Time & Riverside IV: Doctor Who Sea & Space + Q&A Review

Riverside Studios recently collaborated with the Doctor Who Appreciation Society for a concluding event as part of the 60th anniversary year. They screened on the 15th October a double bill screening of Riverside Studios -filmed episodes from the second Doctor era. The Doctor Who episodes were The Underwater Menace Episode 2 first shown in 1967 and The Wheel in Space first Episode 6 shown in 1968 which was the last episode to be filmed at the Riverside Studios.  

 Following the screening of The Underwater Menace live episode a mixed panel of production and actors joined the stage to discuss their memories of their time working on the series. 

Interview with actors Michael Troughton, Catherine Howe and make-up designer Sylvia James

Son of Patrick, Michael Troughton started his career as an Assistant Stage Manager at the Arts Theatre in London. He has appeared in numerous film and television roles, most notably in ‘The New Statesman’ ‘Minder’ and ‘Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married’. Asked about when his father took the role Michael remembered his father calling his children from a film set in Ireland to say he had been offered the role as Doctor Who. His father seemed unsure at first but was persuaded by his children after daily calls to take the role. Patrick Troughton he stated wanted to look after his family. Michael thought it wonderful at twelve years old that his father was playing the Doctor. Michael wrote his father’s biography a few years ago and spoke about the closeness his father had with Frazer Hines and how a similar familiarity has occurred between Michael and Frazer whilst doing the Big Finish audios where he plays his father’s role as The Doctor.

Catherine Howard played Ara in The Underwater Menace and was also an actress in other popular series such as  ‘Z-Cars’, The Wednesday Play’ and ‘Dixon Of Dock Green. During the 1970s Catherine went on to be a singer with the title track of her second Folk album ‘Harry’ receiving an Ivor Novello Award. Catherine came from the same stage school as Frazer Hines and remembers looking up to him as she was a few years younger. She was very young, just 16 years old when she played Ava and looking at herself on the big screen, she seemed a bit embarrassed by her performance. Catherine recalled her costume and being worried about wearing a seaweed skirt. She also disclosed that her agent told her she was at one point being considered as a companion for the show although there was a crowded Tardis already. 

Till now and I shall always keep my Doctor with me because I will never know when he will be needed – Quote from Patrick Troughton’s diary after doing The Three Doctors quoted in his autobiography

 It is on record that Patrick Troughton didn’t like The Underwater Menace and what he thought was a weak script. His son Micheal explained it was probably an over-ambitious script. The script was originally commissioned for The Underwater Menace but then dropped from the production schedule, partly because of concerns that it would require a higher budget than was available. When another script fell through from William Emms it became a late replacement story.

Talking about The Underwater Menace Catherine recalled how when video recording stopped at one point in the studio to insert a very expensive film sequence of the fish people swimming, she was next to a furious Patrick Troughton. There were many sets made for the serial and it was a story that ate into the budget. Micheal Troughton revealed how his father was worried that Doctor Who would close as viewing figures were going down. His father was very committed to the role and taking the role Patrick needed he felt to be a success. Patrick Troughton left the role after three years is remembered for setting the template for other Doctors who followed. He was persuaded by his son in 1972  to come back for The Three Doctors which averaged 10 million viewers 

Sylvia James joined the show as a make-up assistant on ‘The Savages’ starring William Hartnell and also worked on thirteen Patrick Troughton stories as a make-up designer between 1967 and 1969. Her later work also featured in Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker’s stories including ‘The Sea Devils’ and ‘Genesis Of The Daleks’ she worked on moulding the latex mask onto Michael Wisher’s face when he played Davros. Talking of the differences between working with Patrick Troughton she found it an enjoyable experience as he was very professional and funny despite the stresses of filming. Sylvia recalled fondly how much she laughed later with Tom Baker, being made to feel part of the team. The atmosphere on set with Jon Pertwee was a far more serious affair.

However, from the earliest stories she loved coming into Doctor Who and recalled a “family atmosphere” on the show. Working at Riverside Studios she remembered the rather pungent smells coming from the river. Discussing the challenges of make-up Sylvia explained how she always worked in colour when planning but the challenges of black and white broadcast episodes required consideration of light and shade. 

