This week there were tweets and news reports, conversations and flips about the New! Doctor Who. For the first time ever, or so I have been led to believe, a woman is to take the starring role. I have watched many Dr Who’s come and go my favourite has to be John Pertwee, mostly because I adored Worzel Gummidge.
Anyway I digress, The lovely Jodie Whittiker, ‘I know her from Broadchurch’. Just saying, anyway she has got the title, won the coveted prize, stepped up to evolve the cult programme further into the realms of wonder. Now don’t shoot, my hands are up. I became bored witless at the naysayers, the chauvinistic complaints and the Agg-Gh ahh! It was everywhere, the moaning. So I switched off unplugged and refused to look any more.
Personally, I think she will be an iconic Dr Who. A conversation with a good friend had some days after the self-imposed ban, was to bring up the question once more of should the Doctor be a woman? That was when we took it to the pub. Yes, two women took a convo to the village pub to do what men have done for centuries, and why not! If a woman can be The Doctor… we ordered fizz as we would, a pint of John Smiths (any other beer could be substituted in this spot) is not our taste after all. The following is my version, maybe embellished, but mine none the less. Of an overheard conversation.
Two Men In A pub.
Stan was slurping the froth from the top of his beer when this exchange took place.
Stan looks at Tom… ‘I suppose it will be exfoliate what they say now’. Wipes his mouth on his sleeve and sniffs loudly.
Tom. ‘What, what do ya mean’
Stan. ‘Them Dalek’s … now it’s a woman doctor’
Tom. ‘Ave you gone doolally, exfoliate’.
Stan. ‘Instead of sayin exterminate as they’ve always done’.
Tom shakes his head slowly ‘Tha’s a daft bugger; exfoliate’.
A few minutes pass, both men finish their beers and Stan says. ‘You for another’?
Tom nods, and as Stan lurches unsteadily towards the bar you can hear a penny drop when Tom begins to guffaw.
Tom. ‘ Dalek’s exfoliate that’s reet funny that’.
I would like to thank a dear friend Anna, you know who you are, for the gift. Nuf said, “I owe you some fizz now we have moved back”. The pictures courtesy of pixabay and unsplash and the land of lost internet photos. And you tube for the marvleous vid of Dr John Pertwee, forever in my heart as the undeniably wonderful Worzel Gummidge and in this bit Una Stubs as Aunt Sally.
P.S.
For Dr Who aficionados out there… the relevance of John Smiths in the pub is that it was the name the Dr took while being a human in The Family of Blood. Coincidence? Or did some helpful blogger (Gary Jefferies ) unaware of my dastardly dealings let my coincidence become a clever twist? Thank you cue time lord music and …cut!
I couldn’t resist writing this post and I hope I captured the scene. What is your opinion on women taking it to the pub? Or woman being the lead in a cult programme? Have you ever overheard a gem when you least expected it. Leave me a comment I love to talk.
I just wrote a post about the Doctor Dilemma. It’s not gender so much as characterization. Would we be okay with Jane Bond?
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Most definitely, as long as she could..
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Fyn79m8
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Pertwee was ‘my’ Doctor when I was a kid and is still my favourite (though I really like Troughton in the stories I’ve seen).
The negative reaction to JW’s casting made me really sad. The most progressive show on TV and some of the ‘fans’ can’t cope with a woman being cast! I despair….
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It is ridiculous in this day and age. I hope it is fabulous!
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The reaction to her I think is ridiculous in this day and age, i hope she is the best ever. Thank you for the comment.
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good
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I’ve never actually watched Dr. Who, but I know so many people who love it. I may have to give it a go now.
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I think we all need to give it a go to see f she can carry the part off. 😉
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Jodie Whittaker is a great choice, great actress and Chris Chibnall (new man in charge of Dr Who and Broadchurch writer) obviously knows her well and sees how great she could be. It’s no great surprise really – the moment they introduced Missy and showed Time Lords could change gender, it was innevitable. As others have said, the main thing is story and script. Simple, iconic stories written with heart, that’s what we need. Looking forward to her first series very much
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Me too, i have waned of late with weak story lines and scripts. But I am excited to see if it can make it iconic once more.
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Gotta add my vote for Jon Pertwee being the best Doctor Who. I also liked his assistant Jo, and think she’s been one of the best Doctor’s assistants, closely followed by Sarah-Jane.
As for the next Doctor being a woman, welcome to the 21st century. It’s about time, and I’ve no doubt that the series will continue to be made by the BBC even when Jodie hands over the keys to the TARDIS to the 14th Doctor.
