Monday, February 21, 2011

Kopic's Doctor Who & Torchwood News

Kopic's Doctor Who & Torchwood News


The Smith Experience - Doctor Who TV (blog)

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 03:45 PM PST


The Smith Experience
Doctor Who TV (blog)
The Doctor Who Experience launch saw Matt Smith participating in several other interviews with the press. A lot of the same stuff is covered in each, but you may want to check them out in the videos below. Matt Smith spoke to Digital Spy about the ...

and more »

Harris Tweed may have something to celebrate as centenary looms - Scotsman

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 03:05 PM PST


Harris Tweed may have something to celebrate as centenary looms
Scotsman
The vintage jacket worn by Matt Smith in Doctor Who was a public relations triumph. Now, the industry is looking to replicate that success in the American market. A US consultant working for the Harris Tweed Authority is in talks with the producers of ...

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'Kate Middleton's no style queen': Vivienne Westwood's verdict on Prince ... - Daily Mail

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 02:18 PM PST


Daily Mail

'Kate Middleton's no style queen': Vivienne Westwood's verdict on Prince ...
Daily Mail
Doctor Who actor Matt Smith and Jamie Winstone also attended - supporting their girlfriend and housemate Daisy Lowe who was modelling some of Vivienne Westwood's creations. Dame Vivienne, who rose to fame making clothes for punks in the 1970s, ...

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'Torchwood's' Eve Myles Talks Gwen, Motherhood and 'Miracle Day' (VIDEO) - TV Squad

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 11:32 AM PST


'Torchwood's' Eve Myles Talks Gwen, Motherhood and 'Miracle Day' (VIDEO)
TV Squad
'Torchwood,' which follows the adventures of a tight-knit team fighting alien threats, has gone through a lot of changes over the years, but two things have remained constant: Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen ...

The Smith Experience

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 10:38 AM PST

The Doctor Who Experience launch saw Matt Smith participating in several other interviews with the press. A lot of the same stuff is covered in each, but you may want to check them out in the videos below.

Matt Smith spoke to Digital Spy about the first episodes of Series 6 and what they're filming now. He confirms Toby Whithouse is writing episode 11.

Read more ...


David Walliams to play Doctor Who alien - Monsters and Critics.com

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 10:19 AM PST


Monsters and Critics.com

David Walliams to play Doctor Who alien
Monsters and Critics.com
The actor himself said he was looking forward to getting the chance to work with the show's lead star Matt Smith, 28. He said: 'I am a huge fan of Doctor Who and am so looking forward to working with Matt and running up and down some corridors with him ...

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Matt Smith says fans won't be disappointed by new Who - Musicrooms.net

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 10:05 AM PST


Matt Smith says fans won't be disappointed by new Who
Musicrooms.net
Fans of the show first saw River Song in a 2008 episode entitled Silence In The Library, which it has been revealed was when writer Steven Moffat began planning the completion of the arc this year. "What's amazing about Steven is that he's been ...

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Timey-Wimey Tuesday: Something Ood going on…

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 10:00 AM PST

Every Tuesday until the start of the new series, we'll be posting a Series 6 related image for you to discuss! Our second featured picture is another intriguing screenshot from the trailer, and one that has definitely got fans talking! It looks like there will be something very Ood going on indeed, but what does it all [...]

DVD Review - How to Train Your Dragon (2010) - Flickering Myth (blog)

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 09:56 AM PST


Flickering Myth (blog)

DVD Review - How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Flickering Myth (blog)
Starring Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jonah Hill, Craig Ferguson, TJ Miller, Kristen Wiig and David Tennant. A young Viking aims to follow in his tribe's tradition of slaying a dragon but finds himself ...

Doctor Who: Matt Smith teases River Song's return - Unreality TV

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 09:24 AM PST


Doctor Who: Matt Smith teases River Song's return
Unreality TV
Doctor Who actor Matt Smith has admitted that the storyline written to facilitate the return of River Song have amazed him. The star revealed that show boss Steven Moffat has been planning River's entire future on the hit sci-fi series since her first ...

