Actually yes I'd forgotten this. Three people who live in a hedge and one who just stepped out of the salon. bsky.app/profile/benj...

I love that the original BBC cast cards for Doctor Who make it look like the exciting adventures of four people who live in a hedge.

And some more Carole Ann Ford photos I love 😍: 1) Aged 16, in August 1956. 2) Her 1964 Doctor Who cast card pic. 3) With Pertwee and Troughton in Chicago, November 1983. 4) With Maureen O'Brien at a Fantom signing in London, May 2025 (📸 by the amazing @misterphipps.bsky.social).

🚨 RARE PIC KLAXON! Courtesy of Carole: here’s her REAL-LIFE grandfather – a photo of ACTUAL Dr Who! – “a very upright Victorian gentleman” (sounds about right). That’s him seated centre, surrounded by his wife and 12 children! More in this month’s DWM… #GoBackGrandfather

Carole’s casting in Doctor Who almost didn’t happen. Early in 1963, she’d signed to leave for America that August to begin rehearsals for a Broadway musical opening in December. If that job had held, there’s no way she could have played Susan. Full story ⬇️ from my piece in DWM…

I think this may be the first public mention of Doctor Who, a couple of weeks ahead of it being spoken of in the BBC’s launch of the autumn season, of which Doctor Who was part.

In this month’s DWM, I sit down with Carole Ann Ford for an epic 27-page chat. But here’s a bit of history: she was also Doctor Who’s first-ever interviewee! On 1 Sept 1963, the News of the World announced the show’s launch via a chat with Carole – complete w/DW’s first spoilers!

🚨 Episode 1 of Obsolete is live in 15 minutes! 🚨 I hope you enjoy it, and have a happy #DoctorWhoDay Link below... www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOSP...

Expect: 🚢 Missing ships! 😈 Sea creatures! ⚔️ The Master (safely locked up – or is he?) 🥪 Sandwiches! 💣 Landmines!! ⚡ Reversing the polarity… 🖋️ A brilliant Malcolm Hulke script 🎬 Gorgeous direction by Michael E Briant (who’s been very supportive ❤️) 🎵 And. That. Music!

Starring Jon Pertwee & Katy Manning! 🎶 With NEW MUSIC by the legendary Lorne Balfe! 🙌 – woven together with Malcolm Clarke’s groundbreaking 1972 score – and updated sound design by the genius @markayresrws.bsky.social! 🔊 Graphic design by @georgieoboy.bsky.social! And… action by HAVOC!! 💥

Yesterday was the online review and final mix of our 2025 cut of “The Sea Devils”. 🌊 😈 Pictured ⬇️ at the mix with @markayresrws.bsky.social, Russell T Davies, and our brilliant post-production producer Ceres Doyle – and ⬇️ in the actual TARDIS (!!) with Mark and Mark’s son Sam.

Accidentally walked into a cupboard. It’s bigger on the inside. WHERE ARE WE? Send help! @markayresrws.bsky.social

If you care about where the BBC is headed, linear TV, ratings, casting, commissioning, competition from YouTube/TikTok, and how a huge hit like The Celebrity Traitors happens – and whether it can be guaranteed! – this ⬇️ is well worth 53 minutes of your time. 🔊

FUN FACT: This news makes The Sea Devils* officially the most oft-repeated Pertwee story on 'terrestrial' television, ahead of Spearhead From Space**, The Daemons*** and The Green Death**** (3 repeats each). *1972, 1974, 1992, 2025 **1971, 1999, 2006 ***1971, 1992, 2007 ****1973, 1994, 2006

Lorne Balfe is having such a great time. Missions Impossible, Wallace and Gromit and now the Sea Devils soundtrack. Blimey

“I always find that violent exercise makes me hungry.” I’ve edited a thing. 7 DECEMBER! – 7PM – BBC FOUR (and iPlayer from 6AM, for early risers/sadists)… THE SEA DEVILS. 🌊😈⚔️🥪🚤🔥👹 A brand-new 90-minute blockbuster edit of one of the maddest DOCTOR WHO stories EVER! www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...

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A look at why every Doctor Who companion is metaphorically Carole Ann Ford's granddaughter, Susan Foreman, and every Doctor is William Hartnell's grandfather, the First Doctor. / #DoctorWho

Today’s post 1/2

Enjoying @benjamincook.bsky.social's detailed and footnoted interview with Carole Ann Ford in Doctor Who Magazine 623, now out; I'm very aware at the moment of how the loss of a generation means the loss of context which had been taken for granted and there is substantial memory-collecting here.

Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.

Huge thanks to @paul-hayes.bsky.social, whose ridiculous good Pull to Open book was the most useful interview prep imaginable, and to @davidbrunt.bsky.social, whose Doctor Who Production Diary: The Hartnell Years is an invaluable resource on this era. I recommend both very, very highly.

“Go back, Grandfather!” In the new Doctor Who Magazine, on sale TODAY, you can read my epic 27-page interview with CAROLE ANN FORD – now 85 and still defiantly, magnificently Susan! Also, I take a look at the near-Susans lost to the show’s turbulent pre-history. 🧵 Quotes to follow…

Ooh, another monster Ben Cook interview with a major Who figure. Hook it to my veins.

