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SF Conventions Resource Guidebook, 1996 Edition
Media Section, Subhead: British SF/F/H - Doctor Who, Blake's 7, Survivors, Gerry Anderson, Quatermass, Saphire & Steel, Hammer, Amicus
....
David Burton
Subcategory: Doctor Who/Blake's 7 spin off
Availability: Year round
Status: Minor/Supporting
Warnings: Minor feud with Sylvester McCoy, No other issues.
Notes: David Burton is the star of The New Doctor, a Doctor Who and Blake's 7 spin off produced privately by Millennium Productions under license by the BBC. The program aired two seasons, of 9 and 6 episodes respectively, in 1992/1993. David Burton played 'The Doctor' or 'New Doctor' who travelled in a red phone booth rather than a blue police box, and is not considered a canonical Doctor Who doctor. The series was not shown outside of England, but is known in the United States from bootleg copies. Burton is the only member of the New Doctor cast and crew to make convention appearances in the United States. Burton is highly available, in fact, there are a number of reports of him actively soliciting conventions. He is extremely friendly and outgoing, charismatic, a willing participant on panels, gregarious and good with fans, and generally very easy to deal with. He does have a running feud with Sylvester McCoy and the two shouldn't be booked together. Burton is not to be considered a Main Card Draw, his series has not appeared formally on any American station or channel, so he has minimal American audience recognition, this combined with the extremely small number of episodes and stories, non-canonical status means as a guest his appeal is limited to hard core fans. Each year since the show is off the air diminishes his value. Currently, he is no longer seen as a viable guest for the major Conventions, and is insufficiently known to headline minor local conventions. He is suitable for a diminishing number of regional specialty conventions.

******

".... Please hold."
David Burton waited patiently, trying not to think of the cost of a transatlantic call. He opened the mail, starting with his phone bill. The notice was 'past due.' He raised his eyebrows. Mentally, he weighted up his bank balance. He decided that he could string the phone company along with fifty quid, he could take that much at least out of his credit card. The phone company wouldn't be happy. But at least they wouldn't cut him off. He added the phone bill to the pile of outstanding invoices.
"Chicago WhoCon," a female voice came on, "Stephanie speaking."
David wracked his brain for a second. Stephanie? The mousie girl with the glasses?
"Hello Stephanie," David said cheerfully. "Is Nick around? This is David Burton, the New Doctor."
"Hello David," Stephanie replied. "Nick's moved on. I'm in charge now. I remember you from last year. How are you?"
The voice seemed cheerful.
"Terrific, Stephanie," David replied. "I was just working my schedule, and I got to thinking, I had such a great time at Chicago--"
"We enjoyed having you!" Stephanie told him.
"Excellent.
"How's the revival coming?"
"It's on track," David assured her.
"Wonderful..."
"I was just thinking I wouldn't mind coming back... before it gets under way, just to talk it up."
"I can transfer you to membership," Stephanie told him.
"Well, I was thinking as a guest."
"Oh I see," Stephanie said, "we don't really like to do guests for consecutive years."
That was a lie. When he'd been there, David had talked to guests who'd been invited six years running.
"Ah," David said, "well, I just thought I'd let you know I was available. Just in case."
"Thank you, David," Stephanie said, "we're quite booked up.
"Maybe again in a couple of years. We'll keep you in mind. Or when the revival airs, give us a call."
David stretched in his chair, almost writhing with frustration. But he tried to keep a note of cheer in his voice.
"Certainly will. Well, it's been wonderful."
It was as if Stephanie caught a hint of despair.
"You know David, have you tried some of the smaller conventions? They don't pay as much, but I think some of them are still looking. Toronto maybe?"
"Toronto? Where's that love?"
"Somewhere in Canada, I think British Columbia or Quebec. They've got a Who Convention...."
"I've never been to Canada, sounds interesting..."
"Hold on, I'll get you their contact information. There's a few others you might try... Denver, Portland, Tampa...."
David grabbed a pen, and wrote the information down on an overdue credit card bill, from the stack of unpaid bills. He thanked her politely and hung up.
Once he'd rung off, he sighed, looking at the list of Conventions, some check marks, several crossed out.
It wasn't nearly as easy as it used to be. With each passing year, there was less and less interest, and the places that were interested offered less money.
Toronto, he thought, where the hell was that?
Canada? Igloos and polar bears.
Maybe, at least, they'd pay in pounds.
He sighed and picked up the phone.