Saturday, May 05, 2007
Friday, May 04, 2007
Nightmare Fair - Available Online
Originally available as a limited edition double CD in 2003, a full-cast audio drama of The Nightmare Fair, written by Graham Williams for the original, abandoned version of season twenty-three in 1985, features the Sixth Doctor, Peri and the Celestial Toymaker. It stars Mark J Thompson as the Toymaker and Nigel Peever as the narrator, and is now made available by producer Rob Dunlop as a free download here.
Mark Gatiss Interviewed
Mark Gatiss shot to fame in the legendary show The League Of Gentlemen and is a celebrated actor, author and comedian. But in recent times his world has been colliding with that of a certain Gallifreyan time-traveller known as The Doctor.
Having written spooky first season episode 'The Unquiet Dead' and last year's face-thieving romp 'The Idiot's Lantern', Gatiss is now heading in front of the cameras as a sinister scientist in the latest story 'The Lazarus Experiment'. Before you know it he'll be singing the Doctor Who theme tune as well. We caught up with the ubiquitous, multi-talented man for a chat about his latest Whovian endeavour...
You're known for being a dyed-in-the-wool Doctor Who fan. How did it feel to appear on the show?
"It was beyond exciting. I didn't know what to do. I didn't sleep at all the day I got the call. I thought, 'This is exactly how I imagined it would always be'. I was so excited - I couldn't stop thinking about it. Thank God, it's everything I hoped for: a brilliant part, great script, a proper meaty baddie role, so I was just delighted."
How gruelling was the make up process to turn you into a 76-year-old man?
"Yeah, it's a prosthetic mask that Neill Gorton did. It's amazing - this is not just actor's w**k, believe me - but it changes everything: the way you sit, the way you move. Honestly, I found myself reaching for a cup of tea in the make up chair and I was slightly delicate. When you see yourself like that, it changes everything. I weakened my voice and watched how old people move. My key contribution - apart from dandruff, I was very keen they put than on my tuxedo - old people, no matter how spruce they are, always have bits of skin falling off! I insisted on having dulled eyes, because bright eyes always give it away. So they made me these slightly rheumatoid, blind eyes. They take the shine off. It made a hell of a difference."
You've written for the show in the past as well. Do you find that being involved behind the scenes detracts from your enjoyment of the show when you watch it?
"No, I mean, obviously it's a thrill to watch your own show be made. I was just saying to someone else who was trying to get tidbits out of me for the rest of the season, but I honestly don't know - I always try not to know. I mean, if you're writing episode seven, it's always useful to watch the previous six to see where it's going, but at the same time, I really like not knowing very much. I know very little about how the rest of this season pans out, and I love that. It's like being a kid again - you watch each episode as it comes. It's very exciting that way."
Is it true you're writing an episode for the fourth season?
"I don't know. I do hope so, it's up to them if they want it! If they do, it's theirs."
Have you received one of Russell T Davies' legendary storyline shopping lists?
"Sort of. They've shrunk over the three years."
Can you give us any hints as to what might have been on there?
"Oh, I can't tell you, it would give everything away. But then things always change - you start out with a particular template and my last one, they wanted a rock and roll '50s one, and it became about the Coronation and became five years too early for rock and roll, became quite austere, almost post-war. It totally changes the whole feel of things. But if they liked that idea you'd go with that, really."
The BBC's faced criticism for moving the show's timeslot around. Do you think it's now on too early in the evening?
"Well, it wouldn't be if we didn't have global warming. I have to say, hand on heart, if I could change anything, it would be that this show was filming later in the year and going out in the winter in the kind of Robin Hood slot where it belongs. But having said that, the fact it's getting these amazing ratings in the heatwaves, then, is fantastic. My episode this week will get no viewers at all. There's something wintery about Doctor Who - when the Christmas specials are on, it just feels so right, doesn't it. But also, that's about the mechanics of television. If you're casting The Doctor, you might have someone you definitely, definitely want to do it, and then they're not available for two years. It just changes, you know. Similarly, in order for the programme to come back when it did, it had to be like this. Now it's in a cycle of production which you'd have to break in order to change it."
If you could bring back one classic baddie, who would it be?
"Mm, well, you know, I love the fact that the Macra came back the other week. It was such a thrill, I felt like a child, it was like 'F**k, it's forty years on'! Brilliant. I really like the fact that they're being quite careful with that. The Macra's not like a big baddie - obviously the Daleks and Cybermen need to come back and I would like the Ice Warriors. I think, for myself, I'd most like the Yeti to come back."
