Doctor Who Britpicking

... this? Fic is set in London.


Thanks in advance!

I'm trying to describe the accent of the Master (played by John Simm) as contrasted with the Tenth Doctor.  I know the Doctor's accent is Estuary English, but what is the Master's?  My Britpicker says that "Oxbridge" is incorrect, but can't suggest an alternative.  For those who need a refresher, here's a link to a video of the telephone conversation in The Sound of Drums.

ETA: Thank you all very much for your responses.  I'm going to go with inamac's suggestion of "smug BBC".  I had never heard of Brian Sewell, and hunted up a video of him giving an interview.  He certainly sounds very... very.  (Or should I say 'quite'?)  Almost a caricature, at least to my American ear.

Where in (central?) London might families go for an outing on bicycles, somewhere a ten- or eleven-year-old boy might particularly like? I'm thinking primarily riding, but somewhere they might ride to and then do something else outdoors-y works, too.

Thanks in advance!

ETA: Consensus is that they wouldn't ride through London, but if they can get the bikes to one of the Royal Parks, or to the Thames foot/bike path, they might ride there. That's actually more what I'm looking for, anyway. Thanks!

Hello!

I am working on an AU adventure/spy type story set in London which incorporates several New Who characters.  I am referencing Amy Pond as she was dressed in The Eleventh Hour.  I know she was wearing a super short skirted police type uniform but would you refer to this as a police uniform or is there another name for the police/law enforcement in the UK?

In the US we have local police or sheriffs officers.  I am trying to determine the UK equivalent.

Also, is there a common slang for the police/law enforcement? 

One more question about law enforcement.  Is there a special force that deals with terrorists, drug activities or criminals that may strike across the country?  In the US we have different agencies such as the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) or DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency).

Thank you for your help!

Are Burritos a thing?

1a. Are there specific chain restaurants (one step up from fast food) that sell assembled to order, but with pre-cooked components, burritos, tacos, & quesadillas? The kind of place I'm thinking of is very cheap, you order in a line, no waiter service, it takes about five minutes once you get to the front of the line, and they have seating in the restaurant or you can get it to go. They're pretty popular among teens and twenty-somethings. Do you have them?
1b. If not burritos and the like, what type of food does that class of restaurant serve? I'm talking about the kind of place where Rose and Mickey would go fairly commonly, and where the Doctor would annoy the guy working behind the counter because he wants some of everything and won't stop talking.

2. Still on burritos. What about frozen/microwave friendly ones? Can you get them at the supermarket? Again, if not, what's the equivalent?

ETA: Wow, that was fast! Thanks! So, not Burritos, then.

The Kebabs in question are lamb or chicken, shaved meat, and served in a wrap, right? 

I have a story where a teenage girl insults another girl because the latter has misinterpreted things - badly. What kinds of insults would a teenager in the early to mid 60s use? What's the range of severity? Are there certain slang words that she would use? How important would word choice be in dishing out the harshest insult for a stupid assumption?

Oh, look at me, I suddenly remembered this comm. That's what I get for not writing more, I guess, but I wish I'd done so a few days ago. It would have save much fruitless Googling. Any help y'all can offer would be wonderful-even better search terms. :3

Setting is London and surrounding, in the (very) early 80s.

* Can someone explain to me how allotment gardens work? I've done the Googling, like I said, but I'm still a bit lost-the only correlation I can think of is community gardens here in the states, and I think I'm a bit off. :/

Like, are they a very small, neighborhood sort of thing, where a kid might go to play, or is it more a thing you'd have to drive to get to? Would you travel across town to go to the "nice one," and how popular were they in the 70s and 80s? How are people who use them viewed-is it, like, only something poor folk do, or is it more something everyone just does and no one really blinks at it?

[ETA: Oops, should have written that better-less going off to play in a formal, park or playground sense, and more, running away to hide or do something naughty where adults might not think to look.]


* 80s fashion! I was there for it in the States, unfortunately, so I've got more than an idea about what it was all about, but were the trends similar in the London area? I'm thinking pre-teen girls, especially.

* And two utterly silly ones: is a PB&J sandwich a popular thing, or is there something a kid is more likely to throw together for themselves? What about childish/cartoon character/brightly colored band aids? Googling "sticking plaster" is really only turning up the generic beige colored sort.

Jam, check, or preserves, but no peanut butter. :3 My very American, peanut butter loving mind boggles.

Fic is in London, so English law: How irritated might a judge be to find out that jurors are using smartphones and social media to get outside information about a case (news articles or Tweets/Facebook posts; anything not presented at trial, really), especially during deliberations? More to the point, what might the judge do about it? Here in the States, the juror would likely be dismissed and one side or the other would move for a mistrial.

Thanks in advance for any help....

How easy or difficult would it be for someone to successfully use a fake name at A&E? Context is an abused woman who doesn't want people to know she's being abused, but needs to seek treatment for the injuries.

Thanks in advance!

ETA: Consensus seems to be that it's possible but unlikely, and if someone was unwilling to give a name, the doctors and nurses at A&E would treat without a name. If someone walked in with injuries consistent with abuse, the A&E folks would try to get that person in touch with social services or similar and advise them to get out of the situation, possibly giving the patient contact info for the local women's refuge.

Thanks!!

I have no idea how to research this. I need some sort of food that is easily obtainable in the UK that would make the rest of the team baulk when they see Jack eating it. (Along the lines of them walking into to see Jack scarfing down (btw- is that phrase used in the UK? - ETA 'scoffing' not scarfing, thank you) X and everyone's immediate reaction ranges from O.o to ewww to oh, Jack.

I've perused some UK food blogs and online stores and came across Prawn Cocktail Quavers which, to me anyway, sounds like something someone would only eat on a bet but I'd like to know what actual Brits think on it.

Suggestions, anyone?

Thanks a lot!

ETA- it doesn't have to be a snack food, just something he can purchase and eat 'as is' as opposed to having to take time to cook/bake/prepare. Thanks!

ETA#2- Prawn Quavers are out. Now I am considering tinned meatballs or other meat-like product or pickled eggs and/or gherkins. You people ROCK, thanks for all the help!