Christopher H. Bidmead
Encyclopedia
Christopher Hamilton Bidmead (born 1941) is a British
writer and journalist.
Bidmead trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), later playing several roles on stage, television and radio. By the early 1970s he was scriptwriting for Thames Television
, producing material for Harriet's Back in Town and Rooms. Up until 1979, he was a journalist.
In 1979, Robert Banks Stewart
recommended him for the post of script editor on Doctor Who
. Bidmead was primarily responsible for a 'back to basics' approach for his year long tenure on Doctor Who, attempting to curb the more playful and fantasy orientated approach of his predecessor Douglas Adams
in favour of a more naturalistic and scientific style of presentation. Most noticeable in the more serious portrayal of Tom Baker's Doctor, this approach proved controversial and ratings suffered, although this has been attributed to the tough timeslot for Bidmead's season which saw it competing against Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
on ITV
. Very much a product of its time, Bidmead's writings for Doctor Who demonstrate an increasing awareness of computer technology, typified by his complex serial Logopolis
which served to write out the Fourth Doctor. After a year as script editor he returned to freelance work. This included writing two more Doctor Who serials for Peter Davison's Doctor (Castrovalva and Frontios
) as well as producing novelisations of all three of these Doctor Who stories.
He has continued his career in computer journalism, writing regularly (as Chris Bidmead) for Personal Computer World
, PC Plus
and other computer magazines, and specialising in Linux
tools. Occasionally he has contributed more speculative or philosophical pieces for publications such as New Scientist
, and recently he has worked as a journalist producing material for Wired magazine.
In August 2006, it was announced in Doctor Who Magazine
that Bidmead would be writing a Doctor Who audio play, Renaissance of the Daleks
, for release through Big Finish Productions
in March 2007. Chris Bidmead subsequently withdrew from this project in January 2007, although he did receive a 'From a Story By' credit for the play. In recent years, he has contributed voiceover commentaries and interviews for numerous DVD releases of his Doctor Who serials.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer and journalist.
Bidmead trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), later playing several roles on stage, television and radio. By the early 1970s he was scriptwriting for Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
, producing material for Harriet's Back in Town and Rooms. Up until 1979, he was a journalist.
In 1979, Robert Banks Stewart
Robert Banks Stewart
Robert Banks Stewart is a former writer for television, now retired.He began as a story editor at Pinewood Studios and for Thames Television where he contributed scripts to the programmes Callan, Special Branch, The Sweeney and Owner Occupied.He also wrote The Avengers scripts The Master Minds...
recommended him for the post of script editor on Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. Bidmead was primarily responsible for a 'back to basics' approach for his year long tenure on Doctor Who, attempting to curb the more playful and fantasy orientated approach of his predecessor Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams
Douglas Noel Adams was an English writer and dramatist. He is best known as the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which started life in 1978 as a BBC radio comedy before developing into a "trilogy" of five books that sold over 15 million copies in his lifetime, a television...
in favour of a more naturalistic and scientific style of presentation. Most noticeable in the more serious portrayal of Tom Baker's Doctor, this approach proved controversial and ratings suffered, although this has been attributed to the tough timeslot for Bidmead's season which saw it competing against Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is an American science fiction adventure television series produced by Universal Studios. The series ran for two seasons between 1979–1981, and the feature-length pilot episode for the series was released as a theatrical film several months before the series aired....
on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. Very much a product of its time, Bidmead's writings for Doctor Who demonstrate an increasing awareness of computer technology, typified by his complex serial Logopolis
Logopolis
Logopolis is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 28 February to 21 March 1981. It was Tom Baker's last story as the Doctor and marks the first appearance of Peter Davison in the role...
which served to write out the Fourth Doctor. After a year as script editor he returned to freelance work. This included writing two more Doctor Who serials for Peter Davison's Doctor (Castrovalva and Frontios
Frontios
Frontios is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from 26 January to 3 February 1984.-Synopsis:...
) as well as producing novelisations of all three of these Doctor Who stories.
He has continued his career in computer journalism, writing regularly (as Chris Bidmead) for Personal Computer World
Personal Computer World
Personal Computer World was a long-running British Computer magazine.Although for at least the last decade it contained a high proportion of Windows PC content , the magazine's title was not intended as a specific reference to this...
, PC Plus
PC Plus
PC Plus is a Computer magazine published monthly since 1986 in the UK by Future Publishing. The magazine is aimed at intermediate to advanced PC users, computer professionals and enthusiasts. The magazine is specifically for users of PCs and related technologies, so features articles are...
and other computer magazines, and specialising in Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
tools. Occasionally he has contributed more speculative or philosophical pieces for publications such as New Scientist
New Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
, and recently he has worked as a journalist producing material for Wired magazine.
In August 2006, it was announced in Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
that Bidmead would be writing a Doctor Who audio play, Renaissance of the Daleks
Renaissance of the Daleks
Renaissance of the Daleks is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
, for release through Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
in March 2007. Chris Bidmead subsequently withdrew from this project in January 2007, although he did receive a 'From a Story By' credit for the play. In recent years, he has contributed voiceover commentaries and interviews for numerous DVD releases of his Doctor Who serials.