Kylie! Catherine Tate! Doctor Who! PR opportunity!
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
I fear Doctor Who is running out of steam a bit. What other excuse can there be for two BBC press releases on two consecutive days revealing “celebrity” involvement in forthcoming episodes?
Yesterday it was Kylie, today it’s Catherine Tate. (Cue excessive coverage on the main BBC TV and radio news bulletins… and not much elsewhere - although the Times, aka the Sun Lite, has given it a decent showing.)
I’ve only watched Doctor Who on and off recently and, watching the third series of its 21st century incarnation, I couldn’t help sensing a dearth of new ideas. I’m sure avid fans can point out a vast number of major thematic differences but most noticeable to me was the “Vote Saxon” storyline (evil prime minister gets elected, makes contact with aliens), which appeared rather similar to the Slitheen thing (aliens invade in disguise, take over the government) in series one. And so the reliance on celebrities to jazz it up a bit can’t help but appear a tiny bit lazy. Why not rely on the storytelling instead?
Nonetheless, I suppose you have to grudgingly respect the BBC’s PR department for the timing - immediately after the end of the run when interest is still high, rather than a few weeks or days before the Christmas special, when even ardent fans are likely to be thinking about other things. Having seriously botched the announcement about Christopher Eccleston leaving after one series, it’s a definite improvement. Although how hard can it be to plant stories about BBC programmes on the BBC news?
No. 1 — July 7th, 2007 at 12:09 am
For someone who claims to “have only watched Dr Who on and off recently” you seem to know a lot about it.
No. 2 — July 9th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I have a nagging feeling that the communal jizz-fest of publicity which surrounds Dr Who belies the fact that it is, in fact, utter shit. I have never been able to understand why Charlie Brooker (who’s opinion I usually value) is obsessed with it and I couldn’t care less who or what is booked to appear in each episode.
No. 3 — August 1st, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Doctor Who isn’t ‘utter shit’, although it’s inevitably overhyped and features vomit-inducing back-slapping and mutual wankery.
Much of it is excellent, though I fear Dave may be right. The series does indeed appear to be looking a bit wheezy.
No. 4 — January 4th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Doctor Who is utter shit. Great idea spoiled by a no balls approach. It looks so shit. No Originality. But is pumped into the faces of kids to keep the views up.
No. 5 — January 7th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Doctor Who in ‘pumped into the faces of kids’ shocker!