Podshock 91

Thursday, 2 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Episode 91 of Doctor Who: Podshock is now available.

"I sometimes think how magical life would be if stories like this were true."

Note: This is a special anniversary studio episode in which we break away from our usual format. Warning: The interview in this podcast discusses elements of the 2007 ("Series 3") episodes "Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood" and may contain minor spoilers.

Outpost Gallifrey Presents:

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 91
For the Week of the 30th of July 2007.
Running Time: 1:29:36

Special 22 Year Anniversary Episode: Joining us on our anniversary is the celebrated writer Paul Cornell on the heels of the transmission of this year's Human Nature and The Family of Blood. In this full length in-depth interview, Paul discusses these two episodes in the latest series of Doctor Who as well as Father's Day, The Scream of the Shalka, The Discontinuity Guide, Bernice Summerfield, and much more.

Doctor Who: Podshock features the latest Doctor Who news and discussions from both US and UK perspectives. Hosted by Ken Deep and Louis Trapani in the US and James Naughton in the UK, with segments by correspondents in Australia and Canada. Presented by Outpost Gallifrey and brought to you by Gallifreyan Embassy. Recorded in June 2007.

Click here for the mp3 version of the podcast.




FILTER: - Fan Productions - Audio

Jane Asher Cast In SJA

Tuesday, 31 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Jane Asher will be a guest star in The Sarah Jane Adventures, according toThe Sun today.

It is not Asher's first involvement with the world of Doctor Who, as she portrayed the Doctor's granddaughter in the BBC Radio 4 play Whatever Happened To . . . Susan Foreman? in 1994.

The Sarah Jane Adventures will be part of the CBBC autumn season.




FILTER: - Production - Sarah Jane

Gardner Rules Hopper Out

Monday, 30 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

iF Magazine has an interview with BBC head of drama commissioning Julie Gardner in which she talks about a range of subjects concerning Doctor Who,Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, all of which she also co-executive produces.

In the interview, she quashes speculation that Dennis Hopper will be appearing on Doctor Who. "That's an unfounded rumor I'm afraid. He's not going to be on the show. It was all over the place, but he's not coming," she says.

However, Gardner gives a strong indication that the Master will be returning.

"It would be rude not to, and he’s a great character. John Simm is amazing and I would go to work every day with him. His scenes were so much fun to do," she says.





FILTER: - Production - Julie Gardner

Return of the Ood

Wednesday, 25 July 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

One of the New Series' most popular monsters, the Ood, are scheduled to reappear in the Fourth Series, according to the Times Online and confirmed on the Official Site.

The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) will encounter the fearsome aliens in an episode called "Planet of the Ood".

Show runner Russell T. Davies commented: "We're delighted the Ood are making a welcome return to Doctor Who. They were last seen falling into a black hole back in series two and we think it's only fair for the viewers to find out what the Ood have to say for themselves. Donna is certainly in for a shock."

According to the article, the episode will delve into the Oods' origins. No word yet on when in the series this episode occurs.




FILTER: - Production - Series 4/30

Rare Pictures Surface

Wednesday, 18 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The Science and Society Picture Library has added to its site what are believed to be never-before-seen photographs of Jon PertweeKaty ManningNicholas Courtney and John Levene.

The set of seven pictures shows them at the opening of the BBC Visual Effects exhibition at the Science Museum in London in 1972.

Last month, the library made available for sale a print of the picture formed by joining together the two collectors' edition covers of Radio Times featuring the Doctor and the Master.





FILTER: - Production - Classic Series - Radio Times

Marsters Knocked on Torchwood's Door

Wednesday, 18 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

In a brief interview with BBC NewsJames Marsters talks about his appearance in series two ofTorchwood.

"I am a huge fan of Doctor Who and Torchwood so it was me who knocked on their door," Marsters says.

He refuses to say too much about the part but calls his character "naughty and a bit of a psychopath".

Also interviewed is Alan Dale, who has recently appeared in the US in Lost, The O.C., Ugly Betty and The West Wing.

Dale admits to being a huge fan of British drama and says he is thrilled to be in Torchwood.




FILTER: - Torchwood - Production

Barrowman on Torchwood S2

Tuesday, 17 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

SCI FI WIRE reports on an interview with John Barrowman at the Television Critics Association press tour in California. Barrowman informed the press that the second season of Torchwood would delve more in to Captain Jack's complicated back story.

"You don't know the exact date when Jack returned yet," Barrowman said. "We do know he was left on Satellite Five [at the end of season one of Doctor Who]. He was brought back to life. He then came back to Earth and arrived back in another time and had to live through it to get to the point where the Doctor came back. In [season] two of Torchwood, there's some of that revealed."

Barrowman also briefly discusses the way other characters will change and guest appearances in the series.

Torchwood's first season will begin airing on BBC America on Sept. 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.




FILTER: - Torchwood - Production

Torchwood Interviews, Casting

Monday, 16 July 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

John Barrowman recently spoke to American television journalists at a BBC America panel promoting Torchwood; in conjunction, the BBC Press Office has released a press release about developments for the second series, which is reproduced below.

Details of the panel, and concurrent interviews with Barrowman, can be found on blogs affiliated with the Chicago Tribune, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Multichannel News. In the Chicago Tribune interview, Barrowman describes a scene between Captain Jack and the character played by James Marsters as "so hot, so horny, so violent..." and concludes with a phrase the Tribune's reporter couldn't get past her editor. SCI FI WIRE has more details about Marsters' appearance. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's television reporter also mentions Barrowman in her blog, but focuses on his Milwaukee-based sister Carole Barrowman, who is helping her brother write his autobiography.

