Sylvester McCoy was an absolute delight at his talk today, constantly funny and engaging with his audience by walking around answering questions (including one of mine!).
Sylvester revealed that he was originally scheduled to film four series of Doctor Who, he was approached by the producers while filming the second to advise that he would be signed for four, during production of the third he was told that the series would go on hiatus before being eventually cancelled. His incarnation of the Doctor however, was maintained by a series of audio novels 'some were recorded in a toilet as it's quiet and it can sound like a spaceship in there'! quipped McCoy.
His Doctors outfit was a collaborative effort, he auditioned while wearing the hat that he wears in the show due to it being a warm day. 'The producers loved the hat and wanted it to stay, the umbrella was my idea' he remarked.
In respect of the 1996 TV movie which featured him regenerating into Paul McGann it appears that McCoy has mixed emotions. 'I enjoyed doing it, it was fun. I was paid probably three times what I earned in total playing Doctor Who in the UK. I had this enormous trailer and everyone was very friendly. Eric Roberts (who played the master) was very Hollywood, when he first entered his trailer he immediately asked that the carpet was changed, I never knew you could do that'.
Looking back on the TV movie now, McCoy doesn't think he should have been in it. 'I think it would have been better if it just started with Paul and no regeneration but the producers wanted a regeneration scene'. 'Doctor Who was famous but not world wide at the time so I think the regeneration was confusing to an audience unfamiliar with the character'. 'Someone said to me once, I really liked you in that Doctor Who but you were killed off halfway through...and there's your problem'.
A fan asked if there was any character or storylines from the present day run of Who that McCoy would have liked to take on. He mentioned the Xmas 2007 special 'Voyage of the Damned' and the Weeping Angels.
I changed the subject onto the Hobbitt and asked him how we was cast as Radagast in the trilogy. McCoy explained that he was up for the role of Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films and made it down to the last two, narrowly losing out to Ian Holm for the role. 'I must have made an impression as they kept me in mind for 12 years'. 'I was performing King Lear in NZ with Sir Ian Mckellen and Peter Jackson and his family came to the show. At the end of the evening I was invited back to Peter's house and after a while it became apparent that this wasn't just social and I was being tested'. Another interesting anecdote was that Guillermo del Toro was still onboard as director at this point, so after getting the thumbs up from Jackson, McCoy had to re-test for del Toro who also approved. Only a short time later del Toro would depart the project due to the financial issues with MGM.
McCoy spoke very positively on his experiences with the production of the Hobbitt, referencing his delight at working with McKellen again. McKellen for his part, accordingly to McCoy was less enthusiastic at playing the role again. 'Ian has to film his role separate to the hobbits so most of his days were standing in front of a green screen reading lines for three months, he was a little grumpy as all actors are, but he was glad when I came on set as he had actual lines with an actor in front of him to perform with'.
In the wrapping up of the talk, McCoy revealed that at the end of filming the hobbit Peter Jackson made a speech where he punched the air in delight and exclaimed his excitement in finally directing an actor who had played Doctor Who....we still haven't had that Peter Jackson directed Who episode yet Peter!
Sylvester could have been there all day answering questions, he was an absolute joy and it was fantastic to listen to his many stories.
Sylvester revealed that he was originally scheduled to film four series of Doctor Who, he was approached by the producers while filming the second to advise that he would be signed for four, during production of the third he was told that the series would go on hiatus before being eventually cancelled. His incarnation of the Doctor however, was maintained by a series of audio novels 'some were recorded in a toilet as it's quiet and it can sound like a spaceship in there'! quipped McCoy.
His Doctors outfit was a collaborative effort, he auditioned while wearing the hat that he wears in the show due to it being a warm day. 'The producers loved the hat and wanted it to stay, the umbrella was my idea' he remarked.
In respect of the 1996 TV movie which featured him regenerating into Paul McGann it appears that McCoy has mixed emotions. 'I enjoyed doing it, it was fun. I was paid probably three times what I earned in total playing Doctor Who in the UK. I had this enormous trailer and everyone was very friendly. Eric Roberts (who played the master) was very Hollywood, when he first entered his trailer he immediately asked that the carpet was changed, I never knew you could do that'.
Looking back on the TV movie now, McCoy doesn't think he should have been in it. 'I think it would have been better if it just started with Paul and no regeneration but the producers wanted a regeneration scene'. 'Doctor Who was famous but not world wide at the time so I think the regeneration was confusing to an audience unfamiliar with the character'. 'Someone said to me once, I really liked you in that Doctor Who but you were killed off halfway through...and there's your problem'.
A fan asked if there was any character or storylines from the present day run of Who that McCoy would have liked to take on. He mentioned the Xmas 2007 special 'Voyage of the Damned' and the Weeping Angels.
I changed the subject onto the Hobbitt and asked him how we was cast as Radagast in the trilogy. McCoy explained that he was up for the role of Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films and made it down to the last two, narrowly losing out to Ian Holm for the role. 'I must have made an impression as they kept me in mind for 12 years'. 'I was performing King Lear in NZ with Sir Ian Mckellen and Peter Jackson and his family came to the show. At the end of the evening I was invited back to Peter's house and after a while it became apparent that this wasn't just social and I was being tested'. Another interesting anecdote was that Guillermo del Toro was still onboard as director at this point, so after getting the thumbs up from Jackson, McCoy had to re-test for del Toro who also approved. Only a short time later del Toro would depart the project due to the financial issues with MGM.
McCoy spoke very positively on his experiences with the production of the Hobbitt, referencing his delight at working with McKellen again. McKellen for his part, accordingly to McCoy was less enthusiastic at playing the role again. 'Ian has to film his role separate to the hobbits so most of his days were standing in front of a green screen reading lines for three months, he was a little grumpy as all actors are, but he was glad when I came on set as he had actual lines with an actor in front of him to perform with'.
In the wrapping up of the talk, McCoy revealed that at the end of filming the hobbit Peter Jackson made a speech where he punched the air in delight and exclaimed his excitement in finally directing an actor who had played Doctor Who....we still haven't had that Peter Jackson directed Who episode yet Peter!
Sylvester could have been there all day answering questions, he was an absolute joy and it was fantastic to listen to his many stories.
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