Here is a short clip from Doctor Who actor Peter Purves talking about his experiences working with the first Doctor, William Hartnell. The full episode can be found here - • Peter Purves Interview... sirensofaudio.com
@@AudioSirens All the challenges that any actor can have with a sci-fi series dominated by complex dialogue and technobabble are very sympathetic. I had great respect for William Hartnell being able to work his way through it all as well as he could.
I am very fond of Hartnell's portrayal of the Doctor, flubs and all (probably because I can relate due to stuttering issues and getting mad at myself). The times he stood up gripping his jacket as he did just makes me smile. Not sure why, it just does :)
I literally just watched "The Time Meddler" last night and the _"I prefer walking to any day..........and I hate climbing, come along..."_ fluff is not only iconic, but always makes me chuckle. Damn right Hartnell was a good actor. At his age he could flub a line and recover within the same scene. That requires skill.
I've in recent weeks watched the two first seasons of Doctor Who, and Peter Purves showed up not too many episodes ago. Had no idea at first glance he'd be a regular and replace the old timers Barbara and Ian. At first glance one would think he's just another random character they come across, but he'll essentially be new Ian. Terrific to see both him and Ian is around and kicking. Ian turns 100 this year, God willing! Let's hope he'll be around to have a terrific Bilbo-tier birthday party.
TV actors today have it easy today, with the luxury of being able to do dozens of retakes if they fluff lines, so we don’t see the fluffs in the broadcast programme. Actors from the era when early Doctor Who was being made had no such luxury.
There were plenty of fluffs Hartnell made, (as did a lot of the cast in those early days of long single takes) but Purves' example isn't a good one. In the clip he doesn't want to be thought of as a deity but also doesn't want his name abbreviated by Katarina. "Remember, Katarina, you must call me 'Doctor.'" "Oh, as you wish, Doc." "I am not a 'Doc'... I am not a God."
Peter’s right, Talking Pictures TV is awash with William Hartnell. BTW, was this only recorded a couple of years ago? Peter looks like he’s in his 60s rather than his 80s!
