We have been informed by 2entertain that the Robot DVD release will be delayed by 1 week.
The title, which introduces Tom Baker as The 4th Doctor, was originally scheduled to be released on May 28th, but has now been put back to June 4th.
For more information on this release, check out the DWO Release Guide.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Why isn't Doctor Who broadcast in High Definition?
In response to a viewer question on why the BBC chose to broadcast Torchwood in high definition but not Doctor Who on the BBC opinion programme Points of View, producer Phil Collinson explained:"Torchwood is shot in HD, and Doctor Who isn't. Quite simply, Torchwood has about a third the number of special effects shots that Doctor Who has. In that way its a much simpler series and so because they have less special effects its going to take less time to make those special effects."So the simple answer is we wouldn't be able to deliver a series of Doctor Who in high definition every year. It would probably take us twice as long to make so therefore viewers wouldn't get a series every year, they'd get a new series every 18 months."Later in the programme, Mary Fitzpatrick, Editorial Executive for Diversity, responded to another viewer's question on the lack of prominent black people in BBC programmes, citing the Doctor's new assistant as played by Freema Agyeman as an example of how such actors are appearing in popular shows.Presenter Terry Wogan also commented that Doctor Who is the most discussed series on the Points of View messageboard on the BBC website!
Doctor Who On Demand
Doctor Who will be among the programmes to be made available on demand via the BBC's iPlayer service, it was announced today.A story on BBC News says the service will be launched later this year. People will be able to watch selected shows online for seven days after their first broadcast. Episodes will also be able to be downloaded and stored for up to 30 days. The iPlayer has been given the go-ahead by the BBC Trust after consultations with the public.Initially, the iPlayer application will only be available to people with Windows PCs. But the trust wants the application to run on different systems within "a reasonable time frame".It is unclear at present whether access will be limited to UK users.
Evolution - Appreciation Index
Saturdays BBC1 showing of Evolution of the Daleks received an Appreciation index, or AI score of 85. This once more places the programme in the excellent category. It was the second highest rated programme on Saturday, being narrowly beaten by CSI:NY on Channel 5On BBC3, where scores tend to be higher, the Sunday repeat of Daleks in Manhattan scored 84 and the Friday repeat 88. This weeks Doctor Who Confidential scored 83 while last Sundays repeat scored 78.The Appreciation Index, or AI, is a measure of how much the audience liked the programme. It is a score out of 100, based on responses from a carefully selected panel. The average score for drama on BBC1 and ITV1 is 77. A score in excess of 85 is regarded as excellent while a score below 60 is poor.
Eighth Doctor Comic Strips Vol 4
Panini Books have released the cover and a press release for their final volume of comic strips featuring the eighth Doctor, as previously featured in the pages of Doctor Who Magazine.The full-colour softcover book runs to 228 pages and is due in UK shops in early May 2007. It includes the following eight stories:
Where Nobody Knows Your Name
Doctor Who and The Nightmare Game
The Power of Thoueris!
The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack
The Land of Happy Endings
Bad Blood
Sins of the Fathers
The Flood!The last two will feature newly-extended conclusions. The book will also feature a behind-the-scenes feature in which writers Scott Gray and Gareth Roberts reveal the background and origins to each story, alongside sketches from the artists. You can also learn about the regeneration that never was in an eye-opening feature by Clayton Hickman on the new TV series' effect on the comic strip, with comments from Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies. Plus, in full, the alternative, unused script for Part Eight of "The Flood"!
Where Nobody Knows Your Name
Doctor Who and The Nightmare Game
The Power of Thoueris!
The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack
The Land of Happy Endings
Bad Blood
Sins of the Fathers
The Flood!The last two will feature newly-extended conclusions. The book will also feature a behind-the-scenes feature in which writers Scott Gray and Gareth Roberts reveal the background and origins to each story, alongside sketches from the artists. You can also learn about the regeneration that never was in an eye-opening feature by Clayton Hickman on the new TV series' effect on the comic strip, with comments from Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies. Plus, in full, the alternative, unused script for Part Eight of "The Flood"!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Series Three Air Date In US
The Sci Fi Channel has announced it will start airing Series Three of Doctor Who in the USA from July 6 at 9pm.Outpost Gallifrey reported four days ago that the channel had acquired the series. The press release said Sci Fi would be showing the programme in July but a precise date was not given by the company then.
Evolution - Overnight Ratings
Unofficial overnight figures show that Evolution of the Daleks was watched by 6.5 million viewers.The programme was the second most watched for the day, being beaten by Casualty, which benefited from a later time slot. It was however the top rated show by share.The programme also has the highest quarter-hour peak audience of the evening, with 7.3 million watching between 1915 and 1930. It comfortably beat its direct opposition on ITV1, Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon, which managed just over half of the Doctor Who audience.Doctor Who dominated the children's chart with 1.4 million under 16s watching, a massive 64% share. This compares with BBC One's average children's share for the day of 18%.On BBC Three Doctor Who Confidential was watched by 0.58 million viewers and was the second most watched programme on multichannel television.Final figures will be published by BARB in around 10 days time.
The future of animated episodes
Daniel Hall, commissioning editor for DVD publisher 2Entertain, has recently made an announcement concerning the future for animated episodes of Doctor Who. Speaking on the Restoration Team's Technical Forum, he stated: "After due consideration and for the foreseeable future, we are withdrawing from co-commissioning and co-producing any "classic" Doctor Who animations. I feel our energies will be better spent working on existing stories. With the New Series such a success, and the forthcoming animations for Totally Doctor Who, the BBC is in a far superior position to develop this idea. After all, the original commission of The Invasion came from them."Having recently made a request for animators to get in touch with them, 2Entertain have now said that they will pass any details on to the BBC. Says Hall: "Please continue to express your support for this excellent and innovative idea. The quality of creative response from my earlier post was thrilling, and bodes well for the future possibilities of animated stories."
BARROWMAN EYES POP CAREER
DOCTOR WHO actor JOHN BARROWMAN is considering ditching his acting career to become a pop star instead. The 40-year-old star, who plays Captain Jack Harkness in the Doctor Who spin off Torchwood, is determined to storm the music charts. He says, "Being number one is an ambition I would love to fulfill."
Billie Piper plans move to the country
Billie Piper is planning to move out of London and find a new home in the countryside.The former Doctor Who actress has been looking at properties in Devon and the Cotswolds with actor boyfriend Laurence Fox.A source told The Sun: "Billie's quite keen to get out of the capital. She's really fallen for the country life and a lot of Laurence's family and friends live that way - plus she really fancies keeping chickens."She wants to live a more wholesome life and in London you're never more than a few yards from a pub. And we all know she's a scruffy dresser and out of London she would feel no pressure to impress anyone."
The Time Lord's Time Slots
Whovian hearts have been sent fluttering recently as their beloved show has been bounced around the Saturday evening schedules to fluctuating ratings. Despite the publicity of the Daleks’ return, overnight viewing figures were almost 2 million down on the previous week’s episode ‘Gridlock’, which was screened at 7.40pm due to football. With the UK engulfed in glorious weather, many families were out soaking up the sun at the 6.35pm start time of ‘Daleks in Manhattan’. As soon as the clocks approached 7pm, you could almost hear a pitter patter of sunburnt feet scampering from the garden to the television, followed by an instantaneous whimper and facial expressions resembling Edvarch Munch's painting 'The Scream' when many discovered that the episode was already halfway through. This, of course, reflects in the overnight ratings.But why worry when a fourth season of the time-travelling drama has already been commissioned? Cast your minds back to the Autumn of 1989 for a reason why seasoned fans hold their breaths on Sunday mornings waiting for the overnight viewing figures to trundle in like a Dalek on a cobblestones. The first episode of the 26th season had just aired and the viewing figures were in – 3.1 million. Ouch! The lowest in the show’s history. Bear in mind this was in a pre-multichannel age when 15-20 million viewers was the norm for programmes like Coronation Street, EastEnders and The Bill. It didn’t need a Kang from Paradise Towers to graffiti the writing on the wall – time had run out for the Time Lord.
Ah yes, Corrie. In their wisdom (well, a covert attempt to kill off you know Who), the BBC scheduled Doctor Who directly opposite the popular ITV soap on Wednesday nights amidst a dearth of publicity. We’re accustomed to regular Radio Times covers nowadays, but in the decade of hairspray and ripped denim, Doctor Who only had one solitary cover, in 1983.Arguments were fiercely levelled towards the BBC over their negligence and the fact that the maligned sci-fi drama brought in more money through overseas sales and merchandising than it cost to produce (although this went to BBC Enterprises/Worldwide, and not back into making the show).Fast forward a few years to 1996, when the Time Lord was back in a feature length, Americanised pilot starring Paul McGann. A double whammy of Des O’Connor and popular drama Bramwell was deployed by ITV to sway viewers, but both channels reaped a very respectable 9 million viewers each. Still, courtesy of dismal US ratings – not helped by scheduling the pilot opposite a highly publicised episode of perennial Yank Absorbaloff Roseanne - there was to be no series.Many now see that as a blessing in disguise, given the critical and commercial success of Doctor Who’s current incarnation. The show was hailed with reviving the bygone era of Saturday evening family viewing, conquering the chequered likes of Ant and Dec and Celebrity Wrestling in the process. Much of this was attributed to having a fixed 7pm timeslot, with hordes of viewers soon conditioned to switch on the trusty ‘idiot’s lantern’ at the same time every week.
Yet for the third series, we’ve had a 6.35pm start last week, 7.40pm the week before that, plus a 6.45pm showing this Saturday. Then, in a couple of weeks we have the Eurovision Song Contest which will mean a much earlier start than usual. In the past two years, the kitsch crooning competition has caused ‘The Empty Child’ and ‘The Age of Steel’ to start significantly earlier with viewership noticeably down on both occasions.The BBC has faced accusations that it is shunting Doctor Who to an earlier time in a bid to boost their Any Dream Will Do talent competition in its battle with ITV’s similarly themed Grease Is The Word. A strong lead-in show such as Who means that many casual viewers won’t bother to channel hop and stay rooted to the same channel all night.However, the BBC refuted this when speaking to Cult Spy, explaining that contractual reasons dictate that the football highlights show Match of the Day must be screened at 10.30pm and no later. All other elements of the schedule must then be fitted accordingly, with ITV adjusting their schedules to place their Grease show in direct competition with the ‘Joseph’ equivalent.
Screening Doctor Who later undeniably boosts ratings, as viewers switching on at 7pm can hang on and won’t miss any action. It also generates a better environment for watching the series when rays of sun aren’t beaming in through gaps in the curtains. But understandably, the BBC doesn’t want it screened too late, at a time when the kiddies should be tucked up in bed (although given the state of modern society they’d probably be out rampaging down their local high street on mopeds picking up ASBOs aplenty).Nonetheless, it’s a testament to its popularity that even when the time slot is moved around and the sun is blazing outside, Doctor Who consistently ranks as the most viewed programme on a Saturday. Also worth bearing in mind is that those who miss the first screening can catch the later BBC3 repeat on Sunday nights. This seemed to be the case with ‘Daleks in Manhattan’, which reaped 1.1 million viewers last Sunday – a record for a repeat of the Time Lord’s adventures on the channel. But in a cutthroat broadcasting world where today’s flavour of the month can be spat out in disgust tomorrow, many bleary eyes will still be scouring the web for overnight viewing figures every Sunday morning. As Depeche Mode so aptly put it – it’s just a question of time.
Ah yes, Corrie. In their wisdom (well, a covert attempt to kill off you know Who), the BBC scheduled Doctor Who directly opposite the popular ITV soap on Wednesday nights amidst a dearth of publicity. We’re accustomed to regular Radio Times covers nowadays, but in the decade of hairspray and ripped denim, Doctor Who only had one solitary cover, in 1983.Arguments were fiercely levelled towards the BBC over their negligence and the fact that the maligned sci-fi drama brought in more money through overseas sales and merchandising than it cost to produce (although this went to BBC Enterprises/Worldwide, and not back into making the show).Fast forward a few years to 1996, when the Time Lord was back in a feature length, Americanised pilot starring Paul McGann. A double whammy of Des O’Connor and popular drama Bramwell was deployed by ITV to sway viewers, but both channels reaped a very respectable 9 million viewers each. Still, courtesy of dismal US ratings – not helped by scheduling the pilot opposite a highly publicised episode of perennial Yank Absorbaloff Roseanne - there was to be no series.Many now see that as a blessing in disguise, given the critical and commercial success of Doctor Who’s current incarnation. The show was hailed with reviving the bygone era of Saturday evening family viewing, conquering the chequered likes of Ant and Dec and Celebrity Wrestling in the process. Much of this was attributed to having a fixed 7pm timeslot, with hordes of viewers soon conditioned to switch on the trusty ‘idiot’s lantern’ at the same time every week.
Yet for the third series, we’ve had a 6.35pm start last week, 7.40pm the week before that, plus a 6.45pm showing this Saturday. Then, in a couple of weeks we have the Eurovision Song Contest which will mean a much earlier start than usual. In the past two years, the kitsch crooning competition has caused ‘The Empty Child’ and ‘The Age of Steel’ to start significantly earlier with viewership noticeably down on both occasions.The BBC has faced accusations that it is shunting Doctor Who to an earlier time in a bid to boost their Any Dream Will Do talent competition in its battle with ITV’s similarly themed Grease Is The Word. A strong lead-in show such as Who means that many casual viewers won’t bother to channel hop and stay rooted to the same channel all night.However, the BBC refuted this when speaking to Cult Spy, explaining that contractual reasons dictate that the football highlights show Match of the Day must be screened at 10.30pm and no later. All other elements of the schedule must then be fitted accordingly, with ITV adjusting their schedules to place their Grease show in direct competition with the ‘Joseph’ equivalent.
Screening Doctor Who later undeniably boosts ratings, as viewers switching on at 7pm can hang on and won’t miss any action. It also generates a better environment for watching the series when rays of sun aren’t beaming in through gaps in the curtains. But understandably, the BBC doesn’t want it screened too late, at a time when the kiddies should be tucked up in bed (although given the state of modern society they’d probably be out rampaging down their local high street on mopeds picking up ASBOs aplenty).Nonetheless, it’s a testament to its popularity that even when the time slot is moved around and the sun is blazing outside, Doctor Who consistently ranks as the most viewed programme on a Saturday. Also worth bearing in mind is that those who miss the first screening can catch the later BBC3 repeat on Sunday nights. This seemed to be the case with ‘Daleks in Manhattan’, which reaped 1.1 million viewers last Sunday – a record for a repeat of the Time Lord’s adventures on the channel. But in a cutthroat broadcasting world where today’s flavour of the month can be spat out in disgust tomorrow, many bleary eyes will still be scouring the web for overnight viewing figures every Sunday morning. As Depeche Mode so aptly put it – it’s just a question of time.
'Torchwood' to begin shooting new series
John Barrowman has revealed that the second season of Torchwood will start shooting in Cardiff on Monday.
The actor, who plays Captain Jack Harkness in the Doctor Who spin-off, confirmed the news on ITV chatshow Loose Women on Friday afternoon.
Barrowman recently reprised his role as former 'Time Agent' Harkness for the current series of Doctor Who, with his episodes due to be shown towards the end of the run.
Torchwood will transfer from BBC Three to BBC Two when it is screened in January 2008.
The actor, who plays Captain Jack Harkness in the Doctor Who spin-off, confirmed the news on ITV chatshow Loose Women on Friday afternoon.
Barrowman recently reprised his role as former 'Time Agent' Harkness for the current series of Doctor Who, with his episodes due to be shown towards the end of the run.
Torchwood will transfer from BBC Three to BBC Two when it is screened in January 2008.
BAFTA updated
BBC News reports Doctor Who has won 8 out of 13 nominations plus Torchwood has won 4 nominations at the Bafta Cymru Awards:
Doctor Who Winners:
Best actor: David Tennant
Best screenwriter: Russell T Davies
Best director, drama: Graeme Harper
Best original music soundtrack
Best costume
Best make-up
Best editor: Crispin Green
Best lighting director - not camera: Mark Hutchings
Torchwood Winners:
Best actress: Eve Myles
Best drama series
Best design
Best director of photography, drama: Mark Waters
Doctor Who Winners:
Best actor: David Tennant
Best screenwriter: Russell T Davies
Best director, drama: Graeme Harper
Best original music soundtrack
Best costume
Best make-up
Best editor: Crispin Green
Best lighting director - not camera: Mark Hutchings
Torchwood Winners:
Best actress: Eve Myles
Best drama series
Best design
Best director of photography, drama: Mark Waters
Friday, April 27, 2007
S3: Episode Seven - synopsis
The BBCi Press Office have released the synopsis for 3.7: '42'
In a distant galaxy, a spaceship hurtles out of control towards a boiling sun with the Doctor and Martha trapped on board, as Russell T Davies's Doctor Who continues. They've only got 42 minutes to uncover the saboteurs, but, with a mysterious force starting to possess the ship's crew, the Doctor is running out of time.
David Tennant plays the Doctor and Freema Agyeman plays his companion, Martha Jones. Michelle Collins guest stars.
3.7: '42' airs on BBC One on Saturday 12th May 2007 at 6:40pm.
In a distant galaxy, a spaceship hurtles out of control towards a boiling sun with the Doctor and Martha trapped on board, as Russell T Davies's Doctor Who continues. They've only got 42 minutes to uncover the saboteurs, but, with a mysterious force starting to possess the ship's crew, the Doctor is running out of time.
David Tennant plays the Doctor and Freema Agyeman plays his companion, Martha Jones. Michelle Collins guest stars.
3.7: '42' airs on BBC One on Saturday 12th May 2007 at 6:40pm.
Parkinson to interview Tennant
David Tennant will be a guest on the first edition of the next series of Michael Parkinson's high profile chat show on ITV1. The vetran interviewer will talk to Tennant on a programme that will also feature comedian David Mitchell, actress Amanda Holden and singer Michael Buble.The episode is provisionally scheduled for May 5th.
Davies dismisses Kylie rumour
Doctor Who executive producer and chief writer Russell T Davies has dismissed the rumour spread by several media sources this week that Australian pop singer and actress Kylie Minogue was to appear in the 2007 Christmas special of the show.The rumour originally appeared in last Sunday's edition of the News of the World newspaper, as reported at the time by Outpost Gallifrey, and was subsequently picked up by several websites and other newspapers. However, speaking to the BBC's weekly in-house magazine Ariel, Davies has rubbished the suggestion."Don't be stupid," he told the publication. "I haven't even written the script yet, and a woman like that is booked up two years in advance."
STARS SELL MEMORABILIA IN CHARITY AUCTION
Harry Potter writer J.K. ROWLING has donated a signed copy of the first edition of her novel HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE to a charity auction. British actor David Tennant has offered the auction a personal script from hit series Doctor Who. The auction at London's Cafe de Paris tonight (26Apr07) will raise money for single parent families.
Star in your own Doctor Who story
ANY Doctor Who fan who has ever wanted to talk to the Doctor, be his companion or take on the Daleks now has a chance to do just that.
Kids and sci-fi fans will be able to turn their very own Doctor Who stories into comic book animations for the first time today as the BBC launches the Comic Book Maker.
Part of the Doctor Who website, the Comic Book Maker will feature the show’s favourite monsters, characters and settings to create the Doctor Who stories fans want to tell.
They can even star in their own stories, with the option of submitting their picture so a character can be built around them.
The voice of the writer of the BBC Wales-produced hit, Russell T Davies, will talk budding creators through every step of the build process.
Each month the site will feature a comic made by a member of the cast and crew, starting with Russell T Davies. There will also be competitions searching for the best comic, with the best stories featuring on the site.
Kids and sci-fi fans will be able to turn their very own Doctor Who stories into comic book animations for the first time today as the BBC launches the Comic Book Maker.
Part of the Doctor Who website, the Comic Book Maker will feature the show’s favourite monsters, characters and settings to create the Doctor Who stories fans want to tell.
They can even star in their own stories, with the option of submitting their picture so a character can be built around them.
The voice of the writer of the BBC Wales-produced hit, Russell T Davies, will talk budding creators through every step of the build process.
Each month the site will feature a comic made by a member of the cast and crew, starting with Russell T Davies. There will also be competitions searching for the best comic, with the best stories featuring on the site.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
SuperKids get their reward
THE BOLD, the brave and the bright all took to the stage for The Star SuperKids awards 2007 - which had a distinct out-of-this-world feel thanks to a Doctor Who theme.
The ceremony, held at Sheffield's Hilton Hotel, honoured youngsters who had battled disease, saved lives and achieved goals.Celebrities - including Life on Mars star Dean Andrews - mingled with cybermen during the star- studded event that saw 11 special youngsters pick up an award for their hard work.Compered by The Star's magazines editor John Highfield and presented by Look North anchorman Harry Gration, SuperKids is an annual event, sponsored by Meadowhall, that recognises the achievements of youngsters throughout South Yorkshire.Sports stars, actors, musicians and even Daleks all put in an appearance to pay homage to the children - all of whom had shown courage and intelligence in the face of adversity."It is a real privilege to be involved in these awards," said rock star John Parr who performed at the ceremony as well as presenting an award."It is a great day out for the kids, it marks some great achievements and is a great celebration."Winners included 15-year-old Chris Badger - a Rotherham schoolboy with cerebral palsy and a love of music."Music is a passion for me, something I love," said Chris, who was nominated for his award by singer/songwriter and Boy on a Dolphin frontman John
Riley."I just want to thank John Riley for giving me the opportunity to be here - it is fantastic to work with him. "I have to say thank you to my teachers too and to everyone here. I have really enjoyed the day."Boxing legends Junior Witter, Clinton Woods and Johnny Nelson all handed out awards as did former Coronation street actor Chris Walker.John Leeson, the voice of Dr Who dog K9, helped to present four-year-old Ben Roe, from Doncaster, who despite his young age is battling leukaemia for a second time, with his special award.Sheffield Wednesday, United and Steelers stars were also on hand to inspire the winners who were also kept entertained by a magician during a three-course lunch."What all of these children have done is worth shouting from the roof tops," said actor Chris Walker."We should be letting everyone know just what these young people have achieved."
The ceremony, held at Sheffield's Hilton Hotel, honoured youngsters who had battled disease, saved lives and achieved goals.Celebrities - including Life on Mars star Dean Andrews - mingled with cybermen during the star- studded event that saw 11 special youngsters pick up an award for their hard work.Compered by The Star's magazines editor John Highfield and presented by Look North anchorman Harry Gration, SuperKids is an annual event, sponsored by Meadowhall, that recognises the achievements of youngsters throughout South Yorkshire.Sports stars, actors, musicians and even Daleks all put in an appearance to pay homage to the children - all of whom had shown courage and intelligence in the face of adversity."It is a real privilege to be involved in these awards," said rock star John Parr who performed at the ceremony as well as presenting an award."It is a great day out for the kids, it marks some great achievements and is a great celebration."Winners included 15-year-old Chris Badger - a Rotherham schoolboy with cerebral palsy and a love of music."Music is a passion for me, something I love," said Chris, who was nominated for his award by singer/songwriter and Boy on a Dolphin frontman John
Riley."I just want to thank John Riley for giving me the opportunity to be here - it is fantastic to work with him. "I have to say thank you to my teachers too and to everyone here. I have really enjoyed the day."Boxing legends Junior Witter, Clinton Woods and Johnny Nelson all handed out awards as did former Coronation street actor Chris Walker.John Leeson, the voice of Dr Who dog K9, helped to present four-year-old Ben Roe, from Doncaster, who despite his young age is battling leukaemia for a second time, with his special award.Sheffield Wednesday, United and Steelers stars were also on hand to inspire the winners who were also kept entertained by a magician during a three-course lunch."What all of these children have done is worth shouting from the roof tops," said actor Chris Walker."We should be letting everyone know just what these young people have achieved."
Vikings add a multicultural touch to events for St George
ST GEORGE'S Day has been celebrated across the region.
The Dog and Duck pub in Linton features an impressive image of St George and the dragon on its roof and a Viking encampment was set up by the Hereward Vanguard group over the weekend at the Australian Arms pub in Haverhill.
Scouts from St Ives turned to Doctor Who to help celebrate the day and the 100th anniversary of Scouting.
Just like the Doctor the Scouts travelled back in time - to the first experimental camp on Brownsea Island in 1907 - and then started to head for the future through the formation of the Cubs in 1916, the Beavers in 1987, and becoming fully co-educational with girls this year.
The series of plays, sketches and musical items written by Explorer Scouts from the Cromwell District, was performed as part of the St George's Day celebrations.
More than 400 Cromwell District Scouts, led by Peterborough Pipe Band, paraded from the Broadway in St Ives town centre to the Burgess Hall where they saw the Back to the Future meets Doctor Who show.
They were amongst thousands of Scouts from across the region who marked St George's Day.
In Ely there was a parade from the Market Square followed by a service at the cathedral, the construction of a centenary gateway on Palace Green and a "virtual" campfire in the cathedral.
Scouts from the St Neots area paraded from the Market Square to the parish church for a service of celebration and at Little Abingdon Scouts took part in activities at the county campsite.
The Dog and Duck pub in Linton features an impressive image of St George and the dragon on its roof and a Viking encampment was set up by the Hereward Vanguard group over the weekend at the Australian Arms pub in Haverhill.
Scouts from St Ives turned to Doctor Who to help celebrate the day and the 100th anniversary of Scouting.
Just like the Doctor the Scouts travelled back in time - to the first experimental camp on Brownsea Island in 1907 - and then started to head for the future through the formation of the Cubs in 1916, the Beavers in 1987, and becoming fully co-educational with girls this year.
The series of plays, sketches and musical items written by Explorer Scouts from the Cromwell District, was performed as part of the St George's Day celebrations.
More than 400 Cromwell District Scouts, led by Peterborough Pipe Band, paraded from the Broadway in St Ives town centre to the Burgess Hall where they saw the Back to the Future meets Doctor Who show.
They were amongst thousands of Scouts from across the region who marked St George's Day.
In Ely there was a parade from the Market Square followed by a service at the cathedral, the construction of a centenary gateway on Palace Green and a "virtual" campfire in the cathedral.
Scouts from the St Neots area paraded from the Market Square to the parish church for a service of celebration and at Little Abingdon Scouts took part in activities at the county campsite.
Doctor Who Returns to the USA, along with Torchwood!!!
The SciFi Channel just announced that it will air the third season of “Doctor Who” starting in July 2007. It’ll kick off with the “Doctor Who” Christmas special, “The Runaway Bride,” which means that those of us in the U.S. will see the episodes only about half a year behind the original U.K. run of the series. “The Runaway Bride” originally aired December 25, 2006. In the third season of “Doctor Who,” we are introduced to the Doctor’s new companion, Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), during the episode “Smith and Jones.” The Doctor and Martha will also meet up with William Shakespeare, blood-sucking aliens called Plasmavores, the galactic stormtroopers called Judoon—and our favorite enemy, the Daleks, make a return during “Daleks in Manhattan.” We’re sad that Billie Piper is gone, but we’re looking forward to meeting a brand-new companion. But that’s not all for “Doctor Who” fans. BBC America announced this month that the the spinoff series with Captain Jack, “Torchwood” (that’s an anagram of “Doctor Who” in case you didn’t realize) will be coming to the U.S. BBC America will air the show as part of its Supernatural Saturday lineup, a primetime offering. It won’t come until December, though, so in the meantime we’ll have to check out the other offerings BBC America will air as part of its revamped schedule, including the second season of “Life on Mars,” starting in October. Ah, we just love that British sci-fi. In case you don’t know much about Torchwood, it’s been described as a horror/drama/soap opera set in present-day Cardiff, drawing upon historical “Doctor Who” scripts as well as British folk law. It builds upon the program Queen Victoria started (which you’d know about if you watched the Second Series of “Doctor Who,” specifically the episode “Tooth and Claw”). The now-immortal Captain Jack (John Barrowman) runs a unit of detectives/guards for a machine that operates a dimensional rift (see “Boom Town”). Their job is to track down alien life on Earth. The team includes Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), genius Owen (Burn Gorman), computer expert Toshiko (Naoko Mori) and Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd). This is NOT a children’s show, the way “Doctor Who” is. There’s plenty of sex (and not just heterosexual sex), swearing and violence. Just so you’re warned. There are 13 episodes in the first season, introducing creatures such as demonic fairies, the Weevil and a monster called Abaddon.We’ve got some exciting months coming up! I can’t wait until July.
HAPPY TO BE A HAM ACTOR
DOCTOR Who star Ryan Carnes knows all about being a pig - the actor grew up on a pig farm.
The Desperate Housewives star has been turned into a porker for the current Doctor Who two-parter, which finishes this Saturday.
In it he plays a strapping suitor to a showgirl who is turned into a pig by the Daleks.
Ryan, 24, laughed: "It's ironic as my father and grandfather raised pigs until around the time I was 10. I used to help feed and call the pigs daily.
"And to make this part even more spooky, I grew up in Pike County, Illinois, which at one time was the "pork capital of the world".
"So playing a pig after working on a pig farm in the world capital of pigs is all very strange."
And the actor, who plays Laszlo in Doctor Who, also revealed he doesn't eat pork, but not because he's just played a pig.
