Neil Cross is the author of The Rings of Akhaten and Hide, which were both released in 2013.

I have fond memories of watching Planet of the Spiders at my grandmother’s house, bundled up in her faux fur coat. My sister and I would shriek with both joy and fear when the Cyber Army awoke in Earthshock. Other times, I would lie in bed, feeling a mix of excitement and terror as I imagined the menacing sound of the Tardis’s time rotor outside my bedroom window. I initially had no interest in the revival, but in 2005, I stumbled upon Dalek on TV and ended up showing it to my sons. We all huddled together on one couch, afraid of getting too scared. If I had the ability to travel through time, that’s where I would go.

Dylan Holmes Williams (director of episodes featuring the Fifteenth Doctor, 2024)

While filming a scene outside in Newport, we had a tight deadline of five minutes before sunset. Despite our efforts, we encountered a roadblock when two paparazzi refused to leave the shot unless we agreed to a private photoshoot. I quickly approached them and pleaded for them to move, which they eventually did. Thankfully, we were able to capture the shot just in time.

Rona Munro (writer of Survival and The Eaters of Life, 1989-2017)

During the period of confinement, I participated in a Zoom discussion for a podcast about Doctor Who with Sophie Aldred, Lisa Bowerman, and Sakuntala Ramanee, who respectively played Ace, Karra, and Shreela in my story, Survival. These were the final episodes to air before the original series ended in 1989 after 26 seasons. I was honored and thrilled to learn that this story had also held significance for them. It was ahead of its time, with a lesbian undertone and possibly the first appearance of a South Asian actor as a main character in Doctor Who. It was an incredibly emotional conversation, and we all felt like we had survived together.

According to Akinola, he worked as the composer for the Thirteenth Doctor from 2018 to 2022.

For me, the most significant moment is the entire episode Demons of the Punjab in series 11 . Its importance goes far beyond “just ” being an episode. It was brave, bold and challenging. It shed light on a part of history that many viewers may have known little about, myself included. I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of it.

Neve McIntosh portrayed various Silurian characters, including Madame Vastra, from 2010 to 2014.

The episode “A Good Man Goes to War” was particularly exciting because I had been killed off twice before, and I was surprised to be asked back as a hero instead of a villain. Working with Catrin Stewart, who played my strong and capable wife, and new friend and stunt performer Dan Starkey, was a highlight. The most memorable part was filming the dematerialization scene. The director would call “freeze!” and we would stand still while two members of the art department came out and disassembled the Tardis. Then, when he called “action!”, we would react to the Doctor disappearing off to another adventure. Although Madame Vastra may have been nonchalant about it all, I was bursting with joy on the inside.

Ella Road, the author of the 2022 novel “Legend of the Sea Devils”.

I participated in a video conference call with the incredible visual effects team, during which my imaginative concepts for sea monsters were brought to life through CGI images. The team displayed their immense talent and creativity. Additionally, I received heartwarming letters from fans praising the subtle portrayal of Yaz and the Doctor’s relationship in my episode. One individual shared that their LGBTQ+ teenage daughter was ecstatic to see the representation of queer love and ambiguous female friendship on mainstream television. It was a lovely message to receive.

Jessica Carney (granddaughter and biographer of William Hartnell)

I was six years old when Doctor Who first aired, so I have been a dedicated viewer since its inception. Due to Carole Ann Ford’s portrayal of the Doctor’s granddaughter on the show, many have mistakenly associated me with her. However, at the age of seven, I had the opportunity to visit Riverside Studios. I vividly recall exploring the set on my own and being captivated by my grandfather’s transformation with his wig and makeup. I even had the chance to visit the studio where they were filming “The Web Planet” and play with a fibreglass Zarbi head. Although I found the Menoptera creatures to be quite silly!”

Charlie Craggs portrays the character Cleo Proctor in the audio series Doctor Who: Redacted, starting in 2022.

My favourite Doctor Who moment is me. Not in a big-headed way – it was my first ever acting gig and I could definitely do better now – but in a way beyond me, the importance and impact of a trans character played by a trans woman, written by a trans woman in something mainstream. There’s hardly any representation of this sort of storyline, and even less representation of it in a positive light that’s not wrapped in trauma. To be a part of the legacy of this moment, and part of the legacy of Doctor Who, means so much to me.

Beth Willis, who served as executive producer from 2010 to 2011.

In the episode “Vincent and the Doctor,” the Doctor and Amy bring Vincent van Gogh (played by Tony Curran) to the Musée D’Orsay in the Tardis. This is not their main goal, but rather a side trip. The ending poses the question, “What if Vincent could experience the love he had in his lifetime? Would it have made a difference in his struggle with depression? Would he still have taken his own life?” This is the main theme of the episode. Amy believes that this experience will change everything for Vincent, but it ultimately does not. The Doctor explains that while good things may not always erase the bad, they also don’t necessarily diminish their importance.

David Bradley portrayed both William Hartnell and the First Doctor in An Adventure in Space and Time in 2013 and beyond.

Peter Capaldi’s last appearance as the Doctor was in the episode Twice Upon a Time. I was asked to play the role of William Hartnell, the First Doctor, as I had previously portrayed him in the TV movie An Adventure in Space and Time. This episode, written by Steven Moffat, was set to air during Christmas of 2017. We were filming a scene on a World War I battlefield, where British and German soldiers came out of their trenches to exchange gifts and play football together on Christmas Day. The scene had a melancholic beauty to it, which nearly brought Peter and I to tears, but we managed to keep our composure.

Elizabeth Parker was a composer and a member of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop from 1978 to 1998.

The Stones of Blood was momentous for me. Back in 1977 it was unbelievably difficult to get into the Radiophonic Workshop, but I managed to get a three-month attachment there when everyone was away, including Dick Mills who always did the special sound for Doctor Who. I was stuck in a studio over an unbelievably hot week, creating the sound of giant stones oozing blood as they shuffled along. I started with guttural vocal sounds from myself which I slowed down, put on loops of tape stretched around the studio, and overlaid. It was a huge challenge but it launched my career.”

Ella Watts, the producer and director of “Doctor Who: Redacted”, is responsible for all aspects of the production.

Jodie Whittaker portrayed the Thirteenth Doctor in The Woman Who Fell to Earth. She shared, “We all have the potential for remarkable change. We can grow and evolve while remaining true to ourselves. We can embrace our past and shape our future.” This message resonated not only with Doctor Who, but with the current world. Jodie’s transformation into the Doctor was a moment of hope for me – a moment that made me believe someone like me could also play a significant role in the story. I’m eagerly anticipating Ncuti Gatwa’s portrayal as well.

Source: theguardian.com