The end of 2023 brought with it the highly anticipated Dr Who 60th Anniversary Specials and the Christmas Special. This blog post is about the themes from these specials, looking at each episode individually. I’ve done a themes type post for Series 11, Series 12 & Series 13 of Doctor Who.
At the end of Series 13, the Doctor regenerated back into an old face (played by the fantastic David Tennant). Prior to the ending of Series 13, the superb news came that Russell T Davies would be returning to Doctor Who as the lead Writer.
A new cast member is Rose Noble (played exquisitely by Yasmin Finney). Yasmin’s character is particularly important to the Trans community, as both Rose and Yasmin identify as Trans. Rose Noble:
Cute & fluffy, doesn’t necessarily mean that a creature has good intentions.
Representation and visibility remain as important as ever for the LGBT+ community, but especially for Trans people who still suffer stigma, discrimination and sometimes hate crimes because of who they are. Some people think it’s okay to dead name Trans people, which is just cruel.
People with disabilities don’t want you to make them the problem.
Sometimes the best thing to do for your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health is to let go.
The TARDIS redesign is beautiful. There is no other word for it, just: beautiful.
Episode 2 – Wild Blue Yonder
Mavity replaces Gravity due to a misunderstanding by Sir Isaac Newton.
The Doctor finds Sir Isaac Newton as “hot” and notes “Oh, it’s like that now.” Suggesting he might be gay or bisexual.
The TARDIS can literally disappear if it senses danger. It has an Hostile Action Displacement System (HADS).
There are probably weird life forms out there that would cause us to redefine our definition of life. Some are likely to be good, but others, like the ones in this episode could be quite sinister.
The universe has an edge.
Wilfred Mott (Donna’s Grandfather, played by the brilliant Bernard Cribbins) waits in the alley for Donna & the Doctor to return.
Episode 3 – The Giggle
Old adverseries can return.
Bi-generation is a thing.
Even the Doctor needs a break from travelling and a family for a sense of belonging.
When I was a teenager, I was quiet at high school and spent most of the evenings at home watching soaps on TV. TV is where I discovered some sexy celebrity males and developed some crushes, so here are some of my high school celebrity crushes:
Jansen Spencer
Jansen Spencer was my first celebrity crush, when I saw him in Neighbours.
Jansen Spencer was probably my first crush, when he played Paul McClain on Neighbours. I liked his jet black wavy hair, natural tan and cute ears. He looked about my age, although is actually a few years older. I thought he was gorgeous and for a while imagined all Australian’s looked like him.
He didn’t get his top off often enough, but the images below are two rare occasions that he did. I’m not sure what he’s up to these days, but he is on twitter: @JansenSpencer.
I loved Jansen Spencer’s jet black wavy hair.
Jansen Spencer on the rare occasion he was topless in Neighbours.
Jansen Spencer topless.
Andrew Hayden-Smith
Andrew Hayden-Smith in Byker Grove.
I discovered Andrew Hayden-Smith when he played bad boy Ben Carter in Byker Grove on CBBC. He was the only reason I watched Byker Grove. Hayden-Smith went on to be a Presenter and played a minor role in Doctor Who. More recently he’s scored role in Russell T Davies’ Banana and Cucumber. As time has gone on he’s got sexier and sexier. Much to my delight (and the delight of many others) he is happy to be in his birthday suite for the odd photoshoot:
Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.
Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.
Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.
Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.
Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.
Andrew Moss
Andrew Moss in Hollyoaks when I was younger.
I loved watching Hollyoaks, partly for the eye candy. Andrew Moss played Rhys Ashworth, who was a bit of a player and womaniser. He was always getting his kit off. I’m not sure what triggered my crush, perhaps it was his characters confidence. I just liked him.
Moss moved on from Hollyoaks and I’m not sure what he’s up to now. But he has twitter: @AndyMoss.
Below are two topless pictures of him, one in a jacuzzi…just because:
Andrew Moss in Hollyoaks now.
Andrew Moss in a Jacuzzi…just because.
Guy Burnet
Guy Burnett in Hollyoaks when I was younger.
Another Hollyoaks crush of mine was the stunning Guy Burnet. Gorgeous body, straight white teeth and big brown expressive eyes.
Burnet played Craig Dean in Hollyoaks and had loads of great storylines. One of the biggest storylines was the development of a gay relationship with character John Paul McQueen (James Sutton).
Burnet left Hollyoaks in 2008 to try new things. Unfortunately I was unable to ascertain what Burnet has been up to since he left Hollyoaks.
