder, which he’d sit and play at the oddest of moments. Being so different to Hartnell, the audience struggled to accept him, but they did eventually.
In his final episode, The War Games, the Doctor must call the Time Lords to help him save Earth. The Doctor however, is on the run from the Time Lords for stealing a TARDIS and interfering with other races. He is brought to trial and found guilty of interference.
So his fellow Time Lords decide on a punishment for him. Many of the abilities of his TARDIS are disabled and he is sent to 20th Century Earth. They force him to use one of his generations and when he refuses to choose his new body, they choose one for him. This punishment was remarkably convenient for the show as it mean the budget was dramatically reduced due to it being based in the modern day.
In 1970, Jon Pertwee became the Doctor, stuck on Earth helping UNIT (Unite Nations Intelligence Taskforce) to save the planet. Reigning until 1974 he brought a very different feel to Doctor Who. His Doctor was much more physical and flamboyant, playing a very British dandy, reflected in his outfit. He had many toys, including his car Bessy and the Sonic Screwdriver. This versatile device, looking like a tire pressure gauge, became iconic of Doctor Who and many a child has wished for their own.
His last episode, in 1974, was The Planet Of The Spiders where he is battling alien space spiders. After defeating their queen, he is a shattered man, and the regeneration sequence begins.
Tom Baker, 1974 to 1981 then appears as the Doctor. He was the longest running Doctor for one main reason – he was an excellent Doctor. He worse a forty two foot scarf and offered aliens Jelly Babies to distract them so he could think.
A much goofier doctor, he captured the hearts of many a fan, become “the Doctor” as far as many are concerned. The arguments still rage today comparing him to others.
Baker’s last episode, Logopolis, seems him searching for a chameleon circuit for his TARDIS. Running into his arch enemy, The Master, the Doctor saves the day, but in doing so, sacrifices his own life.
Dr Who Actors
Doctor Who is the longest running science fiction show on the television. So far there have been ten actors playing the Doctor. Who were these people, why were they chosen and what did they do in their reign as our favourite Time Lord?
William Hartnell was the first Doctor, playing the role from 1963 to 1966. The first Doctor was an old man, and the TV shows were recorded live because of technical challenges with editing programs then. Frequently Hartnell would forget his lines and other actors would help him remember them.
Unlike other sci-fi shows, Doctor Who wasn’t all about the special effects. It was more about the dialogue and that acting, where the characters felt human and real to the point that you were concerned for what happened to them and cared for them.
The first episode to air in 1963 was called An Unearthly Child, where the Doctor travels back to the prehistoric age to discover cavemen who had forgotten how to make fire.
This first year also introduced the Daleks, one of the most popular of the Doctor’s many enemies. In fact, the Daleks were so popular that any time the shows ratings dropped, the producers would quickly air a Dalek episode to get their audience back.
And then in 1966, William Hartnell hung up the mantle of the Doctor. His final episode, The Tenth Planet, introduced the Cybermen to the world. At the end of this episode, the famous regeneration took place, where the Doctor dies and takes on a different body. It’s through this premise that Doctor Who has survived so long with so many actors.
Patrick Troughton was the next Doctor, reigning from 1966 to 1969. He brought more comedy to the role and was often described as a hobo clown. To ensure audience acceptance and ratings, the first episode he starred in, The Power of The Daleks, brought the Daleks back once more.
Troughton’s Doctor was well known for this recorder, which he’d sit and play at the oddest of moments. Being so different to Hartnell, the audience struggled to accept him, but they did eventually.
In his final episode, The War Games, the Doctor must call the Time Lords to help him save Earth. The Doctor however, is on the run from the Time Lords for stealing a TARDIS and interfering with other races. He is brought to trial and found guilty of interference.
So his fellow Time Lords decide on a punishment for him. Many of the abilities of his TARDIS are disabled and he is sent to 20th Century Earth. They force him to use one of his generations and when he refuses to choose his new body, they choose one for him. This punishment was remarkably convenient for the show as it mean the budget was dramatically reduced due to it being based in the modern day.
