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Blue Box Boy

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 23 ratings · 10 reviews

As a boy Matthew Waterhouse loved Doctor Who: he watched all the episodes and read all the novels and comic strips.

What starts as a heart-warming story, of a boy growing up with Doctor Who as his trusted friend, engaging the reader memories and nostalgia that will be familiar to any Doctor Who fan, takes a sudden twist when he is thrust into an alien and adult world - cas...more

Paperback, 2nd

Published July 2010 by Hirst Books

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Feb 18, 2012 Jon Huff rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a really entertaining read. I'm one of those (rather small, it seems) group of Who fans who liked Adric. Sure, he could be irritating as a character, but I thought he supposed to be a bit irritating and was an interesting foil for the others. There has been a lot said about Matthew Waterhouse over the years by various cast members, and it was clear he was not always the most well-regarded actor, to put it nicely. So hearing his side of the story was intriguing.

The first part of the book...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Paul rated it 3 of 5 stars

"Why do television producers insist on casting boy geniuses in science-fiction. We hate boy geniuses!" - Stephen Moffat

It’s no secret amongst fans of Doctor Who that Matthew Waterhouse, the teenager hired in 1980 to play Adric - the ‘artful dodger’ character that joined the TARDIS crew for Tom Baker’s final series and Peter Davison’s first - was not universally loved, either by the fans or by some of his fellow actors.

Over the years he has maintained a discreet distance from the convention circu...more "Why do television producers insist on casting boy geniuses in science-fiction. We hate boy geniuses!" - Stephen Moffat

It’s no secret amongst fans of Doctor Who that Matthew Waterhouse, the teenager hired in 1980 to play Adric - the ‘artful dodger’ character that joined the TARDIS crew for Tom Baker’s final series and Peter Davison’s first - was not universally loved, either by the fans or by some of his fellow actors.

Over the years he has maintained a discreet distance from the convention circuit and other spin-off events, returning only recently to record DVD commentaries for some of the stories he appeared in. In his absence he has been on the receiving end of many brickbats focussing on his personality, acting ability (or lack of) and behaviour.

It’s interesting to note that in the recent autobiography by Sixties Doctor Who actor Deborah Watling, she recalls an instance at one of her first convention appearances where Lalla Ward and Sarah Sutton (both of whom having acted with Waterhouse in the series) take the opportunity on a Q&A panel to make fun of the actor. She thinks this is appallingly unprofessional and rude and gives them a talking to afterwards. It’s fair to say that they weren’t the only ones to have done this in the long years since he left the show but it would interesting to hear his views on many of the circumstances that have become well-worn convention anecdotes. Are they a true reflection or not?

Well, perhaps now is the chance to find out. Matthew Waterhouse has written an autobiography; Blue Box Boy: A Memoir of Doctor Who In Four Episodes. I finished it this weekend with a variety of thoughts buzzing round in my head - the first of those being his choice to write it in the third person which, although an interesting device at first, rapidly starts to grate, particularly as it’s a book that could have done with a good editor and a proofreader to sort out the myriad of mistakes in the typesetting (for example, the number of times he is referred to as Mathew and Matthew on the same page is astonishing). Another drawback is that although the book is split into four ‘episodes’ there is little structure to them and there are many moments where we flash-forward to his time on the series or, indeed, long after, before dashing back to childhood. Again, this highlights the need for a professional editor and the occasional drawback to very small publishers.

Despite these niggles there is a lot to enjoy. Waterhouse is probably the only person to have acted on the original run of the show who was a proper dyed-in-the-wool fan since childhood. Much of the first quarter of the book is taken up with his reminisces of this early part of his life (comics and Target novelizations of the early serials) and it’s quite sweet to find his memories cheating or feeding him information that isn’t quite right.

Where his memory does come to the fore is, naturally enough, when we get to his time working on the show. It’s quite refreshing to read a book about Doctor Who that doesn’t paint it’s behind-the-scenes life as the rosy, “We all had SUCH a marvellous time!” programme that it often is. Matthew joined at a time when Baker was about to leave and was an unpleasant, unpredictable and erratic man, causing misery and upset to other actors, directors and production staff. I felt genuinely sad for him as he quickly realised that the man whom he had idolised for so many years as a young viewer and fan turned out to be such a monster to work with.

When reading autobiographies I automatically set my bullshit detector to “On” because it is only natural for people to paint a picture that puts themselves in a favourable light. Interestingly, Blue Box Boy doesn’t really do that. There is a startling candour to this book the like of which I doubt we will ever see again in a Who memoir and his reminiscences are in stark contrast to those we, as fans, often have related to us. I have read a few reviews of this book where it has been suggested that Waterhouse is simply being spiteful and rude and has no right to criticise others when his own acting was hardly up to par. It’s arguable whether or not he has earned the right to stick a few knives in the backs of people who have cheerfully done it to him but, quite honestly, I think these reviewers are exposing their own narrow-mindedness and, in doing so, missing the point entirely.

