TARDIS Report: Weekend/Early Week Press CoverageBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 18 April 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Trailers

The three-minute preview that was shown on BBCi (red button) at the end of last week has been shown in its (almost) entirety on BBC One twice over the Easter weekend. Sunday afternoon and Monday evening both saw screenings of a 2 minute 44 second version of the package. Additionally, a twenty-second trailer for 'Tooth and Claw' debuted on BBC One on Sunday afternoon and has been shown sporadically since. This episode trailer is composed of material already seen in the 'Next Time' preview at the end of 'New Earth' and/or in the Preview. Also, in addition to its main banner ('Doctor Who returns'), the BBC homepage on Saturday had a further link at the foot of the page, and was 'Pick of the Day' on the BBC One homepage along with a small banner at the head of the channel's main programmes list.

New Zealand Broadcasting

Prime TV has now confirmed it will be screening the new series. The New Zealand TV Guide dated 13 April 2006 says, "Prime says Doctor Who with David Tennant will return, but not until the middle of the year. 'As it is one of our biggest shows, we want to give it a really good launch'. Prime notes the next series has not started playing in Britain yet (sic) 'so we won't be too far behind'."

Ratings Coverage

There's been plenty of ratings coverage over the past few days, with theDaily Mail noting the "disappearing Doctor Who fans" saying that "the first episode of the second series of Dr Who drew around eight million viewers on Saturday night - nearly two million less than for last season's debut. Despite the promise of the Doctor and his sidekick Rose sharing a passionate kiss, numbers were also down on the show's Christmas special, which drew ten million. ... A spokesman for the BBC said the figures for the second series, starring David Tennant and Billie Piper, were 'still among our highest for drama this year'." Also covered at Times OnlineTV SquadYahoo NewsDaily RecordThe GuardianicWales.

Trade magazine Broadcast gives the industry perspective on Saturday's ratings success for 'New Earth', noting that the episode "managed to grow its audience over time and hit a high ... in the final 15 minutes. The show was a big hit with the ABC1 adult as 45% of that demographic, who were watching TV at that time, were tuned to the drama series. The show also proved to be a strong attraction amongst women with the programme drawing 38.3% of the female viewing population. ... The BBC1 show had no problem having the upper hand over ITV1's film premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ... The film, lasting nearly three hours, gained a reasonable 4.9 million (25.4%)."

The Western Mail also notes that "A BBC spokeswoman said, 'Saturday's Doctor Who peaked at 8.3 million, which we are really pleased with. Doctor Who Confidential on BBC3 got an audience of 729,500 - again, fantastic viewing figures. This is a brilliant start for the new doctor, and is the best drama audience figure so far this year.' The initial figures gained by the BBC revealed that Doctor Who: New Earth gained an average audience of eight million, peaking at 8.3m, with an average audience share of 38.6% of all TV watchers on Saturday evening. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets could only manage an average of five million viewers, peaking at six million, with an average audience share of 25.6%. ... The reaction from Doctor Who fans on website Outpost Gallifrey was similarly mixed although most predicted an enjoyable series. The following reaction was typical: 'What we've got here is a fast paced, enormously entertaining and surprising episode, leaving you feeling shortchanged only because as a two parter it could have been so much more. It is a confident and stylish opener, rich with performances and special FX [effects] and is more than enough to keep the kids happy.'"

Meanwhile, the Sunday Mirror took a look across the Atlantic noting that "A stunning blonde is scuppering Billie Piper's bid to conquer America. Millions tuned in to BBC1 last night to see Billie make her return as Rose Tyler in the second series of the new Doctor Who, with David Tennant in the lead role. But pretty Billie, 23, is being bashed in the US ratings by beautiful blonde former model Tricia Helfer. The first series of the revived Dr Who - starring Christopher Eccleston as the Time Lord - is currently being aired on America's Sci-Fi Channel. But since its Stateside debut last month, the time-travelling series has proved a ratings loser - Billie is struggling to compete against rival Tricia. The beauty, 32, stars in a remake of 70s classic Battlestar Galactica, which airs immediately before Dr Who. The space adventure series - shown on Sky One in the UK - attracts 2.2million viewers. But more than half a million American viewers are switching off when Dr Who comes on straight afterwards. A TV insider said: 'It's the battle of the sci-fi babes. And so far Tricia is winning. It seems she's every scifi fan's dream woman. Billie just can't compete.'" What the Mirror unfortunately has misreported - and therefore throws off its argument - is that Doctor Who does not, in fact, follow Battlestar Galactica, which is currently receiving tremendous critical acclaim from US media; Galactica ended its season before Doctor Who started. Also reported at In The NewsMonsters and Critics.

