Wednesday, 17 April 2024

THE RIPPER AND THE WHONIVERSE, Part 7

The final entry in this series
examines the third volume of
Ripper's Curse, and provides
an epilogue.

PART THREE The Doctor and
Rory travel to modern-day
Whitechapel to question a
 Ripper walk tour guide. They
want to know "how many
Ripper murders are canon?"
and are stunned by his reply
- twelve!
The Ripperologist begins to
list the victims: Nichols [1],
Chapman [2], Stride [3], Eddowes [4], Kelly [5], then Mary Warner and
Amelia Marple! He informs them that the bodies of Marple and Warner
were found in a yard off Hanbury Street [2] the night after Kelly's
death and "Unlike the others, these two  were murdered elsewhere."
Meanwhile in 1888, Amy is being held captive in a cellar with Mary.
The TARDIS returns to Spitalfields, and the Doctor tells Abberline of
the night's impending double event. Although officially off the case,
Warren's doppelganger arrives and the Doctor persuades him to
reveal his true self to the inspector. 'Clouseau' is then put in charge 
of the manhunt, and the Doctor finds a tracking device (similar to
the one used to locate the Krafayis in Vincent and the Doctor).
As night approaches, Amy assaults her captor's "tympanic mem-
branes" by making as "much unbearable" noise as she can, with a
metal bar. Amy helps the paralysed Mary from the cellar. The new
 chief of police reaches the Ripper's lair just as the two women
escape. The 'Warren' reptile and Mac'atyde now battle for survival.
The Ju'wes cannot reason with his enemy, and so forces the Re'nar
back into his base. Both are then consumed as the alien time portal 
explodes - the 'Ripper' is dead!
Abberline will continue the investigation for now, but with no further
killings, the newspapers cannot scare the populace and "the Ripper
will be forgotten."
As the travellers depart, the Doctor says that the crimes will "never
be forgotten because [they] can never be explained."

As a neat coda to both this blog and to the programme's links to
Saucy Jack, we finally get a definitive on-screen reference in
A Good Man Goes to War (2011). Here in 'London, 1888 AD' the
scene is set for a resurrected Silurian warrior to actually find and
execute this legendary killer. On her return home to Paternoster
Row, Madame Vastra asks her maid, Jenny to inform Inspector
Abberline of Scotland Yard that Jack the Ripper is dead!
Finally, both the Ripper and Abberline appeared in The Wax
Princess, part of the Jago & Litefoot audio series (2014).

KEY Canonical Murders:
[1] Mary Ann Nichols - Buck's Row, Friday August 31st 1888
[2] Annie Chapman - Hanbury St. Saturday September 8th
[3] Elizabeth Stride - Berner St. Sunday September 30th
[4] Catherine Eddowes - Mitre Square, also September 30th
[5] Mary Jane Kelly - Miller's Court, Friday November 9th

