With Guest Stars: Chalky, Tigger & Mavic Chen

Chalky, Tigger and Mavic Chen were all going to Ireland on the evening of the Series 5 premiere; Alfie and Mr. Lucas were otherwise engaged; and Dufus could not afford to come down from ‘the North’. Therefore, it was only Shirt that would be available to watch the episode round at Enigma and Scooby’s.

Despite their night-time jaunt to the Emerald Isle, Chalky, Tigger and Mavic Chen managed to come round to Enigma and Scooby’s for the afternoon. A battle of the hostesses broke out, with Enigma providing Tigger’s speciality, risotto. The afternoon was spent in catching up, in Mavic Chen playing with Enigma and Scooby’s many remote-controls and being transfixed by Enigma’s Dalek collection, and in Chalky denying that he had been trying to make his son a fan – his interest in Who-related characters being due to an ‘accidentally’ discarded DW Quiz Book. Having given Mavic Chen his Easter gifts, an egg and two “In The Night Garden” items, the three left, with Chalky still grumbling about having to miss the episode.

Two minutes later, and Chalky was back, but not to hide in the flat so that he could see the episode as the others first believed, but to return Enigma and Scooby’s car parking permit.

Having just under two hours before the main event, Shirt took the opportunity to quickly dash home to check that he had set his videos correctly, whilst Enigma and Scooby partook of the audio delights that Shirt had left for them – including John Barrowman’s “The Doctor and I” (labelled ‘Stilton’ by Enigma for being so cheesy!), “Doctor in Distress”, as well as favourites including “Who is Dr. Who ?” and “I Want to Spend My Christmas With A Dalek”.

Returning with plenty of time to spare, the final twenty minutes before the episode were spent in flicking through the magazines that Shirt had brought with him, all with Mr. Smith and Ms. Gillan on the cover, and in watching in HD a documentary about a trip to the Northern Lights by ‘Fatal Death’ (Mr. Moffatt’s first televised WHO) Doctor, Joanna Lumley.

“I sell holidays there !”, Enigma told Shirt, who attempted to change the subject by mentioning an upcoming Seventh Galaxy signing with Matthew Waterhouse.

“Next on BBC HD, the return of ‘Doctor Who’ “, the announcer said to cheers.

Silence then reigned, whilst all three were transfixed by the pre-credits sequence.

Then the new titles began. Scooby was the first to say it.

“I don’t like the new theme !”

The other two agreed, and then all became engrossed again in the first adventure of the Eleventh Doctor.

The presence of the Third Doctor’s jacket in the scene where the Doctor berates the aliens, got a cheer from Enigma, and all waited to see the new TARDIS interior properly for the first time.

Model-maker Scooby was very impressed by the new console, but did not realise that the exterior was any different.

Having enjoyed the preview of upcoming episodes, Enigma flicked the channel to BBC3 for “Confidential”.

“That’s the theme that they should have used”, commented Enigma as the programme started.

Everyone agreed that, apart from the new theme, the episode had been excellent, and Scooby admitted the first stirrings of DW fandom within him.

Shirt on the other hand, just enjoyed the frequent “Confidential” contributions from the lovely Beth Willis.

Episode and “Confidential” completed, and there was a “Doctor Who: Scene It” challenge between Shirt and Enigma & Scooby. Shirt won the first game, but Enigma & Scooby came back strongly, winning the challenge 2-1. Next they watched a DVD of trailers and interviews relating to the new series, compiled by Shirt, which in line with anything produced by Shirt, only worked until the halfway point.

Scooby then decided to access the Radiophon-a-Tron online, in an attempt to make a better version of the theme than the new series one.

“Can I have a copy of that to play during the title-sequence next week ?”, asked Shirt.

Scooby then downloaded lots of other versions of the theme – including metal, ambient and funk.

A final chat about upcoming signings and audios and it was time for Shirt to leave, giving gifts of a metal DAVROS bucket containing chocolate eggs and a R2-D2 egg-cup with chocolate egg, to Enigma and Scooby respectively. It was also agreed to all meet up for the season finale.

Dashing through the heavy rain that seemed to have come out of nowhere, Shirt made his way home, musing on the evening’s events – Matt Smith was da Doctor !!!

[PL]