Wednesday, October 31, 2007

DR Who wins 2 NTA awards

The Official BBC Doctor Who website reports Doctor Who has won two of the three awards it was nominated for at the National Television Awards: best drama for the third year running and David Tennant best actor. Freema Agyeman lost to EastEnders' Lacey Turner for best actress. For a full list of the winners (courtesy Digital Spy) CLICK HERE. Also reported by BBC News. BBC News also has a photo of David and Freema at the awards, CLICK HERE and select #2 to see it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Miss you

Let Love In

A Tardis cake recipe

http://www.spacedoutinc.org/DU-21/tardiscakerecipe.html

Breakaway (Rose/Nine)

Tooth and Claw: A Story in Picspam

http://dettiot.livejournal.com/349769.html

Ask Colin Baker your questions...

http://www.freewebs.com/colinbaker/askcolin.htm

McGann Season Two Details


Big Finish has released full details on the forthcoming second season of audios featuring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, with Sheridan Smith as Lucie Miller. The series will be released monthly beginning in January.

Christmas Special Song Preview

Silva Screen Records has put the full track of The Stowaway, to be featured in the forthcoming Doctor Who Christmas special Voyage of the Damned, on its MySpace page.The song is performed by Yamit Mamo and will be included on the Series Three soundtrack CD, to be released on November 5.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

TARDIS pumpkin design

http://platypus.livejournal.com/439667.html

UPDATED Sgt Benton Makes Rare Appearances

This November, 2007 our "lovely Sgt. Benton" as Jo Grant once refered to him, returns to England for three guest signings sponsored by 10th Planet. Please visit their website at www.tenthplanet.co.uk for updates on these signings and many other exciting events to come.The dates and locations are:Dimensions - www.tenthplanet.co.uk/dimensions SATURDAY 10TH AND SUNDAY 11TH November 2007Collectormania - www.collectormania.com SATURDAY 17TH AND SUNDAY 18TH November 2007Memorabilia - www.memorabilia.co.uk SATURDAY 26TH AND SUNDAY 25TH November 2007By-pass the randomizer and set your co-ordinates for these exciting opportunites to meet John Levene.

WHO'S HAVING FUN AT CASTLE? Two related storeies on S4 filming

“Face the Music” is the first fan to report seeing Freema Agyeman yesterday on set at Margam Park in South Wales for Doctor Who series 4! (spoilers removed)They will finish filming at Margam Castle today (Friday)
“No sign of any ********* but did see David, Freema and Catherine Tate filming at the front of Margam Castle with plenty of dry ice around as either something seemed to be landing in front of them or something looked like it was about to explode. Catherine and Freema then left but filming carried on around the back of the castle with David and a military guy inside a stationary jeep… ”

The Time Lord landed at Margam Castle this week and avid fans of TV show Doctor Who were there to capture the scenes.Steven Price, of Sand Lane, Briton Ferry, took pictures as David Tennant and Catherine Tate filmed at the historic site.He said: "They were doing different scenes around the castle. I was there by chance."David Tennant and a girl dressed as a soldier were in one scene I saw filmed."Mr Price said he also got the chance to meet the star of the show.He said: "David Tennant went out of his way to sign autographs."Gary Jones, of Seaward Close, Sandfields, was another Doctor Who fan who got a chance to see the filming in Margam.He said: "We found out from a Doctor Who website that the show was being filmed so my brother and I headed up there."We got a closer view than we thought - we were just standing by the side of them."Mr Jones also got the chance to meet the latest Time Lord and described the actor who plays him as marvellous.He said: "I didn't think he would bother, but he took the time to sign autographs and meet people."

Record-breaking Timelord to stay

A RECORD-breaking sci-fi exhibition featuring some of Doctor Who's most fearsome adversaries has proved such a hit it is to remain in Manchester until next year.More than 180,000 fans of the travelling Timelord have already come face to face with the Cybermen, Daleks and other favourites in the Doctor Who Up Close exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry on Liverpool Road.And seven months after it opened, interest in the collection of props, costumes and monsters from the hit BBC series shows no sign of waning. Now bosses at the museum have decided to extend the exhibition's stay. Instead of closing on November 5, it will continue until January 6."We have had 180,000 visitors to the exhibition, making it the most successful we have ever had," said museum spokeswoman Sarah Roe.Among the highlights of the exhibition is the massive spider-like Empress of Racnoss, which was the focus of the Christmas Day episode last year.Dalek And for those who are brave enough there is the chance to step inside a Dalek - to see what a Dalek sees and give your own voice the chilling tone of the Doctor's arch enemy.The exhibition's opening coincided with screening of the latest Dr Who series. Further costumes and props have been added to the collection as they appeared on TV - making what was already the biggest Doctor Who exhibition even bigger.Ms Roe says children and adults fascinated by the magic of the TV series have flocked to see the show. But many visitors have then stayed in the museum or returned later to see the other exhibitions and broaden their understanding of science.And while the exhibition may not focus on scientific principles behind the Doctor's time-travelling adventures, Ms Roe believes it could inspire the scientists of the future."A lot of people have been inspired through science fiction. Our own director has said he was inspired to go into astronomy having watched science fiction," she said. Further details are available at msim.org.uk or doctorwhoexhibitions.com.

The Thing About Lost Boys...

Thanks to a BBC Press Release we know have a short synopsis covering episode nine of The Sarah Jane adventures, the first part of "The Lost Boy" adventure.
Sarah Jane and the gang face some old alien enemies again, along with an altogether unexpected foe, in the final two-part adventure of the series.A news report on a couple looking for their missing son, Ashley, brings a surprise for Sarah Jane when she discovers that the missing boy looks exactly like Luke. And when Mr Smith, Sarah Jane's super-computer, confirms that Luke is a genetic match with Ashley, Sarah Jane sends him back to live with his "parents". But, with no knowledge of his former life, Luke finds it hard to fit in and, when he tries to escape, he makes a startling discovery about who his parents really are. Sarah Jane, meanwhile, makes some investigations into the Pharos Para-Science Institute – a research unit that has been conducting experiments using alien technology. Floella Benjamin guest stars as Professor Rivers in this episode, which is written by Phil Ford."The Lost Boy" airs November/December - when all our questions will be answered.
Don't forget that Lis Sladen will be signing copies of the SJA audio adventures in London (the Borders store on Oxford Street, to be exact).

Friday, October 26, 2007

BARROWMAN: 'I'M NOT SINGING FOR THE MONEY'

Actor-turned-singer JOHN BARROWMAN has dismissed reports he is launching a music career for money - insisting he just wants to make good music. The 40-year-old Torchwood star recently signed a deal with Sony BMG and has just finished recording his debut pop album, John Barrowman: Another Side. He says, "I don't want to be a pop star. I just want to make good albums. "I didn't want people to think I'm putting out an album to make money. I'm putting out an album because I enjoy singing. I enjoy the songs."

Thursday, October 25, 2007

"Long Trip Alone"

David to interview Kylie

David To Interview Kylie For Radio 2

David will be interviewing Kylie Minogue for a very special Radio 2 programme, X-amining Kylie.
Coinciding with the release of Kylie's tenth studio album "X", David Tennant talks to the pop princess about her life and work. David and Kylie will star in the BBC 1 Christmas Day special "Doctor Who, Voyage of the Damned" which finds them aboard The Titanic.
The programme features a track-by-track taste of the new album "X", plus an exclusive song never before broadcast on the BBC.
A revised version of this programme, "Re-X-amining Kylie" - featuring additional material about "Doctor Who" - will be broadcast on Radio 2 following the BBC One broadcast of "Voyage of the Damned".
The interview will be broadcast on 27th November at 22:30pm.

5 Doctor Who Wallpapers

http://community.livejournal.com/dwicons/1196782.html#cutid1

KYLIE Minogue is set to solve a years-old Doctor Who mystery – she IS the Tardis!

Who buffs reckon the pop princess’s appearance as waitress Astrid Perth in a Christmas special cracks an ancient code.
Astrid is an anagram of Tardis, while Perth means “part” in Welsh, where the show is filmed – so her name translates as “part Tardis”.
And Kylie, 39, exits the BBC sci-fi hit by spinning into space – as the Tardis is frequently seen doing.
A BBC source said: “Viewers have often been told the Tardis is a living organism.
“But mystery has always surrounded what it is and what gives it its powers. The elements we know about Kylie’s appearance all point towards her being the Tardis.
“The fact Kylie had a hit called Spinning Around is an added irony.” But as usual with the show, fans will be left guessing the whole story.
Meanwhile, a scene at the end of the last series – in which a female hand picked a ring out of the Master’s ashes – has sparked rumours the character returns next series as a WOMAN.
But to add to the mystery, there are suggestions that John Simm – who played the Master – returns in the New Year.

Barrowman On Children In Need

John Barrowman will be appearing on the BBC's Children In Need telethon next month.The BBC Press Office lists him among the highlights, and although his exact contribution is not specified, the inference is that it will be musical.Also singing on the BBC One fund-raiser, on Friday, November 16, will be Kylie Minogue, who plays Astrid in the forthcoming Christmas special Voyage of the Damned, plus McFly, who had a cameo in The Sound of Drums.In addition, and as previously reported on Outpost Gallifrey, the telethon will have a special scene featuring Fifth Doctor Peter Davison and Tenth Doctor David Tennant.