Friday, 12 April 2024

Doctor Who Vs. Robin of Sherwood, Series 1

The last dramatisation of the Robin Hood legend
from ITV was shown from April 1984 to June
1986, and introduced Michael Praed as the
mythical English folk hero. Renamed Robin Hood
for American TV, this co-production from HTV
and Goldcrest Films was conceived and written
 by Richard Carpenter (1929-2012).
This gritty retelling of the legend utilised a strong
fantasy element, black magic and paganism, and
was accompanied by a BAFTA winning soundtrack
from Clannad.
Here, Robin of Loxley is chosen by the mystical
Herne the Hunter (played by John Abineri) to
become champion of the oppressed. With his band
of 'Merry Men' Robin fights a guerilla campaign
against their Norman masters, particularly the
Sheriff of Nottingham and his deputy, Guy of
Gisborne. The outlaws were portrayed by Ray
Winstone (Will Scarlet), Clive Mantle (Little John),
 Phil Rose (Friar Tuck), and Judi Trott (Marion),
whilst Nickolas Grace and Robert Addie depicted the Sheriff and Guy.
A repeat run of the first, six-part season began on ITV4 today - it
featured eight Doctor Who cast connections:
  • Big Finish actor Grace made a brief TV appearance as Albert Einstein in Death is the Only Answer, and voiced Loozly for Bang-Bang-A-Boom! (2002), Straxus for Human Resources (2007), Sisters of the Flame and The Vengeance of Morbius (both 2008), Balancer/Viktor Skaarsgard for Equilibrium (2015), Goole for The Gallery of Ghouls (2016), Professor Grove for Shadow Planet, Chevalier D'Eon for Sword of the Chevalier (both 2017), Kellman for Return of the Cybermen (2021), and Eldridge Brinkwood for The Empty Man (2023)
  • Mantle voiced Oliver Cromwell for The Settling (2006), was Narrator of The Coming of the Terraphiles (2010), Tuvold for The Burning Prince (2012), Tillegat/Lieutenant Treeves for Destroy the Infinite (2014), and Chuke for Genetics of the Daleks (2020)
  • Abineri was Van Lutyens in Fury from the Deep, General [George] Carrington in The Ambassadors of Death, Richard Railton in Death to the Daleks, and Ranquin in The Power of Kroll
  • Phillip Jackson (Abbot Hugo) voiced Laxton for Valhalla (2007), Peabody for The Contingency Club (2017), and Harry Price for The Dalby Spook (2022)
  • [John] Simon Rouse (Siward) was Hindle in Kinda, and voiced John Kincaid for The Witch from the Well (2011), Drang for The Paradox Planet and Legacy of Death (both 2016), and Frank Kelsey for The Running Men (2024)
  • Simon Shepherd (voice of Alan-a-Dale here, voice of Robert for Series 2) voiced Boolin for Tsar Wars, Bewley for The Broken Crown, the Magician for Aladdin Time (all 2011), Pal Andrews for Break the Ice (2022), and Hudson Sage for Vespertine (2023)
  • stunt co-ordinator Terry [Anthony] Walsh was stunt/fight arranger, stunt double and uncredited extra on a total of seventy instalments of the original run (from The Smugglers to The Creature from the Pit)
  • [Cathal] Max [Parnell Macaulay Lloyd] Faulkner (stuntman here, Helper in Series 2, Oliver in Series 3; Various in The Adventures of Robin Hood) was UNIT Soldier in The Ambassadors of Death, Exxilon in Death to the Daleks (1), Miner in The Monster of Peladon (6), Guard Captain in Planet of the Spiders (4), Thal Guard in Genesis of the Daleks (3), Crewman in Planet of Evil (1), Corporal Adams in The Android Invasion, and Nesbin in The Invasion of Time

Wednesday, 10 April 2024

Doctor Who Vs. Spooks, Series 9

Peter Firth, Nicola Walker, and Sharad
Latif returned (as Harry Pearce, Ruth
Evershed, and Tariq Masood) for the
penultimate season of BBC1's award
winning spy drama, first shown in the
autumn of 2010.
This eight-part series saw the debut of
Sophia Myles and Max Brown (new MI5
officers, Beth Bailey and Dimitri
Levendis), the brief return of Hugh
Simon (Malcolm), then the departure
of Richard Armitage (Lucas North).
A repeat run of the ninth season began
on Drama last night - it featured a total
of twenty-three Doctor Who cast and
crew connections:

  • Myles played Reinette in The Girl in the Fireplace, then voiced Rania Chuma for Big Finish's Kill the Doctor! and The Age of Sutekh (both 2018)
  • Iain [Alan Sutherland] Glen (Edwards) was Father Octavian in The Time of Angels and Flesh and Stone
  • Laila [Abdesselam] Rouass (Maya) was Colonel Tia Karim in The Sarah Jane Adventures: Death of the Doctor
  • Daniel Adegboyega (Operative) was Aaron Sinclair in Resolution
  • Steve Toussaint (Osuba) was Feekat in Ascension of the Cybermen
  • Donald Sumpter (Ambassador) was Enrico Casali in The Wheel in Space, Commander [Robin] Ridgeway in The Sea Devils, Erasmus Darkening in The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Eternity Trap, and President Rassilon in Hell Bent
  • Jonathan Aris (Azis) voiced the Department Head for Altered Status (2021)
  • Trevor Cooper (Deery) was [Lancelot] Takis in Revelation of the Daleks, and Friar Tuck in Robot of Sherwood - he voiced Rull for Kaldor City (2001-4), Sir Ralph for The Doomwood Curse, Shanks for The Haunting of Thomas Brewster (both 2008), Judah for The Beast of Orlok, Smithy for Castle of Fear (both 2009), Captain Maddox/Stennan for Army of Death (2011), Kimball/Colonel Burroughs for The Emerald Tiger (2012), Jonathan Jaggers/Preddle for Judoon in Chains (2016), Sir Jasper Eagleton/Old Smallpiece/Jonathan Mayfly for The Ghosts of Greenwich (2019), and Silas Keynes for The Ravencliff Witch (2022)
  • Colin Salmon (Beecher) was Dr. Moon in Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead, and voiced Trooper Salway for Wirrn Dawn (2009)
  • Elizabeth Tan (Embassy Girl) was Anna Zhou in Journey's End
  • Nigel Whitmey (Suit) was [Danny] Simmons in Dalek, then voiced Robert W Paul for The Flickermen and School of Blood (both 2016), Raptor 8 for Basilisk and Axos Rising, and Philips for Hellbound (all 2024)
  • Paul [John] Freeman (Cohen) voiced Jalnik for The Foe from the Future (2012)
  • Akin Gazi (Jad) was Carter in The Doctor's Daughter
  • Joseph Long (Elwan) was Rocco Colasanto in Turn Left, and the Pope in Extremis
  • Paul Herzberg (Vine) voiced Dr. Suleiman Zorn for Shadow of the Sun (2020), and Betterment for The Mindless Ones (2022)
  • Suan Li Ong (Zen) voiced Yang Li for By Jacqui McGee, and Private Burgess for Axos Unleashed (both 2022)
  • Rosalie [Mae] Craig (Woman) voiced Frances Drouet for Broadway Belongs to Me! (2023)
  • Adam Recht was film editor on A Christmas Carol too
  • Malcolm Thornton was also production designer on Logopolis, Kinda, The Five Doctors and Planet of Fire
  • stunt co-ordinator Nick Gillard was the stunt arranger on (part 2 of) Silver Nemesis
  • Jon Bruce was editor on The Culture Show: Me, You and Doctor Who too
  • Jamie Pearson was also the film editor on nine episodes (from The Eleventh Hour to The Angels Take Manhattan)
  • Philip Hookway was film editor on Flatline too

