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

Poll for Most Addictive TV Shows

Wednesday, 22 July 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

19% 24
17% Lost
10% Friends
9% Heroes
7% The Wire
6% Doctor Who
5% CSI
4% Prison Break
3% The Sopranos
2% Sex and the City

Doctor Who was voted the 6th most addictive show of all time in a recent poll by UK online rental company lovefilm.com. The show was the only British show to feature in the top ten.

Darren Bignell, Communications Manager of LOVEFiLM.com, said: "We're a nation of comfort lovers and the thought of curling up on the sofa with our favourite programmes is a very tempting one. "Although crime doesn't pay, as our list reveals, it most certainly pulls in the viewers, and shows like 24 have clearly found the right mix of suspense, drama and action to keep us coming back for more."

Reported by The Telegraph, The Live Feed

FILTER: - UK - Press

First Day's Filming

Monday, 20 July 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

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!

FILTER: - Production - Matt Smith - Filming Reports - Press - Series 5/31

The Eleventh Doctor revealed

Monday, 20 July 2009 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

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.

The BBC's official Doctor Who site has also been updated with details about Smith's costume and a small image gallery.

Update: Media reports in: The Times, Telegraph, Northampton Chronicle and Echo, Pontefract and Castleford Expres s, What's on TV, Capital FM, Now, Empire, Mirror, Broadcast, BBC News, CBBC, The Guardian, South Wales Evening Post, InTheNews, Digital Spy, Den of Geek

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

BBC Exclusive look at new Doctor

Monday, 20 July 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC1's Breakfast will be taking an exclusive look at the new Doctor Who costume this morning, currently scheduled for 8:55am with BBC Entertainment correspondant Lizo Mzimba and DWM/The Writer's Tale co-author Benjamin Cook.

FILTER: - Press

Moon landing commemoration

Sunday, 19 July 2009 - Reported by Anthony Weight

To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of humanity reaching the Moon, when the Apollo 11 mission landed there on July 20th 1969, the official BBC Doctor Who website has published the first part of a short story tied in with the anniversary. Entitled "Blue Moon", the story is written by Oli Smith, and features the Tenth Doctor. The conclusion is to be published on the website tomorrow, the exact date of the anniversary.

FILTER: - Online

Torchwood and Doctor Who come to North America

Sunday, 19 July 2009 - Reported by Marcus

Torchwood: Children of Earth comes to North America this week, with the series being broadcast in Canada and the United States.

BBC America will be screening the series at 9pm Eastern time from Monday to Friday. The series has been given a 75 minute slot, meaning American viewers will see the full version of the episodes. The 10pm showing of BBC World News America has been shortened to accommodate the series. As well as the main episodes, BBC America will be showing a number of documentaries going behind the scenes of Torchwood. Each episode will be repeated several times throughout the day.

In Canada, The Space Channel, will be broadcasting the series at 10pm Eastern time, also in a 75 minute slot. The series is repeated at 2.15am the following day.

In addition Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead comes to Canada on Saturday, with The Space Channel broadcasting the episode at 9pm Eastern, followed by a repeat of The Next Doctor.

Planet of the Dead also comes to BBC America on Sunday, showing at 8pm ET.

FILTER: - Canada - Torchwood - Specials - USA - Children of Earth (Series 3) - Broadcasting

Doctor Who Expense Claims

Saturday, 18 July 2009 - Reported by Marcus

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.

FILTER: - Production

Moffat on creative freedom

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

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - People - Production - Press

New Torchwood Books

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Books have released details of three new Torchwood books due to be published in the UK on 1st October.

The Undertaker’s Gift by Trevor Baxendale

The Hokrala Corp lawyers are back. They’re suing planet Earth for mishandling the twenty-first century, and they won’t tolerate any efforts to repel them. An assassin has been sent to remove Captain Jack Harkness. It’s been a busy week in Cardiff. The Hub’s latest guest is a translucent, amber jelly carrying a lethal electrical charge. Record numbers of aliens have been coming through the Rift, and Torchwood could do without any more problems. But there are reports of an extraordinary funeral cortege in the night-time city, with mysterious pallbearers guarding a rotting cadaver that simply doesn’t want to be buried. Torchwood should be ready for anything – but with Jack the target of an invisible killer, Gwen trapped in a forgotten crypt and Ianto Jones falling desperately ill, could a world of suffering be the Undertaker’s gift to planet Earth?

Risk Assessment by James Goss

‘Are you trying to tell me, Captain Harkness, that the entire staff of Torchwood Cardiff now consists of yourself, a woman in trousers and a tea boy?’

Agnes Havisham is awake, and Jack is worried (and not a little afraid). The Torchwood Assessor is roused from her deep sleep in only the worst of times – it’s happened just four times in the last 100 years. Can the situation really be so bad? Someone, somewhere, is fighting a war, and they're losing badly. The coffins of the dead are coming through the Rift. With thousands of alien bodies floating in the Bristol Channel, it's down to Torchwood to round them all up before a lethal plague breaks out.

And now they'll have to do it by the book. The 1901 edition.

Consequences by James Moran, Joseph Lidster, Andrew Cartmel, Sarah Pinborough and David Llewellyn

Saving the planet, watching over the Rift, preparing the human race for the twenty-first century… Torchwood has been keeping Cardiff safe since the late 1800s. Small teams of heroes, working 24/7, encountering and containing the alien, the bizarre and the inexplicable. But Torchwood do not always see the effects of their actions. What links the Rules and Regulations for replacing a Torchwood leader to the destruction of a supermarket? How does a witness to an alien’s reprisals against Torchwood become caught up in a night of terror in a university library? And why should Gwen and Ianto’s actions at a local publisher’s affect Torchwood more than a century earlier? For Torchwood, the past will always catch up with them. And sometimes the future will catch up with the past.

NB.
The graphic novel The Dalek Project by Justin Richards, which was scheduled for publication in September, has now been postponed.

FILTER: - Torchwood - Books

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