Doctor Who news

[wolfweed @wolfweed]

My guess is Matt Smith will stay on 1 more year along with the Moff.  Then the Dr will regenerate. Let’s watch this year & see if there’s a hint of who could take over as Producer in 2015…

The Dr will give up his TARDIS for a new one however – in the shape of a Nando’s. Very hip just now.

[HaveYouFedTheFish @haveyoufedthefish]

@IAmNotAFishIAmAFreeMan – “As for Eccelstone, where zygon?” .. a-boom-tish!

Another possibility is that’s not a Zygon, but Ecclestone has really let himself go recently …

[wolfweed @wolfweed]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHPhwWXtVqM

 

A nice cup of tea

[Anonymous @]

Thought this might be of interest (to compare with the Guardian’s recent one, which I think has the edge)..

http://www.creativebloq.com/illustration/illustrated-guide-50-years-doctor-who-4132286

[Craig @craig Emperor]

A little preview for Saturday…

[Craig @craig Emperor]

Oh, and you can apply for the job as the new Executive Producer here:
https://careers.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp?s=FTcEbHMjWuLXcZzLur&jobid=47518%2C4025587198

I think everyone here would qualify as

passionate about making popular, ground-breaking television drama

and you would definitely all pass this test:

You must have original and creative ideas for storylines and characters as well as the skills and abilities to communicate these to the team.

😀

[wolfweed @wolfweed]

http://musingsofamildmanneredman.com/2013/04/04/doctor-who-animated-series-concept-art-unearthed/#more-7728

[HaveYouFedTheFish @haveyoufedthefish]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2013/apr/06/the-reunion-david-hepworth

Dr Who reunion – Could be interesting – I believe it’s on tomorrow.

[Anonymous @]

Bearing in mind that filming on the anniversary special is going on even as we speak, does this mean that we can rule out Davison, Baker, McCoy and McGann making an appearance?

http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/news/doctor-who-time-lords-head-auckland/1820906/

[ScaryB @scaryb]

@jimthefish Would seem so, their bits could be filmed separately eg the way Clara’s scenes were in Asylum. Have to say (again!) that our Antipodean friends seem to be making more of the 50th than the UK!   Notice T Baker isn’t there.

[chickenelly @chickenelly]

….*out of breath*…oooh ooh oooh I just saw the TARDIS (the proper blue wooden one) on my way to work!

*SPOILERS*

It was hanging off a crane in Trafalgar Square.  Someone looking a bit like JLC was looking out of it, and on the ground it was surrounded by security clad (?UNIT) type people.

*END OF SPOILERS*

I presume they were filming for the 50th Anniversary special, although I couldn’t see any cameras about.  Having said that, I didn’t have time to hang around.  Unfortunately my phone is a bit cobblers and I didn’t have a camera on me.

[ScaryB @scaryb]

@chickenelly

Ooooooh, exciting spot. No worries about your camera – other people did!!

https://twitter.com/DavidHHeadley/status/321518844239835136/photo/1

[ScaryB @scaryb]

Tardis in Trafalgar Sq. contd –

CAUTION: maybe mildly spoilery, in that it’s more dramatic, with the Dr and Clara in it.

http://becks28nz.tumblr.com/post/47527176402/tardis-flying-trafalgar-square-50th-anniversary

@chickenelly – you walked past!!!!

[ScaryB @scaryb]

Doctor Who in Trafalgar Sq today – you can also watch it on the Trafalgar Sq webcam thro the link @wolfweed provided on Spoilers thread (silver cloak strikes again). Modern technology, eh?!