Merchandise

The second issue of Doctor Who Adventures, due out on Wednesday 19 April, actually started to reach the shops last Friday and continues to sell extremely quickly. There are also reports that Woolworth has started to sell new series socks, underpants and boxer shorts for children.

People

The News and Star says that actor Simon Greenall is in episode 10, "Love & Monsters". "Being eaten by an evil monster in Dr Who is the stuff of children's nightmares. But for Longtown actor Simon Greenall it's all in a day's work. The 48-year-old's latest role in the BBC show sees him 'absorbed' by a baddie played by Phoenix Nights comedian Peter Kay. Simon said: 'He's the lead monster and he absorbs me! I think Blue Peter had a competition to create a villain and came up with the Absorbalott.' The BBC is keeping tight-lipped but Simon revealed he plays a character called Mr Skinner. He said: 'He's a lonely little man who forms a group with other people who want to find the Doctor. Peter's character joins the group but we don't know he's a monster, who's also trying to find the Doctor, until he eats us all!' Unfortunately Simon didn't get to meet the stars of the show David Tennant or Billie Piper. He said: 'They are hardly in this episode -- it's quite daring -- the Doctor is only in it at the beginning and the end. ... It's funny because 20 to 30 years ago if you were in Dr Who it wasn't as prestigious as it is now. In fact you would probably have hid the fact you were in it at all.'"

Camille Coduri is to be one of the stars of a new six-part drama for BBC Three called "Sinchronicity", according to apress release from the BBC Press Office. "Sinchronicity revolves around Nathan and the sexual misadventures of a group of 20-somethings. Set and filmed in Manchester, the plots hinge on peripheral moments that could prove crucial for strangers looking for love." Coduri plays the role of Peggy. Also attached to the project are Doctor Who executive producer Julie Gardner, who is executive producer for BBC Three on the drama; Brian Grant, director of last year's episode "The Long Game" who will also direct the drama; andNavin Chowdhry, who starred in last season's "Aliens of London" as Indra Ganesh, who stars here as Mac. Filming begins next month for transmission later in 2006 on BBC Three. Also reported at C21 Media.

Billie Piper is interviewed by Radio Wales, reported at BBC News, in which she tells them, "'I was quite scared if the truth be told. ... I've been here for almost two years now, I'm native - I've learnt some Welsh words - none of which I can tell you because they're all rude.' She said Rose was more 'possessive and uptight' due to having once 'lost' the doctor his regeneration and the appearance of Elisabeth Sladen, the doctor's former companion. ... She is a bit feistier this time round and very jealous, which I love playing. She feels that at any given moment he can be taken away from her. And I don't think she ever considered that before. She could contemplate monsters and all of that, and dealing with alien life forms and parallel worlds, etc, but the idea of losing the man she loves is really shocking and sad. She doesn't want it to happen again. She reacts terribly to meeting Sarah-Jane. That's when the jealous streak starts to kick in, out of fear that she's not his greatest companion and that he's had millions of them before. It's like meeting the ex-girlfriend, and we have this wonderful bitch fight which is worth watching.' On a more personal note, Piper said she feels at home in Cardiff now, after being based in the city for two seasons of the sci-fi drama. She said: 'I've been here for almost two years now, I'm native. I'm Welsh and I've learnt some Welsh words this year - none of which I can tell you because they're all rude - but I love it here. I think I've met some friends for life.'" Piper is also currently #3 of the OK! MagazineCelebrity Chart: "Doctor Who girl Billie became Britain's first 100 million pound telly babe after the BBC sold the sci-fi hit around the globe." The Daily Star says of Piper's "100 million pound" status, "New figures reveal she will help the the BBC earn the incredible sum from sales of the sci-fi smash around the globe. It means Billie, 23 - who plays the Doctor's assistant Rose Tyler - is now the corporation's prize asset. And they are ready to offer her an out-of-this-world pay deal to keep her on board. A source said: 'Billie has the upper hand in this. If the BBC want her to stay then they will have to come up with a tempting offer. They certainly don't want to lose her. If she doesn't stay on Doctor Who then they will try to keep her with a golden handcuffs deal so she doesn't stray to ITV.'" Also, All Headline says that Piper has a crush on comedian Steve Coogan. "The 'Doctor Who' beauty, who is separated from husband Chris Evans, admits she has a crush on the comedian and has sexy thoughts about him. She said: 'Steve Coogan does something for me. He is so naughty, but I quite fancy him.' ... The actress has revealed she met Coogan once when she was 17 – but all he offered her was a sweet. She explained to Britain's GQ magazine: 'He just gave me a funny look and said, 'Would you like a jelly, baby?' He's really cool and amusing. And very dangerous, and so wrong for me.' Billie, who split from her media mogul husband Evans two years ago, now lives with her new boyfriend, law student Amadu Sowe."

