Barrowman's PartnershipBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 27 December 2006 - Reported by Anthony Weight
BBC News Online is running a report on the civil partnership ceremony between Torchwood and Doctor Who starJohn Barrowman and his long-term boyfriend Scott Gill, which took place at the St David's Hotel in Cardiff this afternoon. Barrowman, who wore a kilt for the ceremony reflecting his Scottish roots, is quoted as saying: "It feels great and I think more gay men and gay women should go ahead and do it as long as they're serious about it. It's not really recognition but it's important for people to see the normality of the entire situation and it forces people who don't agree with gay men and women ... to have to accept us. We deserve the rights like everybody else. It's been a long wait but we legitimised our relationship to each other a long time ago when we signed our mortgages together and this is just something that forces people who don't want to recognise it that they have to."

The story was also reported on Wales Today.




FILTER: - People

BBC confirms Dalek story settingBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 27 December 2006 - Reported by DWNP Archive
The BBC confirmed today that the Daleks will feature in the Series Three two-parter set in 1930s New York (episodes four and five, which are currently untitled). A Dalek was featured in the recent trailer for Series Three that concluded the broadcast of "The Runaway Bride".

The story, published on its Entertainment website this morning, follows the mention in the Sun today (see below) and quotes Russell T Davies as saying: "This time, their plan is the most audacious Dalek scheme yet! Even the Doctor finds himself out of his depth."

As previously reported, appearing alongside David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the adventure will be Miranda Raison, Hugh Quarshie and Ryan Carnes.




FILTER: - Production - Series 3/29

New series preview in the SunBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 27 December 2006 - Reported by DWNP Archive
Today's Sun has a colour picture special preview of Series Three. A main image of the Doctor thrown by an explosion is surrounded by shots of new companion Martha with an unidentified male, Ardal O'Hanlon as feline alien Brannigan, a Judoon, Dean Lennox Kelly as Shakespeare and the black Dalek.

The Sun today also has a report about Casualty extra Johnson Yakoob being axed from the BBC hospital-based series after 500 shows over nearly two decades for taking a picture of David Tennant. Yakoob is quoted as saying his agency has stopped his work because he broke a rule about photographing Tennant while working on Doctor Who, and says: "I can't believe it. He was happy to pose."




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Press

Elisabeth Sladen talks about The Sarah Jane AdventuresBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 27 December 2006 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Norfolk have a new video interview with Elisabeth Sladen, talking about the forthcoming The Sarah Jane Adventures special ("The Invasion of the Bane") to be seen on New Year's Day.

The interview briefly discusses how the new series came about in early January this year (she initially thought she was being approached for Torchwood!), that the series is set in the present day, but a little after "School Reunion" (her most recent appearance in Doctor Who), how she has a house that isn't quite what it seems, and that K9 will be in this special but it isn't certain about other episodes as he has another very important job to do [previously reported from her appearance onBreakfast, 8th December]. She also commented on how protective of the character she is, and pleased that there were still some surprises in store for her.

On the show itself, she believes the format is very inventive, and she has no idea what will appear in the series now that the special is rounded off. However, she is most proud of the show having the biggest explosion to date in any of the three Doctor Who shows!

The full video interview and further details are on the website.


Meanwhile, the Metro has also run an article on the show, with some additional comments from Elisabeth Sladen on the return of her character: "I thought, what can I bring to the character if she came back again? But they started telling me about this spin-off and it was just impressive what they had in mind. I thought, why am I questioning what they're doing? It's a challenge and I've just got to reach for it. How amazing."

The article also discusses the use of K9 in the series, with creator Bob Baker still pursuing a separate series using the character (K9 Adventures). On this, she adds: "I don't pretend to know what's going on behind the scenes, but if he's allowed us to use K-9 for this special then never say never."




FILTER: - Sarah Jane

Unconfirmed: Sun report Tennant to quitBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 27 December 2006 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

The Thursday issue of the Sun is reporting that David Tennant is to quit the title role of Doctor Who midway through the fourth series. The story is headlined on the front page (see right) with the article on page five (see quote box below).

It is worth stressing that, so far, this story is unconfirmed, and Tennant and the production team are still working on the forthcoming third series. A fourth series is yet to be officially commissioned by the BBC, but assuming it goes ahead, it wouldn't be due to hit our screens until Spring 2008 and would mark Tennant's third season in the role. Tennant's first complete story was in the Christmas special 2005.

Update: In an unhelpful move, BBC Radio One have managed to mis-report the story in the Sun this morning, with news summaries during their breakfast programme quoting a newspaper as saying that Tennant will leave "during the next series". Naturally, many listeners may assume this is referring to the forthcoming third series yet to begin broadcasting. However, this is still quoting the tabloid, even if it is a mis-quote, and does not validate the story. The Metro is also quoting The Sun's report, offering no additional information.