[Anonymous @]

I’m just wondering whether it’s significant that the TARDIS windows seem to be different from last year? I’m definitely veering towards there being two TARDISes knocking about theory now…

[ScaryB @scaryb]

@jimthefish Well, if the inteior’s had a makeover, it makes sense they might have tweaked the outside as well. On the other hand your post put reminded me of  Van Gogh’s warning painting  in the Big Bang. Remember there was a huge debate re whether there was actually 2 tardises depicted? I think you might be on to something…

 

[ScaryB @scaryb]

Lots more pics from Trafalgar Sq shoot here https://twitter.com/drwhofilming

Interestingly there don’t seem to be any which are definitely identifiable as Matt or JLC. And the twitter site is suspecting it’s been blindsided and that other filming is going on elsewhere, with Tennant and Billie. 🙂

[chickenelly @chickenelly]

I’ve calmed down since the excitement this morning.

I didn’t think it was JLC in the TARDIS, just someone who looked like her (ie a stunt double).  If you’ve seen the pics, you’ll know what I mean.  The lack of security also seemed to indicate so, just a couple of bored looking policemen (getting wet as it was p***ing it down).

My excitement was caused by seeing the lovely blue box in real life, as opposed to the old police phoneboxes we pretend are it.

[janetteB @janetteb]

I would guess that those scenes were using stunt doubles. I don’t think they would hang Matt from the Tardis like that.

@chickenelly, well done. I am envious of course.

Thanks for the links @scaryb

I’m off to  the spoilers thread now to see the images posted by @wolfweed

Cheers

Janette

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

And the twitter site is suspecting it’s been blindsided and that other filming is going on elsewhere, with Tennant and Billie

That would be quite funny, really.

“We’ve got to do some filming. In public. In the middle of London.  How the heck are we going to hide it from the fans”

“Well, I don’t know! What do you expect me to do? Hang the TARDIS off a crane in Trafalgar Square, so everyone goes and takes photos of that?”

“Hmmm…..”

[Craig @craig Emperor]

Doctors 6, 7 and 8 on Australian TV:

I think you were probably right @jimthefish that them being in Australia means they’re not taking part. I don’t think McCoy or Baker could really carry it off now anyway, but McGann definitely could as we don’t really know how old his Doctor got.

[Anonymous @]

@Craig – what I found most interesting in that clip (other than how much ONE of those men has changed since his portrayal!) is that they brought up the fear that the writers would invest too much get-out-of-gaol-freeness in the sonic screwdriver.  Which is of course a conversation being had on another thread or threads on your very site …

[Craig @craig Emperor]

Yes @Shazzbot that did interest me as well. I think that although that was the dreaded Jonathan Nathan-Turner (who actually was supposedly quite happy to even have Tom Baker lose the scarf – the man seemed to be obsessed with making his mark) that may have been his one good decision.

I’ve posted before that I used to read scripts for film companies and in classic three act structure, at the end of act two (about 3 quarters in) when we witness the fall of the hero/heroine, when they are at their lowest point in the story, we should not have any idea how they will escape, and too often I just think “Sonic!” Nice that in the recent episode the sonic got put away at the end of act two when facing the old god. Although love (of a sort) still saved the day, but that’s another gripe for another time. 😀

[Craig @craig Emperor]

P.S. @Shazzbot It’s YOUR site. I just set it up quickly in response to a few pleas on The Guardian because I didn’t want The Snowmen conversations on there to end.

[Anonymous @]

@craig — but it’s really come into its own since then — and especially in the last week.

And for that you definitely deserve major kudos…

[chickenelly @chickenelly]

@craig – thanks for posting the Australian clip and of course for all your hard work on our lovely site here.  [The Grauniad one currently has metaphorical tumbleweed slowly drifting around.  Even Dan has gone off on holiday.]

McCoy does sound a bit hacked off he’s not been invited for the 50th anniversary but then as has been discussed before, the Moff has said he was never a fan of the multiple Doctor episodes (they were my favourites as a child).  I too would like to see more of McGann, I do like the audio versions of the 8th Doctor.  Oh well, I’ll just have to wait for the Five Doctor audio adventure which has been promised.

[Craig @craig Emperor]

Thanks @jimthefish and @chickenelly

I think the success this week is probably more down to @juniperfish , @phaseshift and others, including yourselves I think, posting links on The Guardian.