Unspoken worlds


In the TV thriller Half Broken Things, house-sitter Jean, played by Penelope Wilton, says, "Living in other people's houses doesn't suit everyone ... but it suited me." As Half Broken Things is on ITV1, Jean's penchant for other people's houses is naturally a precursor to all manner of manor-based murkiness, up to and including murder. But, murder aside, it's too tempting not to apply to Wilton herself Jean's sentiment and the ease with which Jean slides herself into the space other people otherwise occupy. For this is what Wilton does: she immerses herself in characters and disappears into their lives. She has built a reputation as one of Britain's best actors by erasing herself. And she's been in Doctor Who. Twice.

Whether it's in Doctor Who or Chekhov, Penelope Wilton has an uncanny ability to climb effortlessly into character. Next up is Jesus's mum, she tells Gareth McLean.

In the TV thriller Half Broken Things, house-sitter Jean, played by Penelope Wilton, says, "Living in other people's houses doesn't suit everyone ... but it suited me." As Half Broken Things is on ITV1, Jean's penchant for other people's houses is naturally a precursor to all manner of manor-based murkiness, up to and including murder. But, murder aside, it's too tempting not to apply to Wilton herself Jean's sentiment and the ease with which Jean slides herself into the space other people otherwise occupy. For this is what Wilton does: she immerses herself in characters and disappears into their lives. She has built a reputation as one of Britain's best actors by erasing herself. And she's been in Doctor Who. Twice.
"In my life, I've had estates in Russia, houses in Spain, in Norway, in the deep south of America. I've lived in all sorts of worlds, been all sorts of characters," she says. "The thing about being an actor is that you turn into other people. You have to hide yourself a bit in order to let that other person come out."
Wilton has hidden herself remarkably over the years, with stunning stage performances in European masterpieces by Chekhov, Lorca and Ibsen, as well as seminal roles in the original production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal in 1978 (with Michael Gambon and her then husband, Daniel Massey), Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea in 1990, and Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes in 2001, in which she played Regina, an avaricious American monster. Her performance was electrifying.
On television, her roles have been varied, from Doctor Who's Harriet Jones - first MP for Flydale North and then PM - to Rosemary, a woman who falls in love with a murderess, in Alan Bennett's Talking Heads; from pint-sized Homily in The Borrowers to put-upon Ann in Ever Decreasing Circles. Her film work ranges from Iris and Calendar Girls to Shaun of the Dead. "It's lovely to do comedy, and I seemed not to be doing an awful lot of it. Such clever boys, Simon [Pegg] and Edgar [Wright]," she says warmly.
Howard Davies, who directed Wilton in The House of Bernarda Alba in 2005 and David Hare's The Secret Rapture in 1988, both at the National, says Wilton has a phenomenal ability to plumb the paradoxes of a character.
"One of her gifts is being able to describe people's strengths and weaknesses," he says. "She can always see two sides of the situation. In The Secret Rapture, she played this Thatcherite woman who behaved appallingly, but Penelope managed to make you feel for her, to sympathise with her."
Certainly, in The House of Bernarda Alba, Wilton brilliantly brought forth the tragedy of Bernarda's life - her potential curdled, her promise thwarted. "That's not on the page. She thought about the back story of that woman and what had made her," Davies says. "The play is a parable about Spain, but Penelope made Bernarda three-dimensional."
Russell T Davies, who cast Wilton in Doctor Who and, before that, in Bob and Rose (as Bob's mum), puts it another way. "I bloody love Penelope Wilton! I'm quite stuck for what to say because I genuinely love her. She makes dialogue sound effortless and almost thrown away because she knows that the words are just the chatter on top with whole worlds going unspoken underneath."
This is, perhaps, what people mean when they say Wilton possesses a "quintessential Englishness". What's not said is more important than what is said. (When I ask Guardian theatre critic Lyn Gardner what she thought of Wilton, Gardner said: "She can create silences that you can fall into and drown.") Still, as I've never really understood what quintessentially English means, I ask Wilton, who is very well-spoken.
"Isn't it boring? I don't understand what it means. It's because I speak as I speak, I think. It's lazy journalism. I would say I was a bit more European. Maybe it's because I don't shout a lot."
Do you get angry about things?
"Oooh, furious."
"It may be because I'm slightly guarded that people say that [she is quintessentially English]," she continues. "I don't tell everyone my life history because if everyone knows your inside-leg measurement, how can you surprise them? It seems to me, the less I know about someone, the more likely I am to take them as someone else"
It's not that there isn't a lot to tell. She was born in 1946 in Scarborough to parents from Newcastle. The family moved to London when she was young and she attended the Drama Centre. As a young actor, she worked with the likes of Christopher Hampton, David Hare and Harold Pinter, with whom she's friends. She married her first husband, Massey, in 1974 after meeting in a play. They had a daughter in 1977 and then divorced in 1984. He began seeing her sister, a relationship that lasted until his death in 1998. Her second husband was Borrowers co-star Ian Holm. They divorced in 2001, after 10 years of marriage and, so the cuttings report, after she coached him through a long and tortured spell of actor's block.
To probe all of this seems prurient, especially after her declaration of guardedness. And anyway, it's not really any of my business, she's so sweet that I don't want to upset her, and what's she going to say?
There are two things that are most striking about Wilton. One is her modesty. She's among the most self- effacing people - and is definitely the most self-effacing actor - I've met. Davies says: "She doesn't belong to the received version of how people see leading actors, as having egos the size of god-knows-what."
Wilton is definitely diffident, worrying that she'll run out of interesting things to say before we're out of time. You should make things up, I suggest.
"I know people who do. Michael Gambon does, I think. It's the constantly talking about yourself that's really boring."
Wilton is hardly boring, though. The other striking thing about her, entwined with the first, is her generosity, of which Davies says, "When you're with her socially, she makes you feel very important and witty. You come away thinking you've been funny, incredible company. It's only after you realise that she's made you that way and actually, she's been the witty one."
Her diffidence may be an elaborate act - a way to stay hidden - but I doubt it. She possesses decorum, and is absolutely bereft of a desire to show off. Isn't that unusual in an actor?
"Acting attracts shy people and show-offs. There's a certain sort that requires one and then there's the other kind. If you talk to Jim Broadbent or Ian McDiarmid, they're not show-offs. They're quite the other way, in fact."
Though the parts that Wilton picks aren't, in the main, what you'd call unassuming characters. They're usually strong, formidable, rounded women. She says she tries to avoid stereotypes. "When you get older, people are dying to stereotype you. You play the mummy or the auntie figure or you have to be batty. And actually, all of that's bollocks. People are who they are, but they're just a bit older. I think any woman encounters that stereotyping."
Wilton says it's often young male writers who don't write properly for women, though she has little truck with the argument that women write female characters best and men male ones.
Wilton has just returned from Morocco where she's been playing Mary, Jesus's mum, in Frank Deasy's much-anticipated take on the Passion, which will be screened on BBC1 next Easter. Evidently, she likes a challenge.
"It's only high-status roles for me," she laughs. "If you're going to play an iconic figure, you're going to disappoint 99.9% of the world, but Frank Deasy has written it very well. He's written her as a woman with a son who she knows will be killed if he continues what he's doing. It's very real."
Beneath Wilton's diffidence is steely determination. "I am drawn to characters that go on journeys, characters that are real people, that have life. You've got to look for them though you don't always find them.
"To play 'nice' school teachers or whatever just isn't that interesting".

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

DW Sound Editor Wins Award

Sound editor Kelly-Marie Angell has won an award for her work on Doctor Who.The 22-year-old was named Most Promising Newcomer at The Conch 2007 - the UK Screen Association's film, commercial and TV sound awards ceremony.Angell, who works for Bang Post Production, joined the series while on a gap year from a music and sound technology course at the University of Portsmouth. She said in a report on BBC News: "We use all sorts of things. Celery is used for broken bones, melons for blood and guts, and hair gel for slime. "My favourite scene was episode six of the last Doctor Who series where we had the Lazarus monster - it was a huge challenge."For that one, we used hair gel and lots of broken glass."Angell also works on spin-offs Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

'Who' should last 20 years, says Davies

Russell T Davies has said that Doctor Who is set up so it "should be around for 20-30 years".The writer, who revived the series, said it could continue with year-long gaps to keep it fresh.He explained: "I don't have any big ambitions except to carry on writing stories for telly. We've set [Doctor Who] up in such a way that it should be around for 20-30 years yet."Within that timeframe there will be year-long hiatuses to give it a chance to get its momentum back."Davies has also revealed his plans for the show's break next year - a series codenamed MGM or More Gay Men.He said: "It's going to be about fortysomething gay men and how jealous they are of gay teenagers. I've been longing to write something for adults."What got me started was a friend, a former Mr Gay UK, who split up from his boyfriend. He asked me, 'Why are so many gay men so glad we split up?'"That remark's stayed with me for six years. I think there's a self-punishing streak in that gladness and I want to explore it."

