News Roundup - Updated

Saturday, 31 October 2009 - Reported by Marcus

With attention on the outgoing Doctor with the press launch of The Waters of Mars, incoming Executive producer Steven Moffat has been talking about the new series currently being filmed with new Doctor Matt Smith. Interviewed by Ben Cooke, at the Screenwriters' Festival in Cheltenham, Moffat described Smith as simply "the best". "He's all the things you'd expect, including ancient," and described the new Doctor as "someone you can't take your eyes off". Moffat confirmed he will be writing six episodes of the new series.
A full transcript can be found at Digital Spy

Meanwhile outgoing Doctor David Tennant will be a guest on next Monday's Graham Norton show on BBC One. Tennant has also been talking to PBS about his new role as host of Masterpiece Contemporary.

Steve Roberts of the DVD Restoration team has been giving details of the processes involved in returning colour to Doctor Who stories which currently only exist in black and white. Speaking at an event sponsored by the Doctor Who Information Network. Roberts talked about work being done on the Mind of Evil as well as discussing future plans for the classic range with all complete stories due for release by November 2013, the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. He confirmed there are no plans for any further animated restorations of lost episodes, nor any plans to issue any more partial stories.

John Barrowman has been sitting in for Elaine Paige on her Sunday afternoon BBC Radio 2 show. He read out an e-mail asking if he knew if Torchwood was coming back or not. He said that they were currently 'in negotiations' and that he hoped Torchwood would be back some time in the future. Barrowman has released his new memoirs I Am What I Am, which covers the last three years and includes behind the scenes secrets and gossip from the sets of Doctor Who and Torchwood, complete with behind the scenes photos of the cast.

Finally, obits for Barry Letts have now been posted in the Independent as well as on the BBC Doctor Who site. As reported below, it was confirmed at the press launch that The Waters of Mars will be dedicated to Letts.

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Matt Smith - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Series 5/31

October Filming Roundup

Thursday, 22 October 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

October has seen the Doctor Who production crew busy, with a number of appearances in public places. Open the spoiler sections for more details on what has been occuring!

Filming for episode one got under way publicly at Cathedral Green in Llandaff, which was transformed into a picturesque English village called Leadworth. Scenes involved the Doctor and Amy on the village green, with the Doctor wearing the clothes of his tenth incarnation and seeming very wobbly on his feet! Later scenes recorded indicated an alien presence in the sky, and the apparent destruction of the sonic screwdriver.

5th October: Alun Vega: The scene involved the Doctor and Amy hurrying up a lane, and running across to the icecream van. Then the Doctor ran off, jumped over the flowerbed at the side of the White House, and ran inside. Amy ran after him, but took the more conventional route through the front gate. As they came up the lane, the Doctor shouted something about a "cricket bat" and another fan thought she heard Amy say something about "12 years of therapy". Someone else reckoned they thought the Doctor said he was having food cravings - which I guess might be post-regeneration trauma. This is the sort of scene that they cover from multiple angles, which is why it took them the entire 4 hours I was there to film it!

6th October, Fiona Oram: We got on set about half nine in the rain and were suprised to see filming underway. The following scene was shot at various angles. First off Amy was trying to get the Doctor into a car (not police a black rover) His Tie kept getting trapped in the door! Dialogue we could hear was 20 minutes till the world ends and do you know who I am? My friend had been on set a bit longer and had heard also the Doctor say that You (something) are always trying to lock me away! Hence people I find out later have conme to the conclusion that Amy is a police officer. Later on the scene was reshot (after more rain) and same Dialogue however Matt was looking at something behind him before speaking to Amy and she shouts NOOO! And drags him quite literally by the tie to the car. This scene was shot quite a bit due to constant downpours! After lunch they went through the same scene again and seemed to be happy with that. Then the filming moved to the green and we watched Matt and Karen rehearsing running up the green. While we were being moved to the other side of set Matt was practising his scene with a guy in hospital overalls. We also walked past the red phone box which was being set up for special effects. When the shot was ready Matt and Karen were running up towards a white screen and Matt turns around to hospital overalls person and starts talking. Dialogue heard was "Coma" and something about staring at a dog! Then the heavens opened and they attempted to film again but was starting to prove impossible. The fire engine was filmed leaving with the blues flashing and ladder pushed out.

7th October, Haffertee: First scene we saw shot was Matt Karen and the guy in hospital overalls. They seemed to look up at the sky then a dog barks and Matt goes towards the beer garden and starts talking down to something. Hello prisoner x is said. Then we hear Level 20 planet scanning the earth 6 billion people. Then we are told phone box explodes aerials turn fire engine ladder goes up and down. Helicopter flies out of little boys hand. Then Matt said something about not testing all sonics settings. Setting four thousand and do you think they will notice? Then the sonic blew up.

One take of the destruction of the sonic screwdriver slightly hurt Matt Smith, something that caught media attention! The incident was reported in the South Wales Evening Post, Daily Mail, Sky News, and The Sun.

