‘Look, I’m sorry, I’ve got to have a break. Tom doesn’t need me there – people only want to see the Doctor anyway.’
At this Peter Dimmock leapt straight in there. ‘Lis, we need you! Tom hasn’t really been established yet, you’re the one people know. You have to do it.’
Tom looked at me and said, ‘Well yes, I suppose that’s true. I’ve only been around five minutes. They love you, Elisabeth.’
I was flattered, certainly but was my ego more important than a few rare days away with my husband? Not even close.
‘Look, I’m sorry, I really am. But if I go to Blackpool I can’t take my break, and I really need it – I’m exhausted.’
Terry gave me his most diplomatic look. ‘Lis, I understand. Don’t make a decision now, talk it over with Brian – we’ll pay for him to go as well, obviously. Let us know tomorrow.’
‘Fine,’ I said. But my mind was already made up – I’d leave it twenty-four hours before giving them the bad news.
When I got home I was even more adamant that I’d soon be in Tangiers. Then the phone rang: it was Mum. She sounded like she’d won the pools.
‘Oh, Elisabeth,’ she gushed. ‘I’ve just had the most charming call from Terry Sampson. He has asked your dad and me to come down to Blackpool to watch you turn on the lights!’
‘Really?’
‘Oh yes, we can’t wait!’
I hung up, feeling thoroughly outmanoeuvred. Mum had never sounded happier. All I could think was, Sampson, you swine!
Chapter Ten
Over Here, Cloth-Eyes!
OF ALL the manipulative stunts! I could barely look at Terry Sampson after that. But he was as good as his word: Mum and Dad were picked up by limo and booked into one of Blackpool’s finest hotels. It was heart-warming to see them so thoroughly spoiled. I thought they were going to explode with pride when they saw the crowds calling out for me, too. Compared to this, my visit to the Exhibition’s opening with Jon had been a washout.
Being flat out in the middle of a consecutive second season, it was a real scramble to get ready. I didn’t have a minute to buy a new outfit. Fortunately I had the might of the BBC to help me out. Rowland Warne, the costume guy from Planet of the Spiders, really stepped up. He lent me this ornate antique shawl and a beautiful white lace dress that I absolutely adored. Afterwards he said I looked so stunning I should keep them, which was naughty but much appreciated. Later I altered the frock for Sadie to wear when she was playing the May Queen’s attendant – I put some ribbons around the sleeves to hike it up and trimmed it a bit. I’ve still got it.
Blackpool was actually a great experience. As well as my parents, Sampson had invited Ian Marter and David Maloney – I think Enterprises hoped he’d be able to keep us all in check. Brian came along as well, which gave it more of a holiday feel. He got on fabulously with Ian and Tom so it was a real party atmosphere, actually.
The plan was to have a big banquet with the Lord Mayor in the evening, spend the night in a hotel, then switch on the illuminations the next evening. Fine, I thought. I’m here now, I may as well enjoy it.
As we filed into the dining hall Tom said to me, ‘Lis, lucky you – you’re sitting next to the Mayor!’
Anyone else would think this was an honour. The way Tom had said it, though – I was waiting for the catch. I soon found it. The Mayor had just had an operation and for the whole duration of the meal I got a blow-by-blow account. Talk about putting you off your food! What made it worse was watching Tom up the other end of the table having the night of his life. If he dares to laugh at me, I swear I’ll throw my roll at his head! I thought.
Still, my problems weren’t as bad as Brian’s. They had him down as ‘Mr Sladen’ so the whole night he had to put up with people calling him by my surname. Luckily he’s got a grand sense of humour about these things.
When it came to the actual switching-on ceremony, it looked like all of Blackpool and the Northwest had turned out to watch the Doctor use his sonic screwdriver to illuminate the night. No pressure, then.
We got there and Tom said to Maloney, ‘OK, let’s have the screwdriver.’
And the look of horror on Maloney’s face – ‘Tom, I thought you had it!’
What a pair.
So Maloney whizzed back to the hotel and the rest of us stood up there, in full glare of the crowds, for what seemed like forever. I’ve no idea what we did to fill the time. When Maloney came panting back up the stairs I said, ‘Where have you been?’
Apparently he’d got stuck in the hotel lift on the way back, forgetting he was holding the sonic. After a few minutes this old couple said, ‘Well, are you going to use it or not?’
Eventually there was a countdown and Tom set the whole place ablaze. It was truly spectacular, he was such a hit with the masses. I don’t know what Terry, Lorne and Peter had been fussing about. The fans obviously loved him already.
Afterwards we all piled into Bessie for a tour along the promenade. If I’d thought it had been busy when Jon and I opened the exhibition, this was unbelievable. The crowds were ten deep, all yelling and waving their Doctor Who scarves and toys. Amazing! I just wish I’d had more than a shawl to keep me warm. Trying to smile and wave while you’re absolutely freezing takes some acting, I can tell you. And it seemed to go on forever because we were crawling along behind a giant orange – the size of half a house – that carried people. Bizarre to behold! Ian lent over and said, ‘Christ, Sladen, is this what it has come to, following a bloody orange along Blackpool promenade!’
Brian and I enjoyed a meal with Mum and Dad then the next day we all caught the train home. Travelling with the Enterprise boys in a first-class carriage was a bit of an eye-opener as to how the other half of the Beeb lived. Peter Dimmock said, ‘Tom, Lis – do you fancy a drink?’
What a daft question after such an exhausting couple of days.
Ten minutes later he returned from the bar with a couple of boxes under each arm. He’d bought every miniature on the train! That was a journey I won’t forget in a hurry – although the details are a little vague.
* * *
It was such a blast to have Ian with us in Blackpool and I was really happy to see his name down on the call sheets for the next serial, The Android Invasion, even though he’d be playing a ‘fake’ Harry for the second time running, so we wouldn’t get many fun scenes together. Two other names made important comebacks on this one as well. Terry Nation was writing a rare non-Dalek story, which people were really excited about. What I could barely contain myself about, however, was the return of Barry Letts as director. As soon as I heard he’d be in charge I knew Android would be one to savour.
Unusually for Who we filmed in summer. Costume girl Barbie Lane had me in a short-sleeved pink sailor suit for this one. Very cool, although I started the story with a hat and scarf! Poor Tom was stuck in his heavy suit, cravat, overcoat, hat and scarf. A less-fit man would have sweltered to death.
We began recording in late July at the National Radiological Protection Board in Harwell, Oxfordshire. All those lung-busting running and jumping shots around the Defence Station were done there. There’s an exciting scene with Tom leaping off the roof. Terry Walsh has to take credit for that one, as usual, but Barry cut it so brilliantly it’s breath-taking to watch. And when Tom is confronted by an android with a gun built into his hand, he says the immortal line: ‘Is that finger loaded?’ so perfectly he might have been auditioning for Roger Moore’s part in James Bond. Then it was off to Tubney Woods in Oxfordshire for a couple of days to capture those thrilling open-air chases. I remember Tom having to hoist me into a tree. It was like I wasn’t even there; he whooshed me over his shoulder then threw me up so effortlessly. And to think Barry had cast Ian to handle all the Doctor’s physical work.