Sir Ben Kingsley denies Davros claims

Sir Ben Kingsley has refuted tabloid claims that he will play Dalek creator Davros in the upcoming season of Doctor Who.When questioned about the rumour, the Gandhi actor told The Guardian he had "never heard about this". An article in The Sun had quoted an insider on the BBC One show as saying: "Ben’s agent has been in talks for a while now and he’s very keen to play the part of Davros. A deal will be signed any day now."Davros was introduced in the 1975 story 'Genesis of the Daleks' and made regular appearances until he was last seen on screen in 1988.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Westmaas says goodbye

Conrad Westmaas, Eighth Doctor companion C'rizz, has issued a Goodbye Statement in the Big Finish Forum at DoctorWhoForum.com.


Dear All,

Well, my work here is done.

Five-ish years as a Who companion are up and before Lizard Boy is consigned to his odd little place in the Hall of Obscurity, I just wanted to say some thank-yous to a few fabulous people. (I would have prepared a Sarah-Jane or Tegan-style tear-jerker, but I haven't got a pot plant and it never "stopped being fun", so I've opted for the tried & tested 'thank-you-&-gush' format instead) Here goes:

DWM: First of all, HUGE thanks to the Talented Mr Clayton Hickman for keeping the flag flying in the wilderness years and beyond and for getting me involved in the crazy, mixed-up world of Who in the first place, to my then colleagues Scott Gray, Paul Burley, Peri Godbold, Benjamin Cook & Andrew Pixley - and to the new team Tom Spilsbury, Peter Ware & Stuart Manning. Big thanks to Martin Geraghty whose artwork has given me a great souvenir of my time in the TARDIS. And speaking of dreams coming true..

Big Finish: It's no secret that's it's been a bumpy ride at times but only when Pixley's Official History of Who is written will Big Finish's role in steering the show safely back to our screens get the credit it deserves. So another HUGE thanks to the wonderful Gary Russell and Jason 'Huge-Salary' for letting me guest in 'Omega' and then inviting me back on board proper to join the Eighth Doctor crew and making Daleks, Victorian freakshows and lethal ice-cream vans all part of a day's work! Thanks also to dear Nick Briggs and Barnaby Edwards for honouring what Gary started and giving me a great send off, to lovely Nigel Fairs, Ian Farrington, John Ainsworth & Ed Salt, and to BF's fine stable of writers including Joe Lidster, Lloyd Rose, Gary Hopkins, Julian Shortman, Alan Barnes, Trevor Baxendale, Nev Fountain, Simon Guerrier, Steve Lyons, Jim Mortimore, Will Schindler, Eddie Robson, Philip Martin & Graham Duff - and to the talents of the unsung post-production heroes, Steve Johnson and the CD cover artists - much appreciated. Thanks to my Who-gurus Davy Darlington & Robert Dick and of course to BF Doctors Peter, Colin, Sylvester & Paul and all the TV & audio companions & villains I've worked with, too numerous to mention, who've made the job such a joy. Oh, and just to put 3 quick myths to bed: a) No, Nick Briggs isn't systematically 'firing'/exterminating/deleting all the BF companions (hang on, what's that knock at the door? Aaargh!) b) Yes, Mr McGann recorded every single story with us in the studio and c) Yes, we really are all as buff as we look in the DWM 'Coming Soon..' comic strips.

Thanks to Derek & all at Tenth Planet for numerous signings & conventions, Cary & co at Regenerations, Ben & all at The Oncoming Storm, Shaun Lyon & the mods & bods of Outpost Gallifrey, James Goss & all at bbc.co.uk, Barnaby et al at The Offstage Theatre Co, lovely Charlie Ross, the fabulous naughty folk of KiNda and to Ed Thomas & Liz Griffiths at BBC Wales for a set visit I'll never forget.

And to every Who fan who's taken the trouble to write, email, draw a picture, buy a drink, make me laugh or just come up to say hi - you know who you are - thanks for making my day. (And to the less-than-kind corners of fandom - thanks for the tough exoskeleton.) Whatever you think of my contribution to BF, I hope you've enjoyed the work of some of the acting chums I've put their way like Daniel Barzotti, Liz Crowther, Lizzie Hopley, Eve Polycarpou and Zehra Naqvui.

Special mention must go to Edwardian adventuress and all-round best mate India Fisher. I suspect that (sooner rather than later..) Charley Pollard will be listed up there along with Sarah-Jane and Rose Tyler as one of the finest companions in any medium, just see if I'm wrong.

I'm bound to have missed a load of people out, so thanks to everyone who's made the last five years such a wild, weird & wonderful experience - aside from making all my fanboy dreams come true (Travelling in the TARDIS! Fighting Daleks! And getting paid!!!) it's been an invaluable source of fun, support and an incredible learning experience which has opened up some interesting new avenues of work. Speaking of which, if I can end on few of blatant plugs:

'Absolution' is available from Big Finish
Check out the trailer for my new film 'The Visitor'
& I'm currently appearing in 'Othello' at the Salisbury Playhouse.

To everyone listed above and to anyone I've missed - love always and thank you for giving me the trip of a lifetime.

Conrad xxx

Who Needs Another Doctor?


David Tennant's Tenth Doctor is set to meet Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor in a special scene commissioned for BBC One's Children in Need.

The scene, entitled Time Crash, was written by award winning Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat, and will transmit as part of the Children in Need fundraising evening on Friday 16 November 2007.

"It is an honour for me to be able to make the connection between the Fifth Doctor and the Tenth Doctor," noted Peter Davison. "However, now is not the time for sound-bites. I can feel the hand of history on my shoulder, even if I can't do the buttons up!"

Look out for more coverage on the site nearer the time - and don't forget to support Children In Need and donate on the night!

Sunday, October 21, 2007

The Doctor And Sarah Jane

Hold on Tight

SJA- Come with me

SJA- Come with me

DOCTOR Who looks a bit bovvered as he and new assistant Catherine Tate land in trouble.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article366028.ece on set pics, not so wow but ok since nothing new is going on series wise yet.

Toys R Us goes Doctor Who mad


Toys R Us are going Doctor Who mad with their brand new in-store display.

They've dedicated a massive 24 foot of wall space to Doctor Who in their stores up and down the United Kingdom as of today.

The new displays will be enhanced with lights and sound and will include both Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Cummins' Work To Go On Display

Drawings by Target cover artist Jeff Cummins will be among items on display at Hertford Museum from next month.An exhibition entitled Devoted To Doctor Who will highlight local residents' passion for the series, and will include work by Cummins, who lives in Ware, a locally-made Tardis, a K9, a Dalek, and a Doctor Who-inspired wallpaper collage by artist Kimberley Bevan.The display runs from November 28 to April 12. Entrance is free. The museum, in Bull Plain, is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am to 5pm. It will be closed between December 23 and 26.

RTD lets a mom have it

DOCTOR Who writer Russell T Davies told a woman she was an unfit mum for not letting her kids watch the sci-fi hit.

He was confronted by the mystery female at a wedding where she told him she was appalled by the Saturday night show because of bisexual character Captain Jack Harkness.

But her comments did not impress Swansea-born Davies, 44, who also writes the BBC Wales hit and Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood. He said: “I had such a go at her. I said ‘You’re an unfit mother. You’re ignorant. Your children are cleverer than you’. Then her husband came up and I thought there was going to be a fight, but they left.

“I can be very bolshie you know. I didn’t make Captain Jack bisexual from any principle, but because I thought it would be interesting from a narrative point of view. But having created him, I’ll defend him to the hilt.”

Davies, who now has homes in Cardiff Bay and Manchester, also revealed he loves his celebrity – most of the time.

He said: “I love it. The only place I don’t like the attention is in the gay clubs.

“I love to watch the ghetto come to life. All those people from Tesco and Barclays becoming themselves at night.

“But I do miss my privacy. God knows what it must be like for David Tennant.”

Friday, October 19, 2007

The Masterful Dance Commander

Sgt Benton Make Rare Appearances




This November, 2007 our "lovely Sgt. Benton" as Jo Grant once refered to him, returns to England for three guest signings sponsored by 10 Planet. Please visit their website at www.tenthplanet.co.uk for updates on these signings and many other exciting events to come.The dates and locations are:Dimensions, Washington, UK, 10th and 11th November 2007&Memorabilia, Birmingham NEC, 24th & 25th November 2007By-pass the randomizer and set your co-ordinates for these exciting opportunites to meet John Levene.

New Doctor Who 5" Scale Figures

http://www.character-online.com/products/doctorwho/5scalefigures/

Stardoll presents: David Tennant. Dress the Doctor??? oooook

http://www.stardoll.com/en/dolls/465/David_Tennant.html

John Barrowman Sound of Musicals I am what I am

Doctor Who - Through Glass

They by Fahrbot Drusilla

Classic Who icons - Hand of Fear part one

http://community.livejournal.com/glassasylum1984/2610.html#cutid1

Stamp Centre - Davros DVD offer

London's Stamp Centre has a fantastic Davros Collection DVD offer.

Scifi Collector / The Stamp Centre announce a special promotion on the new Davros Collection box-set.

They have a quantity of the Genesis of the Daleks stamp cover, personally signed by Tom Baker (The 4th Doctor) & Peter Miles (Nyder), worth £29.95, to give away completely free of charge to the first 80 customers who order from them.

The box-set together with the stamp cover, will be sent postfree, representing added value of over £30!

PREORDER this box-set for £99.95 from Scifi Collector.

Diaries of a Time Lord

A complete FULL COLOUR Pictorial Biography combining stunning Graphic Design and Fantastic Photography with a traditional biography. A Calendamag is the combination of a Graphic Biography and a 28 page 2008 Calendar gift wrapped together in an attractive set.

