Simon Guerrier
@0tralala.bsky.social
Writer and producer. Out now: David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television, a biography of the first story editor of Doctor Who. Currently working on a biography of Terrance Dicks. www.simonguerrier.com
Two of those published on the same day (with a sickly green one on The Making of Doctor Who v2).
November 24, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Two of those published on the same day (with a sickly green one on The Making of Doctor Who v2).
Because Newman didn’t actually say
“Crotchety”. In his written reply to Hulke, dated 28 September 1971, the phrase he used was “senile old man”. He meant forgetful and unable to work the TARDIS properly.
“Crotchety”. In his written reply to Hulke, dated 28 September 1971, the phrase he used was “senile old man”. He meant forgetful and unable to work the TARDIS properly.
November 17, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Because Newman didn’t actually say
“Crotchety”. In his written reply to Hulke, dated 28 September 1971, the phrase he used was “senile old man”. He meant forgetful and unable to work the TARDIS properly.
“Crotchety”. In his written reply to Hulke, dated 28 September 1971, the phrase he used was “senile old man”. He meant forgetful and unable to work the TARDIS properly.
This is because, on p. 3, they quote Sydney Newman saying, at the genesis of Doctor Who, that the Doctor should “a crotchety old man”. The authors then suggest that “crotchety” applied only to the Hartnell Doctor. But hold on…
November 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
This is because, on p. 3, they quote Sydney Newman saying, at the genesis of Doctor Who, that the Doctor should “a crotchety old man”. The authors then suggest that “crotchety” applied only to the Hartnell Doctor. But hold on…
It’s used as a sub-heading on p. 2 of The Making of Doctor Who.
November 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
It’s used as a sub-heading on p. 2 of The Making of Doctor Who.
Piece by me for Art UK on the strange and striking art of Honoré Daumier: artuk.org/discover/sto...
November 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Piece by me for Art UK on the strange and striking art of Honoré Daumier: artuk.org/discover/sto...
Good afternoon, Womble. Today, I have made a start on this short missive.
November 16, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Good afternoon, Womble. Today, I have made a start on this short missive.
Good morning to you. I am reading Kim by Rudyard Kipling, looking for the ways it influenced subsequent writers to whom it was a childhood favourite.
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Good morning to you. I am reading Kim by Rudyard Kipling, looking for the ways it influenced subsequent writers to whom it was a childhood favourite.
Let’s go #Traitors #CelebrityTraitors
November 6, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Let’s go #Traitors #CelebrityTraitors
Good morning, Womble. I’ve just got to the bit in this classic work of literature where Sarah Jane Smith wakes up to find herself “buried beneath a pile of rapidly stiffening corpses.”
November 2, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Good morning, Womble. I’ve just got to the bit in this classic work of literature where Sarah Jane Smith wakes up to find herself “buried beneath a pile of rapidly stiffening corpses.”
Yes, I went to see a collector on Friday who has a wealth of other Target books, and they have a very consistent look. Sometimes the typefaces on the cover are different, or styles of art. But spines and back covers are immediately recognisable.
October 27, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Yes, I went to see a collector on Friday who has a wealth of other Target books, and they have a very consistent look. Sometimes the typefaces on the cover are different, or styles of art. But spines and back covers are immediately recognisable.
Santa (really a Zygon) has been! #DoctorWho #AndTheLochNessMonster
October 17, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Santa (really a Zygon) has been! #DoctorWho #AndTheLochNessMonster
Pristine first edition of Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen has arrived, and eBay seller Nick added a @georgiacooked.bsky.social Doctor to the envelope.
October 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Pristine first edition of Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen has arrived, and eBay seller Nick added a @georgiacooked.bsky.social Doctor to the envelope.
Wow. In contrast, here is actor John Wells describing his journey out to Korea in 1956, which I’ve just stumbled upon in a book on the Joint Services School for Linguists.
October 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Wow. In contrast, here is actor John Wells describing his journey out to Korea in 1956, which I’ve just stumbled upon in a book on the Joint Services School for Linguists.
Long day writing up Terrance Dicks related paperwork, so the arrival of this made me think No!
Who threw the Zygons’ trilanic activator into Nessie’s mouth, Nessie chewed it then returned safely to the capacious depths of Loch Ness. @paulcornell.bsky.social @rachaelsmith.bsky.social
Who threw the Zygons’ trilanic activator into Nessie’s mouth, Nessie chewed it then returned safely to the capacious depths of Loch Ness. @paulcornell.bsky.social @rachaelsmith.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Long day writing up Terrance Dicks related paperwork, so the arrival of this made me think No!
Who threw the Zygons’ trilanic activator into Nessie’s mouth, Nessie chewed it then returned safely to the capacious depths of Loch Ness. @paulcornell.bsky.social @rachaelsmith.bsky.social
Who threw the Zygons’ trilanic activator into Nessie’s mouth, Nessie chewed it then returned safely to the capacious depths of Loch Ness. @paulcornell.bsky.social @rachaelsmith.bsky.social
Fiddlesticks and flapdoodle
September 7, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Fiddlesticks and flapdoodle
Busy morning constructing a Cleaner from Doctor Who and the Paradise Towers, care of @garethothevworp.bsky.social. Lady Vader likes the idea of a robot that could tidy her room, even if it eats people.
September 2, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Busy morning constructing a Cleaner from Doctor Who and the Paradise Towers, care of @garethothevworp.bsky.social. Lady Vader likes the idea of a robot that could tidy her room, even if it eats people.
My crap dead cat similar.
August 27, 2025 at 10:35 PM
My crap dead cat similar.
Hurrah! Does Mike Glover get a mention on the title page? Is there an asterisk on p. 9 about Planet of the Spiders? (Here is my second edition reprint from autumn 1975)
August 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Hurrah! Does Mike Glover get a mention on the title page? Is there an asterisk on p. 9 about Planet of the Spiders? (Here is my second edition reprint from autumn 1975)
Salubrious accommodation this week, lads.
![Warning sign asking people to “please be considerate … close shower door when in use [and] flush toilet after use!”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lqgtdd3dx7fzfa2nyndygqjd/bafkreiclbnpma6bx3likmukswki22rosyrbefpzw5ckwpdcp2tauoumw7e@jpeg)
August 19, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Salubrious accommodation this week, lads.
The novelisation of Bookish by @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social is great, adding loads of little details to what we see on screen - juicy bits of real history, Trottie in the war, a haunting journey by train. Best of all, there are hints about what’s still to come. Bring on the don and the snow…
August 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The novelisation of Bookish by @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social is great, adding loads of little details to what we see on screen - juicy bits of real history, Trottie in the war, a haunting journey by train. Best of all, there are hints about what’s still to come. Bring on the don and the snow…
At Mr Darcy’s house (Lyme Park, @nationaltrust.org.uk), not only can you try on the fancy clothes but you can then keep them on as you wander round the house and grounds. Lady Vader liked this and the various nice dogs she met.
August 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
At Mr Darcy’s house (Lyme Park, @nationaltrust.org.uk), not only can you try on the fancy clothes but you can then keep them on as you wander round the house and grounds. Lady Vader liked this and the various nice dogs she met.
And, in the meantime, there is a novelisation of this first series - packed with extra details.
August 6, 2025 at 8:21 AM
And, in the meantime, there is a novelisation of this first series - packed with extra details.
Tried to recreate this image last year but wasn’t allowed up on the dangerous ledge. So improvised.
July 31, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Tried to recreate this image last year but wasn’t allowed up on the dangerous ledge. So improvised.