Shirt…

…The Cryon Game

Seventh Galaxy Events had announced a signing celebrating the DVD release of “Attack of the Cybermen”, the last Season 22 episode to be released in the format. Present would be two of Telos’ original residents, the Cryons, namely Sarah Berger and Esther Freud (Rost and Threst). Colin-fan, Shirt was keen to go (if only to allow use of the above punning title – “A Cryon Shame” having been rejected). Also present would be two New Series guest stars – Andree Bernard (Dolly Bailey from “The Shakespeare Code”) and Jacqueline King (the redoubtable Sylvia Noble).

The usual weekend engineering works meant that Shirt had to go a slightly circuitous route to Barking, arriving about 45 minutes after the signing had begun. The queue had all but died away, so Shirt quickly paid for his autographs and moved to the signing table before the panels began. First up was Jacqueline King, but as Shirt had previously met her (see S…Does The Noble Thing) he neatly side-stepped her, offering his Series 3 poster to Andree Bernard, who was impressed by the number of signatures already on it. Moving along, Shirt got Sarah Berger’s signature on both his DVD and video covers. There did not seem to be a steward with her, but as he placed his items down, one suddenly appeared at his shoulder, crossing off the requisite number of autographs. The final guest was Esther Freud, who also signed the DVD and video covers.

Taking a seat towards the back of the room, Shirt read the latest copy of FXS for ten minutes until the first panel – Sarah, Esther and Andree – began. All spoke enthusiastically about their time on the programme, and their respective Doctors – Colin being the ‘grown-up on set’ and David ‘the nicest man in acting’. It was also revealed that Esther had another WHO connection, being the wife of Next Doctor, David Morrissey. Although David had been sworn to secrecy as to whether he actually was the ‘next Doctor’, it was revealed that Esther would tell anyone who asked ‘no he’s not’. Sarah spoke at length about the restrictions of the Cryon masks, and how they all tottered around the set trying not to fall over obstacles that were hidden in the mist/dry-ice. Esther now a writer, commented that ‘Doctor Who’ is mentioned when she is introduced at all literary events. The interviewer told her that Alexei Sayle had told him the same thing, but that the only thing he remembered about the experience was Nicola Bryant’s attributes. Sarah and Esther seemed unsurprised by this.

Following a brief break for a few autographs for latecomers, the next panel was Jacqueline King, who spoke enthusiastically about working with Catherine Tate and Bernard Cribbins, paid tribute to Howard Attfield (recounting the last time she was with him, coming back on a train from the filming of “The Runaway Bride” with complimentary wine, and how happy he stated he was), and gave her insights into Sylvia’s ‘soft-centre’. She also revealed that she hadn’t been aware who was playing Donna in “The Runaway Bride” until she met Catherine on day one of filming. She added to the tributes to Mr. Tennant, citing an example where he had been working hard all day, and at the end whilst everyone went back to the hotel, went up to a group of young fans and their parents who had been watching filming, to sign autographs, only for one parent to complain ‘We’ve been waiting all day, you know!’. Jacqueline nearly jumped out of her car to point out that David had been busy all day doing his job, ie. filming the series, but David was graciousness itself, and this was therefore not required.

Panels completed, the assembled fans trooped out down the steps, and into Barking Market. Shirt made his way back to the station, where four pushchairs were being carried up and down the stairs. The woman helping carry one of them, looked very familiar. ‘It’s Jacqueline King!’, Shirt suddenly realised. Placing the pushchair down and having been thanked by the mother, Jacqueline ran off to catch a District Line train. Shirt also ran off, but managed to just miss it. Catching the next one, and changing at Mile End, Shirt made his way to Tottenham Court Road and Naughty Asteroid, who were having their 2000^th signing. In a clear leap of logic, they had teamed up with 2000AD (who were celebrating their thirtieth anniversary), and writers and artists from a host of 2000AD titles were present, some with WHO connections.

The signing was free-form, meaning that the guests were mingling with the fans. Shirt firstly approached Dan Abnett, getting him to sign “The Story of Martha” and the ‘Torchwood’ audio “Everyone Says Hello”. Next, he got Tony Lee to sign the fourth issue of the comic-book series “Doctor Who: The Forgotten” (the one featuring the Sixth Doctor). Finally David Bishop signed “Who Killed Kennedy?”. Having looked at the action figures, finding none that he wanted, Shirt wended his way home to watch his “Attack” DVD.

[PL]