Today's Daily Mirror has a brief piece on Elisabeth Sladen and her forthcoming return as Sarah Jane Smith. The actress is quoted as saying that "Sarah Jane used to be a bit of a cardboard cut-out. Each week it used to be, 'Yes Doctor, no Doctor', and you had to flesh your character out in your mind - because if you didn't, no one else would." Interpreting this as 'blasting' the BBC, the Mirror notes that "Sarah Jane plays a much more integral part in the story" in 'School Reunion'; according to Sladen, "The new show is much more realistic. I am thrilled that the BBC realises the companion has an effect on the ratings."

Media Guardian says that David Tennant "is to film a 90-minute BBC1 drama in which he plays the victim of a car crash who suffers a debilitating brain injury". The drama, called "Recovery," is written by Tony Marchant (award-winning creator of 'Holding On' and 'Kid in the Corner'), and begins filming in May by the independent producer Tiger Aspect. It will co-star Sarah Parish as Tennant's wife; the two have previously appeared together in Blackpool on BBC One. The article says it is "likely to be screened in the autumn."

The Sunday Mail says that "David Tennant's girlfriend is carrying a Dr Who doll in her bag - to comfort her when she misses him. Actress Sophia Myles, 26, says she can't bear to be away from David when their filming schedules clash. BBC bosses sent Sophia, who starred as Lady Penelope in Thunderbirds, two of the coveted Time Lord dolls, complete with sonic screwdrivers. The dolls, one wearing a long coat and one in a pinstripe suit, were launched this month by BBC Toys. Sophia was sent hers when she said in a magazine interview that she planned to buy one. Her 'toyboy' is now a fixture in her bag as she films her latest movie Hallam Foe in Scotland." Myles is also the cover star of May's British edition of Tatler which includes a photo of her at a party with David Tennant, and ends as follows: "Being invited to appear on Doctor Who was 'like being called to jury service. You can't say no to Doctor Who.' Nor, it seems, could she say no to its star, David Tennant - the two have been an item ever since. 'The Pink Paper recently voted David the sexiest man in the universe,' she says. 'I'd definitely agree. I will go and buy one of the Doctor Who action figures and carry it in my handbag. I'm very pissed off they are not making a Madame de Pompadour doll, though I have had words with the producers about it.'" Myles appears as Madame de Pompadour in the new season's fourth episode, "The Girl in the Fireplace".

The Daily Record says that actor Jimmy Vee, who played the Moxx of Balhoon in last year's "The End of the World" and the title villain in the digital offering "Attack of the Graske," "has his sights set on an even bigger role. Scotsman Jimmy, who plays an assortment of aliens in the new series with David Tennant, says he'd love to fill the shoes of the Doctor himself, eventually. He said: 'You never know what might happen in one episode. I'm slowly but surely moving up the ladder and getting more in to my characters. I'd love to play the Doctor at some point. Maybe I could take over from David Tennant one day.'"

