Gareth Jenkins (in-universe): Difference between revisions

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{{real world}}
{{ImageLink|Gareth Jenkins}}
{{Infobox Actor
{{Infobox Individual
| image             = Gareth-PhotoEnclosedWithLetterToShow-BeforeGrowthSpurt.jpg
|image         = Gareth Jenkins.jpg
| name              = Gareth Jenkins
|species        = Human
| role              = a [[#Gareth Jenkins, the "character"|version of himself]]
|affiliation    =  
| job title          =
|origin        = [[Earth]]
| birth date        =
|first mention  = Fixing a Hole (short story)
| death date        =  
|only          = A Fix with Sontarans (home video)
| aka                =  
|actor          = Gareth Jenkins (actor)
| story              = ''[[A Fix with Sontarans]]''<br>''[[Built for War]]'' (archival)
}}{{you may|Gareth Jenkins (actor)|n1=his real world counterpart|Gareth Jenkins (sound designer)|n2=the Big Finish sound designer}}
| non dwu            =  
'''Gareth Jenkins''' was a young child from [[20th century]] [[Earth]] who enjoyed watching [[the Doctor]]'s [[Doctor Who (in-universe)|adventures on television]], and found himself helping the [[Sixth Doctor]] defeat a duo of [[Sontaran]]s when he was accidentally [[matter transporter|teleported]] aboard [[the Doctor's TARDIS]].
| non dwu            =
| imdb              = 2321353
| official site      =
| twitter            =  
}}
In the [[1980s]], '''Gareth Jenkins''' was an eight-year-old boy from [[Milton Keynes]], [[Buckinghamshire]],<ref>His address of 57 Booker Avenue, Bradwell Common, Milton Keynes, was shown on-camera at the top of his letter.</ref> who wrote into the [[BBC One]] audience wish-fulfilment programme, ''[[Jim'll Fix It]]''. His request was to meet [[Colin Baker]] and see the [[TARDIS]] interior set in-person. He enclosed a portrait with the letter, showing that that he already had a complete [[Sixth Doctor]]'s costume which his grandmother had made for him.


The producers of ''Jim'' took Jenkins' request further, and worked with [[John Nathan-Turner]]'s staff at ''Doctor Who'' to create a sketch around the boy, ''[[A Fix with Sontarans]]''. Jenkins; in his kid-sized Sixth Doctor's costume; did indeed play a major role in it, opposite [[Colin Baker]] and [[Janet Fielding]]. By the time the sketch was filmed however, Jenkins' growth spurt in the interim was demonstrated by the prominent gap between his sweater-vest and trouser waist, and by his trouser cuffs exposing most of his yellow spats.
He may have also been the leader of the [[Earth Defence Force]] by the [[21st century]], thwarting the [[2001 Sontaran invasion of Earth|Sontarans' invasion of Earth]] in [[2001]].


The mini-episode began – unlike most mini-episodes of the later BBC Wales era – with the series' full opening credit sequence. [[Janet Fielding]]'s name was omitted from the intro entirely, as was the norm for actors on ''Doctor Who'' until [[1996]]. In this instance, however, the intro displayed "starring Colin Baker", followed by "with Gareth Jenkins". Jenkins and Baker thus hold the distinction of being the only two actors billed in the ''Doctor Who'' title sequence in the first thirty-three years of the series' history (apart from [[Derrick Sherwin]] who acted in [[UNIT commissionaire (Spearhead from Space)|a cameo role]] during the period in which he was credited in his regular capacity as the series' producer).
== Biography ==
Gareth watched [[Doctor Who (in-universe)|a series about the Doctor]] on [[television]] that taught him the various controls on the [[TARDIS control console]]. He also obtained a replica of the [[Sixth Doctor's coat]]. ([[HOMEVID]]: {{cs|A Fix with Sontarans (home video)}})


At the conclusion of the episode, Baker presented Jenkins with both a ''Jim'll Fix It'' medal and the "meson gun" prop to keep.
=== Meeting the Doctor ===
On [[23 February]] [[1985]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Fixing a Hole (short story)}}) Gareth found himself brought aboard [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] in the midst of the [[Sontaran]] [[Group Marshal]] [[Nathan (A Fix with Sontarans)|Nathan]] and [[Turner (A Fix with Sontarans)|his subordinate]] attempting to destroy it with a [[vitrox bomb]], having accidentally been [[matter transporter|teleported]] onboard by [[Tegan Jovanka]] pressing the wrong button on the control console. While the Doctor was reluctant to have Gareth help, he let Gareth help him set a lethal [[trap]] for the Sontarans.  