In 1970, Jon Pertwee became the Doctor, stuck on Earth helping UNIT (Unite Nations Intelligence Taskforce) to save the planet. Reigning until 1974 he brought a very different feel to Doctor Who. His Doctor was much more physical and flamboyant, playing a very British dandy, reflected in his outfit. He had many toys, including his car Bessy and the Sonic Screwdriver. This versatile device, looking like a tire pressure gauge, became iconic of Doctor Who and many a child has wished for their own.
His last episode, in 1974, was The Planet Of The Spiders where he is battling alien space spiders. After defeating their queen, he is a shattered man, and the regeneration sequence begins.
Tom Baker, 1974 to 1981 then appears as the Doctor. He was the longest running Doctor for one main reason – he was an excellent Doctor. He worse a forty two foot scarf and offered aliens Jelly Babies to distract them so he could think.
A much goofier doctor, he captured the hearts of many a fan, become “the Doctor” as far as many are concerned. The arguments still rage today comparing him to others.
Baker’s last episode, Logopolis, seems him searching for a chameleon circuit for his TARDIS. Running into his arch enemy, The Master, the Doctor saves the day, but in doing so, sacrifices his own life.
Dr Who Actors
The Tardis
The Tardis
The TARDIS is the vehicle Doctor Who uses to travel around space and time and have his adventures. Standing for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space, it is bigger on the inside than the outside and contains a tantalising number of rooms.
The TARDIS is a unique vehicle, capable of travelling not only through space, but also through time. It even has a chameleon circuit, which changes the external appearance of the TARDIS so it blends into the background. Unfortunately for the Doctor, the TARDIS’s chameleon circuit broke many years back when it was in the form of a 1950’s British blue police box. As the Doctor hasn’t had the time or been able to repair it, the TARDIS still takes this form today. The actual reason for the shape of the TARDIS was based on financial concerns of building a new model every episode.
The name TARDIS doesn’t refer to just one device, but is the generic name for the type of vehicle, like car refers to many different types. The Doctor’s vehicle is an obsolete type 40 TARDIS that he “borrowed” when he left Gallifrey (his home world) under a shadow.
Whole generations of children have prayed for the day they would find a blue police box on the street corner and would open the door to find the Doctor standing behind the console, inviting them for a trip.
But how does it work?
The TARDIS dematerialises from one place space / time and then reappears in another, accompanied by the familiar wheezing and groaning sound as the light on top flashes.
Powered by the nucleus of an artificial black hole, the TARDIS also occasionally requires mercury (for its fluid links), a rare ore called Zeiton 7 and Artron energy. Artron energy comes from the minds of Time Lords and is a form of temporal energy.
The TARDIS links in with the Time Lord who owns it through a process of imprinting (using the Rassilon Imprimatur). This imprinting provides the Time Lord with the ability to withstand the pressures of time travel. Without this imprinting he would dissolve into his component molecules and disappear. This imprinting is a safeguard against misuse of a TARDIS – a crime which under Time Lord law carries only one penalty – death.
The difference in size of the inside of the TARDIS to the outside is explained by the TARDIS being dimensionally transcendental. This means that the outside of the TARDIS exists in one dimension, i.e. ours, and the inside in a separate dimension. When you step through the doors you enter the alternative dimension or pocket universe of the inside of the TARDIS.
The full extent of the inside of the TARDIS has never been revealed, but we know that it has a huge wardrobe area, an art gallery, a swimming pool, medical bay, storage areas and room for Jon Pertwee’s car, Bessy. Whereas the inside of the TARDIS is not infinite, it is large enough to provide a backdrop and material for many an episode.
Of course, the inside of the TARDIS has changed over the years. The Doctor “does up” the TARDIS, makes changes and repairs it. This can be seen in the changes in the main console room and comments from the second Doctor in the episode The Three Doctors confirm this. “Ah, I see you’ve been doing the TARDIS up a bit! I don’t like it.”
And as you can imagine, with a vehicle as old as the TARDIS (at least 900 years) it is inclined to break down. We frequently find the Doctor, and more recently Captain Jack, with his head inside a panel repairing another system that has broken.