(Humorous footnote: There may not be any official confirmation or denial about the story as yet, but there is a "News In Briefs" comment by Thursday's page three model - Katie, 22, from Liverpool - who is reported to be "gutted" that Tennant was supposed to be leaving. She is quoted as saying: "He was brilliant in the show and it won't be the same without him. Not only was he a great actor - but I could swoon over him as well!" Additional reporting by John Bowman)
DR Who star David Tennant is to quit the show - leaving BBC bosses looking for their 11th Timelord, The Sun can reveal.

David, 35, will leave in the middle of the fourth series.

The Scot is still filming the third series of the sci-fi favourite, which is set to be shown in the spring.

He has told the Beeb he will return the following year — but will not do the entire nine-month shoot. David has been bombarded with film offers after appearing in the last Harry Potter movie.

Producers are keen to get another Scot, Trainspotting star Robert Carlyle, 45, to step in.

They are also talking to David Morrisey, who was in BBC drama Blackpool with Tennant, as well as in Basic Instinct 2.

Tennant became Dr Who when Christopher Eccleston quit after one series. David stars with newcomer Freema Agyeman in the third series. She replaces Billie Piper, who left this year.

David refused to deny he was quitting when asked earlier this month, insisting he was "non-committal" about his plans.

He joked: "From the moment I accepted this job, everyone said, 'When are you leaving?' A boy could get a complex!" A Dr Who spokesman declined to comment.





FILTER: - Production - David Tennant - Press

"The Runaway Bride" Overnight Ratings - 8.7 MillionBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 26 December 2006 - Reported by Marcus
The Runaway Bride achieved a Christmas day rating of 8.7 millionviewers, a 37% share of the total TV audience. The programme won its time slot beating Emmerdale on ITV which achieved 7.2m. The audience grew throughout the programme with the last quarter hour being watched by 9m viewers.

The day was a triumph for BBC1 which had eight of the Top Ten places. The highest watched programme of the day was The Vicar of Dibley, with 11.4m. The two episodes of Eastenders and and the episode of Coronation Street all scored high making Doctor Who number 5 for the day.

The programme was a great success among the under 4-16s achieving an audience of 1.7m or 55% of all children watching. This made it the most watched programme of the day in the Children's chart.

Doctor Who Confidential shown on BBC1 at 1pm got a rating of 1.4m viewers, a 13.7% share and was the 31st most watched programme of the day.

Final Ratings will be issued by BARB in approximately two weeks time




FILTER: - Specials - Ratings - UK

Torchwood Overnight RatingsBookmark and Share

Monday, 25 December 2006 - Reported by Marcus
The combination of an earlier start and it being Christmas Eve resulted in a drop in Torchwood's ratings for the first BBC3 showing of episode 11, "Combat". According to unofficial overnight figures the programme was watched by 710,700 viewers, a 3.9% share of the audience. The programme was still BBC3's highest rated of the day, and the fourth highest rated programme on Multi Channel TV, being beaten by three episodes of the Simpsons.




FILTER: - Torchwood - Ratings - UK

Christmas Morning ConcertBookmark and Share

Monday, 25 December 2006 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Children In Need Concert, which is available to digital viewers, has had an earlier start than previously advertised on site, with the first run commencing from 9:15am. The concert - filmed at Cardiff's Millennium Centre on 19th November - runs for approximately 90 minutes on a loop, and details of the schedule can be seen at any time by using the blue button during the concert.

The broadcast also includes a question-and-answer session with David TennantRussell T Davies and Murray Gold, plus a four-minute preview of "The Runaway Bride" (so you may not want to watch the concert until after 8:00pm!).

For those out and about and otherwise engaged in Christmas merriment, the concert will be broadcast digitally at other times throughout the Christmas season: Christmas Day (1:50-7:00pm, 8:50pm-4:00am - 1:45am for Freeview), 27th December (8:50pm-4:00am - 1:45am for Freeview), and then in the new year on 2nd/3rd January (7:50pm-4:00am - but not on Freeview). The audio-only version of the concert is also currently available from BBC Radio Wales on their "Listen Again" service.

For other coverage of the concert, don't forget this afternoon's behind-the-scenes look at the concert with Doctor Who Confidential on BBC1 at 1:00pm. Plus BBC Radio One delve into the concert in a three-hour programme with Jo Whiley from 4:00pm. This will be available on the "Listen Again" service for the next week, as is Doctor Who Back In Time, the behind-the-scenes from BBC Radio Wales broadcast yesterday.





FILTER: - Special Events - Radio Times - Broadcasting

Times Praises Runaway BrideBookmark and Share

Monday, 25 December 2006 - Reported by Kenny Davidson
The Boxing Day issue of The Times reviews "The Runaway Bride" as the runaway success of the Christmas Day schedules with a glowing review. As it is a review after broadcast it has spoilers for those still to see it; therefore, click on the spoiler link for the full review.
Well, the Beeb killed off Pauline Fowler in EastEnders' now-traditional reliance on a Christmas Day wedding, birth or death to rev things up a bit, but at the end of the day, it was all put to shame by Doctor Who (BBC One) flushing a spider down the plughole.

Of course, Doctor Who has the not inconsiderable advantage of being about both the whole universe and the entire span of time - rather than just the lives of down-trodden, thin-lipped peasants in Walford spiting each other.

Under Russell T. Davies's sure guidance, the Doctor happily spent Christmas Day battling the Queen of Rachnos (Sarah Parish as a colossal, mad spider), before draining the Thames into a gigantic hole - and incorporating Catherine Tate, Slade's Merry Christmas Everyone and giant, web-strewn stars hanging over London on the way. Given this kind of scope, is it any wonder that, over the last two years, the Doctor Who Christmas Special has, finally, supplanted the Christmas Day episode of EastEnders as the flagship of the Christmas schedules?

This is a show that, in all likelihood, hasn't even entered its Imperial Phase yet, but still has an awe-inspiring sureness to it. David Tennant as the Doctor is now so ensconced in the role that I dare say he could spend an episode, due to some vagary of the Tardis, speaking like Arnold from Diff'rent Strokes and wearing a dress, and still be absolutely centred. That he's looking pretty hot in those sneakers doesn't hurt.

Everyone involved in Doctor Who is very much into how hot the Doctor is. To this end, Tennant has perfected a neat, scene-ending expression that goes "What? Eh? How did I get so incredibly foxeh?" which, to my recall, was last seen on The Fonz.

The two big selling points of The Runaway Bride were, ostensibly, the guests: Parish, as the vile Empress of Rachnos, and Catherine Tate as Donna, the recaltricant, eponymous runaway bride. In reality, however, Parish seemed a little hamstrung by her prosthetics, while Tate simply reprised her "Am I bovvered?" turn, but in a wedding dress, while running down some corridors.

She certainly knew what to do with her good lines, though.

"Don't you remember?" the Doctor asked, at one point.

"The Battle of Canary Wharf? Cybermen everywhere? The sky full of Daleks?" "I was in Spain," Tate shrugs.

"They were IN THE SKY!" the Doctor boggles.

"Scuba-diving," Tate says, visibly uninterested.

The real highlights of the show, it turned out, were twists on old favourites. To be honest, the show peaked around 12 minutes in, when the Tardis had its coolest ever moment - bouncing along the Westway in a shower of sparks, in pursuit of Tate in a cab. It looked absolutely thrilling.

I hope the CGI department awarded themselves all a brand new USB splitter as a special treat.

The other big highlight came whenever the Doctor had to mention Rose. The last time we saw the Doctor, of course, he was transmitting one last message to Rose, who was trapped, forever, in a parallel universe. He, like us, is still mourning the best companion he ever had - even better than K9 - and every mention of her resulted in gratifying, palpable pain in Tennant's eyes. Not least because Tennant must miss Piper in Cardiff, during all those long months of shooting.

They used to look as if they terrorized the local Nando's together. I bet they got through a lot of chicken. Who knows how the new assistant, Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones, will pan out, when the series returns in the spring? Maybe she won't like Nando's at all. But waiting to find out is, to be honest, the best way to keep going through the Boxing Day Depression.




FILTER: - Specials - Press

Sun piece on Bride notesBookmark and Share

Monday, 25 December 2006 - Reported by DWNP Archive
The Boxing Day edition of the Sun looks back at "The Runaway Bride" by reporting that fake cash used in the show is selling for five times its mock face value.

Illustrated with a close-up of one of the "London Credit Bank" tenners plus a Christmas publicity image of David Tennant as the Doctor with sonic screwdriver outside the Tardis, it describes the scene in which a cashpoint churns out a fortune in the notes and says fans scooped up handfuls of the funny money after the scene had been filmed in Cardiff.

According to the piece, a show insider says the picture of Tennant was an in-joke, adding: "We can’t have real cash fluttering about — the licence-payers wouldn’t be too impressed.” It also quotes a Doctor Who collector as saying: “Any items from the show are going for a premium. The going rate for these notes is £50."

As previously reported on Outpost Gallifrey, the notes have an illustration of Tennant instead of the Queen and, in a nod to "The Christmas Invasion", bear the legends "I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of 10 satsumas" plus "No second chances. I'm that sort of man".

The notes also carry a small picture of the Tardis in place of the usual silver security seal, as well as the initials "DT" where the "EIIR" monogram normally goes, and have a "© BBC Cymru Wales" statement.

In addition, fake £20 notes featuring an illustration of show producer Phil Collinson were printed for the special. These had a "sterling value" as opposed to "satsuma value" and stated "There's no point being grown up if you can't be a little childish sometimes" — a misquote from "Robot" — in place of the "No second chances. I'm that sort of man" lines. Click on




FILTER: - Specials - Press