“I want to come back! I want to meet Daleks again – or be in a Christmas Special. All-singing, all-dancing.” Hello. I’ve done a little 27,000-word thing for the new Doctor Who Magazine – on sale this Thurs! It’s CAROLE ANN FORD’s most in-depth, introspective interview ever!! Let’s go!!!

“I want to come back! I want to meet Daleks again – or be in a Christmas Special. All-singing, all-dancing.” Hello. I’ve done a little 27,000-word thing for the new Doctor Who Magazine – on sale this Thurs! It’s CAROLE ANN FORD’s most in-depth, introspective interview ever!! Let’s go!!!

So much fun putting together this cover for Doctor Who Magazine pulling all the elements together across time (and space!) Read the fantastic interview of Carole Ann Ford by the brilliant @benjamincook.bsky.social when it hits the shelves soon!

NEWS: Toby Hadoke Podcast Toby Hadoke, plus a host of Doctor Who luminaries, have recorded a very special podcast about missing episodes. Fantasy Film Cans (Part One) is, as Toby states: ‘Pure fantasy: a parlour game turned into a podcast.’ But what great fun! x.com/tobyhadoke/s...

Why the BBC WAC should remain bigger on the inside. An absolutely boffo column from Doctor Who mensch @tobyhadoke.bsky.social about the very silly decision by the BBC to cut off independent and exploratory research at its Written Archives Centre. cstonline.net/defending-th...

"The BBC has clanged their doors shut on those histories, those stories, those lives and ways of working that are revealed through the joint industry of the historian and the archivist." @helenwheatley.bsky.social on the devastating decision to limit access to BBC archives. tinyurl.com/y4tnyw9a

To donate to 'Film Is Fabulous!', a charitable trust, please follow the link below filmisfabulous.org.uk/the-film-is-...

Here’s what happens when three BRILLIANT guests are paired with the PERFECT interviewer (👏🏻 Tim) for a deep dive into a subject most of us don’t know as much about as we think we do! 👀 @filmisfabulous.bsky.social on archive TV, the human side of film collecting, and (ok, yes!) missing Doctor Who. 🎞️

Which production is this from, please? It’s Carole Ann Ford, but in… what?

If you read one thing this week/month/year make sure it’s @benjamincook.bsky.social interview/in depth feature on Jodie Whittaker and her time as the 13th Doctor, including a mega interview with Jodie herself and with Chris Chibnall in this months Doctor Who Magazine. More Jodie More 13th Doctor ❤️❤️

Obviously as a staff member it is not appropriate for me to comment on this. But it is an interesting read.

The actions leading up to the campaign to restore access to the BBC Written Archives, from Ian Greaves for CST: cstonline.net/is-the-bbc-a...

Pride of place on the cover for my beloved Pting, I love it. When is Pting’s 23 page interview scheduled to run?!

I will always love Thirteen! 💙💙 #DoctorWho

Fascinating new issue of Doctor Who Magazine focusing on Jodie Whittaker. Haven’t had the chance yet to read her lengthy interview but great insightful interviews with @chrischibnall.bsky.social and really interesting chats with writers who have worked with her on other shows and how they see DW.

Nice to read interviews with (non Who) writers and directors who have worked with Jodie Whitaker in the new DWM... I'd be really curious to see Joe Cornish's take on Who

This 43 year old endorses @benjamincook.bsky.social and Jodie Whittaker’s vintage. Also, get the magazine. Not only the most insightful interview of JW I’ve seen, but also fascinating insights into the state of UK television and cracking interviews with Jack Thorne, Joe Cornish and Jesse Armstrong.

Reading the Jodie interview and was reminded of the Doctor's message during lockdown. It seems especially apt right now - especially for trans people. So I thought I'd share it again. Warning. It might make you cry. It did me. youtu.be/l0ED6CGmjm4?...

Not read the huge interview with Jodie Whittaker yet, but I'm sat on the bus with Doctor Who Magazine - just looking at random bits - and this part just caught my eye. This interview's going to be my favourite thing the magazine's ever done isn't it.

Fantastic interview with Jodie Whittaker in DWM. Everything she said makes me like her and her Doctor even more. She loves being the Doctor. Absolutely LOVES IT. She’s so positive, full of life and energy. It’s wonderful. That, and Jodie, is why Thirteen is so special to me.

That’s [expletive] lovely of you to say so. 😊

My copy has just arrived and I can confirm this interview is *23* pages long. It's been a while since we've had one of Ben's super-in-depth Doctor interviews, really looking forward to this!

How fantastic to get a super-size interview from Ben Cook in the pages of DWM again. It's been YEARS!

Thirteen Thursday? Great day to read DWM out today with a 23-page interview with the 13th Doctor!

The latest Doctor Who Magazine has landed on my doormat. The Jodie Whittaker interview should give the Radio Times website enough articles for about a month.

OUT TODAY! In all good newsagents, supermarkets, and comic shops – or buy online. #DWM621 #BuyMagazines 🧵⬇️