Myth Makers

Many fans will best remember the late Michael Wisher for his definitive performance as Davros, creator of the Daleks. In truth Michael was the most gifted of actors, a chameleon who could transform his voice and appearance, and who worked many times in Doctor Who during the 1970’s. Michael loved his time in the programme and appeared in several spin-off dramas including Wartime and Shakedown. In this special production we recall Michael’s life and career in the company of Nicholas Briggs, Peter Miles, and Michael’s son, Andy.

Ever wondered how to marinade a Yeti...? No? Well neither had a rather bemused Nick Briggs until he caught up with John Leeson on location for the Doctor Who drama Downtime. Ten years earlier, it was all a lot easier for Keith Harrison when he interviewed John for the second Myth Makers. Life was simple then, you just sat down and had a nice chat about life and being the voice of K9. Now, you have to run around the inside of the Doctor’s faithful robot companion, plus learn how to cook (and more importantly how to catch) a Yeti! Well these are the ingredients, its all been cooking in the oven, so take your seats for dinner. Confused...? Not half as much as Nick!

Back in the mid 1980’s two Nicks (Courtney & Briggs) strolled around the location for the Doctor Who story Mawdryn Undead and chatted about Nick C’s life and career. Now, parked in a little red car on the shores of Rutland Water (location for Battlefield) they find not only that it’s too cold to venture outside, but also that they are surrounded by sheep! With the aid of previously unseen footage from their original Myth Makers, Mr B delves deeper and Mr C reveals a good deal more!

Carole Ann Ford portrayed a unique character in Doctor Who. As Susan, The Doctor’s granddaughter, she left Gallifrey with the errant Time Lord before the very first episode, An Unearthly Child. This Myth Makers combines two interviews by Nicholas Briggs, the first at Carole’s home in 1985 and the second at a London TV studio in 1996. Together they give a very personal view of the early days of Doctor Who and the effects the programme had on Carole’s life and career.

Janet Fielding played the Australian air stewardess Tegan in Doctor Who from 1980 to 1983. She started with Tom Baker and then did every Peter Davison story except his last two! Janet is a founder of Women in Film and Television UK which she ran for the first four years. When legendary London agent Marina Martin was ready to retire she recruited Janet to take over her eponymous agency. As an agent, Janet represented Paul McGann when he was offered the part of The Doctor in the 1996 Doctor Who TV pilot. In 2008, she moved to Ramsgate and started Project MotorHouse, which is a charity and social enterprise that works with local youths and specializes in photographic projects. This unique Myth Makers combines two interviews recorded with Janet in 1985 and 2020.

Undoubtedly, Nicola Bryant’s portrayal of Perpugilliam Brown has become one of the most popular assistants in the history of Doctor Who. When Nicholas Briggs first talked to Nicola in 1985, Doctor Who had been cancelled (for the first time) and its future was uncertain. Eleven years later in 1996, they met again to discuss her last season in the programme and life after Doctor Who. Both interviews are combined in this Myth Makers, giving us a fascinating insight into Nicola’s evolving life and career.

Wendy Padbury first appeared in Doctor Who in the late sixties, playing the diminutive cat-suited computer expert Zoe Herriot. Now she reveals all about playing Zoe and working with Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines… not to mention Cybermen, Ice Warriors and Quarks! Wendy also talks about the 1974 West End stage play Doctor Who and the Daleks in the Seven Keys to Doomsday in which she played one of the Doctor’s companions. Featuring location footage from the stage production of Superted and a guest appearance by Jon Pertwee as Spotty himself, this Myth Makers even tells us which Cybermen design Wendy prefers!

Michael Craze was present during a critical period in Doctor Who’s history. If the first change of Doctor from William Hartnell to Patrick Troughton hadn’t succeeded, the programme would have failed and it’s unique formula lost forever. Combining two interviews by Nicholas Briggs, this Myth Makers draws out Michael’s memories of that time and appearing as cockney seaman Ben Jackson alongside two Doctors. In a frank and revealing programme, we even find out which Doctor was Michael’s favorite!

