Shirt…

...Sees Sixth Sense

[SPOILER: If you don’t want to read this one right to the end, it turns out in the final paragraph that Shirt is a ghost].

Having enjoyed “Revelation Revealed” and “Hinchcliffe Horror”, when 'Spirit Sinema' announced “Sixth Sense”, a one-day event centred around Shirt’s favourite Doctor to celebrate his 25th anniversary, it was a bit of a no-brainer whether he was going to attend. The early announcement of a number of “Trial” guests, including Michael ‘Tonka Travers’ Craig, made it a certainty. The other two’s financial situations remain the same, both turned down Shirt’s offer to accompany him.

Making his way to the new venue, a comedy club attached to a pub on Chiswick High Road, Shirt found it difficult to contain his excitement at the thought of a whole day devoted to the Colin Baker era. Arriving twenty minutes before the doors were due to open, Shirt mingled with the small crowd of fans that had gathered. A member of pub staff setting out tables seemed surprised to see them, stating that he had been told that doors would not be opening until 11am, not the advertised 10.30am. However, this proved to be incorrect, and at the appointed time, the doors to the pub were opened and everyone traipsed through the bar area to the comedy club at the far side. Inside tickets were exchanged for souvenir programmes and the important autograph slips. Shirt then joined another small queue to purchase two extra autograph vouchers. Large Endings were also in attendance, but due to other events going on had sent what the men themselves described as ‘the D team’. Having already purchased the majority of items on sale via the internet or at Bad Wolf 2009, Shirt ignored them and found a good seat.

After a short time, the screens beside the stage sprang into life and began to show the fan-film “Auf Wiedersehen, Doc”, made during the ‘great hiatus’ between Seasons 22 & 23, and featuring a ‘Spitting Image’-type Colin Baker puppet trying to find work via the Job Centre. However, following the theme music, it stopped. Turning round, Shirt noticed that the film’s director, Kevin Davies, was in charge of the audio-visual equipment. About ten minutes later, the film started again, and this time continued to the end. Shirt found himself laughing heartily at the spot-on portrayals of Colin, JNT, Tom Baker, Leonard Nimoy, Gerry Anderson, and even Nicola Bryant. (Shirt wants that Nicola puppet !!!). The film completed and it was time for the first panel.

The first panel consisted of three actors from “The Mysterious Planet” (or TOATL 1-4) – Adam ‘Balazar’ Blackwood, Sion ‘Tandrell’ Tudor Owen & Billy ‘Humker’ McColl. All three were making their convention debuts and spoke enthusiastically about making the story, with Adam revealing that he kept his orange boiler-suit and uses it when he is decorating, even meeting the story’s costumer designer once a few years ago whilst popping out in it to get more paint. Billy seemed to remember a lot about the filming and as he spoke, it became clear that Sion was beginning to remember things, reminded by Billy’s anecdotes.

The next panel also comprised actors from “Trial” – Gordon ‘Tuza’ Warnecke from “Mindwarp” and Michael Craig from “Terror of the Vervoids”. Both were also ‘convention virgins’ and so shared stories that the majority of attendees had not heard before. Michael Craig stated that he was pleased that he had achieved a personal double – “Doctor Who” and “Jackanory”. Shirt felt that it was shame that the panel was so short as he would have enjoyed hearing more from them both, and there was no chance to ask Gordon about his ‘Nintendo Wii’ advert.

It was then time for the first signing session of the day – all the “Trial” guests. Shirt decided to queue for Gordon first, getting him on his DVD cover and in “The Eighties”, before joining the next queue, for Michael. Another DVD cover and “The Eighties” signed, and Shirt was joining the long queue that led to the three “Mysterious Planet” guests. Placing all items but his “MP” DVD cover, “The Eighties” and his autograph slip, into his bag, Shirt stood patiently in line. First was Danny McColl, then Sion Tudor Owen, and finally Adam Blackwood. The cover was signed in turn, followed by “The Eighties”. Returning to his seat, Shirt took the opportunity to eat his packed lunch.

Signing completed, the next panel featured Dominic Glynn speaking about how he composes incidental music, and his rearrangement of the Season 23 theme. He also revealed that he had done a ‘Doctor Who’ set at an outdoor festival that summer, playing incidental music and music inspired by the programme.

