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Ace!: The Inside Story of the End of an Era
Doctor Who became a British institution almost from the first episode, broadcast in 1963. It went on to become the country's longest-running science fiction TV series. There were seven different Doctors; scores of actors played the Doctors' companions. Doctor Who had its ups and downs, but the late 1980s - the tenure of Sylvester McCoy as the seventh and last Doctor (so far) - saw the series flower creatively even as the audience figures continued gently to decline. There was a new Doctor; a new script editor; new writers with big new ideas. There were new techniques in special effects - and Mike Tucker was part of the visual effects team on the series from 1985. And in 1987 the final TV companion arrived: Sophie Aldred played the rebellious, moody, streetwise and lionhearted teenager Ace, who rapidly became one of the all-time favourite Doctor's companions among the legions of fans. Mike and Sophie have collaborated to produce the ultimate insiders' guide to the last great era of Doctor Who, packed with hundreds of never-before-seen photographs from their private collections.
124 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1996
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About the author
Sophie Aldred
250 books60 followersSophie was brought up in Blackheath, South East London. After leaving school she took a degree in drama at Manchester University. By singing in working men's clubs she gained her equity card and began her acting career in the theatre. She was appearing in 'Fiddler on the Roof' with Topol when she heard from her agent that she had an audition for a part in Doctor Who. Initially she believed her role would be playing Ray in 'Delta and the Bannermen'. She eventually found out that she'd landed the role of Ace in 'Dragonfire'. Later still she discovered that Ace would be the new travelling companion of the Doctor, then played by Sylvester McCoy. Two further seasons followed before the show was finally cancelled. Sophie has had much television work since and has continued to demonstrate her acting and singing talents in the theatre. She married Vince Henderson on July 12 1997 and now has a son named Adam John Henderson, born on the 10th February 2000. Sophie maintains her connections with Doctor Who by attending many fan conventions and by starring in spin-off projects on video and audio.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 14, 2020
Ace was classed as one best compion of 1980s in Doctor she was Tom boy with Nitro 9 & base ball bat for smashing Daleks & she had great working relationship with Sylvester McCoy who I took around Durham Cathedral in 1989 I meet Sophie she said went on about him going on about it.
This interesting book.
We now have follow on book out from this At Childhood's end it has take long time for her to bring out this book years in fact this a fiction book but both are by same authors this book helps to make The new book interesting and informative.
This interesting book.
We now have follow on book out from this At Childhood's end it has take long time for her to bring out this book years in fact this a fiction book but both are by same authors this book helps to make The new book interesting and informative.
November 24, 2016
The style of this book reminds me of a scrap book someone might have lovingly compiled about a treasured period of their life, littered with photos and cuttings. That's were the resemblance ends. There are no curling edges or glue stiffened pages, of course, but most of all it's a work that can be enjoyed by more than the compiler or interested friends and relatives.
The bulk of the book focuses on each of the serials that Sophie appeared in from the last two seasons of Doctor Who, ordered as they were produced instead of when they were transmitted. Each serial has a cast and production list followed by the two authors memories of their involvement.
At first, reading one of Mike's segments, I thought that I would soon grow bored of his detailed descriptions of effects and models. I'm the sort of person who can go to a magic show and watch the performance without trying to figure out how the illusions were really achieved. I'm the same with special effects, so it came as a slight surprise that he was holding my attention. I'm fairly sure that there's not much chance of just anyone being able to learn what the effects department does like a trade; it's probably like being an artist - you either have the imagination and skill or you don't. Many of the effects were limited by cost or time or by the restrictions of the format of the show. It's probably the balance of what they would have liked to achieve against what they eventually had to settle for that makes these segments so fascinating, that and the enthusiasm of a man who clearly enjoys his job.
Sophie's segments are completely different. She recounts her time on the show with a series of anecdotal stories, filling the gaps with her feelings and thoughts of the time. There is a real sense of what it must have been like for a relatively unknown young woman suddenly landing a lead role in one of the most famous t.v. series of all time. She writes amusingly and well.
The contrast of the subject matter and writing styles of the two authors enhances the book. Contributions from the production team and to a much smaller degree by the cast are included as insets alongside Mike and Sophie's writings, most notably John Nathan-Turner and Sylvester McCoy.
