Description

John Nathan-Turner presided over three distinct eras of classic Doctor Who, as the producer incarnate.

But his ability to juggle budgets, actors, and egos brought about his perceived downfall as he struggled to channel his talents after the BBC cancelled the show in 1989.

With his partner, Gary, unwell with cancer, and his own health sliding downhill due to drink, this is the story of the final three acts of John Nathan-Turner’s life as he attempts to write a ‘tell-all’ autobiography of his time on the show that came to define him.

Written by Stephen Wyatt, who knew them both, and performed with relish by Christopher Guard and Peter Noble, this is a waspish and witty tragedy of two men who loved and alienated so many others, including each other.

Duration: 1 hour 8 minutes

ME & HIM & WHO

He was the youngest Producer of Doctor Who. Or was he?

As he, himself, said, ‘Never let the facts get in the way of a good story’.

His name was John Nathan-Turner and, having worked bis way up the Doctor Who career ladder via since 1969, he took over as producer ten years later and set about putting his highly stylised mark on it.

Not only did he cast three Doctors – Peter Davison’s Fifth, Colin Baker’s Sixth, and Sylvester McCoy’s Seventh – but he also cast a whole host of memorable companions to go with them.

In fact, the BBC’s finale of Jodie Whittaker’s time as the Thirteenth Doctor, became somewhat of a celebration of those eras that John Nathan-Turner produced. Not only featuring the return of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Doctor, but also sizeable roles for Ace (Sophie Aldred) and Tegan (Janet Fielding) with a cameo from Mel (Bonnie Langford).

However, John Nathan-Turner became so synonymous with the television show, because of his ability to court the press and placate the fans, that he delayed moving on until it was too late.

When the show was cancelled in 1989, he was left out in the wilderness, struggling to channel his flamboyance into anything else, and with the nasty side of the fan base turning against him and his decade-long tenure on the series.

Towards the end of his life, he tried to write his autobiography but always fell at the final hurdle, whether it was because of his partner, Gary Downie’s cancer, or his own drink-related illness, or just a reluctance to bite the BBC hand that once fed him.

In his final few years, before passing away at the young age of 54, his relationship with friends became toxic because of his partner’s wicked turn of phrase and no holds barred approach to saying what he thought. We find them, both supporting each other and belittling each other in what appeared to be a love/hate relationship but was in fact an enduring and endearing romance.

In a sometimes bleakly comic tale, we see this two-man support network crumble and be rebuilt, with the desire always to be back in the limelight and put on a show. Any show. But the show we hear is the backstage gossip of a fading producer who’s still looking for his final Norma Desmond-esque close-up.

Written by Stephen Wyatt
Sound Design by Joseph Fox
Music by Darrell Maclaine
Artwork by Rob Hammond
Produced, directed, and script edited by Barnaby Eaton-Jones
Executive Producer: Paul Andrews (for AUK Studios)     

With thanks to Richard Marson                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

© AUK Studios 2022

(All CD’s sent signed for delivery, non UK regions priced appropriately)