This Myth Makers combines two interviews with Sarah Sutton; one filmed at Harrison’s Rocks, the main location for Castrovalva; the second recorded in a London studio eight years later and featuring some familiar monsters. Sarah chats to Nicholas Briggs about working with Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse. There are also many behind-the-scenes stories about working on Doctor Who.

Deborah Watling portrayed Victoria Waterfield during Patrick Troughton’s tenure as The Doctor. Famous for the practical jokes that went on behind the cameras, this era produced some classic Doctor Who stories and Victoria became one of the most popular of the Doctor’s companions. This Myth Makers features material shot at Monstercon in Liverpool in 1985, together with an interview recorded on location during the shooting of Downtime, the Doctor Who spin-off drama, in which Deborah re-created the part of Victoria after more than twenty five years! Deborah and her late father, Jack Watling (Professor Travers) chat to Nicholas Briggs about working together again and we feature unique behind-the-scenes material from Downtime. And, of course, there’s the odd Yeti around!

Doctor Who fans fondly remember the late Ian Marter as the charming, bumbling Harry Sullivan. The man behind the character was equally as likeable, but many times more sharp witted. As Nicholas Briggs and Ian walk and talk their way through locations for Terror of the Zygons, you’ll learn of Ian’s life as a prolific writer and actor. This is an extended version of the Myth Makers recorded in 1986, with a special introduction by Ian’s close friend Nicholas Courtney.

In 1987, when Nicholas Briggs first interviewed John Levene, it was a hot summer’s day in Richmond Park. John had begun a career in audio-visual presentation and was looking forward to a new chapter in his life. Eight years later John had moved to the USA and was living with his partner Jenny. He was now hosting gala charity events and looking to continue his acting career. During all this time there have been two constants in his life, Doctor Who and his irrepressible sense of humour. Nick managed to catch John on one of his rare visits to the UK and they take up the story so far including Wartime and Return to Devil’s End.

Jon Pertwee was quite simply a star. From vaudeville, through theatre, radio in The Navy Lark, films, records and television, including Doctor Who and Worzel Gummidge, he entertained audiences worldwide for over fifty years. Recorded at Jon’s home in 1989, this interview by Nicholas Briggs provides the most comprehensive visual biography of this talented and versatile entertainer ever recorded. This is not a tribute… it’s a personal testament.

During the early 1970’s the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT) featured heavily in Doctor Who. Captain Mike Yates joined the ‘three man army’ during Terror of the Autons and was a regular cast member right through the Jon Pertwee era. Richard Franklin’s portrayal of the young and idealistic army officer was an instant success with viewers and eventually led to Mike Yates playing a pivotal role in both Invasion of the Dinosaurs and Planet of the Spiders. This Myth Makers consists two interviews with Richard, the first shot on location at his former Yorkshire home in 1989 and the second in studios in 1996. Mind you, Nicholas Briggs did have to persuade Richard to participate…

Ask Doctor Who fans their favourite Doctor is and the majority are likely to name Tom Baker’s portrayal above all others. Much of Tom’s popularity has been fuelled by his reticence to appears in public or discuss his time in the programme. Little is actually known about the man or his memories of being the longest running Time Lord troubleshooter. At last this has changed. In an exclusive interview by Nicholas Briggs, at the location used for The Android Invasion, Tom discusses frankly his life and career.

Intrepid Nicholas Briggs delves into Doctor Who Magazine’s past, studies its production and looks to the future. Along the way he talks to editor John Freeman, artists John Ridgway and Lee Sullivan, long term contributor Gary Russell and many more. This is a fascinating look at a unique publication in its 10th year, covering every aspect of its production and development.

