|
|
|
|
|
Sophie Aldred
Ace in seasons 24-26 of the BBC television series "Doctor Who" and later Maureen in "Melvin and Maureen's Music-a-grams".
1991 - a mere two years after the series ground to a halt which would explain why several people recognised her.
Around South East London, a restaurant garden, her own garden and inside her flat.
There was, thank you for asking, it was that she was driving Nick Briggs around the places where she grew up - from the house in which she was born to her old school to the toy shop that she pressed her little nose up against when she was a little 'un.
There was lots of little bits about her life-life (inevitable given the format) but not a lot about her acting career pre-Doctor Who. She got noticed by the production team because her photo said "has own leathers" on the back and they were casting the part of Ray in "Delta and the Bannermen".
They went through it story by story. She knew her stuff but that's only to be expected given that it was only 1991. Even Sylvester McCoy remembered being in Doctor Who back in 1991.
Not only was it strong but she went through her album of photos taken on set. She is, apparently, a devoted snapper and had captured volumes and volumes of candid shots. She also brought out a portrait which was painted for "Silver Nemesis" of her in period costume. Apparently this was cut out of the TV version but I've only seen the extended video.
She was doing "Corners" at the time and seemed to be enjoying herself. She would go on to have several awfully butch haircuts and a baby.
The car they drove round London in (and which Sophs managed to reverse-park while telling Briggs an anecdote which is two things I'm crap at at the best of times) belonged to her then-boyfriend Les Dennis.
She was an absolute treasure. It is easy to make fun of the now 40-plus "teenager" who committed some terrible crimes against acting but she really does seem like a lovely person. The role she played was so opposite to her real nature that you can't help but think a Jo Grant type part would've suited her better.
While watching this episode, why not play the Sophie Aldred Drinking Game. Simply take a drink every time someone asks who they are or what they are doing as they wander round and film without permission. Two shots if it is a little old lady who is a bit frightened and three drinks if it is shouted from an upstairs window.
It'll set you back between £10.99 and £15.99. Or you can get it direct from Reeltime Pictures.
|
Sophie is bunked up with Andrew
Cartmell on the recently issued DVD which is available from