Welcome Back Doctor Who: Series Three Begins

Saturday, 31 March 2007 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

It's the end of March and Doctor Who is back today for its third series with the airing of "Smith and Jones" at 7.00pm on BBC1, starring David Tennant as the Doctor and introducing Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones!

The broadcast will be followed by episode one of the third series of Doctor Who Confidential at 7.45 on BBC3. There's also the first episode of the second series of Totally Doctor Who this coming Monday, 2 April at 5.00pm on BBC1. Meanwhile, BBC3 is repeating The Runaway Bride, last December's Christmas special, at 7.00pm on Sunday 1 April, followed by a repeat of the new episode at 8.00pm.

The following is a quick overview of the week's broadcasts along with some programme information from Radio Times. Welcome back, Doctor Who!

SMITH AND JONES
It's back and this time it looks like there may be two travellers - the Doctor and Martha, alias Smith and Jones. When Martha Jones finds herself on the moon, she meets a mysterious stranger called the Doctor, and her life will never be the same again. Starring David Tennant (The Doctor) and Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones), with Anne Reid (Florence Finnegan), Roy Marsden (Mr Stoker), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Tish Jones), Reggie Yates (Leo Jones), Trevor Laird (Clive Jones), Kimmi Richards (Annalise), Ben Righton (Morgenstern), Vineeta Rishi (Julia Swales), Paul Kasey (Judoon Captain). Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Charles Palmer.
Saturday 31 March, 7.00pm, BBC1
Repeats Sunday 1 April, 8.00pm, BBC3; Friday 6 April, 9.00pm, BBC3

DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL 3.1: MEET MARTHA JONES
Behind-the-scenes look at Doctor Who. The Doctor has a new companion, Martha Jones. By sheer courage and determination, she has wowed the Time Lord and been offered a place on board the TARDIS. Featuring exclusive footage from the new series and interviews with Freema Agyeman, who plays Martha, David Tennant and head writer Russell T Davies, the programme examines the development of Martha's character and the huge interest behind the casting of the new companion.
Saturday 31 March, 7.45pm, BBC3
Repeats Sunday 1 April, 8.45pm, BBC3; Friday 6 April, 9.45pm, BBC3

TOTALLY DOCTOR WHO 2.1
It's back with a twist as the children's companion series to Doctor Who introduces a new adventure to the mix. Barney Harwood and Kirsten O'Brien present a show celebrating the the latest adventures of the last living Time Lord. They look at anything and everything that Doctor Who has inspired children to create and do - from TARDIS-shaped garden sheds to new alien designs, from DIY special effects to new versions of the theme music. There's also the Companion Academy, in which eight young hopefuls who think they've got what it takes to travel with a Time Lord are recruited.
Monday 2 April, 5.00pm, BBC1
Repeats Friday 6 April, 6.00pm, BBC1; Saturday 7 April, 10.30am, BBC2 and 6.30pm, BBC1

THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
A repeat of last December's Doctor Who Christmas special starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate.
Sunday 1 April, 7.00pm, BBC3

FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Radio Times

Extended repeat of Norton show

Friday, 30 March 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Anyone who missed David Tennant on last night's Graham Norton Show on BBC Two has a second chance to see him in an extended repeat this coming Sunday on the same channel at 10.45pm.

Quoting from the show, the BBC Press Office refers to a plot element that has caused controversy.

NB: Although the press release says the repeat will go out at 11.30pm, Radio Times and the BBC's What's On says it will actually be broadcast at 10.45pm.

FILTER: - David Tennant - Press - Radio Times

Julie Gardner interview

Friday, 30 March 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Julie Gardner, executive producer of Doctor Who, answered calls from fans today on BBC Radio Wales's phone-in programme with Richard Evans.

One surprise caller was Russell T Davies's father, talking about his son's lifetime passion for the series.

The interview is available for the next seven days via the BBC listen again facility.

The interview starts approximately 1 hour 8 minutes into the programme.

FILTER: - Production - Radio - Julie Gardner

King of Cool

Wednesday, 28 March 2007 - Reported by Marcus

David Tennant's incarnation as the Doctor has been voted the coolest TV character beating federal agent Jack Bauer, played in the hit US show 24 by Kiefer Sutherland, to second place.

The poll for radiotimes.com was conducted to find the coolest character - defined as laidback and sexy - on TV.
The Fonz in the Seventies TV show Happy Days, played by Henry Winkler, now 61, came third.

Colin Firth's heart-fluttering turn as Mr Darcy in the TV adaptation of Jane Austen favourite Pride And Prejudice is fourth, followed by The Cat in Eighties comedy series Red Dwarf, brought to life by Danny John-Jules.

The top 10 list was voted for by more than 4,000 TV fans.

Radio Times deputy TV editor David Butcher said: "David Tennant is so hugely popular as the Doctor - he looks like becoming a bit of an icon.

1. Doctor Who (David Tennant)
2. Jack Bauer in 24 (Kiefer Sutherland)
3. The Fonz in Happy Days (Henry Winkler)
4. Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth)
5. Cat in Red Dwarf (Danny John-Jules)
6. DCI Gene Hunt in Life On Mars (Philip Glenister)
7. Dermot O'Leary
8. Columbo (Peter Falk)
9. Dylan in The Magic Roundabout
10.Sawyer in Lost (Josh Holloway)

FILTER: - David Tennant - Radio Times

Series 3 Complete Episode Titles

Tuesday, 27 March 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The latest issue of the Radio Times has the final complete list of episode titles for series 3, along with a synopsis for each story. Notably, the issue confirms three previously-unknown titles; episode three is, as rumored for the past week,Gridlock, while the concluding episode of the Dalek two-parter, episode five, is called Evolution of the Daleks. Finally, the issue confirms the title for the season's last episode, which is called Last of the Time Lords. The full list of episode titles is below, from the issue which is now on sale; series three begins with "Smith and Jones" transmitted this coming Saturday evening at 7.00pm on BBC1.

