Five/Fear

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott discuss Peter Davison and fear in Doctor Who in the fifth (well, okay…seventh) live Splendid Chaps episode, recorded at the Public Bar in Melbourne on May 19, 2013, and rushed to your ears in a fraction of the usual time! (You may find it a bit rougher around the edges than normal…) Our guests this month are comedian and actor Tegan Higginbotham (Watson) and horror writer Narelle M Harris, plus musician Georgia Fields performs a cover of Bullamakanka’s “Dr Who is Gonna Fix It”!

Narrelle M Harris, Tegan Higginbotham, Petra Elliott, John Richards and Ben McKenzie. Photo by Robert Young.
Narrelle M Harris, Tegan Higginbotham, Petra Elliott, John Richards and Ben McKenzie recording episode Five/Fear of Splendid Chaps at The Public Bar. Photo by Robert Young.

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Don’t forget you can go into the draw to win a (Region 4) DVD copy of The Visitation (Special Edition) by commenting on this episode below! Tell us whether Davison’s Doctor was bland, what you really think of Adric and Nyssa, share the scariest moments you can remember or just tell us what you thought of this month’s show. Comment by June 14 to be in the running, and we’ll announce the winner at the recording of Six/Clothes on June 15.

Who and Books

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott met as part of Darebin Libraries’ Geek Week to discuss all things Doctor Who books in this special extra live Splendid Chaps episode, recorded at Northcote Library in Melbourne on Star Wars Day, May the 4th, 2013. With special guests editor and broadcaster Katie Purvis (Katie’s Cut Lunch on Joy 94.9) and author Dave Hoskin (Shooting the Poo podcast), plus a special reading from comedian Lawrence Leung (Unbelievable, Choose Your Own Adventure).

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Also, thanks to Penguin Books Australia, we’re giving away a copy of Where’s the Doctor and one of The Doctor Who Character Encyclopedia to two lucky winners! All you need to do to be in the draw is to comment on this episode below: tell us about your favourite Doctor Who authors, the treasured books in your collection, or just what you thought of this episode. Comment before the recording of our June 15 episode to be in the running, and we’ll announce the winner then.

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The Five/Fear viewing list

As revealed at the recording of our last live episode, Four/Comedy, here is your homework viewing for episode Five/Fear, which will be recorded on May 19th at The Public Bar in Melbourne (full show details can be found here).

If you’ve never experienced the Fifth Doctor, we think the following three stories will show him – and the style of his era – at their best:

  • Earthshock
  • Enlightenment
  • The Caves of Androzani

For “Fear”, we’ve decided that these stories and episodes cover the theme best:

  • Planet of the Spiders (Jon Pertwee, 1974; six episodes)
  • The Ark in Space (Tom Baker, 1975; four episodes)
  • Snakedance (Peter Davison, 1983; four episodes)
  • Ghost Light (Sylvester McCoy, 1989; three episodes)
  • Blink (David Tennant, 2007; one episode)

Some of these stories are terrifying, some are about facing or overcoming fear, and one probably isn’t all that frightening but keeps getting mentioned by our guests as the scary one they remember. With a history of being frightening, however, there are many other Doctor Who stories that fit this theme; if you’re keen, here’s Doctor Who TV’s “Top 5 Scariest Doctor Who moments” from the classic series, and – as part of the promotion for the recent episode Hide – the nominations for “Spookiest Ever Doctor Who Story” over at the official BBC Doctor Who blog.

Have any other stories made you cower behind the sofa? Share your suggestions in the comments below!

Five/Fear (live show)

Maudlin after many centuries of wandering, bohemian Time Lord the Doctor finds himself surrounded by young, unfamiliar human companions – and an ethereal “Watcher” – as he battles his old foe the Master to save the Universe from decay. The Doctor succeeds, but falls to his doom – only to realise that the Watcher was a premonition of his regeneration. His new, younger self begins life frail and disoriented, but soon reveals his personality: inquisitive, honest, selfless and open, young at heart though mature of mind. He abhors the violence with which he is so often confronted, always trying to avoid it: a talker, not a fighter, but loyal and with a fierce determination to protect his young friends. 

Splendid Chaps is a year-long celebration of Doctor Who‘s fiftieth anniversary: eleven live performances recorded as podcasts in which your brains will be fed, your funny bones tickled, and your hearts opened (yes, both of them!). Our fifth instalment discusses the Fifth Doctor, played by young actor Peter Davison. Already known to audiences as another doctor (well, all right…vet), All Creatures Great and Small’s Tristan Farnon, he soon made the role his own with a blend of innocence, optimism and wry humour – not to mention a distinctive outfit of striped cricketing whites and a decorative vegetable.

For our theme this episode we discuss Fear. Famously watched from behind the couch, its theme music alone instilling terror into many children, Doctor Who has long held a reputation for frightening audiences and characters alike. Is it still scary? Should that really be the focus of the show? How does it frighten us – and what does it have to say about the nature of fear itself?

