Doctor Who news
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23 February 2013 at 12:39 #2851
@juniperfish – thanks for the LindaLee update. There’s also an extended bit which shows how she got on at the rest of the conference. Hugging a dalek, playing peekaboo with a weeping angel – how mind boggling would that place be for a 4 year old Whovian?! Never mind interviewing Freema (who’s just gone up oodles in my eyes!) and McCoy (also charming)… with a mic that’s nearly as big as her head!
(And yes, I agree, my more mature head is shouting “keep her away from the youTube comments and get her out to play on that chute in the garden (without a camera!)” But she’s clearly having a ball for now)
@jimthefish Don’t Panic! (oops, wrong show)
23 February 2013 at 22:38 #2857Ray Cusick, designer of the Daleks, has died aged 84.
Terry Nation created them, but it was Ray who brought his creation to visual life.
RIP
24 February 2013 at 04:50 #2859Weird. My Dalek poster fell off the wall today & I had a strange feeling…
RIP Ray Cusick.
24 February 2013 at 10:32 #2861Anonymous @
@bluesqueakpip and @wolfweed et al…
Indeed RIP Raymond Cusick. The true creators of the Daleks in my opinion. Their appeal, I suspect, is much more down to their design than Nation’s writing — which after all was generic robot monster. Nation lucked out in being able to find himself in a position to milk his creation’s potential — while simultaneously shafting Cusick into the bargain…
24 February 2013 at 14:05 #2867I hope Ray got to see the photos of his marvellous design recreated for the Westminister Bridge shot.
Back when BBC4 was BBC knowledge that had a series on “Design Classics” in which a group of “expert” talking heads nominated great examples of design from various decades. In the 1960s edition, in amongst the Mini, the E-type Jag, the cover of Sergeant Pepper and other stuff, the Daleks came up. Which only seemed right a it’s now outlived many other icons of that era.
Also agree with regard to his mistreatment over the rights issue.
24 February 2013 at 14:39 #2871That’s a shame about Ray Cusick. RIP indeed.
Another snippet of news this morning is this interview with writer Mark Ravenhill (Ravenhill scripting Who – that could be VERY different, LOL). Brecht, Shakespeare and Who in the same sentence, I love it!
24 February 2013 at 15:23 #2879<waves> Yes, RIP Ray Cusick – single best use of a sink plunger in the history of civilisation.
Thanks for the link @scaryb – I saw Mark Ravenhill’s first play “Shopping and F****ing” many years ago and was not impressed by the bleak nihilism and deliberated shock-for-shock’s-sake, but, he’s probably matured since 🙂
28 February 2013 at 15:16 #2931A couple of of Who news stories that caught my eye:
Australia and New Zealand to have cinema experience of Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon. I take it this may be looking at the mechanics of the planned anniversary screenings?
A real WTF? Moment: Al Jazeera buys series 5, 6 & 7 of Doctor Who. I can’t help thinking some editing will take place for those broadcasts.
28 February 2013 at 18:20 #2939The details for this years prom season aren’t released until late next month (I think) but at the Liverpool sales thing (see Al Jazeera story) they did a mini-prom for the buyers.
There is a report about it here, so perhaps Ben Foster is warming up his baton?
I still hope the rumours that there will be a mini-tour turn out to be true. As much as I like the Proms, London can be a pain in the arse around that time.
28 February 2013 at 18:54 #2945Did anyone else see this? At least she’s not saying “I know nothing!”
@sohoguy None of us knows yet what’s going on, just told to keep the days free.Mmmmmmmmm intriguing
— Louise Jameson (@Lou_Jameson) February 26, 2013
28 February 2013 at 21:48 #29531 March 2013 at 00:44 #2957Launch poster is out now! Dr & Clara on motorbike!
1 March 2013 at 00:57 #2959It also features what looks to be a Spoonhead from the 1st episode, a new Ice Warrior & a few other monsters as yet unknown… It looks amazing!
1 March 2013 at 02:20 #2963Leela was left on Galifrey so if she is doing a cameo it suggests return of the Time Lords to me.
Thanks @wolfweed for the poster link. I don’t think they have quite captured JLC there.
Cheers
Janette
1 March 2013 at 10:28 #2967@wolfweed – I’m going to repost the poster link on the S7 Part 2 speculation thread – it looks like it might spark off some conversation along those lines.
Thanks for the link!
2 March 2013 at 16:13 #3009Interesting from Louise. Initially I wondered if she might be referring to the “Big Finish” anniversary 5 Doctors, which she is cast in, or some kind of Documentary/retrospective.
John Barrowman seemed to have caused a disturbance in the Force with this story:
John Barrowman urges caution about ‘Doctor Who’ 50th role: “Stay calm”
I think some of these things may not be for the actual special, but for anniversary programmes around it. Hmmmmm.
