By TANIA PHILLIPS
THOSE fans who thought the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who was turning out to be a little anti-climactic might have to think again after the announcements of the past fortnight.
First we found out that the 50th Anniversary Special was going to be simulcast on November 24 (which means 6am on the ABC for those of us in NSW and 5am in Qld). Then came the big one – the new Doctor. Although Peter Capaldi had become the bookies’ favourite to become number 12 in the last two days before the announcement, it was still a bit of a surprise.
He’s 55 – the same age as the first Doctor William Hartnell way back in 1963 and way older than his predecessor, Matt Smith who was just 25 when he was announced. Capaldi (you might remember him from Local Hero, The Thick of It or even The Hour) is also well-known, well-credentialed and becomes the third Scotsman behind Sylvester McCoy and David Tennant to take on the iconic role.
For the first time too Australian fans were able to find out who the Doctor was at exactly the same time as their British counterparts and not have to wait for a friend to Tweet or Facebook it or for some kind soul to put the announcement up on You Tube. Judging by the Facebook activity hundreds of fans took advantage – getting up at 4am to hear Capaldi named.
Mind you that wasn’t the only big announcement that day, just a few hours later BBC Worldwide announced another Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular, a musical celebration of the iconic BBC series.
And this time the northern fans (because every country has a north) won’t be missing out with Brisbane hosting one of the two concerts for the first time. The event will be held Saturday, 8 February and tickets are now on sale.
And just all that excitement was dying down the ABC and BBC Worldwide ANZ joined forces to announce their own celebration of 50 Years of Doctor Who.
This will be a special Commemorative Exhibition to be held at the ABC Ultimo Centre, Sydney. This free event is open to the public from August until January 2014. Unfortunately there are no plans to tour it so it will have to be a trip to Sydney if you really want to see it.
The series comes to life in the ABC Atrium with a display of props from the show including the Tenth Doctor’s costume as played by David Tennant as well as Kylie Minogue’s costume from Voyage of the Damned.
Also on display will be an Ood head, Cybermat, Tom Baker’s scarf, an original Dalek, an iconic TARDIS (which fans will be able to have their photo taken with) and much more.
We have come a long way even from the time of the relaunch in 2005 when we had to wait three months to see each episode after it screened in the UK but then so many shows being fast-tracked from overseas now, the television world is shrinking fast.
Who: Doctor Who
When: Returning our screens on November 24 for the 50th anniversary episode (tickets for the Symphonic Spectacular now on sale from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and the Doctor Who ABC display opening this week in Sydney).