About the book

Respected Author John Peel writes an unauthorised biography of TV's Timelord throughout his various incarnations over the years. A fresh 1st person (or should that be regeneration) approach sees each Doctor recount his adventures.

Ideal introduction for new fans and immense fun for existing ones. Wait until you see how they explain the Peter Cushing Incarnation.. Ingenious. Also featured throughout are some terrific art spreads by Pete Wallbank.

Zone's graphic design department have created a visual feast with this beautiful, coffee table like, 132 page graphic biography. Stunning graphics and some never before seen photography make this a book that can be enjoyed as much for it's visuals as it's content.

About the Calendar

The Calendar features 13 wonderful art pieces created by renowned artist Pete Wallbank. Collected here for the first time. It opens into a portrait A3 Calendar. Beautifully designed the calendar is worth the SRP of £7.99 alone.

The Unauthorised Diaries of a Time Lord is available now, priced £7.99.

Obituary: Freddie Earlle




It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of Freddie Earlle.

Freddie was best known to Doctor Who fans for his role as a Aldo in the 4th Doctor adventure; Warriors' Gate.

Obituary: Arthur Newell


It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of Arthur Newell.

Arthur was best known to Doctor Who fans for his role as a Fourth Sensorite in the 1st Doctor adventure; The Sensorites.

Obituary: Keith Ashley


It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of Keith Ashley.

Keith was best known to Doctor Who fans for his role as a Dalek in the 4th Doctor adventure; Genesis of the Daleks and as a Zygon in Terror of the Zygons, (also a 4th Doctor adventure).

Obituary: Christine Hewett


It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of Christine Hewett.

Christine was best known to Doctor Who fans for her role as a Movellan in the 4th Doctor adventure; Destiny of the Daleks.

We would like to extend its sympathies to Christine's friends and family.

More Torchwood Books Announced

BBC Books has released full details on the second trio of Torchwood books, currently slated for release on March 6th, 2008.
Back Stories by David Llewellyn

Tiger Bay, Cardiff, 1950: A mysterious crate is brought into the docks on a Scandinavian cargo ship, the Kungssången. Its destination: The Torchwood Institute. As the crate is offloaded by a group of local dockers it explodes, killing all but one of them; a young Butetown lad called Michael Bellini.

Fifty-eight years later a radioactive source somewhere inside Torchwood leads the team to discover the same Michael Bellini, still young and dressed in his 1950s clothes, cowering in the vaults. As they question the intruder, it becomes apparent that each of them has met him in the past. All of them remember him talking incoherently about terrifying “Men In Bowler Hats” and little more, but it’s Jack who remembers him best of all....

The Twilight Streets by Gary Russell

It’s the start of a Cardiff autumn – the days are getting shorter, the dark evenings settling in.

There’s a part of Cardiff that no one goes to much. No crime, no murders, just…they stay away. A collection of old rundown houses and gloomy streets. Something’s not quite right there, something is off-kilter.

Except now, the Council are renovating the area. And a new company have been employed to do this. And look: they’re going to organise street parties to show off the gentrified area. Clown and face-painters for the kids, street magicians for the adults. None of this is Torchwood’s problem. Except that Tosh recognises the man sponsoring the street parties when she’s passing one day. Bilis Manger.

She sees him. There. In the street. And he waves to her.


Something in the Water by Trevor Baxendale

Dr Bob Strong’s GP surgery has being seeing a lot of coughs and colds recently – far more than is normal for the time of year. Bob contacts Owen Harper, an old student friend, who reluctantly agrees to look into it. Meanwhile Toshiko and Gwen are investigating ghostly apparitions in the marshy areas of South Wales. It’s been a dull month and they’re just about to pack up when they find a dead body.

The Team find that there’s been a massive spike in respiratory infections right across the UK. Captain Jack agrees that it’s worth investigating, but at the moment his priority is Tosh and Gwen’s work: they’ve brought the corpse back for examination. It’s old, in an advanced state of decay....and still able to talk.

Admittedly the cadaver isn’t exactly coherent, but neither is it what most people would call dead

Children in Need special

The BBC Press Office has confirmed the long-standing rumours that this year's annual televised Children in Need fundraising night on BBC One will contain what is described as "a very special episode of Doctor Who".No further details have yet been released. This year's telethon is on the evening of Friday 16th November, live on BBC One from 7pm.

'Outdated' Television Centre will be sold off to cut costs


In what will be seen by some BBC staff as a telling symbol of a dark day in the history of the corporation, the director general, Mark Thompson will today announce the sale of the headquarters building, Television Centre.
The building, one of the most iconic broadcasting sites in the world, has been the home to classic programmes such as Monty Python's Flying Circus, Doctor Who and Blue Peter, which has its garden in the "TVC" grounds.
Most of all it is known as the home of BBC News, with national television and radio news output both emanating from this 1950s structure, which was designed by Graham Dawbarn and is shaped so that, from above, it looks like a question mark.
The sale of Television Centre, in Shepherd's Bush, west London, has been prompted by the availability of space in new BBC buildings, such as the Media Village and the refurbishment of Broadcasting House, the original home of the BBC in Portland Place. Several BBC departments, including sports, children's and Radio Five Live will also shortly be leaving Television Centre to relocate in Manchester. "Television Centre was built in the 1950s and just doesn't work in the new century," said one BBC source yesterday. "We've got too much property and the building is past its sell-by-date."
In a statement, the BBC Trust confirmed: "We have approved, in principle, the sale of Television Centre and have requested a more detailed strategy on the BBC's property portfolio."
Speculation about the building's future has swirled around TVC for several years. As early as 2004, reports were emerging about whether it was sustainable. back then, the BBC denied any threat was looming.
"The BBC's plan is to have three main centres in London, at Broadcasting House, White City and Television Centre," it said in a statement. The BBC reported in January that a "property review" – originally due to close at the end of the year – could conclude that the White City centre would have to close down.
The BBC news website reported that the review had been given "new focus" by the – then impending – licence fee settlement. It added that the closure was being made possible by the decision to move hundreds of BBC employees to Salford, Manchester.
At the time, a corporation spokesman said: "The aim of [the long-term strategy] is to cut costs and provide buildings suitable for digital broadcasting."
"As part of this, we are looking at the future role that Television Centre might be able to play over the coming decades.
"We are currently costing a wide range of options, including a major refurbishment of Television Centre.
"As always, value for money for licence fee payers will be a prime consideration. There's still a great deal of work to be done before any decision can be taken."
The move to Salford – expected in 2009 – will affect children's programmes, sport, Five Live and new media, while a reduced BBC News staff are due to transfer to Broadcasting House, in central London.
Meanwhile, the BBC's most recognisable base cut a sad silhouette across the west London skyline last night. Inside the village that is TVC – situated around the question-marked shaped circular block known to staffers affectionately as "the donut" – lies a garden, with a sculpture depicting Helios, the Greek god of the sun.
Designed by T B Huxley-Jones, it represents, according to the BBC "the radiation of television light around the world."
Some corporation employees – those that survive the job cuts at least - would be forgiven for reflecting ruefully that the BBC's light has dimmed a little with news of the impending demise of this very iconic base.
On the day of record numbers of job cuts from the BBC newsrooms, the corporation's staff will regard the selling-off of the famous old building as a sign of the passing of an era.


Corrie wants Bruno Langley back full time


Coronation Street bosses want Bruno Langley to return to the soap on a full-time basis.Langley, 24, who plays Todd Grimshaw in the Manchester-based soap, has recently returned for 12 episodes to feature in the wedding storyline concerning his onscreen brother Jason (Ryan Thomas) and Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien).He first appeared in the programme in 2000 and departed four years later. He has starred in Doctor Who and Dalziel And Pascoe since leaving the show.Corrie's executive producer Kieran Roberts told The Sun: "We’ve been very impressed with Bruno's performances and the writers will be coming up with ideas to bring Todd back."He’s a terrific actor and it would be great for the Grimshaws to have him back for good. There’s a lot of scope for storylines for Todd because of his history with Jason, Eileen and Sarah."Ryan Thomas backs the move to get Langley to return to the cobbles.He commented: "I talked to Bruno about this while we were making the documentary Family Album: The Grimshaws and it makes sense for him to return. He's interested in the idea. "Jason and Todd have a great bond as brothers and after all family is what Corrie is all about. Jason has got past all the gay thing now - he’s not scared of it anymore - and he wants to see more of his brother."

John Barrowman to host prime time BBC One show The Kids Are All Right


John Barrowman, star of Torchwood and Any Dream Will Do, is to host a new prime-time entertainment show on BBC One.



Elaine Bedell, Controller of BBC Entertainment Commissioning, has commissioned the new entertainment format The Kids Are All Right from Initial, an Endemol company.



It's a show that pits adults against children in a thrilling battle of wits. Four adults compete to win cash prizes but there is one obstacle standing between them and the cash: seven super kids. Aged between nine and 15, these smart and sassy children are determined to see the adults go home with nothing.



Through four taxing rounds testing their brainpower, knowledge and speed of response, the adults can bank money. But they only get to take it home if they can win the tense, high-jeopardy final game, Beat The Kids.