He said: "I gave up pork around the end of last year.
"I filmed Doctor Who last autumn, but it wasn't because I played a pig, only for dietary cleanliness.
"We swine aren't the cleanest barnyard animals, you know."
Ryan is almost unrecognisable from his part of Justin in Desperate Housewives, the hunky boyfriend of Andrew Van De Kamp, who became the envy of men around the world when he got to snog Eva Longoria, who plays Gabrielle Solis.
But his sun-kissed good looks, which have seen him called a young Brad Pitt, were hidden with a pig's nose, saggy pointy ears and tusks, which took three hours in make-up.
He admitted: "That was probably the toughest part of the whole job. Not because I'm too vain, I'm happy to be made into a pig. But it got a bit lonely at times too.
"I didn't really get to see people at lunchtime because I had to be very careful with my pig face. I had to go to my trailer and sit in front of the mirror and watch myself eating so I didn't wreck the prosthetics.
"If the grease or oil from the food got on the edge of my lips it would cause the latex to start peeling off.
"Then they would have to start reapplying it so I had to drink through a straw."
While lunchtimes were taxing, Ryan has nothing but praise for Scots actor David Tennant, who plays the Doctor.
He said: "David was great. He was a gentleman and a pleasure to be around."
The Hollywood-based actor admits he isn't a science fiction fan and only knew about Doctor Who because of a pinball machine.
He said: "I wasn't a fan, but I'd known about it because a friend of mine had a Doctor Who pinball machine in his basement when I was a teenager, so that was my first introduction as an American.
"I can't remember which Doctor it was, but I didn't have to really think too hard about taking the role.
"The series has been around for so long, there's a real history about it."
Because he didn't grow up with Doctor Who and never cowered behind the sofa at the sight of the Daleks, Ryan was very dismissive of the UK's best loved evil aliens.
He laughed: "I watched a couple of episodes before I came over to the UK and I thought to myself 'How are the Daleks that scary? They don't look that scary. They look like dustbins with a plunger and an egg beater for arms. I don't really get it.'
"Then I got on set and one of them rolled out behind me and I got a real fright.
"The guy was moving his plunger arm and his egg beater arm and I was terrified.
"They now send shivers up my spine. Especially when they talk."
Now Ryan is hoping to be part of Doctor Who history and hopes that his character Laszlo will be made into an action figure.
He laughed: "I never thought I would be an action figure, especially as a pig. But it would be amazing to have that.
"I'm a huge fan of Doctor Who now. I gained a whole new respect for science fiction.
"When I was growing up I watched The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, but being part of one has shown me how much energy it takes.
"David has to have a lot of stamina to have such high energy and so much dialogue."
Of course even with his tusks, Ryan is staying mum about what happens in Saturday's episode.
Last week the Doctor and new companion Martha (Freema Agyeman) discover that the four remaining Daleks were kidnapping people in Manhattan during the Thirties and turning them into pigs.
They were also building the Empire State Building and their leader, Dalek Sec (Eric Loren), transformed himself into a human/ Dalek hybrid.
So what have the Daleks got planned in Saturday's episode called Evolution of the Daleks? And will Ryan's character get together with his showgirl girlfriend Tallulah, played by Spooks actress Miranda Raison, despite the swine of a problem?
All Ryan will say is: "The version everyone's going to see is a happier version of what I read in the script.
"The writers decided there was a lot of bad, depressing death-like things going on and wanted to lighten it up a bit."
Doctor Who is on Saturday, BBC One, at 6.45pm.
The Desperate Housewives star has been turned into a porker for the current Doctor Who two-parter, which finishes this Saturday.
In it he plays a strapping suitor to a showgirl who is turned into a pig by the Daleks.
Ryan, 24, laughed: "It's ironic as my father and grandfather raised pigs until around the time I was 10. I used to help feed and call the pigs daily.
"And to make this part even more spooky, I grew up in Pike County, Illinois, which at one time was the "pork capital of the world".
"So playing a pig after working on a pig farm in the world capital of pigs is all very strange."
And the actor, who plays Laszlo in Doctor Who, also revealed he doesn't eat pork, but not because he's just played a pig.
He said: "I gave up pork around the end of last year.
"I filmed Doctor Who last autumn, but it wasn't because I played a pig, only for dietary cleanliness.
"We swine aren't the cleanest barnyard animals, you know."
Ryan is almost unrecognisable from his part of Justin in Desperate Housewives, the hunky boyfriend of Andrew Van De Kamp, who became the envy of men around the world when he got to snog Eva Longoria, who plays Gabrielle Solis.
But his sun-kissed good looks, which have seen him called a young Brad Pitt, were hidden with a pig's nose, saggy pointy ears and tusks, which took three hours in make-up.
He admitted: "That was probably the toughest part of the whole job. Not because I'm too vain, I'm happy to be made into a pig. But it got a bit lonely at times too.
"I didn't really get to see people at lunchtime because I had to be very careful with my pig face. I had to go to my trailer and sit in front of the mirror and watch myself eating so I didn't wreck the prosthetics.
"If the grease or oil from the food got on the edge of my lips it would cause the latex to start peeling off.
"Then they would have to start reapplying it so I had to drink through a straw."
While lunchtimes were taxing, Ryan has nothing but praise for Scots actor David Tennant, who plays the Doctor.
He said: "David was great. He was a gentleman and a pleasure to be around."
The Hollywood-based actor admits he isn't a science fiction fan and only knew about Doctor Who because of a pinball machine.
He said: "I wasn't a fan, but I'd known about it because a friend of mine had a Doctor Who pinball machine in his basement when I was a teenager, so that was my first introduction as an American.
"I can't remember which Doctor it was, but I didn't have to really think too hard about taking the role.
"The series has been around for so long, there's a real history about it."
Because he didn't grow up with Doctor Who and never cowered behind the sofa at the sight of the Daleks, Ryan was very dismissive of the UK's best loved evil aliens.
He laughed: "I watched a couple of episodes before I came over to the UK and I thought to myself 'How are the Daleks that scary? They don't look that scary. They look like dustbins with a plunger and an egg beater for arms. I don't really get it.'
"Then I got on set and one of them rolled out behind me and I got a real fright.
"The guy was moving his plunger arm and his egg beater arm and I was terrified.
"They now send shivers up my spine. Especially when they talk."
Now Ryan is hoping to be part of Doctor Who history and hopes that his character Laszlo will be made into an action figure.
He laughed: "I never thought I would be an action figure, especially as a pig. But it would be amazing to have that.
"I'm a huge fan of Doctor Who now. I gained a whole new respect for science fiction.
"When I was growing up I watched The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, but being part of one has shown me how much energy it takes.
"David has to have a lot of stamina to have such high energy and so much dialogue."
Of course even with his tusks, Ryan is staying mum about what happens in Saturday's episode.
Last week the Doctor and new companion Martha (Freema Agyeman) discover that the four remaining Daleks were kidnapping people in Manhattan during the Thirties and turning them into pigs.
They were also building the Empire State Building and their leader, Dalek Sec (Eric Loren), transformed himself into a human/ Dalek hybrid.
So what have the Daleks got planned in Saturday's episode called Evolution of the Daleks? And will Ryan's character get together with his showgirl girlfriend Tallulah, played by Spooks actress Miranda Raison, despite the swine of a problem?
All Ryan will say is: "The version everyone's going to see is a happier version of what I read in the script.
"The writers decided there was a lot of bad, depressing death-like things going on and wanted to lighten it up a bit."
Doctor Who is on Saturday, BBC One, at 6.45pm.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
ICON TIME AGAIN!!!!
http://community.livejournal.com/doctorwho/1647589.html
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http://shadowesque13.livejournal.com/179697.html
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http://community.livejournal.com/random_alley/13548.html
http://zibina77.livejournal.com/6063.html
http://tropical-crush.livejournal.com/6610.html
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http://cheesygirl.livejournal.com/984150.html
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Dalek Masterplan Play Trailer
Interalia Theatre has released a special trailer for its forthcoming production of The Dalek Masterplan.As reported earlier by Outpost, the 12-part Hartnell epic has been adapted and condensed for the stage, to be performed at the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth from Wednesday, October 24 to Saturday, October 27.Nick Briggs, who voices the Daleks for Doctor Who on TV, will be helping the non-professional company in a similar capacity.This will be the fourth and final presentation of a "lost" Doctor Who story by the company. Special links and CGI action have been shot for the play, and producer Rob Thrush said: "It's going to be a spectacular sign-off to our Who stage shows."To view the trailer, which begins with action from Interalia's production of The Evil of the Daleks last year, click here.
101 things you didn't know about Doctor Who
Did you know that Cardiff writer Terry Nation is credited with creating the Daleks? Edward Russell, senior brand executve of Doctor Who, has come up with 101 other fascinating facts about the world's favourite Timelord
1. Doctor Who's first producer was Verity Lambert. It wouldn't be until 2005 that the show had another female one.
2. A pilot of the first episode was shot but never broadcast until the early 90s. The team re-recorded it a month later with significant changes.
3. The first episode of Doctor Who was repeated the following week after transmission problems caused a TV blackout in certain areas.
4. Hollywood director Ridley Scott was scheduled to work as a designer on early episodes of Doctor Who.
5. Ex-Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves played the Doctor's companion Steven Taylor.
6. William Hartnell wore a wig for his performance as The Doctor - so did Patrick Troughton for the first two years.
7. Mission to the Unknown in 1965 is the only story not to feature the Doctor or any of his companions.
8. The original title sequence was shot by pointing a TV camera at its own monitor, creating visual feedback.
9. The haunting theme music for the show was written by Ron Grainer, who also composed the theme for Steptoe and Son.
10. The original TARDIS console was painted pale green, which made it look a brilliant white on the black and white TV screens of the day.
11. The second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, and his son David appeared in an adventure together in the 1969 show called The War Games.
12. Pauline Collins played a character called Samantha Briggs who was considered for a companion. She turned down the opportunity but returned in 2006 to play Queen Victoria.
13. Welsh actress Margaret John has the record for the longest gap between two roles in Doctor Who. First seen in 1968's Fury From The Deep and again in 2006, The Idiot's Lantern.
14. Patrick Troughton passed away while attending a fan convention in the 1980s.
15. There are 108 missing episodes of Doctor Who, all from the 1960s.
16. Spearhead From Space in 1970 was the first story shot entirely on film. This wouldn't happen again until 1996.
17. The myth that third Doctor Jon Pertwee suffered back problems and wore a corset under his costume is untrue.
18. The first three Doctors reunited for a story to commemorate the tenth season of Doctor Who. Sadly, William Hartnell was too ill to join his successors in the studio.
19. Katy Manning, who played companion Jo Grant, was very short-sighted and tripped over a rock on her first day's filming.
20. The opening "scream" of the Doctor Who theme tune made its debut on 1970 story The Ambassadors of Death.
21. Jon Pertwee dressed as a cleaning lady in an episode called The Green Death.
22. Katy Manning, who played Jo Grant, is best friends with Liza Minnelli.
23. The third Doctor's arch enemy was The Master, played by Roger Delgado. To date, five actors have played the part of the renegade Time Lord.
24. Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith, swallowed a fly on set while filming her last regular story, The Hand of Fear.
25. Louise Jameson, who played the Doctor's companion Leela, wore brown contact lenses for her first four stories. The writers created a plot to turn her eyes to the actor's natural blue.
26. The Deadly Assassin in 1976 is the only story to feature the Doctor without a companion.
27. The fourth Doctor's trade-mark long scarf was never designed to be so. The costume designer gave balls of wool to a knitter, who just kept going till she ran out of wool!
28. Tom Baker was bitten on the lip by a dog while recording the 1978 story The Pirate Planet.
29. The Doctor's robot dog, K-9, was originally called Fido.
30. During his final series, Tom Baker fell ill and his naturally curly hair turned straight, so he was given a perm.
31. City of Death in 1979 is the first story to be filmed outside of the UK.
32. Tom Baker broke his collar bone while shooting his location work as The Doctor.
33. The story Shada began filming in 1979 but was never completed or broadcast.
34. When Tom Baker was unavailable for the Five Doctors reunion story, scenes from the abandoned story Shada were used.
35. Fifth Doctor Peter Davison is the youngest actor to have been cast in the lead role.
36. The final part of Earthshock in 1982 was broadcast without end title music as a tribute to companion Adric who died in that story.
37. Peter Davison's first adventure, Castrovalva, was actually the fourth story he recorded.
38. In 1986, a young fan called Gareth Jenkins starred in his own episode with Colin Baker for Jim'll Fix It.
39. Sixth Doctor Colin Baker appeared as a Time Lord commander in a Peter Davison story.
40. Colin Baker and Jon Pertwee also played the Doctor on stage in a live musical extravaganza, The Ultimate Adventure.
41. The series was rested for 18 months during the sixth Doctor's period.
42. Colin Baker was considered for a role in Tom Baker's debut story.
43. In 1999, a Comic Relief special featured Rowan Atkinson, Jim Broadbent, Richard E Grant, Hugh Grant and Joanna Lumley as the Doctor.
44. Colin Baker was so popular in Israel in the 1970s that he was mobbed at The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
45. As a stage act, seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy stuffed ferrets down his trousers!
46. Not a lot of people know that McCoy was once a bouncer for the Rolling Stones.
47. The last scene recorded in the original series was of two women turning to stone in the story Ghost Light.
48. A 1993 Children in Need special saw several previous Doctors and companions arrive in Albert Square.
49. The 1996 TV Movie starring Paul McGann was based in America, but actually shot in Canada.
50. The film was dedicated to the memory of Jon Pertwee, who had died a few days before its broadcast on BBC One.
51. Christopher Eccleston was the first actor to be cast for the role who was younger than the show itself.
52. Murray Gold's re-worked title music contains elements from the original 1963 recording by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. The original tape loops had been found and preserved in the 1990s.
53. At the time of her hit Because We Want To, Billie Piper was the youngest solo female artist to have a number one song in the UK.
54. Following the episode Father's Day filmed in a church in Grangetown, Cardiff, several fans of the show chose to get married at the same location.
55. There are currently three TARDIS props. Two are made from wood, and one from lightweight fibreglass.
56. There are just four working Dalek props. Computer graphics and careful shooting are used to create an army of the Doctor's deadliest enemy.
57. Ten Cybermen suits were created for their return in 2006, plus two lightweight versions.
58. Victorian Cardiff for the story The Unquiet Dead was actually filmed in Swansea.
59. The sound of the Slitheen eyelids is created by rustling a piece of paper.
60. The first scene recorded of the new BBC Wales-produced draft was of Christopher Eccleston chasing a space pig through a hospital corridor.
