M J Johnson
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Books
    • Niedermayer & Hart >
      • Reviews for N & H
      • The Prologue
      • Sample the Book
      • Animations
    • Roadrage >
      • Reviews for Roadrage
      • Roadrage Sample
  • Contact Me

Dr Who, Timelash and the Bandril Ambassador

2/12/2011

0 Comments

 
PictureThe Bandril Ambassador Exposed
Back in the world of eighties Dr Who, I played a cowardly traitor called Tyheer, who early on in the episode betrayed the democracy loving rebels of the story. My character thoroughly gets his come-uppance though, and his pleas for mercy are satisfyingly ignored when he is thrown into the aforementioned Timelash (a kind of triangular box draped in what looked like left over Christmas decs) never to be seen nor heard of again! I shone in a kind of over-exposed sort of way for a few seconds before I was gone forever. It certainly worked for my four year old son who had to be reassured by my wife that his dad was only pretending and would be back before his bedtime.

The story was a two-parter and fortunately for me, I actually cropped up again in the next episode (or rather my voice did) as the Bandril Ambassador. I think the director, Pennant Roberts, a kind man thought he’d give a young actor and fellow Welshman a bit of extra work by offering me a voice over as well as an acting part. The Bandril was actually (in real life) a glove puppet.

And no, I most definitely didn’t operate the thing myself!

I did however plan to use my deepest most sonorous tones to portray this alien life-form. In fact, it had always been something of an ambition of mine to play a green warty monster on Dr Who. My RADA voice training came to the fore, this was my big chance to live the dream. Sadly not to be! Pennant Roberts had envisaged the Bandril Ambassador as possessing a high, flutey voice. The whole thing ended up sounding somewhere between Mickey Mouse and Margaret Thatcher. After this the BBC sound workshop turned it into something vaguely ethereal. Believe me, not my finest hour. However, I do recall providing the rest of the cast with much amusement whenever I was called upon to deliver the Bandril’s speeches in rehearsal. Not that laughs were lacking during our rehearsals. We all seemed to laugh a great deal and we had to be told off on more than one occasion for enjoying ourselves a bit too much.

About a month or so back I took part in a stage panel and signing at a Doctor Who Event organised by Fantom Films. I’d been invited several years ago to sign copies for fans when Timelash was first released on DVD at a specialist shop over in Barking but this was the first time I’d ever been to an actual Dr Who event. There can’t be another TV show that has grabbed the attention of so many generations of children. I remember feeling quite unnerved as a child when I watched the rather tetchy, almost sinister, William Hartnell. And I’ll never forget the shiver that ran through me when that rubber plunger first came into shot along with that inhuman, mechanised voice, to exclaim, “Exterminate!” A creature, more machine than living organism that could not be negotiated with and which possessed no higher nature to appeal to. Brilliant stuff! For me the Daleks rank alongside fictional childhood baddies like Auric Goldfinger and the terrifying Rosa Klebb.

Classic Dr Who fans are a polite and extremely friendly bunch of people. I must say, I did hesitate before agreeing to go along, but I’m really glad I did. I had a thoroughly enjoyable Sunday morning.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Available in paperback and ebook:
    Amazon.co.uk
    Amazon.com
    Picture
    Available in paperback and ebook:
    Amazon.co.uk
    Amazon.com
    Picture
    Available in paperback and ebook:
    Amazon.co.uk
    ​Amazon.com
    my read shelf:
    M.J. Johnson's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

    M J Johnson

    You can join Martin on
    Facebook
    If you'd like to subscribe to this blog, click on the RSS Feed button below

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Books
    Family Matters
    Film
    Historic/Factual
    Might Raise A Smile
    Miscellaneous
    Music
    Niedermayer & Hart
    Places Worth A Visit
    Roadrage
    Tea 'n' Coffee
    Theatre
    TV Stuff
    TV Stuff
    Wales
    Wilhelm & Laszlo
    Writing

    Archives

    April 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

© 2018 M J Johnson. All rights reserved.
             Contact               Blog                 N & H                 Roadrage