Pearl Mackie & Steven Moffat - The Aftershow

Peter Capaldi once said I had the best hair on television, just saying.
Oh, did he now?
Hello! And welcome to our new and snappily named format - Doctor Who colon The Fan Show
hyphen The Aftershow exclamation mark!
Each week, straight after Doctor Who premieres in the UK, we’ll be discussing the latest
episode with people intimately involved with making the show.
And yes, before we go any further that means that THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS CHAT.
So if you’ve not yet seen the first episode of series 10, go and watch ‘The Pilot’,
then come
back here, because our guests this week are about as big as they come.
Over to you, Christel.
Thanks Christel!
Yes, they are of course lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat and brand new companion,
Bill Potts aka Pearl Mackie.
Welcome both.
Thank you.
Thanks Christel.
Well, let’s talk about the episode itself.
Pearl, this is a hell of an episode for you, running the full spectrum of emotions, whilst
literally running away from a puddle.
Yeah, you put me through my paces there, didn’t you!
Did you relish this challenge as an actor?
Oh yeah, it was amazing.
I kept reading the script, I kept turning the page and I was like wow, amazing, really?
Oh god, how am I going to fit this all in?
I think you’re in every scene, aren’t you?
Because Peter get’s time off then he turns up again and explained the plot but then but
we follow you throughout it.
Yeah, every scene.
Yeah.
I remember the very first time at the read-through, you shouted “Doctor” and I said, “you’re
going to be saying that a lot.”
Get used to it.
I was really interested to see in the stage directions of this episode, you wrote it was
the quietest opening we’ve ever had and it certainly translated on screen, why did
you want to
open on a moment of quiet?
Because we hadn’t before and the traditional way to start a Doctor Who and one I entirely
approve of is to blow some stuff up and have people running away and I love all that but
I
thought what is the most surprising thing you could do? Have that static shot of two
doors and a desk for ages and in she walks, very theatrical and there’s a two-hander
scene where
you get to know her. I was in part also thinking let’s really establish her, let’s really
know her well from the start and the best way to do that is just to have to actors talking.
The other thing I’ve noticed about Doctor Who for all of the money we spend and all
of the explosions we have, what are the bits that end up on YouTube?
Some wee seen between two people and you think maybe those are the good bits?
One day I’ll know to do this job, sadly I’m leaving. I’ll leave saying “I’ve
got it! Damn, I’m going. Finished”
Well, Pearl, speaking of that first scene, what was it like working with Peter because
your chemistry is on point.
It’s been incredible. We shot that first scene on the first day, so that was the first
thing we shot, apart from the trailer, obviously. But we did that in the audition as well.
It was great… we just sort of sat… well, because I’ve practiced it with my computer
with this app called Line Learner, which you record the other voice.
And I did sort of a Peter Capaldi impression?
So you have a simulated Peter Capaldi?
Yeah! But I was noting on him, do you know what I mean?
Oh, well you have to do it for us!
No, it’s terrible. My Scottish accent is dreadful. He’s been coaching me but it’s
realy bad.
Well, I’m sure it’s better than mine.
Considering my surname is Mackie, it’s quite embarrassing.
But yeah, it’s brilliant. It was quite a mammoth scene to learn and to film first on
the first day.
We didn’t blow you up, I mean, come on. It was relaxed.
I was sitting down most of the time so...
The very first thing we did to Matt Smith was throw debris in his face.
Oh my god, really.
He had to spit it out onto the TARDIS console.
Welcome to Doctor Who!
Did you always plan to reuse Friend from the Future partially in this way?
I wasn’t sure at all. Because I’m such a Doctor Who fan and I need everything to
fit in continuity and I stay awake at night trying to figure out UNIT dating - that’s
an obscure one
and I have fixed it – I knew it had to be right at the beginning because of the way
she was talking and then we edited the whole scene in, and it didn’t work because suddenly
you
were being introduced to her again. You knew she was like that, the whole point of the
scene… so we just had the very beginning of it so you know where it fits and for die
hard,
slightly strange obsessives and let’s be honest, there’s at least 7 or 8 of them
in the audience of Doctor Who, like myself, that’s where it fits.
