A Belt Made of Shoelaces

Katy Manning, ladies and gentlemen. MacMachiavelli from Planet Gallifrey and I got to interview her and her on-screen grandson, Finn Jones, over the weekend at Birmingham's Memorabilia convention! Many many thanks to Mac for taking the time to type up the interview. I've added in a few additional bantery bits of info in my version which some fans may find of interest.

Many thanks to SARAH-JANE.tv's very own KirstyJay for providing me with a fair majority of the questions asked! And, of course, many thanks to the delightful organisers of Fantom Films for going out of their way in providing us with the opportunity! Be sure to check out their future events!

Katy Manning at her signing table

Nabu: Hiiii! Nice to meet you. I'm Nabu, and I write for a leading Sarah Jane Adventures website.

Katy: Ohh!

Mac: I'm Mac, I write for a leading Doctor Who website.

Nabu: So yeah, we're a good combination there.

Katy: And...I don't do computers!

Nabu/Mac: Ahahaha. :D

Nabu: So, how are you today? How have you found the experience so far [at the convention]?

Finn: Yeah it's been great!

Nabu: Your first convention, I believe?

Finn: Yep, this is my first convention, I'm breaking my virginity!

Katy: I had to be with him.

Nabu: You've popped your cherry!

Finn: Yeah, Granny had to be there...

Katy: Granny had to check this out! (laughs)

Mac: That's going to be quoted in the interview, y'know.

Finn: Oh, it's recording?! (laughs) Yeah, my Gran was there when I lost my virginity...

Katy: Well this is the kind of Granny who would! (laughs)

Nabu: Ahaha, indeed! Well, we've prepared a list of n00by questions we'd love to ask you.

Finn: Go for it.

Katy: n00by?

Finn: Word from our generation.

Katy: Like 'innit'? :P

Finn: And 'Lol' (laughs)

Nabu: Ahaha, you're down with the kids. :D

Katy/Finn: (laughs)

Nabu: Right, first of all - what was it like returning to the BBC set after so many years? Was it a bit of a learning curve?

Mac: Was it reminiscent of the past?

Katy: Yeah well first of all, the moment I found myself on that freezing cold mountain, it was like old times, y'know. The only difference was, I wasn't wearing a mini skirt, which was a great relief because everybody was watching! And going into the TARDIS was fascinating because it has changed and become very cutting-edge and it was very exciting because, although I was quite nervous to bring back this character, and you have no rehearsal, you go straight in—

(At this point, Tommy Knight enters!)

Finn: Tommy Knight has just come in here! Tommy Knight, get here now, we're having an interview, and you are just causing a scene...

Katy: I think you'd better come and sit here with us... Did you see his walk? Did you see the walk?

Finn: He needs to keep his trousers up!

Tommy: Look, right, I don't have a belt [for my trousers] so I had to use a shoelace!

Katy: It's like a bad man's Saturday Night Fever.

Tommy: Well, maybe I am a bad man out on a Saturday night...!

(everyone laughs)

Mac: This is all going up on the site, you know.

Katy: (laughs) But it really was a terrific experience being back. As I say, no rehearsing and so you just had to go through it. How could you go wrong with a Russell T. Davies script? And you know, such wonderful actors, like Matt. I think including the audiobooks now, I'm into seven or eight Doctors!

Nabu: Did you collaborate with Russell about your character?

(at this point Tommy Knight opens a packet of Magic Stars and starts dividing them up with Finn) xD

Katy: Well, he was constantly in touch: very hands-on, very caring. Absolutely lovely. And in terms of the character, if you look at the piece, it's the perfect carry-on from where she left off. For three years, from being this little, cunning 18-year-old and this sort of, slightly 'knowing' young lady, going off and getting married. I think with everything that she did, you can imagine her doing that. (notices the chocolate stars the boys are eating) Ooh, can I have one, too? :D

Finn Jones plays Santiago alongside

Anjli Mohindra in 'Death of the Doctor'

Mac: So, Finn, what was the experience like for you compared to Hollyoaks? How was it different?

Finn: It was great. Really really great. Both sets were really welcoming. And Doctor Who is a massive world, y'know these people are so established in what they do, so to come along first it was a bit like 'Oh I might be out of my depth,' and I hoped I could live up to the reputation of the show.

