The Biggest Names in Doctor Who Meet Their Biggest Fan
When it was announced a little while back that Russell T. Davies and David Tennant would be attending this year’s Comic-Con it became abundantly clear that I would have one goal and one goal only for that weekend…meet Russell T. Davies. Yes, you read that correctly.
I wasn’t going to live for months under the delusion that I would get within 50 feet of the 10th Doctor. I’m an uber fan. I wear maroon or white (not optic white) Chucks almost everyday. I have several 3+ button striped blazers with fake belted backs. I own every Sonic Screwdriver that Character Options has released. And oh yes, I have a tattoo that says, in Welsh, “Bad Wolf.”
Guys like me do not get to meet their idols. Not without a lot of effort. (My story about meeting Brett Anderson from Suede will have to wait for another day.) But still, I felt that with the power of Geekscape behind me, and an email from BBC America’s PR saying that he would be doing interviews, meeting and interviewing RTD became a legitimate possibility for me.
Gilmore hadn’t heard back from anyone by the time we got to the convention, so with much determination I set out to exhaust every option in setting this interview up. After a hand off of a business card and some begging emails later, I soon found myself on the list for a roundtable interview. I was ecstatic to say the least, but the best was yet to come.
Earlier on the day of the interview we were waiting outside a conference room to chat with Toby Whithouse, the creator and head writer of the excellent “Being Human.” Who told me that, by the way, that he’ll be writing an episode for the 11th Doctor’s up-coming first season. Anyway, there was another interview going on in the same room and when the doors opened out came David Tennant and as everyone’s heads turned and realized who was standing there, out of my mouth came “Holy shit!” Not only had I gotten within 50 feet of Tennant but I had blurted out a ridiculous expletive when I did. I still believe that was the reason he was quickly scooted off in the opposite direction from where I was standing.
I returned to the conference room later that day ready for my shot at RTD. There were quite a few other reporters standing around and when Devin, the awesome BBC America PR guy that gave me this opportunity, arrived he began splitting us up into two sets. He explained that there were two tables, we get 30 minutes on one and then they’d switch the talent and we’d get another 30 minutes. “Russell and Euros are at one table and Julie and David are at the other.” I wasn’t sure that I had heard him correctly or that I was even hearing what I thought I was hearing at all. The door to the conference room opened a bit. Devin looked in and asked if they were ready. As the voice inside replied “Send them in,” it was instantly recognizable and I saw the face it was coming from. Yes boys and girls it was most definitely David Tennant.
I quickly jockeyed in for a seat next to Julie Gardner, who I admittedly have a little crush on and who remembered me from our meeting last year, and I settled in. What follows is the audio from that interview as well as after the switch when Russell T. Davies and Euros Lyn joined us.
I have to admit I was flustered and didn’t really get to talk at all. Someone at my table kept asking retarded fashion questions and as much as I wanted to get the subject on the final episodes and the regeneration I just couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Afterwards, I complimented Russell on his excellent BAFTA speech that I had been present for in London in March. And I shook David’s hand with a nice thank you for the past 4 years. No photo op, but his “Thank you,” and “Cheers,” sealed the afternoon for me.
The next special, “Waters of Mars,” will air sometime in the fall. Then at Christmas time we’re left with 2 hours and 15 minutes of the 10th Doctor versus the Master in “The End of Time.” I’ll definitely be watching that finale alone because I don’t want anyone to see me bawling my eyes out like I know I will.
Part One Download MP3
Part Two Download MP3
