Peter Purves shared his thoughts on modern Doctor Who during the launch of a new exhibition.
The legendary Gallifreyan’s next adventure as ‘Lucky Day’ (Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 4) available to watch on BBC. Expect the return of Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday, UNIT, and, hopefully, Anita Dobson’s Mrs. Flood! Viewers outside the UK can also watch the show by using a VPN to access. Check out our guide to the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer!
Former Doctor Who star Peter Purves has said that recent seasons of the sci-fi series are “too sophisticated” for his taste, especially when compared to the simpler, more kid-friendly episodes he appeared in during the early years.
Advertisement The actor and TV presenter portrayed space pilot Steven Taylor, a companion to the First Doctor (played by William Hartnell), appearing in 45 episodes across 10 story arcs in the long-running show.
Purves made an appearance at the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery over the weekend for the opening of an unofficial Doctor Who exhibition, Adventures in Time and Space, which showcases a wide range of props from the series.
He officially opened the new attraction by cutting the ribbon, marking the start of its run at the venue, where it will remain until Monday, 3rd November. During the event, he also shared some noteworthy thoughts on Doctor Who and his connection to the series.
Purves described the modern era of Doctor Who as “far too sophisticated for my simple brain,” while also praising the original run, which he helped bring to life, for its more straightforward approach.
“We used to have stories that were very simple,” he said (via BBC News). “You went from there to there; you had a cliffhanger at the end of an episode; the following week you picked up from there and went to another cliffhanger.
“Then, end of story, on to another one. Very simple, very straightforward, very clear and easy for kids to understand.”
He reflected on the structure of earlier Doctor Who episodes, emphasizing their clarity and accessibility, especially for younger viewers.
Interestingly, current Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has openly stated that his goal for the latest era of the show is to appeal to younger audiences, helping secure the show’s legacy for future generations.
Purves, however, stopped watching Doctor Who regularly during Jon Pertwee’s time as the Third Doctor, explaining that he lost interest when the show shifted its focus to Earth-based plots.
I didn’t like the serials then because it got embedded in England, which lots of people think is fabulous and great, it just wasn’t for me. It had lost what Doctor Who was all about.
he recalled
The shift toward more Earth-based storylines was largely driven by budget cuts, which limited the show’s ability to create the alien sets and costumes that had defined earlier—and would define later—eras of Doctor Who.
Read More: Doctor Who Dips to Lowest Ever for Fourth Episode, Lucky Day
Despite his reservations, Purves acknowledged the show’s impressive longevity, calling it a “remarkable thing” that Doctor Who has lasted over 60 years. However, he expressed concern that younger audiences might not engage with his era of the show due to its older technology.
I remember being in America at a convention and a woman came up to me and said, ‘I’ve been trying to get my son interested in the classics, but he won’t watch it because he thinks the television’s broken’ – because you’ve got these black-and-white pictures.
Purves added
The current season of Doctor Who, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and Varada Sethu as companion Belinda Chandra, airs weekly on BBC One, with all surviving episodes available to stream on iPlayer.
Doctor Who continues Saturdays on BBC One and iPlayer.
Source: RadioTimes