Norman Manning

Norman, as he appeared in Nothing

**Norman Manning** was a companion of the Eighth and Ninth Doctors.

Paranoid and pessimistic, Norman was targeted by *it* since his early childhood. Following *it*'s defeat at the hands of the Eighth Doctor, UNIT and Bernice Summerfield, Norman agreed to join the Doctor on his travels. He witnessed the Doctor's regeneration on Gallifrey, and travelled for a while with his Ninth incarnation.

Norman left the Doctor on Earth, after receiving a job offer from Isaac Summerfield, later working as Bernice's second-in-command.

## Biography

### Early Life

Norman was born in a fairly well-off household, though most of his friends were not as financially stable. (TV: *Venusian Lullaby*) He had always expressed some interest in travelling abroad. (TV: *Legacy*)

At some point in his childhood, Norman came into contact with *it*. *It* decided to haunt Norman, and attack him for sport, which left Norman unable to have a truly normal childhood. These attacks were sporadic, but often enough to terrify Norman. (TV: *Nothing*) He spent some of his free time in secondary school taking self-defence courses as a result. (TV: *Legacy*)

He became an accountant when he grew up, working for Addersly Firms. His co-workers believed him mad when *it* attacked him, as only he could see it. (TV: *Nothing*)

### Travels with the Doctor

#### Meeting the Doctor

Norman was attacked by *it* one day and took refuge in Addersly Firms. Due to the commotion, and the apparent presence of ghosts, UNIT. and in turn, the Eighth Doctor, were called. The Doctor managed to calm Norman down, and Norman told the Doctor about *it*, thereby playing a vital role in *it*'s defeat. He allowed his mind to be connected to the TARDIS to allow the Doctor to visualise *it*, meeting Bernice Summerfield in the process. After *it* was destroyed, the Doctor offered Norman the chance to travel with him, which Norman readily accepted. (TV: *Nothing*)

#### Further travels

The Doctor, Benny and Norman travelled to Venus to pay respects to Dharkig, an old friend of the Doctor's. He refused to eat part of Dharkig's brain during the following dinner. He later helped lead the Venusians against the Sou(ou)shi. (TV: *Venusian Lullaby*)

Norman helped the Doctor stop Nic Reece from escaping with the Diadem on Peladon. (TV: *Legacy*) Recovering from the experience in York, Norman was shocked when Benny was bitten by a child vampire. In the TARDIS, he intercepted the signal Benny gave, allowing the Doctor to pinpoint her location. Joining the Doctor in heading to Ruath's lair, he stayed hidden whilst the Doctor allowed himself to become a vampire, and successfully reverse engineered the gas Ruath had created on the Doctor's instructions. He later pushed Ruath out of the TARDIS into the time vortex when she tried to fight back whilst being taken to Gallifrey. (TV: *Goth Opera*)

In 19th century Paris, Norman met Inspector Anton Jarre, a member of the Shadow Directory. He was interrogated by Jarre, and was mistaken by him for the Doctor. Norman corrected him after they helped in Montague's defeat. (TV: *The Death of Art*) He was later present on the Rock of Judgement when Xais was defeated. (TV: *The Romance of Crime*)

On Skaro, Norman, alongside the Doctor and Bernice, were taken by the Monk to the main city of Skaro to meet the Grandmaster of the Kaleds, in reality Davros. He was imprisoned, but was able to escape with Benny after the Doctor distracted their guard. They made it to the main city, where Norman managed to destroy a Dalek threatening Aluna and Temmosus. He helped lead the Thal uprising against the Daleks, though was forced to retreat back to the TARDIS with Bernice after the Thals turned against the Kaleds. They piloted the TARDIS back to the Grandmaster's throne room, where they distracted the Monk and Davros long enough for the Doctor to completely destroy their plans. (TV: *Paradox of the Daleks*)

Norman joined the Doctor in visiting Kate Lethbridge-Stewart on her narrowboat. He later helped the Doctor and UNIT destroy the Great Intelligence, which had possessed the New World University. (TV: *Downtime*)

After being arrested by the Knights of Kuabris alongside the Doctor and Benny, Norman was left to rot in the dungeon whilst the Doctor was taken away to lead an expedition. He and Bernice later escaped and helped stop Kaquaan from being sacrificed by Zaitabor. When the Mecrim attacked, Norman helped defend the people of the planet from them (TV: *The Menagerie*)

Whilst repairing the TARDIS, Norman and Benny were attacked by the Doctor, who was possessed by the Body-snatchers. After the Doctor came to, he apologised profusely to them, and explained that they had been locked in his mind after he had defeated them at Arkham. Upon landing on Gallifrey, he and Bernice were tasked by the Doctor of warning the High Council of the Master's plans. Along the way, they were attacked by Ruath, whom Norman expressed disbelief at seeing alive again, and had their minds attacked by the Master, (TV: *Mind Games*) causing Norman to see Benny as an extension of *it*. (PROSE: *Mind Games*) With Benny's help, he was able to fight off the Master's attack on his mind, and made it to the Capitol, telling Romana of what was going on.