Jenkins' appearance is included among the archival footage shown in the [[2006]] documentary short, ''[[Built for War]]'', an extra feature of ''[[The Sontaran Experiment (TV story)|The Sontaran Experiment]]'' DVD.
After the Sontarans arrived, they recognised Gareth's name as belonging to the leader of the [[Earth Defence Force]] who thwarted [[2001 Sontaran invasion of Earth|their invasion]] in the year [[2001]], and Nathan instructed his subordinate to kill Gareth to ensure that the future invasion would be successful, not even yielding when the Doctor suggested that their names may just be a [[coincidence]]. Faced with no other choice, the Doctor told Gareth to unleash the trap they had set up, releasing [[gas]] that brutally killed the Sontarans. While Tegan and the Doctor congratulated Gareth, the victory was short lived, as Tegan pointed out that the [[TARDIS scanner]] had turned on, revealing a [[Sontaran scout ship|fleet of ships]] from the [[Tenth Sontaran Battle Brigade]], with the Doctor telling them "[it was] only the beginning." ([[HOMEVID]]: {{cs|A Fix with Sontarans (home video)}}) Within the space of a few [[hour]]s, the Doctor and Tegan returned Gareth to his correct [[time-stream]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Fixing a Hole (short story)}})


He is not related to the [[Gareth Jenkins]] who works with [[Big Finish Productions]].
=== Possible future ===
If Nathan was correct in his assumption, then Gareth grew up to join the [[Earth Defence Force]]. becoming its leader by the time of the [[2001 Sontaran invasion of Earth]], which he played a major part in thwarting. ([[HOMEVID]]: {{cs|A Fix with Sontarans (home video)}})


== Gareth Jenkins, the "character" ==
== Personality ==
[[Image:Gareth-Tegan-Sixth-Sontarans.jpg|thumb|right|Gareth Jenkins, sworn enemy of the [[Sontaran Empire]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Fix with Sontarans]]'')]] Since ''[[A Fix with Sontarans]]'' so thoroughly breaks the fourth wall, it's difficult to consider Gareth Jenkins a character within the televised ''[[Doctor Who]]'' continuity.
If the Sixth Doctor was correct in his assumption that Gareth was like himself, then Gareth embodied traits of [[courage]], [[intellect]] and [[perspicacity]]. Gareth also seemed to be fairly reserved, although he did have fun in making the Doctor and Tegan jump by shouting "boo" at them. ([[HOMEVID]]: {{cs|A Fix with Sontarans (home video)}})


Jenkins explains his skill with the [[TARDIS console]] came from having watched the Doctor operate the TARDIS on telly, but he does not mention the series, ''per se.'' ([[TV]]: ''[[A Fix with Sontarans]]'') He could have been referring to a [[Time-Space Visualiser|time-space visualiser]] which [[Barbara Wright]] called a "time television" [and, coincidently, watched Jimmy Savile on it]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Chase]]'' part 1 "[[The Executioners]]") Thus, Jenkins could have conceivably watched anything the Doctor did during the Earth's relative past. (''i.e.'' from the [[Big Bang]] ''circa'' 13.75 billion BCE ([[TV]]: ''[[Castrovalva (TV story)|Castrovalva]]'') through the [[Fifth Doctor]]'s [[1984]] parting with Tegan at [[Butler's Wharf]]. ([[TV]]: [[Resurrection of the Daleks (TV story)|Resurrection of the Daleks]]'')
== Behind the scenes ==
{{main|Gareth Jenkins (actor)}}
[[Gareth Jenkins (actor)|Gareth Jenkins]], who lived in [[Milton Keynes]], wrote into the wish-fulfilment programme ''[[Jim'll Fix It]]'' in around [[1985 (production)|1985]], to ask if he could meet Colin Baker and go inside the TARDIS; his request was approved, and {{cs|A Fix with Sontarans (TV story)}} was formed, a [[mini-episode]] wherein Gareth got to do just what he asked.