Guy Burnett in Hollyoaks – looking fit.
Guy Burnett in Hollyoaks gay storyline.
Karl Davies
Karl Davies first discovered in Emmerdale.
In Emmerdale, I developed a crush on Karl Davies who played bad boy Robert Sugden. I thought he was hot when he first came into the soap and has only got hotter since.
After leaving Emmerdale, Davies has continued to work on screen as an Actor. According to this website and Wikipedia he has played several different roles on TV and in films.
Recently my crush on him was reignited when I watched him in The Syndicate (series 2), which was a series about a syndicate winning the lottery.
Karl Davies topless once he’d began working out.
More Karl Davies topless.
Even more Karl Davies topless.
Kieron Richardson
Kieron Richardson as Bad Boy Ste in Hollyoaks.
My final Hollyoaks crush was the attractive Kieron Richardson, who played another bad boy (I’m starting to sense a theme here!) Ste Hey.
Ste has had loads of storylines over the years, including a coming out storyline were his character came out as gay. I read that Ste is currently in a relationship with John Paul McQueen and has recently been diagnosed HIV positive.
Actor Richardson has come out gay. As well as continuing to work on Hollyoaks, Richardson also presents a radio show on Gaydio. Richardson is on twitter: @MrkieronR.
Kieron Richardson’s character Ste later became gay.
More Kieron Richardson.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry – my weird celebrity crush.
Prince Harry (in the photo left) was my weird crush. I saw this photo and thought Oh, he’s cute. There was just something about him. I think I was attracted to him because of his looks as well as his hereditary power and wealth.
Harry has grown up and been known to defend the rights of gay people. He is still reasonably attractive, especially with his top off (see below) but I no longer have a crush on him. Sorry Harry.
Prince Harry Topless.
Jon Lee
Jon Lee from S Club 7 was perhaps my first pop crush.
Jon Lee from 90s pop band S Club 7 was probably my first music crush. To me his big smile, blonde hair and brown eyes made him beautiful.
Since the band split, Lee has focused on his stage career, released a solo album and come out as gay.
These days he’s still good looking, although I’m not sure about some of the tattoos.
S Club 7 are reuniting for a small UK tour this year. Jon Lee is on twitter: @JonLee321.
Jon Lee topless.
More Jon Lee topless.
Even more Jon Lee topless.
Now: Jon Lee topless, not sure what I think of the muscles or tattoos.
Another Jon Lee Now.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise, my first movie star crush.
After I watched the sex scene at the beginning of Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise instantly became my first movie star crush. His jet black hair, defined check bones and body were all appealing. I will add that for a long time I didn’t realise how short he was. Not that this would have made any difference, as I have always tended to like men shorter in height than myself. Cruise has aged well, looking great for his current age of 52 years old.
Cruise has had a long career Acting in films. My favourites have to be the Mission Impossible films, with a new Mission Impossible film (MI5) coming out this year. I have also enjoyed his recent futuristic action films Minority Report and Oblivion.
Now: Tom Cruise.
Who were your celebrity crushes when you were younger? Leave a comment below.
A note on Image Credits & Copyright:
Images have been collected off the Internet. I am unsure where most of them came from, apart from the images with a source identified.
I am not the copyright holder of any of the images in this post. If you think you are the copyright holder and would like the image removed please contact me.
The Independent on Sunday has been producing their annual Pink List since 2000. The Pink List is a list of influential gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans gay people in the UK. Each year The Independent assembles a panel of Judges, opens up for nominations from the public and then decides who to award the 100 places to and in which order.
This year’s Pink List 2013 has been published and with some interesting changes. No longer is it enough to be gay and a well known public figure whose a role model to gay youth. This year people on the list have to have contributed or made a difference in some way.
The Independent on Sunday have created two separate lists in addition to the main pink list; one for National Treasures and one for Politicians. On the National Treasures list is the likes of Russell T Davies, Paul O’Grady, Sir Elton John, Stephen Fry, Sir Ian McKellen and John Barrowman. On the Politicians list is various Westminster Peeps.
I am disappointed by the creation of these separate lists for National Treasures and Politicians. I think it is enough to be gay and a role model, so I’d have kept the one Pink List. I’d have just put people who have contributed more in the last year higher up on the list.
I would have extended the list to accomodate the increasing number gay people coming out. It shows that we are out there in numbers and contributing to society. For easy reading, I would have split the list into parts: 1-10, 11-30, 31-50, 51-100 and 101+.