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Man Channels Doctor Who: Gets Second Heart Implanted - Newser

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 09:23 AM PST


Man Channels Doctor Who: Gets Second Heart Implanted
Newser
(Newser) – The Tin Man would be jealous: This Valentine's Day, a 36-year-old man received a second heart—without giving up his first. Because Tyson Smith was too weak for a transplant, doctors simply installed a second ...

'Doctor Who' thing of the day: David Tennant and Karen Gillan together again ... - Flick Filosopher (blog)

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 09:11 AM PST


'Doctor Who' thing of the day: David Tennant and Karen Gillan together again ...
Flick Filosopher (blog)
What Dan sent me is this photograph: It is, obviously, Karen Gillan -- aka Amy Pond -- and David Tennant -- aka the Tenth Doctor. They were together at an industry event celebrating the Radio Times (for the uninitiated, that's sort of the British ...

'Who' Smith: 'River Song won't disappoint' - Digital Spy

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 09:06 AM PST


'Who' Smith: 'River Song won't disappoint'
Digital Spy
Doctor Who star Matt Smith has promised fans that the return of River Song will not disappoint. The mysterious archaeologist (played by Alex Kingston) first appeared in the 2008 episode 'Silence in the Library'. ...

and more »

Doctor Who Affichage Chiffres sont Fantastiques!

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 08:49 AM PST

Bonjour citizens of Franceland; it seems you've all gone a bit Doctor Who mental. Despite being down on last weeks 2% share of the audience viewing figures for the triple threat of Le labyrinthe des Anges (Parts Une and Deux) and Les Vampires de Venise (The Time of Angels, Flesh and Stone and Vampires of Venice) have remained in rude health.

The episodes scooped 374,000 viewers, which is 1.7% of the total audience compared with 453,000 viewers and 2% of the audience for the first three episodes Le Prisonnier Zéro, La bêtes des bas-fonds and  La victoire des Daleks (The Eleventh Hour, The Beast Below and Victory of the Daleks) on France 4.

However French sci-fi fans (who can be instantly recognised thanks to their Silver Berets and Robot Butlers) were left with a painful choice: do they watch Doctor Who on France 4 or, in a barmy bit of scheduling, a repeat of the entire run of Les enfants de la Terre (Torchwood: Children of Earth) on rival station NRJ12?

The answer? Doctor Who which trounced the re-run, leaving (Group) Captain Jack floundering with viewing figures of 219,000 people which translate to a lowly 1% of the total audience.

Jack folles! Hopefully this kind of self defeating scheduling won't effect Doctor Who's potential audience share next week.

As reported earlier, those lucky enough to live in L hexagone have  been treated to the premiere of Christopher et Heinz (Christopher and his Kind) – the Matt Smith drama based on the life and work of Christopher Isherwood which is now available to watch (dubbed, sadly not with the same voice as used for the Doctor) online on the Arte+7 channel.

With thanks to the silver beret wearing Aurelie (whose butler makes a mean Long Island Ice Tea).

Dominic West Returns to Stage in Gray's Butley - WhatsOnStage.com

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 08:42 AM PST


Dominic West Returns to Stage in Gray's Butley
WhatsOnStage.com
Penny Downie's recent stage roles include appearing opposite David Tennant in the RSC's production Hamlet and Dinner for the National Theatre. Paul McGann is best known for his role in the cult 1987 film Withnail and I in which he starred opposite ...

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Dominic West to star in Simon Gray's Butley - Stage

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 08:32 AM PST


Dominic West to star in Simon Gray's Butley
Stage
West will play lecturer Ben Butley opposite Penny Downie, who recently performed the role of Gertrude to David Tennant's Hamlet, and Paul McGann in Simon Gray's play this summer. Butley will run at Brighton Theatre Royal from May 25 to 28 and then at ...

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Cartoonist makes actually-funny Doctor Who comic without ever watching Doctor Who - Asylum.co.uk

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 07:16 AM PST


Cartoonist makes actually-funny Doctor Who comic without ever watching Doctor Who
Asylum.co.uk
So when Kate Beaton tweeted that she had never seen the popular BBC series Dr. Who, but decided to make a comic about it anyway, die-hard fans of the good doctor held their breath in anticipation, perhaps expecting that their favourite show's pristine ...

