Who would you like to see in Who?

[Paul faplad Finch]

So after Dickens in Series 1 and Shakespeare, Christie and now Van Gogh in subsequent years, I got to thinking which other artistic types might be ripe for Who use.

My first thoughts were Lovecraft and the whole Cthulhu side of things and Shelley/Frankenstein, perhaps dealing with the night in question.

Then I realised that these were pretty obvious and therefore cliched and wondered what others thought. Who would you like to see next year?

[golledge100]

I'd like to see Charles Darwin in an episode written by Richard Dawkins

[Batman's Superior Cousin]

I'd like to see Charles Darwin in an episode written by Richard Dawkins

[JamesC]

I'd like to see William Hogarth or Samuel Peeps.
Both real biographers of their time - I think each could offer a great opportunity for an awesome story.

On a total geek level I'd like to see Blackadder.

[mogzilla]

I'd like to see William Hogarth or Samuel Peeps.
Both real biographers of their time - I think each could offer a great opportunity for an awesome story.

On a total geek level I'd like to see Blackadder.

blackadder would be a great "children in need " or "comic relief" segment.

would like to see a "legend" like robin hood or king arthur being real and a bit of a disappointment

[Leigh S]

No more fucking "arent writers the best people in the universe" episodes - please God - I'd much rather they returned to historicals where there werent any famous faces taking centre stage - It's like when people regress into past lives and theyve all been Cleopatra.... Not that this nights was bad, seemed the best use of a historical figure so far in the new series, but its been done to death now.

[Paul faplad Finch]

I don't know, I quite enjoy the historical celebs. Although I could do without the in-jokes that always seem to accompany them. Like tryng to get Victoria to say she's not amused (although that had a nice dark pay off at the end when she said exactly what the audience was thinking) and the constant mentioning of titles to writers. Even tonights got in on the act with Amy prompting Van Gogh to paint the Sunflowers. That aside I do like the idea of going back to meet famous folk. I mean, if you had  a time machine at your disposal you would wouldn't you?

There might even be an argument to be made for them having some kind of educational value. Not that I'm saying they are in any way realistic but certainly I've seen a surge of interest in certain figures in my nephew after their appearances on the show.

Sort of related question, I know there has been something of a ban on them since the series came back, and they were a rarity in the old show after the first few seasons but does anyone think a straight historical could work, with no supernatural or extraterrestrial factor at play at all? I've never seen the problem myself. Surely with all of Earth history to play with a half decent writer can come up with an exciting story without needing to chuck an alien into the mix.

[Nap Normal]

I would like to Stephen Hawking honoured by being in an episode.
He could be the last of the line from the family who originally built the Tardis. I would make him three quarters human and a quarter Galifrien.
Time Lord, Tardis and Professor "Brief History Of Time" Hawking surely there's a story in there somewhere.  
P.s.
Making him part Dalek and evil is to obvious for me.        

[Emperor]

All very high-brow. So in contrast... how about John Holmes? Doctor Who ends up on 70s Californian porn set shooting a Doctor Who porn parody. Example lines: "And it feels bigger on the inside."

[ThryllSeekyr]

Dr Who encounters Tharg while they spend the rest of the epsiode fighting off a Thrill-Sucker invasion on Earth. Plenty of opportunity to plug the comic and show off other relevant characters.

[Cthulouis]

I just wish they would stop referring to the historical figures as The Best [insert job here]. Saying "One of the best...." Surely couldn't hurt, could it?

The people who write these ones tend to worship their subject material a little too much. Maybe we should get historical characters that people don't like. Something like;

"Doctor, why don't we just let the Daleks kill Hitler?"

"No. I know that although the Nazis will create havoc and destruction for many years to come, but I know also that out of their evil must come something good. We have no choice, Hitler and I must... work together!!!" 

[House of Usher]

All very high-brow. So in contrast... how about John Holmes? Doctor Who ends up on 70s Californian porn set shooting a Doctor Who porn parody. Example lines: "And it feels bigger on the inside."

For a minute I thought you'd misinterpreted the grammar of the thread title, and that it should have been whom but no: the whom in the question is a fixed variable, so 'in Who' is quite correct. As you were.

[IAMTHESYSTEM]

CHAOS SPACE MARINES!

The Doctor, waffling on about live and let live meets the galaxies greatest exterminators in a vile, blood soaked, death massacre slaughter fest forever banned by the BBC execs.

I'd watch it if RoboCop/Total Recall Paul Verhoevan directed it. 

[Leigh S]

I dont mind famous people on occasion, but could we see a bit more variation - the very fact we had Dickens, Christie and Shakespeare over almost as many series, showing us how the greatest people in history are writers suggests a level of self absorption unparalleled in all of space/time - If only they'd made the christmas special guest starring JK Rowling that RTD wanted to do....

[Emperor]

I dont mind famous people on occasion, but could we see a bit more variation - the very fact we had Dickens, Christie and Shakespeare over almost as many series, showing us how the greatest people in history are writers suggests a level of self absorption unparalleled in all of space/time - If only they'd made the christmas special guest starring JK Rowling that RTD wanted to do....

I imagine he really wanted to do a Christmas special where the Doctor meets RTD and declares him the best Doctor Who writer ever (and as he is a time traveller that includes comparisons with all future DW writers too, take that Moff!).