And as for hours put in, mine pale in comparison with some of the posters on here. I’m still crawling out of my lurker shell 😀

I’m annoyed that in our best week so far there have been technical issues with my hosting (in case you noticed) – supposedly there have been brute force attacks on their servers on a lot of sites built on WordPress (of which this is one). I couldn’t log in for the last half hour…

I don’t know why anyone intelligent would want to join the dark side and spend all their life creating programmes to post links to cheap viagra but it happens. “What did you do with your life Grandad?”

Hopefully @haveyoufedthefish may be able to provide some more secure hosting. But I’m still backing up every day just in case.

[Anonymous @]

@chickenelly – (and all others contemplating this point)

I think this is a massive smokescreen (these 3 doctors being in Aus right now).  Everyone who has been interviewed regarding the 50th celebrations has strenuously objected that they are totally in the dark.  What hoo-haw!  And The Moff has always had as Rule One:  Never Trust The Showrunner.

He’s responsible for the celebrations of the Beeb’s longest-lasting television show, one which has a global audience and for which the build-up has been happening for more than a year.  My own personal bet (I have no money, but may have an item of personal meaning to offer 🙂 ) is that everything we see/hear in interviews can be discounted as utter codswallop.  And that everyone alive who has ever been involved with Doctor Who will be part of the extravaganza.

[Juniperfish @juniperfish]

@craig This little forum is wonderful – thanks so much!

As for success and posting links on The Guardian. I think it makes sense to maintain a “sister blog” relationship with Dan’s blog. They could mod our link out of our posts if they wanted to, but they haven’t, probably because we are participating over there rather than just promoting this space.

I like Dan’s column and it’s a different sort of atmosphere over there but can still be fun (we all “met” there after all) so yes, I would encourage those loving this space to maintain friendly relations with that one.

@chickenelly well I cannot resist the phrase “utter codswallop” 🙂

So nice to see your pipe of contemplation in action. If you’re right I will be particularly delighted, because mult-doctor stories were always my favourites too. What if Barrowman and Ecclestone’s announcements that they are not involved are bluffs! I really, really hope so.

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

I think this is a massive smokescreen (these 3 doctors being in Aus right now).

We certainly can’t tell anything from it – filming is taking place over April. They could have already filmed their spots. For that matter, a voice over or spot similar to Oswin’s first appearance could have been recorded in New Zealand – The Hobbit filming meant that there’s facilities set up for recording material that is being directed from London.

And all three actors have gaps between conventions – though Sylvester McCoy’s gaps would mean he’d need to travel from Australia to Canada via Cardiff. He’s the one who looks least likely to be doing any future filming; he’s heavily booked with convention appearances.

[Actually, it’d be really interesting to know when these three flew out to New Zealand. What with Martin Freeman having to juggle his Hobbit filming to fit in with Sherlock, Peter Jackson might know Steven Moffat quite well by now. It’d be hilarious if the 50th Anniversary Special has a ‘Second Unit Director’ credit for Peter Jackson.]

 

[chickenelly @chickenelly]

@juniperfish & @Shazzbot (of the ‘utter codswallop fame)

Re: denials being a smokescreen.

Now that you bring the subject up, when I was coming back through Trafalgar Square yesterday (sans TARDIS) there were three new costumed living ‘statues’.  Instead of being painted silver and standing on a box very still, these three new figures were merely dressed in ill-fitting and (I’ve got to say) tatty costumes, each  lurking about hopefully looking for cash.  One was dressed as a fluffy yellow chicken, one was (I think) Sylvester the Cat and the other (who was of a slightly larger build) was Shrek.

It all fits!

[Anonymous @]

@Bluesqueakpip – “The Hobbit filming meant that there’s facilities set up for recording material that is being directed from London.”

Oooh, good point.  But most importantly – “They could have already filmed their spots.”

