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I’m always especially delighted to hear interviews with the ‘60s actors who really loved William Hartnell - as an actor and as a person. William Russell, Carole Ann Ford and Peter Purves all come into this category. But there’s something about Maureen O’Brien’s appreciation of him that I think is particularly special and authentic. She, with her ironic,Liverpudlian sense of humour (I, quite literally, know where she’s coming from - because it’s where I’m coming from too!) clearly found him delightfully funny. There’s a story she told in a ‘90s ‘Myth Makers’ interview - about Bill on the subject of clean underwear, where she’s practically peeing herself laughing! Hartnell was one of those true originals - like Tom Baker - who was uniquely himself. As she puts it so eloquently here: “I think he was a wonderful actor, and I think he was an extraordinary, eccentric man, of whom I was deeply fond; and we were very close while we were working on it.” I was rewatching the Romans this morning; and at the beginning of episode 2, when he’s boasting of his his pugilistic prowess (“Do you know it was I that used to teach the Mountain Mauler of Montana?”), there’s one of those lovely moments where you can see the fusion of the characters’ and the actors’ enjoyment of each other: Vicki’s laughter is genuine because it’s simultaneously Maureen’s. Of course, I sat down to watch this interview as a fan; and then was astonished to hear Dwayne mention my name! I’m extremely touched that he should speak so kindly about the work that Nick and the team and myself are attempting with the new First Doctor Adventures. It was especially lovely to see Maureen’s delight at the idea. Whether she’d be so delighted if she heard it is another matter - knowing him so well as she did; and I also know that she - like all good actors (and Liverpudlians) - is ‘nothing if not critical’! Incidentally, the whole subject of Bill’s fluffs is a fascinating one. I love that Dwayne and Philip discussed the possibility of him putting them in on purpose. I’m sure Maureen’s right and that they were entirely unintentional. However, the reason why the lads here can speculate that they may have been deliberate - and the reason why I feel justified in putting some of my own into the new episodes! - is that Hartnell ALWAYS made them seem like they belonged to the performance. They don’t - as in almost all other instances - appear to be the actor faltering. They appear COMPLETELY to be part of the Doctor’s eccentricity. When he says - to use a famous instance - in the Time Meddler, “I’m not a mountain goat and I prefer walking to any day, and I hate climbing!” - he delivers it with such pace and conviction that it appears to make its own surreal sense. He then walks off and hilariously leaves O’Brien and Purves to deal with it! In a largely comedic story like the Outlaws, it seemed the perfect platform to celebrate this aspect of his brilliance. You’ll notice in the more sombre, scarier world of the Miniaturist that I lay off it; and focus on the, shall we say, less humorous aspects of his characterisation. Anyway, this was a thoroughly enjoyable interview. And I can’t wait to see the upcoming one with Mr Briggs! 😁
Stephen, thank you so much for your thought and reflection that went into your comment. It warms our hearts to know that people are listening and appreciating what we are doing. Even more so those who are creating what we love. Maureen was amazing to speak to and there were other parts of the conversation that haven’t made it here, some due to spoilers, some due to high emotion, some due to a bit too much Liverpudlian ‘honesty’. But her heart, and wisdom, and method is apparent. This is a moment in time (like our chat with Peter Purves) that we still pinch ourselves have happened. These true pioneers of the show who hold such secrets. I know Bill was full of fluffs but I still wonder if some are character driven. In the Massacre he is word perfect and so not Doctor for two episodes. Could he really be so perfect if he did struggle with lines and memory as much as people suggest? Once again, thanks for your comments and we look forward to speaking with you! Soon I hope.
Thanks so much Stephen for your extremely insightful and generous comments! Of course we would love to chat with you personally about the role for the podcast, so reach out to us at sirensofaudio@gmail.com anytime. Lovely to hear your thoughts about Benji Clifford's interview on the Big Finish podcast over the weekend too. We are very much looking forward to many more first Doctor adventures with you at the helm, or should we say, the console.
@@philipedney1931 Thank you, Philip. Maureen O’Brien personifies the spirit of an age when our culture was all about expanding the parameters of expression - when the ethos was to “speak what we feel, not what we ought to say”! It was the ethos of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Many of the remarkable men and women who gave us Classic Doctor Who fought in the Second World War, or were brought up in it, or - in Maureen’s case - were born in it. I think they had a vivid grasp of the value of freedom - a sensibility which suffuses the - it’s a bit of a hyperbole, but not entirely unjustified - ‘Golden Age’ of British television. Wonderful people! Meanwhile, you’ve inspired me to go and have another look at ‘the Massacre’, and ponder the mysterious eloquence of the Abbot of Amboise! Very best wishes, Stephen 😁
@@AudioSirens I loved the Benji Clifford interview too, that’s right! And I must explore more of these conversations. I think you both have a great approach to this material; it reminds me very much of the interviews that Nicholas Briggs did in the ‘90s. He, like you, brilliantly facilitated an opportunity for the subjects to expound at length. And many of those interviews are the only existing records of their experiences. So the work he did then, and that you are doing now, is of inestimable cultural value, I think. Very best wishes, Stephen 😁
Thank you for this! I could listen to her stories for hours. She said 10 months she was in Dr Who? 9 episodes in 10 months. Wow! They cranked them out. She's so funny too. "Who is this ditz?" and "she didn't seem to have any sense of humor OR BRAINS!". LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
