I think we're long overdue for a new series featuring Albert Campion... and I suggest MATT SMITH to star

The only time Albert Campion was ever really adapted for the visual medium a handful of times. The most well-known was the one produced by the BBC from 1989-1990 starring former Doctor Who star Peter Davison.

And Davison was wonderful as the amateur sleuth whose name and past are very questionable. Albert Campion is not even the character's real name. Just one of many aliases to protect the true identity of his possibly aristocratic family.

Sadly, there has not been a series made about the character since the Davison series. Which I think is a crying shame. 

Much like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Lord Peter Wimsey, he's one of the great eccentric character who really wasn't intended to be the star when creator Margery Allingham wrote his first tale CRIME AT THE BLACK DUDLEY. She had written him to be a parody of Lord Peter Wimsey. But much like Inspector Clouseau in THE PINK PANTHER (1964) Albert Campion turned out to be the break-out character of that tale, overshadowing the character of George Abbershaw. Whom it seemed like Allingham was grooming to be the star. Or at least from the amount of time he had in the book over Campion, it did appear Allingham had a series of novels with Abbershaw in mind.

Her descriptions of Campion were less than flattering in either BLACK DUDLEY or his follow-up adventure MYSTERY MILE.

I think Albert Campion's return to television is long overdue and I think outgoing Doctor Who star Matt Smith would be ideal for the role.

At 31, he's the right age for the role. To me, his Doctor really has shades of Albert Campion. Both appear to their enemies as prattling idiots and slightly unhinged. However, all that is just a facade to hide their true brilliance.

AND his Doctor has adopted a somewhat "owly" look as of late. Much like Campion.

As for the series itself, perhaps a three episode run per series like SHERLOCK would not be a bad idea. Yes, it's frustrating to wait so long for three episodes. But somehow the shortened series has really benefitted making those three episodes per series really memorable. If they go in that direction the series should start off with a proper adaptation of CRIME AT THE BLACK DUDLEY. Followed by MYSTERY MILE and LOOK TO THE LADY for series one. Then POLICE AT THE FUNERAL, SWEET DANGER and DEATH OF A GHOST if there is a series two.

As for the rest of the cast, I'm not sure. But I think Matt Smith would be brilliant if the BBC decided to bring old Uncle Albert back to the small screen.

Doctor Who: Nest Cottage

An illustration I did depicting the Fourth Doctor as portrayed by Tom Baker in Nest Cottage. A place created by author Paul Magrs which first appeared in a series he wrote for the Fourth Doctor titled The Hornets Nest.

Ths series was the first time Tom Baker had played the part of the Doctor since his final appearance in the 1981 television episode Logopolis. Paul got the pleasure of being the first person to write for his Doctor.

The way Paul had originally described Nest Cottage to me is it was a bit like Merlin's House. A mix of the Doctor's travels. Past, present and future. So, I was sure to add a few items from the Doctor's future self such as the jackets he wore in his Fifth and Sixth incarnations as well as the question mark handled umbrella he carried in his seventh.

There's even a picture of the Doctor's first incarnation with a smaller painting of his granddaughter Susan next to him.

I even added Panda sitting next to him reading a copy of The House at Pooh Corner. Panda was a character created for Paul's Iris Wildthyme series. It's a stuffed panda who travels with Iris.

The woman glowering nearest the window would be the Doctor's landlady Mrs. Wibbsey. A bit like the Doctor's very own Mrs. Hudson who keeps an eye on the place when the Doctor is off traveling through time and space.

I also decided to create a different version of the Doctor's costume for this series. Although, this series is supposed to take place somewhere in the middle of Baker's tenure as the Doctor. Somewhere in between the Invasion of Time and The Ribos Operation which were on television between 1977 to 1978. I decided to a version of the Fourth Doctor's costume that was a cross between the one he was wearing during that period and one that he wore in his last year as the Doctor.

Doctor Who

I had started doing some artwork again for E-Bay. This time I thought I would try some Doctor Who art.

It's funny what will sell and what won't sell on E-Bay from month to month. A couple months ago people were bidding on my Sherlock Holmes work right to left. But now I haven't even got a sniff. But I put my first Doctor Who illustration up for bidding and the same day someone has put a bid on it.

Oh well. I'll probably hang onto the Sherlock Holmes ones till the Robert Downey Jr. movie comes out. People will probably take interest in the character by then. Especially if the movie is a success.

For those of you who know me or read my blog, I have been a huge fan of Doctor Who since the early 1980's when I use to watch episodes from behind the sofa because Tom Baker frightened me. Especially the end of The Invasion of Time when he looked right at the camera and started to laugh. I still remember that one and when Julian Glover's character pulled off his human masked and revealed that he was a one-eyed alien at the end of part one of The City of Death.

Of course fear usually turns to intrigue and by the time I was in the Fifth Grade (and they started showing episodes of the Fifth and then Sixth Doctor) I was hooked. Every night at 7pm on PBS Channel 2 in Boston.

But here are the illustrations I created for E-Bay. All of which are selling: