TARDIS Report: Wednesday

BBC News reports today that the auction of the miniature TARDIS replica (which we reported about in yesterday's press column) has been sold at Christie's auction house for £10,800. The plywood replica was built at the BBC visual effects department and was last seen on television in 1970. Sarah Hodgson, head of popular entertainment at Christie's said: "There was strong international interest throughout today's successful sale for film and entertainment memorabilia from all eras. The Stormtrooper helmets from Star Wars and the Tardis from Doctor Who performed particularly well and attracted strong prices, with all doubling their pre-sale estimates."

BBC News today notes that "Christmas comes once a year, except in Cardiff, where it has already been and gone. Back in July, shoppers in the city centre found themselves walking past a giant Christmas tree, a late-night festive market and Santa lookalikes. It was as if the Welsh capital had somehow been flung into a different dimension. And in a way, it had been. Perhaps thanks to the Tardis, the city was the backdrop for the Doctor Who special to screened on Christmas Day. The Hayes shopping area of the city has played its part in another climactic galactic tale of the changeling Timelord and his earthly adventures. Over two nights, the BBC Wales team which makes the show transformed one of the busiest areas of Cardiff into a tinsel and snow-filled location. They even borrowed the council's own Christmas lights to do it. Producer Phil Collinson said: 'The main problem was trying to find places that did not have leaves on the trees. We tried to be quite careful about that. We filmed on The Hayes, which wasn't so bad because it wasn't the greenest part of Cardiff. The people in the streets are so proud that this show is made here. It does make it easier for us. We have closed the main street for a whole evening. In any other place they would be shaking their fists as us, but in Cardiff, its 'okay, go ahead'.' A typical episode takes around two-and-a-half weeks to film, he said. 'We've had hordes of people turning up to watch. There is always a bang or a flash or a guy in a green suit to watch.'" Collinson notes that "The Christmas Invasion" is "scary... that's why we can't show it after the Queen (the Queen's speech), but it's still good fun.'" It also quotes Russell T Davies as saying, "I would never have let someone else write the Christmas episode - I have been dying to write a Christmas episode all my life."

BBC News is reporting that Christopher Eccleston was invited by the British Red Cross to visit the Indonesian province of Banda Aceh as part of relief efforts for last year's devastating tsunamis. "Before the Tsunami I'd never thought about Indonesia and I didn't know the Acenese as a race existed," Eccleston tells BBC News. "In the last two or three days here I've learned lessons about courage and optimism in the face of unimaginable grief that I shall never ever forget." The article notes that Eccleston met some of those re-building their lives in Aceh, including going to a school where 500 children lost their lives in the flood: now a popstars-style talent show is helping children regain their sense of fun; visiting one of the Indonesian islands hit by the Tsunami; and later appearing on BBC Breakfast (this Friday) to speak about his impression of the Red Cross' work in Indonesia. There is currently a video clip at BBC News; go to the front page and click on "Latest news in video and audio" at top. (Update: you can also find it atBBC News 24.)

MSNBC wonders today what sort of project famed director Peter Jackson ("The Lord of the Rings," "King Kong") will do next. "It seems almost certain that 'King Kong' will enjoy the same critical adulation and blockbuster popular success as the 'Lord Of The Rings' trilogy, which means that Kong isn’t the only 10-ton gorilla around. With four massive successes in a row, director Peter Jackson is an enviable position as an artist, having gained enough clout that he could choose just about anything he dreamed of for his next film and he’d find a studio that would let him make it. So what should that next movie be? ... The venerable British sci-fi series 'Doctor Who' is in good hands now on the small screen, brought back to life in a cheekily well-written, Buffyesque format by 'Queer As Folk' creator Russell T. Davies. But nobody’s made a feature-length film spinoff of the series since Peter Cushing starred in two forgettable 'Doctor Who' movies in the mid-1960s. Jackson would find an excellent match for his talents in 'Who’s' match of slam-bang action, creepy horror and thought-provoking science fiction. The villains of this hypothetical film would almost certainly have to be the tank-like Daleks simply because they’re The Doctor’s most popular foes, but we’d love to see what Jackson would do with such eerie aliens as the fungoid Zygons, the amoeba-like Rutan, or the reptilian Silurians and Sea Devils. There’s plenty of other forgotten or underappreciated science fiction that would fit Jackson. Like 'Doctor Who,' lots of them are British — we’d be intrigued to see his take on the 1950s 'Quatermass' TV serials and the 1962 monster-chiller 'Day Of The Triffids.'"