Tooth and Claw Media Coverage

This week's Radio Times features The Simpsons with Ricky Gervais on its cover, but keeps up the high level of Doctor Who coverage for the second episode of the new series, Tooth and Claw with the cover warning "Doctor Who: Beware the werewolf!" Small photographs from the episode illustrate both the Contents (p.3) and "RT recommends... the week's best television" (p.4), with 'Tooth and Claw' selected as "Drama of the week": "The Tardis whooshes into 1870s Scotland, where Queen Victoria and a big, hungry werewolf await the Doctor. Preposterous but terrific fun." This week's "Doctor Who Watch" comprises a two-page photo feature in which The Mill's Will Cohen explains some of the process involved in bringing the werewolf onto the screen ("Bad Wolf?", pp.12-13); the feature continues on a third page ("Royal prey", p.15) with an interview with Pauline Collins, possibly drawn from the BBC Press Office's press release of a couple of weeks ago, and a brief piece about make-up designer Sheelagh Wells. Overall the feature includes ten new photographs from 'Tooth and Claw'. The episode is also one of "Today's Choices" for Saturday (p.60), with a large photo of Tom Smith as the Host (who "hides a hair-raising secret"). The write-up says that "After last week's comparatively thoughtful opener, here's a full-on action adventure, packed with chases, fights and a huge, hungry werewolf. The Doctor and Rose (Tennant and Piper, a perfect partnership) land in Scotland in 1879 ... directly crossing the path of ... Queen Victoria (Pauline Collins, obviously having a whale of a time) ... It's completely preposterous, but tremendous fun of the good old-fashioned, old-dark-house-on-a-lonely-night variety. The actual werewolf transformation is very effective indeed." Another photo heads Saturday evening's BBC One listings ("The Doctor and Rose journey back to 1879 and uncover a deadly trap dating back centuries."), while the listing for Doctor Who Confidential that evening runs: "The state-of-the-art effects that created one of the Time Lord's hairiest foes, plus behind the scenes on David Tennant's battle with the Sycorax." Sunday's episode repeat has another listing blurb: "The duo probe a terrifying local legend when they land in 1879." Thursday's Totally Doctor Who will feature "Noel Clarke [with] on-set gossip, plus a chance to meet the kung-fu monks". And on Monday, "Doctor Who's canine chum K-9 is in the studio with ex-Who actress Elisabeth Sladen" for Blue Peter at 5pm. This guest appearance is also hightighted on the "Kids' TV" pages (p.116), illustrated with a shot of K9. Elsewhere in the magazine, Alison Graham cites Doctor Who as part of a current "golden age" for television, alongside forthcoming new episodes of Cracker and Prime Suspect: "Doctor Who dominates Saturday tea times ... Surely no one would claim that the new Doctor Who bears any relation to the creaky epics of my childhood, where dear Jon Pertwee battled the Sea Devils, who wore string vests if memory serves. Bring on the computer-generated special effects!" This week's DVD review is of 'Genesis of the Daleks', with Stuart Maconie commenting that "Five years ago, Doctor Who was a joke, its fans derided as dweebs, its storylines and sets a soft target for unimaginative stand-ups. Now it's cooler and sexier than ever before ... ['Genesis'] is pretty good, though: prime interstellar hokum overlaid with some echoes of Nazism and the conflict between might and right. ... The commentary is a delight. Sladen and Baker ... poke gentle and affectionate fun at themselves while clearly proud of their efforts. They should be too." And the Letters pages (p.144) has a correspondent's view that it was "a treat to be able to read Russell T Davies's thoughts on how to (and how not to) write cracking TV drama" in last week's issue. Finally, next week's issue promises coverage of the return of Sarah Jane and K-9...

The Daily Express and Daily Star both mention that "Doctor Who will take on a werewolf at Balmoral in Saturday's show – in a script that could be based on real history. The Doctor – played by Scots star David Tennant – lands his Tardis at Balmoral Castle in Queen Victoria's time and tackles the terrifying creature. But historical accounts show a 'wolfman' did stay in a cave on the royal estate. Local author Sheila Sedgwick said a 'wild boy' was raised by wolves on the mountain Lochnagar in the 19th century. 'The half man half wolf was raised in the cave but later mixed with people in the town, ' she said. 'The boy was orphaned and the wolves looked after him. The idea of a werewolf at Balmoral will make great television.' Lochnagar is Prince Charles' favourite mountain and he enjoys picnics there with Camilla. The cave the 'wolf boy' slept in is located near the summit of the 3,800ft high peak. Dr Sedgwick said: 'The moon played a great part in life on the estate – when they saw a new moon women bowed three times to it.'"