When making his way back to the TARDIS with Benny, the duo was again intercepted by Ruath, though instead of attacking, she instead guided them to the Doctor, the Master and the Mind Wrest. After having his mind attacked yet again, and appealing to the Doctor to stop, Norman helped Ruath try to switch the Mind Wrest off. However, the Doctor, once again possessed, knocked him aside and nearly killed him with a rock before the Doctor's mind surfaced again. After the Doctor electrocuted himself, Norman checked the Doctor's vitals in the hopes the Doctor was all right. He later witnessed the Doctor regenerate into his ninth incarnation. (TV: *Mind Games*)

### Travels with the Ninth Doctor

Norman visited the Doctor after he was taken to a hospital ward on Gallifrey for Time Lords recovering from a stressful regeneration. During his visit, he, Bernice and Romana observed the first Time Lord die from the Eyes of Madmen. He was ordered by the Doctor to look after Romana whilst he and Benny took samples to identify the disease, as well as to report any symptoms Romana experienced. He made sure to keep close attention on Romana, attempting to crack jokes with her, to mixed reception. Romana worsened during this time, with Norman reporting the symptoms back to the Doctor as they occurred. He was present when the Doctor administered the drug to cure Romana of the flu, saving her life. (TV: *The Eyes of Madmen*)

Norman helped the Doctor and Benny investigate the disappearances of children across postwar Europe, and struggled with the task of stopping the Q'ell from recruiting more children through the Recruiter whilst he was stranded on Earth. (TV: *Toy Soldiers*)

### Departure and tenure with the Pyramid

Arriving at Little Caldwell, Norman met Bernice's father Isaac, who had formed an alien refugee camp, the Pyramid. He grew friendly with the members of the Pyramid, even being offered a job by Isaac, which he told Isaac he would think about. He was present with Ellen Woodworth when she was being taken to the Pyramid to be dealt with by Isaac, and helped the Doctor, Benny and the Pyramid stop Albinex from summoning a Navarino fleet. When the Doctor went to leave, Norman requested he stay behind, believing he had seen enough of the universe for one lifetime, and wanting to take up the job offer proposed to him by Isaac. He watched the Doctor depart in the TARDIS, (TV: *Return of the Living Dad*) and comforted Bernice when she began to tear up. Later, he rang Addersly Firms to put in his notice. (PROSE: *Return of the Living Dad*)

After Benny took over as leader of the Pyramid, Norman acted as her second-in-command. Working alongside her one day to go through paperwork, Norman and Benny investigated a noise that revealed itself to be a wormhole connecting the Pyramid to the Capitol. Immediately after learning this, Norman called UNIT to the scene and met with the Doctor. He later assisted Brigadier Bambera, Lena Haigh and Romana in fighting off the interdimensional monsters that had begun to enter through the wormhole, shooting one down when it was about to kill Bambera. He witnessed the wormhole's beginning to close, as well as its permanent closure caused by the Doctor's regeneration. (TV: *Visions of Tomorrow*)

## Personality

Norman was a fearful man, who was prone to panic attacks when a particularly dangerous threat presented himself. (TV: *Nothing*, *Goth Opera*) He described himself to Jellenhut as "a bit of a pessimist", but also as "someone who believes things can improve for others". (TV: *Venusian Lullaby*) His frail self-esteem left him open to attacks on his mind, something the Master exploited. (TV: *Mind Games*)

Whilst he often needed to be calmed down, (TV: *Nothing*) he proved capable of calming others, convincing Jellenhut not to commit suicide, (TV: *Venusian Lullaby*) helping Bernice regain her bearings after she was reverted back to being a human,(TV: *Goth Opera*) and later comforting her when she became emotional at the prospect of the Doctor being alone. (PROSE: *Return of the Living Dad*) He was keen to help others, and followed instructions he was given to the letter. (TV: *Nothing*, *Venusian Lullaby*, *Goth Opera*, *Paradox of the Daleks*, *Downtime*, *Mind Games*, *The Eyes of Madmen*)

Norman could keep up deceptions for long periods of time, though he always felt terrible for doing so. (TV: *The Death of Art*)

Due to constant fear of attacks from *it*, Norman took up self-defence classes. He proved to be a capable fighter, helping to lead the Venusians, (TV: *Venusian Lullaby*) pushing Ruath out of the TARDIS when she attempted to attack the Doctor, (TV: *Goth Opera*) destroying a Dalek by pushing it into a wall before it fired its death ray, (TV: *Paradox of the Daleks*) and shooting down an interdimensional monster that threatened Bambera. (TV: *Visions of Tomorrow*)

Norman was a fan of comedy, particularly silent comedy and *Monty Python's Flying Circus*, the latter of which the Doctor was able to exploit in order to calm him down. (TV: *Nothing*) He later tried to use this same love to try and cheer up Romana, though this did not have a habit of working. (TV: *The Eyes of Madmen*)

## Behind the Scenes

When casting Norman Manning, Verity Lambert and Ian Fraser wanted an actor known for their comedic work, as Norman was somewhat meant as a comedy relief character. Robert Llewellyn was initially reluctant to take up the role, due to his present starring role as Kryten in the sitcom *Red Dwarf*, but was convinced by Fraser to take the part. Colin Brake has stated that Tim McInnerny was also briefly considered, though never approached.

## Appearances

### Season 31

* *Nothing*
* *Venusian Lullaby*
* *Legacy*
* *Goth Opera*

### Season 32

* *The Death of Art*
* *The Romance of Crime*
* *Paradox of the Daleks*
* *Downtime*
* *The Menagerie*
* *Mind Games*

### Season 33

* *The Eyes of Madmen*
* *Toy Soldiers*
* *Return of the Living Dad*