Like the shopping expedition, everything happened at such a whirlwind pace. I signed my contract on 3 May – for twenty-six episodes – and four days later I was on a train heading towards Manchester.
My life in Doctor Who had begun.
* * *
I’m sure the rest of the cast had already done a table read-through, but casting for Sarah Jane was so far behind schedule that I missed out on that. I was starting cold. My introduction to the serial called The Time Warrior would take place on location in Cheshire. Fortunately I gleaned a bit of inside info on the way up. Brian had worked with Kevin Lindsay, a typically colourful Australian actor, in Watford and they got on well. When we discovered Kevin was also in The Time Warrior – as Linx, the Time Warrior himself, no less – Brian arranged for us to travel together. Typical Aussie, he was so relaxed, which was just what I needed.
‘I’m terrified,’ I confessed.
‘Course you are. But stick with me, girl, we’re going to have fun!’
I believed him – Kevin could give a dying man confidence.
We arrived late afternoon and made our way to the hotel, a charming old coaching inn. It was quite a period place, all slanted floors and low beams, but my bed was comfortable and there was hot water for a bath. That was more of a luxury than I realised.
Soon it was time to go downstairs. The crew and cast were assembling in the hotel bar. This was it, my big entrance into the world – the universe – of Doctor Who. I’d been in enough shows with enough companies not to be anxious about joining another one, but something about this particular programme made me feel nervous. Like Coronation Street, everyone was so established in their roles. Would I fit in?
Only one way to find out …
The bar area was already full, although I didn’t recognise a soul. Then I spotted Jon Pertwee at the bar. A quick double-take and he recognised me.
‘Lissie!’
His booming voice carried across the room and two-dozen heads swivelled my way. Well, if they didn’t know me already, they did now. It was embarrassing at the time but actually it got all the introductions out of the way early on. Kevin and Jim Acheson appeared out of the throng and showed me off around the room. It was such a blur but everyone was friendly.
Finally I found my way to the bar where Jon was waiting. He gave me a great big hug, which was his seal of approval to the rest of the cast, I think, like a Roman emperor giving the thumbs-up sign.
Relaxed, he said, ‘Now, what would you like to drink, Katy?’
Katy?
I didn’t say anything – I didn’t need to. A second later Jon realised his error.
And burst into tears.
Oh Christ, I thought, what on earth have I signed up to here?
There’s not much you can do when the most important – and largest of life – character in the room breaks down in front of you, especially with the whole bar looking on. I didn’t know whether to comfort Jon or run. To be honest, I just wanted the ground to open up. I think I stood there awkwardly for a second, but it felt like an age. Then I felt an arm around my shoulder and I was led away. I learned later it was Peter Pegrum, one of the visual effects guys. Right then he was my knight in shining armour.
‘Don’t worry about Jon,’ Peter said. ‘He just misses Katy, that’s all. It’s not personal.’
It was nice to hear. But by the end of the night I was ready to punch the next person who even mentioned that woman’s name. (Of course, I didn’t mention this when Katy and Matt Smith joined me on the Sarah Jane Adventure Death of the Doctor. But then why would I? You only have to spend a second in Katy’s company to realise how wonderful and scatty and delightful she is. The idea of anyone holding a grudge with her is inconceivable. In my defence, I didn’t know her then …)
So it wasn’t the most comfortable evening I’ve ever had. Jon quickly recovered his normal bubbly self and a bit of a party atmosphere picked up again, but the feeling lingered: whatever I did onscreen, I just wasn’t Jo Grant.
But sod that, I thought. This is the age of Sarah Jane.
I’m sure if you ask anyone else about that night they’ll say I was quite drunk. I can reveal now that it was an act. I still wasn’t much of a drinker – I might have had one gin, but I pretended to be a lot further gone than I was. It just seemed easier. Almost the diplomatic option, actually, because the next day I could say I didn’t remember anything. But I’ll never forget that night – as everyone relaxed and got to know each other, good friendships were made. Apart from Jon’s episode, there was quite a lot of ribald joking going on, and more than one fellow saying a blue joke then panicking when he saw me. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Lis.’ As if I’d never heard swearing before! Jim Acheson’s assistant, Robin Stubbs, really took me under his wing. He’d been on my episode of Some Mothers … and I became strong friends with him and his wife later. That night he was my guardian angel.
At breakfast the next day there were one or two people nursing hangovers. Jon was as lively as usual and afterwards he and I were led into a big room, where Sandra Exelby was waiting to do our makeup. You know I love actors’ tales and Jon rattled off a couple of stories that had Sandra and me in stitches. Half an hour later we climbed on the bus with everyone else. I sat next to Kevin and braced myself for the day ahead. The real work was about to begin.
* * *
The reason we were in Cheshire can be answered in two words: Peckforton Castle. Although built as a folly in the 1800s, to the untrained eye Peckforton looks exactly like a mediaeval castle. And that is exactly why we wanted it. Strictly speaking, we needed it to be two mediaeval castles.
The Time Warrior, written by future script editor Robert Holmes, was a four-part serial featuring warring neighbours Irongron and Wessex. Irongron, the local aggressor, wants to conquer all before him and unquestioningly accepts the fantastic weaponry offered by the stranded stranger Linx – a Sontaran whose ship has crashed in Earth’s Middle Ages.
A Sontaran – an alien! I’d never encountered the like.
In the story, Linx kidnaps scientists from the twentieth century to aid in his repairs, conducted in his laboratory at Irongron’s castle. The Doctor sets off in the TARDIS to investigate and Sarah Jane stows aboard. That, in a nutshell, was the start of my adventure.
I’ve always loved being part of a repertory company, so travelling with everyone on the bus was in my comfort zone. Both regulars and newbies had bonded pretty well the night before so there was a real buzz in the air. The first day’s shooting looked like it might actually be fun.
While the supporting cast, including June Brown – later Dot Cotton from EastEnders – were getting to grips with their cumbersome mediaeval costumes, I had no such problems. Jim Acheson had found me a smart brown trouser suit, large-collared shirt and jumper. After the state of me in Z-Cars and my shopkeeper’s overalls from Some Mothers it made a change to actually look nice for once.
I think Barry originally hoped to direct The Time Warrior himself but had become tied up with Terrance Dicks in preparation work for the BBC’s new sci-fi show, Moonbase 3. Instead we had a chap called Alan Bromly. When people talk about the ‘old school’ ways of the Corporation in the 1950s, it’s people like Alan they’re referring to. The image of pipe and trilby sums him up to a T.