For DOCTOR WHO’s 50th anniversary year Mark Gatiss has lovingly written a docudrama based on the creation of the show that is set to air later this month on BBC Two. Jessica Raine will play the BBC’s first ever female drama producer Verity Lambert who played a pivotal role in bringing DOCTOR WHO to life.
Raine has not only starred in the BBC’s CALL THE MIDWIFE but has also had a guest appearance on DOCTOR WHO itself earlier this year during its seventh season in an episode titled ‘Hide’. Raine has been recently been speaking about her role as Verity Lambert, who was widely known as an ambitious, driven and formidable woman, here is what she told the Radio Times:
‘We concentrate more on her work, but we do get a little slither of the fun side of Verity. Apparently she used to hold these art parties and invite the artist and all of her mates around and have a sort of exhibition, a bit of music and a bit of dancing’.
‘She was very strong willed, very compassionate and very warm. As the first female dramaproducer at the BBC she had to be very determined. She had a real fire in her belly about projects she believed in’.
Lambert’s determination was in no small part down to the societal changes taking place during the early 1960s, a mood captured by Gatiss’ drama. ‘I think it encapsulates a time in the Sixties when we’re on the bring of this huge change – and it does it really subtly’.
‘We’ve got Verity Lambert walking in to the BBC, who is a woman. We’ve got Waris Hussein, the first Indian director at the BBC. The stakes are very high and that reflects what was going on in society at the time’.
The woman once described as full of “piss and vinegar” by then-head of drama, Sydney Newman, is already well known to Doctor Who fans, but does Raine see any similarities between herself and her character?
‘I guess I didn’t quite realise how determined I was to act, I really did plug away at it for a while, so I suppose I am in a way. I like that Verity’s got that twinkle in her eye. It would be very flattering if anyone compared me to her’.
Raine also admits to a childhood fear of the Time Lord’s most recognisable enemy. ‘I actually do remember being really afraid of the Daleks. I was just terrified of their horrible voice which I always equated with the voice on the tube. We used to go up to London, because I was from the countryside, for a London weekend and the tube voice, ‘mind the gap’ used to always remind me of the Daleks so it was just a terrifying experience!’.
When the drama airs later this month it should prove to be a beautiful piece of television that not only demonstrates its passion and love for DOCTOR WHO, but also accurately reflects an important part of British history has defined out culture in many ways. AN ADVENTURE IN SPACE AND TIME stars David Bradley, Jessica Raine, Brian Cox, Reece Shearsmith and Jamie Glover, check back with The Hollywood News or more updates.
Source: Radio Times