Nabu: Oh, you most certainly did!

Finn: Everyone was so welcoming and so lovely and the script was so great. And it wasn't 'The Matt Smith Show' or 'The Katy Manning Show', it was a collaborative double episode where everyone had a fair story in it. I had the time of my life!

(Tommy and Finn proceed to throw chocolate stars at eachother) xD

Katy: And working with Lis, for me, I thought that [Jo and Sarah] complimented each other really well, and I loved working with her. Yeah, it's true, everybody had their little moment.

Finn: Except for Tommy, 'cause he wasn't in it. Were you Tommy?

Tommy: No, I was... er... (Katy laughs)

Finn: Thank God, because if you were in it, I wouldn't have been in it!

Tommy: You're sort of like an upgrade, aren't you?

Finn: Upgrade? Oh thank you!

Tommy: Yeah, you're taller!

Mac: Oh, nobody could upgrade you, Tommy. :D

Tommy: (laughs) Yeah.

Katy: Hang on, if you [Finn] hadn't been in it, and you [Tommy] had been in it, what would I have been?

Mac: A Shansheeth?

(everybody laughs)

Katy: Mrs Shansheeth! Yes, with a bright, nylon frock.

The interview goes on, but we'll be posting the second-half in due time! Return soon to learn more about mistaken identities, and what the cast think of reading the opinions of fans online! In the meantime, be sure to check out Mac's blog over at Planet Gallifrey for all the latest Doctor Who news!

Weekend Treat! =D

Another Memorable Year!

If you look up the definition of Sod's law, you'll probably find a picture of my face :P The oneeee series of SJA where I've taken a bit of a backseat has turned out to be THE MOST epic series of The Sarah Jane Adventures to date! Darn you, university. Darn you and your mounting pile of coursework, monthly presentations, weekly tests and uber-weird in-class videos. :P

But I've been keeping up with series four nevertheless, and I must say...I haven't been this giddy tuning in for the show since the legendary first series back in 2007! The writing, the acting, the CGI, the guest stars... *wistful sigh* It's probably been said a million times over by fans, but truly amazing schuff.

And the promotional work the BBC have done this series has been pretty spectacular to boot. They *finally* came up with an event that catered to adult fans! Can't put into words how amazing it was for jackharkness, KirstyJay and myself to see Death of the Doctor on the big screen in London, so I'll let KirstyJay tell you on my behalf. xD Blew us awayyyy, though.

If you thought seeing the Doctor episodes on the telly was awesome, you'd have messed your pants seeing the crystal-sharp HD episodes joined together and projected onto a cinema screen with dual-surround sound gently caressing your eardrums. 8D'''' I've always been a firm believer that the show would look amazing on the big screen, and it didn't disappoint.

But the promotional events aren't over, guys!

Memorabilia will be playing host to a plethora of SJA guests this weekend in Birmingham, with Tommy Knight and Anjli Mohindra taking part in a free promotional signing on the Saturday, with Fantom Films serving up Katy Manning and her on-screen grandson, Finn Jones, for a signing on Sunday. SARAH-JANE.tv had the opportunity to go to Memorabilia last year and meet the cast with a few lucky fans, and let me assure you - the event is EPIC!

What better way to celebrate the end of yet another fantastic series of SJA, and the release of the new Series 3 boxset? Be sure to check-out the Memorabilia guest-list for all the other awesome peeps coming along!

An Interview With Joe

After a magnificent start to The Sarah Jane Adventures, I spoke to The Nightmare Man's author, Joseph Lidster, who gave me this stunning little interview.

Not only has he written for The Sarah Jane Adventures, his works include Torchwood, Sapphire and Steel, Doctor Who, several tie-in websites for the BBC's wonderful adaptation of Sherlock and more. Joe is fast becoming one of those names cropping up everywhere.

In Torchwood you had Owen dealing with the fact that he is suddenly “dead.” Mark of the Beserker showed Clyde’s family problems, The Mad woman in the Attic went through Rani’s past and the insecurities of Eve and now we have the fabulous Nightmare Man with Luke’s fears. Would you agree that it’s fair to say your writing can be typified as having a strong emotional theme?