In the exhilarating finale, the four adults must take on all seven kids, in ascending order of age, head-to-head on the buzzer. Beat a kid and that kid is eliminated and the adults are one kid closer to the cash. However, if the kid defeats the adult, that one is eliminated and the next one must step up to face the kid.



Can our adults defeat all seven kids and win the cash? Or will they be defeated and sent home empty-handed?



Executive Producer Andy Rowe says: "We are delighted to be working with the BBC on this project. It's a home-grown format that fizzes with energy and excitement. The kids are awesome – bright and hilarious and their knowledge is breathtaking.



"If the adults want to avoid complete humiliation, they will have to be really on their game. We are thrilled to have John Barrowman as our host: he's charismatic, commanding and very funny and gives the show that big event feel."



The Executive Producers are Andy Rowe and Tom Blakeson. The Series Producer is James Fox and Mark Linsey is the BBC Commissioning Executive.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

To Lose is to Win

What Have You Done?

The Master -When You're Evil

Mackenzie Crook wants to follow Tennant as Doctor 11


God i hope this is just rubbish!!!!

From Torchwood to Coronation Street. The brilliant career of Russell T. Davies

Russell T. Davies has been heralded as the ''saviour of Saturday night TV” with his two most recent projects, Doctor Who and its adult oriented spin off, Torchwood. Ranked the highest of all TV producers in 2006 MediaGuardian, he has become the man who can pick any project he wants and make it fly. I decided to find out more about the guy who has joined the hallowed ranks of most influential people in British TV, and discovered he has a very varied resume.The Welsh born Davies studied English Lit at Oxford University, but his first taste of TV work was a stint at the Beeb as floor manager and production assistant. In the late eighties he decided to set his sights on direction, and took a course at the BBC. He added the T. to his name around this time to avoid confusion with a well known radio personality.From 1988-1992, Davies beavered away with the BBC in Manchester, producing hit shows for kids, including the ironically named 'Why Don't You', whose theme song, I vaguely recall, included the seminal line: 'why don't you just switch off your television and go and do something less boring instead? 'Television, to Davies, was anything but boring, and he found himself being handed control of the script for the the sci-fi six parter for kids, Dark Season, in 1991. The show, featuring a young Kate Winslet, was a big hit, and Davies found more success writing for other youth oriented shows, including hospital drama Children's Ward.In the early nineties, Davies did a stint as storyliner on Coronation Street, a show he admires thoroughly for its working class roots. He has been quoted as saying he loves 'the the wit and wisdom of that show - I watch it five times a week', and that 'I'm not a fan; it's just ingrained. I love it.'After the Friday night ratings disaster that was The Grand, when he was abandoned and left sole scriptwriter, he gained a name as a quality writer for drama, including work on the successful Robson Green vehicle, Touching Evil. It was the outrageous gay drama Queer as Folk which aired on Channel 4 in 1999 that brought Davies huge recognition, and he won a Comedy Writer of the Year award in 2001. The Second Coming, which aired in 2003, starred Christopher Eccleston and won Davies a Royal Television Society Award, and Casanova, starring the now famous David Tennant was another Davies production. Davies had long maintained that the only way he would return to the BBC was if they allowed him to revive the defunct cult sci-fi hit, Doctor Who. By late 2003, he was approached by the new Controller of BBC One, Lorraine Heggessey, to oversee the revival of the show. He knew his time slot was the crucial Saturday night at seven, and acted accordingly. The new Doctor Who would have no cheesy effects or wobbly sets. It would be loud, visually compelling, and very, very British. Eccleston's Doctor returned on 26 March 2005, and the rest, as they say....Well, then there was Torchwood. Following the germ of an idea he had even before the new Doctor Who, for a team who would be "Separate from the government, beyond the police and outside the United Nations”, Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who. It's all about taking on aliens, using their technology, with lots of smart one liners, darkness and sex. Oh, and John Barrowman as Captain Jack, not only another great homosexual character, but an 'omnisexual'. Men, women and aliens. Pure Davies.

Who Will Win?

National Television Awards nominations announced.
After big successes in the last couple of years, Doctor Who once again features prominently in the nominations for the 2007 National Television Awards.
This time around, the show is once again nominated in three categories:
Most Popular Actor - David Tennant
Most Popular Actress - Freema Agyeman
Most Popular Drama - Doctor Who
If you'd like to vote, follow the link below to the National Television Awards website before midday on 31 October 2007. Whilst you're there, you might also want to show your support for Catherine Tate whose series is up for Most Popular Comedy Show.
The Awards show will be screened live on ITV1 on 31 October 2007.

National Television Awards Website

Shocked Sarah!

Elisabeth Sladen gets adventurous in new issue of DWM.
Elisabeth Sladen, star of The Sarah Jane Adventures, has been hinting at the first series' dramatic final story, The Lost Boy.
"All hell breaks loose!" Elisabeth reveals in the new edition of Doctor Who Magazine. "Sarah Jane tries to do the right thing, but then someone shows her something... and it's not the right thing. There's someone else who knows about the shenanigans in the attic. And Sarah Jane gets the shock of her life, too!"
Elisabeth also discussed her delight at this latest chance to revisit the character of Sarah Jane.
"When Russell first suggested The Sarah Jane Adventures, I wondered where they could take her, but she's opened up and I've absolutely relished that. I loved that period of finding things in Sarah Jane, and it's all come back. I'm so pleased."
Also in the new issue, there's exclusive access to the set of Series Four's Roman episode with director Colin Teague; new companion Catherine Tate chats about Donna, Daleks and difficult crowds; K9's birthday is celebrated as the magazine looks back fondly over 30 years of the Doctor's metal pooch and actor Noel Clarke reveals what happened when he met the Daleks.
The Doctor and Martha are deep in trouble in Part 3 of their latest comic strip adventure The First; acclaimed writer Steven Moffat talks candidly about who he fancies, childhood hobbies and what makes him cross as he plucks questions from Out of the TARDIS tin; and executive producer Russell T Davies writes about the Things You Don't Write in Production Notes.
Issue 388 of Doctor Who Magazine goes on sale from 18 October 2007.

Series 3 Soundtrack

Full tracklisting of upcoming CD revealed.

We've just received final details of the much requested follow-up to Murray Gold's Doctor Who soundtrack album.

Covering The Runaway Bride and all of the third series of Doctor Who, the 28 track CD features contributions from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Ben Foster, and vocalist Yamit Mamo:


All the Strange, Strange Creatures (The Trailer Music)
Martha's Theme
Drowning Dry
The Carrionites Swarm
Gridlocked Cassinis
Boe
Evolution of the Daleks
My Angel put the Devil in Me (performed by Yamit Mamo)
Mr Smith and Joan
Only Martha Knows
Smith's Choice
Just Scarecrows to War
Miss Joan Redfern
The Dream of a Normal Death
The Doctor Forever
Blink
The Runaway Bride
After the Chase
The Futurekind
YANA (Excerpt)
The Master Vainglorious
Martha's Quest
This is Gallifrey: Our Childhood, Our Home
Martha Triumphant
Donna's Theme
The Stowaway (performed by Yamit Mamo)
The Master Tape
Abide With Me

The Doctor Who Series 3 Original Soundtrack will be released by Silva Screen on 05 November 2007.

Sarah Jane down under

The Sydney Sun-Herald reports that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation will screen The Sarah Jane Adventures sometime next year. The ABC, which also broadcasts Doctor Who, is yet to confirm that it will be screening the spinoff programme.

Sad news at the Barrowans

Sad news from John Barrowman's Official website. John Barrowman and his partner, Scott Gill, were forced to give permission to have their Dog Trust rescue dog Tiger (originally named Tegan) put to sleep. For more details CLICK HERE.

Further Update on Torchwood Region 1 DVD Box Set

BBCAmerica is now taking fan votes to pick the cover for the Torchwood Region 1 DVD Box Set of Season One. The channel has issued the following statement:
On January 22, 2008, BBC Video unleashes Torchwood: The Complete First Season starring John Barrowman (Doctor Who) as Captain Jack Harkness. The biggest hit and highest rated drama in BBC AMERICA's history, this action-packed, adrenalin-fuelled new sci-fi series, from Russell T Davies (writer of Doctor Who, Queer as Folk), follows the adventures of a team of investigators who use alien technology to solve crime.And the fans have spoken - 1.6 million people alone watched the first episode. Now the fans can be a part of the show and get creatively involved with the DVD release by voting for their favorite cover artwork.From October 15 through October 26, fans can go to a special voting page on BBCAmerica.com and vote for their favorite cover. When the voting closes, the artwork that receives the most votes will be used for this highly-anticipated 7-disc box set, which contains over 6 hours of bonus features. In addition, 20 voters will be chosen at random to receive a copy of the DVD once available at retail.

Sun gives "Voyage" details?

The Sun has reported alleged details from the upcoming Christmas Special "Voyage of the Damned", starring David Tennant and Kylie Minogue. In the past, the Sun has reported some accurate plot details about Doctor Who scripts (such as a 2005 report that the Daleks and Cybermen would face off, as they did in the episode "Doomsday") and has also printed some stories which proved to be false (such as a 2006 report that Zoe Lucker would be playing the Rani).

