TW Remembers Doctor Who Star Simon Fisher-Becker

By Owen Quinn author Photos copyright BBC and Owen Quinn

When a celebrity passes away, you usually remember their movies or television appearances or whatever skill they were famous for. But sometimes, you do have a personal connection which all comes flooding back when your hear the bad news.

For me and many others, Simon Fisher-Becker came to my attention when he appeared in Matt Smith’s Doctor Who era as the blue skinned, crafty, business man, Dorium Maldovar.

He frst appeared in A Good Man Goes To War when the Doctor gathers people that owe him a favour in order to rescue Amy and Melody Pond from captivity. Afraid of the Doctor calling in his favour, Dorium travels with him to save the pair nonetheless.

Dorium made an instant impact on viewers and he would return despite being beheaded by the Headless Monks. His still living head was placed in a box, wi fi included of course, in a crypt with many others and demands to know the answer to the age old question, which must never be answered, Doctor Who?

With his large frame, blue skin and Mandarin like attire, Dorium became an instant favourite but little did I know, Simon would become more than just another Doctor Who celebrity to me.

I found him on Facebook and messaged him, asking would he possibly do an interview which, to my astonishment, he said yes to. We chatted about his life, career and the impact of Doctor Who on his life. For us, he had become the Boba Fett of Doctor Who; a mysterious alien with previous dealings with the Time Lord to the point he owed the Doctor. He must be important for the Doctor to bring him to attack Demon’s Run to save the Ponds. Dorium deals in information and knowing what is going on at all times so he can wheel and deal. So what happened for the Doctor to have a hold of him so?

By chance, there was a Matt Smith look a like named Matt who you would have seen in Graham Norton’s red chair when Matt Smith was on promoting the Day of the Doctor. I persuaded him to let me take a photo with Simon so we had a kind of eleventh Doctor and Dorium reunion which was lovely.

Simon with Farscape actress Virginia Hey in Dublin

Simon was a pure delight to chat with and it was so easy as he loved speaking to people as well. He was a great ambassador to the show. Following our interview, I got the chance to meet him in person in Dublin at a convention. He recognised me and before I knew it, I was sitting behind the table with him just chatting. No interviews, no looking for something; just two people chatting about life. I won’t reveal all of our conversation as some of it was personal. He talked about his husband Tony and told me how he had a connection with Dublin when he played the Fat Controller in Thomas the Tank Engine for Day Out with Thomas events for ten years. I was easily there for another hour and felt so welcomed by him. I even got him a couple of sales from prospective fans who approached him. It was so nice to hear his stories about his career, Harry Potter and more. You at most, get a couple of minutes with celebrities but this remains to this day my favourite interview and one of the nicest people I have ever met. You rarely get to see the person behind the character but I was lucky enough to get that chance.

We became Facebook friends and messaged each other. He always wished me a happy birthday when it came round and vice versa. I happily shared any posts he wanted for his book or events. I would meet him one last time, again in Dublin at another convention, where he allowed me to bring a friend to meet him who is also a fan. I sent her the news of his death tonight and while I mourn the loss, I am comforted by the memories I have and my unique experience.

Rest in peace sir. It was a genuine pleasure to have known you and tonight, I can hear your stories in my head. You will never be forgotten.