I earlier compared the book to a scrap book and perhaps the wealth of photographs included on every page was the reason why. Like their writing styles even the photographs take on the personalities of the owners; Mike's are more focused on the different stages of the effects and models being constructed whereas Sophie's are of people and herself. Sophie can be seen mugging for the camera, striking silly poses or catching the other members of the cast and crew in either candid or posed shots. I've read a lot of other Doctor Who books and magazines and usually the same pictures are rolled out again and again which isn't the case here; the majority of photographs are totally unique to this book. There are so many that each serial has a double page spread devoted to just pictures and insets, and some serials have two.
All good things come to an end, they say, and this proved to be the case eventually for the original series of Doctor Who. The book ends with a look at what life has been like for Sophie, Mike and Ace after the show was axed and includes Doctor Who spin offs, conventions and a look at the further adventures of Ace in books and comics. On the whole the book is an excellent tribute to a show that is no more but still lives on in the hearts of the fans and the memories of the people who worked on it.
The bulk of the book focuses on each of the serials that Sophie appeared in from the last two seasons of Doctor Who, ordered as they were produced instead of when they were transmitted. Each serial has a cast and production list followed by the two authors memories of their involvement.
At first, reading one of Mike's segments, I thought that I would soon grow bored of his detailed descriptions of effects and models. I'm the sort of person who can go to a magic show and watch the performance without trying to figure out how the illusions were really achieved. I'm the same with special effects, so it came as a slight surprise that he was holding my attention. I'm fairly sure that there's not much chance of just anyone being able to learn what the effects department does like a trade; it's probably like being an artist - you either have the imagination and skill or you don't. Many of the effects were limited by cost or time or by the restrictions of the format of the show. It's probably the balance of what they would have liked to achieve against what they eventually had to settle for that makes these segments so fascinating, that and the enthusiasm of a man who clearly enjoys his job.
Sophie's segments are completely different. She recounts her time on the show with a series of anecdotal stories, filling the gaps with her feelings and thoughts of the time. There is a real sense of what it must have been like for a relatively unknown young woman suddenly landing a lead role in one of the most famous t.v. series of all time. She writes amusingly and well.
The contrast of the subject matter and writing styles of the two authors enhances the book. Contributions from the production team and to a much smaller degree by the cast are included as insets alongside Mike and Sophie's writings, most notably John Nathan-Turner and Sylvester McCoy.
I earlier compared the book to a scrap book and perhaps the wealth of photographs included on every page was the reason why. Like their writing styles even the photographs take on the personalities of the owners; Mike's are more focused on the different stages of the effects and models being constructed whereas Sophie's are of people and herself. Sophie can be seen mugging for the camera, striking silly poses or catching the other members of the cast and crew in either candid or posed shots. I've read a lot of other Doctor Who books and magazines and usually the same pictures are rolled out again and again which isn't the case here; the majority of photographs are totally unique to this book. There are so many that each serial has a double page spread devoted to just pictures and insets, and some serials have two.
All good things come to an end, they say, and this proved to be the case eventually for the original series of Doctor Who. The book ends with a look at what life has been like for Sophie, Mike and Ace after the show was axed and includes Doctor Who spin offs, conventions and a look at the further adventures of Ace in books and comics. On the whole the book is an excellent tribute to a show that is no more but still lives on in the hearts of the fans and the memories of the people who worked on it.
April 4, 2009
Sophie Aldred and special fx guy Mike Tucker provide a detailed and vivid portrayal of the final days of Doctor Who - made bittersweet by the vast improvements in the show's quality made during that time. Their anecdotes are entertaining, but the details here really make this book worthwhile. It was written not long after the show ended, and Tucker goes into fascinating detail about how the model work and visual fx were achieved. Sophie's viewpoint as an actress is an excellent contrast.
The book is packed with great behind the scenes and candid photos, in color and black and white. The only book about the 7th Doctor's era that might be better is Andrew Cartmel's memoir.
The book is packed with great behind the scenes and candid photos, in color and black and white. The only book about the 7th Doctor's era that might be better is Andrew Cartmel's memoir.
November 29, 2009
Honestly, this is exactly as billed, and everything I could want as a companion to the end of the Dr. Who classic series.
June 16, 2010
Detailed account of the later years of Doctor Who from the actress who played companion Ace, and the man who did, and still does, oversee the special effects. Full of interesting anecdotes.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews