Chalky, Dufus and Shirt…
THE HISTORY
The history of Chalky, Dufus and Shirt is
based on a series of fortuitous meetings which go back over fifteen-years.
In September 1987, Andrew East met and befriended
Darren Coe, who first reintroduced him to the wonders of the BBC sci-fi
television programme, “Doctor Who”. In April 1989, Paul Leach joined the gang,
also finally being converted to the cause, to make what was to the forerunner
of “Chalky, Dufus & Shirt”. However, it was not until 1994, that the core
group finally came together with the migration of Darren to Scotland (but not
before he had spent a year living in Andrew’s room, leading to Andrew vowing
never to live with friends again), and Andrew meeting Mark Bumpsteed at a
church picnic, pleased to find another WHO enthusiast.
The new triumvirate visited several
“Doctor Who” events including signings at the “Who Shop” and the newly opened
“Tenth Planet”, and a jaunt to Basildon for “Peladon 97”. However, just around
the corner lay a new chapter, brought about by a mad antipodean visitor.
The “Who Shop” had Katy Manning, who was living in Australia, our friends therefore decided to attend. However, they had not bargained on Ms. Manning’s madness. Signing one of Mark’s covers, she accidentally signed it to Katy, drawing the attention of the entire shop to the fact, before signing it from Mark. A “This Is Your Life”-type moment also caused Andrew to raise his eyes heavenward. Both of these incidents were captured for posterity by a cameraman, and are available on the Reeltime video “Where On Earth Is Katy Manning”. However, unaware of this at the time, Andrew decided to record the events for posterity in an alternative way. A legend was born.
Andrew got to writing the adventures of
three friends. He named himself Chalky due to his being a teacher, Mark became
Dufus due to his ability to make a complete fool of himself, and Paul’s
predilection for tasteless shirts earned him the moniker Shirt. Posted on this
website, “C,D&S….As
Seen On Video” was soon joined by many others, the current count being over
eighty.
Over the years, the gang has been graced
with new members. James Hanwen
(pseudonym “Cwej”), a frequent internet newsgroup poster, and maintainer
of “Stripping Down” THE internet guide to “Doctor Who” comic strips (http://www.strippingdown.co.uk/) briefly joined the gang, but then decided to start up his own
audio-obsessed gang. Another infrequent gang member was Heather Mansell (pseudonym “DesRes”), onetime housemate of
Mark, and someone who was on several occasions lost for something to do on a
Saturday. However, when she got a boyfriend who soon became a fiancé, then a
husband, she suddenly was busy on Saturdays. Emma Carlile (pseudonym “Enigma”)
brought a badly needed regular totty-element to the group, but her working
hours have meant that in recent months she has been more of a guest star than a
regular. She has however, introduced a new regular, Marc Taylor (pseudonym
“Lupine”), who seems to have as little else to do on Saturdays as Andrew, Mark
& Paul.
But where next ? A sitcom obviously !! For
several years, Mark has posited two ideas: that the adventures of Chalky, Dufus
& Shirt would make a good sitcom, and that the three friends should move in
together (an idea strongly rejected by Andrew for the reason given above). So
when Mark moved to Birmingham, Paul & Andrew decided to amalgamate these
two ideas, so that “Chalky, Dufus & Shirt” will live on in a new
medium. (Just think yourselves lucky
that you’re not getting “Chalky, Dufus & Shirt – The Musical”!) To read two
episodes, click
here.
With Mark now just an occasional visitor,
the gang needed new members. Prior to his move, Kate Stanton (pseudonym
“Tigger”), who also has the misfortune to be romantically involved with
Andrew, had attended a couple of signings. She also brought Emma Ladaio (pseudonym “Maple”), a teacher friend, as an occasional member of the group. Meanwhile
both Marc and Emma C brought their own paramours, Pete Coombs (pseudonym “Scooby”) and ’Loda’ Grönholm (pseudonym “Pinkie”) to
swell numbers. Even more recently, Marc has introduced Anu Virtanen (pseudonym “ ’Aunt’ Beru”), to the group.
With Andrew and Kate in wedded bliss, and Mark living in Birmingham, often Paul has had to attend signings on his own. However, the new series has introduced a whole load of new DW celebs to be met by the gang. Mark’s irregular visits to London, however, indicate that nothing much has changed, and that geography cannot break up the legend that is “Chalky, Dufus & Shirt”.