One thing that becomes painfully clear is that Matthew Waterhouse c.1980 is young and naive. He is awkward around people and forms his personal opinions and mannerisms from the opinions and mannerisms of those around him. As a devoted fan of the show, this was his absolute dream job. He went in ready to have a fantastic time doing what all kids wanted to do; travel with Doctor in the TARDIS. The rude awakening he received on discovering that there was no magic inside the blue box is nothing short of tragic - but at no time does he go on endlessly about how wonderful he is or by how terrible everyone else is. He can be sharp at times and his sense of humour is almost too dry but he is commenting on what was, at the time, an important part of his life as he saw and experienced it. It's not a hatchet job and Waterhouse still has a tremendous amount of warmth and love for a show that was, at the time he became a part of it, suffering on a grand scale.

For the record, I am someone who has never had much time for Adric, or gained much enjoyment from Waterhouse’s performance but, despite the odd flowery turn of phrase and the need for at least 50 pages being cut (it’s 423 pages long), this is a fascinating, extremely readable memoir and easily one of the most interesting titles to have been published about Doctor Who in recent years.(less)

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Nov 25, 2010 Rick rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a kid (11-12 years old) I loved Adric, and when I met Matthew Waterhouse briefly at a Doctor Who convention in Chicago (1982, I think, when I was 12 -- he actually writes about this convention in the book, and it's good for me to read his view of it), he seemed like a thoughtful and good-humored guy. (I remember him being asked at some panel or other "What do you like to do in your spare time aside from acting?" and his reply being a gentle smile accompanying "Well, there's sex." This had no...more

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Aug 20, 2010 The Master rated it 5 of 5 stars

Matthew Waterhouse joins the growing number of people related to Doctor Who (be it actors or writers) who have produced autobiographies, focussed on their time on the show.

Waterhouse's approach is slightly different, as his personal experiences -- certainly at the time -- were unique. He had grown up watching Doctor Who and was a dedicated fan of the show. From childhood DW fan, he suddenly became one of its youngest-ever regular cast members. After two seasons, he just as suddenly found himself...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: doctor-who, biography, 2011

Wise men make proverbs, but fools repeat them - Samuel Palmer (1805-1880)

Blue Box Boy is the tale of the actor Matthew Waterhouse, the eighteen year old who was cast in 1980 to play a Doctor Who companion (Adric). It is an autobiography, but very selective in its’ material. It tells the story (in great, one might argue unnecessary) detail of his obsession with Doctor Who as a child,then later his direct involvement on the show, and some moments of his life after he left.

So, as a Doctor Who fan,...more Wise men make proverbs, but fools repeat them - Samuel Palmer (1805-1880)

Blue Box Boy is the tale of the actor Matthew Waterhouse, the eighteen year old who was cast in 1980 to play a Doctor Who companion (Adric). It is an autobiography, but very selective in its’ material. It tells the story (in great, one might argue unnecessary) detail of his obsession with Doctor Who as a child,then later his direct involvement on the show, and some moments of his life after he left.

So, as a Doctor Who fan, this told me the stuff that I was really interested in. However the lack of external context serves to make the main character seem one dimensional. And whilst some may criticise the book for this, I think it actually may have been the point.

Although Matthew writes the story, it is told in the first person. Whilst jarring for the first few pages, you quickly get used to this. The lack of background of the character (as he surely must be seen due to the choice of writing style) means that you never really understand the relationship between Matthew the young actor on Doctor Who and Matthew the human being. It is almost as though the book is being deliberately written in the style of a Terrence Dicks Doctor Who novel, it gives you a description of the action, and the dialogue, but doesn’t tell you much about the inner workings of Matthews mind. I am sure this is deliberate, his note at the front of the book (“The Changing Titles of Doctor Who”) is a deliberate pastiche of the note that appeared at the front of the Target Books, often written by Terrence Dicks, telling the new reader about “The Changing Face of Doctor Who”.

So does it work? Well, annoyingly, yes it does. If I had read the paragraph above before I read the book I think it might have put me off. But let’s be honest, as fans (and it really is only fans who are going to want to read this book) we want to know the nitty gritty about the production. It’s wonderful to know what a cantankerous sod Tom Baker was to work with – we have been told this in the past as fact but never given many details. But the style does mean that the book cannot have any casual readers, because they would frankly be bored.

There was a side of me that wanted to know more about Matthew the person. He has been a bit of an enigma in fan circles, possibly because the level of criticism that is levelled against him has made him all but disassociate himself with the show. Certainly now when you watch the DVD’s of his episodes there is the odd dud line, but few more than many of the other actors on the show. As a kid when I watched this I adored the whole Tardis crew, including Adric, and I was utterly devastated when he was killed off. In fact I couldn’t quite believe it, and was sure they would find a way to save him in the following story (the Radio Times listed him in the next story, so I must have been right. Mustn’t I?!)