Filming for this week took place at the Old Vicarage in Rhymney, and saw the old TARDIS prop in use(a new version of the police box had been seen in previous filming). Matt Smith and Karen Gillan were again on-site for filming. On one day the police box was on its side, with the doors seen to be opening in the opposite direction to normally seen on screen.

Fiona Oram:The old TARDIS is there Matt and Karen run from it (Well Karen practically drags him) Smoke comes pouring out of the TARDIS. Karen keeps saying come on ! Matt keeps trying to run back to TARDIS to save "her" But Karen keeps trying to pull him back. Couldnt hear a lot. Karen is in Policewoman outfit again and Matt is still in Tens outfit ! Lots of kithen equipment neing taken in new microwave etc. (Not for drinks etc as base only round the corner)

This week sees filming taking place at the ancient St. Gwynno's Church, and had led to the first view of the updated TARDIS interior, albeit as the backdrop to the police box prop out on location.

The filming has also revealed the 'monster' of this episode in the graveyard.

FILTER: - Karen Gillan - Production - Filming Reports - Series 5/31

More details of Blue Peter contest

Thursday, 8 October 2009 - Reported by Anthony Weight

As previously reported here on the Doctor Who News Page, the BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter has officially launched its new competition for young fans to design a TARDIS console. The contest is for children aged between 6 and 12, and the final winning design will be chosen by Eleventh Doctor actor Matt Smith. It is specified that the design "must incorporate household objects," and entrants are advised to "make sure it really feels as if the Doctor has put it together."

Full details are available on the Blue Peter website.

FILTER: - Matt Smith - Competitions - Series 5/31

Doctor Who: 2010 Logo Unveiled

Tuesday, 6 October 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have now unveiled the new Doctor Who logo to accompany the 2010 television series. In the press release, Steven Moffat (the new Head Writer) says:

A new logo. The 11th logo for the 11th Doctor - those grand old words, Doctor Who, suddenly looking newer than ever.

And, look at that, something really new - an insignia! DW in TARDIS form! Simple and beautiful, and most important of all, a completely irresistible doodle.

I apologise to school notebooks everywhere, because in 2010 that's what they're going to be wearing."

SFX Magazine reported that the 'Doctor Who' lettering is officially referred to as the logo, whilst the "TARDIS" graphic is the insignia.

Press coverage from: Telegraph, Telegraph (again), Daily Star, The Sun.

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Press - Series 5/31

New Doctor Who Logo to be revealed

Monday, 5 October 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have announced on the official Doctor Who website that a new logo for the series will be revealed tomorrow morning at 8:00am UK time:

On one level, the logo is the iconic image that represents Doctor Who. But it's much more than that - it becomes an icon that is recognised from Cardiff to California, an emblem of excitement, humour, scary monsters, brave companions and the Doctor! And so the new logo must be stylish, fresh, distinctive and bold. Must be. And will be. See for yourself when we reveal it exclusively, on this site at 8am on Tuesday, 6th October!

There is also a video on the evolution of the Doctor Who logo to accompany the article.

FILTER: - Press - Series 5/31

Blue Peter competition

Thursday, 17 September 2009 - Reported by Anthony Weight

The BBC Press Office's release of information regarding programmes on Tuesday the 6th of October contains a small snippet of interest to Doctor Who fans. The BBC's long-running children's magazine programme Blue Peter - which has enjoyed a close relationship with Doctor Who since the 1960s - will be launching "a Doctor Who competition, which will see one lucky viewer design a Tardis console that will feature in the new series."

It is not known in what context this "Tardis console" will be used in Doctor Who, nor when it may appear. Previous Blue Peter competitions have seen young fans design a monster (the Abzorbaloff from Love and Monsters in series two) and appear in the series (Utopia, in series three).

FILTER: - Competitions - Series 5/31

Richard Curtis to write for Doctor Who

Tuesday, 8 September 2009 - Reported by Marcus

Richard Curtis, the man behind some of the most successful British films and comedies, has agreed to write an episode of Doctor Who.

Speaking to the British Tabloid The Sun, Curtis said he has been asked to write for Matt Smith’s first series.

He told the paper he couldn’t reveal much about the plot. but it would feature a famous historical character battling against a monster.

Curtis was the brains behind Four Weddings and a Funeral, which became the highest-grossing British film in cinema history at the time and for which he was Oscar nominated. On television, he has been responsible for the Blackadder series as well as The Vicar of Dibley. He is a BAFTA and Primetime Emmy winner.

BBC News has confirmed, via Curtis's agent, that the writer is working on a script for Doctor Who.

FILTER: - Production - Press - Series 5/31

Filming resumes in Cardiff

Thursday, 27 August 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

After a few weeks away from its now 'traditional' place, filming for the new series of Doctor Who has once again resumed in Cardiff. This afternoon saw recording of scenes take place on the rooftop of Cardiff University's Glamorgan Building, with both Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in attendence. See the spoiler section for details on guests ... and enemies!

