The Doctor (Peter Davison) confronts the Silurian leader Icthar (Norman Comer) in Warriors of the Deep (1984).
In 1983 Mike
Nicholson was a student at St Martin’s School of Art, and as part of his course was assigned to observe and draw ‘an interesting professional’ in the workplace. As a long-time follower of
Doctor Who,
Mike set his sights on the programme’s then-producer, John Nathan-Turner, who graciously acceded to his request. Mike was invited to the production office in May 1983, where he sketched the producer in pencils and oil pastel on paper.
Mike Nicholson has vivid memories of visiting Doctor Who’s world of “smoke and mirrors”.
“I tried to blend into the background as he went about his business,” says Mike. “He was taking and making innumerable calls, talking the babble of telly, calling for cups of coffee, and smoking many, many cigarettes. It’s a curious thing to try to create interesting images from someone sat at an office desk, TV producer or not.”
At the end of the session Mike asked if he might extend the project to drawing a Doctor Who studio recording. To his surprise, it was suggested he visit the upcoming camera rehearsals of the
Season 21 opener,
Warriors of the Deep.