Bif Bang Pow! to release new US Collectibles

Thursday, 20 January 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

US specialist merchandise designer Bif Bang Pow! are to release a new line of toys and collectibles in America based on Doctor Who.

The new Doctor Who Collection range is expected to be launched in the summer, and will initially feature retro action figures and playsets, along with bobble heads. Created in partnership with EMCE Toys, the figures will stand 8-inches tall and include episode-specific fabric clothing, in addition to multiple points of articulation.

Jason Lenzi, CEO of the company, said:

Bif Bang Pow! is thrilled to bring these brand-new Doctor Who action figures, bobble heads, and collectibles to market. The Denys Fisher range of 9-inch action figures from the 1970s was never released in the United States, and has become one of the most highly sought after toy lines of the past 40 years. Doctor Who bobble heads have never been made for any market, so we have the opportunity to offer these highly desired products to a whole new fan-base that never had the chance to purchase them before. Personally, I've been waiting for this since 1978, so as The Doctor would say, it's about time!

The product line will be unveiled at the New York Toy Fair, from 13-16 February.

Later plans include items like licence plate frames, tin boxes, coasters, magnets, glassware, and other popular collectible merchandise.

Bif Bang Pow! was created by Jason Lenzi in 2005 in answer to a market niche to provide merchanside based upon a fan's perspective - to bring stuff to the marketplace that he himself would want to own. The company aim is to "to provide high-quality action figures, toys and collectibles to the massive cult audience (and kids of all ages) that wishes these toys were already in their collection."

(read the press release for full details)

FILTER: - Merchandise

Radio Times Cover Party 2011

Thursday, 20 January 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The annual Radio Times Covers Party took place at Claridges in London on Tuesday evening, which as usual saw a multitude of stars gather together to celebrate another year's worth of Radio Times covers.

The event was hosted by former Doctor David Tennant, who was also presented with his cover for Single Father (9-15 October); Karen Gillan was there to receive the Doctor Who cover for The Pandorica Opens (19-25 June).

Other guests at the party included Steven Moffat, Rob Brydon, Terry Wogan, Aidan Grimshaw, Jean Marsh, Keeley Hawes, Hugh Bonneville and David Morrissey.

You can find a range of photos from the evening on the Radio Times website, featuring David Tennant, Karen Gillan and Steven Moffat amongst the other guests; evening developments were also revealed live and can be read via Twitter, including further behind-the-scenes photos.

The Radio Times have also provided a short video of the evening, featuring sound-bites from various celebrities, including host David Tennant and the current series representatives Karen Gillan and Steven Moffat (1m20s in).

(post a comment about the video on the Radio Times website)

Plus, this week’s Radio Times (22-28 Jan) see actress Sinead Keenan talk about the new series of Being Human and playing an alien in Doctor Who:

The third series is “bigger, better and bolder. It’s literally bigger, as the new house is huge. The camerawork is more ambitious, too; it’s very cinematic. Keenan’s character, Nina, became a werewolf after she was scratched by George in the first series. I was thrilled as it meant Nina was there to stay. Then I realised I’d have to ‘transform’, which means getting naked and spending three-quarters of your working day in the make-up chair. It’s not the first time 34-year-old Keenan has suffered for her art. In Doctor Who, she played an alien sporting pea-green spikes instead of hair. For someone who initially told her agent she didn’t like sci-fi and the supernatural, I’ve done a lot of it!

FILTER: - Radio Times

New Zealand Airdate for A Christmas Carol

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Prime TV have now released details on the broadcast of A Christmas Carol in New Zealand; the special, which stars Michael Gambon and Katherine Jenkins alongside the Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, will be shown on Sunday 30th January at 8:30pm.

(with thanks to the New Zealand Doctor Who Fan Club for reporting the news)

FILTER: - Specials - New Zealand - Broadcasting

Doctor Who enters the Construction Toy Market

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Worldwide has announced a major new deal with Character Options' new Construction division which will see Doctor Who enter the construction toy market for the first time.

The Character Building range will include 3D micro-figures, brought to life with sculpted facial features whilst play sets will be uniquely tailored to Doctor Who. Fans will be able to build their own Doctor Who world with all their favourite characters including the Doctor and Amy Pond with their famous foes the Daleks, Cybermen and Weeping Angels.

Distinctive to the Character Building range will be the use of texture on some of the building blocks, whether it be the sleek and smooth edges of a spaceship, or the rough edges of a rock face. This will be pivotal in recreating each environment, providing a natural look, but still allowing easy construction play. The entire range will be displayed at the Character Options stand at the London Toy Fair with the first products set for release in Spring 2011.

