Published in CT 281

2001 already- where did 2000 go? Technically it's a new millennium, and just for a change I thought I'd see if I could get the 2001 Dr Who calender. And being a Dr Who fan, I can't help but rate it!

It's very nice, lots of glossy (and big) pictures of our favourite Time Lord and his enemies. The Daleks control London and January it seems, with the Doctors and their companions taking the rest of the year. The radio times clips on each month are very nice, and certainly give you something to do each time the 1st comes around. As are the information on "what happened on this day in Dr Who World". And it is here my gripes begin.

Whilst a lot of birthdays are marked, not all are. Notably Nicola Bryant is missing, and I suspect several others are (sadly I'm not current on all Who knowledge). Also, the calender informs me that Ambassadors of Death started production in 1966, The Keeper of Traken in 1977 and the Mutants in 1972. The first two evidently took 4 and 5 years to make, whilst the Mutants was shown on TV before it was made (perhaps this time thing has something to do with it). [I realise there was a Pertwee show called the Mutants, which I hadn't realised at the time, so the calender presumably refers to this show. However, they have also got Wendy Padbury's debut as Zoe wrong, so I still stand by my comments.] Now, I hasten to add that you don't need to be an anorak to notice this: I certainly am not. I happened to be watching The Keeper of Traken in January, and noticed the date on the calender didn't match that on the box. Whilst I'm sure it was just a typo, it is a shame tha no-one else checked it, as otherwise it is an excellent piece of the Who collection. Oh, you also cut a nice cut-out of the 3rd Doctor (well I did at any rate), which is always nice to have, as is the correct marking of the recording dates for the Big Finish audios- nice touch! Overall then it has to rate at 77%, the errors bringing it down a few marks.

by Peter Witney