MediaGuardian picks up Statham rumour

Wednesday, 10 January 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight
The MediaGuardian website's "Media Monkey" diary column (requires free registration to view) has picked up on the recent tabloid rumours about actor Jason Statham being a possible contender for the role of the Eleventh Doctor as and when David Tennant decides to leave the series.

"The BBC may still be denying speculation that David Tennant will leave his role as Doctor Who during the fourth series of the new generation Doctor - he is currently filming the third - but names have started to filter though as to who his replacement might be," reports the column. "Monkey has been told that a name under serious consideration within the BBC is that of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor Jason Statham. Apparently BBC controller of fiction Jane Tranter wants to "sex up" the sci-fi series once Tennant departs and thinks Statham - the former squeeze of model Kelly Brook - is the man for the job. Watch this space..."

As with the previous reports regarding Statham, this appears to be nothing more than rumour, with no solid evidence available of when - and indeed, if - David Tennant currently plans to leave the series.




FILTER: - Production - Press

Doctor Who nominated for Nebula Award

Wednesday, 10 January 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson
Steven Moffat's Doctor Who script "The Girl in the Fireplace" has been included in the Preliminary Ballot for the Nebula Awards for 2006. The awards, which have been run since 1965 by The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), are due to be handed out in May. The SFWA has 1,400 members including some of the biggest names in science-fiction and fantasy.

The season two Doctor Who script is up against the scripts for "Batman Begins", by Christopher Nolan and Steven S Goyer, and "Howl's Moving Castle", by Hayao Miyazaki, Cindy Davis Hewitt and Donald H. Hewitt.

These nominations along with a dozen others are part of the preliminary ballot going to members of the SFWA who will help chop it down to a final ballot in March.




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations

Torchwood sold to New Zealand

Wednesday, 10 January 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson
BBC Worldwide has sold the first series of Dr Who spin-off Torchwood to Antipodean broadcaster TVNZ. The 13 part drama is part of a "significant package" of more than 40 hours worth of drama, natural history and factual programming including ITV event drama Primeval and wildlife skein Galapagos.

In a press release, Lisa Clements, Vice President of Programme Acquisitions at TVNZ said: "Torchwood and Primeval are both groundbreaking, action-packed shows representing a new direction in UK drama that is ideally suited to the innovative and exciting channel offering of TV2."




FILTER: - Torchwood - New Zealand - Broadcasting

The Companion Chronicles

Sunday, 7 January 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
Big Finish has released full cover images and plot information for their upcoming Companion Chronicles series. This series sees Classic companions Vicki, Zoe, Liz, and Romana in brand new stories told from their point of view.
Frostfire
Read by: Maureen O'Brien as Vicki, with Keith Drinkel as The Cinder.
Vicki has a tale to tell. But where does it start and when does it end?
Ancient Carthage. 1164 BC. Lady Cressida has a secret. She keeps it deep in the cisterns below the Temple of Astarte with only one flame for warmth. And it must never get out.
Regency London, 1814 AD. The first Doctor, Steven and Vicki go to the fair and meet the fiery Dragon, the novelist Miss Austen and the deadliest weather you ever did see.
But which comes first? The Future or the Past?
The Phoenix or the Egg? The Fire or the Frost?
Or will Time freeze over forever?

Fear of the Daleks
Read by: Wendy Padbury as Zoe, with Nicholas Briggs as the Daleks
Why has Zoe Heriot been having nightmares about the Daleks? Who is the Doctor, a mysterious man from her past? When an evil scientist hijacks her mind to control a galaxy-conquering weapon, Zoe must stop him. First, she and the Doctor will face an enemy they had thought destroyed forever.

The Blue Tooth
Read by: Caroline John as Liz, with Nicholas Briggs as the Cybermen
"I suppose that was one of the Doctor's most endearing qualities: the ability to make the bizarre and the terrifying seem utterly normal."
When Liz Shaw's friend Jean goes missing, the Doctor and U.N.I.T. are drawn to the scene to investigate. Soon Liz discovers a potential alien invasion that will have far-reaching affects on her life… and the Doctor is unexpectedly re-united with an old enemy…

The Beautiful People
Read by: Lalla Ward as Romana, with Marcia Ashton as Karna
Put all your worries behind you.
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In fact, you will leave Vita Novus feeling like an entirely new person. And that's guaranteed.
We cater for all endoskeletal carbon-based life-forms. All major credit cards accepted. Parties welcome.




FILTER: - Audio

Torchwood- Appreciation Index

Saturday, 6 January 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC2 showing of the final episodes of "Torchwood" Season one, achieved an Appreciation Index of 84.

The Appreciation Index, or AI, is a measure of how much the audience liked the programme. It is a score out of 100, based on responses from a carefully selected panel. The average score for drama on BBC1 and ITV1 is 77

The score of 84 is the highest the series has scored on BBC2. It was one of the most enjoyed programmes of the day, only "Desperate Housewives" on Channel 4 scored higher with 85.

On BBC3 the Thursday night showing of "Captain Jack Harkness" had an audience of 233,100viewers at 2100 which was a 1.2% share. At 0100 66,900 people watched, a 2.9% share.

Meanwhile the Friday night 2100 showing at of "End of Days" was watched by 277,500 viewers, which was 1.4% of the total audience. At 0030 the show had 140,700 viewers a 3.3% share.




FILTER: - Torchwood - Ratings - UK

Private Eye

Saturday, 6 January 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The latest edition of Britain's most popular satirical magazine, Private Eye , has latched on to the tabloid speculation about the future of David Tennant in the role. The magazine draws parallels with the present predicament of the country's Prime Minister "Tony Blair" who announced last year he would step down sometime before September 2007.
DR WHO LATEST
Dr Who has today been criticised for announcing that he won't be seeking another term as the Time Lord, but not giving an exact timetable for his departure.
"This ongoing uncertainty is destabilising the galaxy at a very inopportune time, with a fresh attack from the Cybermen imminent" said one well-placed Dr Who Source. "We all know that The Master has been waiting for several millennia brooding for the job to be his."




FILTER: - Press

Doctor Who can help save science, says Minister

Saturday, 6 January 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

Teachers should use episodes from Doctor Who to teach school children about science rather than technical and "boring" textbooks, according to the UK Government's new Science Minister.

The Minister, pictured, is quoted in The Sunday Telegraph. Their report goes on to say:
Malcolm Wicks, who was appointed in November following the resignation of Lord Sainsbury, believes that too many pupils are put off science during school.

He claims that popular television shows such as the hit BBC science fiction series and the Star Wars films provide children with an insight into real science that teachers can use to kick-start lessons. Science education campaign groups have warned, however, that shows such as Doctor Who often involve ideas that have little basis in science.

Mr Wicks said: "If you start a lesson with the chemical formulae you will lose 90 per cent of the class. If you start with something interesting or important, like something they read in the paper or saw on television, they will remain interested.

"It can be part of an entrée to some of the more technical, important but slightly more boring parts of the subject. If I was a teacher I would start with a chunk from Doctor Who and Billie Piper and say, 'Actually, what was that all about and how is our textbook relevant to that?'

"Take R2D2 from the Star Wars films, for example. We are already doing that kind of stuff in robotics. I would show that, talk about how you would build a thing like that and its uses in the future in the home, in caring for people and for space exploration."

Mr Wicks believes that it is essential to produce a generation of children who are science-literate so that they can go on to help in making the decisions Britain is likely to face on issues such as climate change and medical research.

However, Derek Bell, the chief executive of the Association of Science Education, said: "We all enjoy programmes such as Doctor Who, but teachers would need to be careful to make it clear which bits are science and which fantasy."





FILTER: - Press

Tennant on TV tonight

Friday, 5 January 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive
A reminder to Outpost Gallifrey readers that David Tennant is the guest presenter tonight on The Friday Night Project on Channel 4.

During the programme, he will give a monologue and face a grilling from the studio audience.

The entertainment show - returning for a fourth series - is on from 11.05pm to 12.10am.

There is also mention of this on Yahoo Entertainment News (with a picture of a blonde-wigged Tennant) and on Digital Spy.




FILTER: - David Tennant

Martha in the Tardis

Thursday, 4 January 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive
Thursday's edition of The Sun has a picture story featuring new companion Martha Jones aboard the Tardis for the first time.

The photo of Freema Agyeman with David Tennant was released by the BBC yesterday.

The press release from the BBC says: "Doctor Who's new companion Freema Agyeman takes her first trip in the Tardis in pictures released today.

"Agyeman, 27, plays medical student Martha Jones opposite the Doctor (David Tennant) in the Bafta award-winning drama that returns to BBC One for a much anticipated third series in the spring.

"Guest stars already confirmed for the third series includeShameless star Dean Lennox Kelly – who is to play William Shakespeare – The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss and comedy actress Jessica Stevenson.

"The most famous Doctor Who nemesis, the Daleks, are to also make a return in a special two-part episode.

"Agyeman replaces Billie Piper, who played Rose Tyler in the show, and is already familiar to Doctor Who fans, having appeared as Adeola in episode 12 of the second series, when she suffered a terrible fate at the hands of the Cybermen."

In the release, Agyeman is quoted as saying: "It's such an incredible thrill to step inside the Tardis and to be part of such an iconic show. I just hope that I'll be a good companion for the Doctor!"

(This picture is copyright BBC and used solely for promotional purposes) 




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Press

Big Finish Announces New US Subscriber Service

Thursday, 4 January 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
In a recent statement by John Ainsworth, Big Finish has announced Alien Entertainment as the new Offical Subscription service for Big Finish:
Big Finish are very pleased to announce that they have been able to agree terms on a new US subscription service. From 1st January 2007, Alien Entertainment will be offering subscribers the same, exclusive incentives currently enjoyed by customers who subscribe direct with Big Finish. Alien Entertainment subscribers will receive the Big Finish Magazine CD and the free subscriber special adventure scheduled for December 2007. Unfortunately, we are unable to backdate this service, and all free subscriber discs prior to January 2007 will not be available, except direct from Big Finish at www.bigfinish.com. In addition there will be a new magazine disc - Big Finish Update #1 - which will be available to all dealers due to be released in the Spring.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances that cannot be discussed at this time, Big Finish are presently unable to supply Ministry of Sound and Vision. Existing MOSV subscribers and customers who are owed merchandise from MOSV should contact Big Finish direct at mailorderenquiries@bigfinish.com.

Alien Entertainment can be found at www.alienentertainment.com
Toll Free Telephone number: 1-888-734-7386
Customer Service Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 12noon – 7pm central time




FILTER: - Audio