The Sun reports that Minogue's character, named Astrid Peth, will share a kiss with the Doctor, and that at the end of the special the character "spins off into space in a strange 'half-form' of herself." The article also states:
The episode is set on board the Titanic, "which has become a spaceship run by arch-baddie Max Capricorn."
Astrid and the Doctor team up to save the earth from Max's scheme.
"Astrid tells the Doctor: 'You need someone to look after you -- can I come with you?' He agrees."
"The special ends with a stunning scene in which the Titanic falls from the sky and looks like crashing on Buckingham Palace."

Saturday, October 13, 2007

I am now alone

Rose Tyler : The story of how I died.

Hero

Peter is Doctor grew

FORMER Doctor Who Peter Davison had to wear Sylvester McCoy’s TV outfit to film a spoof show – as he’s too tubby to fit into his original costume.

Peter, 56 – a slim 30-something when he played the Time Lord from 1981 to 1984 – is reprising his role for a Children In Need special.
An insider said: “Peter’s not exactly a fatty, but he’s filled out a bit after 20 years.”
Fortunately the outfit worn by Sylvester fitted. Peter and current Doctor David Tennant join forces on the show on November 19.

Dr Who gets TV licence blame

DOCTOR Who, windy weather and baby sick have been given as excuses for dodging the TV licence fee in Manchester.But despite the desperate pleas, more than 5,700 evaders in the city were caught watching TV without a licence - an average of 27 a day - between January and July.According to TV Licensing, which has just revealed the worst excuses of 2007, one of the most creative explanations was: "I only watch Doctor Who, so I will only pay when the series is on."The top excuses given in Manchester include:`A gust of wind blew the payment cheque out of my hand. I'm not going to buy a licence as someone might find the cheque and post it for me.' `I don't actually watch TV. I just keep it for the company.' `I haven't been paying for my TV licence because I've broken my arm.' `I couldn't make my last payment as my baby was sick on my shoulder and I didn't want to go to the shop smelling of sick, because the guy I fancy works there.' Charlotte Hancock, from TV Licensing said: "These excuses may be inventive, but they don't fool our enquiry officers. Any household that watches or records programmes as they are being shown requires a licence, regardless of the programmes they watch. We can identify at the touch of a button which addresses are unlicensed."Handheld detectors TV Licensing officers monitor a database of 29 million addresses and use new handheld detectors, no bigger than a torch, to target offenders. Ms Hancock added: "Putting the blame on someone else isn't a way to avoid paying the licence fee, which could mean a trip to court and a fine of up to £1,000 - and you will still need to buy a TV licence."National top excuses include: 'My wife has her hair done twice a week and so we find it difficult to pay.''You'll have to excuse me, but I can't think straight, my girlfriend has hit me on the head with a hammer, but I thoroughly deserved it.''I haven't renewed my licence because my wife flushed it down the toilet, along with my wallet.''My husband has just spent £3,000 on this massive panoramic flat digital TV, so we can't possibly afford a licence, sorry.'A colour TV licence costs £135.50 and a black and white £45.50. Payments can be made at PayPoint outlets, direct debit, online, by phone or by post. For information call 0870 241 5590.

Beeb unveils plans for interactive internet archive for every BBC show

DOCTOR WHO and The One Show are set to be at the forefront of a new project to archive every episode of every BBC programme with an interactive web page.
This could see Doctor Who fans unlocking extra storylines not shown on television from character blogs, MySpace pages and secret websites.
Speaking at a creative breakfast organised by producer-training group TRC last week, Simon Nelson, multiplatform controller for BBC Vision, explained that Doctor Who would be one of a few programmes given a full internet dimension beyond the television series.
These would sit above a wider archive of all BBC programme episodes that will be gathered together under a new part of the main BBC website. Nelson said that with only 20% of BBC programming currently supported by web pages, it seemed an "open goal" to tackle all the rest.
With the internet and television becoming ever more converged - the BBC iPlayer makes it possible to watch all BBC programmes from the past seven days online - Nelson said: "This is going to be a prime way in which people discover what they are going to watch. If you don't do this stuff, ultimately your programmes could become invisible."
He explained that programmes would be divided into three categories dubbed basic, enhanced and 360. The basic category, which is the general archive, will see every programme episode allotted a page with interactive information such as when it was transmitted and production credits.
There would also be a programme clip and possibly functions such as rating and tagging, although Nelson said these were "scary" to an organisation such as the BBC.
Asked by Andrew Chitty, managing director of new media producer Illumina and a board member of TRC, why it was scary when it was the kind of thing the BBC had to do, Nelson replied: "I totally agree, but at a traditional television business, the idea of letting audiences rate programmes to be seen by other members of the audience - that's pretty scary."
The enhanced and 360 pages would then provide extra layers of interactivity for certain selected programme brands.
Programmes earmarked for enhanced treatment include Andrew Marr's History Of Modern Britain, Question Time and Later With Jools Holland.
The new web pages may allow people to embed a clip of the programme in sites such as YouTube and Facebook and then attach their own clips and photos under different headings. For instance, History Of Modern Britain might include a section where people could reminisce about 1970s haircuts. On top of that there would be interactive gismos, with a wiki-style "Memories" option mooted for the History page that would allow people to post entries on a giant timeline, saying why certain dates mattered to them.
Nelson said that the 360 category, which is expected to include Doctor Who and The One Show, would make the largest amount of interactive content available. These will be paid for from the budget currently being used to develop the BBC's interactive platforms.
He namechecked the site for US show Heroes (www.nbc.com/heroes), with its character blogs and online puzzles, as the sort of thing he had in mind.
He said: "A really big ambitious 360 doesn't just have to be a really exciting flash website. It's something that uses the whole canvas of the internet to create new stories, new services and games around it."

Comic Pegg set for Star Trek film


Hot Fuzz star Simon Pegg is poised to play Scotty in the new Star Trek movie.
The British comic has been offered the role of the chief engineer, played by James Doohan in the classic TV series, his manager has told BBC News. He played the editor in the Dr Who episode "The long Game".

The film, directed by Lost creator JJ Abrams, focuses on the early lives of Captain James T Kirk and Mr Spock.

Star Trek's 11th big screen outing also stars Eric Bana, Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy, and filming is due to start next month.

Doctor Who - You Do Something To Me

Doctor Who - Who Wants To Live Forever

Doctor Who - Who Wants To Live Forever

David Tennant and Freema Agyeman @ HMV Oxford Street

David Tennant (The Doctor) and Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones) will be signing copies of 'Doctor Who Complete Series 3 DVD boxset' at:
Monday 5th November - 1:30pm - HMV 150 Oxford Street, London
*Event will be a signing only. Fans can pick up free wristbands at HMV which allow entry to the signing. Wristbands will be available only from HMV 150 Oxford street from 9.00am on Monday 5th November onwards. One wristbands per customer maximum, no reservations, while stocks last, subject to availability, at participating store only.

Christopher Eccleston On Life After Doctor Who


Former Doctor Who Talks About Life After The Tardis And Working In The Us
FORMER Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston turned heroic tea drinker while working on cult sci-fi series Heroes.
The Brit actor joined the BBC Two series as Claude, the Invisible Man when he left Doctor Who after only one series.
And he admitted he loved his time on the American show.
He said: "I was made welcome by that crew and that cast.
"Being a Brit on that show, I've never been offered so many cups of tea in my life.
"But you do, it's like you get lots of attention because you're different."
"I think what interestedme was, having made British television for, what, nearly 20 years now, I wanted to experience American television.
"The process is different. Scripts are less tied down than the UK.
"I thought Claude was a really interesting addition to that cast of characters, dropping a Brit in with a Japanese and the Haitian."
While his time as the ninth Doctor was short and he's not saying whether he'll be back for series two of Heroes, the actor is a big draw in sci-fi.
After a career playing gritty roles in Shallow Grave and Jude as well as in television shows Cracker and Our Friends in the North the actor has become something of a kids' favourite.
Next week he stars in new fantasy film The Dark is Rising.
The former Time Lord plays another time traveller but this time he is a horseman who spreads terror.
He said: "99 percent of the dramas I've made have been for adults, and this was a real opportunity to try something new. I've had experience of making drama for children with Doctor Who. I think it's important if we can provide complexity and grey areas rather than just a funfair ride. That's what appeals tome.
"I think a younger audience is much more exacting than adults actually... they're much fiercer in their attachment once they've taken you to your heart, but they have better detectors than us."
Christopher brought Doctor Who back to the BBC and to millions of fans old and new who were gutted when he quit after one series.
While Scot David Tennant has become an even bigger Doctor there have always been questions about why Christopher took on the role just to quit so quickly.
All he will say is that he "was very proud to play the Doctor".
Of course, since leaving the show in 2005 Christopher has become an equally arresting character in Heroes - about a group of modern-day superheroes finding their powers - and will break further into films with The Dark is Rising, a grittier fantasy film than The Chronicles of Narnia.
While the Doctor was a good guy, his role as The Rider in The Dark Is Rising is a real "dyed-in-the-wool bad guy".
The 43-year-old from Salford, Lancashire, added: "I'd never heard of the books, but as a child I was one of those who was hugely passionate about The Lord of the Rings.
"I understand the passion people feel for these books, but I think they should be left for childhood. People say The Lord of the Rings were the greatest novels ever written, but no, they're not; they're childhood.
"But I read the book for this and enjoyed it very much, and obviously it's close tome because it's couched in Celtic mysticism and it's a very, very intensely British book."
His role as an evil horseman also allowed Christopher to become a bit of an action hero, although obviously a baddie action hero.
He joked: "The stunt men did easy stuff and I did the dangerous stuff."
Christopher's main scenes are with Alexander Ludwig, who plays Will Stanton, a young man who learns he is the last of a group of warriors dedicated to fighting against the forces of the Dark.
Like StarWars, Christopher's character tries to bringWill over to the dark side.
Given that it was Alexander's first ever film, Christopher is full of admiration for the American.
He said: "He's an amazing young man to carry a film like this.
"I carried a film when I was 27 and couldn't really speak or think for the two months afterwards, but he seems like it's water off a duck's back.
"He doesn't seem tainted by all the Hollywood that we all know and hear so much about."
Next up for Christopher is the play Macbeth in the West End.
He admitted: "It is something I've wanted to do since I was 17. But we have to pull a deal together."
As David Tennant is taking time out to play Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company next year we could see two Doctors in the house, at least in the theatres they will be performing in.
The Dark is Rising was written by Susan Cooper and is adapted by former Scots doctor John Hodge who was nominated for an Oscar for his adapted screenplay of Trainspotting.
It is filled with Harry Potter-style scares - particularly one scene in whichWill is chased by a giant albino cobra and 1000 live snakes, some 13 ft long, were used to fill half of a massive church.
One person who liked the snakes was veteran actor IanMcShane, the star of Lovejoy and Deadwood, who playsMerriman Lyon, the oldest of the Old Ones who guidesWill through time and also include Scots actor James Cosmo, Frances Conroy and JimPiddock.
Talking of the snake scene Ian said: "I grew fond of the snakes. I've never worked with them before. They were nice, you know? I was especially fond of this big python.
"He was this 30 footer. But they are very heavy. And I had these two that just kept looking atme..."
He also joked that he took the role in the film because it would mean his grandchildren could watch it.
He laughed: "They can't watch Deadwood, or something like that. This will be good, I thought."
James Cosmo is becoming something of a period costume actor starring in Braveheart, Troy and as Santa Claus in The Chronicles of Narnia.
The Scots bear of an actor laughed: "You do tend to get typecast in things, because people see you as your most famous roles.
"Which is fine, having a niche I work in most. But it is nice to jump out of that and do something ordinary.
"But I'mnot knocking it. To tell you the truth I amhappy sitting on a horse somewhere nice, not that there are any horses in this one.
"Doing action stuff is great fun, and then going back and doing something different."
The Dark is Rising is out next Friday, October 19.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Who Pumpkins!