Perhaps you could write that one?
"Russell, I'd like to write the Yeti story. There! I would. I think the two stories they were in are both absolute classics. Even though they're slightly cuddly, I just think they're a brilliant idea, the whole thing with the Great Intelligence. You can do this thing now - the second one was set on the Tube, and it's a brilliant setting, the London Underground, and that was forty years ago. You could do it again. You're doing it for a new audience, it's not about thinking 'oh, we can't possibly do that'. The first episode of the new series was obviously the Autons coming through the shop windows - that's one of Doctor Who's greatest hits, but you can do it again for a new audience."
If Russell were - heaven forbid - ever to step down as the show's supremo, would you be interested in taking over?
"Oh, I can't say that. I don't think so."
Would it be too much pressure?
"It's not so much that, I worship the programme - I've given most of my life to it and several pints of my blood! It's really a very good thing to be slightly more detached and just to contribute as I am with a script and appearing in it like that. I couldn't be happier. It's such an extraordinary response and for Russell to have pulled it off so brilliantly...who would have thought a couple of years ago? And it's more popular than it's ever been, that's the most amazing thing."
Have you been surprised by the scale of the show's success since it came back?
"I always used to say that the way to do it would be for someone to have faith in it, to have a vision but fundamentally to make it a new programme for a new audience and this is exactly what Russell's done. The kids, they might be finding out now about old Doctors, but to them it's their show. The Doctor's their Doctor, the Daleks are their Daleks, each monster's their monster. The idea that in twenty years time someone might say - 'do you remember that one with the old lady and the ghosts' or something like that ... that's the best thing. I would have that on my tombstone. Although it would have to be quite a big tombstone, wouldn't it?"
'The Lazarus Experiment' will be shown on BBC One on Saturday, May 5 at 7pm
Having written spooky first season episode 'The Unquiet Dead' and last year's face-thieving romp 'The Idiot's Lantern', Gatiss is now heading in front of the cameras as a sinister scientist in the latest story 'The Lazarus Experiment'. Before you know it he'll be singing the Doctor Who theme tune as well. We caught up with the ubiquitous, multi-talented man for a chat about his latest Whovian endeavour...
You're known for being a dyed-in-the-wool Doctor Who fan. How did it feel to appear on the show?
"It was beyond exciting. I didn't know what to do. I didn't sleep at all the day I got the call. I thought, 'This is exactly how I imagined it would always be'. I was so excited - I couldn't stop thinking about it. Thank God, it's everything I hoped for: a brilliant part, great script, a proper meaty baddie role, so I was just delighted."
How gruelling was the make up process to turn you into a 76-year-old man?
"Yeah, it's a prosthetic mask that Neill Gorton did. It's amazing - this is not just actor's w**k, believe me - but it changes everything: the way you sit, the way you move. Honestly, I found myself reaching for a cup of tea in the make up chair and I was slightly delicate. When you see yourself like that, it changes everything. I weakened my voice and watched how old people move. My key contribution - apart from dandruff, I was very keen they put than on my tuxedo - old people, no matter how spruce they are, always have bits of skin falling off! I insisted on having dulled eyes, because bright eyes always give it away. So they made me these slightly rheumatoid, blind eyes. They take the shine off. It made a hell of a difference."
You've written for the show in the past as well. Do you find that being involved behind the scenes detracts from your enjoyment of the show when you watch it?
"No, I mean, obviously it's a thrill to watch your own show be made. I was just saying to someone else who was trying to get tidbits out of me for the rest of the season, but I honestly don't know - I always try not to know. I mean, if you're writing episode seven, it's always useful to watch the previous six to see where it's going, but at the same time, I really like not knowing very much. I know very little about how the rest of this season pans out, and I love that. It's like being a kid again - you watch each episode as it comes. It's very exciting that way."
Is it true you're writing an episode for the fourth season?
"I don't know. I do hope so, it's up to them if they want it! If they do, it's theirs."
Have you received one of Russell T Davies' legendary storyline shopping lists?
"Sort of. They've shrunk over the three years."
Can you give us any hints as to what might have been on there?
"Oh, I can't tell you, it would give everything away. But then things always change - you start out with a particular template and my last one, they wanted a rock and roll '50s one, and it became about the Coronation and became five years too early for rock and roll, became quite austere, almost post-war. It totally changes the whole feel of things. But if they liked that idea you'd go with that, really."
