Postcards from America

Tuesday, 11 August 2009 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

Left to right: Davies, Tennant, Lyn, Gardner.
Image source:
As previously reported, David Tennant, Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn have sent two "audio postcards" from America to BBC Radio Wales. An extended version of the first postcard can be heard here, and the second postcard can be heard here. In the second postcard, David Tennant discusses driving in Los Angeles and his first Hollywood audition, Euros Lyn and Russell T Davies chat about Muscle Beach, and Julie Gardner explains the dangers of doggie bag culture.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - David Tennant - Radio - Julie Gardner - Broadcasting

Tennant/Davies on BBC Radio Wales

Friday, 7 August 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Radio Wales featured one of its regular "radio postcard" broadcasts from Russell T Davies in Los Angeles this morning, and was joined by Julie Gardner, David Tennant and Euros Lyn to discuss the recent ComicCon. The broadcast will be available from BBC's iplayer for the next seven days (approx 2hrs 20min into the show).

There will be another 'postcard' on Monday.

See: BBC Wales Press Release




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - David Tennant - Radio - Broadcasting

Tennant's Hamlet comes to PBS

Wednesday, 5 August 2009 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
America's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has announced that the Royal Shakespeare Company's recent production of Hamlet starring David Tennant and Patrick Stewart will air in the US as part of the network's "Great Performances" series in 2010. The RSC says that the television adaptation "will retain the quality and tone of the critically acclaimed stage production but filming will take place on location"

The BBC announced earlier this year that the film would air in the UK on BBC Two later in 2009.

Tennant will also be seen on PBS as host of the "Masterpiece Contemporary" series, which returns on October 25.

Press coverage of the PBS broadcast of Hamlet can be seen at Playbill, Variety and wire service articles from The Associated Press and the UK's Press Association, each of which were picked up by many newspapers.




FILTER: - People - USA - David Tennant

Tennant's Hamlet on Television

Friday, 29 May 2009 - Reported by Kenny Davidson
The BBC has confirmed that David Tennant is to reprise his role as Hamlet for BBC Two. Last year he received rave reviews for playing the Dane on stage in the Royal Shakespeare Company production, first at Stratford Upon Avon and later in London.

Tickets for the stage performances sold out in hours and the Guardian hailed Tennant the "best Hamlet in years".

For the television production Tennant will be joined by all of the key members of the stage cast, including the actor Patrick Stewart, who plays Claudius.

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said the three-hour tv Hamlet was "a wonderful opportunity.. to bring one of the great stage successes of last year to a wider audience".

The RSC have revealed that filming will take place on location, while retaining the quality and tone of the stage production. Filming begins in June for broadcast later this year in the UK. Broadcasts in the US and Japan will follow in 2010.

To support the new film of Hamlet there will be an online BBC site, which is being created in collaboration with the RSC. It will feature behind-the-scenes stills and footage, specially shot interviews with the actors talking about their characters and how they approached the play and interviews with director Gregory Doran.

A DVD of the film is planned and will be on sale after the broadcast date.




FILTER: - People - David Tennant

Tenth Doctor to appear in SJA

Tuesday, 26 May 2009 - Reported by Anthony Weight
The BBC Press Office has confirmed that David Tennant is to appear as the Tenth Doctor in the forthcoming third series of spin-offThe Sarah Jane Adventures, due to be shown on CBBC and BBC One this autumn. This will once again reunite the Doctor with former companion Sarah Jane Smith, played by Elisabeth Sladen.

The release also confirms that the series will again be twelve episodes long, and that it will feature an appearance from Doctor Who race the Judoon. Executive producer Russell T Davies is quoted of saying of Tennant's appearance in the programme: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat. And it's not just a cameo from David – this is a full-on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."

Sladen is also quoted in the release, saying: "When I heard the news that David was going to be joining us I was absolutely over the moon. Not only has it made my day but it will also make the viewers' day."

For UK internet users, the Children's BBC website has made available a video interview with Davies where he discusses the Doctor's appearance in the series, which he says will take place across episodes five and six. The series is due to start broadcasting in September. BBC News also carries the video interview with Davies.




FILTER: - David Tennant - Sarah Jane

New Animated Adventure On the Way

Tuesday, 26 May 2009 - Reported by R Alan Siler
A second animated story starring David Tennant as the Doctor will be broadcast later this year.

"Dreamland", written by Phil Ford, will comprise seven episodes of roughly six minutes each. This will air as part of the BBC's red button service and Children's BBC.

