Two new Doctor Who reviews up at Television Heaven. From the classic series, The Caves of Androzani, because I haven't given the Fifth Doctor enough attention lately and it's absolutely brilliant. And from the revived series, my perhaps unexpected choice of Best Of: series three episode "Gridlock." Enjoy!
Very telling this was before the Noel Clarke allegations. At one point, a barmaid comments that the Doctor looks like "that disc jockey", which is almost certainly a reference to Jimmy Savile, alluding to the Doctor's hair. Given the allegations of Noel Clarke in 2021, it is astonishing how the BBC is still going on, even making their own Savile docudrama with Steve Coogan in 2023. It makes one fear what really happens on the TARDIS set, especially as some speclucate whether Moffat may have a hidden side (the man has been accused at some points or another of being sexist for crying out loud!)
ReplyDeleteRegardless, the Savile legacy is a shameful story. It is certain that Police, BBC, Health Authorities. Government, Church and Newspapers (journalists now claim that they knew but were too afraid of legal action) all knew. Can there be any doubt? Saville was either very lucky or he was protected. The same goes for Mohamed Al Fayed, a man who died invading justice. I guess sometimes, unlike what DW may sometimes try to give the impression, the world is never a fair place.
Daniel, I have a sensitive question over the recent arrest of Noel Clarke (Mickey); it comes after losing his libel case against The Guardian concerning sexual misconduct. Not going to discuss the allegations themselves, BUT if Clarke is found guilty, would it make future transmission of the episodes he appeared in quite awkward.
ReplyDeleteIt always was the worry that after Yewtree revealed the wrong doings of TV stars in the 1970s that Doctor Who would get caught up in it, but after the stories concerning Barrowman and Clarke, it seems that it's the RTD1 era which is more tarnished. They have not been and never likely to be shown on any linear channel again. At the moment they are still on Iplayer but if he is convicted and after the last few it does seem very likely it could happen then I do think the BBC will have no choice but to remove the episodes altogether. That means only one or two episodes left from the Ecclestone series, most of but not all of series 2-4 and even the last special but he could easily be edited out of that. It is trivial, but relevant for a DW discussion board. Indeed I'm sure discussions are going on at BBC Studios about what to do, as the history and "back catalogue" of the show is an important part of its worth. It's not like Top of the Pops, where the Saville and DLT episodes can just be ignored.
They're important episodes too. Rose, Parting of the Ways, Christmas Invasion, Girl in the Fireplace, Army of Ghosts/Doomsday and Journey's End for example, and not ones where he can be edited out. An actor, on the other hand, is on screen appearing in a role playing a character and I hope people are able to separate the two and make up their own minds.