The Pink List has always missed out people that are not in the media spotlight. I think the Pink List could be massively improved by including these people who are contributing a great deal to their local communities and society as a whole. These ‘ordinary’ LGBT people are doing amazing things. Such as those Workers/Volunteers for The Albert Kennedy Trust & George House Trust, Students who’ve set up LGBT Societies in Universities and Employees that set up or run LGBT forums within their employers organisations.
The Pink List should include out LGBT parents. Its very difficult to be an out LGBT parent. Many LGBT parents worry about the impact of their sexuality/gender identity on their children, in terms of some schools institutional homophobia and bullying by other children. I discovered this through two interviews with LGBT parents for a feature article for The Gay UK. The first interview was with Paul and the other with Linda.
Finally, I think there should be a list of influential straight people who support gay rights. The gay marriage bill would have never been passed into law, if it wasn’t for the many straight people who voted in favour of the bill.
The Independent on Sunday do a yearly ‘Pink List’. For those of you who don’t know, a Pink List is the most influential gay people of the year. I won’t mention the fact that there’s still a quarter of the year to go, I wont. You can read their Pink List here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-iiosi-pink-list-2010-2040472.html.
As I go down the list giving my thoughts please expect some people to be completely omitted because
I have no idea who they are. Sorry but your just not famous enough to have attracted me attention, yet. No hard feelings, eh?
The Independent on Sunday ‘Pink List’ 2010
1. Gareth Thomas the rugby player absolutely deserves at number one this year. The rugby world along with other sporting worlds remain homophobic and the way gay people have changed attitudes in this country is by coming out to their friends and family. We just need someone from the football world to come out now, my bets on Cristiano Ronaldo.
3. Stephen Fry the broadcaster and writer speaks up for gay rights more than most of the public realise. Recently the media have picked up about his recent relationship breakdown and his new partner aged 26. Come on, like at fifty some-thing if you could get a 26 year old you wouldn’t? Leave the man alone. He will always have my respects, unless of course he did something really bad – like – murder or something equally morally wrong.
6. Alan Carr the comedian known for his show Chatty Man on channel 4 is very funny. I didn’t realise that you could influence people with humor. It seems so, well done Alan. Perhaps I should give that saying about laughing people in to bed a try?
7. Peter Tatchell the human rights activist has been banging on about Marriage as apposed to Civil Partnerships and still campaigns for true equality for gay people. It seems like the job title of “Human Rights Activist” was becoming redundant with the strides forward we made with the Labour Government, but now the Conservatives are back in, you’ve got your work cut out for you Peter. Thanks for standing up for our rights.
10. Sue Perkins the comedian and writer, is she the one whose thin, tall, short hair and glasses? If so, I like her. She seems nice.
12. Scott Mills the Radio 1 DJ, I hadn’t realised was gay! Honestly, I think my gaydar needs some tweaking. Love his radio 1 show, I always listen on my way home from work in the car, it makes me smile and often laugh. Keep doing what you do Scott.
34. Matt Lucas, I haven’t seen him around much since Little Brittan. Oh wait I have heard his voice in Alice and Wonderland though, I think.
36. Simon Amstell, not seen much of him. He’s boring me now on Never Mind the Buzzcocks but that’s only because repeats are constantly on Dave.
47. Derren Brown bless his cotton socks. There’s something I like about this man. I dunno what it is but there’s also plenty I don’t like: his smug attitude. Luckily this year hasn’t been like the last were I was Unable to escape from Derren Brown.
52. Lord Mandelson a Labour party peer, just creeps me out every time I look at him.
55. Matthew Todd the Editor of Attitude magazine. Now I must confess Matthew I didn’t know who you were until recently. I picked up a copy of this months Attitude entitled “The ‘Issues’ Issue” because of the feature “We’ve found the secret to being gay and happy” and I’m really enjoying reading it. Blog post coming soon, when I’ve finished the reading. Attitude has always made refreshing reading when compared to the Gay Times, but well done on a well written and well put together issue this month. Big pat on the back for Matthew!
56. Gok Wan this year has made appearances on the TV Book Club, which isn’t as book-worm-ish as it sounds. I actually like how they tell you what a book is like and then you can sus out if it’s worth buying for yourself.
64. Russell T Davies the former writer Dr. Who seems to have gone back to life behind the lime light rather than in it as I haven’t heard much from him this year. No supprise really, those writter types prefer it there.