The Beeb has released photos from ‘the first reading of the 50th’ but what good is that?  Do we actually believe that to be the truth, when everyone associated with past Doctor Who has been filmed / recorded in interviews, all over the world, sighing that they ‘know nothing about it, not me guv;  Beeb spokeswoman came into my dressing room and told me to say nothing … but … I KNOW NOTHING TO TELL!’  (at least John Barrowman broke the 4th wall to say ‘well, I wouldn’t spill the beans here, would I?’

I’m guessing that a heckuva lotta filming for the special happened well outside the ‘official reading / filming’ timeline that has been publicised.

[Anonymous @]

@chickenelly – “these three new figures were merely dressed in ill-fitting and (I’ve got to say) tatty costumes, each  lurking about hopefully looking for cash. … the other (who was of a slightly larger build) was Shrek.”

Oh, geez, thanks, I’ve been trying to lose weight.  And buy nicer clothes.  Don’t have a fez for the collection box; there’s my problem.  🙂

[Juniperfish @juniperfish]

@chickenelly <laughs> Which incarnation would be the fluffy chicken?

It’s going to be a fun year.

And, I just read some research which claims that engaging with fictional texts is good for the soul (the research doesn’t say “soul”) because it cultivates human empathy. So suck it, “it’s just a kids programme”-bots 🙂 *

*we probably didn’t need the research to figure this one out!

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

If they’re in it, it’s likeliest that they’ve already done their filming and have now been sent off on an exciting world tour to explain to everyone that they’re not in it, honest guv, these bloody producers, think they know everything…

New Zealand occurred to me because – if you’re desperately trying to keep certain of the filming details a secret – there wouldn’t be as many reporters and fans chasing around. And there are connections between Moffat and Jackson, and indeed, Sylvester McCoy and Jackson.

And it turns out Peter Jackson said back in 2012 that he’d love to direct an episode of Who. 🙂

[Anonymous @]

@Bluesqueakpip – “And there are connections between Moffat and Jackson, and indeed, Sylvester McCoy and Jackson.”

Oh, I’m such a noob.  Can you please describe?

[Anonymous @]

@Craig – ‘I don’t know why anyone intelligent would want to join the dark side and spend all their life creating programmes to post links to cheap viagra but it happens. “What did you do with your life Grandad?” ‘

I’ve worked with programmers for many years, and most have a darkly intelligent smear of good humour.  But also (here in the UK) a desire to make the kind of dosh they feel their technical aptitude merits.  If that means ensuring that stiffening pill adverts get into the largest number of inboxes, then they will do it.  Well, some will; more (in my experience) want to lay easter eggs in otherwise straightforward programmes and then lie in wait for the really clever people to find them.

Much like The Moff with Doctor Who.  Let’s face it;  Stephen Moffat is the spammer of our times.  In the best possible way.

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

@Shazzbot

Peter Jackson is on record as being a Who fan, but the connections between him and Steven Moffat go back to the film Tintin, which Peter Jackson was producing. Moffat was scriptwriter – but had to leave after his first draft because he was offered the Head Writer job on Doctor Who.

Both Spielberg and Jackson were apparently very much  ‘yes, we can see you have to leave, don’t worry about the contract, Head Writer for Doctor Who is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’.

Fast forward to Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and one Martin Freeman. Who got cast as Smaug and Bilbo Baggins, respectively in Jackson’s film ‘The Hobbit’. Peter Jackson scheduled a filming break for The Hobbit especially to enable Martin Freeman to keep his Sherlock obligations. That suggests he and Moffat got to know each other well enough during Tintin that they can pick up the phone to each other and talk about possible schedules.

Sylvester McCoy is in The Hobbit, playing Radagast the Brown. The part has been massively expanded for him – he was also the second choice for ‘Bilbo’ in Lord of the Rings. So he’s worked with Peter Jackson, and Jackson obviously admires his acting skills.

[Craig @craig Emperor]

@Shazzbot spamming a site or trying a denial of service, or just trying to harvest user data is a pain. If they’re planting easter eggs to entertain then I applaud them, but they’re probably the minority. If they’re looking to earn dosh by spamming sites, I may have to go all Ming the Merciless on them 😀

Is everything really about money? Why try to destroy something other people enjoy?