Matt Smith commented on his new figure

It was very surreal and funny coming face to face with a miniature version of myself as the Doctor but I'm glad that the Doctor's trusty Sonic Screwdriver is in his hand, ready to fend off attacks from monsters!

With Karen Gillan adding

I absolutely love these miniature toys of The Doctor and Amy Pond despite the strange sensation of seeing myself immortalised in plastic and miniature and buildable...and dissectible. I'm loving Pond's flaming ginger mane and it's funny to think that The Doctor and Amy are small enough to travel around in someone's pocket.

Richard Hollis, who is Head of UK Licensing at BBC Worldwide said the reason the BBC has chosen to work with Character Options is because of the quality and imagination they put into their toys, with Jon Diver, Character Group's Joint Managing Director, saying the new project represents a major investment and we are delighted to be increasing our Doctor Who portfolio.

FILTER: - Merchandise - Character

Doctor Who: Casting Update

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Back in December we reported that director Peter Hoar had been listed by the Curtis Brown Literary and Talent Agency as working on an episode of Doctor Who for 2011.

Since then, two cast members have now been confirmed for this episode, forming what seems like another duo in the series.

The episode itself is currently unknown in the running order for the series.

CHARLIE BAKER

DAN JOHNSTON

According to Vic Murray Talent, Dan Johnston will feature as a character named Thin Man; the actor has previously appeared as regular Jonty in Sold, a journalist in Hotel Babylon, and featured in two pilots for Thames Television, Team UK and Navelgazing: 4Tissimo.

Debi Allen Associates lists stand-up comedian Charlie Baker as Fat Man. Baker's television credits include being a panellist on Channel 4's Beer and Pizza Club and BBC2's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and appearing in The IT Crowd; he also featured as a band singer in the film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

FRANCES ENCELL

FERN DEACON

Two artists have been credited for another unknown story; Spotlight lists child actresses Fern Duncan and Frances Encell as providing voice overs for Doctor Who (filmed in 2010).

Fern has had roles on television in Poirot and in the film Gulliver's Travels, and has appeared on stage in The King and I and Annie Get Your Gun. Meanwhile, Frances has appeared on television in Emmerdale and The Royal, and on stage in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Sound of Music.

Both actresses are enrolled at the Sylvia Young Agency and Theatre School.

FILTER: - Series 6/32 - Production

East-end TARDIS!

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Regular watchers of live webcam updates from the film set of the BBC's soap Eastenders were surprised to see the TARDIS "materialise" in Walford this morning!

Messages on the show's webcam discussion board included:

186. At 11:21am on 18 Jan 2011, darrenh2011 wrote: 
     doctor who tardis on set near R&R
187. At 1:01pm on 18 Jan 2011, Mick - Finglas wrote: 
     And now its moved to Bridge St beside the Cafe...!!!
     Wonder whats going on...???

The police box prop was actually pressed into service in relation to a link being prepared by presenter Dermot O'Leary for the National Television Awards, taking place next week. Eastenders is vying against Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks for the award for Serial Drama, so the TARDIS might well pop up in other well-known locations!

The TARDIS materialises on Turpin Road, from the Eastenders Webcam

FILTER: - Special Events

iPlayer 2010 Totals

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Figures released by the BBC Press Office show that the Doctor Who Christmas Special: A Christmas Carol, was accessed over 700,000 times on the BBC iPlayer in the week after transmission.

The episode was the 8th most accessed programme in December, dispite only being available for the last week of the month. Overall December was a record month for the iPlayer with 89.7 million requests for TV Programmes.

Jana Bennett, BBC Director of Vision, said

Large numbers of viewers watched the BBC's channels this Christmas but at the same time a record number were also using BBC iPlayer. This shows how complementary and essential BBC iPlayer is as part of today's viewing.

Matt Smith's first full story as The Doctor, The Eleventh Hour, still holds the record for the most accessed programme ever on iPlayer, with 2.24 million requests, way ahead of the second placed Top Gear. Every single episode of Smith's first series was in the top thirty accessed programmes of the year, with Doctor Who taking seven of the top ten places. David Tennant's Swan-song, The End of Time: Part Two came in at number 33, with just over a million requests. A Christmas Carol was the 73rd most requested programme in 2010, but was also available for the first week of 2011.

In terms of overall programme totals, Doctor Who Series Five had 19.5 million requests. The most requested programme was EastEnders, with over 100 million requests, although spread over a much larger number of episodes.

Other series of Doctor Who faired well with repeats of Series 4 being requested over 2 million times. The most requested Doctor Who item on BBC Radio was the Radio Seven transmission of the reading of Doctor Who and The Giant Robot, which was requested over 200,000 times. In total there were over 32 million requests for Doctor Who connected programmes.