6 March 2013 at 18:52 #3065New photos from the upcoming series here
6 March 2013 at 18:55 #3067The above don’t tell you much, plus some of them I’ve seen before!
John Barrowman was on Richard Bacon today backtracking about possible participation in the 50th anniversary. He said it could involve just hosting a party… The good news is that Barrowman said there will be no more Torchwood (hooray!).
7 March 2013 at 01:47 #3069Sad that the ending of a ‘Who” related show is good news. I tried to like Torchwood but quickly decided that life is too short to waste any of it watching such shite. I felt sorry for all the actors in it who deserved better.
Thanks @chickenelly for the lovely pics. I hadn’t seen many before and even though they gave absolutely nothing away they were fun. I like the Doctor’s Victorian costume. It suits his young/old character.
cheers
Janette
8 March 2013 at 14:50 #3073A few news links that I don’t think have been covered.
In the Doctor per month books range, Marcus Sedgwick has written “The Spear of Destiny” for the Third Doctor.
The Guardian have an extract here.
It seems one of the biggest parties for the 50th will be occurring in London with a three day convention over the weekend beginning Friday 22nd November. Announcement here.
http://www.doctorwho.tv/whats-new/article/doctor-who-50th-celebration-weekend-announced-for-november
I’m torn on this. On the one hand I think it would be great to go to a communal event like this, with dressing up and everything. On the other, I think I’d want to absorb the special in a more intimate soiree in the comfort of my own dungeon wherein I can smoke my pipe, drink outrageous amounts of wine and generally be my disgusting self. Hmmmm. Be interesting to hear what other people think. I’ll repeat the question on the Sofa thread.
8 March 2013 at 14:51 #3075Janette! It think that’s the first time I’ve seen you go potty mouth. Well done. 🙂
I know what you mean though – I watched it all. The early series were more miss than hit. I really liked Children of Earth, but by the time Miracle Day ended I didn’t care if it came back at all.
8 March 2013 at 19:17 #3083@chickenelly Yes – thanks for the photo links! I see the bow-tie now has spots and dots and patterns and plots and OMG I need to write a treatise on this 🙂
@phaseshift Oh I am SERIOUSLY tempted by the convention. I’ve only been to one fan convention ever and that was a Buffy one and it was hideously commercial (but anthropologically fascinating). But this – I mean – we’re not going to live to see another 50th anniversary are we? I expect demand for tickets will be tremendous. I’m going to sign up to the newsletter to keep my eye on it!
I am so desperate for Easter now – not least because my work will ease up slightly then and I will actually be able to breathe again…
8 March 2013 at 20:30 #3085At least three, possibly four bow-ties. All with different patterns.
The 50th Anniversary convention is tempting, isn’t it?
8 March 2013 at 23:30 #3087Yes, it’s very tempting. I had the opportunity to book tickets for the BBC convention last year in Cardiff, ummed and arred for a couple of hours, went to book and was too late. I’ve regretted it ever since as I heard it was well worth the relatively expensive cost.
I’ve tried to sign up for the newsletter, but not got far. I’ll try again over the weekend. I think Juniperfish is right in saying this one will be a sellout, so it’ll be look at the detail and make an immediate decision.
My birthday’s a few days later, which nicely ties in!
9 March 2013 at 10:30 #3089Apologied if this has been posted.elsewhere
http://www.doctorwho.tv/whats-new/article/50th-anniversary-book-collection-now-availabl
Remimisxent of the old Target books. I remember running down to John Menzies……
11 March 2013 at 13:29 #3149There was an interview with Toby Whitehouse on SFX (really about the end of Being Human) in which they asked …. the question. The interview is here, but I’ve just repeated the specific question on DW.
http://www.sfx.co.uk/2013/03/10/toby-whithouse-on-the-end-of-being-human/
What about these rumours about what’s going to happen with Doctor Who after the 50th anniversary? If Steven Moffat goes could you see yourself as showrunner?
“I have heard the rumours. I’ve been hearing them for years now. In terms of what Matt and Steven are planning after the anniversary, I do know the answers to those things, but there is absolutely no way I can tell anyone.
“In terms of my future on Doctor Who, this kind of speculation only takes place in the heads of the fans. I’m going to be busy doing The Game for however long that lasts and I think Steven is doing incredible work on Doctor Who and I’d much rather he stay there. No-one from the BBC has said anything to me. Whether or not it’s something the BBC is considering, I genuinely have no idea. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued by the idea, but also it would be terrifying. It’s definitely something I’d be really tempted by but I’m genuinely not in any hurry to do it. And why do people assume the BBC would want me? I’m sure there are much stronger contenders than me!”
12 March 2013 at 03:49 #3151Umm. Seems he uses a lot of words to say absolutely nothing. “all answers are replies but not all replies are answers.”