Just in time for halloween an artistic fan comes up with Who pumpkin patterns.
http://community.livejournal.com/yeah_that_way/4185.html

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Doctor Who - Everything by Elisha Marie

Doctor Who: The Judoon Song

OMG!!!!

Doctor Who ~ The Satan Pit

one of my favorite scences

Watch out for the disinfectant!

What've I Got?

just tooo fun i like this one!!!



Who knew Marry Tamm had a website???? sweeeeeet

http://www.marytamm.com/page12.htm

David Tennant Talks To Academy

http://www.team-tennant.com/article/id195.html

Silva Screen Releases Doctor Who Series 3 Soundtrack

Selected tracks from the third series of the BBC' hit revival of Doctor Who are to be released by Silva Screen Records next month.Written by celebrated composer Murray Gold the show's powerful score is widely regarded as a major factor in the success of the revival of the series. From his ground-breaking, BAFTA-nominated score to Vanity Fair, to the RTS Award-winning soundtrack to Queer as Folk, Murray Gold is one of the most accomplished composers working in television today.Last year’s release of the music from the first two series was a bestseller and received huge acclaim from both critics and fans alike

Update on Torchwood Season One DVD US Release

According to the TV Shows on DVD website, it was announced today by the BBC and Warner that the Season One (as it is labeled for its US release) DVD Box set of Torchwood will be released on Tuesday, January 22nd, rather than January 8th as originally reported. In additional news, it is also reported that fans of the show will be able to choose the cover art for the boxset. The studio will soon launch an online poll that will allow fans to vote for their favourite cover art for the set.More details forthcoming. Below is the product description for the boxset.


The highly anticipated spin-off from the new Doctor Who, Torchwood: The Complete First Season blazes its way to DVD. Separate from the government, outside the police, beyond the United Nations, Torchwood sets its own rules. Led by the enigmatic, ever watchful Captain Jack Harkness, the Torchwood team delves into the unknown and fights the impossible. Everyone who works for Torchwood is young. Some say that's because it's a new science. Others say it's because they die young.

Sarah Clocks On


Corrie actress to guest star in Series Four premiere.
Sarah Lancashire, best known for roles in Coronation Street, Clocking Off and Rose and Maloney, is set to guest star in the fourth series of Doctor Who.
Sarah will play Miss Foster, an enigmatic and powerful businesswoman, in episode one, written by Russell T Davies.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be in Doctor Who," said Sarah. "It's a brilliant episode and I'm looking forward to taking the Time Lord on."
The episode will also reintroduces Catherine Tate as companion Donna Noble, who will track down The Doctor during an alien emergency in modern-day London.

Monday, October 08, 2007

A Look Ahead to "Torchwood" Season 2

Warning: Spoilers for "Doctor Who" season three and "Torchwood" season one below. Mild spoilers for "Torchwood" season two.If you're hooked on BBC America's airings of "Torchwood," you'll be glad to hear that work on season two has already begun. It won't air until January of 2008 in the UK and no word yet on a US air date, so the creators were understandably tight-lipped about what was coming. "If I say too much now, it'll be old news by the time it comes out," says head writer Chris Chibnall. Still, they did share a few tidbits from the upcoming season.Chibnall says, "In season one, It's almost like a dysfunctional family It's about these kind of disparate people trying to work together, trying to work each other out. In season two, that family is much more tight-knit. And it's about them going out in the world as a very close-knit team."We'll see more of Jack and Gwen together. "A very important part of season two is how does their relationship, how does it affect and how does it change their personalities," says Chibnall. Of the others, he says. "We have a lovely Toshiko episode in season two. I'm so excited. It's really great. Her emotional awakening that you see in season one plays into season two." Owen's "got some great stuff in season two. I keep doing that, don't I? 'And then in season two - I'm not going to tell you, I'm sorry,'" he laughs. "In season two, [Ianto's] more central to operations. He's not just making the coffee. As good as his coffee is. You'll see more of him."Freema Agyeman will cross over from "Doctor Who" to reprise her role as Martha. "She'll join 'Torchwood' for three episodes as a qualified doctor," says producer Richard Stokes. "She works very closely with Owen, because something happens to someone on the team that requires her attention specifically. And obviously, she works very well with Captain Jack. We were very keen that when she came in to the team it didn't feel like she and Jack were siding together and the rest of the team were all upset about it. She just blends into the team, in three episodes in a really good way. She's great. And she's lovely to work with, absolutely lovely to work with."Martha and Owen both have strong personalities and a clash between them seems inevitable. Will we see Martha slap Owen? "I don't think she does physically!" laughs Stokes. "Off-camera," suggests prosthetics supervisor Matt O'Toole."But verbally, there's a little bit of sparring there, yeah," Stokes admits.

Although Martha spends most of her time with Captain Jack and Owen, she has an interesting dynamic with others on the team. "By writing the scripts we've found that actually she and Gwen have a real sort of similarity - the humanist outlook of those two characters," Stokes says. "Which I suppose makes sense, because when Russell reinvented 'Doctor Who,' the new series, he always wanted the Companion to be the audience's way into the world of 'Doctor Who.' You have this extraordinary science fiction iconic figure of the Doctor and you want a very human companion. And in 'Torchwood,' there's a similarity there, between Captain Jack and Gwen. When Martha joins, you can see the similarity in how those characters work. They work very well together.""With Ianto, there's always that slight jealousy as to, 'just how much time did she spend with Captain Jack?' You know, how close did she get?" says Stokes. Will there be competition between Gwen and Martha? "It's very interesting, because the answer is no," says Stokes. "But we went through several drafts of the script to make sure that it didn't. What we didn't want to do was to make the conflict within the group. We wanted the group to be united in what they were fighting against. But no, they actually all get on very well. I mean, obviously there's conflict there, because this is drama. But they have a discussion relatively early on, basically about Captain Jack, and it clears the air."

Another anticipated guest star is James Marsters, best known as Spike on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." "He's a character who's a match for Jack," is all that Chibnall will say. "I can tell you he's absolutely brilliant. I've seen all the filming that he's done. I know he's had a great time. He did a gig in Cardiff while he was there. Wrote a 'Torchwood' song, I believe! An absolutely delightful man. Brilliant actor. Him and John Barrowman together, on screen, the scenes are fantastic. It's such fun!"Chibnall's reluctance to share details didn't stop his actors from letting a few things slip. Barrowman told Popnography.com that James Marsters is "a very good kisser" and Marsters told fans recently that Barrowman was "a better kisser than Sarah Michelle Gellar." In fact, Barrowman told the Chicago Tribune, "There’s a scene between [Marster's character] and Jack when they first meet, all I’ll say is, this scene is so hot, so horny, so horny, so violent, that all the fans who watch it are going to [er, appreciate it greatly]."Sex, drama, science fiction, horror - Chibnall loves the variety of writing he gets to do for "Torchwood." "You get to do all this and you get to write Captain Jack being omnisexual across Cardiff and play with Weevils and also do very kind of domestic scenes as well, with Gwen and Rhys and stuff like that. The range, the scope in 'Torchwood' of drama, from running through the streets, guns and lasers and all that and then also incredibly intimate, personal relationship and comedy."