Then it was time for the man himself, ‘old Sixy’. Colin came on to great applause, and settled down for an interview not realising that one of his shirt buttons was undone, revealing slightly more flesh than is delicate. It was of note that no-one pointed this out to him for over ten minutes. Colin was in fine form, taking in Large Endings, his time on the show, the forthcoming “Missing Stories” audios, upcoming TV work, and his opinion of the magistrate who banned him from driving despite his pleas for leniency. The panel ended with Kevin Davies showing out-takes featuring Colin & Nicola from “Thirty Years in the TARDIS”.

This led into the second signing session where along with Colin and Dominic were director Pennant Roberts (who directed “Timelash” amongst others), Jeananne ‘Vena from Timelash’ Crowley, and Glen McCoy (writer of “Timelash”). Unsurprisingly the longest queue was for Colin, and so Shirt initially joined the queue for Dominic, getting his “Happiness Patrol” video cover and “Survival” DVD cover signed. There being no queue for Glen McCoy, he swiftly got his “Timelash” DVD cover and Target novelisation signed. Joining a slightly longer queue, he got Pennant on “Timelash” and “The Pirate Planet”, and Jeananne on “Timelash” and in his “The Eighties”. Unable to put it off any longer, he joined the gargantuan queue for Colin, which went out of a side door and round a small courtyard outside. Finally reaching the front, he got Colin on his “Trial” DVD boxset and on “Brotherhood of the Daleks” and “The Ultimate Adventure” (Large Endings’ audio version). As he was returning to his seat, Maggie Stables was arriving to Colin’s great delight, having not seen her for a long time.

Next was the “Timelash” panel, in which the others were joined by Robert ‘The Borad’ Ashby. Efforts were made not to draw attention to fans’ views of the story, but Robert displayed no diplomacy in his views of the story despite sitting next to Glen, the writer. He also spoke of being forced to watch ‘Doctor Who’ by his then partner, Louise Jameson, which may have coloured his views of the programme. Jeananne and Pennant also spoke enthusiastically about “Tenko” (which Robert was also probably forced to watch). Comment was also made at the success of various actors from the story since – in particular Tracy Louise ‘Katz’ Ward (now Marchioness of Worcester and noted environmentalist) and Steven ‘Gazak’ Mackintosh.

Following Colin cutting a cake, the final signing session of the day featured Robert Ashby, who was joined by Maggie Stables and India Fisher. Another signature on his “Timelash” DVD cover and “The Eighties”, and Shirt was joining the queue for Maggie Stables, where he got “Assassin in the Limelight” and “100” covers signed. The final queue of the day was for India Fisher, who was looking as attractive as Shirt had ever seen her in a pink sundress, showing a large amount of decollatage and acres of leg. For a few seconds on reaching the front of the queue, Shirt was speechless.

“Hello”, boomed India, clearly recognising Shirt from previous events.

“Can you sign these to Shirt ?”, stammered Shirt placing down covers for “The Condemned”, “The Doomwood Curse” and “The Raincloud Man”, handing the extra autograph voucher to the steward.

India did so, commenting on how it was a shame that her time as Charley was coming to an end.

“I’ve heard that before !”, said Shirt, gaining confidence. “At the ‘Girl Who Never Was’ signing at Seventh Galaxy, you told me the same !”

India laughed at this, her face looking even more perfect as she did so.

“I honestly thought it was. Nick (Briggs) didn’t tell me about Colin until later.”

Shirt mumbled something about “a likely story”, and begrudgingly moved off to retake his seat, leaving the angel of loveliness behind.

The final panel was the audio companions, India Fisher and Maggie Stables. Shirt was unable to remember much of what they said, so transfixed was he by the lovely Ms. Fisher. Maggie did say though that she was recording some more Large Endings’ stories with Colin later in the year.

This panel brought proceedings to an end, and still thinking of India, Shirt made his way out to Chiswick High Road, and completely misremembered the way back to the tube station (well, he was still distracted). Finally catching a train, Shirt mused on a day spent celebrating the Sixth Doctor era as he slowly wended his way home.

[PL]