Cheers
Janette
12 March 2013 at 22:40 #3153ooh @janetteb – bit hash on Whithouse’s writing, but I s’pose even though I enjoyed some bits of Being Human, I guess you’re right…
;¬)
13 March 2013 at 04:17 #3159I wasn’t criticising Whitehouse’s writing, just remarking that his reply to the question is enigmatic. It gives no real clue as to whether Moffat is staying on after the 50th or not.
cheers
Janette
13 March 2013 at 06:46 #3161Ah Janette, I knew that -I’m sorry, I was trying to be funny but my tone got completely lost in the keyboard!
I was also harking back to a previous conversation I’d had here when I’d been unfairly critical of Whithouse (and rightfully he was defended!)
So, apologies and for the record (everyone) I did like BH in all it’s unevenness!
😉
13 March 2013 at 11:53 #3163Well, in solidarity with @whisht, I’ll just restate my claim that I think Whithouse would be an awful choice for showrunner. The Graham Williams to Moffatt’s Hinchcliffe at best. I know the God Complex gets a lot of love but I find his stories to fall into the ‘meh’ filler episode category — the exception being School Reunion which is saved only by Liz Sladen’s presence and not by the actual story itself.
And while I liked Being Human, it was never really must-see TV for me. Interesting but a little dull and even a little underachieving. (I realise that that’s maybe a bit unfair as I’ve missed a great deal of the show and have been very much a ‘dipper’) The thing about Whithouse for me is that he neither over nor underwhelms me with his writing. It’s just ‘there’, any my whelms are left untouched in any way.
He’d probably be a safe pair of hands as a showrunner but I think he’d be a bit too bland. And these days I think there’s also an element of having to be a showman of sorts to be in the Who hotseat. Not sure Whithouse really has that side to him either. It’s to his credit that he comes across as very personable and quite self-effacing but these days even being the showrunner is quite a public-facing role…
13 March 2013 at 12:29 #3165these days even being the showrunner is quite a public-facing role…
That, I think, was down to RTD. Who does have a good knowledge of showmanship, and decided that – if Who was going to survive the one year they’d been given – the programme needed to be big, big, big. With even more publicity than could be managed by Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper.
And so we had the Confidentials, and we had the newspaper interviews, and the showrunner became very much the public face of the production team. Everyone who succeeds RTD is now stuck with that assumption – that part of your job is writing articles for Radio Times on the upcoming episodes and being interviewed at press screenings and going on Breakfast TV and in general keeping up the excitement between series.
13 March 2013 at 13:06 #3167@bluesqueakpip — true, but I suspect the precedent has been set now. And even Moffatt, who is less showy than RTD, has had to step into the limelight — more as the laconic Scottish trickster than the Christopher Biggins with Talent that RTD was. I suspect that both realise that the show’s continued survival relies in part on a high media profile. It’s expensive and the Beeb’s PTBs as ever seem to blow hot and cold on it. I think it’s very much part of the showrunner’s role these days to make sure that it doesn’t get quietly retired again or cheapened out of viability
13 March 2013 at 16:10 #3171Afternoon all. Trouble at t’Mill?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Doctor-Who-Executive-Producer-Moves-On
13 March 2013 at 16:13 #3173To be honest Jim, the “public face of the show” role wouldn’t really be a barrier to Whitehouse. He’s effectively done that for Being Human for five years. While not as high profile a gig, it therefore doesn’t get nearly the same amount of support from Worldwide.
But he’s been at places like SDCC for the last 4 years plugging away at bigging up his show in a territory that’s remade it with more resources and kept a loyal fanbase enthused. It’s a more guerrilla approach, using internet Q&As, links to bloggers and other avenues, but I don’t think many who are into the show would fault him for commitment. He’s also fielded lots of Who questions at these events (he announced “God Complex” at a Being Human SDCC panel).
13 March 2013 at 17:00 #3175re. Caroline. Possibly trouble. Possibly just the first sign that there’s going to be changes at the top in the near future.
re. Whithouse. You’re right enough, of course. It’s probably just a personal thing. I just don’t think he’s got the grapes to run Who particularly well… mind you, this is also coming in the week in which Chibnall has blindsided me with Broadchurch…
14 March 2013 at 14:58 #3183I’m afraid Broadchurch is on my increasingly large PVR “to watch” list ( I’ve still not watched Black Mirror). I’ve heard a lot of good reports though, including yours.
If there are any fans of the quiz show “Pointless”, apparently next weekend will see a Doctor Who special with Bernard Cribbins, Louise Jamieson and others. A bit like the Weakest Link special they had a few years back.
That’s a bizarre thought. Two Doctor who quiz specials hosted by people who have actually had a credit on the programme. Anne Robinson as the voice of the Anne-Droid, and Alexander Armstrong.