One of the most useful features of the TARDIS is its ability to translate language for its occupants. This feature, however, is linked to the Doctor as was seen in the 2005 Christmas Invasion special. When the Doctor was experiencing trouble regenerating, Rose couldn’t understand Sycorax’s language. When the Doctor recovered to save the day, the translation feature worked again.
The TARDIS has become an icon of British culture, a throwback to an earlier year and a different society. And now with the return of Doctor Who to our screens a whole new generation of children have started to scour the streets, looking for the TARDIS to materialise.
The Tardis
The TARDIS is the vehicle Doctor Who uses to travel around space and time and have his adventures. Standing for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space, it is bigger on the inside than the outside and contains a tantalising number of rooms.
The TARDIS is a unique vehicle, capable of travelling not only through space, but also through time. It even has a chameleon circuit, which changes the external appearance of the TARDIS so it blends into the background. Unfortunately for the Doctor, the TARDIS’s chameleon circuit broke many years back when it was in the form of a 1950’s British blue police box. As the Doctor hasn’t had the time or been able to repair it, the TARDIS still takes this form today. The actual reason for the shape of the TARDIS was based on financial concerns of building a new model every episode.
The name TARDIS doesn’t refer to just one device, but is the generic name for the type of vehicle, like car refers to many different types. The Doctor’s vehicle is an obsolete type 40 TARDIS that he “borrowed” when he left Gallifrey (his home world) under a shadow.
Whole generations of children have prayed for the day they would find a blue police box on the street corner and would open the door to find the Doctor standing behind the console, inviting them for a trip.
But how does it work?
The TARDIS dematerialises from one place space / time and then reappears in another, accompanied by the familiar wheezing and groaning sound as the light on top flashes.
Powered by the nucleus of an artificial black hole, the TARDIS also occasionally requires mercury (for its fluid links), a rare ore called Zeiton 7 and Artron energy. Artron energy comes from the minds of Time Lords and is a form of temporal energy.
The TARDIS links in with the Time Lord who owns it through a process of imprinting (using the Rassilon Imprimatur). This imprinting provides the Time Lord with the ability to withstand the pressures of time travel. Without this imprinting he would dissolve into his component molecules and disappear. This imprinting is a safeguard against misuse of a TARDIS – a crime which under Time Lord law carries only one penalty – death.
The difference in size of the inside of the TARDIS to the outside is explained by the TARDIS being dimensionally transcendental. This means that the outside of the TARDIS exists in one dimension, i.e. ours, and the inside in a separate dimension. When you step through the doors you enter the alternative dimension or pocket universe of the inside of the TARDIS.
The full extent of the inside of the TARDIS has never been revealed, but we know that it has a huge wardrobe area, an art gallery, a swimming pool, medical bay, storage areas and room for Jon Pertwee’s car, Bessy. Whereas the inside of the TARDIS is not infinite, it is large enough to provide a backdrop and material for many an episode.
Of course, the inside of the TARDIS has changed over the years. The Doctor “does up” the TARDIS, makes changes and repairs it. This can be seen in the changes in the main console room and comments from the second Doctor in the episode The Three Doctors confirm this. “Ah, I see you’ve been doing the TARDIS up a bit! I don’t like it.”
And as you can imagine, with a vehicle as old as the TARDIS (at least 900 years) it is inclined to break down. We frequently find the Doctor, and more recently Captain Jack, with his head inside a panel repairing another system that has broken.
One of the most useful features of the TARDIS is its ability to translate language for its occupants. This feature, however, is linked to the Doctor as was seen in the 2005 Christmas Invasion special. When the Doctor was experiencing trouble regenerating, Rose couldn’t understand Sycorax’s language. When the Doctor recovered to save the day, the translation feature worked again.
The TARDIS has become an icon of British culture, a throwback to an earlier year and a different society. And now with the return of Doctor Who to our screens a whole new generation of children have started to scour the streets, looking for the TARDIS to materialise.
The Tardis
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