Assuming-mong that you're reading this because you have, at least, a passing interest in Doctor Who...

Are you a True Fan? Is the series a big part of your life? Can the Doctor always rely on your support?

Are you fickle? Is the series something you're currently passionate about but will probably let slip when another show comes along and steals your interest?

Are you a Not-We? Is the series something you watch because it's slightly better than what's on ITV at the same time? Do you understand why Fans can be so passionate about the best programme in the world?

People are allowed to be as big or little a fan as they want; no one's better than anyone else. It's all cool is my opinion.

Anyway, to answer the question, I guess you'd say I'm a big fan. My earliest memory is Doctor Who (Earthshock), I'd guess I spend over a grand a year on merchandise, I watch DW or listen to Big Finish almost every day and have done for years, I've seen every existing episode, I've got every classic dvd, I'm a subscriber to DWM and the big finish main range, and this is starting to remind me of Stuart's speech to his parents in Queer as Folk 2. Are we done?

I am far more devoted to the old stuff than the new. I find the new infinitely more disposable: I've only watched most new episodes once or, at the most, twice (on, or shortly after, first broadcast). I generally delete the episode from the Skyplus once I've watched it. the first series (C.Eccleston) I recorded to DVD, but have not bothered with the rest since then. I got the CE boxset when it came out, but gave it to a charity shop last year.

New DW has underlined to me that I am not a sci-fi fan. I am a fan of "old telly". I have a loyalty to DW because it was my first love, but David Tennant's Doctor sorely tried that patience. Matt Smith has warmed me up again, but I am not tying myself in knots over the new show. The old one is where the heart is.

My earliest memory of anything is of the Marshmen in Full Circle. I got the paperback of Time Flight through a school bookclub. I collect autographs, and my first through-the-mail autograph was Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor (my second was Joan Hickson as Miss Marple, cos I am a big Agatha Christie fan ... but the current ITV ones are shameful). I got the Big Finishes, but gave up after about 20 of so cos I wasn't getting round to listening to them properly. I still have some that I have never heard. I got Day of the Daleks on VHS with my holiday money, on a family trip to Brighton when I was about 12.

Nowadays, I get the classic DVDs and DWM each month. I get the new series DVDs if they're in a sale.

Having realised that old telly is where the heart is, I am mining backwards in time through DVD catalogues. I'm currently watching the last series of Blake's Seven, and have dozens more non-sci-fi DVDs of vintage TV lined up and ready to go.

I got all the Target books when I was growing up, and recently bought Graeme Harper's "Calling The Shots" book (I got it cos it was a couple of quid in a remaindered shop). DW still has a big influence on me. Even when David Tennant was at his most bloody annoying, I'd still watch him on breakfast telly: it's something I just DO.

I think new DW seerms to similar in its production, casting and storytelling to a lot of other current telly. There's little in it that makes it distinctive, other than the sci-fi elements. As stated above, I am not a sci-fi fan. It takes more than a couple of spaceships and a laser gun to hold my attention. Matt Smith has revitalised the show, and it's a lot quirkier and a lot more fun than it was with David Tennant, but it's still "not what it used to be".

I would question my dear old chum Outside, though:

Is the series something you watch because it's slightly better than what's on ITV at the same time?

Wash your mouth out with soap and water! Other than Benidorm, Harry Hill, Poirot (but not "Agatha Christie Marple") and the odd five minutes of Corrie, I haven't watched any ITV for years. Why would anyone watch the stupid people's network?

Me, too, though I'm in no way blind to the faults of the old series.


I understand where you're coming from there but some of the episodes from the past five years have eclipsed a lot of the old series episodes. Production-wise and acting-wise, I mean. I still find New Who less substantial but "Turn Left", for example, is worth ten thousand "Warriors of the Deep". I find the "watch and re-watch" factor has gone, though.


I don't have much time for "sci-fi", either, and I take issue with Doctor Who being described as such. It's a lazy label because it features "monsters and spaceships" but Doctor Who's format is unique.

I love, as you say, old telly, too. Mind you, I also enjoy a lot of new telly like "Being Human" and "Damages" but stuff from the 60s and 70s holds a great interest for me.


Well, there are a few (million) misguided souls who enjoy delights like "The X Factor"... for the writing, direction and lighting, I'm sure. There must be a handful of viewers who watch Doctor Who because it's the least offensive of the available choices? The only recent ITV series I've seen have been on DVD - "Benidorm" 1 & 2 and "Primeval" 2.

