3. A Spinner Of Yarns
Anyone who has met Tom will know of his fondness for storytelling. How many of those stories are laced with hyperbole is impossible to say, but some of his old favourites have definitely taken on a live of their own with some rather creative embellishments. Many of them are racey and at times unprintable, but they are invariably laced with humour.
There were a lot of dotty people who wanted to shag the Doctor. And sometimes of course, I gave in. Ill certainly never forget one girl who said, 'Come on, Doctor. Lets travel through space.'"
Tom knows exactly how to command an audience, just ask his old workmates on the building site, who were mesmerised by his seemingly endless supply of stories. His desire to make others laugh is typically seen by him as a weakness. Although told in his own inimitable style, the anecdotes are more often than not based on his observations about people he has encountered. Tom ponders the mutual effect they have upon each other. Speaking of one such occasion, a time when a fan recalled growing up in a childrens home and how he had found familiarity through watching Doctor Who, Tom recalls:
It absolutely wrenched my heart, I didnt really know what to say but, still looking at me intensely, with his eyes full of tears he just shook his head and tried to smile. And he did that wonderfully eloquent thing that people do, you know that little cuff, that little blow with a half-clenched fist when they just tap you? Its very eloquent. I love all those little gestures like that. Somebody standing next to you can just do a little movement with a thumb and its so eloquent and full of regard and affection. Anyway, thats what he said, And you made a difference'. Ive written that down somewhere: once, I made a difference'. So that was very thrilling and humbling. (Doctor Who Yearbook 2015)