61. Christopher Eccleston's battered leather jacket was bought in a second-hand store.
62. Writer Russell T Davies used to work on children's programme, Why Don't You?
63. Several Blue Peter presenters have appeared in Doctor Who, including Janet Ellis and Sarah Greene. Current presenter Gethin Jones played a Cyberman in 2006.
64. When filming at the Globe Theatre in London, the production crew brought inflammable Welsh straw with them to meet fire regulations.
65. Martha Jones is the Doctor's current companion. The production team consists of a further 10 people whose surname is Jones.
66. The landscape of new New York in the year 5 billion was actually filmed at the Gower Peninsula.
67. Christopher Eccleston's on-screen credit was "Doctor Who". David Tennant is credited as "The Doctor".
68. Welsh locations for series three include St Fagans, The Senedd and a return to Roald Dahl Plas in Cardiff.
69. Billie Piper wore hair extensions in The Christmas Invasion as she'd had her hair cut between series one and two.
70. Torchwood, the show's spin-off, is an anagram of the words Doctor Who.
71. David Tennant is 6ft 1 and 3/4 inches tall.
72. Freema Agyeman, who plays Martha Jones, was originally told she was auditioning for a part in Torchwood.
73. David Tennant and Freema Agyeman filmed the special trailers for series three on their day off. It took eight hours to record a 40-second promo.
74. Celebrity fans of the show include Adam Woodyatt, Dawn French, Jo Whiley, Jonathan Ross and Kylie Minogue.
75. Russell T Davies writes all his scripts from home and doesn't have an office at the BBC.
76. Russell submitted an early synopsis of what was to become 2005's The Long Game to the BBC in 1989. He was advised to write a show about mortgages instead.
77. David Tennant's favourite Doctor is Tom Baker.
78. Current script editor Gary Russell appeared as Dick in the 1970s version of The Famous Five.
79. Current producer Phil Collinson appeared on Coronation Street as the man who sold a house to Deidre.
80. Russell appeared as a Cyberman on Why Don't You? in the 1980s.
81. The 2006 adventure The Satan Pit was completed just 48 hours before it was broadcast.
82. Actor Nicholas Briggs provides the voices for the Daleks, Cybermen, Jagrafess, Nestene Consciousness and the Judoon.
83. In South Korea, Doctor Who is more popular than the American series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
84. Doctor Who Adventures is the UK's top-selling boys' magazine.
85. Everything ever filmed for the new series, including unused takes and deleted scenes, is retained in the archives of BBC Wales.
86. The BBC Doctor Who website is more popular than the site for EastEnders.
87. An episode of Doctor Who takes two weeks to film, and several months in post production.
88. Barry Newbury, who was the designer on the first episode, recently visited the current Doctor Who studios and met Russell T Davies.
89. For the forthcoming episode set in New York, none of the cast travelled further than Penarth.
90. Series three of Doctor Who took 187 days to shoot.
91. The TARDIS travelling through a blue vortex means it's going back in time. A red vortex means it's going forward.
92. As well as Doctor Who, Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures, the shows Totally Doctor Who and Doctor Who Confidential are recorded at the studios in Cardiff.
93. Series three writer Chris Chibnall appeared on BBC's Open Air in 1986 to criticise the writers of an episode that year.
94. There are six versions of David Tennant's outfit.
95. There are two versions of Martha Jones' red leather jacket.
96. In 2006, Radio Times dedicated its front cover to Doctor Who more times than any other programme.
97. DVD-style commentaries are broadcast via the interactive option on BBC Three's repeat showing.
98. A set visit auctioned for Children in Need raised over £20,000 for the charity.
99. Action figures of the Doctor and Martha are approved by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman before they are manufactured.
100. David Tennant will turn on the Blackpool illuminations this year, which will have a Doctor Who theme.
101 The creator of Doctor Who was Sydney Newman, a Canadian TV mogul who moved from ITV to the BBC in the early 60s.
1. Doctor Who's first producer was Verity Lambert. It wouldn't be until 2005 that the show had another female one.
2. A pilot of the first episode was shot but never broadcast until the early 90s. The team re-recorded it a month later with significant changes.
3. The first episode of Doctor Who was repeated the following week after transmission problems caused a TV blackout in certain areas.
4. Hollywood director Ridley Scott was scheduled to work as a designer on early episodes of Doctor Who.
5. Ex-Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves played the Doctor's companion Steven Taylor.
6. William Hartnell wore a wig for his performance as The Doctor - so did Patrick Troughton for the first two years.
7. Mission to the Unknown in 1965 is the only story not to feature the Doctor or any of his companions.
8. The original title sequence was shot by pointing a TV camera at its own monitor, creating visual feedback.
9. The haunting theme music for the show was written by Ron Grainer, who also composed the theme for Steptoe and Son.
10. The original TARDIS console was painted pale green, which made it look a brilliant white on the black and white TV screens of the day.
11. The second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, and his son David appeared in an adventure together in the 1969 show called The War Games.
12. Pauline Collins played a character called Samantha Briggs who was considered for a companion. She turned down the opportunity but returned in 2006 to play Queen Victoria.
13. Welsh actress Margaret John has the record for the longest gap between two roles in Doctor Who. First seen in 1968's Fury From The Deep and again in 2006, The Idiot's Lantern.
14. Patrick Troughton passed away while attending a fan convention in the 1980s.
15. There are 108 missing episodes of Doctor Who, all from the 1960s.
16. Spearhead From Space in 1970 was the first story shot entirely on film. This wouldn't happen again until 1996.
17. The myth that third Doctor Jon Pertwee suffered back problems and wore a corset under his costume is untrue.
18. The first three Doctors reunited for a story to commemorate the tenth season of Doctor Who. Sadly, William Hartnell was too ill to join his successors in the studio.
19. Katy Manning, who played companion Jo Grant, was very short-sighted and tripped over a rock on her first day's filming.
20. The opening "scream" of the Doctor Who theme tune made its debut on 1970 story The Ambassadors of Death.
21. Jon Pertwee dressed as a cleaning lady in an episode called The Green Death.
22. Katy Manning, who played Jo Grant, is best friends with Liza Minnelli.
23. The third Doctor's arch enemy was The Master, played by Roger Delgado. To date, five actors have played the part of the renegade Time Lord.
24. Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith, swallowed a fly on set while filming her last regular story, The Hand of Fear.
25. Louise Jameson, who played the Doctor's companion Leela, wore brown contact lenses for her first four stories. The writers created a plot to turn her eyes to the actor's natural blue.
26. The Deadly Assassin in 1976 is the only story to feature the Doctor without a companion.
27. The fourth Doctor's trade-mark long scarf was never designed to be so. The costume designer gave balls of wool to a knitter, who just kept going till she ran out of wool!
28. Tom Baker was bitten on the lip by a dog while recording the 1978 story The Pirate Planet.
29. The Doctor's robot dog, K-9, was originally called Fido.
30. During his final series, Tom Baker fell ill and his naturally curly hair turned straight, so he was given a perm.
31. City of Death in 1979 is the first story to be filmed outside of the UK.
32. Tom Baker broke his collar bone while shooting his location work as The Doctor.
33. The story Shada began filming in 1979 but was never completed or broadcast.
34. When Tom Baker was unavailable for the Five Doctors reunion story, scenes from the abandoned story Shada were used.
35. Fifth Doctor Peter Davison is the youngest actor to have been cast in the lead role.
36. The final part of Earthshock in 1982 was broadcast without end title music as a tribute to companion Adric who died in that story.
37. Peter Davison's first adventure, Castrovalva, was actually the fourth story he recorded.
38. In 1986, a young fan called Gareth Jenkins starred in his own episode with Colin Baker for Jim'll Fix It.
39. Sixth Doctor Colin Baker appeared as a Time Lord commander in a Peter Davison story.
40. Colin Baker and Jon Pertwee also played the Doctor on stage in a live musical extravaganza, The Ultimate Adventure.
41. The series was rested for 18 months during the sixth Doctor's period.
42. Colin Baker was considered for a role in Tom Baker's debut story.
43. In 1999, a Comic Relief special featured Rowan Atkinson, Jim Broadbent, Richard E Grant, Hugh Grant and Joanna Lumley as the Doctor.
44. Colin Baker was so popular in Israel in the 1970s that he was mobbed at The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
45. As a stage act, seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy stuffed ferrets down his trousers!
46. Not a lot of people know that McCoy was once a bouncer for the Rolling Stones.
47. The last scene recorded in the original series was of two women turning to stone in the story Ghost Light.
48. A 1993 Children in Need special saw several previous Doctors and companions arrive in Albert Square.
49. The 1996 TV Movie starring Paul McGann was based in America, but actually shot in Canada.
50. The film was dedicated to the memory of Jon Pertwee, who had died a few days before its broadcast on BBC One.
51. Christopher Eccleston was the first actor to be cast for the role who was younger than the show itself.
52. Murray Gold's re-worked title music contains elements from the original 1963 recording by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. The original tape loops had been found and preserved in the 1990s.
53. At the time of her hit Because We Want To, Billie Piper was the youngest solo female artist to have a number one song in the UK.
54. Following the episode Father's Day filmed in a church in Grangetown, Cardiff, several fans of the show chose to get married at the same location.
55. There are currently three TARDIS props. Two are made from wood, and one from lightweight fibreglass.
56. There are just four working Dalek props. Computer graphics and careful shooting are used to create an army of the Doctor's deadliest enemy.
57. Ten Cybermen suits were created for their return in 2006, plus two lightweight versions.
58. Victorian Cardiff for the story The Unquiet Dead was actually filmed in Swansea.
59. The sound of the Slitheen eyelids is created by rustling a piece of paper.
60. The first scene recorded of the new BBC Wales-produced draft was of Christopher Eccleston chasing a space pig through a hospital corridor.
61. Christopher Eccleston's battered leather jacket was bought in a second-hand store.
62. Writer Russell T Davies used to work on children's programme, Why Don't You?
63. Several Blue Peter presenters have appeared in Doctor Who, including Janet Ellis and Sarah Greene. Current presenter Gethin Jones played a Cyberman in 2006.
64. When filming at the Globe Theatre in London, the production crew brought inflammable Welsh straw with them to meet fire regulations.
65. Martha Jones is the Doctor's current companion. The production team consists of a further 10 people whose surname is Jones.
66. The landscape of new New York in the year 5 billion was actually filmed at the Gower Peninsula.
67. Christopher Eccleston's on-screen credit was "Doctor Who". David Tennant is credited as "The Doctor".
68. Welsh locations for series three include St Fagans, The Senedd and a return to Roald Dahl Plas in Cardiff.
69. Billie Piper wore hair extensions in The Christmas Invasion as she'd had her hair cut between series one and two.
70. Torchwood, the show's spin-off, is an anagram of the words Doctor Who.
71. David Tennant is 6ft 1 and 3/4 inches tall.
72. Freema Agyeman, who plays Martha Jones, was originally told she was auditioning for a part in Torchwood.
73. David Tennant and Freema Agyeman filmed the special trailers for series three on their day off. It took eight hours to record a 40-second promo.
74. Celebrity fans of the show include Adam Woodyatt, Dawn French, Jo Whiley, Jonathan Ross and Kylie Minogue.
75. Russell T Davies writes all his scripts from home and doesn't have an office at the BBC.
76. Russell submitted an early synopsis of what was to become 2005's The Long Game to the BBC in 1989. He was advised to write a show about mortgages instead.
77. David Tennant's favourite Doctor is Tom Baker.
78. Current script editor Gary Russell appeared as Dick in the 1970s version of The Famous Five.
79. Current producer Phil Collinson appeared on Coronation Street as the man who sold a house to Deidre.
80. Russell appeared as a Cyberman on Why Don't You? in the 1980s.
81. The 2006 adventure The Satan Pit was completed just 48 hours before it was broadcast.
82. Actor Nicholas Briggs provides the voices for the Daleks, Cybermen, Jagrafess, Nestene Consciousness and the Judoon.
83. In South Korea, Doctor Who is more popular than the American series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
84. Doctor Who Adventures is the UK's top-selling boys' magazine.
85. Everything ever filmed for the new series, including unused takes and deleted scenes, is retained in the archives of BBC Wales.
86. The BBC Doctor Who website is more popular than the site for EastEnders.
87. An episode of Doctor Who takes two weeks to film, and several months in post production.
88. Barry Newbury, who was the designer on the first episode, recently visited the current Doctor Who studios and met Russell T Davies.
89. For the forthcoming episode set in New York, none of the cast travelled further than Penarth.
90. Series three of Doctor Who took 187 days to shoot.
91. The TARDIS travelling through a blue vortex means it's going back in time. A red vortex means it's going forward.
92. As well as Doctor Who, Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures, the shows Totally Doctor Who and Doctor Who Confidential are recorded at the studios in Cardiff.
93. Series three writer Chris Chibnall appeared on BBC's Open Air in 1986 to criticise the writers of an episode that year.
94. There are six versions of David Tennant's outfit.
95. There are two versions of Martha Jones' red leather jacket.
96. In 2006, Radio Times dedicated its front cover to Doctor Who more times than any other programme.
97. DVD-style commentaries are broadcast via the interactive option on BBC Three's repeat showing.
98. A set visit auctioned for Children in Need raised over £20,000 for the charity.
99. Action figures of the Doctor and Martha are approved by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman before they are manufactured.
100. David Tennant will turn on the Blackpool illuminations this year, which will have a Doctor Who theme.
101 The creator of Doctor Who was Sydney Newman, a Canadian TV mogul who moved from ITV to the BBC in the early 60s.
Doctor Who Adventures issue 28
The new edition of Doctor Who Adventures features the new look for Dalek Sec on the cover.Inside, there is a special preview of Evolution of the Daleks and there’s also a look at The Lazarus Experiment – with photos from Martha’s first trip home.You can also discover loads of facts about those hags called the Carrionites and there’s a pull-out guide to the blood-sucking Plasmavore.Martha Jones joins the comic strip for the first time in an adventure aboard the astroliner Tritanic in part one of The Skrawn Inheritance, and there are posters of The Shakespeare Code, Evolution of the Daleks, The Infinite Quest and the Face of Boe.The issue comes in a gift pack – with five different gifts inside! There’s a Doctor Who stencil notebook, a pencil, part one of a TARDIS poster, a sticker booker and stickers.Doctor Who Adventures issue 28, is out in the UK on Thursday 26 April.