Interview with Assistant Floor Manager Marcia Wheeler, Director Tristan de Vere Cole and Actors Kevork Malikyan and Wendy Padbury

Tristan de Vere Cole was an uncredited production assistant on The Dalek Invasion Of Earth and The Gunfighters before going on to direct his only serial ‘The Wheel In Space’. Recalling his training he remembered seeing An Unearthly Child being filmed and then working as a production assistant on The Gunfighters. When it came to directing, he really had wanted a historical story rather than a future-based episode but took the episode. His mantra of production was script, casting and then directing. The script he received from Derek Gilbert who he had worked with previously on Z Cars he thought was excellent. There was a good team behind the script in his opinion as although written by David Whitaker the inspiration was from Kit Pedler, who had been a top eye surgeon, the script editor was Derrick Sherwin and producer Peter Bryant.

Tristan was responsible as director for casting the supporting actors such as Eric Flynn who played Leo Ryan and also Kevork Malikyan. This was to change later with the introduction of “casting directors”. Marcia Wheeler Assistant Floor Manager on ‘The Wheel In Space’ gave some insight into how casting was very much discussed amongst the production team at that time and explained when someone became a production manager, they were allowed to go to view touring shows and theatre schools under a system of material talent investigations so to basically view new upcoming actors.

One of the aspects Marcia highlighted was Doctor Who, seen as a children’s show with not a huge amount of money was used as a training ground for new directors with all the technical challenges that came with a science fiction show. Experienced directors could be rather dismayed to be asked back to work on Doctor Who. There is a scene in episode 6 of The Wheel in Space which has a dead body seen in several shots.

Marcia revealed how Barry Letts in the Third Doctor era had a rule that dead bodies had to “disappear” and explosions had to have a “magical” element which would stop children from copying the stunt. Marcia discussed how the technical elements of the show when she returned to Pertwee’s last era were more complex. She recalled her first experience of editing and learning to trust her own judgment. 

Kevork Malikyan was in The Wheel in Space as a technician but is probably better known for his film roles including the Academy award-winning prison drama, Midnight Express and Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade. One of the pleasures of a screening with guests is you hear some interesting stories. He recounted a story of how director Julia Smith (who directed The Underwater Menace) approached him twice in a role in Eastenders where she later became a producer. After leaving drama he was invited by Julia Smith initially to play a Turkish Cypriot character, an uncle to the cafe owner which he declined and then to play a doctor on the square in the soap opera replacing the much-loved Dr Legg.

Although interested in the role he had just auditioned for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom with Steven Spielberg and laughed that he really wanted that role instead. Hurriedly he chased up his agent to get Steven Spielberg’s response. It took months to get a response from the movie director but he eventually secured that role on the basis of his role in Midnight Express Julia Smith said she would not ask him again and the offer did not come which I don’t think he regretted with the career he has had. 

Wendy Padbury was cast as the second Doctor’s companion Zoe Heriot in 1968, first appearing in the season five finale The Wheel In Space. She remained on the show until ‘The War Games’ the following year. Wendy talked about how she became an agent after having lost her love of acting in her mid-forties. Her job also involved going out to the theatre to spot new talent. She recounted the well-known story of how she took on Matt Smith as a client at the age of 21 after seeing him in a production at The National Youth Theatre.

When the news broke, that he was in Doctor Who she just knew he would be an excellent 11th, Doctor. Reviewing her time with the show it was just a role at the time as she was only 20 and early in her career but it is a role that she looks back with great fondness now. Wendy had to adapt to joining the team as a new character who used her brain to resolve things whilst there was Jamie used his brawn. She was aware that ratings were going up when Patrick Troughton was in the role and he made things fun. Asked if she would return to Doctor Who she joked she would start tomorrow.

The final part of the event was a photoshoot with the guests and the opportunity for autographs. It’s a lovely time to have a chat with the guests and show some appreciation for their contribution to our favourite show 

This was the final Time and Riverside event, but it has been subsequently announced there is a special event screening the drama Adventures in Time and Space and guests, including David Bradley in November. Tickets are still available Doctor Who: An Adventure In Space And Time + Special Guests | Riverside Studios

Riverside Studios is also holding a free exhibition celebrating 60 years of Doctor Who Regeneration at Riverside | Riverside Studios until December.