What’s it like to be a Doctor Who costume designer?

Today the BBC published a really fantastic interactive article about Doctor Who costume designer Ray Holman.

BBC iWonder - What's it like to be a Doctor Who costume designer?

The article is divided into seven sections:
1. A stitch in time
This is an introduction to Ray and his background in the industry

2. Meet the costume designer
In this video Ray talks about his work on series nine

3. Gallery: Costume concepts
Here is a fascinating collection of 10 highly detailed concept drawing pulled from a number of episodes during series nine

4. How do I become a costume designer?
Ray gives an insight into his route into costume designing

5. Gallery: From sketch to reality
In this second gallery, more sketches are paired up with photographs of the finished costumes,

6. Decide you destiny
A further insight into the historic and futuristic costumes of Doctor Who

7. Where next?
Further reading elsewhere on the BBC website

It real is a fun read and there are some gems in the galleries, so spend a little time exploring rather than skimming it over.

A look back - and a look forward?

Today is a special day in New Series Doctor Who - it’s exactly ten years since The Doctor exploded back onto our screens following the wilderness years!

Since we had the official 50th Anniversary barely 18 months back, there is no big celebration like there was in November 2013.
Instead the BBC have marked it with a few low-key items.

One of these is a heartfelt tribute by the incumbent Doctor, Peter Capaldi himself.



Now, I was watching this video when something struck me.

So, he appears to be on-set filming series 9, and is wearing his now trademark coat with black hoodie underneath, but with a casual t-shirt below.

But what caught my eye is the fact that he is wearing the custom made ring which disguises his wedding ring as The Doctor’s ring.

Could he be caught between takes while filming? If so, is that t-shirt more than just ‘model’s own’? Is it part of the new look returning costume designer Ray Holman has created?

If it is, then NOW is thew time to trawl the collections of a few named high street retailers to see if it is available.

I’m seeing Paul Smith, All Saints, maybe even Debenhams could be possible targets! Ah - the game’s afoot!!!!

A change of wardrobe?

There’s a bit of very interesting Doctor Who costume news that I’ve known about for a little while, but have kept under wraps.

However, since it is now for all to see on his website, I think I can happily reveal that Howard Burgan, who has been costume designer since The Snowmen in 2012 has now handed over the reins - to none other than Ray Holman!

Ray was instrumental in creation of the first look for the Eleventh Doctor back in 2010, having designed for series five.

Prior to that he had designed for Doctor Who in Tenth Doctor era when the double-banking of episodes meant Louise Page needed a second pair of hands to cover the Doctor-lite episodes Blink and Turn Left - all this while designing for Torchwood series one to three.

Since leaving Doctor Who, he worked again with Russell T Davies for Wizards vs Aliens, and with David Tennant for both series of Broadchurch.

Time will tell if Ray will imprint his own look on The Doctor’s costume for series nine. I kinda hope he does - I’m a bit uninspired by the sombre look of the Twelfth Doctor right now.