The BBC's faced criticism for moving the show's timeslot around. Do you think it's now on too early in the evening?
"Well, it wouldn't be if we didn't have global warming. I have to say, hand on heart, if I could change anything, it would be that this show was filming later in the year and going out in the winter in the kind of Robin Hood slot where it belongs. But having said that, the fact it's getting these amazing ratings in the heatwaves, then, is fantastic. My episode this week will get no viewers at all. There's something wintery about Doctor Who - when the Christmas specials are on, it just feels so right, doesn't it. But also, that's about the mechanics of television. If you're casting The Doctor, you might have someone you definitely, definitely want to do it, and then they're not available for two years. It just changes, you know. Similarly, in order for the programme to come back when it did, it had to be like this. Now it's in a cycle of production which you'd have to break in order to change it."
If you could bring back one classic baddie, who would it be?
"Mm, well, you know, I love the fact that the Macra came back the other week. It was such a thrill, I felt like a child, it was like 'F**k, it's forty years on'! Brilliant. I really like the fact that they're being quite careful with that. The Macra's not like a big baddie - obviously the Daleks and Cybermen need to come back and I would like the Ice Warriors. I think, for myself, I'd most like the Yeti to come back."
Perhaps you could write that one?
"Russell, I'd like to write the Yeti story. There! I would. I think the two stories they were in are both absolute classics. Even though they're slightly cuddly, I just think they're a brilliant idea, the whole thing with the Great Intelligence. You can do this thing now - the second one was set on the Tube, and it's a brilliant setting, the London Underground, and that was forty years ago. You could do it again. You're doing it for a new audience, it's not about thinking 'oh, we can't possibly do that'. The first episode of the new series was obviously the Autons coming through the shop windows - that's one of Doctor Who's greatest hits, but you can do it again for a new audience."
If Russell were - heaven forbid - ever to step down as the show's supremo, would you be interested in taking over?
"Oh, I can't say that. I don't think so."
Would it be too much pressure?
"It's not so much that, I worship the programme - I've given most of my life to it and several pints of my blood! It's really a very good thing to be slightly more detached and just to contribute as I am with a script and appearing in it like that. I couldn't be happier. It's such an extraordinary response and for Russell to have pulled it off so brilliantly...who would have thought a couple of years ago? And it's more popular than it's ever been, that's the most amazing thing."
Have you been surprised by the scale of the show's success since it came back?
"I always used to say that the way to do it would be for someone to have faith in it, to have a vision but fundamentally to make it a new programme for a new audience and this is exactly what Russell's done. The kids, they might be finding out now about old Doctors, but to them it's their show. The Doctor's their Doctor, the Daleks are their Daleks, each monster's their monster. The idea that in twenty years time someone might say - 'do you remember that one with the old lady and the ghosts' or something like that ... that's the best thing. I would have that on my tombstone. Although it would have to be quite a big tombstone, wouldn't it?"
'The Lazarus Experiment' will be shown on BBC One on Saturday, May 5 at 7pm
McGann Release Information
Big Finish Productions has announced more information on their upcoming releases in the BBC7 Eighth Doctor range. The final story of the season, two parter Human Resources, will be released in July and August.
Lucie Miller's been headhunted to join the staff of Hulbert Logistics, a respectable blue-chip firm in Telford. Great prospects, competitive salary - you don't have to be mad to work here! But wasn't she made for better things, like travelling by TARDIS through time and space? The Doctor, meanwhile, has been fired - into a confrontation with the most terrifying of enemies...
Lucie Miller's been headhunted to join the staff of Hulbert Logistics, a respectable blue-chip firm in Telford. Great prospects, competitive salary - you don't have to be mad to work here! But wasn't she made for better things, like travelling by TARDIS through time and space? The Doctor, meanwhile, has been fired - into a confrontation with the most terrifying of enemies...
Something Special Coming
In light of the week long delay in the airing of 42, the Doctor Who Homepage has announced that there is something in store for this week following the broadcast of The Lazarus Experiment.
We're all as disappointed as you are that you'll have to wait an extra week between episodes six and seven of Doctor Who because of the Eurovision Song Contest.However... even though there's no episode on 12 May 2007, the Doctor Who team have been working away feverishly to prepare a special treat for you at the end of this week's episode, The Lazarus Experiment. Hopefully it'll make the wait for 42 seem a little shorter.You'll also be able to to see it here on the website as soon as it's been on TV, and possibly behind the red button too if we can sort things out in time...Stay tuned!
