JNT: The Life and Scandalous Times of John Nathan-Turner

[palitoy]

http://www.amazon.ca/Life-Scandalous-Times-John-Nathan-Turner/dp/1908630132

I picked up this book last week and I haven't been able to put it down.

While the press made the most about JNT's sexual romps with young men when this book came out, it's hardly the focus of this well written, even handed book.

The author interviews dozens of people who knew JNT during his life (including some interesting hindsight from RTD, who appears to really enjoy discussing this) and provides a very intriguing look into his life and his career. It also (finally) gave me some insight into why the hell he kept his job.

Overall, I'd say I felt sorry for him, despite his many flaws, he was quite the visionary, a lot of what is going on with Doctor Who now, he was trying to spearhead in the 1980s. Merchandise, building a foreign fan base and branding were just some of his struggles. He was just wasn't capable of getting it done and really had some issues with head office apathy.

The book is far from judgemental, it even posts contradicting opinion about the man from those who knew him best and paints him as human as they come.

While it pulls no punches when discussing sex, it's far from sensational and I found other revelations much more shocking, like how predominantly gay Doctor Who fandom was in the 80s UK.

Really a terrific read and something that gives you a tremendous look into the downfall of Doctor Who.

[ODBJBG]

I've been wanting to get a copy of this, but can't seem to snag it at my usual spots.

[palitoy]

I've been wanting to get a copy of this, but can't seem to snag it at my usual spots.

Yeah I had to get it from a third party but it arrived ahead of schedule and was worth it.

[samurainoir]

Overall, I'd say I felt sorry for him, despite his many flaws, he was quite the visionary, a lot of what is going on with Doctor Who now, he was trying to spearhead in the 1980s. Merchandise, building a foreign fan base and branding were just some of his struggles. He was just wasn't capable of getting it done and really had some issues with head office apathy.

That's really true now that you mention it... the season long arc in The Key to Time. It's par for the course in contemporary Who seasons now.

Tegan and Peri trying to court the Australians and Americans. (Doctor Who filming in America in recent years really helped the American fanbase grow didn't it?)

Buy yeah, execution just wasn't really there unfortunately.

[Gorn Captain]

Yep, I'd want to read this.
I'm glad the overall book is more balanced.
In a recent piece on the BBC, several people were saying things like " while the audience was enjoying the show, JNT was molesting young male fans behind the Tardis set". That documentary felt more like "let's kick his corpse some more, he can't defend himself anymore anyway".

But I do have to admit, BBC children's TV has become quite a bit more scary, now that we know about the likes of Jimmy Saville. When compared to him, the Daleks seem absolutely sweethearts...

[johnmiic]

So why the hell did he keep his job?

[Antonio]

I read it too. Very compelling reading. Highly recommended.

[palitoy]

So why the hell did he keep his job?

Nobody wanted Who and his superiors didn't think he was capable of taking anything else. Which is actually quite a disservice to JNT, he was fantastic at many aspects of his job, stories aside.

[jds1911a1]

Nobody wanted Who and his superiors didn't think he was capable of taking anything else. Which is actually quite a disservice to JNT, he was fantastic at many aspects of his job, stories aside.

That the way most associated with the show say it in the commentaries, he understood all about the work behind getting the show on having come up the floor management side, and loved to promote it but he had no backround in writing but he still wanted his hand in the script process. This is the main reason he burned through script editors,

[samurainoir]

It would be interesting to reread this book now. At the time I thought this was a fascinating peak behind the scenes in those pre-Doctor Who Confidential days of my youth. Fans all know Russel Davies and Stephen Moffat nowadays, but I think it was only because of this book that I would have any inkling of who JNT was.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OOP-Oversized-Hardcover-DOCTOR-WHO-Making-of-TV-Show-Fiona-Cummings-Auto-/310834585447?pt=US_Fiction_Books&hash=item485f2f5f67