You can all sleep at night now. Stop sucking your thumb. It’s fine. It’s makes sense,
it makes sense.
I look forward to the extended edition.
It will.
Both of you, we get a really lovely take on the now iconic first moment in the TARDIS,
Pearl, what was that like and Steven, is it tricky to find new ways to do it?
No, it’s just lovely to find new ways to do it. I don’t think anyone gets tired of
people walking into the TARDIS and noticing it’s bigger on the inside.
And there was a phased probably in the Davison years, where they were too relaxed about it,
because you have to do the same scene over and over again.
Nobody minds, it’s like Bond, James Bond, you want it every time even though you already
know it’s coming.
Exactly.
I loved that version. It’s one of my favourites with the long pull back. It took ages to get
it right. And then the music comes up and he just says “TARDIS”.
And Peter looks so pleased, when he says “TARDIS, for short”.
I love the fact that this could be the first episode for somebody. It could be somebody’s
first experience of Doctor Who.
Well that’s how we approached it. We called it “The Pilot”, and we said, “It just
starts here. You can do the whole format from here”. Which is the first time we’ve really
done an episode like that since “Rose”.
Because even in “The Eleventh Hour” or “Deep Breath”, it does depend on you knowing
he used to be a different actor a few minutes ago, and he’s got this time machine.
But in this one, you learn it all as Bill learns it. And it’s a story you never get
tired of. Telling it again is fine.
So prior to Doctor Who, you were in the west-end show “Curious Incident” - which we saw!
We went to see you.
Oh did you?
I think back in May, just before you started filming. What’s the change been like – going
from something like that, to something as big as Doctor Who?
For me the change in schedule was pretty insane. You come along to Doctor Who, and you’re
like up at 5am, and filming pretty intensely, especially the first couple of episodes. I
was in like every day! I was like “woah, this is a lot!”
The first week was 12 hours a day, and I was like “this is a lot more work than I’ve
done in a long time”!
But yeah it was great. I think one of the nice things about doing a series, for me was,
not knowing where the characters going to go. Because when you’ve got a play, you
know the whole story – you know the end, you have to fill in the blanks beforehand,
but in your day-to-day life you don’t know what’s going to happen to you next week.
It was nice to read episode two and be like “this is pretty cool!”
Well you were also welcomed into the hearts of fans online, way before you were even seen
in a trailer – so much artwork, animation, stuff like that. How have you found the fan
response so far?
It has been amazing. After the first trailer introducing me was announced, my phone was
insane, like blowing off. It was mad. Someone had cosplayed me within like two hours.
Oh, Dominic?
I think he’s called Dominic. Yeah! It was amazing. Some of my friends were like “Whaaaaaaaaat!
Look at this!” Somebody’s fully dressed up as you already.
All the fan art as well. It’s incredible. It’s like being welcomed into a big family.
Steven, I guess the question is, why create a character like Bill, and why now? Did you
set out to create an LGBT and/or BAME character, or did these things develop naturally?
They developed naturally, really. When you’re writing a character, you start with the voice
you want to hear. And I was messing around writing the audition scenes – I was away
in a hotel with Mark Gatiss actually – there’s a rumour started.
And I was writing these scenes, you start to see the person, you start to imagine what
they’re like. And oddly enough there was a sequence in one of the audition scenes where
she talked about this boy.
And I couldn’t work out why this wasn’t believable to me. I don’t believe that.
I don’t know why I don’t like that. So I changed it to a girl, and thought “oh
right, there we go!” I didn’t know that. She’s gay.
Which is fantastic. Pearl you’ve spoken before about the importance of BAME role models
when you were growing up. How important that there are characters like this on TV?
I think it’s crucial to have that kind of representation in mainstream TV – on shows
that are aimed at children as well as adults. I think it’s important for younger children
to see someone like them or who may be experiencing similar feelings to them on TV, so they can
see themselves within it.
Do you feel a sense of responsibility, given that you’re representing these minorities?
Well I don’t know. I think, in a way, I’m just here to play one character. My job is
to play Bill, as truthfully as I can in all situations. And to think that I am representing
all ethnic minorities or all gay people in the world is ridiculous. I don’t think I
should be expected to do that.
One can understand the pressure for people wanting that, but it’s not manageable as
a character. Bill herself is not the sort of person who would ever bother representing
anybody. She just isn’t. She say “I like women What’s that got to do with you?”
That’s too great a burden. But then again the reason that people are wanting that is
they don’t get enough of it. So when it finally arrives, they want it all at once.
That’s reasonable, it’s just not feasible.
But I think it’s really critical to say, we don’t expect any kind of pat on the back
for this. One could argue this is the bare minimum and way too long in coming.
I think in terms of representation, you have to have individual characters in order to
be able to represent because if you’re sort of assuming that you are able to represent
all people then you’re sort of saying that all people of an ethnic minority or all people
of a certain sexuality are the same-
Yes exactly.
And that’s something that isn’t true.
Having said that, I would now like to represent from now on, all straight, white men. They
will all be like me.
You may have some competition there.
No, it’s me. From now on. I am taking on that burden, all straight, white me.
Steven, we learn that there’s a vault under the university and it must be protected at
all costs so is it fair to say this is the season’s arc, or is there an arc.
There is an arc, as ever with Doctor Who. It doesn’t necessarily take that much space
but what you have to consider is that there is a vault guarded by the least reliable regular
heroes on television. He must never leave from guarding this vault. Every kid in the
country is going to go that’s a disaster, why choose him?
A disaster waiting to happen.
He’s an OCD man with a time machine, this is not going to work. So we know that’s
not going to go well, don’t we?
Pearl, I think it’s fair to say one of your most defining features is your incredible,
natural hair.
Thank you!
Did you push for Bill to have your hair? Did you push to keep your hair for Bill?
I just went to the audition with my hair in an afro and you lot really liked it so we
were like, let’s keep it.
It’s great hair.
Just go for it.
And in that simple way, kids can draw that.
Exactly.
And also, little kids who have afros and stuff, they can be like, yeah!
I saw that on Twitter, actually.
I should grown mine out I think.
Great!
I’ve been waiting for that actually.
I think that’s the message I’m going to give to straight, white men, is big hair.
Big hair from now on.
Grow your afro, straight, white men.
Afro up, straight, white men.
I think it’s fair to say that Series 10 has some of the best hair we’ve ever seen
in Doctor Who history so we thought it fitting that we measure hair intensity on the Top
of the Locks board.
And as you are our first guests, we’d love you to place hair intensity of our three main
characters on our board. And we’ve got episodes along the bottom and intensity scale.
From Y to I?
Yeah, Y to I.
Okay. So, we’ve got us three here.
Well, Pearl has to win on hair, doesn’t she?
I’m glad you said that because otherwise it’s going to be awkward.
You’ve got more hair than you’ve got head so that’s definitely an increase, isn’t
it? It’s like a spare.
It’s true.
I feel a bit sorry for Matt though.
No because in fact, Nardole has invisible hair.
Oh, okay!
And invisible hair is much more exciting.
Then maybe he should win.
I think maybe top for Nardole.
Excellent.
And I for invisible. So we’re sorted.
That’s cool.
He can see it through those glasses. He’s the only person who can see his hair.
It’s purple.
It’s awesome.
Okay, right. Come on.
I think Peter’s hair game is pretty strong in episode 1 as well though.
Yes, he used to have quite small hair as Doctor Who and now he’s got enormous hair as Doctor
Who.
I think the moment you showed up, he just went yeah.
It’s infectious.
Afros are infectious.
I think he’s trying to compete with you.
I think we have to give second place to Pearl there, I think.
So, we’re going there?
Second place only to Nardole and his invisible here.
Oh no, they’re not in the right place, are they.
