Mark Gatiss on An Adventure in Space and Time (Updated)
The Doctor Who Team
Question: What
can viewers expect from this drama?
Mark Gatiss: Principally, it's the story of how Doctor Who was
created, so we concentrate on the very beginnings and the first few episodes.
There are lots of treats for the fans but it's also the story of William
Hartnell, the first Doctor and how the part transformed his life.
Q: Why did you want to tell this story?
MG: I'm a life-long Doctor Who fan and the origins of this
beloved show have always fascinated me. But, above all, I wanted it to strike a
chord on a human level. These were brilliant, complex, talented people making
something revolutionary. And, in William Hartnell, we have the very affecting
story of a man redeemed by the role of a lifetime who then, sadly, had to let
it go. I think we can all relate to something like that in our lives.
Q: What was the casting process like? Did you set out
to find such good lookalikes?
MG: I'd had David Bradley in mind for some years but it wasn't
simply a question of a good likeness! David is such a fine and delicate actor,
I knew he'd find something wonderful in the part. With everyone else, I
stressed that we must first and foremost get the right people for the job. But
it turned out the right people also bear the most amazing resemblances to the
originals! Costume and make up, of course, played a huge part in that.
Q: Could you
explain a little bit about the research process?
MG: Doctor Who is
probably unique in terms of TV shows in that its history has been exhaustively
researched for years. Happily, this means that there are lots of interviews
existing with people who are no longer with us. I'd wanted to tell the story
for years – I sort of grew up with it. How no-one wanted the Daleks. About the
first episode going out just after JFK was shot. But I wanted to get deeper
than just the details of production and find the human story. I conducted new
interviews with a lot of the original cast and crew. They were all hugely
enthusiastic and very helpful.
Q: Did you
uncover any facts or information that you didn’t previously know as a Doctor
Who fan?
MG: A few bits and bobs but, as I say, most of it is very well
documented now! It was very touching, though, to talk to people about a part of
their loves that was often very happy and to discuss people long gone.
Q: There were
so many people involved in the show’s beginnings, why did you decide to focus
on the four central characters of Hartnell, Newman and Lambert and Hussein?
MG: I had to focus it
down. Simple as that. This is a drama not a documentary and though it's
extremely painful to have to leave out some people who played a huge part, it
makes dramatic sense. You simply can't do everyone justice in 90mins. For
instance, the story of how Terry Nation and Ray Cusick created the Daleks is
almost a film all on its own! Jeff Rawle plays Mervyn Pinfield, who was the
Associate Producer, and his character sort of absorbs several others including
Donald Wilson and the brilliant David Whitaker – the first script editor -
whose contribution was immeasurable.
Q: Set in the
1960s the drama brings to life that era through the costumes, hair and make-up
and the sets, including the first ever TARDIS console. What was it like being
on set?
MG: It was extraordinary. To see the original TARDIS recreated
genuinely took my breath away and everyone who came to the set had the same
reaction. It was frequently quite uncanny. We used some of the original Marconi
cameras and, on the black and white monitors, seeing David, Jemma, Jamie and
Claudia was like looking back through Time. Spooky and very moving.
Q: Finally,
what do you hope audiences take away from ‘Space and Time’?
MG: This is my love-letter
to Doctor Who! In this 50th anniversary year, I hope fans will enjoy and be
thrilled by it and all the kisses to the past it's laden with. But my greatest
wish is that it appeals to people who know very little or nothing about Doctor
Who and see the struggle of talented people (almost) accidentally creating a
legend!
An Adventure in Space and Time is coming soon to BBC Two but you can catch up with David Bradley – who plays William Hartnell, the First Doctor – now!