FILTER: - Doctor Who - Ratings - Series 5/31

Fleetwood Mac included on Spearhead

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 - Reported by Marcus

It has been confirmed that the upcoming DVD re-release of the Third Doctor's first story, Spearhead from Space, will include the previously missing Fleetwood Mac track, Oh Well Part One.

Steve Roberts of the Doctor Who Restoration Team posted on Gallifrey Base that the track will be included on the soundtrack of the story due for release around the world later this year.

The music was present on the original transmission, during scenes of dolls being manufactured at Auto Plastics. Because of rights issues the track was removed from the 1988 BBC Video release and the 2001 DVD Release. The track is now covered by the PPL agreement, the same agreement which allowed the missing Beatles music to be included on the UK release of The Chase.

However, unlike the release of The Chase, the Fleetwood Mac track is covered internationally and so will be included on all versions of the story.

FILTER: - Jon Pertwee - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Doctor Who: filming roundup

Monday, 17 January 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2011 has seen filming continue on Doctor Who, with work being completed on Matthew Graham's two-parter during the first week of January. Filming took place at Atlantic College in Welsh St. Donats, picking up from filming that needed to be completed from an earlier visit during December. This was followed in the middle of the week by pick-ups back at Cardiff Castle, and then finally at the end of the week at the Senedd at Cardiff Bay.

Graham commented on the 4th about the impending completion of his episodes, via Twitter:

16:20 So wished I could've spent more time on set. Lovely team. 
      Very friendly and very Up. Oh and very, very cold.
20:34 My DW 2-parter finishes shooting end of this week.
      They will be glad to come in out of the perishing cold. Poor dears.

Ryan Farrell, 3rd January: Followed the signs to St Donats, where they've resumed today. Went round the back of the castle to the beach, then walked back towards the castle and heard a familiar Highlands accent before seeing Karen being escorted into the castle. Nothing to add to that, other than trailer 3, which I think is Arthur (he says which number trailer he uses on his video diary).

Ryan Farrell, 5th January: Filming was back at Cardiff Castle today. Saw an actress with Cleo-style black hair with a straight fringe, 100% Sarah Smart. There was also a "Mark" and I googled Mark Bonnar who's down to be in this story and that's also 100% him. Finally, there was a "Leon" and that was Leon Vickers. The only new bit of info is that I think Leon or Mark (who we don't have names for yet) is called Timmy/Jimmy/something similar.

Alun Vega, 8th January: Seems it was a night shoot at the Senedd. Spotted Karen and several smart-suited supporting artists leaving. Base packing up.

Last week saw production begin on Block 4, concentrating on the spring series climax episode seven and the new episode three from Steve Thompson. Steven Moffat commented on the 13th:

13:59 Okay. Episode 7 of the new series, is the 777th episode of Doctor Who.
14:01 Oh, and we just started shooting it.

Filming took place at Lafarge Aberthaw Cement Works on the 11th January, during which an old adversary of the Doctor's was spotted! With Moffat's comments above, it isn't clear whether this filming is for the new Block 4, or the final batch of filming for Block 3. However, the 13th certainly did see episode seven filming taking place at a (currently unknown) power station.

There was a day's set-up on the 10th at the works, before filming itself took place on the 11th. The interior of one of the buildings was dressed to represent what looks like a makeshift military medical centre, in somewhat disarray. Alien writing could be seen on trolleys, and throughout the set were a stylised cross that looked a little like those of the Knights Templar!

Outside, the TARDIS was set up, which appeared to be menaced by a Sontaran trooper!

Power station filming on the 13th, reported by Paul Hebbard the following day on Twitter:

08:34 Doctor Who filmed at power station overnight.
       Loads of trucks and weird looking monks
20:53 Re doctor Who, all I can say is monk aliens and teleporters.
       16 hours set up and 9 hours filming, all done and gone Thursday

FILTER: - Series 6/32 - Filming Reports

Torchwood: Week One Filming

Sunday, 16 January 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Filming for Torchwood: Miracle Day commenced this week, filming in Los Angeles, California.

The week saw the main cast assembling together for filming, with "US lead" CIA agent Mekhi Phifer kicking off proceedings, joined on Wednesday by John Barrowman, and from Thursday Eve Myles (Gwen) and Kai Owen (Rhys). Alexa Havins (Esther Katusi) was also present.

Though fan access to shooting is very restrictive (certainly in comparison to UK filming!), tantalising filming details have slowly trickled through via various members of cast and crew on Twitter, including Director of Photography Nathaniel Goodman, Fashion Designer Alana Stone and Costume Designer Shawna Trpcic - plus a commentary of tidbits from the official production office feed, BBC Torchwood!

A more detailed breakdown of developments during the week follows below; times have been quoted for the local Californian timezone.

Monday

Filming kicks off without a hitch, though for some it is an early start to the shoot!

