John Drake

Just removed one libellous post from this thread, which is now starting to veer off into personal argy bargy too rather than on topic discussion, so locking it now to prevent further deterioration.

I've done some judicious editing/locking to try and resolve this matter. I think it is understandable that there are more threads on Toronto cropping up at the moment because it is of great interest to a lot of people for many different reasons, and we also have new forum members from Canada too who are keen to talk about the game, all of whom are very welcome on TRL. However, I take the point that some of these threads end up going down the same route of discussion, regardless of how they started, and that can get a bit boring/irritating if you're trying to follow them all. It would help if people used the report button the moment they see a post likely to send a thread veering off topic, as we can then try to stop that happening before a thread is ruined or becomes a duplicate discussion. It would also help if people chose not to respond to posts which are off topic, as that also helps keep the thread on its original trajectory rather than heading off down a cul-de-sac or into a personal argy bargy. TRL is big enough to accommodate all shades of opinion, but it is easier to follow when threads are kept on topic as much as possible, and people don't repeat the same arguments in every thread just for the sake of it. Let's see how we go from here. I'm locking this thread too, btw! PS: I should also point out that TRL has a dedicated Toronto Wolfpack club forum, which might be a good place to kick off a few Wolfpack related discussions in a more peaceful atmosphere. http://www.totalrl.com/forums/index.php?/forum/500-toronto-wolfpack/

Several posts covering off-topic digressions already covered in a dozen other threads removed to attempt to salvage this one for ongoing on-topic discussion. Also changed the thread title to make it more obvious this is a thread about the history of RL in Canada, not the future, so no banging on about the Wolfpack in either direction please, or this'll end up locked n'all.

Locking this as it is off topic now and heading for the usual cul-de-sac.

The mailbag is the mailbag, written by the fans, and not a reflection of the editorial stance of the publication. It can only publish letters that people write, so if people write more moaning letters than positive ones, whose fault is that...? However, given that this thread began by someone commenting on a negative letter about Toronto in the mailbag, it's worth pointing out that this week's issue has several letters putting the opposite point of view, as will often happen. On that note, I'm going to suggest that (a) people rush out and buy League Express every week - of course! - and (b ) write more positive letters of their own to the mailbag rather than complaining (natch) about the negative ones. And (c) - I'm locking the thread as people are complaining there are too may Toronto threads on the go, all disappearing up the same cul-de-sac.

Discuss Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings here.

Discuss Hull FC v Huddersfield Giants here.

Discuss Leigh Centurions v Salford Red Devils here.

Discuss Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos here.

Discuss Catalans Dragons v Castleford Tigers here.

Discuss Wakefield Trinity v St Helens here.

Discuss all this weekend's Kingstone Press Championship games here. SAT 22 JULY Toulouse Olympique v Featherstone Rovers KO 5.30pm (UK time) SUN 23 JULY Bradford Bulls v Swinton Lions KO 3pm Dewsbury Rams v Sheffield Eagles KO 3pm Halifax v Hull Kingston Rovers KO 3pm London Broncos v Batley Bulldogs KO 3pm Oldham v Rochdale Hornets KO 3pm

It's probably a safer place to launch a new sitcom these days, rather than putting it on a main channel and risk seeing it torn to bits by critics before the credits roll on the opening episode. It's a tough genre to crack. Some of our best loved sitcoms probably wouldn't have lasted more than one series if they'd been launched in prime time on a main channel in this new age of (anti) social media. I think the days of mass appeal sitcoms are gone forever, just because of the way TV has changed, with fewer and fewer people watching stuff at the same time or on the same platform anymore. Being a nostalgic old fart myself, I find that a bit of a shame, but I can also see the appeal on on-demand telly too.

I've seen it on DVD and it remains a great piece of telly, that opening episode. The story behind it is fascinating too, it was dramatised by Mark Gatiss for BBC Two in 2013 in 'An Adventure in Space & Time' which is well worth watching for anyone with an interest in how the Beeb used to work behind the scenes in the early 60s.

I'm old enough to have watched Jon Pertwee episodes on their original broadcast. I feel ancient now. I remember being sad when Pertwee regenerated (it was new to me then, I didn't know what was happening) then by the end of Tom Baker's first episode I was completely sold on the new guy. You can tell they've picked a good 'un when that happens. I like 'em all though. They all have their moments - and be careful, if prompted, I'll start listing them John Hurt did play the part again before he died in a series of really well produced full cast audio plays by a company called Big Finish - worth a look for anyone with a genuine interest in the show beyond the TV series. Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, even David Tennant, have all done stuff with them. They are good enough to occasionally end up being broadcast by Radio 4 - www.bigfinish.com - and I'm not even on commission!