Newspaper interview with Freema

Monday, 29 January 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

New companion Freema Agyeman is interviewed in the current issue of the children's publicationThe Newspaper, which is distributed through schools in the UK. It is a short interview, and has mild spoilers concerning Martha's character and how she differs from Rose.

What's Martha like?

She's older than Rose, more secure, but she doesn't have a boyfriend. She has her own little flat and her family around her. Rose had only her mum, but Martha has a big family. She isn't looking to the Doctor for guidance or education, she wants adventure! She hasn't kissed her old life goodbye though, and I think she intends to go back to qualify as a doctor. There are funny moments when the Doctor says, 'I'm the Doctor' and Martha says, 'So am I'! She speaks her mind.

The Doctor's companions have changed over the years.

The girls were called assistants, they sounded like a magician's helper but now they are stronger thanks to girl power! It's about companionship, friendship, teamwork, exploration and looking out for one another.

In the last series you played a character who was killed by Cybermen, Martha isn't related to that character, is she?

No, the writers have found a clever way around it. You'll see!

FILTER: - People - Press

Casting Rumour from the Sun

Monday, 29 January 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

The Sun Online has released an article stating that Life on Mars star John Simm is the "favourite to play" an important character in series 3.

For more details click on the spoiler space below.

The Sun claims that John Simm is in negotiations to play the Master, who would return in a major twist at the end of the third series.
Sir Derek Jacobi, 68, will play another Who foe - The Professor. "He poses as a good guy but the Doctor discovers the truth when The Professor dies and regenerates."

FILTER: - Press

"Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf" - on tour

Sunday, 28 January 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

Outpost Gallifrey has received the following press release concerning the one-man show Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf, which after its success at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival is going out on the road in 2007. The release runs:

MOTHS ON THE RAMPAGE
Being the surprise critical and commercial success of last year's Edinburgh Fringe wasn't enough for Toby Hadoke and his one man show Moths Ate My Dr Who Scarf. He's now embarking on a nationwide tour (preliminary dates below, more to follow). The show has recently been bought by BBC 7 and is being turned into a two part comedy drama for broadcast later in the year (although this will be very different from the one-man show). The tour kicked off at The Windsor Arts Centre in January and came perilously close to selling out.

Award winning comedian Toby Hadoke takes you on a personal odyssey through one man’s obsession with a TV show. Sharp, satirical, poignant and ultimately uplifting, this show appeals across the board, even to people without intimate knowledge of Time Lords and Tetraps. Not suitable for football hooligans, Daily Mail readers, Hollyoaks actors or The BNP.

“Recommended – a confident performer in a well structured and surprisingly effective one-man show with an emotional kick” – The Times

“Eloquent, forthright, passionate – one of the most entertaining hours this side of Gallifrey” – Chortle

“A must see – well conceived and worryingly accurate”
– Edinburgh Evening News.

The tour will be intermittent – these are confirmed dates, with a further thirty or so awaiting confirmation throughout the year. Visit TobyHadoke.com for updates.

14th February – Leicester Comedy Festival (please note, the addition of an apostrophe to the word Moths was made by the team behind the festival brochure and a move Toby would like to wash his hands of)
16th & 17th March – Theatre Royal, Bath (16th is an extra date due to demand)
23rd March – Glasgow Comedy Festival
11th May – Hemel Hempstead
25th May – St Albans
8th June – The Lowry, Salford
14th June – Ammanford Mines Theatre
23rd Sept – Sheffield Comedy Festival, The Lescar

FILTER: - Special Events

Punk gigs likened to DW cons

Saturday, 27 January 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Sham 69 singer Jimmy Pursey has likened punk nostalgia gigs to Doctor Who conventions.

He made his barbed comment following the iconic group's acrimonious split. The band were formed in 1975 but have broken up after a disagreement over live performances.

Guitarist Dave Parsons and drummer Ian Whitewood claim to have sacked the singer as he had not shown much interest in playing live.

However, Pursey hit back, saying he only rejected revival gigs that had been arranged purely for money, adding that Parsons had left the group.

"I can turn down a nostalgia gig, which is like a Doctor Who convention, where it's just bringing a load of old punk rockers together to celebrate nostalgia," Pursey told BBC News.

Both sides are now claiming ownership of the band's name.

FILTER: - Press

Spears wanted for Doctor Who

Saturday, 27 January 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

According to Yahoo (via WENN) Britney Spears will be offered the chance to play a group of sex-mad aliens on sci-fi TV show Doctor Who. Russell T Davies, a fan of the pop princess, wants to take the series to Hollywood so Spears can make a spectacular cameo playing a cloned extra-terrestrial. Davies says, "I'd love Britney to do it - it would be so much fun. I'm not sure she'll come to Cardiff where the show is shot so I'm nagging the BBC to fund a Hollywood special."

How serious this quote was is unknown. The story first appeared in the UK tabloid the Daily Star, so perhaps we can place this story safely in the rumor department.

FILTER: - Press

Sarah Jane - Final ratings

Friday, 26 January 2007 - Reported by Marcus

The final ratings for "The Sarah Jane Adventures" has been confirmed as 2.92 million viewers, which was 15% of the television audience.

Of that audience 44% was male and 56% female.

16% of the total was under 16, giving a children's audience of 465,000 which was 19% of children watching.

Of the children 51% were boys and 49% girls. 25% were between 4 and 6, 39% between 7 and 9, 23% between 10 and 12 and 14% between 13 and 15.

Final figures are much more accurate than the initial overnights and include viewers who recorded the programme and watched it within seven days.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Sarah Jane

Canada: CBC Ratings Update

Friday, 26 January 2007 - Reported by Mike Doran

Doctor Who returned to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday January 15th, 2007 with the broadcast of The Satan Pit at 8:00pm. Up against The Golden Globe Awards and night two of the season premiere of24 a total of 516 000 viewers tuned in to watch the return of the series after a Christmas break. This was down slightly from the season high 536 000 who watched The Impossible Planet back on December 5th, 2006.

Monday January 22nd, 2007 saw a total of 388 000 viewers tuning into the CBC to watch Love & Monsters. Competition for Doctor Who varies by timezone but included the return of Prison Break, Corner Gas, 24 and the premiere of the second half of the first series of Heroes.

(With thanks to Rod Mammitzsch and DWIN)

FILTER: - Canada - Ratings - Series 2/28

Doctor Who Magazine 379

Thursday, 25 January 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

Issue 379 of Doctor Who Magazine is due out on 1st February; the following is a preview including the cover. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version.
(Thanks to Tom Spilsbury/DWM)

Grab your popcorn, take your seats and discover the story of the lost Doctor Who movie - in the new issue ofDoctor Who Magazine !

Find out what connects killer scarecrows, a giant game of pinball, the Daleks, and, er, Vincent Price, as DWM charts the incredible story behind the unmade motion picture - with insightful comments from writers Tom Baker and Ian Marter, as well as a full and detailed plot synopsis, and some beautiful new illustrations from artist Brian Williamson.

Also this issue, Helen Raynor talks exclusively about her new Doctor Who episode, Daleks in Manhattan; The Fact of Fiction uncovers Fourth Doctor classic Image of the Fendahl; and the Tenth Doctor and the Brigadier find themselves in the thick of the battle in Part 2 of their new comic strip adventure, The Warkeeper's Crown.

Plus! The first three Doctors are plucked out of their timestreams to solve Doctor Who's dating problems;Russell T Davies goes for a 3am walk around Cardiff Bay in Production Notes; and all the latest news, views and reviews from the worlds of Doctor Who.

DWM 379 is on sale from Thursday 1 February 2007.

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

The Master comes to Heroes

Thursday, 25 January 2007 - Reported by Jeremy Bement

According to various websites, it has been confirmed that Eric Roberts, who portrayed the Master in the ill-fated Doctor Who Fox TV movie, has joined the cast of NBC's hit show Heroes. He will be playing an associate of Claire's father, the mysterious H.R.G. (Horn Rimmed Glasses.) This marks the second former-Doctor Who alumnus to join the series as Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston appeared in this week's episode.

FILTER: - People

Long running rumour confirmed

Thursday, 25 January 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

Julie Gardner, the executive producer of Doctor Who, has confirmed a long running rumour concerning the nature of Paul Cornell's story, which will form episodes eight and nine of series three. The confirmation comes as part of an interview to be published in the final issue of Dreamwatch magazine.

According to the new Dreamwatch website, Gardner confirms that Paul Cornell's story has links to his novelHuman Nature, published as part of Virgin's New Adventures series in 1995. This confirms a long running debate in our spoilers forum.

In the novel, the Doctor gives up his Time Lord persona to experience life as a human teacher.

FILTER: - Production - Series 3/29 - Julie Gardner

Previous 10 Stories

Newspaper interview with Freema

Casting Rumour from the Sun

"Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf" - on tour

Punk gigs likened to DW cons

Spears wanted for Doctor Who

Sarah Jane - Final ratings

Canada: CBC Ratings Update

Doctor Who Magazine 379

The Master comes to Heroes

Long running rumour confirmed

Amazon Associate paid Link. Doctor Who News is supported by qualifying purchases.

This Week in Doctor Who

ARCHIVE

FILTER