The UK media website Digital Spy has published a summary of today's Doctor Who discussion panel at the ComicCon event in San Diego, which featured Russell T Davies, David Tennant, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn discussing their time working on the programme, taking questions from the audience and previewing the forthcoming special episodes.
Among the topics raised was the possibility of a Doctor Who feature film, which the panel stated is not a project on which any of them are currently working. The panel also featured a presentation from Guinness World Records, declaring Doctor Who to be "the most successful sci-fi show on TV full stop".
The media have been quick to act on the announcement of the first day's filming for the new series of Doctor Who.
The Daily Mail have published a selection of photographs of new Doctor Matt Smith and companion actress Karen Gillan on location, featuring the two leads along with what appears to be a new, slightly tweaked, police box prop for the TARDIS. The Metro has also published a photo of the two with the TARDIS.
Meanwhile, The Sun have also covered the filming, with a photo revealing a well-known guest star also appearing alongside the two time-travellers. Digital Spy reports a BBC spokesperson as confirming the person in question, whilst SFX, the London Paper and Holy Moly published more photos from the proceedings.
The photos from the Sun and SFX show guest star Alex Kingston, previously seen in the Steven Moffatt-penned episodes as River Song in Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead.
Digital Spy reported: A BBC spokesperson confirmed: "Alex Kingston will be returning to Doctor Who in the new series featuring Matt Smith. Viewers will have to wait and see who she plays and how her character fits into the series." Kingston is thought to be returning for a two-episode stint.
Scott Frankton has kindly provided a report on today's filming:
Well, well, well what an eventful morning! I was always dubious about a return to Bad Wolf Bay for the DW team, but lo and behold that is indeed where they were today, not anywhere that was actually used in Doomsday or Journeys End, but nevertheless this beach is turning into the most important location in Nu Who's history! We arrived at the beach and there was the TARDIS, not the TARDIS of recent times, but the Hartnell one. Retro. Back to basics. This is Moffat injecting the classic series right into the new series.
Anyhoodle, the TARDIS seems to have landed next to the crash landing of some sort of alien spaceship. Debris everywhere, all around and smoke is billowing all around. Thick smoke. Then Matt and Karen leave the TARDIS and have a look around. Flames around the TARDIS....River Song in a long black flowing dress seems to already be there. But she isn't unknown to the Doctor. He clearly recognises her as friendly and they have a chat. This scene was filmed over and over again.
On the behind the scenes front, both Karen and Matt were wonderful - polite, friendly, posing for photos, always smilie. I even got my picture with the new companion! Brilliant!
Finally, the BBC itself has acknowledged the interest fans and the audience have in the series, with entertainment correspondant Lizo Mzimba appearing on BBC News's E24 to discuss how popular the series remains, including the press in attendence for filming as shown in this video!
BBC News has released the first image of Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in costume as the Eleventh Doctor and his companion, whose full name has been revealed as Amy Pond.
The BBC Press Office has also released a press release about the beginning of filming for Doctor Who Series Five. In the press release, Matt Smith is quoted as saying:
I feel very privileged and proud to be part of this iconic show.
The scripts are brilliant and working alongside Karen, Steven and the rest of the crew is an inspiration because their work ethic and passion for the show is so admirable.
I'm excited about the future and all the brilliant adventures I get to go on as the Doctor.
Writer and incoming producer Steven Moffat says:
And here it is, the big moment – the new Doctor, and his new best friend.
And here's me, with the job I wanted since I was seven. 40 years to here! If I could go back in time and tell that little boy that one day all this would happen, he'd scream, call for his mum, and I'd be talking to you now from a prison cell in 1969. So probably best not then.
Matt and Karen are going to be incredible, and Doctor Who is going to come alive on Saturday nights in a whole new way – and best of all, somewhere out there, a seven-year-old is going to see them, fall in love, and start making a 40-year plan...
The press release also has quotes from producer Piers Wenger and Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning.