In other Torchwood news, the Sun has reported that New Zealand-born actor Alan Dale will be appearing as a "baddie" in Torchwood's second series. Dale is known for his roles in the Australian soap opera Neighbours and several US television series including The O.C.Lost and, most recently, comedy series Ugly Betty.

The first series of Torchwood will air on BBC America beginning September 8; the second series debuts on BBC Two early in 2008. The press release is below (click on the spoiler tag; there are very mild spoilers including a couple of minor story points.
Torchwood, the smash-hit thriller drama created by Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies, is currently filming for a new series which will be shown on BBC Two early next year.

Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), Gwen (Eve Myles), Owen (Burn Gorman), Tosh (Naoko Mori) and Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd) return as the close-knit team of investigators solving alien and human crimes as they delve into the underworld of modern day Cardiff.

The high-octane storylines, filmed in and around Cardiff, include Torchwood's encounter with a rogue Time Agent; a tragic time-slip from World War One; and a memory-thief who uncovers long-forgotten secrets among the entire team.

Making a special guest appearance in the first episode is James Marsters who starred as Spike, the punk-goth vampire, in Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel.

Commenting on his role in Torchwood, James says: "I am a huge fan of Doctor Who and Torchwood so it was me who knocked on their door.

"I am really excited about the character I am playing. I can't say too much about him, except he is naughty and a bit of a psychopath."

Later on in the run Alan Dale makes a star appearance. Alan is currently appearing in Ugly Betty as Bradford Meade and he is well known for his roles in The O.C., Lost, The West Wing and as Jim Robinson in the Australian hit soap Neighbours.

He said: "I am thrilled to be working on Torchwood and delighted to be in England again. I am a huge fan of British television drama."

Another familiar face among the surprise guest stars is Doctor Who's gorgeous companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) who brings her time-travelling expertise and medical skills to the team halfway through the series.

She says: "I'm really looking forward to working with the Torchwood team and can't wait to start filming.

"It's a huge new challenge and a wonderful opportunity to develop and expand the character of Martha Jones."

Russell T Davies said: "Filming is well underway in Cardiff, and we're aiming to make the show bigger and bolder than ever, as we move to our new home on BBC Two.

"It's too early to start giving things away, but we've got some amazing guest stars, fearsome new aliens, and compelling new storylines that will push the Torchwood team further than ever before."

The 13-part series is written by Chris Chibnall, Catherine Tregenna, Helen Raynor, James Moran, Joseph Lidster, Peter J Hammond, JC Wilsher and Matt Jones.

Created by Davies, with Chris Chibnall as co-producer and lead writer, the first series, which aired on BBC Three last year, achieved the channel's highest ever ratings – with an audience of 2.5 million for the first episode.

Torchwood is executive produced by Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner, Head of Drama in BBC Wales. The producer is Richard Stokes.





FILTER: - Torchwood - Production

First Glimpse at Voyage of the Damned

Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight
The BBC has today released the first official publicity photograph from the forthcoming 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special, Voyage of the Damned, production of which began in Cardiff earlier this week. The image, seen at right, shows David Tennant as the Doctor along with the episode's main guest star Kylie Minogue, who according to a report on the official BBC Doctor Who website will be playing a character named Astrid, a waitress on board the Titanic. A larger version of the publicity picture can be found on the same page.

The BBC report also confirms casting details for the special, including two names reported earlier by Outpost Gallifrey, classic series veterans Geoffrey Palmer (who plays the Titanic's Captain) andClive Swift. Additional actors in the episode are Gray O'Brien,Debbie ChazenClive RoweRussell ToveyGeorge Costiganand Jimmy Vee, previously seen in the programme as the Moxx of Balhoon in series one.

Reports on the publicity picture can also be found at BBC News OnlineThe SunThe Times, the Daily Mail and This is London.

The MediaGuardian's report on the image runs in their Media Monkey diary column (requires free registration to view), which also quotes BBC One controller Peter Fincham on the subject of Doctor Who from today's press launch for his channel's forthcoming autumn season line-up. "Today at the BBC1 autumn launch the channel's Cyber controller Peter Fincham dodged a question about the casting of Catherine Tate, depriving viewers of Martha Jones, one of the few black role models on television. 'They want to top each previous series with the new one,' Fincham told hacks. 'I wouldn't put pressure on Russell in any way to do anything,' Fincham said. We kind of guessed that from the overblown season finale this year, Pete."




FILTER: - Specials - Production - Press

Christmas Special Casting Update

Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The Sun has reported today that Geoffrey Palmer has been lined up to guest star in the 2007 Christmas special,Voyage of the Damned. It reports that he will be playing the Captain of the Titanic, although it is unclear whether this character is based on the real Captain of the liner, Edward Smith.

Geoffrey Palmer is best known for his roles in the comedy series As Time Goes By and Butterflies, as well as his appearances in a variety of films, including Mrs BrownThe Madness of King George and Tomorrow Never Dies.

He has previously made two appearances in Doctor Who in the Jon Pertwee stories Doctor Who and the Siluriansand The Mutants. His sonCharles Palmer directed four recent episodes of Doctor Who: Smith and JonesThe Shakespeare CodeHuman Nature and The Family of Blood.




FILTER: - Specials - Production