I'm of the Alec Guinness mentality that being all-consumed in a piece of entertainment is unhealthy.

Doctor Who is the closest thing to that I have. I like talking about it, have fond memories of it, look forward to it coming back and miss it when its gone.

But I think its important to try and be equally as passionate in another areas (other than entertainment/fiction) in order to maintain perspective.

Alec Guiness grew to be very sage about that sort of thing, pursued by St*r W*rs to his deathbed ...

Interesting that my old chum Outside should mention Turn Left: absolutely one of the top five stories of 21st century DW!

I am certainly not blind to the faults of old DW, but I find the glossiness and shininess of new DW to be very wearing after a while. Also, I don't approve of the Doctor calling people "mate".

okay its your view but I must have been in a parell uni as I found DT sweet okay his dr could be a right nark but he could be a spark of light after Eccleston's sulking!

You have exquisite taste, my good man.


There's just something missing but I'm not sure what it is. Tom Baker, maybe? Beryl Reid? I dunno.

I'd rather the Doctor hadn't been so matey but it suited number Ten, I suppose.

I've always been a reasonably big fan but I think Series 5 has knocked the passion out of me a bit. I still will watch it but I can quite happily go weeks without watching any Who at the moment as I've watched them all so many times.

Not only that I love collecting TV series as a whole and even though Who tops the list, I can quite happily sit through hours off other stuff as well.

but it can be too pricey , dvd box set s are too high and I get my box sets as presents axthe mags I get when I see them

If you're willing to wait, the DVDs always come down in price. Series 1 and 2 were on sale recently for around £10 and 3 and 4 are less than £20. Of course, if you're an "early adopter" then they're round about fifty quid! I remember paying about £60 for the Eccleston TARDIS boxset - bought it in HMV, for some reason, no idea why I didn't order it online.

NEVER buy anything Who related from HMV. They're still selling the Specials at £30 when you can get them for nearly half that on Amazon. I think what they charge for DVDS is nothing short of scandolous.

I really can't remember why I bought it in one of their stores. I remember seeing big piles of TARDISes at the end of various aisles then... I was sitting at home with one, dazed. Mind you, with Series 1, it was so nice to anything Who-related in high street shops that I felt obliged to add to my collection.

I found a way to rent dvds and see them for £9.99 a month Lovefilm.com and its doesnt take up room and BBc 3 and watch repeat them , I so sick of series 3 now I want to stick Martha and her whining down the loo!

liked her in series 4 though , donna was the big mouth then ax

I just refuse to buy anything Who related from them on principle. In fact, anything from them on principle because they are so expensive compared to internet prices. I know High Street Stores are generally more expensive but the gulf in prices is staggering.

Ok, my two-penneth:

I loved Doctor Who since I first watched it with Sylvester McCoy, which ironically is one of the least liked eras of Who. I'm happy to share it with other people and I never understood the nerd/uncool categorisation. It has a very special place in my childhood/teenage memories, but I wasn't "obsessive" about it. I never bought a magazine or any of the toys (but I grew up with quite a few sisters and brothers so money was always tight).

There is nothing on ITV or on TV generally, I would chose to watch instead of Doctor Who. There is no other show I would stay at home for and I certainly would not watch x-factor or Britain Got Talent instead of Doctor Who.

I also love New Who, but before New Who I had not watched many of the Classic Who episodes (they seem to have been marketed and released since the return of Doctor Who and maybe for that some of the classic fans should be grateful).

I personally don't know what a true fan is. I don't remember names, stories, producers or anything else very well. I can't recite whole episodes and sometimes I even forget really important plot developments (very handy if you want to rewatch stuff). I don't think it makes me less of a fan, because I still love the show and I just take it, and enjoy it for what it is: a bit of a romp, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes sad, sometimes funny and sometimes downright awful (Cold Blood I'm looking at you).

With regards to ITV, I think it's a bit harsh to say it's the "stupid people's" network. Anyone who likes to climb on their high horse and thinks they are better because they don't listen, watch or do certain things, should look at the way Who fans were treated. TV is watched for many different reasons, sometimes braindead entertainment is all that is required.

I am so shocked someone is judged on their tv tastes etc , how sad is that , Itv bought us corrie, touch of frost, emmerdale, news, Xfactor, Pop idol, World cup, royal weddings must have been shown on here too okay BBc have the repution of being better but they can bring out rubbish too

Total wipeout being one axbut I am not judging the people who watch it