A sneak peak at the 'Doctor Who Experience'! - Digital Spy (blog)

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 07:11 AM PST


A sneak peak at the 'Doctor Who Experience'!
Digital Spy (blog)
You can hear their thoughts on the Experience below, and don't forget to check out our chat with Matt Smith on Who series six and the terrifying Silence! The Doctor Who Experience is now running at London's Olympia Two venue. Tickets are available now ...

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Half term culture for the family - Telegraph.co.uk

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 07:09 AM PST


Telegraph.co.uk

Half term culture for the family
Telegraph.co.uk
This involving exhibition is not for the long-standing fan, but the opportunity to rub shoulders with talking Daleks, to walk through costumes and sets, and to aid Matt Smith on an adventure is an ideal day out for a younger Who fan. ...

and more »

People roundup - The Doctor Who News Page

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 06:43 AM PST


People roundup
The Doctor Who News Page
[various] Torchwood star John Barrowman has recently been embroiled in media discussions over who might replace Bruce Forsyth when he eventually retires from presenting the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, with reports that both he, gameshow presenter ...

Dear Britain: Give Us Back Superman, or We're Taking "Doctor Who" - Huffington Post (satire)

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 06:40 AM PST


Dear Britain: Give Us Back Superman, or We're Taking "Doctor Who"
Huffington Post (satire)
We have a Doctor at the ready, a man who can embody the wit of a Peter Davison, the frantic quirkiness of a Matt Smith, the innocent confusion of a Tom Baker and the slim-fitting suits of a David Tennant...

and more »

Luciegally Blonde

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 06:26 AM PST

The recipients of the theatrically-inclined What's On Stage Awards have been announced, with a few Doctor-Who-linked names involved.

Best Actress in a Musical, for example, went to Sheridan Smith for her lead performance in the Savoy Theatre production of Legally Blonde: The Musical.  In the Whoniverse, Smith is of course known to Big Finish subscribers as Eighth Doctor companion Lucie Miller, and will be exiting said role over the next couple of months.  Part of Smith's acceptance speech:

"Thank you to everyone at the Savoy Theatre. You're a well-oiled machine – I was just a small cog in the wheel."

Legally Blonde, which also stars Fifth Doctor Peter Davison, snagged three additional awards, including Best New Musical.

As the surname 'Smith' is a rather rare breed, a team of genetic historians here at Kasterborous are currently attempting to link Sheridan's family tree to a certain Eleventh Doctor, as well as a certain former companion with the first initials SJ.

In other What's On Stage Awards news, Zoe Wanamaker, known for her performance as the unlovable canvas named Lady Cassandra in the reasonable The End of the World and the unmentionable New Earth (crossed out thanks to our genetic historians disowning it from the Doctor Who family) took home the title of Best Actress in a Play for her part in the Apollo Theatre's All My Sons by Arthur Miller.  Meera Syal, or Nasreen Chaudry in The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood, was also present and presented with the award of Best Solo Performance as Shirley Valentine.

This addition to the list of awards handed out to people linked with the Whoniverse just further solidifies the already-proven-by-our-genetic-team fact that Doctor Who is able to attract a considerable pool of talent.  Head over to the BBC News website for a more complete list of What's On Stage winners.

Doctor Who Experience opens

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 04:14 AM PST

After several test days and special preview visits, the Doctor Who Experience finally opened to the general public on Sunday morning.

Current Doctor Matt Smith was on hand at the Experience, during which he was to meet 'himself' in the form of a life-sized model: "I think he's sort of a bit musclier than I am! It's a surreal experience to have an image of yourself in 3D. So weird but one of the wonderful privileges of this particular job - you get rather mad experiences." The encounter didn't faze him, however, as he then straightened up his alter-ego's tie!

Executive Producer and lead writer Steven Moffat said about the project: "We're not setting out to frighten anyone, but kids will come here expecting it to be a bit scary, and I don't think we will be letting them down. But with the Doctor on screen following you around, hopefully you will know that you are in safe hands. After all, the Doctor always wins."

A video of Matt Smith at the exhibition can be watched via Sky News.