Victor Pemberton’s association with Doctor Who is long and varied. As extra, writer, script editor, producer and novelist, he is in a unique position to comment on the programme’s successes and failures – and he’s prepared to do just that! Victor certainly wouldn’t claim credit for writing the dramatic links in this Myth Makers, where he encounters a strange bewildered Nicholas Briggs and the even stranger source of a ‘plopping’ noise. In fact, this is the culmination of the ultimate kitchen sink drama – just what is outside the window? This Myth Makers combines two interviews with Victor, the first shot on location at his country home in Essex and the latest at studios in London.

We travel to Brighton with Nicholas Briggs to catch up with David Banks, the man behind the Cyberleader mask. We find out how in 1982 David set about popularising the Cybermen after their seven year absence from Doctor Who. Shot on location at the Theatre Royal, this Myth Makers also gives a glimpse behind the scenes of Doctor Who: The Ultimate Adventure in which David played Karl the mercenary leader. We find out about some of the problems that arise when you bring the famous Time Lord off the television screen and onto the stage.

Colin Baker is walking his dog and Nicholas Briggs is shopping, when they are both teleported to a strangely familiar location by a mysterious alien being… Whilst on their adventure, Colin talks to Nick about his long and varied acting career, including his casting as the sixth Doctor. In a frank and revealing discussion, Colin reveals much of his joys and frustrations while working on the series and the truth behind the programme’s cancellation and his eventual departure. Take this opportunity to meet this charming and witty man as our story unfolds… and just what is a ‘time-cone inverter’?

How can a personality like Sylvester McCoy be contained within the format of Myth Makers? Point the camera at him and say ‘Action!’ During a non-stop trek around the location for the Doctor Who story Battlefield, Sylvester gives us a hysterical history tour of his life and career. As always, Nicholas Briggs is there to ask the questions – but this time he’s so enthralled by Sylvester’s incredible story that he has to rely on emergency questions supplied by his Ace production assistant Sophie Aldred! And which famous, splendid, military fellow from Doctor Who awaits the team at journey’s end for a pint?

As the very first Doctor, William Hartnell created the character that made Doctor Who a success. No other actor made such a lasting contribution to the programme or influenced it so greatly. In this special Myth Makers, Nicholas Briggs meets William’s friends, colleagues and family and explores the personality of this shy, complex and private man. With contributions from William Russell, Carole Ann Ford, Maureen O’Brien, Peter Purves, Verity Lambert, Michael Craze, Anneke Wills, Donald Tosh, Christopher Barry and a revealing interview with Jack Pitt, who was an extra in Doctor Who and shared William’s flat in London. Also featured is Jessica Carney, who has written a biography of the grandfather’s life titled Who’s There? This is not just a Myth Makers tribute… it’s almost a chance to meet the man himself.

Patrick Troughton was born and raised in North London. During a long and successful career he appeared in countless television dramas, including Doctor Finlay's Casebook, and The Old Curiosity Shop, plus feature films including Laurence Olivier’s acclaimed Hamlet. But it is probably his role as the second Doctor Who that he will be most remembered for. Eccentric, childish, comic, whimsical... the list of facets within his portrayal is long and complex and this reflected much of Patrick’s own personality. In this tribute Myth Makers we concentrate on what exactly made PATRICK’s second Doctor so successful. And for the first time we include an exclusive interview with Patrick shot at his only UK convention appearance at PanoptiCon VI! The only such interview shot in the UK.

A hugely successful television and film actor, Paul McGann played the Eighth incarnation of Doctor Who in the 1996 television film - a pilot that, sadly, was never taken to series. However that wasn’t the end … Paul has since reprised the role in an ongoing series of audio plays by Big Finish. Also, as part of Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, Paul starred in the mini-episode The Night of the Doctor, where his Doctor finally regenerates - 17 years after his first television appearance! Then, in November 2013 he also briefly appeared in the comedy homage The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. A lot for Ace interviewer Sophie Aldred to discuss with Paul when Myth Makers finally caught up with him at Island Con, held on the Isle of Wight, in 2018.