David Troughton and Peter Purves are the Doctor!

[23skidoo]

When Big Finish launched its audio dramas years ago, it was stated that they wouldn't cast new actors to play the roles played by the late William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee, as well as the not-yet-signed Tom Baker. That's one reason why it took so long for companions from those eras to start being featured. Eventually, the Companion Chronicles bent the rules a little by having the companions telling the stories, therefore allowing them to "play" past Doctors. Some are better than others at it - Wendy Padbury does an incredible Patrick Troughton in Tales from the Vault, Katy Manning does a passable Pertwee in the same story, while Peter Purves does a great Hartnell in Tales from the Vault as well. (And I can't forget Nicola Bryant's eerily accurate Davison in Peri and the Piscon Paradox).

Recently, it seems the "moratorium" (if there ever really was one) against the early Doctors being recast for audio has been lifted, and in a wonderful way. The current series of Companion Chronicles features Peter Purves as Steven with the First Doctor - and according to Vortex magazine (Big Finish's newletter) Purves has officially been cast as the First Doctor for these stories (i.e. he's not playing Steven quoting the First Doctor) - the CCs have become more like standard audio dramas whereas before they were almost like talking books.

And now, Doctor Who Magazine's new issue (the Christmas one coming out this week in the UK) is reporting that David Troughton has been cast as his father's Second Doctor for AudioGO's current Fourth Doctor mini-series Serpent Crest. Having heard David do Doctor Who readings I've been saying for a while someone should cast him for audio as the Second Doctor, and now they have!

So that now only leaves someone to be recast as Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor. I honestly have never heard Sean Pertwee speak - does he sound anything like his dad? Alternately, I wonder if John Levene (who I'm surprised has never done a Big Finish) or Richard Franklin could do it?

(Just to be clear - given my strong opinions about the David Yates movie - I'm only talking about recasting for audio. I don't really have any desire to see anyone else play the early Doctors on TV or in film; one Richard Hurndall goes a long way! )

Alex

 

[Stevil2001]

Despite Big Finish's statement, Peter Purves in the Companion Chronicles isn't played very differently than any other companion actor reading the Doctor's lines; it just happens a little more often. It certainly feels like Purves playing Steven quoting the Doctor to me.

David Troughton playing the second Doctor doesn't interest me at all. "The second Doctor" isn't really a character, but Patrick Troughton's interpretation of the character of the Doctor. I have no desire to hear David Troughton playing Patrick Troughton playing the Doctor.

I saw Sean Pertwee in one episode of Cadfael. He didn't sound very Jon Pertwee-esque to me. You can see/hear him in this Labour ad from the last election. (Richard Franklin's Pertwee impression is about as good as mine.)

 

[Christopher]

I think Sean Pertwee sounds strikingly like his father, though more so at some times than others. If he tried to, I think he could mimic Jon Pertwee very accurately.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

On a side note, let's not forget the fantastic performances of Frazer Hines as The Second Doctor in the Companion Chronicles.

 

[davejames]

I don't see a problem at all with getting some good sound-alike actors to play those Doctors, and think it would be quite cool.

I mean, we already have to suspend our disbelief quite a bit for these audios anyway, so this doesn't seem like any more of a stretch.

 

[Captaindemotion]

I think Sean Pertwee sounds strikingly like his father, though more so at some times than others. If he tried to, I think he could mimic Jon Pertwee very accurately.

I'm sure he could mimic him well (who can't do and hasn't done an impression of their old man at some time?!) but I must admit, I've never thought that their speaking voices were anything alike. I would say Sean's is much harsher than Jon's, to my ears and he doesn't have the slight tendency that Jon had to slur his words in places.

 

[StCoop]

Stick a bouffant wig on him and Pertwee Jr could pass for his dad these days, voicewise not so much.

And I'm know it's sacrilege etc. etc. but I don't see why old Doctors can't be recast in the same way that any other fictional character can be. It wasn't that long ago that people were insisting there could only ever be one Kirk and Spock.

 

[Starkers]

It isn't neccesary, the Doctor gets recast all the time. It's called regeneration...

 

[Morwen]

according to Vortex magazine (Big Finish's newletter) Purves has officially been cast as the First Doctor for these stories (i.e. he's not playing Steven quoting the First Doctor)

I bid you greetings from the Big Finish forum. We are puzzled by this claim and would like to know exactly what in Vortex magazine you refer to.

Thank-you,

 

[FalTorPan]

I love the Hartnell, Troughton and Pertwee stories, but with all the Doctors who have been featured over the years, what's the motivation for creating new dramas with new actors playing those early Doctors?

 

[Christopher]

I love the Hartnell, Troughton and Pertwee stories, but with all the Doctors who have been featured over the years, what's the motivation for creating new dramas with new actors playing those early Doctors?

The same as the motivation for all the audiodramas featuring the Doctors whose performers are still alive. Or all the books, comics, and short stories about all eleven Doctors and then some. Each incarnation of the Doctor, and each set of companions, has fans who'd like to have more stories about them. Each Doctor and each era of the show had a distinct flavor and approach, so a story about the First Doctor, say, is a very different beast from a story about the Eleventh Doctor, say.

 

[Sindatur]

Geoffrey Bayldon does a fantastic Hartnell in Auld Mortality and Storm of Angels Unbound Stories.

I don't recall details from Deadline with Derek Jacobi, but, I remember I enjoyed it, so not sure if he copied Hartnell well or did his own Doctor #1

 

[FalTorPan]

I love the Hartnell, Troughton and Pertwee stories, but with all the Doctors who have been featured over the years, what's the motivation for creating new dramas with new actors playing those early Doctors?

The same as the motivation for all the audiodramas featuring the Doctors whose performers are still alive. Or all the books, comics, and short stories about all eleven Doctors and then some. Each incarnation of the Doctor, and each set of companions, has fans who'd like to have more stories about them. Each Doctor and each era of the show had a distinct flavor and approach, so a story about the First Doctor, say, is a very different beast from a story about the Eleventh Doctor, say.

I suppose so, but how "authentic" can such a audio drama be? The style is being mimicked nearly 50 years after the fact by virtually if not literally no one who was involved in the original productions. I guess authenticity is not a necessity.

 

[Rarewolf]

way. The current series of Companion Chronicles features Peter Purves as Steven with the First Doctor - and according to Vortex magazine (Big Finish's newletter) Purves has officially been cast as the First Doctor for these stories (i.e. he's not playing Steven quoting the First Doctor) - the CCs have become more like standard audio dramas whereas before they were almost like talking books.

They aren't afraid to have the odd extra guest voice, rather than the strict 2 it started with (The First Wave has at least 4 people take part) but nothing has really changed. You wouldn't have Peter playing the 1st Doctor with Susan etc.

As the First Wave is the 3rd part of a 3 part story, it doesn't really need 'said the Doctor' at the end of every Doctor line. Steven is still telling the story, along with the other guest actor.