A mixture of delight and sorrow here.

Welcome back to the swishy goodness of @juniperfish!

I have to congratulate @blenkinsopthebrave for his advocacy for Mark of the Rani. It is now our clear winner and a demonstration that I have no power in this equation because I find it some of the most pantomime arse-gravy to be produced in the shows…[Read more]

It’s actually quite strange to revisit this episode in a retrospective. We know Russell had made his decision to move on at this point, and was working towards an end game.

So we have a summation of his period in a way. Look who’s putting the band back together as we get Rose, Jack, Mickey, Martha, Sarah Jane and lots more familiar faces. It has…[Read more]

@blenkinsopthebrave

Well, another cracker of a story!

I think I’ll echo that. The two parters in this season seemed a deliberate attempt to look at the format and play with it. Black Orchid isn’t perfect – it has a slow first part and a second part which escalated rapidly to its detriment, perhaps. The Awakening is full on. It’s pretty easy to…[Read more]

@janetteB

Turlough is, at least, a redhead

You know – I actually met Mark Strickson once and it was disconcerting because he’s not a redhead! It was dyed because the producers cast him and then suddenly realised that he and Davison were very alike in colouring on camera.

He’s pretty hilarious in real life, and could probably make a career in an…[Read more]

@craig

While I will take my severe slap on the back of the hand (the GoT conversation should have been directed to the general TV thread) I can’t help but think you are using this to avoid the deep question here.

Mark of the Rani v Vengeance on Varos – which is the bestest?

@whisht

It would be hilarious if Colin weighed in on Twitter with “I think you should watch..” to entice a new viewer. We could make it feature!

Just on GoT, I’ll admit to a certain reluctance (probably aligned with @JanetteB). I’m thinking of waiting until it is a completed product and revisiting it.

Your mention of Peter Dinklage, though.…[Read more]

@whisht

If you, or anyone with twitter, wouldn’t mind seeking his opinion, it may be useful. It’s the one “with more him” (Varos) in it, or one of the other ones, if that’s any help for the character count on twitter.

@arbutus

Noted, and you have broken the deadlock at this point. I owe you a beer.

@Bluesqueakpip

An anti-vote is noted, bu…[Read more]

Gosh – so far it’s a draw on the Colin Baker Episode. So I’m going to ask very kindly for anyone who hasn’t voted to throw an opinion in to avoid the inevitable tie break situation.

I haven’t cast a vote yet, and I’m afraid that if I do it will, sadly, involve me selecting the story I least object to watching. This is not a good position to be…[Read more]

I was just killing a bit of time before I had to go out for a job and noticed this great profile of Bernard Cribbins on the G. He’s doing the kids prom this year, and talks about his remarkable career, including a few bits about Doctor Who.

Absolute legend.

http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/jul/24/bernard-cribbins-cbeebies-prom

@fatmaninabox

Great news, and I’ll weild a tipple in your direction on Friday, if I may. Will you be @fatmaninaseedbox if this all goes your way? 😀

@blenkinsopthebrave

Don’t those fine costumes fill everyone with patriotic pride!

We’ve got this week for anyone interested to vote for a Story to get up close and personal with Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor. We’ll close it on Saturday.

A recap of votes, so far:

Story (Episodes)
Votes

Vengeance on Varos (2x50minute)
@JimTheFish, @Bluesqueakpip, @FatManInaBox, @ScaryB

Mark of the Rani (2x50minute)
@Blenkinsopthebrave,…[Read more]

Talking of cinema showings, the BBC Annual Report is out.

As usual, that means a lot of articles in the press about how the Beeb must do this, that, the other, the hokey-cockey, or be disbanded.

In it, Doctor Who gets quite a few mentions from Director General downwards in a “oh and by the way, did we mention Day of the Doctor? Take that you f…[Read more]

Good luck to all who have entered the draws. One thing I’d ask is that if anyone is lucky enough to go, would they consider writing it up for us in the blog format? Don’t worry about all the tech aspects, just the text would be fine and we can make it look all pretty for you.

Main reason is, as with all these things, producing “content” (and…[Read more]

@wolfweed

Yeah, it’s interesting that this period began the “fan-friendly mentions in exposition” thing which was the more innocuous form of continuity that the new series has retained. Eric Saward as Script Editor obviously tying it in to his earlier story as a bit of universe building.

It’s just when he started to write involved sequals to…[Read more]

Midnight was definitely a standout episode for Tennant, and you can’t fault Catherine Tate for rising to the challenge on her own in this. I think she’s marvellous at setting out Donna both as experienced Time Traveller at the start, and resetting her character to the slightly mundane pre-Doctor version.

It’s Doctor Who does It’s a wonderful life[Read more]

@wolfweed

Anyone from Leeds offended?

I don’t think @steve-thorp is about but, living in Yorkshire I think the main source of offence would be the “Elsie Tanner” label from Donna. Wrong side of the Pennines and therefore a capital offence in Yorkshire. 😉