The Scotsman says that "There is a moment near the beginning of the second episode of the new series of Dr Who when Rose, the Doctor's pretty sidekick, attempts a Scottish accent. Held at gunpoint by a procession of 19th-century Scottish soldiers, she tries out a pitiful 'hoots mon' and is quickly shushed by the Doctor, who then proceeds to converse with the soldiers as if he were one of their own. Which in real life, of course, he is. Indeed it is perhaps one of the only times in the new series that viewers will get a hint that the latest Dr Who hails from Paisley, rather than the distant planet of Gallifrey. On this sunny Thursday afternoon in Glasgow, however, David Tennant - television's newest Doctor Who and quite possibly the only one to also have played the role of Casanova - is wearing his Scottishness on his sleeve, excitably leaping up to thank everyone for coming and telling them how much it means to be able to bring the Dr Who team (Billie Piper - with boyfriend Amadu Sowe in tow - Russell T Davies and an assortment of writers and CGI folk are here too) to Scotland. Tennant even utters the word 'jings'. ... Tennant adopts a mockney twang for the role, a move that has led to accusations that it was deliberately changed for a world that wasn't ready for a heavily Scottish-accented Dr Who. It's a charge both Tennant and Davies deny. 'It didn't bother me one way or another,' says Tennant. 'It doesn't make me any less Scottish not doing a Scottish accent. But it was nice to have one episode where Russell came up with the idea of the Doctor having a Scottish accent - which remarkably the doctor could do...' Davies, for his part, strenuously denies that it was a result of any sort of BBC dictat. 'I absolutely swear to you on my life!' he protests. In fact the writer is obviously a Tennant fan. He gave, Davies says, 'one of the best auditions I'd ever seen' for Casanova - another Davies vehicle - and, since then, the writer had kept him at the back of his mind for the Dr Who role. He seems thrilled with his choice. 'He's fantastic,' says Davies. 'The thing with great actors is that you don't know quite what you're going to get. They always take you by surprise.' ... 'Nine months of the year you're filming, so it's difficult to do anything else,' Tennant admits. 'But I fully intend to go back to the theatre at some point and, if it was something for the National Theatre of Scotland, all the better.' As for a third series, both Piper and Tennant have signed up, although there is speculation over whether Piper will appear in every episode. But that's all still some time away in the future."

Heat magazine reviewer Boyd Hilton gives Tooth and Claw 5 stars (it's also at number 2 in their Week's Best TV Shows). He writes: "The second episode of the new series is cunningly described by writer Russell T Davies as a "celebrity historical" story, featuring an encounter with a famous person from history, namely Queen Victoria (played with supreme regal confidence by Pauline Collins, outdoing even Judi Dench's portrayal in Mrs Brown). But the Queen alone isn't enough to fill out a top-quality Russell T Davies script. Oh no. He chucks in a band of mysterious warrior monks who do that flying-fighting thing from The Matrix, the world's biggest diamond, and a truly scary (at least for any kids watching) werewolf. Quite how this ends up being coherent, fun and finally rather moving, we can't fully explain, but we do know that Rose's running-joke attempt to get Queen Victoria to say "We are not amused" is the finest slice of comedy in recent Who history. There's surely no other show on TV right now that manages to be as funny, scary and giddily entertaining all at the same time. Except for maybe Deal Or No Deal."

Closer picks this week's episode as one of it's (4) choices for Saturday: "The Doctor tries to transport Rose back to the flower power era of the '70s, but he accidentally hits the wrong digit and they end up in the Scottish highlands in 1879 - whoops! It's not quite the nostalgic trip down memory lane he had in mind - especially when a local legend about a werewolf turns out to be true. Pauline (Shirley Valentine) Collins guest stars as Queen Victoria."

New magazine lists Doctor Who as number 6 in their Top 10 Picks: "Doctor Who must be a dream for its special effects team, and they sure had fun creating tonight's creepy creature - a terrifyingly realistic werewolf that Rose and The Doctor encounter when they are dropped in the Highlands of Scotland in 1879. How things have changed since Tom Baker's day!"

Reveal has this week's episode as this as one their Must Sees for Saturday and give it 4 stars: "The Time Lord and Rose find themselves in 19th century Scotland. There they meet Queen Victoria and encounter a sinister order of warrior monks." Sneak's Pick of the Day: "Prepare for an extra spooky episode as Rose and the Doctor travel back to 1879 and meet Queen Victoria. Plus, the pair confront a terrifying werewolf who stalks the Scottish Highlands looking for prey. Scarier than Pete Burns without any slap on!".

Star magazine gives Tooth and Claw 4 out of 5 stars: Tonight the Doctor and his fragrant Rose travel back in time for a chilling encounter with Queen "Gappy" Victoria and a band of Warrior Monks in the Scottish Highlands. Things become even hairier when an ancient and deadly trap is revealed.

