Shirt…

…Here Come The Girls !!

There was to be another one-day event from 'Spirit Sinema', the organisers of “Revelation Revealed”, “Hinchcliffe Horror” and “Sixth Sense”. This one was entitled “Girls, Girls, Girls” and unsurprisingly featured lovely ladies from throughout WHOs forty-six years. The promise of some new series guests that he didn’t have on his posters, Anna Hope (Novice Hame and two-time Sixth Doctor audio guest star), Caroline Morris, Chalky’s favourite Sara Griffiths, as well as other ladies he hadn’t met before, meant that Shirt made a last minute decision to go.

Fighting his way across London to Chiswick, his journey made more difficult by Underground line closures, Shirt finally made it to the Pub that was hosting the event. A small queue had built up outside, but when Shirt returned from a quick trip to the small supermarket opposite to buy some lunch for later, they had all been let in. Finally finding how to get into the comedy club, Shirt gave the man at the desk his name, and took his souvenir programme and autograph sheet. A sign on the desk gave bad news – Sara ‘Ray’ Griffiths would be unable to attend, as would Ayesha Antoine (Dee Dee from “Midnight”).

‘More like “Girls, Girls” !’, thought Shirt.

Having paid for two extra autographs, Shirt took his seat, and about ten minutes later, one of the organisers bounded onto stage to confirm the non-attendances – Sara due to having a five week old baby and her husband being ill and therefore unable to look after it, and Ayesha due to wrongly believing that she could catch a train from Wales where she was filming, to the event. Bad news over, the first panel was Sally Faulkner, also known as Isobel Watkins from “The Invasion”. She spoke enthusiastically about the story, her co-stars, and the bizarreness of seeing herself as an animated character on the DVD release. This completed, a queue formed for her autograph, Shirt dutifully joined this, and fifteen minutes later was getting his “Invasion” DVD cover and “The Secret of Cassandra” CD sleeve signed.

Next up was Anna Hope, who looked much more attractive than Shirt remembered. She discussed the cat-nun make-up, described Donna Croll as having a ‘feline face’ and the Face of Boe as looking like her dreadlocked boyfriend, and expressed her surprise that she had been asked back for “Gridlock”. Having been unrecognisable in her previous two appearances, Anna expressed ‘hope’ (geddit) that she would be asked back again. She also spoke briefly about playing DI Menzies opposite the Sixth Doctor on audio. Another queue formed, and soon Shirt was getting his Series 3 poster, and “The Condemned” and “The Raincloud Man” CD covers signed. He also began wishing that he had brought his camera with him to have a photo with the lovely Anna.

Whilst he had been in the queue, two further guests had arrived and began signing. Shirt therefore joined these queues also, getting Nina Thomas from “The Monster of Peladon” in his “The Seventies” and on a video cover that Chalky had given him to get signed. Next up was Jenny McCracken from “Carnival of Monsters”, who signed “The Seventies” and Chalky’s DVD cover. At this point, Caroline Morris also arrived, but was not proving popular, and so Shirt managed to nip in and get her to sign three CD covers.

Returning to his seat, Shirt ate his lunch. The next panel was Jenny and Nina, who both spoke well of Jon Pertwee and the respective directors. Jenny told the story about the naval instrument going missing from the ship, and it turning up under Jon Pertwee’s cape, believing that no-one would have heard it before. Next up was Caroline Morris, who was also looking very attractive, in a little black dress. She revealed that she has given up acting, and is now involved in television production, working on ‘factual entertainment’ programmes including “Come Dine With Me”. A second “Pertwee Girls’ panel, then featured Anna Barry from “Day of the Daleks” and Jane How from “Planet of the Daleks”. Having again discussed Pertwee, as well as acting with Daleks, and changes in audition processes (Anna now works at a drama school), the panel ended with Jane telling us exactly how many Daleks could be on the planet.

Anna and Jane then began signing, being joined by Jessica Gunning (the unfortunate Stacey from “Partners in Crime”). Shirt decided to meet Jessica first, getting his Series 4 poster and an index card for his boxset signed. Next, he got the other two on their respective video covers and in his “The Seventies”.

The next panel was somewhat curtailed, as having only worked on the series for two days, and had no scenes with the Doctor, Jessica had limited anecdotes. The “Doctor Who Confidential” on “Partners in Crime” had also spoilt most of her stories about the ‘special effects’. She spoke briefly about her recurring role on “Law and Order UK”, but due to being in the police part, has no scenes with Freema Agyeman. The next panel was supposed to be Judith Paris and Hilary Seta (from “Snakedance”), but the latter had not arrived yet. Therefore, Judith began signing, and when Hilary arrived a little later, she joined in.

Standing in the queue, Shirt’s attention was drawn to the man sitting at the table selling photographs, who was embarrassing the young girl (presumably his daughter) sitting next to him. There was something very familiar about him. Then Shirt noticed a strangely familiar blue jumper. The man spoke, and glancing at his face again, mentally de-aging it, Shirt came to a realisation – it was Orac from the local group !

Reaching the front of the queue, Shirt got Judith to sign Chalky’s “Hand of Fear” DVD and video covers, as he already had his signed, but Judith managed to smudge her signature on one with her hand. Hilary was signing at a much slower pace, but Shirt managed to get his “Snakedance” video cover and “The Eighties” signed (nearly crushing her discarded spectacles with the latter as he placed it on the signing table).

It was hoped that there would be a final panel with Judith and Hilary, but looking at his watch, and aware of the difficult journey home, Shirt decided to leave early. Slowly wending his way home, Shirt mused on another excellent day spent in the company of Doctor Who actors.

[PL]