‘Doctor Who’ 60th Anniversary Marathon – Reflection on the Eighth Doctor

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Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

In some respects, Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor in ‘Doctor Who’ only had one adventure in his TV tenure, which is of course ‘The TV Movie’. But like Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy before him, Paul McGann’s Doctor has been given a lease of life in so many mediums including comics, books and audios.

In the comics world, the Eighth Doctor has travelled with companions like Izzy Sinclair. In the book world, he’s travelled with companions like Sam Jones, Fitz Kreiner and Anji Kapoor. He even met Bernice Summerfield, previously a Seventh Doctor companion, in both a book and an audio episode.

Most notably, Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor has had many adventures through the Big Finish audios, being joined by companions like India Fisher as Charley Pollard and Sheridan Smith as Lucie Miller. He even travelled with Julie Cox as Mary Shelley on audio, way before the TV series did Mary Shelley.

In 2013, Paul McGann returned to play the Eighth Doctor in a special mini-episode called ‘The Night of the Doctor’ to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ‘Doctor Who’. It reignited fans’ interest in the Eighth Doctor, setting up a new chapter for him in how he fought in the early years of the Time War.

I’ve collaborated with Stephen Buckley, my best mate from school, in creating our own mini-series of Eighth Doctor adventures, with him joined by original companion: Jen Ward (who would be played by Imogen Poots). I have yet to share these adventures, but a couple have found their way on my blog. 🙂

The stories featuring the Eighth Doctor and Jen that are yet to be shared on my blog include ‘The Blood Hunters’, ‘The Summer of the Narve’ and ‘The Brotherhood’. On my blog, there’s the ‘Zorbius’ story featuring the Eighth Doctor and Jen called ‘The Infinity Planet’. More is on its way on my blog. 🙂

The Eighth Doctor and Jen will make an appearance in my upcoming 60th anniversary special ‘The Thirteen+ Doctors’. It’s amazing that the Eighth Doctor has had more life to him compared to his TV era, whether it’d be in the Big Finish audios, the comics, the books or some fan-written adventures.

Thanks for reading!

Bye for now!

Tim 🙂

8 thoughts on “‘Doctor Who’ 60th Anniversary Marathon – Reflection on the Eighth Doctor”

  1. scifimike70's avatarscifimike70

    There’s also the Season 26B fan-edit series that uses Paul McGann footage from other sources (and mashups with official Dr. Who footage) to make new adventures. I found them very interesting as mashups can be when conveniently putting such assorted material together to make stories. Last heard they had taken it a step further into Season 26C devoted to John Hurt’s War Doctor.

    Thank you, Tim, for your reflection of the 8th Doctor.

    https://youtu.be/O46fUUzc8JU

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
    1. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

      Hi scifimike,

      Thanks for letting me know about the Season 26B series on YouTube and thanks for providing the YouTube trailer. 😀 I believe I’ve added the titles of the Season 26B stories on the Eighth Doctor’s timeline. Glad you enjoyed my reflection on the Eighth Doctor. Thanks for letting me know about Season 26C with John Hurt’s War Doctor.

      Best wishes,

      Tim 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
      1. scifimike70's avatarscifimike70

        You’re welcome. Incidentally I think that the Christopher Lee footage seen in the trailer was intended as a possible prequel regeneration of Morbius. Most interesting.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

        Thanks scifimike.

        Hmm. Christopher Lee as Morbius. I suppose that would make sense since the head bust in ‘The Brain of Morbius’ sort-of looks like him. 😆

        Many thanks,

        Tim 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. scifimike70's avatarscifimike70

        Now that you mention it, I suppose it does in a way. Funny how these things turn out for our favorite shows. Certainly with whatever’s available for fan projects.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

        Hi scifimike,

        I’m not sure who the head bust in ‘The Brain of Morbius’ is supposed to be based on. I can’t recall if it’s in a DVD documentary or whether it’s Michael Spice, the actor who voiced Morbius, but I’m happy to go with it being Christopher Lee, especially with his connections to Hammer Horror movies, including the ‘Dracula’ and ‘The Mummy’ movies he did.

        Many thanks,

        Tim 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      5. scifimike70's avatarscifimike70

        I remember seeing what Michael Spice looked like in a Talons Of Weng Chiang bonus feature for the behind-the-scenes makeup chair. There is a possible likeness there too. But imagining Christopher Lee in any kind of Time Lord role is indeed as interesting as it was seeing his Star Wars contributions as Count Dooku.

        Liked by 2 people

      6. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

        Hi scifimike,

        Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I don’t think it matters too much as it’s always nice to speculate on these things regarding what Morbius looked like originally, whether it’d be Michael Spice or Christopher Lee. I’ve yet to hear the ‘Sisters of the Flame’/The Vengeance of Morbius’ two-parter featuring Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor and Sheridan Smith’s Lucie with Morbius played by Samuel West.

        Many thanks,

        Tim

        Liked by 1 person

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