Doctor Who - 50 Year celebration review and cast interviews

Doctor Who - 50 Year Celebration (London Excel)

Spoiler TV were lucky enough to be invited by the BBC to the Doctor Who Celebration in London at the Excel. Cast and crew attended the event on the weekend of the 50th Anniversary. Some of the big names in Who attending included Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman, Steven Moffat, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Slyvester McCoy and many more. We were lucky enough to chat to some of the attendees (see below)

Tickets sold out for the event within hours of it being announced. Even those with tickets still had to queue in the morning just to get in to the event. But the wait was all worth it for fans to meet cast members from new and classic Who. Exhibits included Matt Smith's TARDIS, the make up truck, the SFX team and much more. Fans were also given the opportunity to get photos taken with their favourite characters and of course autographs to remember the occasion. Fans queuing to meet their favourites stars of the show were all in good spirits just to have their opportunity to meet their idols. Many fans dressed as some of their favourite characters including all of the Doctors, aliens and their companions. (Thanks to Hayley for her photo here)

Attendees were invited along to attend panels where classic doctors and current cast and crew talked about making the episodes and the 50th Anniversary episode. Moffatt and Smith teased about the Christmas episode saying the word "Bubbly" would appear in reference to Clara. These panels would be full of 1000's of attendees. For cast and crew having to do these panels for 3 days straight (twice a day) they were all in good spirits and entertaining and really showed their love for the show.

During the event we were invited up to talk to some of the classic Doctor's including Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy and Colin Baker. We chatted with Peter about his own 50th Anniversary episode called "The Five(ish) Doctors" which you can find here (UK only I think). He told us how it was all an accident due to a fan asking if he would be in the 50th to which he responded "If not, I'll damn well make my own". Peter talked about how the show has changed but he still watches it with his family but now they have to explain things to him.

I went off point when chatting to Slyvester McCoy and talked about the Hobbit which he has just finished recording some ADR for the next part released at Christmas. He also talked about how he thought they (the BBC) were wrong to cast young actors as The Doctor but was happy to be wrong with Matt Smith coming along with "an ancient head on a young body" and being perfect for the role.


Finally to just add to an amazing weekend I ended up sitting next to the main guy in charge Steven Moffat. You can find the video below where I talked about one of my favourite shows coupling, Paul McGann and the Christmas Episode. This was truly a great celebration of past and present Doctor Who where fans really embraced the past 50 years making way for hopefully another great 50.

I would just like to thank everyone at the BBC (especially Chris H) for the invite, all of the cast and crew I spoke to. All of the attendees and cosplayers for making this an amazing 50th Anniversary weekend. Allons-y

About the Author - CJ

CJ aka “CJ Sonic” is a senior staff member at Spoiler TV, co-hosts and edits the Spoiler TV Podcast and co-hosts Spoiler TV's web show "Spoiled". Loves everything to do with TV and film. Self admitted geek.