A review of The Christmas Invasion today in the Sun, which says "Killer Xmas trees, slaying Santas and a sackful of sexual chemistry -the Dr Who special is the best gift fans could hope for. Best bits are the PM scrapping the Queen's Speech in an alien invasion, the Doc being revived with a cuppa, and his regenerating hand. Just don't let the evil Sycorax put you off your turkey!"

Irish News reports today that Billie Piper is among a list of celebrities (which also includes Robbie Williams and Neil Morrissey) behind a new event in aid of a Belfast-based victims support group. Actor James Nesbitt will today launch Art Wave at Belfast City Hall, a new event which will see artwork by artists and celebrities auctioned to raise funds for charity Wave, which uses the arts as therapy to help children, young people and adults who have been traumatised as a result of the Troubles. The event, set to take place next spring, will see major Irish and English artists donate pieces of work for an exhibition and auction in Belfast's City Hall.

Newsquest Media interviews Andrew Skilleter, famed illustrator responsible for many Doctor Who portraits and book jacket/video covers over the years. "Watching with particular interest as actor David Tennant takes to our screens as the tenth Dr Who this Christmas will be artist and illustrator Andrew Skilleter. For Dorset-based image-maker Andrew has been closely involved in the intergalactic time-travelling adventures of the Doctor for more than a quarter of a century. ... Twenty two years on Christmas finds the good Doctor back on the cover of the Radio Times and Andrew back in the spotlight as all things Dr Who-related are suddenly a source of universal interest. ... 'When Chris Ecclestone [sic] came on the scene there was an enormous boost in interest and with David Tennant about to take over it is still riding high. A week or so ago I was at this huge memorabilia event at the NEC. It's really been quite hectic.' Having been closely involved in the time travelling glory days of the 1980s, Andrew says he isn't entirely sure about the new era of Dr Who. 'I've tried to distance myself from it and watch it simply as a drama but I think all I can say is that when it was good it was very good indeed. I think it's a shame that Chris Ecclestone didn't stay with it a little longer, but I'm certainly going to be interested to see what David Tennant does with it.'" The article mentions that Reeltime Pictures will shortly release a "Myth Makers" documentary video that focuses on him and his work, and that some of his Target and BBC Video covers will be released as collectors' prints throughout 2006.

More reviews of "Secret Smile" starring David Tennant: the Scotsman says it "wasn't totally pish. The Chicklife seemed accurate enough, as did the motifs of middle-class life: mixed salad bowls and bottles of olive oil. But David should get as far away from this Chickstuff as he can in his TARDIS for the time being (or indeed not being)." The Daily Express says, "It has to be said, Secret Smile... hasn't given us much to smile about so far. In fact, it began with the heroine, young architect Miranda Cotton, being dead, so it's hard to imagine there can be any sort of happy ending. But even if it does take you to places you feel you'd rather not go, it's addictive viewing – largely because of a great script and convincing acting. There's something totally believable about Miranda's evil stalker Brendan, played by former Casanova star and the new Doctor Who, David Tennant."

Additional comments about the anti-war stance of "The Christmas Invasion" at The Telegraph, Stuff.co.nz. Meanwhile, American Thinker is reacting to the news by saying that "the once-respected BBC is using a Christmas Day broadcast to a science fiction series to bash America... And this from a government-owned broadcaster." Finally,InformITV talks about the 'red button' episode "Attack of the Graske".

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Matt Kimpton, John Bowman)