The Doctor's Wife has debuted in Australia to strong ratings. TV Tonight reports that the episode averaged 785,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. Again, it won its national timeslot, was the top-rating drama of the day and the fifth highest rating programme for the day overall. The corresponding Confidential Cutdown also rated a respectable 605,000 viewers in the five major capitals. These overnight figures do not include regional, rural and time-shifted viewers and hence significantly understate the actual national ratings.
Meanwhile, BBC Worldwide Australia have confirmed that Torchwood: Miracle Day will be fast-tracked to Australia debuting on UKTV Australia on Saturday 9 July 2011 at 8:30pm. Deirdre Brennan, Director of Television, BBC Worldwide Australia said:
Torchwood: Miracle Day is the pinnacle of event television with global locations, brilliant casting, exhilarating action and captivating story-telling. This is the most ambitious instalment of Torchwood to-date and UKTV is thrilled to fast-track this show to Australian audiences, rewarding the fans and offering new audiences the opportunity to experience Captain Jack’s charm first hand.
Tying into the theme of the current story, the BBC have released a short interview with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, where the trio discuss their real-life experiences with doppelgangers:
Matt, Karen and Arthur On Their Real Life Doubles!, BBC, via BBC Website
Meanwhile the usual promotional trailers and preview scenes are available for the forthcoming sixth episode of Doctor Who, The Almost People - the second of the two-part adventure written by Matthew Graham.
Next Time: The Almost People, BBC, via BBC Website
Preview One: The Almost People, BBC, via BBC Website
Preview Two: The Almost People, BBC, via BBC Website
The Almost People will premiere on BBC1/BBC1HD at 6:45pm, 28th May in the United Kingdom; due to Memorial Day, SPACE and BBC America will broadcast the episode a week later at 8:00pm/9:00pm ET respectively, on the 4th June, the same day as ABC1 in Australia at 7:30pm.
As the solar storm rages, Jennifer, a Ganger driven mad by the memories of being "decommissioned", is seeking revenge, as the time-travelling drama continues.
She can remember every excruciating second of every "execution" and is determined that the humans will pay. And she isn't just talking war; she's talking revolution. As the crumbling factory fills with toxic fumes and drips lethal acid, the "Originals" wait desperately for the shuttle from the Mainland to rescue them. But Jennifer has other ideas. Can the Doctor convince the terrified factory workers to embrace their own humanity and work together with their Gangers to overcome a monster of their own making?
Doctor Who fans in North America will have an extra long wait to watch the conclusion to this week's episode The Rebel Flesh.
The second part of the two part story will not be broadcast on BBC America or Canada's SPACE until Saturday June 4. The reason is the Memorial Day holiday weekend which takes place in the States next weekend. Memorial Day commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while on military service and unofficially marks the start of the summer holiday season. TV schedulers try to avoid planning any new programming over the weekend when a large number of people are away from home.
BBC America will be broadcasting a series of episodes from Matt Smith's time as the Doctor over the weekend. Both channels will show The Almost People, the conclusion to the two part story, on 4th June.
The first episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day will be shown this weekend at the annual LA Screenings event, with BBC Worldwide hoping to sell the series to Latin America. Helen Jurado, VP of TV Sales and Distribution, commented on the company's sales to the region:
We have a number of captivating programs from all genres to present at this year’s LA Screenings; some will make you swoon, like the romantic, mystery series Zen; some will spark your curiosity, like Frozen Planet and Earth Under Water; others will have you hiding under the covers, like spooky drama series Bedlam.
Our big push this market is Torchwood: Miracle Day. ... For us, Mexico and Brazil are our fastest growing markets in this region. Maybe networks there were not as affected by the recession, or maybe the Olympics factor has boosted Brazil.
Audience measurement service Kantar Media have reported that the opening episode of the new series of Doctor Who, The Impossible Astronaut, was the most recorded British television event of all time (so far!).
Statistial analysis of the BARB data revealed that 4.11 million viewers 'time-shifted' their watching of the programme, either through VOSDAL ("viewing on same day as live") or during the following week. The final total audience recorded for the episode was 8.9 million, indicating that some 46% of the audience did not watch the programme "live".
The previous record for time-shifted viewing was held by the Christmas Day episode of the Matt Lucas/David Walliams mockumentary series Come Fly With Me.
Dalia Gereis, the Commercial Director for Kantar Media Audiences, said:
With the continued growth of hard drive recording devices like Sky+, it’s no surprise that all the episodes of these top 10 recorded shows come from the last three years. Increasingly viewers are using their own ‘time travel’ abilities to watch TV shows when they want them – this particularly applies to dramas and ‘must see’ reality shows. Given that these figures do not include data from online catch up services like BBC iPlayer and ITVplayer, it is clear that judging a show’s performance just by looking at it’s overnight viewing figures is unlikely to give the full picture.
Programme
Channel
Episode Date
Time Shifted viewing
Total Audience
1.
DOCTOR WHO
BBC1
23 Apr 2011
4.11m
8.86m
2.
COME FLY WITH ME
BBC1
25 Dec 2010
3.29m
12.47m
3.
THE X FACTOR
ITV1
02 Oct 2010
3.17m
13.49m
4.
EASTENDERS
BBC1
25 Dec 2010
2.7m
12.61m
5.
BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT
ITV1
01 May 2010
2.55m
11.84m
6.
THE ROYLE FAMILY
BBC1
25 Dec 2010
2.53m
11.29m
7.
CORONATION STREET
ITV1
10 Dec 2010
2.5m
13.46m
8.
WAKING THE DEAD
BBC1
03 Apr 2011
2.5m
7.21m
9.
WALLACE AND GROMIT
BBC1
25 Dec 2008
2.5m
16.15m
10.
STRICTLY COME DANCING
BBC1
11 Dec 2010
2.38m
11.57m
(with thanks to Helen Brocket, Eureka Communications)
The British Film Institute have announced that there will be a special preview screening of the first episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day. The screening will take place at the BFI on 20th June 2011, with the sixty minute episode followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session with John Barrowman (Jack), Eve Myles (Gwen), and Russell T Davies (writer/executive producer) (Appearances are subject to work commitments).
Back in 2009, the BFI hosted a special preview for Torchwood: Children of Earth - Day One, and most recently held a preview screening for A Christmas Carol.
The event was seen to sell out within a couple of hours of its announcement.
The BBC have released details for Week 23, which includes the synopsis for the final episode before the Doctor Who takes its Summer mid-season break.
A Good Man Goes To War; will be broadcast on BBC1/BBC1HD on Saturday 4th June, with the time of broadcast yet to be confirmed.
The Story is written by Steven Moffat, directed by Peter Hoar and produced by Marcus Wilson.
Amy Pond has been kidnapped and the Doctor is raising an army to rescue her as the drama continues. But as he and Rory race across galaxies, calling in long-held debts and solemnly given promises, his enemies are laying a carefully concealed trap.
In her cell in Stormcage, River Song sadly acknowledges that the time has come at last – today will mark the Battle of Demons Run and the Doctor's darkest hour. Both sides will make their sacrifices and River Song must finally reveal her most closely guarded secret to the Doctor.
The BBC have released a short video introducing the next episode of Doctor Who, The Rebel Flesh, which will be broadcast at 6:45pm on Saturday. It features writer Matthew Graham, director Julian Simpson, and Arthur Darvill (Rory).
Matthew Graham, Arthur Darvill and Julian Simpson talk Doctor Who, BBC, via BBC Website
Nana Visitor is perhaps best remembered for her role as Kira Nerys in Deep Space Nine, other notable television roles include Dr. Elizabeth Renfro in Dark Angel and Jean Ritter in Wildfire, plus several voices in the cartoon hit Family Guy.
Mare Winningham
Mare Winningham has had a prolific career in film and television, as well as beign a singer/songwriter. Notable films include St. Elmo's Fire, Turner and Hooch, Georgia and Brothers. Recurring television roles include Dr Amanda Lee in ER, Susan Grey in Grey's Anatomy, and Ida in this year's Mildred Pierce.
Frances Fisher
Another actress with a career spanning from the seventies, Frances Fisher has appeared in Titanic, Gone in 60 Seconds and The Lincoln Lawyer, with television roles such as Dr Liz Carter in Becker, Eva Thorne in A Town Called Eureka, and Rita in The Shield.
Principal Photography has now been completed for the show, with the cast and crew enjoying their wrap parties over the last couple of weeks as filming completed; post production is now in full swing to get the show ready for previews and the television broadcast from 8th July - this includes the soundtrack being composed by series veteran Murray Gold. Thus far there have only been a few teasers for the show on US and UK television, but this is expected to ramp up over the next couple of months as the series premiere approaches.
Details of production over the last few weeks became scarce as the crew buckled down to finish filming against their punishing schedule, though the occasional tidbit did make its way into the public eye, including traditional Torchwood high-rise stunts and big explosions!
One actor unmentioned above is David DeSantos, who plays a character named Agent Baylor in episode eight; he has had small roles in television shows like Numb3rs, CSI and House, and films like Delta Farce. During his week or so on production he kindly provided us with some glimpses of his co-stars on set:
"A day at the office" David DeSantos, 12 Apr 2011 (via Lockerz)
"With the amazing Eve Myles" David DeSantos, 13 Apr 2011 (via Lockerz)
"With the incomparable John Barrowman" David DeSantos, 17 Apr 2011 (via Lockerz)
"With CaptJack. Yes that's Wayne Knight in the background" David DeSantos, 20 Apr 2011 (via Lockerz)
World Screenings interviewed John Barrowman, Bill Pullman and executive producer Julie Gardner about the forthcoming show: Julie spoke about the advantages of the co-production between the BBC and Starz, and how the show has retained its UK origins; John gives an overview of what Miracle Day is all about; Bill talks about his character and the quality of UK television; and John chats about working with Starz.
John Barrowman, Bill Pullman and Julie Gardner talk Torchwood, World Screenings (via YouTube)
Finally, a selection of some cast and crew photos from the last few weeks of production!
Alexa Havins, Bill Pullman, Julie Gardner John Barrowman BBC Torchwood, 21 Apr 2011 (via img.mu)
Production Meeting for Episode 10 BBC Torchwood, 25 Apr 2011 (via img.mu)
With John Barrowman on set Ross King, 28 Apr 2011 (via YFrog)
Russell's got spot right above "THE DOCTOR", hilarious and coincidental. BBC Torchwood, 4 May 2011 (via img.mu)
First pic of Rhys :-) so cute! Shawna Trpcic, 3 May 2011 (via Twitpic)
And the lovely Sergeant Andy Shawna Trpcic, 3 May 2011 (via Twitpic)
Team Torchwood at the Wrap Party hawna Trpcic, 17 May 2011 (via Twitpic)
The face of BBC Torchwood! Shawna Trpcic, 17 May 2011 (via Twitpic)
Torchwood: Miracle Day writer Jane Espenson has confirmed via Twitter that there will be a web-based story to accompany the television series, Torchwood: Web of Lies. Alongside this, she also teased followers over potential casting for this addition to the show:
Jane Espenson: There is going to be Torchwood web content. So in addition to #TorchwoodMiracleDay there is #TorchwoodWebOfLies Enjoy all the TW brands! Jane Espenson: We have faith in Torchwood: Web of Lies. #hint Jane Espenson: It's tru; there's an echo of my past work in #Torchwood: Web of Lies. (I know you already solved my little puzzle, but this is fun.)
The last two tweets have led to speculation over the cast for the story, with actress Eliza Dushku being suggested; Dushku has played roles in several series Espenson has written for in the past, including "Faith" on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Tru" on Tru Calling and "Echo" on Dollhouse. The speculation was further fueled by the actress herself retweeting a mention of the remarks via a tweet from Zap2It.
However, at present there has been no official confirmation of casting for Web of Lies, or whether the story will be available online worldwide or only in the United States.
The Doctor's Wife has debuted in Australia to strong ratings. TV Tonight reports that the episode averaged 785,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. Again, it won its national timeslot, was the top-rating drama of the day and the fifth highest rating programme for the day overall. The corresponding Confidential Cutdown also rated a respectable 605,000 viewers in the five major capitals. These overnight figures do not include regional, rural and time-shifted viewers and hence significantly understate the actual national ratings.
The first episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day will be shown this weekend at the annual 
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