Also appearing in the story are Georgia Moffett ("The Doctor's Daughter") playing a character called Cassie Rice, Lisa Bowerman("Survival" and the Big Finish Bernice Summerfield series), and David Warner (Tron, Time Bandits). Warner is also no stranger to Doctor Who, having played the Time Lord himself in two Big Finish audio plays released in 2003 and 2008.

"Dreamland" follows 2007's animated adventure "The Infinite Quest", currently available on DVD.

Ford has written for Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, and his other 2009 Doctor Who story, The Waters of Mars (co-written with Russell T Davies) is slated to broadcast in November. Directing "Dreamland" is Gary Russell.

More details will be forthcoming.




FILTER: - David Tennant - Animation

Tennant radio blitz

Wednesday, 8 April 2009 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
David Tennant is participating in a media blitz in the run-up to "Planet of the Dead" (airing at 6:45 pm Saturday on BBC One). Today, Tennant appeared on three radio programmes and discussed "Planet of the Dead", his feelings about winding up his time on Doctor Who and his future plans.

In the morning, Tennant appeared with Christian O'Connell on Absolute Radio's Breakfast Show. On O'Connell's show, Tennant confirmed that along with Bernard Cribbins, Catherine Tate will be appearing in his final two-part story, which is currently filming.

At midday, Tennant joined Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1. Tennant discussed the remaining Doctor Who specials, and mentioned that discussions are underway for a television adaptation of the RSC's production of "Hamlet".

And in the afternoon, Tennant was interviewed by Colin Murray, standing in for Simon Mayo on his BBC Radio 5 Live programme.

All the programmes are available on the internet:Additionally, Michelle Ryan promoted "Planet of the Dead" on CBBC's Blue Peter and on The Paul O'Grady Showon Channel 4.

Thanks to the posters in the Doctor Who Forum's Media Watch thread.




FILTER: - David Tennant - Press

Tennant and Tate for BBC Radio 2

Friday, 3 April 2009 - Reported by Anthony Weight
On Saturday 11th April, David Tennant and Catherine Tate will be standing in as the presenters of Jonathan Ross's BBC Radio 2 show, live from 10.00am to 1pm. Guests will include Tennant's favourite band, The Proclaimers (playing live), and John Barrowman. Further details will be available on the programme's website from tomorrow.

The programme will also be broadcast live, and available to listen to again for one week following transmission, on the BBC iPlayer. This applies internationally, BBC radio programming being freely available outside of the UK.





FILTER: - People - David Tennant - Radio

Awards: effects win, Tennant nominated

Thursday, 26 February 2009 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
Doctor Who has won an international award for its special effects, and David Tennant has been doubly nominated for the Broadcasting Press Guildawards.

The Visual Effects Society, an international organization of visual effects professionals, nominated Doctor Who in two categories this year. Simon WickersCharlie BennettTim Barter and Arianna Lago won the award for "Outstanding Matte Paintings in a Broadcast Program or Commercial" for their work on "Silence in the Library" (click thumbnail below for example). Doctor Who has been previously nominated several times for VES awards, but this is the first time it has won; historically, the awards have generally gone to North American productions.

The team at the Mill were also nominated for "Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special", but lost to the HBO miniseries "John Adams". The full list of nominees for the 7th Annual VES Awards are here; the list of winners is here.

In other awards news, David Tennant has been nominated twice in the Best Actor category of the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, selected by journalists who write about TV and radio. Tennant is nominated both for his role as the Doctor and for his performance as astrophysicist Arthur Eddington in the BBC/HBO coproduction "Einstein and Eddington", which has also been nominated for Best Single Drama. The winners will be announced on 27 March. Further details are available at the Broadcasting Press Guild website and from the Guardian.

Thanks to "PolyG" of the Doctor Who Forum.




FILTER: - David Tennant - Awards/Nominations

Tennant's Hamlet Wins Two Awards

Sunday, 15 February 2009 - Reported by DWNP Archive
Posted By John Bowman

David Tennant has won an award for the RSC production of Hamlet in which he starred.

His return to the stage was named the Theatre Event of the Year at the Theatregoers' Choice Awards this evening.

The play, which was staged in Stratford-upon-Avon then London, also won the Best Regional Production gong. The London dates - at The Novello Theatre - did not qualify for the awards, though, which were voted for by 35,000 people.

The ceremony, held at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, was co-hosted by Sheridan Smith, who plays companion Lucie Miller in the Big Finish audio dramas.

In addition, Under The Blue Sky, which co-starred Catherine Tate and ran at the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End, won the Best New Play award.

Tennant had to miss some of the London run of Hamlet because of a back injury but was able to return before it ended.




FILTER: - David Tennant