Tuesday, 2 April 2024

Doctor Who On This Day #92


1926 - Script Editor/Writer Robert
Colin Holmes born in Tring, Herts
1965 - The Daleks, Episode 1 repeated on TV1 and
Episode 7 repeated on ABC; and The Edge of Destruction,
Episode 1 repeated on ABC
1966 - The Celestial Toymaker, Episode
1: The Celestial Toyroom first screened
on BBC1
 1968 - The Time Meddler, Episode 4: Checkmate, Galaxy
4, Episode 4: The Exploding Planet, The Myth Makers,
Episode 4: Horse of Destruction, The Massacre, Episode
4: Bell of Doom, The Ark, Episode 4: The Bomb and The
Celestial Toymaker, Episode 4: The Final Test all repeated
on ABC
1972 - The Seeds of Death, Episode 6 repeated on ABC
1976 - Planet of the Spiders, Part 4 repeated on ABC
1977 - The Talons of Weng-Chiang,
Part 6 first screened on BBC1
1978 - Colony in Space, Episode 5 first
screened on KBS1
1979 - Underworld, Part 4 repeated and
The Invasion of Time, Part 2 first screened,
both on ABC
1980 - The Ark in Space, Parts 1 and 3 both repeated
on ABC; and Planet of Evil, Part 2 first screened on
WTTW 11
1982 - Image of the Fendahl, Part
3 repeated on KQED Plus
1983 - The Sea Devils, Episode 6 and
Warriors' Gate, Part 4 both repeated
on KQED Plus
1984 - Horror of Fang Rock Omnibus repeated on WTTW
11; and Planet of Fire, Part 1 first screened on ABC
1986 - Terror of the Autons, Episode 3 repeated on ABC;
and Nightmare of Eden, Part 2 repeated on KQED Plus
1987 - The War Games, Episode 3 repeated on KQED Plus;
and The Ark in Space, Part 3 first screened on Super Channel
1988 - The Creature from the Pit, Part 1 repeated on
KQED Plus; and Full Circle Omnibus repeated on ABC
1989 - Planet of Evil, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on
Super Channel; and Planet of Fire Omnibus repeated
on KQED Plus
1990 - Image of the Fendahl, Part 1
repeated on ABC
1991 - The Ribos Operation, Part 2 
repeated on KQED Plus
1992 - The Claws of Axos, Episode
2 repeated on KQED Plus
1993 - Terror of the Autons, Episode 3 repeated
 on UK Gold; and Revelation of the Daleks, Part
3 repeated on BBC2
1994 - The Deadly Assassin Omnibus
repeated on KQED Plus
1995 - The Ambassadors of Death
Omnibus repeated on UK Gold
1997 - Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Part
4 repeated on UKTV (Aus)
1998 - The Silurians, Episode 5 first screened on Space;
and The Five Doctors, Part 3 (of 3) repeated on UKTV (Aus)
1999 - The Web Planet, Episodes 5 and 6 both repeated
on UKTV (Aus); and The Silurians, Episode 5 repeated on
Space
2000 - Death to the Daleks, Episodes 3 and 4 both
repeated on KBTC; The Ark in Space, Parts 2 and
3 both repeated on WCET; The Sontaran Experiment
 Omnibus repeated on NHPTV; Genesis of the Daleks,
Part 3 repeated on KUED; The Hand of Fear, Part 1
repeated on Twin Cities PTV; The Face of Evil, Part 1 repeated on
Lakeshore PTV and Omnibus repeated on KNME; The Robots of 
Death, Part 1 repeated on WQED, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on
Colorado PTV and Omnibus repeated on KRWG; The Armageddon 
Factor, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on MiND; The Creature from 
the Pit Omnibus repeated on MPT; Meglos, Part 1 repeated on
BBC Prime; The Mark of the Rani, Part 1 (of 4) repeated on
WUSF and Omnibus repeated on UK Gold; and Ghost Light 
Omnibus repeated on KSPS
2001 - The Chase Omnibus repeated on KQED Plus;
Genesis of the Daleks, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on BBC
America; The Invisible Enemy, Part 2 repeated on UKTV
(Aus); and The Sun Makers, Part 4 repeated on Prime
2002 - The Android Invasion, Part 2 repeated on BBC
Kids (Can); and Mindwarp, Part 8 repeated on UKTV (Aus)
2003 - The Stones of Blood, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated
on BBC Kids (Can)
2004 - The Visitation, Parts 1 and
 2 both repeated on BBC Kids (Can)
2005 - The Creature from the Pit Omnibus repeated
 on UK Gold; The End of the World first screened on
BBC1; and Doctor Who Confidential: Aliens, the
Good, The Bad and the Ugly first screened on BBC3
2006 - The Sea Devils Omnibus repeated on MPT;