We're all as disappointed as you are that you'll have to wait an extra week between episodes six and seven of Doctor Who because of the Eurovision Song Contest.However... even though there's no episode on 12 May 2007, the Doctor Who team have been working away feverishly to prepare a special treat for you at the end of this week's episode, The Lazarus Experiment. Hopefully it'll make the wait for 42 seem a little shorter.You'll also be able to to see it here on the website as soon as it's been on TV, and possibly behind the red button too if we can sort things out in time...Stay tuned!
7th Doctor visits Valhalla
Big Finish Productions has released more information on their June release, Valhalla. This release is written by Marc Platt.
Welcome to Valhalla, Capital of Callisto, Jupiter's premier moon, where anything and everything is up for sale. But Valhalla isn't quite what it says in the brochures – not since Earth granted independence and cut off the supplies.The former Doctor (FOR SALE. EXCELLENT CONDITION) visits the Job Centre and finds power cuts, barcoded citizens and monthly riots (ALL BOOKABLE.) And then there's the problem with the termites…
Welcome to Valhalla, Capital of Callisto, Jupiter's premier moon, where anything and everything is up for sale. But Valhalla isn't quite what it says in the brochures – not since Earth granted independence and cut off the supplies.The former Doctor (FOR SALE. EXCELLENT CONDITION) visits the Job Centre and finds power cuts, barcoded citizens and monthly riots (ALL BOOKABLE.) And then there's the problem with the termites…
Big Finish Reaches 100
Big Finish Productions Big Finish Productions has announced more information about their upcoming release 100, which is the 100th Release since the Doctor Who range began in 1999. This release will feature four, self-contained, 25 minute episodes, featuring the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn. Writers include Robert Shearman, Joseph Lidster, Jacqueline Rayner, and Paul Cornell. This release replaces the previously announced September release Earthstorm by Stephen Baxter.
1. Mozart's 100th
by Robert Shearman
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Born in 1756, a veritable wunderkind - playing music for the crowned heads of Europe as an infant, composing by the time he was five years old. But it's tempting to wonder whether his amazing longevity has overshadowed his creative genius - would Mozart's music be better respected, maybe, if he'd died as a young man? Would he be a legend of music, rather than of scientific curiosity, if he'd never lived to compose the film score for the remake of The Italian Job?
2. [title: TBC]
by Joseph Lidster
Once upon a time...
Jacob Williams is going to tell the tale of Sleeping Beauty but he realises he has told that one too many times so, instead, tells of how he once met this man called the Doctor...
It's a tale of love and death and a family with a terrifying secret…
3. 100 BC
by Jacqueline Rayner
The Doctor and Evelyn arrive in Rome, 101 BC, approximately, October. They meet a young lady of 19, Aurelia. She mentions her husband - Julius Caesar. Evelyn is excited, but her excitement soon turns to confusion. Surely you can't heal a wound in time with just a bit of sticking plaster?
4. The 100 Days of the Doctor
By Paul Cornell
Someone has assassinated the Doctor.
And he only has 100 days to find out who did it.
1. Mozart's 100th
by Robert Shearman
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Born in 1756, a veritable wunderkind - playing music for the crowned heads of Europe as an infant, composing by the time he was five years old. But it's tempting to wonder whether his amazing longevity has overshadowed his creative genius - would Mozart's music be better respected, maybe, if he'd died as a young man? Would he be a legend of music, rather than of scientific curiosity, if he'd never lived to compose the film score for the remake of The Italian Job?
2. [title: TBC]
by Joseph Lidster
Once upon a time...
Jacob Williams is going to tell the tale of Sleeping Beauty but he realises he has told that one too many times so, instead, tells of how he once met this man called the Doctor...
It's a tale of love and death and a family with a terrifying secret…
3. 100 BC
by Jacqueline Rayner
The Doctor and Evelyn arrive in Rome, 101 BC, approximately, October. They meet a young lady of 19, Aurelia. She mentions her husband - Julius Caesar. Evelyn is excited, but her excitement soon turns to confusion. Surely you can't heal a wound in time with just a bit of sticking plaster?
4. The 100 Days of the Doctor
By Paul Cornell
Someone has assassinated the Doctor.
