BBC Wales Today: Transcript and Photos
Tuesday, 20 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The following is a transcript of today's BBC Wales Today live interview session with producer Russell T. Davies and series stars Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper. Also, below are the photos previously posted (incorporated into this news item) featuring Eccleston, Davies & Piper, obviously during some sort of rehearsal; the on-the-scene BBC Wales reporter in Cardiff in front of Howell's (a local store); then a pic of Eccleston on TV; then the reporter at Howell's. Second line: the three again; Billie Piper plays Rose; two shots of Russell T Davies. Thanks go to Graeme Allen for the pics and Michael Blumenthal for the transcript of the session (plus Matt Gaynor, Alex Rudd, Mark Brown, John Molyneux, "Stevethedalek," Steve Freestone, Jeremy Raynor and many others who have contributed today!)
(studio presenter) Now, he's faced death hundreds of times, saved the world from any number of baddies. Yes, Doctor Who is back. Filming has just started here in wales, with a new Doctor, a new sidekick, and a whole new host of enemies. Our reporter, Rebecca John, is out on location. Rebecca?
(RJ, outside Howell's shop, 09:05) That's right Claire, the new series of Doctor Who is being made by BBC Wales and will be shown in the spring, and later tonight, this part of Cardiff city centre will be cordoned off as the cameras begin to roll, and, as you can see, the television vans are beginning to arrive.
Now, it's not everyday you meet a Time Lord in a super, in a superstore like this, 'cause this is where the filming will be taking place. Now it's so top secret that I'm not allowed in, but we have been given the first on-location television interview with the new Doctor Who. Here's Nick (Pallett?)
09:39: Title music, Tardis on swirly blue background, shots of previous Doctors, companions, monsters...
(NP, 09:46) He's faced the Daleks and the Cybermen, and travelled through time, but now Doctor Who faces his toughest test, a 21st Century TV audience. In the ninth incarnation of the nation's favourite Time Lord, gone are the trademark hats, cloaks and scarves. This is the new Doctor Who, and in black leather jacket and T-shirt, he looks very much like the man in the street.
(Christoper Eccleston 10:06) Well I wouldn't want to put labels on it, I mean, I think in the past, each actor's made specific choices about their costume and I've made mine.
(Nick P, 10:15) This new production's already begun fiming on location at Cardiff's old Royal Infirmary, and these are the very first pictures seen anywhere of the Welsh writer, Russell T Davies, alongside his new Doctor and sidekick played by Billie Piper, (who's ??) too young to remember the original Time Lords, but has been busy watching them on video.
(Bille Piper: 10:33) Yeah, I've been, I've been catching up recently, and getting very excited, and, you know, but trying not to feel the pressure but just accepting that it's, it's, we're trying to create something new, um, with the essence of the old Doctor Who, but it's more contemporary, and, and, and, it's, you know, times have moved on and, and so have we, and we're going to give it a ,a different approach.
(10:56 - big music, Black and white Daleks skuawking)
(Daleks) Exterminate the Doctor! Exterminate the Doctor!
(Nick P, 11:00) At it's peak in the '70's, audiences reached 16 million in Britain, 110 million worldwide, and though, in this multi-channel age, such figures are no longer possible, the new Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, feels it'll still have mass appeal.
(Christopher E, 11:13) It's an escape. It's escapism, isn't it, and a romp? And, er, the mystery of the Doctor, I think, the mystery of the relationship between the Doctor and his companion.
(Billie P, 11:25) When I (was told?) I was going to spend eight months of my life in Wales, I was actually quite excited, 'cause I used to come here a lot as a child, North Wales actually, on holiday, erm, holiday trips, we used to come down here in our caravan, erm, so, yeah, I'm just happy to be back, and I've only been in Cardiff now for a week, so I'm still finding my bearings, and getting used to everything, but, having a great time.
(11:50, monsters, explosions, dinosaurs, Bok, yellow-suited Autons, etc)
(Nick P) Doctor Who of old was renowned for its wobbly sets, and low budget effects. They're gone in the new multi-million pound production, but hopefully, just like the original, it'll be essential weekend viewing for the whole family.
