Liam Rudden: Manoeuvres in time and space - of the orchestral kind . .

Published on Wednesday 28 July 2010 10:47

THE bomb under the Royal Albert Hall had started to beep. Moments before, The Doctor, his face beaming from the large screens suspended around the historic concert hall, had warned that beeping was bad.

"Ah," he mused, as the alien device began pulsing.

"We're still okay, as long as it doesn't change to a high pitched beep."

The bomb began to emit a high pitched beep.

"Oh dear, time to get it out of here," he trilled, scampering up the metal ladder leading from the bowels of the famous London landmark... only to appear, seconds later, amidst the throng of Promenaders who, until recently, had been listening to the BBC National Orchestra Of Wales and the London Philharmonic Choir perform suites from Murray Gold's imposing soundtrack for the most recent series of Doctor Who.

That very Time-Lord, aka Matt Smith, is now within touching distance, and in search of an assistant. He spots an awestruck four-year-old, who unconditionally agrees to help him save the Royal Albert Hall, reducing the 5544 capacity audience to either laughter (those over the age of 14) or leaves them gaping open-mouthed in wonder - those under 14.

Welcome to the world of The BBC Proms, and a series of concerts that have done more to champion the appeal of orchestral music than any other initiative.

Since their inception 114 years ago, the aim of The Proms has been to present the "widest possible range of music, performed to the highest standards, to large audiences."

If ever evidence were needed that The Proms still fulfil that founding premise, this evening ticks all the boxes, any misconceptions of classical concerts as stuffy, worthy affairs well and truly debunked.

Indeed, even the patriotic waistcoats, bowler hats and ticker tape so favoured by the Last Night promenaders have been replaced by Gallifreyan-inspired garb - at every turn there are facsimile Doctors and even the occasional Cybertot.

No-one else, however, has their very own Doctor Who companion. I have. Sitting beside me is Katy Manning, Jon Pertwee's glamorous assistant Jo Grant - yes that one, the one who famously posed naked with a Dalek.

As a tribute to the actors who have played the Doctor flashes across the screens (fans roar their approval as one Doctor morphs into the next), Katy admits, "Even now, I find it amazing to think that I was a part of all this. It's so big."

Indeed, nearly four decades after she first appeared in the series, Katy is still very much part of it. Later this year she will reprise her character in The Sarah Jane Adventures, teaming up with Matt Smith in a two-part story entitled, Death Of The Doctor.

Back in the Albert Hall, meanwhile, which, with all its balconies, galleries and boxes is like sitting the middle of a giant, inverted wedding cake, it is obvious that the 11th Doctor's popularity is the reason that so many youngsters are here, experiencing the sheer story-telling magnificence of music played by a 103-piece orchestra, for the first time.

Even the appearance of an army of Daleks, Silurians and Cybermen (well, a brace or so of each) can't compete with the sheer power of Wagner's Ride Of the Valkyries or Carmina Burana by Orff, ensuring that at least one more generation will grow up with an appreciation of the timeless nature of orchestral music.

The BBC Doctor Who Prom will be broadcast on BBC3 in September.