And he only has 100 days to find out who did it.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Betting Rush On Walsh??? ewww
The Sun today carries a piece saying there has been a rush of bets on unknown actor Julian Walsh becoming the 11th Doctor.The article quotes Darren Haines of bookmaker Paddy Power as saying: "Julian might not look the part as he's a bit squat and bald."But he's the one people have been trying to back in the last 48 hours."At first he was not even on our books, but we've had to slash his odds to 12/1. We fear punters might know something we don't. We're not convinced they're right, but we have to sit up and take note."A spokesman for Walsh said the actor, pictured right, was "bemused by all of this", adding: "Nobody has approached us yet."One punter reportedly wanted to place a 2,500 pound bet on Walsh, who is best known from 1980s show Jossy's Giants.The bookmaker currently has Robert Carlyle as 5-2 favourite - and Ricky Gervais at 66-1.
One week delay for 42
The BBC has announced that Season 3 will take a one week break on Saturday 12th May, meaning transmission of Episode 7, 42 will now be on the 19th May.The episode is being delayed because the BBC is committed to broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest at 8pm that evening. To fit Doctor Who into the schedule, it would require an earlier than usual start. Past evidence shows that the earlier the start time of the programme the lower the ratings, and it is thought the BBC wish to keep Doctor Who at 7pm in future to maximise the number watching.
Site updated
The Official BBC Doctor Who website has been updated for this weekends episode The Lazarus Experiment:
http://www.bbc. co.uk/doctorwho/
http://www.bbc. co.uk/doctorwho/
Go into space – well, there’s not much future here
Stephen Hawking has often been said to talk and “walk” like a Dalek. Now he even seems to think like one. The Dalek in question is not of the ex-ter-min-ate! variety, but the humanoid hybrid who, in Saturday’s episode, wanted Doctor Who to help the last Daleks to find a nice new planet where they could put their evil past behind them. The day before, Professor Hawking suggested doomed humankind should do the same.
Before floating weightlessly in an aircraft simulating zero gravity, Professor Hawking announced that this was his first step towards going into space – and that the whole of humanity needs to follow if we are to survive.
“Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers,” he said. “I think the human race has no future if it doesn’t go into space.” So even if man-made global warming don’t get us, he expects man-made bombs and bugs will – if not those unknown “other dangers”, a sort of apocalyptic “etc, etc”.
Professor Hawking is not the only serious scientist with space-cadet views on the need to pack our bags for planets new. Sir Martin Rees, Britain’s Astronomer Royal, argues in Our Last Century that humankind has at best a 50 per cent chance of surviving to AD2100, and suggests downsizing into outer space as our best move.
The cry “the end of the world is nigh” now comes not from religious nutters with sandwich boards, but from respected scientists with the media to carry their message. Worse, it seems they can support space travel only by depicting other planets as a cosmic Costa del Crime, where wicked humans can escape punishment for raping and pillaging the Earth.
What about the case for manned space exploration as a positive expression of the human spirit? Whatever happened to conquering “the final frontier” – for the imagination as much as science – by striving “to boldly go where no man has gone before”?
Speaking of Star Trek, shortly after Professor Hawking’s trip, the ashes of the actor who played Scotty, chief engineer on the USS Enterprise, were blasted into space from New Mexico. Sir Richard Branson plans space tourism flights from there, lightening punters’ wallets by $200,000 for six minutes of weightlessness.
The way we see space at any moment reflects how we think about life down here. That manned space exploration has fallen out of favour, other than as an outlet for fear, funerals or fun-flights, suggests a loss of faith in the future, a black hole where the belief in humanity should be. It is almost enough to make those Daleks seem like progressive-minded humanists.
Before floating weightlessly in an aircraft simulating zero gravity, Professor Hawking announced that this was his first step towards going into space – and that the whole of humanity needs to follow if we are to survive.
“Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers,” he said. “I think the human race has no future if it doesn’t go into space.” So even if man-made global warming don’t get us, he expects man-made bombs and bugs will – if not those unknown “other dangers”, a sort of apocalyptic “etc, etc”.
Professor Hawking is not the only serious scientist with space-cadet views on the need to pack our bags for planets new. Sir Martin Rees, Britain’s Astronomer Royal, argues in Our Last Century that humankind has at best a 50 per cent chance of surviving to AD2100, and suggests downsizing into outer space as our best move.
The cry “the end of the world is nigh” now comes not from religious nutters with sandwich boards, but from respected scientists with the media to carry their message. Worse, it seems they can support space travel only by depicting other planets as a cosmic Costa del Crime, where wicked humans can escape punishment for raping and pillaging the Earth.
