AVON

BORN ON THE 4th OF JULY

DEREK JACOBI

MIKE MYERS ~ VIEW FROM THE TOP ~ GWYNETH PALTROW

"Well now," - Thank god that "Catherine Tate's" character didn't decide to stay with the "DOCTOR" at the end of this Xmas episode which, was BORING with a capitol B (Yawn!)

Being, someone who prefers the old, Universal/Hammer Horror films tend not to have seen most of the modern ones. Favourites: "CHRISTOPHER LEE'S" - COUNT DRACULA "VINCENT PRICE'S" - RODERIC USHER ("Fall OF The House Of Usher".) "BORIS KARLOFF'S" IMHOTEP ("The Mummy".) "MICHAEL REDGRAVE'S" VENTRILOQUIST ("Dead Of Night".) "JACQUELINE PEARCE'S" - ANNA FRANKLIN ("The Reptile".) "SIGOURNEY WEAVER'S" - RIPLEY ("Alien" & "Aliens".) "FAY WRAY" - (Original "King Kong" movie.)

Strangely, picking your favourite BOND actor is, rather like picking your favourite DOCTOR and, for the same reasons. Kinda, like all of them but, the best will always be, as far as I'm concerned, "SEAN CONNERY" - the FIRST and, most definitely the BEST - nuff said!!!

SCARAMANGA - period .

Most of the BOND themes are good, with the exception of the last five or, six - but, then they matched the movies for being poor!!! My favourite is "GOLDFINGER" theme (but then it's also my favourite of all the BOND Movies) which, is closely followed by "THUNDERBALL" theme (but not for the same reasons - just happen to like "TOM JONES"!!!)

Seems that now the DOCTOR[/b} is returning, the Beeb have decided to open a new DR WHO Exhibition in Blackpool (almost in it's old place). http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/cult/n.../31/10298.shtml The original was opened Easter 1973 by "JON PERTWEE" so, wonder WHO will possibly open the new exhibition??? Also, definite now that the DALEKS will be returning in the new series with a big redesign-makeover. RETURN OF THE DALEKS - DAILY STAR - Tuesday, 3oth March, 2004 THE Daleks are coming back to TV's Doctor Who - and this time they'll be really scary. Gone are the rubber sink plunges and metal food whisks which wobbled each time they screeched "Exterminate! Exterminate!" In are a new generation of Daleks more akin to the Cyborgs in Arnie Swarzenegger's Terminator films. BBC bosses have broken the bank to make sure the robots terrify a new generation of fans when the series returns with Cracker star Christopher Ecclestone as Dr Who. A Beeb source said: "We spared no expense to get the Daleks and we're going to drag them into the 21st century." The new Daleks will be faster and more menacing than the original Sixties robots, which were created from old bits of plastic and metal, and ran on chair casters. Fans feared the Daleks would be barred from the mega-bucks remake of the sci-fi classic after the family of their creator, who co-own the rights with the BBC, blocked plans to use them. But a last-minute breakthrough in talks means the Daleks will feature after all. "The show is costing £1million-plus an episode so we could afford to pay over the odds," the source said. "But they're our ratings banker. We had to have them." "We're looking at computer graphics and we are talking to animatronics experts to see how we can at least let them negotiate a flight of stairs." FANTASTIC Dr Who fan Chris Balcombe, who last week led a protest against the Daleks' absence from the new show, said: "It's fantastic news. Dr Who without the Daleks would be like fish without chips." "But they'll need to be much more frightening. I can't see kids being terrified by the old, rattley Daleks trundling along on casters. They belong to a different age." Seems, then that the Beeb are relying on our dear old pepper-pots to, make the new series as, successful as they did the original. So, with all that finance lets hope they get things right.

Jackewing98 "CONFIRMED!" Special thanks to the "B7" HORIZON Fan Club too. Same feelings here, although, I've met some of them previously - ("PAUL" and, "MIKE") and, on numerous occasions, IT was great seeing most ofthe "B7" Cast together!!! Just like meeting old friends and, not celebrities from a long loved television series.

Well, I'm going to this event just for the "B7" Talk and, got my ticket pretty early. By, the way there'll certainly be quite a number of Female "B7" Fans going, I'm one and will be setting off from my home in Rotherham, to catch the 5.20 am train from Sheffield to London's St. Pancras. Being a major "AVON/PAUL DARROW" Fan I will be dressed in my 4th season AVON costume - ("NATURALLY!") - hope to see you there!!! Will be hanging around the HORIZON stall and, carrying my "AVON" case covered in photo's of, "PAUL/AVON"!!!