If you know people who do that, why not ask them to instead help protect this site. I’d be glad of the help and the technical expertise.

Cheers!

[Craig @craig Emperor]

More McGann (and you can hear McCoy in the background). Not ruling out an appearance in the 50th.

[Anonymous @]

A nice piece by Mark Gattiss on bringing back the Ice Warriors…

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-04-13/doctor-whos-mark-gatiss-why-i-wanted-to-bring-back-the-ice-warriors

[PhaseShift @phaseshift Time Lord]

Non-spoilery interview with Neil Cross here about Hide. Mentioning “The Stone Tapes” and “Quatermass” as influences may increase my anticipation to dangerous levels!

http://www.sfx.co.uk/2013/04/16/doctor-who-hide-writer-neil-cross-interviewed/

[PhaseShift @phaseshift Time Lord]

Just a general enquiry. I forgot to post a link to the release of a number of older spin-off books in spiffy new covers, one for each Doctor.

I don’t know if anyone reads these, but I’ve only read three, and was wondering if anybody had read the others to give me their thoughts?

The ones I’ve read are:

Remembrance of the Daleks (Ben Aaronovich) for the seventh, which is the only one of the pack that’s a tv story novelised. It’s a really late novelisation which allowed the authors a bit more creative freedom. It’s well written, allows for some neat characterisation and Dalek POV storytelling. Does suffer from a dose of the “Cartmel Masterplan” stuff that went into the New Adventures range.

Dreams of Empire (Justin Richards) for the second, which captures the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria quite well. The problem with it is that the main plot is interesting, but so involved with the support characters, the main crew seem like guest stars in someone else’s book. It’s a strange choice this one as I think a couple of other novels from the same BBC range at the time would have been better.

Last of the Gaderene (Mark Gatiss) for the third, I really enjoyed. It captures that Unit era with Jo Grant very well. It’s a very traditional story for that period, and therein lies its charms if you have the taste for it. Invasion by stealth through a secret facility located next to a small village. You know the score. Pertwee would have approved. His Doctor gets to jump behind the controls of a Spitfire at one point!

[Juniperfish @juniperfish]

The Doctor Who Prom has been announced! It’s July 13/14th

Link here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2013/july-13/14610

Confusingly I don’t think you can buy tickets just yet…

[HTPBDET @htpbdet]

I was told by a friend in the BBC today that, quite separately to the Anniversay Special, a Radio Play is being made featuring all of the living Classic Who actors as their incarnations.

I will continue to probe for further information….

[Craig @craig Emperor]

@htpbdet They may have been referring to this Big Finish production, and they usually end up on Radio 4 Extra.

http://www.denofgeek.com/other/doctor-who/24029/doctor-who-big-finish-50th-anniversary-release-announced

[wolfweed @wolfweed]

http://blogtorwho.blogspot.co.uk/

New ‘Movie style’ posters available from today. Also, go to the official Who site for 2 clips from Hide. Doesn’t look like we’re getting a tv ad this week though…

[PhaseShift @phaseshift Time Lord]

I’ll drag them in for us to drool over @wolfweed (if only because I want to comment).

Loving the MC Escher look to this. A callout to Davison’s Castrovalva (name of one of Eschers works)? And look @juniperfish – multiple Doctor’s and Clara’s! 🙂

[PhaseShift @phaseshift Time Lord]

And for the second Gatiss episode “The Crimson Horror”

For some reason my mind screamed “Charlie and the Chocolate factory”. Bad mind. Looks like Clara back in Victorian dress though. Hmmmm. Diana Rigg!

I’m getting a real Tom Baker “Horror of Fang Rock” vibe with the Bowler hat.

[PhaseShift @phaseshift Time Lord]

And finally for the Neil Gaiman episode “Nightmare in Silver”.

First one of these posters not to feature the Doctor at all? Loving the new look though.

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