(12:06 Back to Cardiff streets: Rebecca John with RTD)
Well, the stars have arrived within the last few minutes, and one of them, I must say, is the Welsh writer, Russell T Davies,
(RTD) You're very kind
(RJ) Russell, what on earth is Doctor Who doing in Howell's, first of all?
(RTD) It's a very exciting scene in the very first three minutes of episode 1, where an ordinary department store turns out to be something far more sinister, and that's all I can give away. I'm not going to tell you anything else.
(RJ) Now, this is obviously being a closely guarded secret, in fact everything is. Why does it have to be so secret?
(RTD) Well partly for, really for the fun of the viewers, really. I hate watching stuff where I know what's going to happen. I think we all know that a fair bit's going to leak onto the Internet, and, you know, science fiction fans and stuff lke that, but really most people, and I hope millions of people, will be sitting down watching a brand new series of Doctor Who, with the first proper series, regular series in 15 years, so: it's a surprise!!
(RJ) So, what can you tell us that they've got to look forward to for fans?
(RTD) Well, lots and lots of Cardiff, which is a good thing. I mean the nice thing about filming here is that we're going to use, to shoot 95% of the series in Cardiff, and it's going to really show what a great Capital for filming in this is, because we're going to use Cardiff as London, we going to use Cardiff as Cardiff, we've got Doctor Who episodes set in Cardiff, which is a marvellous thing, and we're going to be here in, representing the 1860's, and all sorts of different periods throughout history and even the future, so it'll show this city can host anything.
(RJ 13:20) So, no Daleks though for the fans?
(RTD) Well, never say never, because anything can happen and hopefully it'll run for 41 years again, and we'll get them back some point, but at the moment we've got some fantastic new monsters, we're very excited.
(RJ, 13:32) Now, very briefly, everyone's got expectations of Doctor Who, how do you manage those expectations - everyone thinks they know what it should look like?
(RTD) To be honest, I just sort of ignore them. I make the Doctor Who that I wanted to make, which, it's going to be new and exciting, it's also going to be very, very traditional. people are going to have the same old thrill that they always had watching it, just, it's going to look more Year 2005, that more of a sort of upbeat kick to it, and it's very much the same old show.
(RJ 13:55) And why do you think people love Doctor Who so much?
(RTD) Because it's the best idea ever invented in the history of the world! I really think so. I love it. But, it's great adventure, it, it tells great stories about the human race, I think, about optimism, and those are good stories to tell in this age.
(RJ) Russell T Davies, thanks very much, and good luck with the filming. Claire, back to you:
(Back to studio, Claire, 14:12) Rebecca, thanks very much indeed, (into next news story)
(RJ, outside Howell's shop, 09:05) That's right Claire, the new series of Doctor Who is being made by BBC Wales and will be shown in the spring, and later tonight, this part of Cardiff city centre will be cordoned off as the cameras begin to roll, and, as you can see, the television vans are beginning to arrive.
Now, it's not everyday you meet a Time Lord in a super, in a superstore like this, 'cause this is where the filming will be taking place. Now it's so top secret that I'm not allowed in, but we have been given the first on-location television interview with the new Doctor Who. Here's Nick (Pallett?)
09:39: Title music, Tardis on swirly blue background, shots of previous Doctors, companions, monsters...
(NP, 09:46) He's faced the Daleks and the Cybermen, and travelled through time, but now Doctor Who faces his toughest test, a 21st Century TV audience. In the ninth incarnation of the nation's favourite Time Lord, gone are the trademark hats, cloaks and scarves. This is the new Doctor Who, and in black leather jacket and T-shirt, he looks very much like the man in the street.
(Christoper Eccleston 10:06) Well I wouldn't want to put labels on it, I mean, I think in the past, each actor's made specific choices about their costume and I've made mine.
(Nick P, 10:15) This new production's already begun fiming on location at Cardiff's old Royal Infirmary, and these are the very first pictures seen anywhere of the Welsh writer, Russell T Davies, alongside his new Doctor and sidekick played by Billie Piper, (who's ??) too young to remember the original Time Lords, but has been busy watching them on video.
(Bille Piper: 10:33) Yeah, I've been, I've been catching up recently, and getting very excited, and, you know, but trying not to feel the pressure but just accepting that it's, it's, we're trying to create something new, um, with the essence of the old Doctor Who, but it's more contemporary, and, and, and, it's, you know, times have moved on and, and so have we, and we're going to give it a ,a different approach.
(10:56 - big music, Black and white Daleks skuawking)
(Daleks) Exterminate the Doctor! Exterminate the Doctor!
(Nick P, 11:00) At it's peak in the '70's, audiences reached 16 million in Britain, 110 million worldwide, and though, in this multi-channel age, such figures are no longer possible, the new Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, feels it'll still have mass appeal.
(Christopher E, 11:13) It's an escape. It's escapism, isn't it, and a romp? And, er, the mystery of the Doctor, I think, the mystery of the relationship between the Doctor and his companion.
(Billie P, 11:25) When I (was told?) I was going to spend eight months of my life in Wales, I was actually quite excited, 'cause I used to come here a lot as a child, North Wales actually, on holiday, erm, holiday trips, we used to come down here in our caravan, erm, so, yeah, I'm just happy to be back, and I've only been in Cardiff now for a week, so I'm still finding my bearings, and getting used to everything, but, having a great time.
(11:50, monsters, explosions, dinosaurs, Bok, yellow-suited Autons, etc)
(Nick P) Doctor Who of old was renowned for its wobbly sets, and low budget effects. They're gone in the new multi-million pound production, but hopefully, just like the original, it'll be essential weekend viewing for the whole family.
(12:06 Back to Cardiff streets: Rebecca John with RTD)
Well, the stars have arrived within the last few minutes, and one of them, I must say, is the Welsh writer, Russell T Davies,
(RTD) You're very kind
(RJ) Russell, what on earth is Doctor Who doing in Howell's, first of all?
(RTD) It's a very exciting scene in the very first three minutes of episode 1, where an ordinary department store turns out to be something far more sinister, and that's all I can give away. I'm not going to tell you anything else.
(RJ) Now, this is obviously being a closely guarded secret, in fact everything is. Why does it have to be so secret?
(RTD) Well partly for, really for the fun of the viewers, really. I hate watching stuff where I know what's going to happen. I think we all know that a fair bit's going to leak onto the Internet, and, you know, science fiction fans and stuff lke that, but really most people, and I hope millions of people, will be sitting down watching a brand new series of Doctor Who, with the first proper series, regular series in 15 years, so: it's a surprise!!
(RJ) So, what can you tell us that they've got to look forward to for fans?
(RTD) Well, lots and lots of Cardiff, which is a good thing. I mean the nice thing about filming here is that we're going to use, to shoot 95% of the series in Cardiff, and it's going to really show what a great Capital for filming in this is, because we're going to use Cardiff as London, we going to use Cardiff as Cardiff, we've got Doctor Who episodes set in Cardiff, which is a marvellous thing, and we're going to be here in, representing the 1860's, and all sorts of different periods throughout history and even the future, so it'll show this city can host anything.
(RJ 13:20) So, no Daleks though for the fans?
(RTD) Well, never say never, because anything can happen and hopefully it'll run for 41 years again, and we'll get them back some point, but at the moment we've got some fantastic new monsters, we're very excited.
(RJ, 13:32) Now, very briefly, everyone's got expectations of Doctor Who, how do you manage those expectations - everyone thinks they know what it should look like?
(RTD) To be honest, I just sort of ignore them. I make the Doctor Who that I wanted to make, which, it's going to be new and exciting, it's also going to be very, very traditional. people are going to have the same old thrill that they always had watching it, just, it's going to look more Year 2005, that more of a sort of upbeat kick to it, and it's very much the same old show.
(RJ 13:55) And why do you think people love Doctor Who so much?
(RTD) Because it's the best idea ever invented in the history of the world! I really think so. I love it. But, it's great adventure, it, it tells great stories about the human race, I think, about optimism, and those are good stories to tell in this age.
(RJ) Russell T Davies, thanks very much, and good luck with the filming. Claire, back to you:
(Back to studio, Claire, 14:12) Rebecca, thanks very much indeed, (into next news story)
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