Summer Slowdown

As Summer arrived, it was perhaps inevitable that my watching/reviewing would slow down. Hot lazy days and warm breezes making the curtains 'breathe' are classic distractions from any form of activity. As Steven Moffat said a few years ago, the long warm evenings are a time to be outside having fun, not staying in watching dark scary television.

In fact, although this is all true, my slow down has been triggered by computer issues. Not problems as such, but upgrading first my parents' and then my own computer from Window XP, getting everything settled and replacing outdated software and getting used to the new. On top of this, the next story to watch was The Gunfighters which is quite possibly my least favourite so the pull to get back to it just wasn't there. Having eventually watched it, re-watched it with the commentary and again to read the production subtitles (which I think all happened on three separate days) I was in no mood to sit down and write about it as well. But I finally have and you can read it HERE

This does of course mean that I am now two weeks behind and with Wimbledon starting next week, I wouldn't be surprised if I drop another week before heading off on holiday (which will certain hold things up for two weeks). Returning from holiday could prove an interesting time as well with the new series due to start in August. I should be OK to review that at the same time but only time will tell how well I manage it...

While I'm here, I'd also like to express my joy at Julie Gardner receiving an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list on Saturday for "services to the Economic Development of the Television Industry in Wales", a pivotal point of which must surely have been her part in bring Doctor Who back. She was always a joy to watch on Confidential and in behind the scenes DVD extras and it was her passion along with Russell T Davies's that made it happen and enabled it to grow, much like Verity Lambert forty years earlier.

John Barrowman was also honoured with an MBE for his entertainment and charity work, while Peter Capaldi received an RTS Scotland Award for his outstanding contribution to television and the show itself won "Best Science Fiction, Action, and Fantasy" and "Best Scripted Programme" at the Banff World Media Festival. All within the last week!