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A huge round of applause for common sense and good taste, i hope you played the Doc singing Hugh it is brilliant. Thank you for taking part. X
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I did, and didn’t you just love the car the Doctor drove around in, Ellen?
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Ahh! old Bessie was a self driving car I believe. My only issue was Jon’s short vampire cape … not quite right but I blame the wardrobe mistress myself.
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Having never seen it, I don’t get what the fuss is about. If they don’t like it, don’t watch and the industry will respond in kind. The television series wants to make money, so they need viewers… simple market forces will fix it. 😛
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Yessiree! Give her a chance because she is a good actor then back away, fail or fly.
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Yep, meritocracy!
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To date, whether a new Dr been successful or not has never been gender based. Why should it start now?
If anything has let the series down it’s been the hit and miss writing.
Personally I loved Chris Eccleston’s Dr. Closely followed by your boy David Tennant.
Both great actors. Also easy on the eye.
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Maybe the writers will be more enthused by her presence. The show is getting enough pre publicity, all they have to do is get the storylines right.
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From what I’ve read one of the Broadchurch writers is on board. Poor Peter Capaldi suffered under poor script writing.
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As have a few… wow and Broadchurch came too. Love it already … if its correct.
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Urgh. I was actually pretty sad by some of the crazy comments I saw on facebook and twitter. If an alien with two hearts can change body thirteen times and no-one minds, I think it is sad that some folks can’t imagine the Dr coming back as a women.
I was especially sad at the blokes who complained that a female doctor won’t be a good role model for boys. I had loads of masculine role models! Why can’t a kick-ass lady be a role model!?
I’m pretty sure she’ll be a brilliant Doctor who.
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Bravo! There have been a few of the diehard naysayers on here today. But you know what it will all go to make her stronger and more determined I am sure. She will be a Doctor who has the job of a time lord. Not oh a girl cant be a lord *growls squeakily* ‘my precious’.
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Well, if a girl can’t be an alien doctor, how on earth are we meant to persuade girls that they can grow up to be actual doctors, or prime minsters, or astronauts, or whatever they like!?
It’s not like the doctor ever used his willy to save the world. He did it by being smart and kooky!
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*whispers* he may not even have a willy *titters*
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OMG I didn’t even think of that! He might even be like a ken doll!?
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*gasp*
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I’m loving the idea of a female Dr. Who. But, then again, I’m an American, what do I know about Dr. Who? And to anyone who suggests she can’t be called a Time Lord, why not? I’m sure Lord means so much more on Gallifrey than it does on Earth, just like time means so much more.
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Precisely ! It is a job title not a reference to a sex. The doctor is a timevlord not dr timelord.
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Precisely ! It is a job title not a reference to a sex. The doctor is a time lord not dr timelord.
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Interesting stuff Ellen. IMO the writing makes the series and Capaldi had scraps to work with sadly. That said he had a few decent episodes and, while I grew up with Dr Who back in the day I rather liked Tom Baker and Pertwee.
I suppose the real question is whether the BEEB has done this out of political correctness or a real punch for the storyline; The Master already set the tone with Missy; although their demise in the last episode was a shade rubbish IMO.
I suppose we have angles now for Romana to appear as a bloke and Wonder Woman to become a bearded chap in a tight fitting suit.
Let it not be unnoticed that the pin of relevance in the debate was John Smiths…the very name the Dr took while running as a human in The Family of Blood. Coincidence?
Do I think this will work? Hard to say, the writing was not great over the last incarnation and while I might be a tad on the done for political correctness side of things and thus a shade sceptical; as with the Dark Tower film, I am well prepared to give it a go.
Enjoyable post 🙂
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Love the banter I get on here… jus sayin! First his job is time lord he is the doctor! So bearded superwoman isn’t happening we have superman for that. Her casting was (as reported by th beeb) was taken because of the superb audition. That said they either needed to scrap it or cap it, and I think they may have given scope for a vast array of storylines they couldn’t make work before. I am so glad sommeone got the John smiths reference. Chuffed you came for a natter Gary.
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Unless…cunning ploy that modern thinking undoes itself with… Superman becomes said Superwoman and WonderWoman becomes WonderMan. As for the superb audition, being sceptical of motives one can’t come out and say “Here’s the new Dr, her interview was pants (knickers?), but we have a gender imbalance at the Beeb don’t you know!”
I am more intrigued by the possibility of River Song dropping back… How’s “Hello Sweetie?” going to sit coming from the Dr’s wife??? Fascinating times ahead 🙂
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If you had seen her in Broadchurch you would know, she is a talented actor. I would like to believe she got it on merit … but, that doesn’t mean to say they didn’t think to adress the feminist/sexist, we must beseen to be pc issue in some small way in the process.
