Time Made Of Strawberries – Un Temps De Fraises

Crowd behaviour does not stop Jodie Whittaker from taking some time for fans

By Mélissa M Azombo

On Saturday 12th August, actress Jodie Whittaker left BBC Radio 2 HQ after being on air with Dermot O’Leary to a crowd of fans, not all calmly waiting.

A video has been posted on video sharing platform YouTube by channel John Denny TV, in 3 parts, showing crowds of fans, impatiently awaiting Jodie’s arrival for the chance to have a photo or autograph signed by her. Barely a few seconds after she eagerly approached the crowd to start signing away, the unrest began.

At 0:14, a fan (India Grace Spiteri, who goes by Frankie Grace) can be heard saying “Can you not? Can you f****** not? Can you f****** not?” She says this, as the gentleman behind her repeatedly attempts to extend his hand forwards but to the side of her, so that his picture can be more accessible from behind the barrier retaining fans. After soothingly asking, “Jodie, love?” she continues “Can you move your f****** hand?” to the gentleman behind her, which it is clear from the video Jodie notices at 0:57. However, in true Doctor fashion, Jodie ignores this and continues signing away for fans, not letting this phase her.

Jodie Whittaker was happy to take photos with fans, despite crowd behaviour.

The Trust Me actress was at BBC Radio 2 for Dermot O’ Leary’s Breakfast show to talk about four-part BBC drama.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05c6mg5/player

Inevitably though, conversation soon turned to Jodie’s brand new Doctor Who role, playing the Time Lord, which she revealed “I’ve known since March.”

Sally, who delivered traffic updates and information during the radio show, told the Yorkshire actress, “I’ve never seen as many people outside waiting for Jodie. I’ve seen Hollywood actors have less people than you.”

“Last time I came on the show, I got off the shoot, walked in and there were autograph hunters outside who ignored me and walked in, got a pass and that was it. This one, everyone’s like “Hi, hi!”” Jodie explained, showing the massive approval of her casting.

The scene outside BBC Radio 2 HQ though, was an untame one. Fans kept being told to get off the road, possibly squeezed off the pavement towards the front, due to the sheer amount of people there. One fan even threw another fan’s autograph photos on the floor. Meanwhile, the monitored chaotic scene saw some defying the one autograph per person rule (likely put in place, to ensure everyone could get The Doctor’s attention). There was pushing and shoving, more insults and picture snatching, as well as threats of “I’m gonna f****** finish you off, mate,” which received the response
“Go on, then!”
One fan described the scene perfectly “It’s getting nasty in ‘ere.”

The actress also revealed how she got offered the role. Before Season 3 of ITV drama Broadchurch came out, she had just been talking to show writer Chris Chibnall about his new role, who asked
“This is the direction I want to go in i.e. female. Would you consider auditioning?” Then followed a very lengthy audition process.

She added “You have to be put in a position where you are going to fight for a role like this because it’s such an honour, you can’t just be blasée about this.”

It is currently unclear when Doctor Who starts filming or returns for Series 11, as even The Doctor herself doesn’t know. However, Doctor Who returns for the Christmas special on Christmas Day, BBC One which will be 12th Doctor, Peter Capaldi’s last.

As Jodie Whittaker’s historic time as the first woman to play the prestigious role of The Doctor comes to an end, Time Made Of Strawberries looks at 13 fantastic women who were key to the show’s success and fantastic women in their own right.

Verity Lambert

Verity Lambert was the show’s first producer when it first launched in 1963. Recruited by then Head of Drama Sydney Newman who had worked with her at ABC, she was the youngest and only female producer at the BBC. Newman described her as bright and gutsy. He told Doctor Who Magazine in 1993 that at ABC, “she used to fight and argue with me, even though she was not at a very high level as a production assistant.” Verity certainly knew what she wanted when it came to the show and fought for it, which only proved to be in the show’s best interests. In fact, then head of serials Donald Wilson admitted that she clearly knew the show better than he did, when her move to continue with the first feature of the Daleks, against his strong advice to do otherwise, proved successful.

On her departure, Verity commented “It’s not that I wasn’t fond of Doctor Who. I simply felt the time had come… I know people do soaps forever now but I felt Doctor Who needed to come in with a different view.”

The educational science-fiction programme was, according to Wikipedia, “only expected to last 13 weeks.” Defying expectations alongside director Warris Hussein for 2 years, she managed to run a series which would go on to last over 50 years (and counting). Although Verity left us in 2007, the legacy of the hard work and dedication she put into the show during its first few years, lives on forever.

Delia Derbyshire

The famous Doctor Who theme tune is hummed by many, known, as currently composed by the talented Segun Akinola and originally realised by Ron Grainer. However, that is not the full story. Despite her name never appearing in the credits, Delia Derbyshire was instrumental (no pun intended) to the show’s signature sound. Inspired by war sounds, Delia

Julie Gardner

Carole Ann Ford

Jodie Whittaker

Rachel Talalay

Sarah Dollard

Elisabeth Sladen

Hayley Neubauer

Karen Gillan

Jenny T Colgan

Billie Piper

Julie Ankerson