I was privileged enough to be invited to the screening of this year’s Doctor Who Christmas Special at the Science Museum on Wednesday night.
I have no intention of posting any spoilers. Suffice to say that it was awesome. I loved it! I honestly think it’s the best Doctor Who episode since Day of the Doctor – and I am a HUGE fan of series 10, Nardole, Missy and – most of all – Bill!
After all, I do write their further adventures for Titan’s comics and BBC Books! It is a triumph and sends the 12th Doctor off in grand style. A tear, Richard? Well, yes. But while there’s tears, there’s hope…
Anyway, here are a few photos from the after show party – a snowy wasteland save for a couple of TARDISes and a console that doubled as the centrepiece for an extensive bar!
But, what stood out for me was the fantastic farewell speech Steven Moffat gave after the screening, during the Q&A. He declared in ebullient mood that DOCTOR WHO is the greatest TV show in the world.
He then proved it:
“How do you measure greatness? Do you measure it by ratings? Do you measure it by reviews? Christ no, of course you don’t…
But there are people who became writers because of Doctor Who. Loads of them. There are people who became artists because of Doctor Who. There are people who became actors because of Doctor Who. Two of them have played the Doctor! There are people, believe it or not, who became scientists because of Doctor Who…
So, never mind the reviews… the ratings. Never mind any of that.
Count the scientists, the musicians, the scholars, the writers, the directors, the actors, who became what they are *because* of this show.
Count the *hearts* that beat a little faster because of Doctor Who.
I do not even know what’s in second place, but without doubt, and by that most important measure, Doctor Who *is* the greatest television show ever made.”
And he’s right. Because one of those people is me. I became a writer because of Doctor Who. And I am sure a number of you reading this became what you are because of Doctor Who.
So, Steven, I salute you.
Richard Dinnick 