Tate Comments About Tennant's Future

Saturday, 15 December 2007 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

In an article on BBC News published this morning, Catherine Tate says that the upcoming fourth Doctor Who series will be her last, and that it "could be the last for actor David Tennant" according to comments she made this morning on the Radio 2 Jonathan Ross programme. "I think it's maybe David's last series." The article notes that the BBC refuses to comment on Mr Tennant's future as the show's star. When pressed on whether Tennant would return to play the timelord in special Dr Who shows in future, Tate replied: "Possibly."

To listen to Tate's interview on the Jonathan Ross show, follow this link and click on "Listen again". The Catherine Tate segment begins approximately 2 hours 37 minutes into the program.

The BBC News article also quotes Kylie Minogue in Doctor Who Magazine as saying her appearance in the forthcoming Christmas special is "like stepping back in time. I really felt at home being back in the world of TV. I've definitely got the acting bug again!"




FILTER: - Catherine Tate - Production - David Tennant

Beneath The Surface DVDs Update

Saturday, 15 December 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive
The Restoration Team has updated its website with comprehensive details about the forthcoming Beneath The Surface DVD box set release in the UK.

In it, Steve Roberts tells how it was "probably our most technically challenging restoration project to date".

The box set, comprising Doctor Who and the SiluriansThe Sea Devils and Warriors of the Deep, is due out on January 14, 2008.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Collinson talks Voyage to SFX

Friday, 14 December 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson has given an interview to SFX, in which he discusses plot elements and behind-the-scenes details for this year's Christmas special, "Voyage of the Damned". Spoiler-phobic readers may wish to avoid the interview, as it gives details about the Doctor's encounter with the Titanic and its crew. Some excerpts from the interview can be found in the spoiler box below; the full interview, including Collinson's comments onKylie Minogue and other guest stars in the special, can be read on SFX's website.

Thanks to Ian Berriman of SFX.
SFX: Last time we saw the Doctor the TARDIS had been hit by the Titanic. So on the face of it you might think this Christmas special isn’t gonna be Christmassy, because the Titanic sailed in June [sic]... so is it Christmassy?

COLLINSON: "It's jam-packed with Christmas -- it's full of it! So it does feel very much in the spirit of all our other specials. It’d have to be really, on Christmas Day -- I think it would be odd if they were basking on the beach somewhere, y'know! I'm a traditionalist, I think you've got a bit of Christmas about it, a bit of snow somewhere and some tinsel and some angels and a Christmas tree thrown in there and a bit of Santa Claus, and we've got all of that.

"It's Christmassy because it's not the real Titanic. It's a spaceship that's full of aliens and is hovering above Earth and they're doing a bit of an experience cruise to the planet Earth, basically, so they've built their spaceship to be a replica of a famous Earth ship. And they beam down onto the planet secretly and have a little look round and stuff so... yes, it's their Christmas cruise and they're celebrating an earth Christmas. It's a theme cruise."

In your tone meetings you have key phrases you use to sum things up -- what’s the key phrase for this one?

"I think the phrase Russell used for this was 'disaster movie' and that's really what it is: all's not good on the spaceship Titanic. It runs into dangerous waters -- or airspace, or whatever you like to call it."




FILTER: - People - Magazines

Voyage of the Damned Update

Friday, 14 December 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

The BBC's Doctor Who website has released a new trailer for the upcoming Christmas special, "Voyage of the Damned". It can be viewed by clicking on "14" in the site's Advent(ure) Calendar. UK viewers can also see the trailer on the BBC's YouTube page.

The same trailer has been playing in Odeon cinemas in the UK, before the film trailers. (DEC 15 UPDATE: A 40-second version of the cinema trailer has been added to the official website.)

Meanwhile, the current issue of the Radio Times (15-21 December 2007,not the Christmas double issue) lists Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned Christmas Preview to be broadcast tomorrow, Saturday 15 December, at the end of the 5.40-to-6pm BBC News.

In addition Saturday's edition of The Times features a behind the scenes article on the making of the Christmas Episode. Thanks to Dan Martin.




FILTER: - Specials - Online - Radio Times

More on Torchwood Series 2 from BBC

Friday, 14 December 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

The BBC's Programme Information for the week of January 12-18 includes details of Torchwood's second series premiere, "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang", and tidbits about upcoming storylines in the series. The date and time of broadcast are not yet confirmed.
The second series of Torchwood, the award-winning drama created by Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies, premières on BBC Two. This time it's bigger and bolder, with more fun, adventure and excitement for the alien-fighting team.

John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen, Burn Gorman as Owen, Naoko Mori as Toshiko and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto return as the investigators delving into the alien underworld of modern-day Cardiff.

In the first episode of the series, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, by co-producer and lead writer Chris Chibnall, Captain Jack is reunited with the Torchwood team as they face a rogue Time Agent. The mysterious Captain John Hart, played by James Marsters (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), is determined to wreak havoc, and needs to find something hidden on Earth. But with Gwen's life in danger, and cluster bombs scattered across the city, whose side is Jack on?

During the 13-part series, Torchwood's investigations into alien activity give the team glimpses of the 51st century and the First World War. In future episodes they encounter alien sleeper cells; save a stranded creature from human exploitation; meet a tragic soldier from the First World War; and encounter a memory thief who exposes long-forgotten secrets among the entire team.

Later in the run, Alan Dale (Ugly Betty, The O.C.) makes a star appearance. Another familiar face among the special guest stars is Doctor Who's companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), who appears half way through the series. Richard Briers, Nerys Hughes and Ruth Jones (Gavin And Stacey) also appear in various roles.

There is a specially edited pre-watershed repeat of Torchwood on BBC Two later in the week.

Following on from that, Torchwood Declassified goes exclusively backstage to reveal the secrets behind some of the first episode's sensational stunt sequences and talks to John Barrowman, James Marsters and Russell T Davies.




FILTER: - Torchwood

News round-up

Friday, 14 December 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

In addition to all the coverage of "Voyage of the Damned", several other Doctor Who-related stories have recently appeared in the UK's national and local press.

Russell T Davies defends the state of British television to The New StatesmanThe Guardian's TV critic Charlie Brooker has named the episode "Blink" as the Best Populist Drama of the Year, declaring that it was "simultaneously the best piece of sci-fi AND horror the BBC has produced in a decade."

Doctor Who stars are appearing in seasonal pantomimes across the UK. John Barrowman, appearing in "Aladdin" at the Birmingham Hippodrome, took time to show his Dalek to The Coventry TelegraphColin Baker is playing the villainous King Rat opposite Terry Molloy (Davros) as Alderman Fitzwarren in "Dick Whittington" at the Theatre Royal; it's covered by the Norwich Evening News and by Baker himself in his regular column for the Bucks Free Press. While in Norfolk, Baker turned on Cromer's Christmas lights, and made a passing comment comparing Cromer's light display to Blackpool's; The Blackpool Gazette gets a bit sniffy about his remark.




FILTER: - People - Press

US clearance rights defeat Davros

Thursday, 13 December 2007 - Reported by Marcus
A report on tvshowsondvd.com has confirmed that the North American release of Remembrance of the Daleksand the Complete Davros Collection has been cancelled due to clearance difficulties.

A statement obtained from BBC Video states "We had hoped to be able to release The Complete Davros Collection and Remembrance of the Daleks Special Edition in the U.S. market. Unfortunately, clearance issues that arose after the announce to the trade prevent us from doing so"

Thanks to Alex Frazer-Harrison




FILTER: - USA - Blu-ray/DVD

Time Meddler Extras

Wednesday, 12 December 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Several online DVD sites have listed the extras included with the February release of The Time Meddler.

As well as a commentary with actor Peter Purves, producer Verity Lambert, script editor Donald Tosh and designer Barry Newbery, the disc contains a feature, "Stripped for Action" which looks at the First Doctor's comic strip adventures. It features interviews with artist Bill Mevin, comics historians Jeremy Bentham and John Ainsworth and former Doctor Who Magazine editors Gary Russell and Alan Barnes.

Another feature "The Lost Twelve Seconds" uses an off-air audio recording and the original script to place the missing twelve seconds of episode four in context within the story. This section was removed by overseas censors prior to recovery of the print. "Restoration" is a short featurette showing "before and after" examples of techniques used during the restoration of this story. There are also production and publicity photos from the story.

The Time Meddler is due for release in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2008.

The March release will be a two-disc edition of The Five Doctors. This special edition includes both the original UK broadcast version - available for the first time on DVD - and new special effects and extra footage not included in the original broadcast.






FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Doctor Who Magazine 390

Wednesday, 12 December 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson


The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine celebrates its new look with a Christmas cracker - an exclusive interview and photo-shoot with Voyage of the Damned guest star Kylie Minogue.
Posing with one of Doctor Who's most enduring icons, Kylie tells DWM, "I was in the presence of a legend! I've had to gracefully accept second billing, though. Well, at least I'm younger! The Dalek was in great condition, and bigger than I expected. At least I've met one now, as I didn't in the Christmas issue..."

Kylie also chats about her role in the Doctor Who Christmas Special: "My first day on set was like stepping back in time. I really felt at home being back in the world of TV. I've definitely got the acting bug again!"

Also in this month's new-look DWM, (at 76 pages, it's the biggest issue), there's a preview of the new Christmas Special, with never-before-seen photos; readers askDavid Tennant some intimate queries; there's a new complete comic strip adventure; Pompeii scriptwriter James Moran reveals what to expect in his new episode of Doctor Who; The Time Team return to tackle the Sixth Doctor's début story, The Twin Dilemma; discover what happened when the Daleks pursued the TARDIS through time and space as Fact of Fiction examines The Chase; and a bonus Fact of Fiction covers the recent Children in Need Special Time Crash.

Add to that, Russell T Davies reveals some episode titles in Production Notes; find out Who on Earth is Bernard Cribbins as DWM talks to the ever-popular actor; there's the 2007 Review of the Year; and a fiendishly tricky Christmas Quiz.

Plus a free double-sided giant poster featuring Kylie Minogue and a Dalek!

DWM 390 is available from 13 December 2007.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Piers Wenger to assume Julie Gardner's role

Tuesday, 11 December 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC Press Office has announced that Piers Wenger will become Head of Drama for BBC Wales in 2009 when its current head Julie Gardnerleaves, and also assumes her role as an executive producer of Doctor Who for its fifth series - this confirms a story this morning from The Guardian.

Piers Wenger, 35, recently left his job as head of drama development at Granada, where he worked on the BAFTA and RTS award-winning Housewife 49. Earlier this year he helped set up independent producer Mammoth Screen. He will join the BBC in the new year and spend a 12 month period taking over from Gardner. He said "I'm incredibly excited to be joining BBC Wales, the success of the drama team there has been extraordinary and I look forward to taking the team to even greater heights. Working with Julie Gardner on Doctor Who over the next year will provide an invaluable insight into the secrets and success of the series. I couldn't have a more inspiring leader."

Gardner will continue to contribute to BBC Wales, and to take the responsibility for the development and commissioning of new Saturday evening drama for BBC One, as well as working with Controller of BBC Fiction, Jane Tranter, on a wide and diverse range of special projects.

Tranter paid tribute to Julie Gardner describing her as "one of the most impressive television executives in the UK". She said "Her success over the past four years in BBC Wales drama has been unparalleled and her work on Doctor Who has earned her a place in TV history."

Gardner herself said she had been on the "trip of a lifetime" over the past five years. "I know that when I hand over my sonic screwdriver to Piers for season five of Doctor Who, it will be to someone who loves and understands the show."

Gardner will continue to work on Doctor Who for the next year, overseeing the fourth series, as well as three specials for broadcast in 2009.






FILTER: - Production - Press - Julie Gardner