US Broadcasts

TV Guide said of last week's US transmission of "Dalek," "The Daleks---or rather, the Dalek (singular)---is back, and it is peeved. It has not one but three issues: 1) Henry Von Stanton (spelling?), 2) the 'extermination' of its race and 3) the man behind that 'extermination,' the Doctor. As one reader pointed out, the Time Lords weren't wiped out by a civil war, as I'd thought, but by a protracted conflict with the Daleks. The Doctor succeeded in destroying the screchy pepper shakers, but only at the expense of his own people, which is a lot of guilt to carry around even in something as big as the TARDIS. Age and grief catch up to our hero when he spots the Cyberman head in a museum. Its owner is von Stanton, an A++++ type billionaire from the year 2012. 'Blimey, you can smell the testosterone,' muses Rose. Von Stanton has to rank among the most obnoxious people the Doctor has ever dealt with. He is, of course, American---a control freak who can hire and fire Presidents on a whim because he owns the internet. (Al Gore apparently didn't patent his invention.) Von Stanton at least has the acumen to promote the seductive Diana Goddard to chief assistant. (Anna-Louise Plowman resembles Nicole Kidman during her younger, curlier days.) Among von Stanton's objets d'art are items from Roswell, alien weapons, a hair drier, and the aforementioned Cyberman head. In the basement of his Utah bunker, the last surviving Dalek is being tortured to get it to communicate. It parts with no words until it sees its old enemy, the Doctor, after which comes the familiar, metallic refrain of 'Exterminate!.' Marooned and moribund, the Dalek can't cause any trouble---yet---but it does give as good as it gets in a verbal duel with our tart-tongued Time Lord. 'If you can't kill, what is the point of you?' he snarles. The Dalek points out that the Doctor too is alone because of the Time War. That the writers could inject pathos into a Dalek is a wonder in and of itself, particularly considering how many people it exterminated during the course of this phenomenal episode. But it was alone, it had no orders, and it had no purpose. Alas, Rose soon gave the Dalek a new lease on life by touching it, somehow passing the Doctor's regenerative DNA into its genes. The Dalek then went on a killing spree that made the bunker look like the Alamo (like bullets were going hurt this thing). Still, it was about time that someone explained how the Daleks could overcome the stairs obstacle. It flies, you see. Wonder why the Daleks didn't use that on the Doctor before. (Budget constraints, perhaps?) After telling Jackie that he'd protect Rose, the Doctor's agony at her supposed death really hit home, all the more so because we could see it coming. Of course she didn't perish (she was one of the few who didn't), but with her as a hostage the Dalek barged into von Stanton's office. 'What use are emotions if you can't save the woman you love?' it barked at the Doctor. The Dalek's reaction to von Stanton's hemming and hawing about trying to get it talk was CLASSIC---'You want me to talk? EX-TER-MIN-ATE!' No, it didn't kill him (Goddard staged a hilarious coup, instead), but the Dalek did undergo a subtle emotional shift as the episode went on, experiencing fear, a craving for freedom, and a desire to see the sun. Armed with a honkin' alien bazooka, the Doctor wanted to do some exterminating of his own. Seems he'd undergone a shift too, as Rose noted. 'What are you changing into?' she demands. This gives our emotional hero pause. Christopher Eccleston was awesome throughout the entire episode. He is by turns cheeky, angry, wistful, guilt-ridden, passionate and compassionate, like a bi-polar person who has harnessed their behavior. An amazing performance. Billie Piper again shows why she is such apt foil---Rose is tough, stable and warm but never wooden. The Dalek gives perhaps the most remarkable performance of all, though you'd have to be a fan of the old Who to really appreciate why. Rose's humanity caused the Dalek too much emotional distress for its one-dimensional genetic make up. It had to die. 'Are you frightened Rose Tyler?' 'Yes,' she replies. 'So am I.' It was like the tin man getting a heart---if the tin man was Saddam Hussein. And with that, the Dalek implodes. Before departing, the Doctor gets a new comrade. Adam (Bruno Langley) is a brilliant young British minion of von Stanton's who has more than a passing interest in Rose. Wonder what Mickey will say? And von Stanton...he's brainwashed and dumped in a skid row of a city beginning with `S.' Sorry to go on and on, but this jewel had a million great moments---I had to mention at least a thousand of them."

