Behind the Sofa: Celebrity Memories of Dr Who edited by Steve Berry

Behind the Sofa: Celebrity Memories of Dr Who edited by Steve Berry

Behind the Sofa brings together four years of work to create a touching look at how Doctor Who has touched so many writers, actors and celebrities lives. Not only is this a great way to celebrate 50 years of Doctor Who but proceeds from the book go to Alzheimer’s Research UK. Below is a little sneak peek at what you can expect with the story of Konnie Huq:

Konnie Huq

TV presenter

Dressed up in Tom Baker’s costume for a celebratory episode of Blue Peter

I knew all about the Cybermen long before I saw them on television. Such is the power of Doctor Who; it seeps into your consciousness. The books and magazines people brought into school had all the information necessary to fuel my nightmares.

Cybermen could paralyse you. They had a single aim, to make you like them: giant, cyborg, plastic creatures devoid of personality or emotion. And they owned Cybermat pets who would poison your blood and make your veins throb red. But more than that, it was their eyes. Blank, soulless, hollow circles with nothing inside. That was what really put the fear into me.

It was only later, when I finally saw them in an episode that I realised they had a weakness: gold. After that, I didn’t feel quite so scared. If they could be beaten, then I could almost feel sorry for them. When they chased you, arms outstretched, perhaps they were actually reaching for something they’d lost, their humanity.

I always thought it’d be awesome to play the Doctor’s assistant. Who knows, though, maybe one day they’ll even have a female Doctor. That’d be interesting…

However, my strongest memory of Doctor Who is a slightly embarrassing one. I interviewed Christopher Eccleston and he dropped lots of hints that he wasn’t coming back after his first series. I wished him luck for the following year and he said, “We’ll see.” So, arguably, I missed a scoop on that one. But then, much later on, at a party, I walked up to David Tennant and asked him, “Hey, why didn’t you just tell me you were leaving?” I was a bit tired and delirious, so I think I’d started to believe that all the Doctors were the same person (in real life as well as on the television). But that’s the persuasive power of Doctor Who.

Buy Behind the Sofa edited by Steve Berry

And if you would like to know more about the amazing work Alzheimer’s Research UK does click here.