This week, Cryptic Who is celebrating black actors and characters in Doctor Who, from Earl Cameron in The Tenth Planet to Ncuti Gatwa and Jo Martin in recent times. Who can forget the fabulous Adjoa Andoh as Francine and that slap she landed on the Doctor? Of course, the Black actors in Doctor Who have gone on to great things – Earl Cameron was way ahead of his time and went on to earn a Read more…
October is Black History Month, so Cryptic Who saw it as a good opportunity to highlight the black and minority ethnic characters and actors in Doctor Who. Classic Who was predominantly White, reflecting the times in which it was made, but modern Who has gone a long way to redress this balance in recent times. Historical figures such as Rosa Parks and Mary Seacole have been featured, and we now have two black Doctors (both Read more…
Hello to all my new and existing followers! Just a quick note to tell you where to get updates every week about the crosswords. You can catch us on BlueSky under the hashtag #CrypticWho or on Reddit in the subreddit thread r/DoctorWhoCrosswords. If you have any suggestions as to where else to post, give me a shout! – Code Nine x
I loved Ghost Light as a kid. It was one of the stories that made me a fan in an outstanding final classic season. It was intelligent and bonkers, and crucially, didn’t talk down to its audience. As we enter Halloween season, it is only fitting that we explore the spooky Victorian era on our way. And yes, there will be the annual Halloween crossword coming your way soon! In the crossword below, you will Read more…
It has been argued that the Victorian era is Doctor Who’s natural home, and that is true to a certain extent. That era is now characterised by tumultuous change and social inequalities which speak to Doctor Who’s core ethos – especially our modern idea of its dark, dangerous alleyways and ruthless men intent on exploiting the innocent and helpless. Josiah Samuel Smith, Magnus Greel, and Dr Simeon could all easily fit into this category. In Read more…
“I’m a conman!” admitted Captain Jack once his “self-cleaning con” blew up in his face on his very own Volcano Day. It is surprising how many criminals the Doctor does befriend – Glitz, Dibber, and Drax among this number. Of course, plucky young rebels could also be considered to be criminals to the despots they’re overthrowing too. This week, we are heading to the shady part of town to see a man about a dog. Read more…
