The Future Is At Your Fingertips (TV story)

The Future Is At Your Fingertips was the on screen title of a five-part commercial featuring Jon Pertwee reprising his role of the Doctor.

Pertwee stated New Zealand Telecom had been given permission by the BBC to use the Doctor as a spokesman for their brand thus the New Zealand Post Office contracted him to take part. ^[3]

While they weren't aired all over New Zealand television due to company issues they were released at Chicago Film Festival for people to see^[4] as well as being shown in the executive market^[5] and have since become available online.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor makes people aware of the usefulness of New Zealand Telecom.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Commercial 1[[edit] | [edit source]]

The familiar TARDIS sound can be heard followed by its appearance, but it was instead disguised as a red telephone box rather than a police box. The Doctor steps out and gets his bearings. He is passed by a flock of sheep and a shepherdess.

The woman asks if she can uses the Doctor's phone as the Doctor praises New Zealand Telecom. The woman then leaves the TARDIS telling the Doctor it was a "collect call". The Doctor then departs.

Commercial 2[[edit] | [edit source]]

Again the TARDIS materialises and the Doctor steps out in a library to praise New Zealand Telecom. Due to his shouting in a library he is shushed. The Doctor then departs.

Commercial 3[[edit] | [edit source]]

The TARDIS again lands at a farmhouse and the Doctor shows off different telephones, shows how they work and explains their usage can be inside the house or outside of it. The Doctor leaves the farmhouse in darkness bar the light of a farmer making a call.

Commercial 4[[edit] | [edit source]]

Outside the TARDIS is a line of people. One of which the Doctor takes into the TARDIS to show how teletext operates. The Doctor then takes him out the TARDIS and shouts for the next person to enter.

Commercial 5[[edit] | [edit source]]

The red telephone box TARDIS materialises on a bridge as a truck is about to cross. The driver then calls someone up to moan about the TARDIS. The Doctor then pinches the driver's phone and introduces himself as the Doctor. The Doctor then leaves in the TARDIS.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

• The Doctor - Jon Pertwee

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Director - Sam Pillsbury^[6]
• Producer - McKay King Advertising^[7]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

The TARDIS[[edit] | [edit source]]

• The Doctor's TARDIS is now disguised as a red telephone box.

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Sheep pass the Doctor's TARDIS.

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

• New Zealand Telecom is a talking point of the Doctor.
• The Doctor mentions teletext.

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Five were produced and were scrapped from main broadcasts but were eventually released at Chicago Film Festival for people to see^[8] as well as being shown in the executive market.^[9]
• Jon Pertwee described the commercials as a "unconscionable waste" of money.^[10]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]