8:33pm Wednesday 27th March 2013
After an excruciating wait for three whole torturous months; our TV screens will be blessed with the epicness that is... Dr Who. I don’t care if you call it boring. I don’t care if you call it out of date. I don’t even care if you call it childish! Dr Who is the one TV show I actually mark off days on my calendar for.
Appearing on our screens since 1963, Dr Who is the longest running sci-fi show in the entire world; and with this year being its 50th anniversary, the ‘Whovian’ community (if you don’t know what that is then congratulations, you have a life) has set its expectations even higher than ever. I know I have certainly have. Dr Who has been the highlight of my year for as long as I can remember. The excitement of curling up on the couch, hand dipped in a bowl of buttery popcorn whilst humming along to the Dr Who theme song never gets old! And the show has only got better since the talented young actor Matt Smith blasted into the series in early 2010. He brings a warmth and loveable eccentricity that fuels the whole episode; I doubt any true fan will ever forget “Fish fingers and custard!” or “Bowties are cool.” But Smith also has a more mournful side that brings a vulnerability to the role; he lets you see through the cracks in the Doctor’s wild façade to the heartbroken and guilt ridden creature beneath. That takes great skill, so it’s no wonder Matt Smith is the first ever Doctor to be nominated for a ‘BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.’
But there’s an abundance of amazing actors who have portrayed their own unique Doctor, and not everyone shares the opinion that Smith is the best.
Jo Watson, age 58, who still remembers the first episode, said: “I used to watch Dr Who when I was little; my favourite Doctor has always been William Hartnell, he was the first and most exciting one! But I loved Tom Baker too; he was funny but resilient at the same time. I started watching it again after I had kids, I did like David Tennant and Matt Smith is good too; it all just depends on the script writer for the particular episode.”
But Fred Watson, a dedicated Dr Who fan, age 18 said: “David Tennant is my favourite because he’s familiar from my childhood. He is a very talented actor and the episodes he was in were always good. He brought an edgy and scary touch to the character, making it more than just a kids TV show.”
“I always thought Jon Pertwee was cool. I wanted his grey wavy hair and dandy fashion sense.” Laughed Rob Watson, age 64.
This new series will give all ‘Whovians’ a chance to recover from the death of the Doctor’s late assistants Amy and Rory Pond, by testing out his promising new assistant; the fiery Clara Oswin Oswald. But whatever series 8 brings; Dr Who will always have a special place in my heart.
Maeve Watson
Waldegrave School for Girls
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