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Don’t get me wrong, I know she is a good actress, but then so is Capaldi. I felt the writing let him down badly. I just hope the new one is up to the task…for her sake too. If it’s bad then it might be Capaldi all over again with the stigma of being the first female Dr!!
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She Will show them I’m sure.
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P.s you need to read the post script…
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ha-ha I did and love it. Not that I am a Dr Who geek or anything… no, no and thrice no 🙂
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I could have would have should have said it was my incredible research. Haha!
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ha-ha, yes, you could. I did wonder if it was deliberate 🙂
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Oooh Gary! Thank you for writing that! I was wondering what you meant about the dark tower, so I googled it and watched the trailer…now I am really excited to see the film! Idris Elba is soooo much hotter than the gun slinger in my mind! I thought the trailer makes it look epic! 😀
Anyway, didn’t even know it was due to come out soon, so thank you for the heads up!
p.s. I wonder what the “political correctness gone mad”-folks will think when they see Susan Delgado!? Isn’t she black, disabled and kick-ass!? That’s ticking a few PC boxes.
(Sorry if that derailed the thread Ellen! I got all excited!)
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Excitement is great, its my birthday so i will forgive the highjacking. Haaha!
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Oooh HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I just saw this, I hope it’s not too late!
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Never too late to have something nice said. X
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That so made me chuckle; I love it when post comments hit swerve balls and go off at tangents! Am I detecting a slight drool over Mr Elba perchance 😉
It’s due in August I believe and I’ve put a few things about it on my FB page because I love the DT series 🙂
Re Susan, that’s the bit where Idris came under fire from purists. The fact she is as you say gave her a huge racial issue with white people. Eddie, the junkie and Roland were foils she spat at. Over time they all became Ka Tet and solid friend showing the disable coloured lady and Eddie’s demeanour was overcome and colour disappeared as their friendship grew. I thought that part was massive in the second and third book as a demonstration that people with huge prejudices can get over them and be friends.
One thing everyone is looking for on Idris is does the Horn of Eld sit with him? Roland lost it before and a lot of discussion boards think it’s needed when he gets to the tower; that’s why he keeps looping. Now I need a DT post to get this discussion raging lol 🙂
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I love curve balls and if stats led (which I’m not) the extra chats would be beneficial. Now I have something else to read after you piqued my interest.😉 have a good day.
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On a curve once more; Gabe wrote post about finding bloggers and it included looking down posts and checking out those that comment a lot as they often drop in and reciprocate discourse!
But… you have not read The Dark Tower???? oh my, oh my 🙂
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No, it is one I missed out for some reason… NEEDS rectifying! I do always follow up comment and go see a replyers blog.
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First one is actually called The Gunslinger. The shortest book as it happens. Cracking opening line too. “The man in black fled across the dessert and the gunslinger followed.” And this has now really diverged from your post lol
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You best get yer ass outa dodge then. Haha that is one I have read.
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I wrote this reply before seeing the other one saying you’d read three lol
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X
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I just had a look and I Have read three, so maybe the movie will be best. Funny though, I thought I had read most of his stuff.
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In fairness he chucks them out at a fair pace. Easy to miss things! I’m quite hopeful for the movie too. Been a long time coming and has had several permutations in the industry before this was settled on.
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We wait with bated breath.
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Hey i have been on your blog ! I want to comment but there is no place? What’s going on? Just when take over was about to happen! 😯😕
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I got it x.
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It wont let me reply to your other comment now. So my reply is here….
It did make sense and I could use a wire lady with a poem or a story. It was a tough trip and a second one probably won’t happen for us. We stayed 3 weeks on the island and 3 around Delta. Loved our time.
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Enough! Swap emails or… get a room!
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Ha-Ha, so funny. All your fault for opening the debate topic…oh hang about, that was Dr Who and the Beebs gender bias correction protocol… Exfoliate… Exfoliate 🙂
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Mmmwwwa! Love you guys. Virtually anyway.
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Good point! I think it’s out 18 August here (UK) so you have some reading to do. Did you catch the additional book he wrote way after; “The Wind Through The Keyhole?” That’s part of the DT universe too and sits somewhere between books 4 and 5.
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You two! Clear orf!
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😊🙃😁😇
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I’ve never actually seen Worzel Gummidge; I know the vids are out there, just never looked them up. Pertwee’s always been my favorite, myself.
