It’s the Brig!
Talking to Den Of Geek!
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Haha!
I was told about that.
Quite what the Brigadiers doing in Peru, I dont know.
Stranded, or something.
Well, who knows?
No-ones told me anything.
It does seem odd that they mentioned the name.
Maybe they are thinking of giving me a special some time or other.
Is that something youd be interested in doing?
Oh I think so, yes.
I think I put that in the Radio Times, actually.
Well, there you are.
Technology, you see we didnt have that in my day.
We had to make do and make do and mend; very Heath-Robinson, ordinary.
But the same amount of my squaddies seem to get mown down as were mown down before.
These alien civilisations were all very hushed-up in the Brigadiers heyday.
What do you think of the world knowing about aliens in the new Who?
Thats a good question.
I dont know…it was all very confidential.
I dont know what to say, that never occurred to me!
The programmes very very different from what it used to be anyway.
Its all a bit rushed sometimes.
Its a heck of a lot to get in in three quarters of an hour, the whole story.
In fact, it leaves me rather gasping for breath sometimes.
Is it not an advantage that they pack more into each show?
I think its probably right for 2008.
I think peoples attention span is more limited than it used to be.
I think the Sontarans looked rather good.
I like Catherine Tate too, shes good.
Oh, I remember that!
Do you think the Doctor would get off scot-free now?
Shes quiet a self-possessed woman, Catherine Tate.
I dont know, that was quite a spoof program, about it being sexist.
1965 was the first one I did, with William Hartnell.
They will do at some point.
Would you find it hard to take direction in the role of the Brigadier now?
No, I like direction.
I dont find it hard to take direction at all.
Thats possible, yes, but Tom is Tom and Im me.
Unless its something Id violently disagree with, then Id say something, but Im very receptive to direction.
Its true, I do know my character.
But Im pretty emollient, pretty easy [laughs].
The Brigadiers temperament changed quite a lot over the course ofDoctor Who.
Were you always trying to steer the character towards a particular bang out of personality?
No, I think I established him early on.
I tried to get, in the scripts, the humour out of the man.
I wanted to get the humour in.
But I played it for real, not for laughs, I think .
I always played it for real I didnt think it would work unless I did.
I was wondering if your father was a major influence on Lethbridge-Stewart?
No, not really.
It just emerged when I was asked to play it.
Was he too trigger-happy sometimes?
No, I think he played it the way he had to do.
He was in charge of security and who could blame him.
I think he acted according to his own lights.
I think its the military solution.
I dont think he was trigger-happy necessarily.
Was there a lot of debate as to which Doctor youd be assigned to inThe Five Doctors?
Originally, when Tom Baker might have been doing it, but didnt, they had to rearrange it.
I think originally Liz Sladen was going to be with Tom.
Were you aware of any slight rivalries between The Five Doctors, on the set?
In fact, on the first day that we recorded, I completely dried up on the first take!
[laughs] The emotion took over in the part.
I enjoyed doing The Five Doctors I thought it all worked rather well.
Liked the Rastan robot… Im sure it would.
I get on very well with Tom now.
I see him from time to time.
Hes a wonderful character.
The character I made to suit myself.
As you say, Ive done a lot of audio ones as well… Id quite like to keep him as the Brigadier.
I wouldnt mind him being a lord.
If they want to put him in the House Of Lords, thats quite fun…
So fans are never able to catch you out with their exhaustive knowledge of the Brig at conventions?
[laughs] Unless they made up something themselves.
[laughs] Im the same actor!
But hes much more direct, and I think it works quite well.
And Terry Molloys great as my sidekick, the professor.
Are you happy to be so associated with science-fiction?
Its funny, because Ive never been interested in science-fiction, particularly.
Was there ever a period where you resisted your association with the role?
Years later I didBattlefieldwith Sylvester McCoy.
John Nathan-Turner said Look, were thinking of killing you off.
Do you mind?.
I said No, give me a good send-off….
But there again they delayed it and it didnt happen, they didnt kill him off.
You seem to be stuck with it by now!
I think I am now [laughs].
Its been a long time.
Im rather fond of the old boy.
I like playing nasties.
On the stage I used to play many more, a number of villains.
Theyre very good parts, usually.
Would you like to have done more comedy?
I learnt a lot about comedy then, though of course its different onstage than on television.
I like doing comedy, yes.
Particularly on stage, where you get a very good audience rapport that comes back.
What was your experience of working with Frankie Howerd?
Oh yes, inThen Churchill Said To Me.
That was very good.
I liked Frankie very much.
He was very unselfish.
He didnt mind about other people getting the laughs at all.
But I got on very well with Frankie.
I always found him a very funny man, from way back.
Im a great admirer of his.
Do you consider the most important body of your work to have been done in the theatre?
Well, Ive done some serious work on TV as well.
It gave you a very good background, and Im very grateful for it.
I do enjoy the theatre very much.
I enjoy radio also.
I think thats a wonderful medium.
Whats the particular appeal of radio and audio work?
Well, one of the first things is that you dont actually have to learn the lines.
Thats wonderful [laughs]!
You have to do your homework of course.
So thats the attraction of radio, anyway [laughs].
What can you tell us aboutIncendiary?
Well, I play the arch-bishop of Canterbury, no less [laughs]!
Rowan Williams, in fact, the present arch-bishop.
Its a very small part.
Thats about all, actually.
Ive played quite a few men of the church in my time.
[Laughs] Yes.
And yet Im not a very authoritarian person, quite the contrary.
I dont know about leading men into battle.
I think I can lead them astray…
Nicholas Courtney, thank you very much!
Check out Nicholas Courtneys official website athttp://www.greyhoundleader.com/