and The Time Monster Omnibus repeated on UK Gold
2007 - Rose first screened on NET and repeated on
People +Arts; New Earth repeated on UK Gold; Love
 & Monsters first screened on Yes Action; Totally
Doctor Who (2.1) and The Infinite Quest, Episode 1
both first screened on BBC1; and Doctor Who
Confidential: Bringing Back the Doctor first
screened on NET
2008 - Writer Johnny Byrne died in Norwich,
aged 72; The Space Museum, Episodes 2 and
3 both first screened on MTV3 SciFi and TV4;
and The Runaway Bride repeated on BBC3
2009 - The Sensorites, Episodes 4 and 5 both repeated 
on MTV3 SciFi and TV4; The Long Game repeated on
 TV3; and Forest of the Dead repeated on BBC3
2010 - The Ark in Space, Pyramids of Mars and The Face of
Evil Omnibuses all repeated on Syfy (UK); Aliens of London
 repeated on Syfy (Rus); Dalek repeated on Syfy (Spa);
Partners in Crime first screened on WGVU; The Waters of
Mars repeated on BBC HD; The End of Time, Parts 1 and 2
and Doctor Who Confidential: Allonsy! all repeated on BBC3;
K9: Regeneration first screened on Ten; and The Doctor and 
Douglas first broadcast on Radio 4
2011 - Greatest Moments: The Master
first screened on ABC1
2012 - Earthshock, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on Syfy
 (Aus); Enlightenment, Parts 3 and 4 and The King's Demons
 Omnibus all repeated on MTV3 SciFi and TV4; Last of the
Time Lords and Partners in Crime both repeated on Watch;
and The Vampires of Venice and Doctor Who Confidential 
Cutdown: Death in Venice both repeated on ABC2
2013 - World War Three repeated on Watch; Gridlock and
Daleks in Manhattan both repeated on BBC America; The 
Beast Below repeated on UKTV (NZ); The Time of Angels
and Flesh and Stone both repeated on Syfy (Port); Closing 
Time repeated on Syfy (Ben); A Thousand Tiny Wings,
Episode 3 repeated on Radio 4 Extra; and Doctor Who
Confidential Cutdown: Double Trouble repeated on UKTV
(Aus)
2014 - Writer Glyn Idris Jones died in Crete,
aged 82; City of Death, Parts 3 and 4, Resurrection
 of the Daleks, Part 2 and The Unquiet Dead all
repeated on Syfy (Aus); Love & Monsters repeated
on Watch; The Shakespeare Code and
Gridlock both repeated on Fox (FRG); The Eleventh Hour 
repeated on Syfy (Port); The Beast Below and The Day of the 
Doctor both repeated on France 4; The Impossible Astronaut 
repeated on WSIU; Day of the Moon repeated on BBC Nordic;
The Doctor's Wife and The Rebel Flesh both repeated
on BBC America; Closing Time repeated on KCPT2;
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and Doctor Who Confidential:
 About A Boy both 
repeated on BBC Entertainment AP; A Town Called Mercy
 repeated on BBC Entertainment LA HD; The Bells of Saint 
John repeated on Really Scary TV; and Journey to the 
Centre of the TARDIS repeated on KLRU Q and Syfy (Ben)
2015 - Death to the Daleks, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated
and Warriors' Gate, Parts 3 and 4 both first screened, all
on Retro TV; The Androids of Tara, Part 3 and Victory of the
Daleks both repeated on Syfy (Aus); Frontios, Parts 2 and
3 both repeated on Horror; Aliens of London repeated on
ABC2; The Christmas Invasion repeated on UNC-MX; Blink 
repeated on Watch and KCPT2; Day of the Moon, The Curse
of the Black Spot and The Doctor's Wife all repeated on BBC
America; Hide repeated on Syfy (Spa); The Name of the
 Doctor repeated on Syfy (Ben); The Best of the Christmas
Specials and The Best of the Companions both repeated
on BBC Nordic HD and BBC Polska HD; and Doctor Who
 Confidential: I Get a Sidekick Out of You repeated on
ABC2 (iView only)
2016 - The Daleks, Episode 7: The Rescue repeated
on KMOS; The Keeper of Traken Omnibus and Arc of
 Infinity, Parts 3 and 4 all repeated on Retro TV; The
Christmas Invasion, New Earth, Tooth and Claw,
School Reunion and The Girl in the Fireplace all
repeated on Syfy (Aus); Evolution of the Daleks, The
Lazarus Experiment, 42 and Human Nature all repeated
 on BBC Entertainment AP; The Eleventh Hour, The Beast
 Below, Victory of the Daleks and Last Christmas all