DW Toys Bump Up Profits
Doctor Who toys have helped the Character Group post a 122 per cent jump in profits.Pre-tax profits rose to 6.3 million pounds in the six months to February 28, up from nearly three million pounds last year, part of which was down to the demand for its "highly successful" Doctor Who toy range.It said it also expected to benefit from strong interest in its forthcoming Dalek Sec voice-changing helmet, after the success of the Cyberman voice-changing helmet last year, as well as toys from The Sarah Jane Adventures, which is due to air in the autumn, according to the Press Association.Also reported at Telegraph.co.uk.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver: More Real than the Real Thing
For boys of a certain age, Doctor Who's Sonic Screwdriver was the ultimate gadget. This blandly named Swiss Army Knife from a galaxy far far away made MacGyver look like an outsourced sysadmin.
This new toy from ThinkGeek does almost nothing more than the hand built versions we made as kids, other than flashing lights and sound. It is, however, more authentic than any other toy: According to the product blurb, the original toy was made bigger than the prop so the batteries would fit. The show's FX department took a mold of the that and then used a replica in the show.
Bonus feature? A UV pen and UV lamp built in for secret writing. $13.
Product page
This new toy from ThinkGeek does almost nothing more than the hand built versions we made as kids, other than flashing lights and sound. It is, however, more authentic than any other toy: According to the product blurb, the original toy was made bigger than the prop so the batteries would fit. The show's FX department took a mold of the that and then used a replica in the show.
Bonus feature? A UV pen and UV lamp built in for secret writing. $13.
Product page
More books in September
BBC Shop has released information about the next set of Tenth Doctor novels which are slated to be released on September 6th.
Wetworld by Mark Michalowski
When the TARDIS makes a disastrous landing in the swamps of the planet Sunday, the Doctor has no choice but to abandon Martha and try to find help. But the tranquillity of Sunday's swamps is deceptive, and even the TARDIS can't protect Martha forever.
The human pioneers of Sunday have their own dangers to face: homeless and alone, they're only just starting to realise that Sunday's wildlife isn't as harmless as it first seems. Why are the native otters behaving so strangely, and what is the creature in the swamps that is so interested in the humans, and the new arrivals? The Doctor and Martha must fight to ensure that human intelligence doesn't become the greatest danger of all.
Sick Building by Paul Magrs
Tiermann's World: a planet covered in wintry woods and roamed by sabre-toothed tigers and other savage beasts. The Doctor is here to warn Professor Tiermann, his wife and their son that a terrible danger is on its way.
The Tiermann's live in luxury, in a fantastic, futuristic, fully-automated Dreamhome, under an impenetrable force shield. But that won't protect them from the Voracious Craw. A gigantic and extremely hungry alien creature is heading remorselessly toward their home. When it gets there everything will be devoured.
Can they get away in time? With the force shield cracking up, and the Dreamhome itself deciding who should or should not leave, things are looking desperate...
Forever Autumn by Mark Morris
It is almost Halloween in the sleepy New England town of Blackwood Falls. Autumn leaves litter lawns and sidewalks, paper skeletons hang in windows, and carved pumpkins leer from stoops and front porches.
The Doctor and Martha soon discover that something long-dormant has awoken in the town, and this will be no ordinary Halloween. What is the secret of the ancient chestnut tree and the mysterious book discovered tangled in its roots? What rises from the local churchyard in the dead of night, sealing up the lips of the only witness? And why are the harmless trappings of Halloween suddenly taking on a creepy new life of their own?
As nightmarish creatures prowl the streets, the Doctor and Martha must battle to prevent both the townspeople and themselves from a grisly fate...
Wetworld by Mark Michalowski
When the TARDIS makes a disastrous landing in the swamps of the planet Sunday, the Doctor has no choice but to abandon Martha and try to find help. But the tranquillity of Sunday's swamps is deceptive, and even the TARDIS can't protect Martha forever.
The human pioneers of Sunday have their own dangers to face: homeless and alone, they're only just starting to realise that Sunday's wildlife isn't as harmless as it first seems. Why are the native otters behaving so strangely, and what is the creature in the swamps that is so interested in the humans, and the new arrivals? The Doctor and Martha must fight to ensure that human intelligence doesn't become the greatest danger of all.
Sick Building by Paul Magrs
Tiermann's World: a planet covered in wintry woods and roamed by sabre-toothed tigers and other savage beasts. The Doctor is here to warn Professor Tiermann, his wife and their son that a terrible danger is on its way.
The Tiermann's live in luxury, in a fantastic, futuristic, fully-automated Dreamhome, under an impenetrable force shield. But that won't protect them from the Voracious Craw. A gigantic and extremely hungry alien creature is heading remorselessly toward their home. When it gets there everything will be devoured.
Can they get away in time? With the force shield cracking up, and the Dreamhome itself deciding who should or should not leave, things are looking desperate...
Forever Autumn by Mark Morris
It is almost Halloween in the sleepy New England town of Blackwood Falls. Autumn leaves litter lawns and sidewalks, paper skeletons hang in windows, and carved pumpkins leer from stoops and front porches.
The Doctor and Martha soon discover that something long-dormant has awoken in the town, and this will be no ordinary Halloween. What is the secret of the ancient chestnut tree and the mysterious book discovered tangled in its roots? What rises from the local churchyard in the dead of night, sealing up the lips of the only witness? And why are the harmless trappings of Halloween suddenly taking on a creepy new life of their own?
As nightmarish creatures prowl the streets, the Doctor and Martha must battle to prevent both the townspeople and themselves from a grisly fate...
The Infinite Quest episode four preview online
The Official Doctor Who BBC website has a preview of episode four of The Infinite Quest, plus a promise of more previews every Monday, CLICK HERE to visit the site.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Series Three Coming to Sci Fi!
In a press release issued today, SCI FI Channel and BBC Worldwide Americas announced a major acquisition deal for the U.S. premiere of the third season of Doctor Who. The series will debut on SCI FI in July 2007, kicking off with the Doctor Who Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride, guest-starring award-winning comedy actress Catherine Tate.Chris Regina, Vice President of Programming, SCI FI Channel, said "Doctor Who has become a favorite among SCI FI audiences. We are happy to bring the show back for its third season and look forward to following the Doctor's continuing adventures with his newest companion."Candace Carlisle, COO, BBC Sales Company, commented, "SCI FI Channel has been a fantastic platform for the Doctor Who Series in the US. We're excited for the Season Three launch and think American audiences will simply love the Doctor's hip new companion."BBC Video will continue to work with SCI FI Channel on joint marketing promotions to support the Doctor Who brand in the US.Burton Cromer, Senior Vice President, Consumer Products, BBC Worldwide Americas said: "Our promotional partnership with the SCI FI Channel, both on-air and online, was a significant factor in the fantastic success we've had with the new Doctor Who. It's also helped drive awareness and sales of our 40 plus line of classic Doctor Who titles." The second season of the new Doctor Who earned impressive ratings during its airing on SCI FI, delivering an average of over one million viewers each week.Read the entire press release here.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Week 5 Schedules
For the transmission of episode five, Evolution of the Daleks, Doctor Who again moves its start time, this time to 6.45pm. Once more the programme is sandwiched between The National Lottery: The People's Quiz and Any Dream Will Do with Graham Norton.ITV1 counters with the latest in Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon, this week recreating The Golden Shot.BBC Two keeps Snooker addicts happy with three hours of second round of the World Championship 2007 while Channel 4 viewers can see Channel 4 News followed by Prince Charles: The Bachelor Years, a programme recreating the days when Prince Charles played the field and dated a number of beautiful women.Channel 5 has the film Blind Date postponed by one week.
Kylie Minogue cast?
The British Sunday tabloid newspaper the News of the World is running a report this morning claiming that Australian actress and pop star Kylie Minogue has been cast in the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special. Minogue, best known internationally for a string of chart hits including "I Should Be So Lucky" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head", began her career as an actress in the popular soap opera Neighbours in the late 1980s. She has also appeared in films such as Street Fighter (1994) and Moulin Rouge (2001).Says the News of the World's report: "A BBC insider said: 'Kylie jumped at the chance to be in the show and is really looking forward to acting again. She is flattered to be asked to be in such a classic TV show.'The Doctor Who team are delighted they've got someone as sexy and high profile as Kylie to ensure they win the annual ratings battle with ITV'."The report also claims that Minogue was persuaded to take the role by her friend and stylist Will Baker, a Doctor Who fan who has included several sets and costumes inspired by the programme in her stage tour in recent years. The paper also claims that she will appear in the programme as a Cyberwoman, but this is not supported in any of their "insider" quotes.The paper adds: "The show spokesman added: 'Russell [T Davies] is just putting the finishing touches to the episode and it will be TV dynamite.' Russell, who has met Kylie to discuss the part, said: 'I imagined she'd be booked up for the next two years'."
Dalek Overnight Ratings
The earlier start combined with the hot weather across the UK, meant that the overnight ratings for Daleks in Manhattan were 6.3 million, a share of 34.9%.Although lower than the previous three weeks, the programme was still the most watched programme on British Television, narrowly beating Casualty which came second with 6.2 million.The programme comfortably beat its main opposition on ITV1 Vernon Kay's Game show Marathon which got 3.8 million viewers.Overall, with one day to come, the programme is the 16th most watched of the week.On BBC3, Doctor Who Confidential achieved 486,000 viewers and was the third most watched programme on multichannel television.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Posters Promotion
The Western Mail newspaper, based in Cardiff, has a promotion starting tomorrow and every day until Friday, April 27 in which a series of exclusive, glossy, double-sided, official Doctor Who posters featuring different characters and villains will be given away free.
Robot DVD Cover
From our friends at Tenth Planet, we've received the cover illustration for the forthcoming UK DVD release of Robot, the first Tom Baker serial from 1974, previously announced as being out for release on 28 May.
Daleks Most Horrid
They maybe over 40 years old but they've still got it.
We asked you to vote for the scariest villain of the new series. Over 21,000 voted, with the Daleks - set to take Manhattan this Saturday - coming out on top.
Those creepy gas-masked zombies from The Empty Child were deemed the second most chilling, with The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit's the Beast coming in at third.
Of the win, Nick Briggs, the voice of the Daleks, said they "seem to have stood the test of time".
Here's the top ten in full:
1. The Daleks
2. The Empty Child Zombies
3. The Beast
4. The Cybermen
5. The Clockwork Droids
6. The Ood
7. The Empress of Racnoss
8. The Werewolf
9. The Autons/Nestenes
10. Chloe's Dad
Tune in on Saturday at 6.35pm, to see if the Daleks live-up to their reputation.
We asked you to vote for the scariest villain of the new series. Over 21,000 voted, with the Daleks - set to take Manhattan this Saturday - coming out on top.
Those creepy gas-masked zombies from The Empty Child were deemed the second most chilling, with The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit's the Beast coming in at third.
Of the win, Nick Briggs, the voice of the Daleks, said they "seem to have stood the test of time".
Here's the top ten in full:
1. The Daleks
2. The Empty Child Zombies
3. The Beast
4. The Cybermen
5. The Clockwork Droids
6. The Ood
7. The Empress of Racnoss
8. The Werewolf
9. The Autons/Nestenes
10. Chloe's Dad
Tune in on Saturday at 6.35pm, to see if the Daleks live-up to their reputation.
Judoon in the Room
BBC Writers Room offer Smith and Jones script download.
Russell T Davies has given his blessing for the BBC Writers Room to put the full shooting script for Smith and Jones online.
It features cool stuff like this:
THE JUDOON are big and brutish, stocky, thickset, in uniforms of studded black leather panels; the lower half is a leather skirt, like Roman centurions; hefty boots below.
Heads are covered with shiny black helmets, in the strangest shape, like the thick head juts forward, on to the chest, then twists up at the end. It's hard to work out, until the JUDOON CAPTAIN twists a clasp at his neck - the hiss of depressurisation - and lifts off his helmet.
The BBC Writers Room identifies and champions new writing talent and diversity across BBC Drama, Entertainment and Children's programmes.
Follow the link below to get the script. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader (It's probably on your computer anyway) to read it.
Get the script!
Russell T Davies has given his blessing for the BBC Writers Room to put the full shooting script for Smith and Jones online.
It features cool stuff like this:
THE JUDOON are big and brutish, stocky, thickset, in uniforms of studded black leather panels; the lower half is a leather skirt, like Roman centurions; hefty boots below.
Heads are covered with shiny black helmets, in the strangest shape, like the thick head juts forward, on to the chest, then twists up at the end. It's hard to work out, until the JUDOON CAPTAIN twists a clasp at his neck - the hiss of depressurisation - and lifts off his helmet.
The BBC Writers Room identifies and champions new writing talent and diversity across BBC Drama, Entertainment and Children's programmes.
Follow the link below to get the script. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader (It's probably on your computer anyway) to read it.
Get the script!
Torchwood designer expands empire
AN INTERIOR designer whose work has been seen on Torchwood and Big Brother is embarking on a quest for "world domination".
Lesley Taylor-Bottomley has just opened a showroom in her native Narberth, and already has stores in Cardiff and Swansea.
She is a regular contributor to Ideal Home magazine, This Morning, GMTV, and written extensively on interior design.
She supplied tiling for BBC science fiction series Torchwood and designed the bathroom and kitchen for reality TV show Big Brother 5.
This year her Welsh business Taylors Etc won Bathroom Showroom of the Year at the kbbreview industry awards.
Story continues
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The three-store venture is a spin-off company from the successful family business Taylor Tiles Holdings, which has been trading for more than 40 years. It specialises in importing and distributing tiles to both the house building and commercial sectors.
In 2004 her father, Brian Taylor, decided to "enjoy a little more free time" and sold the company to his daughter and her husband Kevin.
They decided to launch the new retail brand Taylors Etc.
Taylors Tiles Holdings Ltd continues to sell to the commercial and trade sectors across the UK. Taylors Etc trades in tiles, but also bathrooms, furnishings, interior fittings, and accessories.
Its staff includes five qualified designers and is conceived as "a one stop solution" for the whole house.
It has 20 employees and a projected turnover of £5m. Barclays, which has provided the financing for the Narberth expansion, des-cribed Taylors Etc as "an excellent example of how to extend a family-run business into something new, yet still capitalising on family experience and knowledge".
Ms Taylor-Bottomley said, "We aim to provide a flexible bespoke service for every customer. Whether that may be a £30,000 bathroom which we recently designed [or someone] simply buying new curtains and 2 metres of tiles, we can do it all.
"I'm delighted to be returning to my Narberth roots with the new store but it is not a sentimental decision.
"Pembrokeshire certainly has its share of affluent customers and a second home market which we aim to tap into."
Steve Davies, Barclays corporate relationship manager, said, "By using our knowledge and experience within the business market, Barclays has been able to support Taylors Etc financially and professionally throughout this exciting expansion.
"The investment in the new premises, in such a competitive market, demonstrates both Barclays' and Taylors Etc's confidence in the continued growth and success of the business."