Doctor Who features in the latest batch of Expense claims released by the BBC. The figures, issued in response to a Freedom of Information request, include the detailed expense claims of Jane Tranter, the former Head of Fiction for the BBC. As well as mundane claims for travel expenses to various Doctor Who and Torchwood events, Tranter also claimed for gifts sent to David Tennant and Billie Piper as well as flowers for most of the Doctor Who and Torchwood casts.
Doctor Who Series Five was discussed at several meetings for which hospitality was provided and the casting of the new Doctor incurred an hospitality expense of £222 on the 4th December. The successful candidate, Matt Smith, was treated to a confidential dinner on 9th December for which Tranter claimed £90.98.
Thursday, 16 July 2009 - Reported by Anthony Weight
As part of an ongoing debate over the past few days concerning the state of BBC television drama, sparked by comments made by legendary television producer Tony Garnett, the BBC has passed onto The Guardian newspaper's website several comments made by writers currently working for the corporation about their experiences.
One of those quoted is Doctor Who's chief writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, who says that:
Totalitarian? The BBC? Seriously? The other day I had to BEG a meeting with [BBC1 controller] Jay Hunt, just so I could explain what we're spending all her money on in Doctor Who. She said it all sounded very nice and sent me off to play.
That's more than creative freedom, that's being turned loose in the wild. Frankly, I'm scared and want someone to tell me what to do. I might even have an epiphany
The BBC has announced that Scottish actress Karen Gillan is to play the new companion, alongside Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, in the next series of Doctor Who, due to be broadcast in the spring of next year.
Twenty-one year-old Gillan previously appeared in last year's episode "The Fires of Pompeii", as the Soothsayer. BBC News reports that she studied acting at Telford College in Edinburgh, and has also appeared in The Kevin Bishop Show and the forthcoming film Outcast, starring James Nesbitt.
In the press release, executive producer and chief writer Steven Moffat is quoted as saying: "We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up. Funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too."
Gillan herself says: "I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it. Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him – I just can't wait to get started!"
The news is also being reported by, among many others: Children's BBC, InTheNews.co.uk, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, Broadcast Now, The Stage, The Sun and The Guardian.
Doctor Who's outgoing chief writer and executive producer Russell T Davies was interviewed by the BBC's Wales Today news programme yesterday evening. Speaking on the TARDIS set at Upper Boat, he reflected on the end of his time in charge of the series. The video of the interview is available on the BBC news website.
UK news service The Sun is reporting that former James Bond star Timothy Dalton will appear in one of the final specials starringDavid Tennant as the Doctor.
Dalton, star of The Living Daylights and License to Kill, is reportedly playing a villain in the Who episode.
As always, treat all such reports as rumour until confirmed from official sources.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 - Reported by Anthony Weight
The BBC Press Office has announced the successful applicants to succeed Phil Collinson as the producer of Doctor Who. Collinson left the series at the conclusion of the fourth production block, to take up a new post as Head of Drama for BBC Manchester.
Collinson is to be succeeded by two people: Tracie Simpson and Peter Bennett. Simpson was the producer of the Easter Special, Planet of the Dead, and was a production manager on the programme for several years. Bennett is the producer of the forthcoming five-part third series of the Torchwoodspin-off, entitled "Children of Earth".
Also joining the production team as a third executive producer alongside Piers Wenger and Steven Moffat will beBeth Willis. Willis was formerly the producer of successful BBC One drama Ashes to Ashes, and will join the production team as part of a new remit to work alongside Wenger on a range of BBC Wales dramas.
Lead writer and executive producer Moffat is quoted as saying of the appointments:
"Beth and Tracie and Pete aren't the A Team, they're the people the A Team call. Tracie and Pete are the backstage stars of Doctor Who and having them on board as producers isn't just the best possible news for Matt Smith's first series, it's a massive relief. And Beth Willis, fresh from the brilliant Ashes To Ashes, is joining Piers and I as an executive so finally there'll be someone to wear the trousers."
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