Doctor Who Anagram

[Neo-Scholastic]

Yes, my mind is now officially blown.

[Cyberman]

Yeah, that was why the spin-off got that name. In fact, if I remember aright, the 2005 nu-Who series was referred to in production as Torchwood to deflect spoilers.

[Aractus]

Oh my goodness, did you JUST figure that out?

[Esquilax]

In fact, if I remember aright, the 2005 nu-Who series was referred to in production as Torchwood to deflect spoilers.

That's right! In fact, Doctor Who does a lot of anagram work: when casting companions they've at least once called the project Panic Moon, which is an anagram of... well.

Anyway, the anniversary special is almost upon us! Can we talk about that? Anyone see Night of the Doctor, yet?

[Tiberius]

I thought this was common knowledge amongst Whovians. Oh well.

Yeah, that was why the spin-off got that name. In fact, if I remember aright, the 2005 nu-Who series was referred to in production as Torchwood to deflect spoilers.

Technically, the spin-off got that name because it was about the Torchwood Institute, which had already featured in Doctor Who on a number of occasions. The institute was named "Torchwood" by Queen Victoria after Torchwood House, which she was staying in when she met the Doctor and was attacked by an alien werewolf. But yes, the name "Torchwood" came from an anagram of "Doctor Who".

[Cyberman]

While all true about Torchwood House and all, that comes from in-universe backstory. RTD began with the anagrammatised word, created the idea for the spinoff, then worked it into DW in an echo of the "Bad Wolf" meme thing the previous year.

Yeah, I was alerted to Night Of The Doctor by a guy on my FB wall who does amazing action figure animated stories. I was definitely not expecting Who was in it, I have to say!

Also, I really like the official trailer for the 50th, with all the Doctors and all those blink and miss 'em details. How many have we all spotted? I only hope the actual episode lives up to the promise.

Has anyone seen the trailer for the "An Adventure In Space And Time"? I'd seen on-set photos of the principal cast in costume but seeing them in action, I have to say the casting is nothing short of genius.

The Brian Cox "Science Of Doctor Who" thing looks good, too.

[Cyberman]

That's right! In fact, Doctor Who does a lot of anagram work: when casting companions they've at least once called the project Panic Moon, which is an anagram of... well.

Back in the 'classic' days, the eighties mainly, whenever the Master appeared in a story either he would have some anagrammatised or otherwise 'translated' character name (Sir Gilles Estram; the Portreeve) or the actor, Anthony Ainley, would be billed anagrammatically (Neil Toynay - Tony Ainley; James Stoker - Master's Joke). Even the character played by Ainley who became the Master, Tremas, was an anagram. Mind you, earlier seasons touched on this at least once - in "The Daemons", the Master was in disguise as a country vicar named Mr Magister, latin for..?

Then we had a scientist character called Dastari ("a TARDIS"). Even the Daleks were retroactively turned into anagrams of sorts of their race, the Kaleds.

[Neo-Scholastic]

I guess I'm just a newbie fan and don't have the deep understanding of the shows past. Thanks all for the background.

[NoraBrimstone]

How didn't you know this? When Torchwood was first announced it was a thing. It was the first thing anyone knew about it. "They're going to make a Doctor Who spin off and the title is an anagram of "Doctor Who"" was a thing before anyone had even seen it.

Plus it's obvious. It's not like it's hidden or anything. Or maybe that's just my anagram thing doing its thing. I love anagrams. My username is one. lol

I even thought Clara Oswin Oswald being an anagram of "A Window Across All" would be a thing. I guess that almost makes sense in a way, but apparently it wasn't intentional.