Now Playing Mag says that "At the risk of blowing my cover as a hip TV guru so early in the game, I have to confess that one of my favorite shows at the moment is the new version of Doctor Who. Being both American and a girl I realize that I have no business being a fan of Doctor Who, but I can’t deny that I’m hooked on the cheeky time-traveling alien and his spunky sidekick, Rose Tyler. And on the occasion of the show’s triumphant return to the British airwaves this weekend for a second go-round, not to mention the American airing of “Dalek” — one of the best episodes from last season, I figured it was a time to come clean. It all started last January, when I received a call from an editor to do a last-minute interview with David Tennant, who took over the role from Christopher Eccleston at the end of the first season (or series, as the British call their seasons — just to confuse us yanks, and then laugh at our ignorance). Having never seen a single episode of the new series, or the old, I felt woefully unprepared and dove into researching the history of Doctor Who. And then I gave up. I mean, who can process 40 years of history in a single afternoon? So I interviewed David not fully comprehending what an opportunity it was (or the fact that a lot of fanboys out there would give up their action-figure collections for the same chance). Maybe it’s just my personal weakness for accents (and he has a lovely Scottish brogue that you unfortunately won’t get to hear in the Doctor’s voice), but he couldn’t have been more charming or personable in the interview. If he was tired of talking about inheriting the Doctor’s legacy by the time I got to him, he certainly didn’t show it. And he’s now signed up through the third series, so it seems he’s in it for the long haul. It may be hard for some fans to accept David as the new Doctor, but he was my first, so there will always be a spot in my heart for number 10. And that’s how “The Christmas Invasion” came to be the first episode of Doctor Who I ever saw. That pretty much clinched it for me. I proceeded to track down every episode of the new series (let’s just say I found them through a friend — we’ll call him Kit Borrent) and was rarely disappointed by the sharp, witty writing that also managed to be culturally relevant. Above all, it was just plain fun to watch. And right at height of my fascination came the SCI FI Channel announcement that it was bringing the series to the States. I tried wishing for a million dollars too, but I’m still waiting on that one. I’ll keep you posted. I know that if I had that million dollars right now, I’d buy myself a plane and a handsome pilot to fly me over to the U.K. for the weekend so I could be there for the return of Doctor Who. But since I can’t, I guess it’s up to old Kit to hook me up again."

TV Squad says, "I am really enjoying these new Dr. Who adventures that are appearing on the Sci-Fi Channel while their normal Friday night schedule is taking a hiatus. To paraphrase... it's not your father's (or grandfather's) Dr. Who. While there are some occasional cheesy aliens and special effects, this version of the show is definitely the one of the most slickly produced in the series' 43-year history. ... I actually felt sympathy for the Dalek in this episode as it made the decision to kill itself; whoever wrote the sequence between him, the Doctor and Rose did a very good job at showing the Dalek's pain. In general this episode was very emotional, as the Doctor showed his anger and fear when meeting the Dalek and his sadness when he thought he had lost Rose. This version of the Doctor is, well, cool. He's not like some of the other Doctors (like, for example, sixth Doctor Colin Baker). He dresses well, he's glib, and he has the right amount of cheekiness and logic in him. I also like Rose. There have been plenty of companions that have done nothing but whine every time the Doctor began another adventure. Rose is different; she comes from South London (I guess that's a rough and tumble part of the city), she's young, and she is ready to go on the adventures (as she had nothing really keeping her at home before that). I look forward to future episodes."

Miscellaneous

Says Media Monkey in The Guardian, "Five years after Greg Dyke called the BBC 'hideously white', it appears that the corporation still has some way to go. A double page picture of most of the 200 production staff behind Doctor Who in the Radio Times reveals just two black faces, one of them Noel Clarke, who plays Mickey Smith. Defeating the Daleks is one thing, employing more members of an ethnic minority is quite another."

The Telegraph says that "he has defeated Daleks and Cybermen but Doctor Who has now achieved possibly his greatest victory yet - attracting tourists to South Wales. The BBC's decision to film the series around Cardiff and Swansea has been credited with breathing new life into the region's tourist trade. Thousands of fans have flocked to the area to visit locations and tourism chiefs believe that the new series, which began last night, will provide a further boost in time for summer. They are even considering setting up tourist trails and are encouraging operators to develop Doctor Who holidays. Geoff Haden, the chairman of Tourism Swansea, said: 'Tourism is only ticking over so it really needs the boost it is getting from Doctor Who. There are lots of Doctor Who nuts out there whom we're targeting.' While some locations, such as the Gower Peninsula, Cardiff Bay and the city's Millennium Centre, are well-established as tourist attractions, the show features a host of less salubrious backdrops, including Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Howell's department store, the former offices of Glamorgan county council and a housing estate on the outskirts of the Welsh capital. Despite the lack of glamour, tourism bosses say Doctor Who fans are just as keen to tour a shopping centre as they are to stroll on a coastal path. John Wake, a Cardiff tour guide, said: 'Some of the locations are not terribly interesting places, like tower blocks and council estates, but the fans still want to go there. These enthusiasts just want to see exactly where everything happened and can spend a couple of hours at these places.' An exhibition dedicated to the Time Lord at Cardiff's Red Dragon Centre has attracted more than 100,000 visitors since Christmas, and hundreds are expected to attend a Doctor Who convention in Swansea later this year. Following the first series, a poll found that 18 per cent of visitors to Cardiff had decided to come after seeing the city on television. ... Although the locations are usually adapted to represent London as well as more remote outposts of the universe, the BBC says the show is intended as a showcase for Wales. The corporation has been working with the Wales Tourist Board on using the show to promote the principlality and its website offers a guide to film locations."

