Urgent Update: 1989's 'Play On One: Biting The Hands'!
....I've located it, and you can watch it!
So back in September 2023, I posted a deep dive into one of David Tennant’s most obscure performances - only his third performance on television! - a Play On One episode from 1989 entitled ‘Biting The Hands’.
You can read all about it in depth right here:
David Tennant's Obscure TV Appearances: 1989's 'Play On One: Biting The Hands'
I’m excited to share my latest find…I’ve finally obtained access to David’s third earliest TV performance! His first two performances were in 1988: his anti-smoking ad, and in Dramarama: The Secret Of Croftmore. And in 1989 he did a Play On One called
WELL!
I urge you to read the above post, so you understand precisely why what I’m about to say is so exciting….
I was doing a troll through The Internet Archive (for other, unrelated Tennant goodies for another post I’m in the process of writing) and through a series of links I clicked, I stumbled across something absolutely incredible!
Someone has uploaded ‘Biting The Hands’ to the Internet Archive!
Y’ALL!!!!!!
If you want it, go and download it from THIS LINK right effing now, because who knows how long it will be there.
But be forewarned: it appears that - depending on your location - if you try to click on it to watch it you won’t be able to, as it'll say "This video file cannot be played. (Error Code: 224003)." You’ll have to go to the right panel and either 1) download it via a torrent client, 2) download the compressed zip file by clicking on "Show All (80 files)”, or 3) right click on the MPEG4 file and download it (by clicking “save link as”).
—EDITS—
Edit 1 - Other download options can be found in the comments below. DT fans are quite intrepid!
Edit 2 - The timestamps for David’s appearances in this drama are 48:16 (with no mustache) and 55:43 (with mustache). I mentioned this continuity error in my original post on the drama…the action with DT’s character was supposed to take place in the same 4-hr train journey from London to Edinburgh, so David’s appearance change definitely seems to be in error.
Edit 3 - If anyone is struggling to understand what's being said in the short clips with David, here's my best-of-attempt given I lived in Scotland for a couple of years translation (and anyone who’s more familiar with the dialect than I am and can add corrections, please comment below):
GAIL: I don't believe this, this isn't happening to me.
LINDA: Come on, look, let's try further doon, eh?
DT’s CHARACTER: There's nae seats down there, pet!
GAIL: It's the same ones, it is. What's going on? The whole British army declared WW3 on a 1-2-5?
DT’s CHARACTER: Just stay where ya are, darling, we'll take care of ya!
GAIL: It's the same ones, it is!
LINDA: Oh, I wanna sit doon!
If you click 'Show All' under Download Options on the right side, you can click on the MP4 file in the list (it's the second entry) It will play right in your browser! (Desktop/Laptop, don't know about mobile.)
If you're pressed for time, one nice stop is at 48:13 ;-)
TERRIFIC FIND - KUDOS!
Late comment, but as always, you are genius!