Wait, there.
This is episode 1.
Okay.
I have a limited review.
And then, go on.
Put him in the middle, just to irritate him.
Okay.
Just so he sees it later.
He’ll say, what’s wrong with my hair?
And it will get yet more elaborate as he attempts to compete on hair.
I think that’s good inspiration. I like that.
If we counted his eyebrows, of course he’d win but they’re not technically hair.
Ah, well. Are they though?
What?
Well they are hair.
Are they?
Well, not his. His are Time Lord eyebrows.
His are magical, made of magical Time Lord Things.
Well, thank you so much for that. And we will keep an eye on this week after week.
I’d like a graph.
Yeah, we’re going to draw lines in between them.
Great.
Nice.
Lovey.
Yes, because your hair changes shape sometimes.
I’m totally confused. I’ll say, who’s that? Who’s that person? I don’t know
who that is! You’ve changed the clothes and the hair, how am I supposed to know!
Well thank you so much for coming on the show and giving us an insight into episode episode
one, and now over to Luke in the internet.
Hi Christel. Yes, I’m here, in the internet. I really like your studio, nice lava lamp.
I made a sign for mine.
I’ll be here every week showcasing some of the amazing stuff you guys have posted
on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Bebo, wherever it’s posted in.
I don’t know. Let’s get started by showing off some of the amazing, gorgeous creations
you guys made to welcome new companion, Bill Potts.
actually in the internet itself, to bring you some of the best bits of Doctor Who stuff
we’ve found recently.
From this lovely sketch-based approach of the Doctor and Bill’s first meeting by Alice
Carter, to this launch trailer concept from friend of the show CreativeCat FX.
Aww, they’re so nice.
Meanwhile, JamieTARDIS travelled back in time and comped current Doctor, Peter Capaldi into
some old Doctor Who title sequences. And our favourite one is this one of PCap replacing
Jon Pertwee in the Season 11 titles.
Big hair and velvet? It’s like Christmas has come early! Although, hopefully not this
year because, yeah.
And Matt Lucas proved how much of a Doctor Who fan he is with this video submitted by
someone called Pearlie Mack, it’s Matt lsiting off all the Doctors.
Although, some of you noticed he did miss out the War Doctor but I mean, I don’t want
to be that guy but the Doctor did intentionally forget about the incarnation so if anything
if anything Matt proved how much of a fan he is by getting it right, so…
Just to clarify.
And friend of the show, Jake Dudman and impressionist Jon Culshaw made this amazing video as they
recreate a scene from Day of the Doctor and we revisit some old, familiar faces.
But which ones? Who knows, ay?
Well, you will if you click the video.
And
And a big shoutout to our friends at Mixital, who’ve opened a Doctor Who fan fiction writing
community.
Why are you still here if that exists?
Always wanted to pen that multi-Doctor adventure, with Weeping Angel Daleks on a planet made
of jelly?
Well get it out of your head and onto the page at Mixital, with top tips from Steven
Moffat and Neil Gaiman to inspire you, as well as support from a community of fellow
fan writers.
We’ll put a link to all of that in the description below. Good luck, future showrunners! And
if you do need another white male Doctor, I’m free.
Have you created something you want us to feature? Tweet us at dwthefanshow@bbc.com
or email us @DWTheFanShow. Or, write it on an envelope and hope for the best, hopefully
the wind is in the right direction and we get it!
Back to you in the studio, Christel. With your nice lava lamp. I’ll be colouring in
my sign. See you next week.
Thanks Luke. And thank you for watching. We’ll be back at the same time, next week to talk
about Vardies, Valencia and - of course - emojis.
Click here to see a preview for next week’s episode, Smile. And click here to subscribe
to the Doctor Who YouTube channel.
Maybe even click the bell for notifications, if you’re really keen. And you must be quite
keen. You’re still here after all. And it’s the end… Bye!

Pearl Mackie & Steven Moffat - The Aftershow - Doctor Who: The Fan Show

Latest Posts