The Sun also says that "a recent poll found one in five visitors to Cardiff had decided to go after seeing the Welsh capital on TV. Thousands of fans have flocked to South Wales since the first series was aired last year - the new series kicked off on Saturday - to eight million avid viewers. But it is tricky for viewers to spot the sites as the Beeb uses props and special effects to transform locations, making them appear as if they are in London. Here, we invite you to step into The Sun's Tardis for a whirlwind tour of Wales - Doctor Who-style. When we met Billie Piper's character Rose for the first time, she was working in fictitious central London department store Henrik's. But to browse the shelves for real, shoppers would have to go to Howells in Cardiff, where the external shots were filmed. In this episode, The Doctor and Rose find the Nestene Consciousness lurking underground beneath the London Eye. However, the nailbiting scenes were filmed in a disused paper mill in Grangetown, a Cardiff suburb. The mill was used again in the first episode of the new series last Saturday as the location for the sinister 'testing labs' at an alien hospital. When Rose's mum is chased by shop dummies through London, also in the first series, she is really in and around the Queen's Arcade shopping centre in Cardiff. The crew simply added a few lampposts and a London Underground sign. And when an alien crash-lands in the fourth episode of series one it is taken to the Albion Hospital. In reality, this was Cardiff Royal Infirmary. The corridors and empty rooms were also given a futuristic make-over and used for interior shots featuring aliens. So now you should know where you are when it comes to Doctor Who."

The Western Daily Press features an article by "Science of Doctor Who" author Paul Parsons who asks "Have you wondered how Daleks climb stairs, how those Cybermen are able to make little Cybermen, or where the toilets are on the Tardis? I have been a fan of Doctor Who as long as I can remember, although I wasn't around when he first arrived on TV in 1963, the day after President John F Kennedy was shot. Since then, the journeys of the Time Lord have shown us alien worlds, strange life-forms, futuristic technology and mind-bending cosmic phenomena. Viewers have hidden behind their sofas, terrified of Daleks, been amazed by the wonders of time travel, and travelled through black holes into other universes and new dimensions. The sheer imagination of the Doctor's adventures have made the show one of science fiction's truly monumental success stories - but you might be surprised quite how much scientific reality lies behind the fiction." The article goes into discussing some of these scientific issues, with a pitch for the book (now on the stands) at the end.

The Daily Express says that "the new series of Doctor Who has only just warped into action but this has not stopped Time Lord David Tennant from nominating his replacement when he parks his Tardis for good. He would like League Of Gentlemen comedian Mark Gatiss to take over the Dalek-fighting duties. Gatiss, who can currently be seen starring as a psychiatric inmate in BBC comedy Nighty Night and is known for playing eccentric characters, has already penned an episode of the current Doctor Who series. 'Mark would be great and would be keen to do it, too, I think, ' proffers Tennant." Actor/writer Gatiss wrote last year's "The Unquiet Dead" and this season's "The Idiot's Lantern".

The Derby Evening Telegraph says that "Brave Doctor Who fan James Shelton came face to face with two Daleks when he visited Pickford's House. The eight-year-old was one of about 80 youngsters who attended a Doctor Who day on Saturday at the museum in Friar Gate, Derby. James is pictured with a Tardis, made by Steve Warby, who brought it to the museum to show the children. The day marked the launch of a new series of the popular BBC1 show (see Page 10). Mr Warby, of Chaddesden, spent five months creating the Tardis. He said: 'The children were making their own K9 dogs from the series and masks of the new-look Cybermen, too. They were very good. The children loved the Tardis and were very surprised when a Dalek came out of it.'"

Also BBC NewsicNewcastleicWales and The Guardian covered the launch of series two with brief recap articles;Female First says that "David Tennant loves being a gay sex symbol".

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Peter Weaver, Chuck Foster, Paul Hayes, David Traynier, James van-der Heiden, Michael Blumenthal, David Ryan, Jon Preddle and Peter Anghelides)




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Series 2/28 - Press - Radio Times