Over the course of the week leading up to the grand opening, a number of articles/reviews featured in the press regarding the Experience, some of which are highlighted below:

SFX Magazine reported:
The big crowdpleaser, and reason to part with your money, will clearly be the walkthrough, a kind of mini-Doctor Who adventure with filmed snippets of Matt Smith ingeniously inserted along the way. From beginning to end it takes about 20 minutes, including a visit to a space museum, a daring step through the Crack (which opens up in front of you) a Dalek war, a flight in the TARDIS (with a moving floor bouncing you up and down – though not quite as violently as in the show), the previously mentioned 3D flight through the vortex and a few Stone Angels lurking in the shadows.

It's unashamedly aimed at the kids (the Eleventh Doctor urges grown ups to let the kids take the controls of the TARDIS) but if you can go with the flow it's a good laugh. And because it uses props from the actual series, even the most "grown-up" fans can treat it like an animated museum if pretending to fight Daleks is all a little too silly.
The Sun's TV Biz editor Colin Robertson enjoyed his visit:
By the end, it was clear why it's dubbed "Experience", because it's far from being a boring exhibition of Doctor Who throughout the ages. Money and creative energy has been lavished on a labyrinth of themed rooms where all manner of Who-ness is within touching distance. Your guide here, and throughout this whistle-stop tour around the galaxy, is current Timelord Matt Smith, whose video image flashes up on screens in each room.

But arguably the biggest treat is the exhibition at the end, where the entire prop department seems to have decamped. The Face of Boe, the Timelord's arch-enemy Davros, several Cybermen, Zygons, Melkurs, Doctor Who's many outfits through the years - even his doggy sidekick K9. All Who life is here. I got to grips with the old Tardis control console from the 1980s used by the sixth doctor Colin Baker and his immediate successor Sylvester McCoy.
The Daily Mail's Michael Hellicar summed up:
The whole Experience is, well, an experience. Children at the preview with me loved it — although one or two had to be persuaded by their parents to watch the scariest bits, and one six-year-old, dressed as Matt Smith's Doctor, refused point-blank to go in once the familiar theme tune had struck up.
Nigel Whitfield of Reg Hardware, concluded:
Certainly the kids there seemed to be enjoying themselves, but there's perhaps less in it for the more mature fan. And if you've visited one of the other recent exhibitions, you may well feel, as did my companion, that – aside from the walkthrough experience – you've not seen anything really new.
Daisy Bowie-Sell of the Telegraph said:
I'm not the biggest Doctor Who fan. I love the series, I've watched a lot of the recent episodes and I'll certainly watch it if I'm in that night, but I don't study the Time Lord's every movement. My knowledge of the pre 2005 Whos is patchy - I just about know who they are and what they look like.

But even for me, the experience of standing next to a large, shouting Dalek threatening to exterminate all humans was thrilling. In this first section of the exhibition the current doctor Matt Smith appears via a screen: he needs you (me!) to help him out. You control of the TARDIS, irritate the Daleks, run past weeping angels (actually terrifying), and into a room where you watch a 3D film of all the nasty monsters Doctor Who has recently fought. Their arms/plungers reach out of the screen at you, as if they might drag you into a black hole.
The Independent took a more personal look, with father and son Andy and Joshua McSmith visiting during one of the previews. Andy, being more of a casual watcher in comparison to his teenaged son, was to feel a little bemused by the proceedings, though overall enjoyed the experience:
It was a bit like one of those school trips when I was taken around a museum to have my head filled with knowledge about Egyptian civilisation or the combustion engine, under the threat of being tested later. Except in those days, the experts were old. The sad thing is that, judging by the company at Olympia yesterday, they mostly still are. Groups who booked their tickets early were being admitted for a preview, and though there were a few children taking pleasure in the nonsense on display, most of the visitors were adult, solemn and knowledgeable.

Myself, I could soak up the occasion with that bemused pleasure that comes from near total ignorance, but I don't envy the organisers their task, for I fear that if they have one fact wrong, they would face an irate horde of anorak-clothed Doctor Who wonks. For that very reason, I am sure they researched and assembled their exhibits with the same reverential care as a team of paleontologists assembling dinosaur bones.


















Even MORE reactions to the Doctor Who Experience!