21:14 Alana Stone:   Day one of Torchwood filming starts at 4:42am Monday morning... 
                     Here we go.
21:57 Jane Espenson: I have to be up early for Torchwood shenanigans in the morning.
                     So g'night, Twitter!
07:34 Jane Espenson: we start shooting new episodes today!
09:57 BBC Torchwood: Day 1. First shot 8:01am. Coffee pots are bottomless today.
12:32 Alana Stone:   Wow day 1= crazy good team work but crazy none the less!
17:24 Nate Goodman:  Great first day of shooting Torchwood done! 
                     But the really fun stuff yet to come..
09:18 BBC Torchwood: Day 1, smooth sailing, we're so lucky to have such a great crew.

Meanwhile, Kai Owen (Rhys) confirmed he'd start shooting from Thursday, alongside on-screen wife Eve Myles (Gwen):

Well my bags are packed! I fly to LA tomorrow and am on set with Eve on Thursday!!
Torchwood - Miracle Day is coming. I'm buzzing.

Tuesday

via Twitpic

Tuesday saw a report that Mekhi Phifer (CIA agent Rex Matheson) was filming scenes in a hospital.

Meanwhile, Captain Jack himself John Barrowman arrived for his costume-fitting, something that BBC Torchwood described as "a sweet new wardrobe", with the fitting being "revealing". As one might expect, the coat is back, "a beautiful new design that we all want to own. It's stylish and absolutely brilliant."

Alana Stone also provided us with the first of what might well be the US production team's version of "WhoSpy", showing one of the chairs that are in use for the cast/crew during the shoot.

Wednesday

John Barrowman returns as Captain Jack Harkness, kicking off in style for a Los Angeles night shoot. As BBC Torchwood put it:

17:07 Night shoots all action packed and it's John's first day of work.
      Really exciting night.
17:21 STUNTS! STUNTS! So many STUNTS!

Thursday

It's Eve Myles and Kai Owen's turn to be welcomed to the new production, another night shoot that this time takes place in CIA Headquarters.

07:10 Kai Owen:      Good morning from LA! 
                     I start work on Torchwood - Miracle Day. Tonight!!!
20:01 BBC Torchwood: She's here tonight everyone, the Eve Myles. 
                     Tonight we've got almost a full cast.
                     John, Alexa, Kai. Bill and Russell are meeting as well.
23:58 Alana Stone:   Day four... All night in CIA headquarters.

"TW-Spy" continues with a couple of shots of office boards and cast trailers from Shawna Trpcic and Alana Stone; the trailers seem to have an iconic image for each character:

(via Plixi)

(via Twitpic)

Meanwhile, Tom Price, the erstwhile former police colleague of Gwen, Andy Davidson, reported that he too would be joining the Torchwood crew:

Off to LA next week! That's about it really!

Friday

Filming for another night shoot took place at No 650 South Spring Street, an old bank building that has seen use in a number of film productions over the years, including Spider Man 2, Ghost, and The Mask.

20:12 BBC Torchwood: John and Alexa have an exciting scene to shoot tonight.
                     We're all taking turns to visit location. 
                     We love our Torchwood Crew!
22:08 Alana Stone:   Day/night 5... No rest for the wicked. 
                     Poor Alexa is running in 5 inch heels. Girl is a trooper!
01:26 Shawna Trpcic: Crew will shoot til 6 or 7 am time for me to sign off. Blessings.

The production vehicles were spotted by fan Timothy Cerjan:

Capt. Jack Harkness is shooting new Torchwood by my office.
The 21st Century is when it all changes. [pic]: http://4sq.com/g1Eibs

Had my first shot at running into John Barrowman this past week (to no avail) when I stopped by an on location shoot for Torchwood. They were filming at a building in downtown Los Angeles which was, as you'd expect, not open to the public. The security guards were all very nice though and they did confirm that Torchwood was filming there. I got a number of responses regarding what time they would start filming so I didn't end up seeing anyone. However, I did get a glimpse inside the building. The set up looked like a bank with a giant vault. I've heard that other films and shows have been shot there but I am unable to confirm that. It looked really great and while they wouldn't let me in to snap any pictures they were kind enough to let me shoot the backside of the vault...through a scratched up window. I know it's not much but I thought I would post it anyhow.

(with thanks to Dana Shukartsi from Barrowman Day - read her full reports on-site)

Next week sees the shoot continue in Los Angeles for another four days or so, with filming on Thursday to take place at City Hall. Directory of Photography Nate Goodman then reported that they fly out to the United Kingdom, where filming will continue in Wales the following fortnight (as reported in an interview with Eve Myles last year).

FILTER: - Torchwood - Filming Reports - Miracle Day (Series 4)

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