What about the case for manned space exploration as a positive expression of the human spirit? Whatever happened to conquering “the final frontier” – for the imagination as much as science – by striving “to boldly go where no man has gone before”?
Speaking of Star Trek, shortly after Professor Hawking’s trip, the ashes of the actor who played Scotty, chief engineer on the USS Enterprise, were blasted into space from New Mexico. Sir Richard Branson plans space tourism flights from there, lightening punters’ wallets by $200,000 for six minutes of weightlessness.
The way we see space at any moment reflects how we think about life down here. That manned space exploration has fallen out of favour, other than as an outlet for fear, funerals or fun-flights, suggests a loss of faith in the future, a black hole where the belief in humanity should be. It is almost enough to make those Daleks seem like progressive-minded humanists.
Sarah Jane's new companion
The Sarah-Jane.tv blog are reporting that Daniel Anthony has been confirmed as a new regular in The Sarah Jane Adventures. The actor will play Clyde, a 14 year old who attends Maria and Luke's school. He replaces the character of Kelsey, who has been dropped from the series following her solo appearence in the pilot episode Invasion of the Bane. The new character is introduced in the first adventure of the forthcoming series.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Big Finish Release Changes
Big Finish Productions has announced a change in their release schedule for the year. Earthstorm by Stephen Baxter has been moved to a later date, and is to be replaced by a double CD release entitled 100. This release will feature four one part stories (similar to Circular Time), with each story reflecting the concept of the number 100. No information as to which Doctor will be featured, or when Earthstorm will be released.
Yes, that's Mavis from Coronation Street spreading evil on Doctor Who
As the meek and mild Mavis Wilton on Coronation Street, she wouldn't say boo to a budgie.
But as Lady Thaw, Thelma Barlow will terrorise a Time Lord.
Miss Barlow, 77, is making a guest appearance as a glamorous villain on Doctor Who this Saturday.
She appears on the hit BBC show alongside another special guest, the League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss.
The actress played mousey Mavis on the ITV soap for 26 years, before her character left to open up a bed and breakfast in the Lake District. She said recently that she almost turned down the role of Lady Thaw.
"When my friends said that a part in Doctor Who would be good on my CV, I thought, "What do I need a CV for now at my time of life?"
"But then I realised that Lady Thaw is probably the nearest I could get to Lady Macbeth, whom I've always wanted to play."
Miss Barlow, who has two grandsons, added: "And my grandchildren would never forgive me if I don't do this. It's good cred for them at school."
She and Gatiss are the latest in a long line of distinguished actors to appear on Doctor Who.
Previous guest stars have included former BBC political editor Andrew Marr, television presenter Anne Robinson and One Foot In The Grave's Richard Wilson.
This series of Doctor Who, starring David Tennant as the Time Lord, is the third since the programme was reintroduced. Its first episode, screened on March 31, pulled in 8.2million viewers.
But as Lady Thaw, Thelma Barlow will terrorise a Time Lord.
Miss Barlow, 77, is making a guest appearance as a glamorous villain on Doctor Who this Saturday.
She appears on the hit BBC show alongside another special guest, the League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss.
The actress played mousey Mavis on the ITV soap for 26 years, before her character left to open up a bed and breakfast in the Lake District. She said recently that she almost turned down the role of Lady Thaw.
"When my friends said that a part in Doctor Who would be good on my CV, I thought, "What do I need a CV for now at my time of life?"
"But then I realised that Lady Thaw is probably the nearest I could get to Lady Macbeth, whom I've always wanted to play."
Miss Barlow, who has two grandsons, added: "And my grandchildren would never forgive me if I don't do this. It's good cred for them at school."
She and Gatiss are the latest in a long line of distinguished actors to appear on Doctor Who.
Previous guest stars have included former BBC political editor Andrew Marr, television presenter Anne Robinson and One Foot In The Grave's Richard Wilson.
This series of Doctor Who, starring David Tennant as the Time Lord, is the third since the programme was reintroduced. Its first episode, screened on March 31, pulled in 8.2million viewers.
Rise of the accents?
The Daily Record has an article on the rise of real Scottish accents, and asks when Doctor Who will start to use his, CLICK HERE to read it.
Quest five trailer
Totally Doctor Who's animated adventure The Infinite Quest episode five teaser is now online at the official BBC Doctor Who website, CLICK HERE to see it.
Monday, April 30, 2007
'Robot' DVD - 1 week delay
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.
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.
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