70. Julian Clary the entertainer seems to be making a come back to our TV screens recently following on from his former boyfriend going to Austrailia (I found that out in Attitude Magazine as well, a really informative issue). He has been writing books for a while, but I think he’s a gifted entertainer as well, so welcome back Julian, you’ve been missed, well by me anyway.
76. Will Young the former winner of Pop Idol (remember that show? God, that was a life time ago or so it seems) I haven’t seen doing anything. Get in the studio and write and sing a new album out, it’s been a while now.
100. Joe McElderry last years winner of X Factor seemed to have made it at the bottom of the list as a last minute addition. For what? I hear you ask. For coming out as gay. What made me laugh is that he sold his story to The Sun of all news papers. I remember being in ASDA the day the paper was released picking up some bits and bats and as I started to read the unorignal headline: “Joe: I’m gay” a chav said: “Like we didn’t know.” Made me smile.
Overall a lot of the people on the list I didn’t know seemed London based, which is to be expected isn’t it? Don’t you know? London is the centre of the world. Apparently.
Are you a Doctor, Nurse, Healthcare Assistant or Other Healthcare Professional? Or a Student?
Ways The Human Body Can Go Wrong covers every system of the body, what can go wrong when the body malfunctions or fails, symptoms (including why these happen) and cures/treatments available.
It includes knowledge around essential skills for Clinical Excellence such as Assessment, All Age Observational Norms, Models of Care, Communication/Handover Tips, the role of Specialities, Medication Tips, Dealing with Errors, Documentation Advice and a list of Useful Resources.
It is written in plain English, but highlights important medical terminology. It has been written at a level where someone from a non-medical background can pick it up and learn, but that it is still valuable to those with significant Clinical Experience.
My dear friend Roy decided to follow in his family’s footsteps and enlist in the Royal Navy.
I wanted to maintain our friendship, to continue to support Roy, to make him laugh and to entertain him. So I came up with the idea of sending him a weekly email on random topics.
These emails were on a variety of topics, always being entertaining, sometimes being interesting, sometimes funny and occasionally being serious.
Topics included: Jokes, Puzzles, Inspirational Quotes, Future Technology to Be Excited About, How to Fight A Shark, How to Woo A Turtle, Some of the Most Amazing Jobs in the World, Facts About Castles, Do Aliens Exist?, The Kindest Humans, A List of Cakes, 13 Weird Body Facts, 20 Super Space Facts, Ancient Egyptian Curses, 10 Weird Olympic Games, The Great Emu War of 1932, Quiz: Flags of the World, Legendary Characters from the UK and others.
My Royal Navy Friend is a copy of these emails. In total, there are 52 emails. Dispersed throughout the book are also Royal Navy facts and stories.
This workbook has been designed for anyone that is struggling with alcohol or has struggled with alcohol in the past.
It is written in a Motivational Interviewing style, one of the key therapies used to support people with alcohol issues. It has been designed using a trauma-informed approach and is strength–based.
What you will find in this book is more than just worksheets about alcohol. You’ll find all the tools someone needs to get into recovery from alcohol and stay there. It’s a therapy-based book, not an alcohol-based book.
SpellCast is a comprehensive compendium of spells, oils, charms and talismans. It is purely a book about magic, folk magic for the 21st century. The spells are ones that are tried and tested, with some that will stand the test of time.
In SpellCast you will read about the power of Instant Magic, of Banishment & Bindings, Blessings, Cleansing, Communication, Death, Employment, Finance & Money, Fertility, Friendship, Happiness & Joy, Health, Love & Relationships, Luck Magic, Protection, Transformative Magic and WishCraft.
This book will change your life. Your life will be abundant in all meanings of the word.
This book contains everything that you need to know about mental health and mental illness. Mental Health Wisdom is divided into three sections.
Understanding is section one and is all about the facts of mental health.
In section two, Empathy Through Lived Experience, the author shares his personal experience of mental illness.
Life Hacks is section three. It’s all about self-care and quick and easy ways to improve your mental health, prevent mental illness or relapse of mental illness.
Mental Health Wisdom contains everything that you need to know about mental health and mental illness.
Mental Health Wisdom is divided into three sections.
Understanding is section one and is all about the facts of mental health.
In section two, Empathy Through Lived Experience, the author shares his personal experience of mental illness.
Life Hacks is section three. It’s all about self-care and quick and easy ways to improve your mental health, prevent mental illness or relapse of mental illness.
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