Ms Taylor-Bottomley said, "The future looks promising. We don't intend to franchise, we want to expand the business to perhaps eight stores across Wales within the next five years and create a brand which stands for creativity and quality.
"After that, who knows, maybe world domination?"
Lesley Taylor-Bottomley has just opened a showroom in her native Narberth, and already has stores in Cardiff and Swansea.
She is a regular contributor to Ideal Home magazine, This Morning, GMTV, and written extensively on interior design.
She supplied tiling for BBC science fiction series Torchwood and designed the bathroom and kitchen for reality TV show Big Brother 5.
This year her Welsh business Taylors Etc won Bathroom Showroom of the Year at the kbbreview industry awards.
Story continues
ADVERTISEMENT
The three-store venture is a spin-off company from the successful family business Taylor Tiles Holdings, which has been trading for more than 40 years. It specialises in importing and distributing tiles to both the house building and commercial sectors.
In 2004 her father, Brian Taylor, decided to "enjoy a little more free time" and sold the company to his daughter and her husband Kevin.
They decided to launch the new retail brand Taylors Etc.
Taylors Tiles Holdings Ltd continues to sell to the commercial and trade sectors across the UK. Taylors Etc trades in tiles, but also bathrooms, furnishings, interior fittings, and accessories.
Its staff includes five qualified designers and is conceived as "a one stop solution" for the whole house.
It has 20 employees and a projected turnover of £5m. Barclays, which has provided the financing for the Narberth expansion, des-cribed Taylors Etc as "an excellent example of how to extend a family-run business into something new, yet still capitalising on family experience and knowledge".
Ms Taylor-Bottomley said, "We aim to provide a flexible bespoke service for every customer. Whether that may be a £30,000 bathroom which we recently designed [or someone] simply buying new curtains and 2 metres of tiles, we can do it all.
"I'm delighted to be returning to my Narberth roots with the new store but it is not a sentimental decision.
"Pembrokeshire certainly has its share of affluent customers and a second home market which we aim to tap into."
Steve Davies, Barclays corporate relationship manager, said, "By using our knowledge and experience within the business market, Barclays has been able to support Taylors Etc financially and professionally throughout this exciting expansion.
"The investment in the new premises, in such a competitive market, demonstrates both Barclays' and Taylors Etc's confidence in the continued growth and success of the business."
Ms Taylor-Bottomley said, "The future looks promising. We don't intend to franchise, we want to expand the business to perhaps eight stores across Wales within the next five years and create a brand which stands for creativity and quality.
"After that, who knows, maybe world domination?"
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Torchwood Series Two in 08
In a recent interview with The Stage, Julie Gardner confirms that series two of Torchwood, set to begin filming on Monday April 30th, will be returning to screens on BBC2 in January 2008.
"Last year, we started filming in March and we were on air with 13 episodes from late September, which was just so, so hectic. And we didn’t really have enough time – it was absolutely frantic from day one of prep, it was all hands on deck.And so, it just works for the BBC2 schedule that we can go in January. So it’ll just give us a little bit more time in our post-production. Which would be lovely, because we were delivering an episode every single week for transmission. It was incredibly tight. So it was just as well we didn’t have any last-minute technical difficulties last year!"
"Last year, we started filming in March and we were on air with 13 episodes from late September, which was just so, so hectic. And we didn’t really have enough time – it was absolutely frantic from day one of prep, it was all hands on deck.And so, it just works for the BBC2 schedule that we can go in January. So it’ll just give us a little bit more time in our post-production. Which would be lovely, because we were delivering an episode every single week for transmission. It was incredibly tight. So it was just as well we didn’t have any last-minute technical difficulties last year!"
The Viyrans invade Big Finish
In the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Big Finish Productions announced that a new race of monsters will be making their first appearance before the end of the year. The Viyrans will be introduced through an extended storyline called The Virus Strand. This story thread will consist of the single episode stories which accompany the new three-parters on double cd releases. The first installment of this series, due out this month, is Urgent Calls. Urgent Calls is set to be released with three-part story I.D., with both featuring Colin Baker.May sees the release of the second installment, Urban Myths, alongside Exotron. Both stories feature Peter Davison and Nicola Bryant.
Tegan Tales to come?
Play.com is reporting information on an upcoming DVD release. According to the site, a new box set, Tegan Tales, is currently scheduled for release in the UK on July 30th. The box set is slated to include Time-Flight, Arc of Infinity and Snakedance. No cover or special feature information is available at this time.
Bloodtide At The Globe
According to the official exhibitions website, Bloodtide - one of the witches from The Shakespeare Code - will be appearing for a limited period at Shakespeare's Globe in London, where some of the Series Three episode was filmed, as part of the tour and exhibition.Information on the Globe's website would suggest, however, that it is actually the Carrionite's costume that is on display at the exhibition rather than the actress who played Bloodtide, Linda Clarke, taking an interactive part.
Walters to play Whitehouse on BBC
Actress Julie Walters is to star as TV standards campaigner Mary Whitehouse in a drama for her chief target, the BBC.
Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story will dramatise the campaigner's battle with BBC director general Sir Hugh Greene.
Their feud led to Mrs Whitehouse being banned from BBC premises from 1965 to 1976. Sir Hugh is reputed to have used her picture as a dartboard.
Harry Potter star Walters said she was "very excited" by the drama, which will be shown on BBC Two later this year.
Executive producer Leanne Klein said the film would be based on first-hand accounts of the "surprising and often very funny" story of Mrs Whitehouse's rise to fame.
'Doubt and dirt'
The public morals champion began her career with the Clean Up TV Campaign in 1964.
She complained vehemently of the increasing "blasphemy, bad language, violence and indecency" she saw on television, and became the first general secretary of the National Viewers and Listeners Association in 1965.
Her prime target was the BBC and its "propaganda of disbelief, doubt and dirt".
Seen as a heroine of moral values by much of middle England, she was nonetheless derided in the media.
Sir Hugh Greene refused to meet her and ignored her campaign during his period as director general.
She once called him "the devil incarnate". He responded to her criticisms by commissioning a painting of her naked with five breasts to hang in his office.
"The clash of values between Mary and Hugh Carleton Greene is a battle of hearts and minds," said BBC drama commissioning editor Lucy Richer.
"This fantastic, revealing film brings to light the controversy that marked the launch of BBC Two, whose groundbreaking programmes so infuriated Mary Whitehouse."
Mrs Whitehouse died in 2001, aged 91.
Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story will dramatise the campaigner's battle with BBC director general Sir Hugh Greene.
Their feud led to Mrs Whitehouse being banned from BBC premises from 1965 to 1976. Sir Hugh is reputed to have used her picture as a dartboard.
Harry Potter star Walters said she was "very excited" by the drama, which will be shown on BBC Two later this year.
Executive producer Leanne Klein said the film would be based on first-hand accounts of the "surprising and often very funny" story of Mrs Whitehouse's rise to fame.
'Doubt and dirt'
The public morals champion began her career with the Clean Up TV Campaign in 1964.
She complained vehemently of the increasing "blasphemy, bad language, violence and indecency" she saw on television, and became the first general secretary of the National Viewers and Listeners Association in 1965.
Her prime target was the BBC and its "propaganda of disbelief, doubt and dirt".
Seen as a heroine of moral values by much of middle England, she was nonetheless derided in the media.
Sir Hugh Greene refused to meet her and ignored her campaign during his period as director general.
She once called him "the devil incarnate". He responded to her criticisms by commissioning a painting of her naked with five breasts to hang in his office.
"The clash of values between Mary and Hugh Carleton Greene is a battle of hearts and minds," said BBC drama commissioning editor Lucy Richer.
"This fantastic, revealing film brings to light the controversy that marked the launch of BBC Two, whose groundbreaking programmes so infuriated Mary Whitehouse."
Mrs Whitehouse died in 2001, aged 91.
Who's a lucky boy!
Sci-fi fan Lucas Ashton is such a big Doctor Who fan, his dad has made him his own Tardis.
Lucas (5), of Clifton Street, Brampton, is now the proud owner of 6ft 5ins Tardis in his bedroom – complete with flashing lights, controls and stands.Dad Richard Ashton decided to make it for his son after seeing his excitement about the programme.Lucas said: "It's lots of fun. I can pretend I'm anywhere at any time!"Richard set out to make the Tardis four months ago and accomplished the task with plenty of LCD lights and skilled carpentry.Mother Angela thinks that it is a wonderful idea – despite being very hard to clean.She said: "It's like having an extra wardrobe in his room."When I go in to wake him up each morning, he's already playing inside it."
Lucas (5), of Clifton Street, Brampton, is now the proud owner of 6ft 5ins Tardis in his bedroom – complete with flashing lights, controls and stands.Dad Richard Ashton decided to make it for his son after seeing his excitement about the programme.Lucas said: "It's lots of fun. I can pretend I'm anywhere at any time!"Richard set out to make the Tardis four months ago and accomplished the task with plenty of LCD lights and skilled carpentry.Mother Angela thinks that it is a wonderful idea – despite being very hard to clean.She said: "It's like having an extra wardrobe in his room."When I go in to wake him up each morning, he's already playing inside it."
Dalek comeback influenced by GM experiments
Doctor Who supremo Russell T Davies has outlined the contemporary influences behind the Daleks' latest return to our screens this weekend.Davies, the executive producer of the show, told the Radio Times: "The key to it all... is that the Daleks were born out of a genetic experiment, and that makes them great geneticists. And in an age of GM crops and DNA experiments that strikes a chord with all of us. I think we're all slightly afraid of all that stem-cell research. It was time to put the Daleks back where they really belong - in that sphere."He also explained to the listing magazine why the Daleks' use of genetically engineered 'Pig Men' as their slaves was fitting: "The Daleks do have problems with those suckers, bless them. There's a good tradition in Doctor Who of them having slaves to do their hands-on work. They had the Robomen in the 60s, Ogrons in the 70s, and I just wanted another version of that."For comprehensive coverage of the new Doctor Who series, including a teaser preview of 'Daleks in Manhattan', click here.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Doctor Who Magazine: In Their Own Words Volume 3
The Official BBC Doctor Who website has a preview of a special edition of Doctor Who Magazine featuring Tom Baker, CLICK HERE for more details
Great Scots
This is a link that was posted by Lorna Mitchell several days ago, reposted here for those that receive special notices. Scotland on Sunday is taking votes for the best Scottish actor, actress, artist, band, comedian, and writer. There is a write-in option where you could (as Lorna suggests) vote for David Tennant or Sylvester McCoy (or Paul McGann):
http://www.scotland onsunday. com/GreatScots/
Some of the results will be posted in Scotland on Sunday Review on May 13th.
http://www.scotland onsunday. com/GreatScots/
Some of the results will be posted in Scotland on Sunday Review on May 13th.
BBCi Doctor Who site - updated
The BBCi Doctor Who site has been updated.
The site has refreshed its front page to promote Episode Four: Daleks in Manhattan, and includes a picture gallery for the episode.
Direct Link to the BBCi Doctor Who website.
The site has refreshed its front page to promote Episode Four: Daleks in Manhattan, and includes a picture gallery for the episode.
Direct Link to the BBCi Doctor Who website.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Lizo reviews episode four of Doctor Who
The Daleks are back, hurrah! Last seen making an 'emergency temporal shift' at the end of Series 2, they're now in 1930s New York where they're unsurprisingly up to no good in this first part of a two-part adventure.
There's a lot of great stuff in this story. The special effects team deserves a huge round of applause for some fabulous shots. And the revelation of the Daleks' plan is a genuinely shocking moment. It's a brilliant way of taking the Time Lord's most famous enemies in a totally new direction.
The problem is how we get there.
For a lot of the episode the Daleks aren't very scary at all. Talking more than killing. While The Doctor and Martha spend an awful amount of time chatting and running around with some really not very believable new characters.
If you remember last year's two-part Cybermen story, we didn't really see them until the very end of the first part. But that didn't matter because the gradual build-up happened at the same time as we followed Rose and her heart-breaking quest to see the alternative universe version of her father. Her dad in her own universe died when she was a baby.
Here the build-up isn't nearly as captivating. The Doctor and Martha are investigating people disappearing in the city, and suspect that a mysterious group of Pig Men are involved. At the same time the Daleks are somehow mixed up in the building of the huge Empire State Building.
It's important to remember that although this may not be one of the best Doctor Who adventures, it's still way better than most other stuff on TV at the moment. The series has set itself an almost impossible task because so many episodes are so brilliant. And it's inevitable that occasionally there'll be one like this that's not quite as good.
So the big question now is whether things will really pick up in the second part called Evolution of the Daleks. Well you'll have to wait until next week to find out.
6 out of 10.
There's a lot of great stuff in this story. The special effects team deserves a huge round of applause for some fabulous shots. And the revelation of the Daleks' plan is a genuinely shocking moment. It's a brilliant way of taking the Time Lord's most famous enemies in a totally new direction.
The problem is how we get there.
For a lot of the episode the Daleks aren't very scary at all. Talking more than killing. While The Doctor and Martha spend an awful amount of time chatting and running around with some really not very believable new characters.
If you remember last year's two-part Cybermen story, we didn't really see them until the very end of the first part. But that didn't matter because the gradual build-up happened at the same time as we followed Rose and her heart-breaking quest to see the alternative universe version of her father. Her dad in her own universe died when she was a baby.
Here the build-up isn't nearly as captivating. The Doctor and Martha are investigating people disappearing in the city, and suspect that a mysterious group of Pig Men are involved. At the same time the Daleks are somehow mixed up in the building of the huge Empire State Building.
It's important to remember that although this may not be one of the best Doctor Who adventures, it's still way better than most other stuff on TV at the moment. The series has set itself an almost impossible task because so many episodes are so brilliant. And it's inevitable that occasionally there'll be one like this that's not quite as good.
So the big question now is whether things will really pick up in the second part called Evolution of the Daleks. Well you'll have to wait until next week to find out.
6 out of 10.
Monday, April 16, 2007
The Daleks are coming
Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of an episode of Dr Who being filmed at the Grims Dyke Hotel, Old Redding, and to commemorate Daleks will be paying a surprise visit.
Fans of the timeless scifi series will take the Daleks to the hotel to re-enact scenes from the original show between 10am and 3pm.
Some of the original scenes have been last during the past four decades so new footage will be filmed both inside the hotel and in its grounds.
What do you think of David Tennant as the Doctor; is he a Time Lord or a waste of time? Do you remember the original episode being filmed? What other films or TV episodes do you remember being shot in this area?
Click Comment link below to share your views.
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1327674.0.the_daleks_are_coming.php#comments_form
Fans of the timeless scifi series will take the Daleks to the hotel to re-enact scenes from the original show between 10am and 3pm.