“Yeah. I love exploring a character and finding out what makes them tick. I think I’ve always done it really but it’s especially noticeable on SJA because I’ve done one about Clyde, one about Rani and one about Luke. I think the thing I always try to do with these type of stories is to make sure that they’re not too angsty or sedate. I try to put a lot of jokes and action and scary moments in them as well, as nobody wants to watch two characters sitting there endlessly talking about their feelings and being miserable and so on. So, Clyde and his Dad will have a serious conversation but it follows on from a shopping spree montage. Rani talks about her feelings but she’s chatting to a bright red alien girl who’s controlling a bunch of zombies in a spooky theme park. Luke’s fears and feelings are represented as dark and scary and also occasionally amusing nightmares. I think, for me, the most important aspect is that the story feels emotionally real. During discussions in script meetings, my response to something will often be “But Luke just wouldn’t do that!” I suspect that in my head, the characters are a little bit real. Which probably isn’t healthy!”

All your stories with Sarah Jane seem to shove her out of the way a bit, is this something you choose to do and focus on the other characters or is it because you don’t feel confident writing for Sarah Jane?

“With Mark of the Berserker it’s something I was specifically asked to do but really, my stories tend to focus on a particular character so it’s easier if Sarah Jane has less of a presence. She’s actually in Mad Woman and Nightmare Man a fair bit – it’s just there are lots of scenes of Rani or Luke having their own story so it feels a bit different. And the fact is that if you’re writing a story about Clyde and his father you want lots of scenes that concentrate on Clyde and his father – having Sarah Jane in those scenes just wouldn’t work. Lis always jokes that I write her out but the truth is, I’d love to write a huge Sarah Jane story. I love giving Lis things to do – even if it’s just dress up as a nurse or as a batty old version of Sarah Jane. She’s so good at comedy and I’d love to write a big fun story all about Sarah Jane herself.”

You also edited a series of short stories, how different is your approach to editing or abridging other works from starting an original story fresh?

“I think it’s pretty similar really. My belief is that if something is scary, it should be really scary. If it’s funny, really funny. I want to make an audience laugh and cry and shut their eyes terrified – and when I edited that book, I pushed for the writers to do the same. I specifically asked for no stories that opened with Doctor Who and his companion in the TARDIS having a chat and blah blah blah because, in a short story, you haven’t got time for that. To be honest, though, I chose the writers I did because I knew they’d be brilliant. And they were!”

You’re obviously a fan of Doctor Who, but you haven’t just stayed with writing that. You wrote some audio books for Sapphire and Steel, but in one the sleeve notes for Daisy Chain you point out that you were two when the series ended. How much research do you feel you need to do on and era when you’re writing audio books?

“I think you need to know it but not be tied to it. I went out and bought the Sapphire and Steel DVDs so I understood the show (and I loved it) but I didn’t feel compelled to worry too much about capturing the late-70s vibe because I was writing something that was coming out in 2004. And that might be why it shocked a few people. It was the same with my Doctor Who audios. As a fan, I understood that they were meant to be set between two particular TV stories however many years ago but I always tried to write them as modern drama. I don’t believe in writing something for the sake of nostalgia. What’s the point? If I’m spending money on a piece of drama I want it to move me, to scare me or whatever – I don’t want to sit there thinking ‘Oh, I can just imagine this being on the telly in 1983’.”

This is probably a really obvious and dull question that you get asked all the time, but how do you find your inspiration for writing?

“People. The way they talk to each other. The way different types of people talk. Relationships. Everything like that really. Even if I’m having an argument with someone, part of my brain is analysing it – working out why I’m saying what I’m saying and why they’re saying what they’re saying. I’m surprised my family and friends haven’t noticed more often when I’ve put them into a script.”

You wrote the content for several tie-in websites relating to the fictional world of the new television series, Sherlock. If Steven Moffat ever asked you to write an episode, would that be something you would in interested in? It’s not quite science fiction, but I think you’d write a cracking episode.

“Oh yeah. I loved Sherlock and I really enjoyed doing the websites. To be honest, my main ambition at the moment is to write some TV that isn’t related to Doctor Who. I’m actually not the world’s biggest science fiction fan. I appreciate it and think some of it is brilliant but I tend to like it more when it’s horror or adventure or whatever that just happens to be sci-fi. I think all my Sarah Jane scripts have been written as horror stories really- even though I’m generally a wuss when it comes to watching horror movies.”