That’s terrible news. Victoria was before my time, but I enjoyed the character and character development from the Target novels and few Troughton DVDs.

Rest in peace Deborah.

@craig

I knew from Broadchurch she was a great actress, but it was great to see her in a very different sort of role. After seeing that, I like her more than I thought I would. I’ll have to rewatch Attack the Block as well.

@jimthefish @pstrong

More jittery this time, because its all so new and because it might be easier to make the odd wrong…[Read more]

@jimthefish @craig

Just watched the adult life skills short. Thanks for discovering this. Its fantastic – a very warm and charming watch. Great acting too. Definitely a must watch.

I’ll watch the full film tomorrow.

@wolfweed

I loved John’s Tardis dress. His speech was excellent. Its a shame the rest of it wasn’t posted as well.

@antaus

Give or take 50 % of the Earth’s population is female. When making films and TV stories based on what were once considered male genre (action, sci-fi, comic based stories etc) the producers are doing no more than maximising their potential audience by changing stories and characters to appeal to a broader audience. Much as I’d like to…[Read more]

@cloisterbell

I have seen Jodie in Broadchurch and in Attack the Block (but I didnt realise that was her until she was cast as the Doctor). That’s enough for me to know she’s a good actor. However, I’m not yet convinced she is the right choice. I can only make my mind up on that when I’ve seen her in the role delivering her and Chibnall’s vision…[Read more]

@wolfweed

At the time, I thought the Terror of the Vervoids (if that was what it was called) wasnt a bad story, although it seemed to get confused in the middle and scenes were included but then never followed up. I wasnt that impressed with the first story and I think i missed an episode of the second story, but I remember that it wasnt that bad…[Read more]

@thane15

@wolfweed has given the basic facts of who JNT was. Pip and Jane Baker were a husband and wife writing team, who had (I think) a decent cv as writers. I’ve no idea how they came to end up writing for Who.

JNT, who had worked on Who behind the scenes over the years, took over as producer for Tom Baker’s last season as the Doctor and was…[Read more]

@wolfweed

Gosh I hope you’re right there. Kris as companion would be a terribly boring idea – cute Tardis couple.

@wolfweed

This is a somewhat false list as a lot of “BBC” salaries are paid by production companies and not the BBC. Without similar disclosures from the rest of the UK industry there is no context.

The main thing that (fails to) surprise me is that the real talent (actors, directors, writers crew etc) are not the highest earners; most of whom…[Read more]

@robynhod

Thanks you for clarifying your thoughts. If you look around, you’ll find many people who doubt or question Chibnall’s suitability as show runner, although all/most of us are keeping an open mind. I havent come across the argument that he is a moral crusader (I never particularly noticed anything on his Torchwood or Who work that I would…[Read more]

@robynhod

I agree with you, that playing the Doctor is a role that leaves a lasting mark on an actor’s career. That could be a bad thing – perhaps it was true to a degree for Tom Baker (although he was also noted as being quite difficult as well). However, Jon Pertwee and Peter Davidson both had/have very significant post Doctor UK TV careers.…[Read more]

@hiker

Welcome. I hope we see you contribute your thoughts on Jodie’s version of the Doctor next year as well as Capaldi and Tennant’s era.

@thane15

Can you ignore that person’s gender preference? Because if you do you’re ignoring one of the things that makes them very special. If we don’t acknowledge that then we’re not acknowledging them and we’re not learning how to ‘be’ around this person which then lets them down?

Thane

On some levels that’s a hard question, but on the other…[Read more]

@lisa @tardigrade @genek1953

I’d prefer to see Jodie play a Doctor who is female (rather than a female Doctor). Whilst I don’t think the gender element should be down played, I do think the essentials of the doctor’s character and behaviour should remain essentially the same. I think the point of having a gender change character should be to show…[Read more]

@robynhod

As you suggest Chibnall in full control. If he hadn’t wanted to have a female Doctor, then he wouldn’t have done that and cast Jodie. keeping things the same as always was the safe and sensible thing to do, especially as he has only just taken over.  Brave is subjective I suppose, but given the very negative reaction in some quarters…[Read more]

@lisa @genek1953

I dont see any reason why which Lord shouldn’t be genderless if that’s what Chibnall wants.

If you want to be very specific (in terms of British peerages etc), then Lord is actually used as short hand form instead of the correct title (Duke, Count and the female equivalent Duchess, Countess etc). Traditionally wives of Lords…[Read more]

@genek1953

I read an interview that Peter Capaldi did (which I can no longer find or I’d post it) where he said he was playing the Doctor exactly as he thought a 2,000 year old alien would be. I can understand and accept his vision and that he has delivered exactly that. RTD and Chris Eccleston, followed by David Tennant had there own conception,…[Read more]