Series Three Titles

1: Smith and Jones
2: The Shakespeare Code
3: Gridlock
4: Daleks in Manhattan (Part One)
5: Evolution of the Daleks (Part Two)
6: The Lazarus Experiment
7: 42
8: Human Nature (Part One)
9: The Family of Blood (Part Two)
10: Blink
11: Utopia
12: The Sound of Drums (Part One)
13: Last of the Time Lords (Part Two)

FILTER: - Production - Series 3/29 - Magazines - Radio Times

Radio Times Cover feature

Monday, 26 March 2007 - Reported by Marcus

This week's Radio Times once more features Doctor Who as its cover story, with two different versions, Moon and Earth, available.

The magazine dedicates 16 pages to the new series, including interviews with David Tennant and new companionFreema Agyeman, and exclusive information on the new monsters.

There is also a complete episode guide by executive producer Russell T Davies.

Radio Times is available across the UK from Tuesday 27 March.

FILTER: - Magazines - Radio Times

Radio Times countdown

Wednesday, 21 March 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The new edition of Radio Times - issue dated 24-30 March - has joined the countdown to the start of Series Three with a column entitled "All New Who" in its weekly "Behind The Scenes" feature.

It lists what readers can expect to come in the publication, among which will be a guide by Russell T Davies to every episode of the new series, and includes quotes from David Tennant, Freema Agyeman and Phil Collinson.

Tennant says: "Each script that comes in just seems to be bigger than the last - that's what has kept it so exciting. The scale is bigger, the locations are more extraordinary."

Agyeman tells of the pressure of the show, saying: "I've been filming since August and it's crazy. Every time I think I've got it under control, something else comes up - so I'm not taking anything for granted!"

And Collinson talks of the pressure of thinking up new monsters. "This year there's probably a bigger selection - we've gone a bit more monster-y," he says.

The Doctor Who special edition of The Weakest Link is one of the RT Choices for March 30, while the "Next week in RT" strap at the back of the listings magazine carries a picture of Tennant and Agyeman and trumpets the publication's 14-page preview of the new series that will be included.

The Radio Times covering the first episode of Series Three, ie, issue dated 31 March to 6 April, should reveal the titles of episodes three, five and 13 - the last remaining unknown ones.

FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Magazines - Radio Times

Quiz the Who team

Thursday, 15 March 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

BBC Radio Wales is giving fans the chance to question the cast and crew of Doctor Who.

The show Doctor Who Back In Time is returning on Friday, March 30 with a 30-minute edition previewing Series Three and taking a look at new companion Martha Jones.

Another edition will take a look at the Welsh contribution to the programme and the effect that Doctor Who has had on Wales by helping the local economy and giving Welsh talent opportunities.

The final edition will be where the fans can quiz absolutely anybody involved with the programme.

Those chosen could have their query recorded and get it answered on air.

The official Doctor Who website quotes Julian Carey, the show's presenter and producer, as saying: "A couple of months ago I was giving a talk to my son's primary school about the kind of work I do.

"When they realised I had even the tiniest amount of contact with the world of Doctor Who I got bombarded with loads of questions about the series - most of which I couldn't answer!

"The thing was they asked some fantastic questions - some of which I would never have come up with, so I thought it might be a good idea to let normal, everyday fans of the Doctor have the chance to ask any member of the team the questions that have been bugging them for the last three years."

Click on either the BBC Radio Wales or official website links to submit questions.

FILTER: - Production - Radio

Details on forthcoming DVDs

Monday, 5 March 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

The Restoration Team has released details on the upcoming DVD releases Robot and Timelash.

The team's website describes the technical hurdles that had to be cleared in each story (such as the CSO effects in the final episode of Robot) as well as a list of special features for each DVD (listed below).

As reported earlier, Robot is due out in the UK on 28th May, Timelash on 25th June.

Visit the Restoration Team website for full details.

Robot Special Features:

Commentary by Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, producer Barry Letts and writer Terrance Dicks
Are Friends Electric? (dur. 38' 58"), the main documentary, which looks at Tom Baker's introduction as the Doctor and the making of his first story. It features interviews with actors Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Alec Linstead, Patricia Maynard, Michael Kilgarriff and Edward Burnham, producers Barry Letts and Philip Hinchcliffe, script editor Terrance Dicks, director Christopher Barry and production unit manager George Gallacio.
The Tunnel Effect (dur. 13' 47"), a look at the creation of the title sequence effect
A Blue Peter feature
Photo gallery, production subtitle notes and Radio Times listings in pdf format

Timelash Special Features:

Commentary by Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Paul Darrow
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (dur. 25' 01"), the main documentary, which looks at the making of the story. It features actors Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Paul Darrow, David Chandler, Robert Ashby, script editor Eric Saward, writer Glen McCoy and journalist Paul Lang, and is narrated by Terry Molloy
This release will be the first to feature a 'Coming Soon' trail which will act as a taster for the next DVD release
Photo gallery, production subtitle notes and Radio Times listings in pdf format

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Radio Times

Billie Piper on Radio 2

Sunday, 4 March 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Billie Piper was this week's special guest on Michael Parkinson's Sunday Supplement on BBC Radio 2.

Appearing mainly to promote her new West End play, Treats, Piper also spoke of her time on Doctor Who. She said how much she enjoyed working on the series and praised the high quality of the scripts.

The interview also covered her marriage to Chris Evans and her time at stage school.

The whole programme is available for the next seven days via the BBC Listen again feature. Billie Piper's interview begins about 1 hour into the programme.

FILTER: - People - Billie Piper - Radio

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