What I wrote at Lib Dem Voice

April 01, 2007

Spooky

‘Fraid I’ve never been much of a Dr Who fanboy: quite-enjoy-it-sometimes-watch-it is about my level of enthusiasm.

Last night’s episode, ‘Smith and Jones’, was a really rather fine opener to the new series, and it was especially good to see Roy Marsden back on the small screen. Between 1984 and 1998, he was the personification of PD James’s slightly implausible poet-sleuth, Commander Adam Dalgliesh, in ITV’s adaptations of her classy crime novels.

When the BBC took over the rights, the role was given to Martin Shaw. It is apparently the law that he must play the lead in every maverick ‘tec show; just as it is Mr Shaw’s law of acting that he must play each character in the same way, with sleeves purposely rolled-up.

But what I enjoyed most was that Roy Marsden played the part of a senior consultant at the Royal Marsden. It’s either pure co-incidence, or someone at Who-casting has a desert-dry sense of humour.

5 comments:

Liberal Neil said...

Doctor Who doesn't have coincidences!

Cllr Huzzey watched it at our house last night, following a spot of canvassing.

You'll have to join us one Saturday soon. You even get to see real live children hiding behind the sofa too ;-)

Anonymous said...

In fact, the hospital went under the mildly unconvincing moniker of the Royal Hope, which buggers that up a bit. It was good though, I thought. Me and Toby shouted 'gay rhinos!' at the screen a lot, which is a review of sorts.

And according to a costuming chap I once earwigged on, Martin Shaw rolls up his sleeves in every production because he believes his forearms to be particularly attractive. Said costuming chap was a bit scathing about it.

Nathaniel Tapley said...

And, although it fills me with shame to have noticed it, the crater that the hospital left quite clearly indicates that it was where St Thomas' is now...

Stephen Tall said...

Susie/Natt - Pah, you're both spoilsports. I much prefer my Roy(al) Marsden theory. Even if it's wrong. Which it clearly is.

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