Why I Love Doctor Who

Deep, deep down, I knew I would have to write this post. I say that as if I were dreading it, and in a way, I am. How does one express their sheer unadulterated love for a television programme? It's pathetic. Or is it?

I remember it being late at night (so, around 6pm for the child me), and there was something on the television. My dad said I should sit and watch it with him. Something very strange indeed was happening. A creature was walking slowly towards the screen. It was made of plastic, tall, and looked like a man. But I knew it wasn't a man. It moved towards the screen, looming menacingly, before the camera cut to another face. A man who seemed to have all the authority of the universe was shocked. Terrified. As the camera zoomed in on him, a loud, screamlike music interrupted, and that was it. I had seen my first Doctor Who cliffhanger.

Everything about it had captivated me. The theme music, the psychedelic visuals, the creature - I later discovered was called an Auton - and the man of authority who displayed both courage and fear all in one: The Doctor.

Of course, as I grew older, I learnt more facts about the programme. It was about a man who lived and explored in a telephone box. Except that it wasn't a telephone box, but a spaceship - the TARDIS - and in that ship the man travelled through space and time. I also learnt that this man could change his appearance. He wouldn't always be exactly the same Doctor, but one thing was certain: wherever there was danger, wherever life was threatened, and wherever anything seemed a little out of the ordinary, he would be there, putting things right. Fighting our corner against the big bad monsters, and sometimes against ourselves. He would save the world and us humans over and over again, and when he was done, he would pop into his TARDIS for yet more adventures in time and space. How could that not captivate a ten-year-old boy?

I could litter this post with a myraid facts about the series and its mythology; I could launch into a critical treatise into the effects of the programme as integral to British culture; I could even list the big names which have been associated with the show since the very beginning, and its influences on so many people's lives and careers. I could do all that, but I won't. Over the course of forty seven years, Doctor Who has created an entire universe of its own, and none of that really matters. What really matters is that in 1963, the BBC took a chance on the premise that "a thing that looks like a police box, standing in a junkyard: it can go anywhere in time and space". With the endless possibilities for storytelling which that statement from the very first episode of the programme held, the concept of Doctor Who is indelible, delightful, and so wonderfully life-affirming. After all this time, the Doctor has survived, and even after 16 years off the air the programme has proven its capacity to regenerate. Doctor Who will last forever, and will forever bring joy to me and countless other ten-year-olds-at-heart.

That's why I Love Doctor Who.

Video Nice, Video Nasty Special: The Noughties (According to Me)

Clips, Music, Miscellany from Everybody's Favourite Tube

Party like it's 2009!

2000

Ah! The new millennium! The beginning of a new chapter in the book of human history. Apart from my dad stocking up tins of food and water, I don't remember any real worries over the Millennium Bug; do you? I cared more about the election of an Idiot Cheating Warmonger as Leader of the Free World. I was right to be worried.

A shame the protesters didn't succeed, no? Having said that, he did manage to make himself the most unpopular president in modern history, so it just goes to show that some sayings can ring true: "Give him enough rope..." Meanwhile, a year earlier, Robbie Williams was revelling in the postmodern joy that was the oncoming turn of the century. Watch and see how many references you can pick out - both visually and from the lyrics - from his innovative masterpiece, helpfully titled Millennium, in case we didn't get it.

2001

Well, I think we all know which event dominated this year. I remember watching that second plane hit the tower. 'Nuff said, huh?

2001 was also the year I was introduced to Coldplay. This song takes me right back to that autumn.

2002

The only event I can remember of this year was the return of the Musical Movie in Chicago. Oh, I love this musical; and I loved the film!

All of this meaning, of course, that this year gets two songs thrown in. Ha! Good; the songs are easier to find. Who remembers this mix classic which brought Elvis back?

2003

While strange things were happening in world politics, as we embarked on an illegal war, television was becoming even stranger. I know the American soaps bring characters back from the dead all the time; but EastEnders? I couldn't believe it, but despite the plot stretching further than Dawn French's knickers, it was dealt with superbly - especially by Letitia Dean, the actress playing Den's daughter Sharon. The return was short-lived, though, due to Leslie Grantham's bad behaviour. Den was killed off for good only two years later.

The following song revived the term Diva to modern music. I'm not even a big fan of hers, but I can't ignore the fact that the woman can put on a show. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ms Beyonce Knowles

2004

Call me an old commie, but I couldn't help include the glorious victory of the Spanish Socialist Party in the general election held early this year. Sure, the victory could be atributed to the terrorist bombings in Madrid and the Conservative PP's lies about it a few days before the elections, but the Party has done a lot of good things for Spain ever since.

I have already professed my love for George Michael's Music, and I think he's amazing (poor segue, I know, but it's late and I need to get ready for the New Year party).

2005

Ridiculously, I cared about only one thing, this year. The return of my favourite television programme ever.

This was the song of my summer. I've loved Gorillaz ever since.

