I THOUGHT I WAS TOO YOUNG TO PLAY THE DOCTOR! by Peter Davison I was a fan of the Doctor Who Programme for the start and it had a very big impact on me. Along with millions of other children I used to hide behind the sofa every Saturday evening. The stories used to terrify me and even now I can still vividly remember certain parts, in particular, the Hartnell-Troughton eras. For about five or six years I watched it absolutely avidly. You can imagine, then, that when I was offered the part of the Doctor my reaction was one of disbelief! At first I didn't know what to think, the idea seemed crazy. But gradually it grew on me. I think it was because I was the first young actor to be asked to play the part that I was so taken aback. It seemed to me I was too young for the role - that the character of the Doctor, as a kind of professor-type, was just not me. It also meant that I was much close in age to the fans. So I knew there would be special problems I would have to face. I have a starting point, of course. I could draw a little from each of my predecessors. So I watched old episodes of all the Doctors to see how they had played the part. I also soon realised that as Tom Baker had played the Doctor for seven years there would be some young viewers who had never known anyone in the part but him. So I had to set out to create a character who was quite different - and this I hope I have achieved. I see my Doctor as well-meaning - although he doesn't always act for the best. But his overriding consideration is still to sort out whatever problem he is faced with as best he can. He may even endanger his companions in doing this. And he always starts out being polite, but usually gets less and less so as disaster looms! Funny things happen all the time when we are making Doctor Who. For instance, I remember an incident when we were filming Arc of Infinity in Amsterdamn. I was playing two parts, you may recall - the other being Omega who was trying to turn himself into the Doctor. Once he turned into me, he started to decay. In one of the scenes I had to cross Dam Square, which is in the middle of Amsterdam, wearing horrific make-up - a mixture of rice crispies and glue and all sorts of things fixed down one side of my face. Anyhow, I had to run through the square - which is rather like out Trafalgar Square, full of people and pigeons. It must have been quite terrifying to those people - who, of course, had no idea we were making a film. They just couldn't believe their eyes as I ran by! It wasn't easy for me, either, having to dodge the trams and cars as well. Getting that scene done was really hard work. We had to do it four times and after all that it was decided it was too horrific and cut from the story! My total view of Doctor Who is that I am playing a part. However, I realise that there is a lot more to it than just acting on the screen. You somehow take on the mantle of the Doctor and a kind of instant charisma goes with the job. You have a responsibility - it is important to be always polite and cheery in public. Fortunately, I'm not a rebel rouse in my private life! It is really no surprise to me that the programme has been going for such a long time. It is unstoppable now, I think, and has a vast following that just goes on increasing all the time. Peter Davison Janurary 1983 X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm) & the Temple of the Screaming Electron Jeff Hunter 510-935-5845 Rat Head Ratsnatcher 510-524-3649 Burn This Flag Zardoz 408-363-9766 realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 415-567-7043 Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 415-583-4102 Specializing in conversations, obscure information, high explosives, arcane knowledge, political extremism, diversive sexuality, insane speculation, and wild rumours. ALL-TEXT BBS SYSTEMS. Full access for first-time callers. We don't want to know who you are, where you live, or what your phone number is. We are not Big Brother. "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X