This is the first in a series of Doctor Who in “Real Life” posts. The idea is that I shall discuss how episodes work from a real world perspective. This might be from a science point-of-view, from a historical point-of-view or taking elements of episodes and making them “real”. You’ll gradually see how it works.
Today I am taking a look at Rose, or more specifically things that happened before Rose. Sort of. It’s timey-wimey complicatedness as ever but you’ll see.
The Ninth Doctor was sighted various times across history. The earliest of these comes from an 1883 sketch from Sumatra. It is believed to be from 26th August of that year when the volcano Krakatoa began erupting. It was one of the biggest volcanic eruptions humanity has ever witnessed and had devastating effects. The official death toll was 36,417 although some sources estimate in may really have been as many as 120,000. The eruption also had major effects on the climate, causing the average summer temperature in the Northern Hemisphere to drop as much as 1.2°C (2.2°F).
In 1912 the Ninth Doctor was photographed with the Daniels family in Southampton. The family were due to board the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic but for some reason never boarded.
The next sighting of the Doctor was on 22nd November 1963 when he was spotted in a crowd in Dallas, Texas. The crowd had gathered to watch the motorcade of president John F. Kennedy pass through the city and were shocked when he was fatally shot. The official verdict was that he was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, although there is much evidence to suggest this may not have been the case.
At some point in the early 21st Century a man called Clive began to collect evidence of the Doctor and created the website www.whoisdoctorwho.co.uk.
Many people contacted Clive through his website with possible sightings of the Doctor. Here are a selection of the postings:
Steven Hudson: I saw him a couple a years ago outside a new building development in Totters Lane, East London. The guy seemed really confused and keep muttering, "They’re all gone, I'm the only one left". The man was either a complete loon or was drunk. Looking back I think he was probably drunk as he looked as if he'd been to a fancy dress party. He was wearing some old Edwardian outfit, not a leather jacket.
Venna: I saw him a few months ago before a performance of "1776" at the Ford's Theatre here in Washington DC. He seemed a little confused when I told him President Lincoln had been dead for a very long time but he could see the museum in the basement full of Lincoln's things. I spotted him down there during intermission, hovering in a darkish corner (the museum was undergoing rennovations at the time and it was very shadowy and spooky). He was gazing at the empty pedisals where the busts are usually kept. He had a very odd sort of look on his face, I thought it best not to bother him...
Sarah Jane Smith: I am a reporter doing a story on the Doctor. I am looking for an exclusive interview. I would appreciate if anyone could contact me immediately at the Daily Mail, if they see him in London.
Mr. Yates: I think it might be in your best interest to not concern yourself with the Doctor or his doings. He is not the man you think he is and he is not involved in the manner you think he is. I should know, he changed my life completely. The Doctor is protected by friends in high places.
Samuel Wilkinson: I once saw him on the tube, reading A Brief History Of Time and laughing heartily.
Peri Brown: He walked into my life one day, and right out of it. Interested in getting back in touch. Any information?
In other areas of interest, The Official UNIT website has a press statement about events in January 2005 on the Russian Steppes:
Another hint about the event can be found under the “anniversaries and dates section” of the UNIT website:
There will be more “real life” later in the week when I look at the events of Rose themselves. Lots of good stuff coming in that one!
(The photos and info about them come from the episode itself. Much of the content of this post comes via here. The historical bits are mostly from my own knowledge, with the odd statistic from Wikipedia.)
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