...Have a Fantastic Time(Lord) !

Guest Starring: Zygon Curry

Having spent the previous day at an event almost on Shirt’s doorstep, Dufus and Shirt had booked to attend an event at the National Theatre with Christopher Eccleston speaking about and signing his memoir, 'I Love The Bones Of You', with Dufus delaying his return home by a day.

Following a leisurely morning, they made their way to Notting Hill, where the plan was for Dufus to replace some of the DW books that he had sold off over the previous few months. However, Dufus proved to be surprisingly restrained and it was Shirt that ended up buying several books. Next up was Naughty Asteroid, where Dufus bought several TITAN vinyl figures. Shirt then led them towards the temporary headquarters of BAFTA in Piccadilly where he had read there was a display of TV costumes, but with his usual lack of direction, led them straight past it, meaning that they had to retrace their steps for quite a distance. Utilising the facilities first, the display proved to be various Villanelle outfits from ‘Killing Eve’, a wig from ‘The Favourite’, and some storyboards from ‘The Clangers’.

They therefore strode off to catch the Underground to Waterloo, making their way first to the IBF IMAX where there was another costume display, this time of lots in a forthcoming ‘Prop Store’ sale. These included several ‘Dr Who’ items, including K9’s head, a clapperboard from ‘Bad Wolf’ and several weapons/instruments.

Having looked at all the items, with Shirt being surprised to find a 'Boys Brigade' belt as part of Alicia Vikander's 'Tomb Raider' costume, and in slight shock at some of the reserve prices, they made their way to the National Theatre. The talk proved to be in the Dorfman, the theatre which is on its own in a separate building, but both took the opportunity to buy their copies of the book in advance in an attempt to be nearer the front of the later signing queue. The placing of Post It notes in the books with their names on, indicated that Chris would be personalising.

Moving to the Dorfman, Shirt picked up their tickets and they took seats at a nearby table to wait for the auditorium doors to open. Having been sitting there for a short time, they saw Zygon Curry entering via the main doors, and hailed him. He came over, and they engaged in limited conversation. Comparing notes it seemed that Dufus and Shirt’s seats were closer to the front than Zygon’s, despite them booking them a few weeks later. Zygon Curry also had yet to purchase the book.

Finally the doors opened (a few minutes late), and they found their seats. The talk was taking place on the set of the Dorfman’s current play, 'Faith, Hope and Charity'. After a few minutes, Christopher and his interviewer, John Woodhouse (who helped him write the book), entered and began speaking about Chris’ early life, concentrating on his relationship with his father and his recently disclosed anorexia. ‘Doctor Who’ was briefly touched upon, but Chris’ laughing “Do we have to talk about that?” (whilst admitting that he “loved playing the Doctor”) meant that when the floor was opened to questions, none were directly about WHO despite the audience being 90% DW fans.

This session was going well, with one attendee even admitting to his own eating disorder to a supportive response from the great man, until John indicated that time was up. A female attendee then insisted on being allowed to speak, and launched into a prolonged lecture about anorexia being almost entirely an issue for females or gay males from the middle classes, citing the fact that she and other female members of her family had been sufferers as her right to say this.

John attempted to get her to either ask a question or get to her point, but was ignored.

“Have I offended you ?”, asked Chris, attempting to be placatory.

This was ignored and the attendee continued in the same vein, the level of uncomfortableness in the room growing.

Finally Chris interrupted her, “Can we just agree that it’s a disease that affects all genders, sexualities and classes ?” he asked to great applause from the room, before getting up and making to leave the stage. It was confirmed that the signing would be taking place in the other building, and Chris having left the stage, our friends traipsed out with the crowd.

Back in the main building a large queue had built up, which Dufus and Shirt joined. However, as photographs with Chris were not being allowed, the queue moved swiftly. After about fifteen minutes, Zygon Curry sidled up to them with his already signed book, seemingly having managed to push his way into the queue in front of them, utilising another of his many fan friends. (That said, this behaviour worked in Shirt’s favour at the Twelfth Doctor reveal).

Around ten minutes later and Shirt was stepping up, where Chris shook him warmly by the hand.

“Are you Shirt ?”, he asked, looking at the Post It note.

Shirt confirmed that he was, as Chris signed and dedicated his book, handing it back to him with a smile.

Shirt having moved off, the process was repeated with Dufus, who went for a second handshake after the book was signed, but the next person had already been moved in.

Dufus then spent around five minutes trying to get a photo of Chris at the signing table that he was happy with (Zygon Curry’s influence rubbing off on him).

As Dufus needed to get home that night, they made their apologies to Zygon, and dashed for a train and Underground to Shirt’s, where after a short rest to pull together his stuff, Dufus set off for home. It had been a fantastic weekend !

[PL]