Classic Doctor Who legend Brian Hodgson reveals why he still thinks it’s “dangerous” for gay couples to hold hands on the street

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Brian Hodgson started working at the BBC in 1960 and found it generally forward-thinking, despite some outdated views. He remembers a senior manager he admired openly stating he wouldn’t hire anyone who was gay. Hodgson points out that if that manager had been serious, he wouldn’t have been able to staff his department, as two-thirds of the team were gay.

By 1963, Brian Hodgson had become a pioneering sound designer at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, responsible for creating the iconic sounds of early Doctor Who – everything from the Daleks’ distinctive voices to the powerful roar of the TARDIS. He’s one of the many voices featured in my new book, You Are Not Alone: A Gay History of Doctor Who, which also includes contributions from original director Waris Hussein, actors Katy Manning, Matt Lucas, Mandip Gill, and Matthew Waterhouse, and current showrunner Russell T Davies. Published in time for UK Pride Month, the book explores how British society’s views on LGBTQ+ rights have changed over the show’s 63-year history.

Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, Hodgson experienced a time when homosexual acts between men were illegal and could lead to imprisonment. He remembers it as a fact of life. In fact, many people his age felt it added a thrill. He recalls his first boyfriend, Anthony Hall, who worked with the BBC Radio Repertory Company, as being pivotal in his self-discovery. It was then he began to accept he was gay, rather than what was then called ‘bi now, gay later.’ He didn’t fully understand and embrace his sexuality until around the age of 26.

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He was among the many who were glad when laws against homosexuality were overturned in 1967. He explained that it helped him feel more comfortable and self-assured. Although he never explicitly came out to his parents, they were always accepting of his partners. When he finally told his brother, his brother simply replied, ‘We already knew.’

Hodgson found love in the 1970s with Richard Pointing, a skilled wardrobe supervisor who worked on famous films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Bugsy Malone, and Reds. Hodgson fondly remembers their relationship, noting, “We met before the AIDS epidemic and remained devoted to each other.”

I was really saddened to learn about John Lewis, a fantastic Canadian composer who worked with me at my studio, Electrophon, in Covent Garden. We made some truly unique albums together. He even got the chance to write music for Doctor Who in 1984, but tragically, he was diagnosed with AIDS and passed away while still working on it. It was a devastating time, and on top of grieving for my friend, I had to deal with the incredibly insensitive press – tabloids like The News of the World and The Sun were calling, and they published a list of AIDS symptoms that made it sound like a simple cold. It caused widespread panic and fear, it was a crazy time.

In the 1990s, Hodgson’s life shifted direction. After becoming a hypnotherapist, he started a practice on London’s Harley Street and also offered his services at Body Positive, a Soho center for people living with AIDS and HIV. He recalls a difficult time when doctors often told patients with AIDS to simply go home, as there was little hope for survival. This made therapies like his crucial in helping people maintain hope and fight on. He developed methods that seemed to improve their well-being. Thankfully, combination therapies began to effectively treat the disease and save lives later in the decade.

In 2002, Brian Hodgson and Richard Pointing moved from London to the Norfolk Broads and opened a sophisticated restaurant in the village of Staithe. Hodgson was thrilled when Doctor Who was brought back in 2005. He and Richard had been fans of Russell T Davies’ work, including Queer as Folk, for years. The show’s return also meant Hodgson started receiving royalties for the iconic sound of the Tardis – a sound he’d cleverly copyrighted as music long before. “It really helped us financially when Richard was undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia,” Hodgson said. “He was only 68 when he passed away in 2011.” The couple had been together for 38 years.

At 88 years old, and living in a bright, modern, environmentally-friendly home – fitting for someone who helped shape television – Hodgson has witnessed nearly a century of change in British LGBTQ+ life. He wonders what the future holds, and expresses concern that progress could be lost. He cautions against complacency, stating, “It’s easy to take our achievements for granted, but in today’s political climate, we can’t assume everything is secure. There’s still work to be done, and I worry about safety, even something as simple as holding hands with a partner in public.” As he nears the end of his life, his biggest hope is that the hard-won progress he’s seen doesn’t disappear.

Looking back on his career, he expressed his surprise and gratitude that people appreciate his work so much. He’s also proud to have played a role in such an important era of television.

Authors

Patrick Mulkern
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2026-05-25 19:35