I really don’t have any feelings one way or the other about a female Doctor. I know they’ve thought about it in the past (I remember hearing Tom Baker saying, when he announced that it would be his last season as The Doctor but hadn’t chosen a successor, “I wish him or her best of luck” and the speculation that brought with it), and I’m a bit surprised it’s taken this long. At the same time, I think the series should have ended with Sylvester McCoy. I’ve not been impressed with any of the Doctors since. Besides, I doubt seriously they’ll run any of the show on over-the-air TV in the US, and we don’t have cable, so it’s moot, anyway…
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If enough of you are curious and i am sure you can get the beeb on amazon firestick or whatever name the equivalent is. Go back I put a worzel clip at the bottom. Really no one should go through life without watching at least one series of Worzel.
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I used to watch Dr Who years ago and like you, I loved Jon Pertwee, and Peter Davidson as well. I cannot understand what all the fuss is about, having a female Doctor! Will she be having a male assistant, I wonder, or will that get the ‘die hard’ fans even more het up?!!
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I am actually shocked that people seem to have such strong views is it just me? But it is a programme, entertainment … thanks for participating i love team sports haaaha!
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Well I am surprised too, but then it has been going for years and has so many loyal fans. Still, I don’t get why they are so mad about it!
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Shhhh someone will hear… *looks both ways furtively *
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🤣🤣🤣🤣
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I think she’ll do a great job and you’re quite right women should take it to the pub. The overheard conversation made me laugh and I loved the Worzel Gummidge clip – it’s years since I thought about him. Great post.
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Thanks for joining in Mary, Worzel was sooo good.
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Wonderful. Women can do anything. 🙂 Re Jon Pertwee’s Worzel Gummidge, this may amuse you: https://derrickjknight.com/2013/11/19/goose-fat/
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People can be anything if they have the required skillset and beat the competition. Going over to see your link now.
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I’m all for (and equal measures) women talking in pubs & women playing Doctor Who. It’s good. My favourite Doctor Who is Tom Baker.
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You know what, it is a little odd even conversing in 2017 about, should women do, be, or go anywhere. It isn’t the fifties surely we have learned something… maybe we should have a game of rugby down a couple of tankards of Real Ale and bath together? 😀😁😂 grrrrraaaaaaaaz! Hahaha!
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Should be a lizard (other amphibians are available). Love exfoliate
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Haaaha! Would cause less furore i think. 😉😯
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It will be interesting to see how she is received and I did enjoy the fun of the overheard conversation above. Being a keen eavesdropper this amused me. 🙂
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Thank you I am glad you enjoyed it.
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BTW, the “exfoliate” line is brilliant!
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Thank you sir… can i take back the biting quips i put on your post? *drops head in shame* was funny though.
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No need to take back good jokes!
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A man after my own part whoops! Bloomin typos heart i meant honest guvnor. 😉
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LOL! 😂
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I was very disappointed that I wasn’t chosen to be the next Doctor. (https://thephilfactor.com/tag/doctor-who/) I thought choosing an American as he Doctor would be as bold as choosing a woman. I have no problem with Jodie Whittiker. It will be interesting and add something different.
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Now Phil really?? On that note they could have asked me! Of course I’d be far far too busy but my chances were on par with yours. I am talented you know *sniffs*.
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I liked Jon Pertwee as the Doctor too. Thing is, with a woman, she can’t be classed as a Time Lord, and Time Lady or Baroness doesn’t really have a ring about it.
We haven’t had a TV for over 10 years and I haven’t watched anything since David Tennant gave up, and that was only re runs anyway on someone else’s set.
I remember the film with Peter Cushing and Roy Castle. Daleks will always rule as the ultimate bad guys. I’m surprised that if they can put the Star Trek franchise on the Horror channel they haven’t done the same with Doctor Who. By all accounts the Cybermen had kids running for cover.
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The Dalek’s scared the beedoodles out of me! She will be ‘the keeper of time’ so she will be Lording it over the lot. Time lord is no different to Actor, now we mustn’t say actress. Thank you for reading i just love to chat regardless. 😉
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🙂
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I do enjoy Doctor Who and think this is a great move. Love your pub talks too, especially with the accents.
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I’m chuffed at tha comments lass! Come again soon. 😉
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I can’t really comment as I rarely watch TV and don’t know this show but I will say that sometimes it is better not to break something that works.
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Who is to say she wont take it somewhere better… we will see. But thanks for reading and commenting. 😇
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I have to disagree, remakes are rarely a hit. Though it has been known for me to be wrong! Dr Who will always be known to us as a male. OMG did I write that 🙂 Actually it’s more about rehashing old programs, a dislike of mine! Though we don’t watch TV now, or very rarely. Too much blogging to be done!
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It is a thing that has caused some furore, but it won’t be a re- make, Dr Who regularly morphs into a new doctor, just this time it is a she. Nice of you to join in see you here again soon.
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