Some of the original scenes have been last during the past four decades so new footage will be filmed both inside the hotel and in its grounds.
What do you think of David Tennant as the Doctor; is he a Time Lord or a waste of time? Do you remember the original episode being filmed? What other films or TV episodes do you remember being shot in this area?
Click Comment link below to share your views.
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1327674.0.the_daleks_are_coming.php#comments_form
Tennant tips Wee Jimmy as Dr Who
DR WHO David Tennant has revealed he wants the next Time Lord to be... Wee Jimmy Krankie.
The Scots star joked that Jimmy, played by Jeanette Tough, would be the perfect 11th doctor.
David, 35, even wants Jimmy to play the part in his school uniform, with his dad - Jeanette's husband Ian - taking over new sidekick Freema Agyeman's role.
He said: "When I die, I want to die valiantly. My successor's going to be Wee Jimmy Krankie - in the traditional outfit. That's how he's chosen to play it and I think that's going to work.
"And Ian Krankie will take over from Freema, still playing Martha Jones. That's the interesting thing that's going to happen - they will fall into a regenerative 'thing'.
"It's good. You just get a wee glimpse of it at the end of episode 13."
Last night Jeanette, 59, insisted she would be a fandabi-Daleks new doctor.
She said: "I've never turned down a challenge and wouldn't turn down that role if the producers were really serious.
"There's no reason why a Time Lord can't be a wee schoolboy. But I've never much cared for the Daleks.
"Ian and I would be quite a team against the most evil aliens in the universe."
The Krankies met David, who has been plagued by rumours he's about to quit the BBC drama, when they filmed the Comic Relief video for The Proclaimers hit I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles).
The Scots star joked that Jimmy, played by Jeanette Tough, would be the perfect 11th doctor.
David, 35, even wants Jimmy to play the part in his school uniform, with his dad - Jeanette's husband Ian - taking over new sidekick Freema Agyeman's role.
He said: "When I die, I want to die valiantly. My successor's going to be Wee Jimmy Krankie - in the traditional outfit. That's how he's chosen to play it and I think that's going to work.
"And Ian Krankie will take over from Freema, still playing Martha Jones. That's the interesting thing that's going to happen - they will fall into a regenerative 'thing'.
"It's good. You just get a wee glimpse of it at the end of episode 13."
Last night Jeanette, 59, insisted she would be a fandabi-Daleks new doctor.
She said: "I've never turned down a challenge and wouldn't turn down that role if the producers were really serious.
"There's no reason why a Time Lord can't be a wee schoolboy. But I've never much cared for the Daleks.
"Ian and I would be quite a team against the most evil aliens in the universe."
The Krankies met David, who has been plagued by rumours he's about to quit the BBC drama, when they filmed the Comic Relief video for The Proclaimers hit I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles).
S3: Episode Five - synopsis
The BBCi Press Office have released the synopsis for 3.5: Evolution of the Daleks.
Dalek Sec is reborn in human form and plans to build a Dalek empire in Thirties New York, as Russell T Davies's Doctor Who continues. While Martha fights for her life at the top of the Empire State Building, the Doctor must enter into an unholy alliance in order to change Dalek history for ever.
David Tennant plays the Doctor and Freema Agyeman plays his companion, Martha Jones. Miranda Raison and Ryan Carnes guest star.
3.5: Evolution of the Daleks airs on BBC One on Saturday 28th April 2007 at 6:45pm.
Dalek Sec is reborn in human form and plans to build a Dalek empire in Thirties New York, as Russell T Davies's Doctor Who continues. While Martha fights for her life at the top of the Empire State Building, the Doctor must enter into an unholy alliance in order to change Dalek history for ever.
David Tennant plays the Doctor and Freema Agyeman plays his companion, Martha Jones. Miranda Raison and Ryan Carnes guest star.
3.5: Evolution of the Daleks airs on BBC One on Saturday 28th April 2007 at 6:45pm.
Radio Times sports Dalek spoiler on cover
In issue 17, Radio Times is giving away the first of three packets of free Doctor Who stickers. Sticker packets will be free inside every copy of the magazine and will accompany exclusive editorial coverage of Doctor Who. Some of the stickers free in Radio Times are exclusive to the magazine, the others form part of Merlin's new sticker collection.Free Doctor Who sticker album As well as free stickers in the magazine, Radio Times readers can claim a free Doctor Who sticker album from WHSmith. The in-store promotion, a tie-up between Radio Times and Merlin will be featured in Discovery Zones in selected WHSmith High Street stores from Thursday 19 April for two weeks. Readers can also send off for the sticker album directly through the magazine if they cannot get to a WHSmith store.
UK/FRANCE: Kids brand Frubes in Doctor Who push
Yoplait Diary Crest (YDC) has again refreshed one of its brands aimed at children with an extension to its Petits Filous Frubes range.
The UK-based company has launched a limited edition pack featuring UK television character Doctor Who. The line extension replaces the Frubes Strawberry Sensation product.
Frubes product manager Pauline Vicente said the tie-up with Doctor Who would appeal to children. She said: "Doctor Who is a popular brand, with well-known characters that Frubes' key consumers associate with."
YDC, a venture between France's Yoplait and the UK's Dairy_Crest, said a TV ad campaign would support the launch. The company is spending some GBP1.1m (US$2m) behind marketing its Frubes range this year.
YDC is eyeing a 20% leap in sales volumes due to the TV exposure for Frubes, Vicente added.
The UK-based company has launched a limited edition pack featuring UK television character Doctor Who. The line extension replaces the Frubes Strawberry Sensation product.
Frubes product manager Pauline Vicente said the tie-up with Doctor Who would appeal to children. She said: "Doctor Who is a popular brand, with well-known characters that Frubes' key consumers associate with."
YDC, a venture between France's Yoplait and the UK's Dairy_Crest, said a TV ad campaign would support the launch. The company is spending some GBP1.1m (US$2m) behind marketing its Frubes range this year.
YDC is eyeing a 20% leap in sales volumes due to the TV exposure for Frubes, Vicente added.
'Dairy of a Nobody' true to text - Davies
HE'S renowned for "sexing-up" the unlikeliest of staid literary classics with a dose of nudity and sex.
And he provoked controversy with his uncompromising scenes of lesbian lust in the BBC drama Tipping The Velvet.
But master screen adapter Andrew Davies has now had to fend off claims he's becoming "tame" in his old age, with a new drama displaying little of the raunchiness of earlier works.
In a BBC Wales commission of George Grossmith's Edwardian classic Diary of a Nobody - best described as a kind of lower middle-class journal of the everyday frustrations of fictional narrator Charles Pooter - he's chosen to remain true to the original text.
This is a marked departure from saucy for Cardiff-born Davies, although this time he says it was "easier" not to turn up the heat on Pooter.
Story continues
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"I've played him straight," said Davies, "We've done it as a one man show as a talking head, with Hugh Bonneville playing Pooter.
"He's doing everything so you have to imagine the other characters.
"The biggest challenge was making the characters come alive through Pooter's narration. We have to be able to see through it, because he's not an entirely reliable narrator. So much of the humour comes from his not being able to see the joke that we see.
"It is one of the funniest books ever written in the English language and I used to read it growing up in Rhiwbina as it was a favourite of my father's.
"It's appealing mainly because of the gentle humour - the insights it gives you into late Victorian life - and Pooter himself, who is a wonderful character, genuinely loveable.
"I'm sure there was a dark side, but it doesn't enter Pooter's little world. Pooter himself is as gentle as you could wish. His friend, Gowing, goes in for rather dangerous practical jokes, but that's about as dark as it gets.
"I really love Pooter. Sometimes you just love someone so much you want to do it just the way to is - it's easier anyway."
Davies, however, says he'll be "back to form, stretching things as far as they can go" in a small screen adaptation of the 18th-century novel Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure.
This is likely to be at least as controversial as his adaptation of the Booker-winning novel The Line of Beauty shown on BBC2 last year, a tale of hedonism and homosexuality set against Margaret Thatcher's reign as Prime Minister in the 1980s.
His compelling screenplays of Tipping the Velvet, Vanity Fair, Wives and Daughters and Pride and Prejudice - featuring an iconic scene of Colin Firth's Mr D'Arcy emerging dripping wet from a lake - have all secured his reputation for turning literature into ratings winners.
Literary purists may have criticised some of the adaptations, but Davies claims he is merely filling in the gaps that earlier authors were forced to leave out due to the conventions of their time.
Father of two Davies, 69, who lives with his wife Cathy in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, said, "These authors would have made their sex scenes much clearer, had they known they were going to be read in our times."
He's also just finished the first draft on a screen adaptation of Middlemarch for director Sam Mendes, the Oscar-winning director of American Beauty.
"I did a great big TV adaptation of this back in the '90s so it's strange to be revisiting it again and trying to cut it down to two hours," Davies said.
"So I'm struggling with that at the moment. I think, though, it'll be like the last one I did but I'll make it more of a love story.
"Because it'll be a film, you can't spend too much on town politics and the way the different families in it interact with each other.
"I'm going to concentrate on the four main characters. It'll be much more romantic and emotional than the series.
"And I think Sam wants Kate Winslet [Mendes's wife] to play Dorothea. I don't think she'll be able to say no, will she?"
Diary of a Nobody is on April 24 at 9pm on BBC4
Davies eyes up 'Doctor Who' summons
Andrew Davies says he's now waiting for 'the summons' to write an episode of BBC Wales' ratings winner Doctor Who.
Although he hasn't yet been approached, he is keeping a close eye on the comings and goings of the Doctor - and the success that the Cardiff centre where it is made is having.
And although he credits the quality work of its writers, actors and crew with much of its allure, he is unreserved in his admiration for its head of drama, Julie Gardner.
'She's transformed the department at BBC Wales,' he says.
'I love doing as much work as possible for them, and part of that is because I get to work with Julie.
'The department is relatively small and you don't have to go through loads of bureaucracy to get things done.
'She's helped bring Life on Mars, Doctor Who and Torchwood to people's screens. She's got terrific taste and loads of enthusiasm, and everyone wants to work with her. And I'm one of those.
'She's not afraid to keep her contacts and use them. I met her years ago when I was doing something for Granada. She took over as producer when someone went on maternity leave and she kept up the contact.
'She gets her hooks into you - in a good way!
'I've not been asked to do Doctor Who yet, though - I'm awaiting the summons.'
And he provoked controversy with his uncompromising scenes of lesbian lust in the BBC drama Tipping The Velvet.
But master screen adapter Andrew Davies has now had to fend off claims he's becoming "tame" in his old age, with a new drama displaying little of the raunchiness of earlier works.
In a BBC Wales commission of George Grossmith's Edwardian classic Diary of a Nobody - best described as a kind of lower middle-class journal of the everyday frustrations of fictional narrator Charles Pooter - he's chosen to remain true to the original text.
This is a marked departure from saucy for Cardiff-born Davies, although this time he says it was "easier" not to turn up the heat on Pooter.
Story continues
ADVERTISEMENT
"I've played him straight," said Davies, "We've done it as a one man show as a talking head, with Hugh Bonneville playing Pooter.
"He's doing everything so you have to imagine the other characters.
"The biggest challenge was making the characters come alive through Pooter's narration. We have to be able to see through it, because he's not an entirely reliable narrator. So much of the humour comes from his not being able to see the joke that we see.
"It is one of the funniest books ever written in the English language and I used to read it growing up in Rhiwbina as it was a favourite of my father's.
"It's appealing mainly because of the gentle humour - the insights it gives you into late Victorian life - and Pooter himself, who is a wonderful character, genuinely loveable.
"I'm sure there was a dark side, but it doesn't enter Pooter's little world. Pooter himself is as gentle as you could wish. His friend, Gowing, goes in for rather dangerous practical jokes, but that's about as dark as it gets.
"I really love Pooter. Sometimes you just love someone so much you want to do it just the way to is - it's easier anyway."
Davies, however, says he'll be "back to form, stretching things as far as they can go" in a small screen adaptation of the 18th-century novel Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure.
This is likely to be at least as controversial as his adaptation of the Booker-winning novel The Line of Beauty shown on BBC2 last year, a tale of hedonism and homosexuality set against Margaret Thatcher's reign as Prime Minister in the 1980s.
His compelling screenplays of Tipping the Velvet, Vanity Fair, Wives and Daughters and Pride and Prejudice - featuring an iconic scene of Colin Firth's Mr D'Arcy emerging dripping wet from a lake - have all secured his reputation for turning literature into ratings winners.
Literary purists may have criticised some of the adaptations, but Davies claims he is merely filling in the gaps that earlier authors were forced to leave out due to the conventions of their time.
Father of two Davies, 69, who lives with his wife Cathy in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, said, "These authors would have made their sex scenes much clearer, had they known they were going to be read in our times."
He's also just finished the first draft on a screen adaptation of Middlemarch for director Sam Mendes, the Oscar-winning director of American Beauty.
"I did a great big TV adaptation of this back in the '90s so it's strange to be revisiting it again and trying to cut it down to two hours," Davies said.
"So I'm struggling with that at the moment. I think, though, it'll be like the last one I did but I'll make it more of a love story.
"Because it'll be a film, you can't spend too much on town politics and the way the different families in it interact with each other.
"I'm going to concentrate on the four main characters. It'll be much more romantic and emotional than the series.
"And I think Sam wants Kate Winslet [Mendes's wife] to play Dorothea. I don't think she'll be able to say no, will she?"
Diary of a Nobody is on April 24 at 9pm on BBC4
Davies eyes up 'Doctor Who' summons
Andrew Davies says he's now waiting for 'the summons' to write an episode of BBC Wales' ratings winner Doctor Who.
Although he hasn't yet been approached, he is keeping a close eye on the comings and goings of the Doctor - and the success that the Cardiff centre where it is made is having.
And although he credits the quality work of its writers, actors and crew with much of its allure, he is unreserved in his admiration for its head of drama, Julie Gardner.
'She's transformed the department at BBC Wales,' he says.
'I love doing as much work as possible for them, and part of that is because I get to work with Julie.
'The department is relatively small and you don't have to go through loads of bureaucracy to get things done.
'She's helped bring Life on Mars, Doctor Who and Torchwood to people's screens. She's got terrific taste and loads of enthusiasm, and everyone wants to work with her. And I'm one of those.
'She's not afraid to keep her contacts and use them. I met her years ago when I was doing something for Granada. She took over as producer when someone went on maternity leave and she kept up the contact.
'She gets her hooks into you - in a good way!
'I've not been asked to do Doctor Who yet, though - I'm awaiting the summons.'