2006

A year after I come out - and nearly forty years after the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the country - gay people in the UK are finally able to have their relationships legally recognised via Civil Partnerships. Though full marriage equality is still yet to come to Britain. I don't know the men in the video below, but it's such a beautiful little snippet, wouldn't you agree?

I hate Justin Timberlake with an unrivalled passion, but I just couldn't get enough of this song, and it's haunted me ever since its release.

2007

We were all jumping for joy at the prospect of Tony Blair's exit from Downing Street. However, on the day, I almost began to miss him, as I realised who would be replacing him. Mr Brown promised a government of change. Well...

Before the whole world loved Amy Winehouse, I loved her. By the time the world did love Amy, she was a mess, but she still has the best voice our generation.

2008

We survived George W Bush. We welcomed Barack Obama into our consciousness. An historic win, and perhaps a dividing line in world political history. Time will tell. Too many clichés in that one, I think.

I exited the world of English-language music for a year and discovered Nena Daconte. When I arrived in Madrid in late September, every single club and bar was playing this song.

2009

The defining moment of the year? Well, I couldn't say. There are still three hours left. However - just as in 2001 - I think I will never forget the night I watched the rolling news coverage of Michael Jackson's death. The Last Great Superstar of the 20th Century had gone.

And finally, an unusual choice for the end of the decade, but with all the saturated, factory-produced pop being churned out of Simon Cowell's arsehole, I couldn't help but revel in Rage Against the Machine's Christmas Number One Single, having nothoing to do with Christmas. Wonderful! I don'teven like the song, but anything is better than yet another X Factor winner...

So, this is it, then. 2009 over. The noughties over. The beginnings of a new decade. But what will the new decade bring? Well, don't ask me, 'cos I don't flipping know: let's just enjoy the party!

Happy New Year!

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

It's That Time, Again!

Something's happened to me, this year. Well, several things have happened to me over the year, but that will be covered nearer the end of the month. What I'm specifically referring to is my sudden excitement over the advent of Christmas. I'm serious: I'm in the mood for Christmas!

It all started a couple of months ago, when I suggested to my housemates that we have a meal to celebrate Christmas in the last week of term before the vacation. On Tuesday we got together, chipped in some money to buy a whole load of food for the meal, and drank mulled wine and ate mince pies while watching Oliver! which although not specifically a Christmas film, it's the musical most suited to Christmas in our collection: it's Dickens, it's Victorian London, and it has singing and dancing cockneys in it!

From then on, it was downhill for my usual sense of restraint. All this week, I've been unusally affectionate to my friends and classmates, wishing them a Merry Christmas, and even being visibly excited for the oncoming  holidays. I'm currently sitting in my living room, surrounded by card, coloured paper and assorted stationery making - yes, making - my own Christmas Cards. I've gone mad.

I must make it clear to any new readers (yeah, 'cos there are so many of you...), I don't hate festivity. I love to throw a good party, especially if it is for my birthday; and I've yet to have a bad New Year's Eve. I just hate Christmas, mainly because of how fake it all is. People pretend that they are happy for a few days, surround themselves with their families (often the people most responsible for unhappiness) and force pleasantries out in order to keep peace. Which is why, for the last few years, I decided to spend Christmas on my own. I loved it: no pressure to do certain things with certain people, no arguments (I always get my way, anyway), and no sharing of food. I was eating that pork (I hate turkey) for days.

I have a feeling there are several reasons why I am more positive about Christmas, this year. Firstly, I didn't spend last Christmas on my own in Madrid, but rather spent the day with my friend's family. Not only was that a wonderful gesture greatly appreciated, but it also helped me realise that Christmas can genuinely be a fun time for all the family. Secondly, a similar thing is happening this year: my friend Sophie is having a few friends over to her house for Christmas, since not all of her family will be at home. Sophie and I have had a difficult year: she is one of my colsest friends, but we fell out back in Easter and didn't speak to each other until I returned to the UK. It's all fine, now, but it's especially good to know that we have recovered our friendship to the point that we'll be exchanging presents on Christmas Day, the ultimate symbol of putting the past behind us. Another reason is that I have been feeling so happy, lately, and I have had such a good 2009 - indeed, such a good decade - I'll be toasting it and hoping that the good feeling continues well into 2010.

Time for a brief aside. It's just occurred to me that 2010 will be the end of my formal education, and hopefully the beginning of my career as an actor. Since I'll be making applications for Drama Schools in January, if I get in and begin in September, my adulthood really will have begun. Scary and exciting, huh?

Finally, on probably the least personal note, I'm excited for Christmas because it means only one thing as far as my television viewing habits are concerned: Doctor Who and EastEnders Christmas Specials! With the noted absence of the former, and the resurgence in quality of the latter, I cannot wait for the production teams to pull out their big guns and show us what they have in store.

So, that's it. Christmas is going to be fantastic, I'm excited, and I don't care who knows it!