It is possible to give certain details about the Jenkins "character".
However, after the death of [[Jimmy Savile]] in [[2011 (people)|2011]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-15053431|title=Obituary: Sir Jimmy Savile|date of source=29 October 2011|website name=BBC News|accessdate=24 November 2016}}</ref>, the individal who hosted ''Jim'll Fix It'', was exposed as a serial paedophile<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/oct/24/jimmy-savile-bbc-story-so-far Rushe, Dominic. "Jimmy Saville and the BBC: the story so far". ''The Guardian''. 24 October 2012.]</ref>, and ''A Fix with Sontarans'' was removed from later pressings of the DVD release of ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]'', which had included it since the DVD's original 2003 release.<ref>[http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2014/09/two-doctors-revised-release.html Doctor Who News, "The Two Doctors: revised release clarification"], 22 September, 2014; accessed 22 September, 2014</ref> However, it was clarified by Jenkins himself that Savile had not taken an interest in him.<ref>[http://www.6thdoctorcostume.com/2013/01/close-encounters-of-sixth-kind.html Close Encounters Of The Sixth Kind]</ref> In [[2022 (releases)|2022]], the ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'': ''[[The Collection]]'' — ''[[Season 22 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 22]]'' [[blu-ray]] boxset was released, including a newly-recut edition of {{cs|A Fix with Sontarans (home video)}}, which entirely removed two minutes of footage of Savile, replacing it with a new CG scene with ADR as a new ending to the story.
* He is transported from [[Earth]] to [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] by accident.
* He wears a boy-sized version of the Sixth Doctor's outfit.
* He knows how to operate the TARDIS' controls from watching the Doctor do so on "television"
* He kills the two Sontarans, because his viewings have told him which switches to press to kill the two Sontarans.
* Group Marshall [[Nathan (A Fix with Sontarans)|Nathan]] says that in the year [[2001]], when Sontarans invade, the adult Gareth leads a resistance movement which turns away the invasion fleet.


As the original version of ''A Fix with Sontarans'' broke the [[fourth wall]] so thoroughly — essentially dissolving into the real world — this Wiki never considered it a [[Tardis:Valid sources|valid source]] for writing "in-universe" articles with. It was only in coverage of {{cs|Fixing a Hole (short story)}} — a short story that acted as a sequel to ''A Fix with Sontarans'' and as the the thematic and conceptual concluding bookend to Tegan's journey with the Doctor — did references come to ''A Fix with Sontarns'' in valid media, albeit vaguely. ''Fixing a Hole'' notably ignored the ending of the original ''A Fix with Sontarans'', long prior to the crimes committed by Savile came to public attention. The 2022 recut edition, as it omitted the original fourth wall breaking ending, is a valid source, however due to the ending being changed, the references to [[Gareth Jenkins's grandmother|Gareth's Nan]] and the naming of the [[meson gun]] remain in the orignal, and thus, as invalid source articles.
=== Information from invalid sources ===
According to one account, after Gareth killed the Sontarans, [[Jimmy Savile]] entered the TARDIS, and asked the Doctor if "[Gareth] passed the [[test]]". After the Doctor confirmed so, Savile asked Gareth where he got his coat, and Gareth told him that [[Gareth Jenkins's grandmother|his Nan]] had made it for him. Savile asked the Doctor to place a ''[[Jim'll Fix It]]'' [[medal]] over Gareth's bonce, and as the Doctor did so, he told Gareth that he was "well and truly fixed." ([[TV]]: {{cs|A Fix with Sontarans (TV story)}})
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Companions of the Sixth Doctor}}
{{Doctor Who individuals}}
{{NameSort}}
{{NameSort}}
[[Category:Non-DWU individuals]]
[[Category:Humans who met the Doctor as children]]
[[Category:Doctor Who actors who played themselves]]
[[Category:Human Sixth Doctor companions]]
[[Category:Real world people]]
[[Category:Doctor Who (N-Space) fans]]
[[Category:20th century individuals]]
[[Category:21st century individuals]]
[[Category:Human leaders]]
[[Category:People from the real world encountered by the Sixth Doctor]]

Latest revision as of 00:26, 22 October 2024

You may be looking for his real world counterpart or the Big Finish sound designer.

Gareth Jenkins was a young child from 20th century Earth who enjoyed watching the Doctor's adventures on television, and found himself helping the Sixth Doctor defeat a duo of Sontarans when he was accidentally teleported aboard the Doctor's TARDIS.

