John Nathan-Turner

It was a quarter of century ago today, as hard as it is for me believe, is when the Gallifreyan Embassy began. Unbeknownst at the time, it was the day after the Discovery Channel was launched. It was also the day after the launch of the space shuttle Discovery (STS-51-G) which marked the first Arab and Muslim in space (payload specialist Sultan bin Salman bin Adulaziz Al Saud). Yes, it was 1985. Ronald Reagan was in the White House, Commodore launches the Amiga personal computer while NeXT is founded by Steve Jobs after leaving Apple Computer.

Just two weeks before we went Back to the Future in the theaters, the Gallifreyan Embassy of Long Island officially began.

Producer John Nathan-Turner addressing a crowd of fans while in New York. He had been in the WLIW studios the day before on Long Island, and the next day he was in Manhattan for a convention taking place in March 1985.

We interviewed JNT on several occasions, listen to one of our first in Doctor Who: Podshock 168 (Extra).

Photo by Louis Trapani

In honour of Sylvester McCoy returning to New York this month and the 25th anniversary of the Gallifreyan Embassy, we present you with this cut-down video of a WLIW pledge drive break from August 1987. At the time, like today, we had a new Doctor, the 7th Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, he along with the late Jon Pertwee and John Nathan-Turner, the then producer of Doctor Who are included in a pre-recorded interview segment in this 5th break of WLIW's Doctor Who marathon of The War Games. Eric Luskin of NJN conducts the interview.

Seen in this video among the Gallifreyan Embassy members volunteering is Ken Deep, and Louis Trapani of Doctor Who: Podshock, along with Tim Grogan, Beth Treckman, Pete "Bug" Reinert, PJ, "The Anti-Doctor", Monique, and others.

"Ah, you come to help me find the Zero Room. Welcome aboard."

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 168 EXTRA Edition
Running Time: 0:35:40

Picking up from our last episode with a 1985 flashback of Matthew Waterhouse (Adric) speaking about the 5th Doctor's first story, Castrovalva, plus a rare exclusive 1985 interview with then Doctor Who producer, John Nathan-Turner and more.

Hosted by Louis Trapani.