Filming today took place at what appears to be a wartime bunker surrounded by barbed wire, and features the return of the Doctor's greatest adversary the Daleks! Only partially seen, it would appear to have a more 'traditional' grey colour scheme to those seen in recent series. As well as the regulars, actor Bill Paterson was also glimpsed during the rooftop scenes.

Information and photos courtesy of Scott Frankton

FILTER: - Production - Filming Reports - Series 5/31

BBC America press release: Best week, more Who

Tuesday, 11 August 2009 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

BBC America has announced in a press release that Torchwood: Children of Earth and Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead helped the cable channel to its best ratings week:

Torchwood: Children of Earth is BBC AMERICA's most successful series ever, reaching 3.3m in Live+SD across the week. It delivered an average audience of 705,000 viewers per episode, with Friday's finale attracting 847,000, the largest average audience in the channel's history. Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead also performed strongly with 657,000 viewers in Live+SD.

In the Monday-Friday, 9-10P hour among A25-54, BBC AMERICA ranked #13 in coverage rating (.51) and #22 in delivery (380k) among the 75 Nielsen-rated ad supported cable networks. For the week, July 20, in the 9-10P hour, the channel - available in 64 million homes - outperformed, in Live+SD A25-54 delivery several nets with significantly higher distribution, such as MSNBC, Animal Planet, Bravo, BET, Travel, Oxygen, Hallmark, TV Land, Soap, MTV, E!, WE, and Headline News.

The press release also confirms that BBC America has acquired the next season of Doctor Who, starring Matt Smith as the Doctor. The series will air on BBC America in "Q2, 2010 following soon after its UK premiere"; "Q2" refers to the second quarter of the year, or April, May and March.

FILTER: - USA - Children of Earth (Series 3) - Series 5/31 - Broadcasting

Eleventh Doctor Costume Comments

Wednesday, 22 July 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The chairman of the Harris Tweed Authority has praised the new Doctor for his costume; Domhnall Martainn described the jacket choice as an important and sensible decision, and hoped young people would be inspired to choose clothes made from the traditional cloth:

"We think it'll take the image of Harris Tweed to a new level, when you think that there are millions of people who follow this programme. There's no way the Harris Tweed industry could have bought publicity like this. There's no doubt that young people watch this program. Anything that someone like Doctor Who uses, we hope it will set an example and that young people will go out and buy Harris Tweed clothes."

Esquire Magazine editor Jeremy Langford:

"The cross between rookie geography teacher and Hoxton clubkid works well: a bit of old-school time-traveller meets modern-day adventurer."

GQ Magazine contributor Andy Morris:

So it was with some delight that today I saw the first picture of the eleventh doctor, played by Matt Smith. The early signs are good - while he's not exactly going to keep John Galliano awake at night, he's very well put together. Preppy, with a neat bow tie, skinny jeans, fitted jacket and no-nonsense black boots, he looks like an Acne catalogue model. And that's a good thing. Dressed as such, he could be hanging around backstage at Pitti Uomo, chatting to some elderly Italian gent who is being snapped by Scott Schuman (AKA the Sartorialist). Smith's hair is still a concern but given my own increasingly leonine locks I probably shouldn't start that argument. Filming in Cardiff, he looks relaxed, happy and (kind of) handsome.
(full article)

However, not everyone has been pleased. Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman commented:

I hate this outfit because it commits the ultimate fashion crime: it is trying too hard. It is a patchwork of "Grazia told me this is very fashionable right now" looks, and that is just wrong. A Time Lord should not read Grazia. DM boots and all their lookalike cousins have, incredibly, been having what magazines insist on calling a "comeback" for some time, mainly on the basis that Agyness Deyn likes them. The shortened trousers are the signature style of the perennially trendy menswear designer, Thom Browne. Thanks to the joyless likes of Pharrell Williams, bow ties are very in now but, like, ironically (that sound you hear is the sound of style dying) and, yes, you can buy them at American Apparel. Of course you can.
(full article)

And Sara Nathan of the Sun:

NEW timelord Matt Smith films his first Doctor Who episodes - dressed like a geography teacher. It looked like the latest Doc had travelled back in time to the place fashion forgot.
(full article - warning contains guest star spoilers)

University of Westminster fashion course director Andrew Groves commented:

"Whilst David Tennant's Doctor was undoubtedly influenced by Britpop and Quadrophenia, this Doctor seems to be influenced by Indiana Jones' geekier nephew. It seems a curiously British idea to make the lead character in a prime time TV show look purposely and perversely less attractive than they actually are, I can't think of anyone that would look at this image and then decide they would want to stick it on their bedroom wall."

Additional costume reports and comments by: BBC Magazine, BBC News, The Age, Airlock Alpha, Digitial Spy, TV Squad, Herald

FILTER: - Matt Smith - Press - Series 5/31

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