Tim Collins is a former Member of Parliament and Doctor Who fan who was interviewed for Putting the Shock into Earthshock. In the documentary, he jokingly stated that the Cybermen were more convincing when the Conservatives were in power. He was also reported to have read The Dying Days in one sitting on the night of the 1997 General Election so that he could claim to have read the whole Virgin New Adventures series while the Conservatives were in government.