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Earlier start time for Daleks
Schedules published for 21st April show that Episode 4, Daleks in Manhattan has an earlier start time of 6.35pm. The programme is once more sandwiched between The National Lottery People's Quiz and the talent show Any Dream Will Do.ITV1 appear to have altered their schedule to place their talent show Grease Is The Word at 7.25pm, missing Dcotor Who and placing it directly against the BBC's Joseph. Against The Doctor and the Daleks, they have scheduled Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon where Wendy Richard, Michael Le Vell, Jamelia and Andrea Catherwood help recreate Blankety Blank.BBC2 viewers are offered another futuristic drama series Superstorm which runs from 6pm-7pm, followed by live coverage of World Championship Snooker from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, while Channel 4 once more has Born Survivor: Bear Grylls. Last week this got 1.4 million viewers.Channel 5 is showing a 1987 Blake Edwards comedy, Blind Date starring Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger.Doctor Who Confidential is on BBC3 at 7.25Schedules are subject to change
Manchester United 4 - 1 Watford
The Guardian Unlimited had this to say on the Doctor's latest threat: "Did United really deny Foster permission to play simply because they own his contract?" he asks. "Or was it because someone in their hierarchy is a Doctor Who fanatic and wants to make sure United get the job done in 90 minutes so this week's episode isn't cancelled?"
Gridlock Overnight Ratings
Outpost Gallifrey reports Gridlock was watched by 8.0 million viewers, a 39.5% share of the total audience. Doctor Who Confidential had a rating of 0.56 million viewers, for more details visit the website by CLICKING HERE.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
S03E03: 'Gridlock'
If you think some of the rush hour traffic jams move slowly, wait till you discover how quickly they move in New New York. Although set in the future, certain parts are eerily reminiscent of how contmporary culture is panning out, especially as the police put you on hold. However, blaming a lack of manpower is perhaps a big understatement.There's a scene reminiscent of something from the beautiful Paul Thomas Anderson film Magnolia. Nope, there's no raining frogs. It's all to do with the lungs instead.The Face of Boe is back and delivers his final message that prompts Martha to demand some answers from The Doctor. She even uses a chair to hammer home her point, but not in the physical sense. It's a family show after all.Rumours have been rife that there's a returning monster from the old days of Doctor Who... and they're spot on. Lurking deep beneath the New New York traffic jams is an evil presence with a hatred of the living flesh who have taken over the planet and ruined his great architecture. Yes folks - Kroagnon is back, having escaped Paradise Towers via an Emergency Temporal Shift. It's now up to The Doctor to do some serious cleaning...Check back on Saturday night - providing the FA Cup match doesn't go to extra time - for our full review of 'Gridlock'. By the way, one of the above paragraphs is utterly false so as not to ruin your enjoyment of the episode.
< Previous Episode
< Previous Episode
The Now Show
This week's Now Show on BBC Radio 4 features a song about the scheduling for Doctor Who, wishing Manchester United a clear and decisive win, just to ensure that tonight’s episode of Doctor Who isn’t postponed. This is the latest of several Doctor Who-related songs to have been performed on the programme by comedian and Outpost Gallifrey forum member Mitch Benn.The programme is available via the BBC Listen again feature for the next seven days. The song is approximately 7 minutes into the programme.
Classic Series Downloads
Following a deal between BBC Worldwide and the P2P company Azureus, fans in the USA can now download several episodes of the classic series. The programmes are available for rent from the Vuze website for a small fee; the first episodes of The Three Doctors and The Talons of Weng-Chiang are available for "free rental". As well as classic Doctor Who episodes, other BBC material such as Red Dwarf and Steven Moffat's Coupling is available.NB: For copyright reasons, these downloads are currently only available in the United States, and because of the digital rights management software with which the files have been encoded, they can be played only on Windows computers running Windows XP or Vista (i.e. not on computers running Macintosh or Linux).
The Judas Gift
Big Finish Productions have now released the April installment of their Bernice Summerfield range, The Judas Gift by Nick Wallace. The Judas Gift introduces the Draconian character Kothar, being played by Michael Fenner, who will be recurring for this season.
The Braxiatel Collection. Once it was a home, a haven, one of the 800 Wonders of the Universe. Not any more.Draconia and the Mim are at war and the Collection is caught in the crossfire. Its future hangs in the balance as Bernice tries to fathom the motives of a new Draconian ambassador.Director Bev Tarrant must use every trick she knows if the Collection is to survive. She's been a smuggler, a killer and a thief, but all that's behind her now. Isn't it?Beware your sins will find you out. Especially when you accept the Judas Gift.
The Braxiatel Collection. Once it was a home, a haven, one of the 800 Wonders of the Universe. Not any more.Draconia and the Mim are at war and the Collection is caught in the crossfire. Its future hangs in the balance as Bernice tries to fathom the motives of a new Draconian ambassador.Director Bev Tarrant must use every trick she knows if the Collection is to survive. She's been a smuggler, a killer and a thief, but all that's behind her now. Isn't it?Beware your sins will find you out. Especially when you accept the Judas Gift.
Short Story Competition Update
Big Finish Productions has announed the status of their Short Trips short story writing contest. They are now halfway through reading the 1,073 entries, and hope to announce a winner in May.
Phobia Corner #6: Sex!
The Phobia: Sex
The Cause: Angel, The Outer Limits, Torchwood and The X-Files.
Shaggers of the world – unite and take cover! For if you become too hooked on the latest happenings in certain television shows you may well develop a fear of the old hanky panky. A quick poke of the fire is a one way ticket to incineration in the world of cult.
Most recently, hark back to Harkness for an example of why blokes might be wishing they were eunuchs. For the Torchwood crew, in the second episode 'Day One', had to contend with the rampant oestrogen of an alien-possessed female as she tried to screw her way through Cardiff.
Alien gas from a meteor that landed in Cardiff had seeped into the body of a disillusioned young woman and its life could only be sustained by shagging and grabbing the power from the other participant during the moment of, erm, truth.
Storming into a club, the horny lass grabs hold of a random bloke and drags him into the toilets for a bit of the old in-out in-out. Classy. But just as the jubilant lad was reaching the critical point, he dissolved into a pile of dust with his energy sucked dry. Poor guy. He’d have been better off staying at home with a copy of Big Jugs and some baby oil.
Similarly, a few years earlier in the second ever episode of Angel – ‘Lonely Hearts’ – nightclubs were also the hunting ground for nookie-needing beasts. A body-hopping demon used the haunt as the means of picking up new flesh to inhabit, but could only transfer itself during the sacred act of coitus. The corpses that were left behind presumably had smiles on their faces. What a way to go.
The whole alien body-snatching leading to snatch-fearing is perhaps best witnessed in a 1995 episode of The Outer Limits starring a pre-Charmed Alyssa Milano as the beastly bump 'n' grinder. 'Caught in the Act' followed Milano as a perfectly nice young lady called Hannah who comes into contact with an alien object that takes possession of her body. However, it needs the flesh of others to sustain itself and that's made a ot easier by shedding those clothes.
In one memorable scene, Milano's character disrobes and her young male conquest follows suit. As the pair entwine, the guy’s flesh starts to be absorbed into her body courtesy of some nifty CGI work. Presumably before he even has time to make it to half-mast, he’s already vanished. Don’t feel too much sympathy though – plenty of chaps would trade their life for a few seconds of nudity with Milano.
As if your collective hormones haven't already evaporated, an episode of The X-Files in 1994 saw Mulder and Scully investigate several deaths that occurred during the throes of passion. Entitled 'Genderbender', the story featured a creepy being that had the ability to change sex at will, rather like a homicidal Pete Burns. Packed full of pheromones that made him/her/it irresistable to others, this beast left a trail of both male and female bodies behind on their beds.
With all these similar plotlines in cult shows equating sex to a rather gory death, perhaps they should be shown more often on primetime television. What could be a more unique way of countering the rise in population across the globe?
The Cause: Angel, The Outer Limits, Torchwood and The X-Files.
Shaggers of the world – unite and take cover! For if you become too hooked on the latest happenings in certain television shows you may well develop a fear of the old hanky panky. A quick poke of the fire is a one way ticket to incineration in the world of cult.
Most recently, hark back to Harkness for an example of why blokes might be wishing they were eunuchs. For the Torchwood crew, in the second episode 'Day One', had to contend with the rampant oestrogen of an alien-possessed female as she tried to screw her way through Cardiff.
Alien gas from a meteor that landed in Cardiff had seeped into the body of a disillusioned young woman and its life could only be sustained by shagging and grabbing the power from the other participant during the moment of, erm, truth.
Storming into a club, the horny lass grabs hold of a random bloke and drags him into the toilets for a bit of the old in-out in-out. Classy. But just as the jubilant lad was reaching the critical point, he dissolved into a pile of dust with his energy sucked dry. Poor guy. He’d have been better off staying at home with a copy of Big Jugs and some baby oil.
Similarly, a few years earlier in the second ever episode of Angel – ‘Lonely Hearts’ – nightclubs were also the hunting ground for nookie-needing beasts. A body-hopping demon used the haunt as the means of picking up new flesh to inhabit, but could only transfer itself during the sacred act of coitus. The corpses that were left behind presumably had smiles on their faces. What a way to go.
The whole alien body-snatching leading to snatch-fearing is perhaps best witnessed in a 1995 episode of The Outer Limits starring a pre-Charmed Alyssa Milano as the beastly bump 'n' grinder. 'Caught in the Act' followed Milano as a perfectly nice young lady called Hannah who comes into contact with an alien object that takes possession of her body. However, it needs the flesh of others to sustain itself and that's made a ot easier by shedding those clothes.
In one memorable scene, Milano's character disrobes and her young male conquest follows suit. As the pair entwine, the guy’s flesh starts to be absorbed into her body courtesy of some nifty CGI work. Presumably before he even has time to make it to half-mast, he’s already vanished. Don’t feel too much sympathy though – plenty of chaps would trade their life for a few seconds of nudity with Milano.
As if your collective hormones haven't already evaporated, an episode of The X-Files in 1994 saw Mulder and Scully investigate several deaths that occurred during the throes of passion. Entitled 'Genderbender', the story featured a creepy being that had the ability to change sex at will, rather like a homicidal Pete Burns. Packed full of pheromones that made him/her/it irresistable to others, this beast left a trail of both male and female bodies behind on their beds.
With all these similar plotlines in cult shows equating sex to a rather gory death, perhaps they should be shown more often on primetime television. What could be a more unique way of countering the rise in population across the globe?
Friday, April 13, 2007
Ryan Carnes on Playing Gay, Doctor Who Guest Role
Ryan Carnes, who played Andrew van de Kamp's love interest in Desperate Housewives, recently talked to British tabloid The Sun about portraying a sexually-active gay teen on the show.
Said Carnes: "It was challenging, especially because Shawn (Pyfrom) and I were so young. Especially Shawn, he was only 18 when he started on the show. It’s a tough age to take on that role and it was testing, but it was fun and it’s from that show and that specific role that I've had the opportunity to move on. I didn't worry people would suddenly think I was gay and I wasn't embarrassed during the kissing scenes, but there is definitely a hurdle you have to conquer to really get into character."
Carnes was in the UK to shoot a couple of episodes for the science fiction series Doctor Who, a series which created the spin-off vehicle Torchwood for openly gay actor John Barrowman.
Said Carnes of the Doctor Who role: "I play a young guy who’s met the love of his life. The couple are at that stage of the relationship where they can’t get enough of each other - but then suddenly something strange happens. I sort of become a pig. I get caught between the human realm and the swine realm. It kind of throws a wrench into the relationship."
Said Carnes: "It was challenging, especially because Shawn (Pyfrom) and I were so young. Especially Shawn, he was only 18 when he started on the show. It’s a tough age to take on that role and it was testing, but it was fun and it’s from that show and that specific role that I've had the opportunity to move on. I didn't worry people would suddenly think I was gay and I wasn't embarrassed during the kissing scenes, but there is definitely a hurdle you have to conquer to really get into character."
Carnes was in the UK to shoot a couple of episodes for the science fiction series Doctor Who, a series which created the spin-off vehicle Torchwood for openly gay actor John Barrowman.
Said Carnes of the Doctor Who role: "I play a young guy who’s met the love of his life. The couple are at that stage of the relationship where they can’t get enough of each other - but then suddenly something strange happens. I sort of become a pig. I get caught between the human realm and the swine realm. It kind of throws a wrench into the relationship."
Convention - Unleashed II
Get ready for another fantastic convention this weekend; Doctor Who Unleashed II.
It's going to be a great weekend, full of Doctor Who celebrity guests, and more merchandise than you can shake a stick at, and it all takes place at the Holiday Inn in Ipswich.
So who's going to be there?
Colin Baker - The 6th Doctor
Nicholas Courtney - The Brigadier
Barry Letts - Classic Series Producer / Writer
Terrence Dicks - Classic Series Writer
Nicholas Pegg - Dalek Operator / Writer / Director
Prentis Hancock - Classic Series Actor
Angus Lennie - Classic Series Actor
Barbara Loft - Classic Series Actor
Doctor Who Online - Sebastian J. Brook & Paul A.T. Wilson from the site
There will be a few surprises on the day, including the actual 6th Doctor costume as worn by Colin Baker himself in the series.
We will be there too, so feel free to come and say hello, where we will have a few surprises of our own.
All weekend (adult) DWAS member - £55-00 non member - £59-00
Saturday/Sunday only (adult) DWAS member - £34-00 non member - £36-00
Child All Weekend £30-00
Child (Saturday/Sunday only) £18-00
A child is an attendee aged 14 or under and must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult. Child tickets are the same price for DWAS members and non-members.
Tickets can be bought on the day or by telephone on: 01273 789077
It's going to be a great weekend, full of Doctor Who celebrity guests, and more merchandise than you can shake a stick at, and it all takes place at the Holiday Inn in Ipswich.
So who's going to be there?
Colin Baker - The 6th Doctor
Nicholas Courtney - The Brigadier
Barry Letts - Classic Series Producer / Writer
Terrence Dicks - Classic Series Writer
Nicholas Pegg - Dalek Operator / Writer / Director
Prentis Hancock - Classic Series Actor
Angus Lennie - Classic Series Actor
Barbara Loft - Classic Series Actor
Doctor Who Online - Sebastian J. Brook & Paul A.T. Wilson from the site
There will be a few surprises on the day, including the actual 6th Doctor costume as worn by Colin Baker himself in the series.
We will be there too, so feel free to come and say hello, where we will have a few surprises of our own.
All weekend (adult) DWAS member - £55-00 non member - £59-00
Saturday/Sunday only (adult) DWAS member - £34-00 non member - £36-00
Child All Weekend £30-00
Child (Saturday/Sunday only) £18-00
A child is an attendee aged 14 or under and must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult. Child tickets are the same price for DWAS members and non-members.
Tickets can be bought on the day or by telephone on: 01273 789077
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