So I wanted to know how he felt after his first day when Tom Baker blanked him, or told him to piss off. But that is the kind of information you almost never get. The exception was when he first reads the script for his final episode and discovers that Adric gives his own life to try and save others, which brings back some uncomfortable memories for Matthew about his brother’s suicide. But that is the only moment that hints at emotional depth, and to be honest I wanted more. I wanted to be able to empathise with him, and sadly I could not.

But as a hardcore Who fan, it is a really enjoyable read, and if you love the show then this is a very honest account of Matthew’s time on it.
(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Stephen Henning rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Doctor Who fans and people who like autobiographies

Shelves: doctor-who, autobiography

This is a very different sort of autobiography, and you realise that from the very beginning.

The author writes about himself in the 3rd person, which takes a bit of getting used to. So rather than writing “I was excited about the audition”; we get “Matthew was excited about the audition” and so on.

It’s an unusual approach and one that I found rubbing off on me. Stephen was almost tempted to write this review in the 3rd person about Matthew’s book. Stephen’s mate Andrew got him Matthew’s book as...more This is a very different sort of autobiography, and you realise that from the very beginning.

The author writes about himself in the 3rd person, which takes a bit of getting used to. So rather than writing “I was excited about the audition”; we get “Matthew was excited about the audition” and so on.

It’s an unusual approach and one that I found rubbing off on me. Stephen was almost tempted to write this review in the 3rd person about Matthew’s book. Stephen’s mate Andrew got him Matthew’s book as a birthday present and Andrew had to go to great lengths to get it, which is a story in itself. Argh! It’s recursive occlusion, I’ll stop.

So that tells you from the off that Matthew Waterhouse is not one for convention (conventions, maybe). His writing style is both personal, and removed at the same time. And he is very, very honest.

I have to say, I found his whole approach to his Doctor Who life refreshing and very readable. His recollections of his time on the show, and afterwards, don’t hold back. Sometimes they go off at odd tangents, but that’s fine. At the same time that you learn some funny or insightful stuff about the acting profession, the BBC in general, or what Matthew thinks of particular actors, you also get a feel for the type of person Matthew is.

His stories about Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, John Nathan Turner et al never come across like hackneyed anecdotes. I found the stories hilarious, although a lot of them probably didn’t feel like it at the time.

Any book that describes working with Tom Baker is always going to be a page turner. I just found myself lapping it up, anecdote after anecdote. And hearing Matthew’s honest opinions is a unique insight into the making of the show and the relationships between cast and crew.

I have to be honest, I never liked the character of Adric. I was 7 when he joined the show and I thought he was a bad character. Also, I think I must have heard stories about Matthew Waterhouse in various interviews or publications (none of which I can recall with any precision) which made me think I wouldn’t necessarily like him. I’m glad to say the prejudice was unfounded.

This was one of the most enjoyable autobiographies that I have read, by any celebrity, and I felt sad when I reached the end. My next book had better be this enjoyable!
(less)

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May 08, 2011 Rick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bios-memoirs, doctor-who, popular-culture

First of all I have to admit that I came late to Doctor Who. The only time I saw any episode from the original series was a private showing of The Five Doctors that a boyfriend of mine took me to. He was a big fan. I was not impressed. In retrospect I think an anniversary episode would probably not have been the best thing to start with (I haven't watched The Five Doctors again yet, but it's on the list).
So, why did I pick up Blue Box Boy you ask? Well, I have gotten to be quite taken with the...more First of all I have to admit that I came late to Doctor Who. The only time I saw any episode from the original series was a private showing of The Five Doctors that a boyfriend of mine took me to. He was a big fan. I was not impressed. In retrospect I think an anniversary episode would probably not have been the best thing to start with (I haven't watched The Five Doctors again yet, but it's on the list).
So, why did I pick up Blue Box Boy you ask? Well, I have gotten to be quite taken with the new Doctor Who series and I picked up a copy of the magazine on a whim. Included in this particular issue was an interview with the author/actor who wrote this little gem and who played Adric in the old series. I had no idea who Adric was, but by this time I had seem the Paul McGann movie and several of the old William Hartnell episodes. What caught my attention was the actor who played Adric was about my age and he is gay. I tracked down a copy on the internet, ordered it and got it much quicker than expected. I was also surprised and delighted to see that it was signed. That was an unexpected bonus. I started reading and was immediately charmed. I found myself enchanted to the extent that I starting picking up used copies of Adric episodes where ever I could find them. I have not made it through all of them yet (and I did pre-order Kinda, the last episode with Adric to be released in the States on DVD) but I have pleased with all those I've seen so far.
Waterhouse's book is a delight. The odd choice of writing of his experiences in the third person is initially strange, but quickly very endearing. It reminds one of speaking fondly of an old school friend you have not seen in years but you miss very much. And while there is nothing the book that is outrageously shocking, there is some wonderful insight into a young man's experiences with becoming part of his childhood obsession.
I have to admit that I was disappointed that Waterhouse did not go into more detail on his more racy adventures, but as he says: "that is outside the scope of this book." Although I would love to hear/read the about what happened during the "romantic encounter with a Mexican boy whose hair was dyed in orange and black stripes like a tiger" that brought a seemingly abrupt end to his days living on the streets in NYC. Clearly, Adric had just as many adventures outside the Blue Box as in. (less)