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott are joined by comedian and actor Tegan Higginbotham (Watson) and horror writer Narelle M Harris. We’ll also have a special musical performance from the delightful Georgia Fields, prizes, surprises and the final episode of the current Doctor Who season! Yes, The Name of the Doctor airs on ABC1 that night, so we’ll be putting it up on the big screen for everyone to watch together after the show. If you can’t make the recording, feel free to come join us for that.

Space: The Public Bar, 238 Victoria Street, Melbourne (opposite Victoria Markets)
Time: May 19; recording starts 5 PM
Accessibility: This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets: $15 (plus booking fee where applicable)
Bookings: via trybooking.com or at the door (subject to availability)
Podcast: not yet available; released 23rd of May, 2013.

Ben McKenzie, John Richards, Dave Callan and Paul Verhoeven

Four/Comedy

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott discuss Tom Baker and comedy in Doctor Who in the fourth live Splendid Chaps episode, recorded in two parts at Trades Hall in Melbourne as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival on April 6 and 13, 2013. With special guests Dave Callan (Triple J), Paul Verhoeven (Steam Punks, Lords of Luxury), Adam Richard (The Shelf, Outland) and Josie Long (Lost Treasures of the Black Heart), plus the stand-up Dalek and a cover of Doctor Poo and the Psychic Koalas’ “The Universe is Big” performed by our very own Petra and the Time Lads – Caleb Garfinkel and Bryce Clark!

To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or via this Feedburner feed.

Don’t forget you can go into the draw to win a (Region 4) DVD copy of The Legacy Collection box set (containing Shada and More Than 30 Years in the TARDIS) by commenting on this episode below! Tell us what you think of the Baker era, share your favourite gags from Doctor Who, or just tell us what you thought of our Comedy Festival episode. Comment by May 18 to be in the running, and we’ll announce the winner at the recording of Five/Fear on May 19.

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Comedy Festival Cutaway

Ben was having so much fun talking to fellow comedians about Doctor Who that he couldn’t stop at just three…so here are three more!

  • Sarah Jones is a ventriloquist who, when she’s not performing on a cruise ship or in the UK, can often be found at The Variety Collective in Brunswick. You can find her online at sarahjones.com.au or follow her on Twitter at @SarahJonesVent.
  • Drew Belsten was first to volunteer to talk on Splendid Chaps. He’s part of the comedy groups Aardvarks Anonymous and Wizard Sandwiches, and you can find him on Twitter at @Wizarkdrew
  • Cal Wilson is a Kiwi living in Melbourne and a favourite at the Comedy Festival. She can be found online at calwilson.com.au or on Twitter as @calbo

Special thanks to listener Garth, who suggested the title for this episode. We’re listening to you too, Garth!

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Comedy Festival Mini-episode

Since we were talking about Doctor Who and comedy for our fourth episode, as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Splendid Chap Ben McKenzie sought out a few fellow Doctor Who fan comedians and asked them about their relationship with the show:

(In case you were wondering about the critical mass of McKenzies: Richard and Adam are brothers to each other, but not to Ben.)

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Who and Books (live show)

Splendid Chaps is a year-long celebration of Doctor Who‘s fiftieth anniversary: eleven live performances recorded as podcasts in which your brains will be fed, your funny bones tickled, and your hearts opened (yes, both of them!).

Well…we say eleven. At Northcote Library, as part of their Geek Week celebrations, the Splendid Chaps are doing a special bonus episode all about Doctor Who books!

Books have always been an important part of Doctor Who, from the Target novelisations of the pre-video recorder age to the New Adventures and Eighth Doctor novels that continued the story after the original series went off air. Ben, John and Petra will be joined by editor and JOY 94.9 host Katie Purvis, and filmmaker, writer and podcaster Dave Hoskin for a discussion and reading of some of these works, plus a look at the stranger end of the publishing spectrum (the Doctor Who Cookbook, anyone?). And there’ll be a special reading from comedian Lawrence Leung!

Space: Northcote Library, 32-38 Separation Street, Northcote
Time: Saturday, May 4, 4:30 PM
Accessibility: This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets: All tickets $10 (plus booking fee where applicable)
Bookings: via trybooking.com, or buy tickets at the door (subject to availability)
Podcast: TBA.

Splendid Chaps episode three

Three/Family

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott discuss Jon Pertwee and Doctor Who’s representation of “Family” in the third live Splendid Chaps episode, recorded at the Tuxedo Cat pop-up venue in Adelaide on Sunday, March 10, 2013. With special guests Cathy Adamek and Sean Williams, plus Tim FitzHigham recreating a classic track from Doctor Who music history, and Adelaide-based a capella group The Con Artists performing a beautiful combo of Doctor Who music, “I Am the Doctor Who Theme”.

To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or via this Feedburner feed.

Don’t forget you can go into the draw to win a (Region 4) DVD copy of The Ambassadors of Death by commenting on this episode below! Tell us what you think of the Pertwee era, come up with other interesting family moments in the series, or just let us know what you thought of this episode. Comment by April 12 to be in the running, and we’ll announce the winner at our second Four/Comedy recording on April 13.

Splendid Chaps episode three
Ben McKenzie, Cathy Adamek and Sean Williams on stage recording Splendid Chaps: Three/Family at the Tuxedo Cat in Adelaide. Photo by Alanta Colley.

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