Doctor Who

There are some series that get a lot of attention, probably deemed cult status and of course BBC's long running sci-fi series Doctor Who is one of them. More than any other I think there are questions about this story and his involvement. We knew at the time it was a big deal as by the time the Time Lord had regenerated into the second Doctor the country was hooked and we four kids were no exception. 

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As you are doubtless aware these lost episodes have now been discovered in Africa, digitally restored and available to buy and it's wonderful to be able to see them again after so many years. Indeed the BluRay disc that was issued a little while a go includes a commentary to the final episode with me Frazer Hines and the Make up lady whose name I shall remember in a minute talking about the special effects. It also contains the recordings I found of dad practising voices for the possession of Staff Sgt. Arnold.

See tape catalogue entry by him below.

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Here is an article I wrote about 'Web of Fear' for a fan web site back around 1998 pre discovery of the missing episodes.

 

THE MEMORY CHEATS
This issue features a rather unusual column. The contributor is Tim Woolgar, son of the late Jack Woolgar, who played Sergeant Arnold in 'The Web of Fear'. Tim recalls some of the interesting memories he has of his father's involvement in DOCTOR WHO ...

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At the time, it was great to obtain an acting role in DOCTOR WHO ...
because that was what my father did. He was an actor, and work was work. My
elder brothers and I thought it was "groovy" to be in the best Saturday
programme there was. However, we were not too excited. As a character actor, Dad was in many of the great series of the sixties and seventies (The Sweeney, The Saint, The Avengers, Randall & Hopkirk Deceased, etc). Dad was always telling stories about his appearances in these shows. However, I can recall Dad's tales from DOCTOR WHO more than any of those from the other shows. This might have been because he was in the whole serial, and wasn't "bumped off" in a single episode. Or perhaps it was due to the fact that some of the props arrived home for us to play with. I'm not too certain as I was only seven years old at the time. The two things that I most remember from 'The Web of Fear' are the death mask and the Yeti homing device. The mask has sadly been lost due to several house-moves and in any case, would have probably perished by now [rediscovered and it is crispy but fine and I now have it. TW]. This was a rubber mask taken from a plaster cast of  Dad's face. The mask was created by Dad (a) having a straw inserted up each nostril; (b) closing his eyes; and (c) being immersed in Plaster of Paris. Several of these masks were made, and test scenes were shot for the final episode where Sergeant Arnold is "graunched". I never did find out whether the word "graunched" was a Dad-ism, whether it was part of the script, or whether it was just a 1967 "thing". However, it was always referred to as graunching. One of the masks was stretched over a human skull, placed on a body and generally made to look like Sergeant Arnold. At the graunching moment, the dummy was placed in the chair. Acid was then poured over the rubber mask, which caused it melt away, revealing the bone beneath. The special effect was shot and viewed, but the powers-that-be deemed that the effect was too frightening for children, and ordered another visual effect be prepared. I seem to remember that the toned-down effect was broadcast with a lot of flashing lights, and many negative rapid cuts. It was a shame that the original was never used - I could have coped with dissolving skin. On the plus side, it did mean one of the masks found their way home. The mask was a bit creepy as it had hair stuck to it, as well as a moustache. However, we were delighted to put on Dad's face (Hannibal Lector who?) and scare most people witless. The second item I still have and cherish. In 'The Web of Fear', when a Yeti was sent to obtain someone, the Yeti would home in on a bleeping four-inch high figurine. Dad actually brought home one of the dummy homing devices (i.e. without the electronic gadgetry). It has sat in all my bedrooms ever since. Unfortunately, it has now begun to perish slightly from being in the sun during in its early days (I only hope it doesn't become too graunched!). It will always serve as a reminder of the time my father played the leader of the Yetis.
 

[Shortly after this article has written, Tim was able to relive his
memories of 'The Web of Fear' by watching the JV reconstruction. Tim
recalls "it's funny how familiar the story was, even though I saw the
original when I was only seven years old. The mystery of "graunching" has
finally been solved - the Doctor refers to it in Episode 1."]

 

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