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Jun 18, 2011 Lauren marked it as to-read

Shelves: own-but-unread, doctor-who

I gave in and bought it because I wanted to read it and couldn't find it anywhere other than through the publisher (who are a huge pain in the ass to deal with, by the way. Avoid them if at all possible.). I mean, it contains the sentences "It could only have been true if Matthew had been retarded. And he wasn't." I need to know if the whole thing is as painfully unfunny as that little sample.

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Oct 06, 2011 J. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The concept of writing autobiigraphy in 3rd person seems strange, but works quite well, here. I wasn't quite ready for some of the more biting observations, but they are well-written, on the whole. Another edition would correct some of the lingering typos, making the book better. If you're a fan of Doctor Who (that is, the original series), then this book is a must-have.

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Aug 13, 2010 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Got this-- an autographed copy!!!-- as a very special gift. :) Looking forward to reading it, as I think both the character and the actor are under-rated.

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May 02, 2013 Lewis Mullen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

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Dec 13, 2012 Tonytheprof rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nov 20, 2012 Gareth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Aug 10, 2012 Rob rated it 4 of 5 stars

Aug 05, 2012 Ernie Vecchione rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Shelves: doctor-who-books, owned-books, glbt

Apr 19, 2012 Chris Bryant rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Shelves: british-sci-fi

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Shelves: 21st-c, non-fiction, biography-and-memoir, 2010-read

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Aug 08, 2011 Chris Wyatt rated it 4 of 5 stars

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About Matthew Waterhouse

Matthew Waterhouse played companion Adric in Doctor Who from Full Circle to Earthshock, with cameo appearances in Time-Flight and The Caves of Androzani. After leaving the series, he began a stage career.

Waterhouse began his career as a clerk in the BBC news department before securing a role in the television drama To Serve Them All My Days in 1980. Shortly afterward he auditioned for and won the...more Matthew Waterhouse played companion Adric in Doctor Who from Full Circle to Earthshock, with cameo appearances in Time-Flight and The Caves of Androzani. After leaving the series, he began a stage career.

Waterhouse began his career as a clerk in the BBC news department before securing a role in the television drama To Serve Them All My Days in 1980. Shortly afterward he auditioned for and won the role of Adric. He was a confirmed Doctor Who fan and had had at least one letter printed in Doctor Who Weekly before he took up the role.

Adric was a companion of Tom Baker and Peter Davison's Doctors from 1980 to 1982. Waterhouse was the youngest actor to play a companion and remains the youngest male to have done so. (In 2010, Caitlin Blackwood originated the role of the Eleventh Doctor's first companion Amelia Pond when ten years old [the character was seven], and continued to portray her on a recurring basis throughout - and immediately beyond - her cousin Karen Gillan's regular performance as adult Amy). Matthew Waterhouse is openly gay and is believed to be the first non-heterosexual actor on Doctor Who to have been open about his sexuality while on the series. He also played the third companion to die in the series after Katarina in 1965 and Sara Kingdom in 1966. The first Doctor Who serial Waterhouse filmed was State of Decay; Full Circle was filmed afterwards.

Waterhouse's name was used, as an in-joke, by comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams for a character in their sketch show Little Britain. Waterhouse in the programme is an unsuccessful inventor of bizarre and ridiculous new versions of things such as board games and breakfast cereals. (Little Britain has also featured two other characters named after Doctor Who companion actors, Michael Craze and Mark Strickson.)

Waterhouse has lived in Connecticut, in the United States, since July 1998. He still appears occassionally at fan conventions and visits the UK. Most recently, he has contributed to the commentary for the DVD releases of The Visitation and Earthshock.

In 2010, Waterhouse joined a growing number of Doctor Who actors in publishing an autobiography. In his book, Blue Box Boy, he writes candidly about his experiences making Doctor Who. In it he claims Tom Baker had a horrible attitude and that he was shocked that someone he admired could be this way. To publicise the release, he consented to a rare interview for Doctor Who Magazine #424.

As of 2012, Waterhouse is one of only a few surviving actors who has not reprised his Doctor Who role for Big Finish Productions. (less)

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