He may have also been the leader of the Earth Defence Force by the 21st century, thwarting the Sontarans' invasion of Earth in 2001.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gareth watched a series about the Doctor on television that taught him the various controls on the TARDIS control console. He also obtained a replica of the Sixth Doctor's coat. (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"])

Meeting the Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

On 23 February 1985, (PROSE: Fixing a Hole [+]Loading...["Fixing a Hole (short story)"]) Gareth found himself brought aboard the Doctor's TARDIS in the midst of the Sontaran Group Marshal Nathan and his subordinate attempting to destroy it with a vitrox bomb, having accidentally been teleported onboard by Tegan Jovanka pressing the wrong button on the control console. While the Doctor was reluctant to have Gareth help, he let Gareth help him set a lethal trap for the Sontarans.

After the Sontarans arrived, they recognised Gareth's name as belonging to the leader of the Earth Defence Force who thwarted their invasion in the year 2001, and Nathan instructed his subordinate to kill Gareth to ensure that the future invasion would be successful, not even yielding when the Doctor suggested that their names may just be a coincidence. Faced with no other choice, the Doctor told Gareth to unleash the trap they had set up, releasing gas that brutally killed the Sontarans. While Tegan and the Doctor congratulated Gareth, the victory was short lived, as Tegan pointed out that the TARDIS scanner had turned on, revealing a fleet of ships from the Tenth Sontaran Battle Brigade, with the Doctor telling them "[it was] only the beginning." (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"]) Within the space of a few hours, the Doctor and Tegan returned Gareth to his correct time-stream. (PROSE: Fixing a Hole [+]Loading...["Fixing a Hole (short story)"])

Possible future[[edit] | [edit source]]

If Nathan was correct in his assumption, then Gareth grew up to join the Earth Defence Force. becoming its leader by the time of the 2001 Sontaran invasion of Earth, which he played a major part in thwarting. (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"])

Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]

If the Sixth Doctor was correct in his assumption that Gareth was like himself, then Gareth embodied traits of courage, intellect and perspicacity. Gareth also seemed to be fairly reserved, although he did have fun in making the Doctor and Tegan jump by shouting "boo" at them. (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"])

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Gareth Jenkins (actor)

Gareth Jenkins, who lived in Milton Keynes, wrote into the wish-fulfilment programme Jim'll Fix It in around 1985, to ask if he could meet Colin Baker and go inside the TARDIS; his request was approved, and A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (TV story)"] was formed, a mini-episode wherein Gareth got to do just what he asked.

However, after the death of Jimmy Savile in 2011[1], the individal who hosted Jim'll Fix It, was exposed as a serial paedophile[2], and A Fix with Sontarans was removed from later pressings of the DVD release of The Two Doctors, which had included it since the DVD's original 2003 release.[3] However, it was clarified by Jenkins himself that Savile had not taken an interest in him.[4] In 2022, the Doctor Who: The Collection — Season 22 blu-ray boxset was released, including a newly-recut edition of A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"], which entirely removed two minutes of footage of Savile, replacing it with a new CG scene with ADR as a new ending to the story.

As the original version of A Fix with Sontarans broke the fourth wall so thoroughly — essentially dissolving into the real world — this Wiki never considered it a valid source for writing "in-universe" articles with. It was only in coverage of Fixing a Hole [+]Loading...["Fixing a Hole (short story)"] — a short story that acted as a sequel to A Fix with Sontarans and as the the thematic and conceptual concluding bookend to Tegan's journey with the Doctor — did references come to A Fix with Sontarns in valid media, albeit vaguely. Fixing a Hole notably ignored the ending of the original A Fix with Sontarans, long prior to the crimes committed by Savile came to public attention. The 2022 recut edition, as it omitted the original fourth wall breaking ending, is a valid source, however due to the ending being changed, the references to Gareth's Nan and the naming of the meson gun remain in the orignal, and thus, as invalid source articles.

Information from invalid sources[[edit] | [edit source]]

According to one account, after Gareth killed the Sontarans, Jimmy Savile entered the TARDIS, and asked the Doctor if "[Gareth] passed the test". After the Doctor confirmed so, Savile asked Gareth where he got his coat, and Gareth told him that his Nan had made it for him. Savile asked the Doctor to place a Jim'll Fix It medal over Gareth's bonce, and as the Doctor did so, he told Gareth that he was "well and truly fixed." (TV: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (TV story)"])

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Obituary: Sir Jimmy Savile. BBC News (29 October 2011). Retrieved on 24 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Rushe, Dominic. "Jimmy Saville and the BBC: the story so far". The Guardian. 24 October 2012.
  3. ↑ Doctor Who News, "The Two Doctors: revised release clarification", 22 September, 2014; accessed 22 September, 2014
  4. ↑ Close Encounters Of The Sixth Kind
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