Now that deserves to be some kind of geek pub-quiz question.
14 March 2013 at 15:55 #3185http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Doctor-scripts-attic/story-18411426-detail/story.html#axzz2NWuPEcCU
Rather an odd one this. Never made scripts by Anthony Coburn found in an attic in Herne Bay, including the rather bold claims that he all but invented the Daleks, the concept of regeneration and the sonic screwdriver. Would be very interested in seeing these scripts to see if that all holds up.
15 March 2013 at 11:26 #3193Re: Caroline
Reading between the lines there are several possibilities:
Possibility one: Steven Moffat is impossible to work with.
Possibility two: the combination of Steven Moffat and cheeseparing BBC execs means the other Executive producer(s) is/are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Possibility three: it’s the BBC hierarchy who are impossible to work with.
Since she’s being replaced by Cardiff’s Head of Drama, I’d incline to possibilities two or three. Moffat certainly doesn’t have the same kind of relationship with his other execs that RTD had with Julie Gardner, but the impression I always got there was that they were both on the show because they were already good friends; she wanted RTD to helm the reboot and he wouldn’t do it unless she was on board. Moffat, on the other hand, is largely getting producers from the Beeb that he hasn’t worked with before.
It’s a shame he can’t work with his normal team from Hartswood. I know Sherlock is shorter, but you don’t get any hint of problems (though what would I know, maybe he and Sue Vertue are throwing the crockery at each other behind the scenes) 🙂
15 March 2013 at 15:55 #3197I think I’d agree with your assessment. I suppose the other aspect is that Julie Gardner was already based in Wales at the time, rather than being imported. Julie was top quality. I love her reaction to having a police escort in this video diary:
15 March 2013 at 15:58 #3199Apparently there is something Doctor Who related on Comic Relief tonight, and Matt Smith is interviewed by Jonathan Ross on his ITV show tomorrow night.
The publicity machine creaks into action. We must be near to the new run. 🙂
16 March 2013 at 08:24 #3203Hi folks,
I found this little piece of news – some original (unused) Dr. Who scripts by Anthony Coburn (who created the TARDIS) just discovered http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-03-14/doctor-who-never-before-seen-scripts-uncovered-in-kent
Looks as if TPTB might try and incorporated them into an exhibition this year.
16 March 2013 at 09:22 #3205ah @jimthefish and @juniperfish – both of you trying to to tell us about the same unlikely story….
I smell something fishy!
[I’ll get my coat!]
16 March 2013 at 14:03 #3209Just for our overseas members, or anyone who has an allergic reaction to Jonathan Ross, there is a summary of the Who related discussion for tonights episode with Matt Smith here:
@jimthefish, @juniperfish & @whisht
I hope those materials can eventually be viewed on the archive site, although I can’t help but think some of the wilder claims originated in the imagination of the discoverer of the documents!
For instance, The Masters of Luxor sounded familiar, and I don’t think it was that “lost”.
16 March 2013 at 15:57 #3211@phaseshift… intriguing but Matt’s clearly giving nothing away… I still suspect a surprise regeneration. It’s the sort of thing Moffatt would try to pull off. I also noticed that a GQ online article about the screening of the next episode was swiftly pulled. The Beeb’s spoiler police are evidently working overtime this year — which is a good thing…
16 March 2013 at 17:18 #3213Oh sorry @jimthefish, my bad – didn’t see you’d already posted the “discovered scripts” news just upstream! That’s what comes of swimming in too many time-streams at once 🙂
16 March 2013 at 19:18 #3215Awwoogah! Awwoogah! New trailer (s) alert!
Alternatively – if you like an American voiceover (and some slightly different scenes) the BBC America version is at:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/03/16/doctor-who-trailer-matt-smith/
16 March 2013 at 19:48 #3217@phaseshift – thanks – looks good!
There’s also the 50th Trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8g5BrLm7uQ&feature=player_embedded
(sorry if someone has already posted this!)
16 March 2013 at 20:34 #3221@jimthefish – yes, it was something I noticed about the Matt Smith interview previously linked to. His replies were entirely compatible with someone leaving the series at the end of S7, but reprising his role for the 50th Anniversary Special.
I’m still going for the end of S7 for the surprise regeneration; everyone will know Smith is coming back to film the 50th, so no one will expect it.
16 March 2013 at 22:54 #3223@phaseshift — thanks for the trailer. The new Ice Warriors look rather fab when you see them in action. Also that ‘I am the Doctor’ disembodied voice raises lots of questions. Didn’t sound like any of the previous actors, except maybe McGann and the Doc’s reaction suggests something more sinister anyway. Maybe @juniperfish‘s (and other’s) theory of two different Doctors running around is going to come back in a big way…
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