HORIZON/Showmasters have a special deal regarding Cast autographs/DVD's, etc - further details: http://www.Horizon.org.uk In any case, seeing the "B7" cast is my main intention and, so I'm not all that bothered about getting autographs, etc - plus, being on a tight budget doubt I'll have much spare cash to play around with, anyway. However, as I'm attending the "B7" Talk - I don't really care - just can't wait to renew, old friendships, again (with, certain cast member's, no point's for guessing which cast member's, either!!! )

Have seen both shows and, neither are bad. CSI for me, just has the edge on, CSI: Miami, though. Don't watch them regularly at present as, don't have my own tv. (Unfortunately, it got rather incinerated in a fire at my flat, last year and, I'm still not living back in my own place - but, instead at a relatives. So, I'm using their tv (when they aren't wanting to watch something that is! Kinda, makes life a bit unbearable missing certain shows at the moment!!!) Favourites guys are, GRISSOM and, HORATIO!!!

"Well now," know a lot of other "B7" FANS on my other favourite Forum: http://www.blakes-7.co.uk are planning on attending, just for the Reunion event, etc and, hopefully, we'll all get lucky in getting one of those precious tickets!!! (Finger's, eyes and anything elsed firmly crossed!!!) I'll be going on Sat. only so, sadly, I can't get to see/attend the "RED DWARF Reunion". However, "B7" is the more important show of the two, as far as this FAN'S concerned - so, I hope to see some of you there. I'll be dressed as, "AVON" (in my replica, 4th season costume as, worn in "ASSASSIN", "SAND", "GOLD" episodes - not as many studs as the other 4th season costume!!! ) Don't be shy!!! I don't bite - Honest!!!

Don't know but, it could be a distinct possibilty!!! "TERRY NATION" on numerous occasions said, "He'd wanted them not to look conventional with arms and, legs - the typical moster/rubber-suited Alien, sort of thing. That's why the DALEKS are, inside a metal outer casing. He'd seen the Georgian State Dancers and, decided he wanted them to glide, etc. "RAY CUSICK" was the designer who, came up with the eventual recognisable DALEK - wonder if he based the look on tanks (or, perhaps it's just pure coincidence). However, TANKS also seem to always look as though their gliding particularly, when going across open countryside, desserts, etc!!!

For, some reason when ever I've seen war documentaries/war films - when they have any scenes with tanks in them I am always remined of DALEKS, for some reason. Probably, because both have similar features!!! DALEKS have a single eye stalk which looks like the gun on all verions of TANKS. They both move in a similar way and, are equally deadly!!! (Well, TANKS are!!!) The Special Weapons - DALEK looks the nearest to an actual TANK than anything else, visually, don't you think???

So, "Rickman101" IF you were scared by the CANDYMAN - and as the result dear old Bertie Bassett then, guess, I can't offer you a licorice allsort, can I!!! Jelly Baby, instead - anyone??? :D

I'm hoping to get to this event (finances allowing) and, so, if I make it I'll be dressed in my S4 "AVON" costume ("Nautrally!")

Rickman101 AGREED - different!!! Certainly, wouldn't like to meet DALEKS of any description down dark alleys or, anywhere else for that matter. Unless, I had an easy getaway or, could hide behind my companions!!!

Very nice version of K9 (except, for it looking like he's tuned into his personal walkman!!! ) That is a definite improvement on the original design but definitely wouldn't particularly like to see a hovering K9. (Although, it would give him a distinct advantage over a DALEK or, as you say even better group of those metal pepper-pots, if he had that capability. An, updated DALEK design would be equally welcomed but, forgetting the hovering mode they suddenly used once. Mind you, all depends on if we get either returning, to the series, doesn't it!!!

SALEMSLOT Possibly - but, guess he have to become a miniaturised version of his old self - as he wasn't too good when it came to moving over different types of surface, was he??? If K9 did return, like the dear old DALEKS think, he need to be used a great deal better than he was originally. Also would love to see K9 in a proper fight with a DALEK!!! Now, wonder who would win that encounter???

YES it did, didn't it!!!

Eogwyn OK! Let you off then (this time!)

Well said "Rickman101" - the "DOCTOR" over the year's has had several intelligent companions - who didn't fall into the screaming catagory as, some did!!! I don't think it would be right for the "DOCTOR" to suddenly re-generate after all this time into a Female version. Many, like me have never liked the idea of the role being changed and, not just for the above reason, either. Had the "DOCTOR" originally, been a Female character - then no problem. It would be exactly the same, IF they wanted the character to change from Female to Male, in that respect, as far as this "DW" FAN is concerned. It also has nothing, to do with sexist/feminism contexts - and, YES - times have changed in that women now own businesses, become Prime Minister's, etc - I'm alll for that. I'm just NOT for having a FEMALE version of my favourite TIMELORD - period!!!

Eogwyn Sorry, your memories playing tricks, I'm afraid. We've never had a Female "DOCTOR" (and, hopefully never will). However, we've had two Female TIMELADIES by the name of "ROMANA" (Mk 1 & 2 - played by "MARY TAMM" and, "LALLA WARD") as, companions to the 4th "DOCTOR" and, a Female TIMELORD called, "THE RANI" (played by, "KATE O'MARA") who the 7th "DOCTOR" came up against!!!