End of Season Four showdown

Today's Daily Star reports on a major end-of-season showdown for the Doctor and companions versus an old adversary. The story ties together several other rumours that have been circulating in recent weeks over who/what may be appearing in the 2008 series, but there is no official announcement for the Star's speculation.

DOCTOR Who bosses are set to call back FOUR of the Time Lord’s favourite assistants – including Billie Piper – for a sensational showdown. The old cast members will be reunited to help the Doc fight evil Dalek creator Davros in an explosive finale to the next series.Leading the way in the line-up will be Billie (Piper) as Rose Tyler along with the rest of the Tyler family; they will hook up with the Tardis traveller’s latest assistants Martha Jones and Donna Noble. Also on hand to help out the Doc will be his old companion Sarah Jane Smith as well as Torchwood boss Captain Jack Harkness. Even the Time Lord’s dog K-9 will make an appearance. The TV source said: "This is the daddy of all shows. The writer Russell T Davies really wants to pull out all the stops for the finale next year."

Tennant + Myles Split ----Damn damn damn

British actor David Tennant has split from actress Sophia Myles after two years.
The Doctor Who star, 36, ended the relationship during a phone call from Los Angeles, blaming the distance between them.
Tennant met the Myles - who played Lady Penelope in the 2004 movie Thunderbirds - on the set of the sci-fi series.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Walking the Green Carpet - Neil Gaiman fanboys The master

http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2007/10/walking-green-carpet.html

Signed David Tennant Dalek up for auction on eBay

This 12-inch remote control Dalek, made specially for the Jonathan Ross show when David Tennant, who was just about to take over the role, was introduced as the new Doctor, is up for auction on eBay. It contains a speech recorded specially for the show by Nick Briggs who, as fans will know, does the actual Dalek voices for the show. This is the actual Dalek that appeared on air in the final TV version and was signed by David Tennant himself after the show had finished filming. Donated by the Character Group plc, all of the proceeds of this sale will go to Harrison's Heart Foundation (HHF) a registered UK charity that raises money for research into congenital heart diseases in infant children. The bidding is currently on £995 but it goes without saying that the plan is to raise as much as possible, so if there's anyone out there with deep pockets and a love of Daleks/David Tennant/Jonathon Ross then hit the link to place your bid.
>> Link - eBay

Like The Sun

Dammit i miss nine and rose now!!!!!


Doctor Who- Starlight Doctor - Remix

9 wallpapers - various Doctors

http://padawanpooh.livejournal.com/269150.html?#cutid1

K-9, Paper Dog Extrordinaire

Curse of Fenric picspam

http://ionlylurkhere.livejournal.com/18919.html?#cutid1

Tennant's 1988 Dream Job

David Tennant has said on numerous occasions that playing the Doctor is his dream job. Well, an enterprising individual known as derooftrouser on LiveJournal has discovered proof that Tennant held that opinion as long ago as 1988. Click here to see an excerpt from a 1988 edition of "The Grammarian", a publication of Tennant's alma mater, Paisley Grammar School. Drooftrouser has a transcript of the article here, and a photocopy of the original article here. The article refers to Tennant as David MacDonald, his birth name; he adopted Tennant as a stage name because there was another David MacDonald in Actors' Equity.In the article, Tennant says that he has two screen idols: John Cleese and Derek Jacobi. (Cleese made a cameo appearance in the 1979 Doctor Who story City of Death, and Jacobi appeared opposite Tennant as the mysterious Professor Yana in the episode Utopia earlier this year.)The "Grammarian" article says: "There is however one particular role which David would love to play – Dr. WHO. The reason? 'I have a fettish [sic] about men dressed in plastic suits !!!!' " It concludes: "Who knows, maybe one day David will be as famous as Peter Howitt (Joey, from "BREAD") who was also a pupil at Paisley Grammar School."Peter who?

Nesbitt denies casting rumors...again

In a recent interview with The Belfast Telegraph, James Nesbitt denied rumors that he was next in line to play the Doctor. Nesbitt admitted to hearing the rumors but stated that "there is no truth in it at all". "David (Tennant) and Chris (Eccleston) were so good I don't think I could follow them. I think I would be found out!" he joked. When asked if he would consider the role if approached, he said: "I think not."

The first trailer has been released for the Extras Christmas special.

'Doctor Who's Monster Makeover

With news that the Sontarans are being brought back, Cult Spy looks at the modifications made to the likes of the Daleks, Cybermen, Autons and the Macra - all of whom have appeared in the classic series as well as the new.

The Daleks

The Old: The dastardly pepperpots menaced viewers throughout the 1960s, with help from the atmosphere created by the show being filmed in black and white. Their appearance looked less impressive in colour during the following two decades, which exposed the flimsy and battered nature of the props.

Although they still had the power to scare small kiddies, the Daleks were increasingly lampooned by the media for their sink plungers, egg whisk guns and poor mobility. Just try and watch a Dalek navigate a cobbled road in 1988's 'Rememberance of the Daleks'. Their character had also suffered as time wore on. In the early days they were fiendish, plotting and individual mutant balls of hate within a metal shell. But once Davros entered the fray in 1975 they mostly became servile and followed orders in a robotic fashion. Even the renegade faction were the tools of the Supreme Dalek.

The New: The exterior pepperpot casing was given a more chunky look, giving the Daleks a more imposing screen presence. The new bumper at the bottom, adding more height, was very reminiscent of the Daleks used in the two 1960s Doctor Who movies, as were the larger 'ears' on the dome. The dilating iris at the end of the eye stalk harked back to the origin of the Daleks on television too. The rotating mid-section was a new feature though - and one used to terrific effect in 'Dalek'.

The exterior of the Dalek casing also took on more practical functions. The sink plunger was now more than a toilet-cleaning device, for it was used to suck up the face of a torturer in 'Dalek' and later extract information (and life) from poor Doctor Singh in 'Doomsday'. Their golden balls were now enough to make David Beckham jealous, for they could detach free from the casing and detonate.

As for their individual characters, they were brought back to life in the new series. Witness how the lone Dalek trapped in Van Statten's museum cleverly toys with Rose's emotions to gain what he wants. Also observe how two of the Cult of Skaro in 'Evolution of the Daleks' head off into the sewers for a discreet conspiratorial chat behind Dalek Sec's slimy back.

The Cybermen

The Old: From their first appearance in 1966, the Cybermen have constantly evolved from the initial 'sock on face' look. The visual principle remained the same - a metallic face with black, hollow eye sockets and distinctive 'handle bars' on the side of the helmet. A large external chest unit was present, which in later years was used as a point of weakness by their enemies as death would occur to a Cyberman if any gold got inside. In later years, moon boots and cricket batting gloves - both sprayed silver - were adopted by the giants.

Free from emotion, their voices were always robotic and monotonous, although in later years the Cyberleader did take on an American twang - especially when booming out the word 'excellent!'

The New: Interestingly, the new look of the Cybermen is regressive rather than progressive. Certainly less hi-tech than the 1980s incarnation, this new breed had a distinctive Art Deco look and incorporated the 'tear drop' by the eye not seen since 1975's 'Revenge of the Cybermen'.

It's important to bear in mind that John Lumic's Cybermen were not direct descendants of the monsters in the classic series who hailed from Mondas - for they were created from scratch in a parallel universe.

Vocally, these Cybermen were quite aware of the need for a catchphrase that their predecessors lacked. So suddenly we were bombarded (in a Patrick Troughton era cybervoice) with lines such as "you will be upgraded" and "delete! delete!" These words also served to tap into the contemporary issues of mobile technology, rather like the world's fascination with artificial limbs four decades earlier that inspired the creation of the Cybermen.

The Autons

The Old: The squid-like Nestene Consciousness had the power to control plastic and created an army of 'Autons' out of the stuff. They resembled mannequins which enabled them to quietly infiltrate shops and waxworks around the country. Their polished complexion and faceless features gave them the power to send viewers hurtling behind the sofa, especially when the end of their hands could detach and a gun pop out. They later developed the ability to speak - in a rasping, Dalek-like voice and also liked to hide their true forms beneath human masks.

The New: If it ain't broke - don't fix it. As the look of mannequins has barely changed, the Autons couldn't either when they reappeared in 2005. Their power to scare lies in taking an ordinary, everyday object - the mannequin - and revealing something more sinister. Their guns remained the same, although none of them spoke. The Nestene Consciousness did change, however, as the creature was now a molten vat of plastic rather than something that would make good calamari.

The Macra

The Old: The giant crab-like beings used to have big-bulging eyes that glowed in the dark, alongside impressive pincers. They were the size of a garden shed and not terribly mobile, but were quite devious and used gas in a bid to gain mind control over a colony of humans.

The New: Devolution not evolution! Now lurking at the bottom of New Earth amidst the lovely fumes, the crabs are merely interested in their next meal and have lost their previous intelligence over millions of years. Thanks to some nifty CGI, they have grown in size significantly and have a real spring in their sideways step. Their previously lumbering pincers can now snap away at will.