repeated on Syfy
(Bra) and Syfy (LA); Day of the Moon repeated on Jeem
TV (ME); The Rings of Akhaten repeated on Watch; Flatline 
repeated on BBC Polska HD and WGVU; In the Forest of the
Night repeated on BBC Polska HD; Dark Water and Death in 
Heaven both repeated on BBC Polska HD and BBC First (RSA);
Before the Flood repeated on Syfy (LA); The Girl Who Died first
screened on Syfy (Bra) and Syfy (LA); The Zygon Inversion 
repeated on RAI4; The Husbands of River Song repeated
on TLC TV; and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 AD
screened on MovieMix
2017 - The Chase, Episodes 1 and 2 both repeated on KBTC;
The Silurians Omnibus repeated on MPTV; The Curse of Peladon
Omnibus and The Sea Devils, Episode 1 both repeated on The 
Zone; Planet of Evil, Part 2 repeated on KRWG; The Brain of 
Morbius Omnibus repeated on WYCC; The Talons of Weng-
Chiang, Parts 4 to 6 all repeated on WVPB; The Pirate Planet 
Omnibus repeated on WXXI; The Power of Kroll Omnibus
repeated on WILL; The Armageddon Factor, Parts 3 to 6 all 
repeated on Iowa PTV; The Horns of Nimon Omnibus repeated 
on KERA; The Sun Makers, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on 
KPTS; Full Circle Omnibus repeated on WFWA; Castrovalva 
Omnibus repeated on WSRE; Attack of the Cybermen Omnibus 
repeated on Idaho PTV; School Reunion, Army of Ghosts,
Doomsday, Turn Left and The Name of the Doctor all repeated 
on W; Rise of the Cybermen, The Age of Steel, The Idiot's 
Lantern, The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit all repeated 
on BBC Polska HD; The Unicorn and the Wasp, Silence in the 
Library and Forest of the Dead all repeated on FX (Ind); The 
Eleventh Hour, The Beast Below, Victory of the Daleks, The 
Time of Angels, Flesh and Stone, The Vampires of Venice, The 
Hungry Earth, Cold Blood, Vincent and the Doctor, The Lodger 
and The Pandorica Opens all repeated on Syfy (Bra); Amy's 
Choice repeated on W and Syfy (Bra); The Impossible Astronaut 
and The Wedding of River Song both repeated on Syfy (Aus); 
Deep Breath and Hell Bent both repeated on BBC Entertainment 
EU; Under the Lake and Before the Flood both repeated on Fox
(FRG); and The Woman Who Lived and The Zygon Invasion
both repeated on BBC First ME
2018 - 100,000 BC, Episode 4: The Firemaker, The Daleks,
Episode 1: The Dead Planet and Meglos, Parts 3 and 4 all
repeated on Retro TV; Frontios Omnibus repeated on PBS
North; Forest of the Dead and Midnight both repeated on
W; Amy's Choice repeated on Star World Premiere; A Town
Called Mercy repeated on ABC; The Husbands of River Song
and The Return of Doctor Mysterio both repeated on BBC
Polska HD; The Pilot repeated on BBC Polska HD and Syfy
 (Bra); Smile repeated on Syfy (Bra); and Twice Upon a
Time repeated on BBC First ME
2019 - The War Machines, Episodes 3 and 4 both repeated
on Retro TV; Listen and Time Heist both repeated on One
ARD; The Zygon Inversion repeated on BBC Entertainment
EU and BBC Polska HD; and The Doctor Falls repeated on
Syfy (Aus)
2020 - Inferno, Episodes 6 and 7 both repeated on Retro
TV; The Bells of Saint John repeated on BBC Polska HD;
 Hide repeated on W; The Zygon Invasion repeated on
Syfy (Fra); and Kerblam! and The Witchfinders both
repeated on Fox (FRG)
2021 - Revenge of the Cybermen, Parts
1 and 2 both repeated on Retro TV; The
Vampires of Venice repeated on ABC2;
Time Heist repeated on Syfy  (Fra); and
Smile repeated on BBC Polska HD
2022 - The King's Demons and Timelash
Omnibuses both repeated on Retro TV;
Remembrance of the Daleks, Parts 2 and
3 both repeated on Forces TV; World War
Three and Dalek both repeated on Fox
SciFi; The Woman Who Fell to Earth
repeated on BBC First Turkey; The Battle
of Ranskoor Av Kolos and Spyfall, Part 1
both repeated on BBC Entertainment EU;
Orphan 55, Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror
and Fugitive of the Judoon all repeated on
BBC Polska HD; and Dreamland repeated
on Fox SciFi
2023 - Colony in Space, Episodes 5
and 6 both repeated on KBTC; and
 The Lazarus Experiment and 42
both repeated on Fox SciFi