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 03:32 AM PST

DigitalSpy have posted a new video of some of the celebrity fans who attended the launch of the Doctor Who Experience yesterday. In the video, a host of familiar faces, including Matt Smith, Mark Gatiss, Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar, share their initial thoughts about the new attraction, and some of the monsters and aliens from the series also make an [...]

Caught & Social: Mulberry fashion show attracts forest of stars - Independent (blog)

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 02:27 AM PST


Independent (blog)

Caught & Social: Mulberry fashion show attracts forest of stars
Independent (blog)
Also at the front was the rising stage star Benedict Cumberbatch (right) with the Radio1 DJ Fearne Cotton (left) and the Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan. It's not all just shows at London Fashion Week, there are also more parties than you can shake a ...

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Aberdeen actress set for London show - Aberdeen Evening Express

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 02:09 AM PST


Aberdeen actress set for London show
Aberdeen Evening Express
ON-SCREEN: Sophie, top left, with David Tennant and the cast of TV drama Single Father. AN ACTRESS, who grew up in Aberdeen, is set to make her stage debut in London. Sophie Kennedy Clark – the daughter of singer Fiona Kennedy and ...

Quick – Buy the Guardian!

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 02:02 AM PST

Remember last week's news item in which we told you that the Guardian newspaper would be giving away a free CD on Saturday and an MP3 of Paul Magrs' Doctor Who serial of Hornet's Nest this week?

Well it seems we were misinformed! The download of Hornet's Nest - the audio story that  saw Tom Baker return to Doctor Who for the first time in 30 years isn't just one, but five free downloads, daily throughout the week!

As such we would encourage you to hot-foot it off to your local newsagent/petrol station forecourt (if you can still afford to drive) or supermarket and pickup a copy which will feature the download code you will need.

Hornet's Nest stars Tom Baker as the Doctor and Richard Franklin as Mike Yates, with Susan Jameson as Mrs Wibbsey and guest cast that features Stephen Thorne (The Daemons, The Three Doctors, The Hand of Fear). The first episode is The Stuff of Nightmares, which is then followed by The Dead Shoes, The Circus of Doom, A Sting in the Tale and Hive of Horror.

Phew – that was a close one!

(With thanks to Gareth Kavanagh)

> West brings Butley to West End - London Theatre Guide

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 01:56 AM PST


> West brings Butley to West End
London Theatre Guide
Downie, a regular with the Royal Shakespeare Company, appeared in its 2008/09 production of Hamlet opposite David Tennant and Patrick Stewart. She also has credits including Dinner at the National Theatre and Scenes From A Marriage at the Wyndham's ...

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People roundup

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 01:32 AM PST

Billie Piper returned in The Secret Diary of a Call Girl amidst a huge blaze of press coverage; speaking about her career plans and a possible Hollywood calling: "I keep thinking about it, but then I like England; to be out there with a baby and to do seven, eight auditions a day is just not massively appealing at the moment." On future Call-Girl: "I think we've pretty much been everywhere with the stories and as that's at the heart of every episode, you wouldn't want to exhaust it to the point of just complete ridiculousness and seediness. I really like this job but you always want the story to have legs and not be that you're scraping the bottom of the barrel. I think if we go any further then we might be guilty of that." And on the future: "I just want to do something radically different and I don't know what that is yet. I think I've just chosen things that have interested me and then kept trying new and different things. It has worked out well and I can thank Doctor Who for all of that really. It was wholly responsible for giving me a great opportunity." [various]

Torchwood star John Barrowman has recently been embroiled in media discussions over who might replace Bruce Forsyth when he eventually retires from presenting the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, with reports that both he, gameshow presenter Vernon Kay, and The One Show house Alex Jones are vying for the position. However, the stories have been refuted by new BBC1 Controller Danny Cohen, who said that Bruce would carry on for as long as he wanted to. [Sun, Western Mail, Mirror]

Karen Gillan has been voted the 77th in men's heath and fitness guru site Ask Men's Top 99 Women for 2011.

Fifth Doctor Peter Davison reminisces about a visit with his family to New Zealand, which tied in with the islands' Armageddon convention last Autumn. During their trip, they visited Wellington, the Weta workshops, Napier, Lake Taupo, Tepau and the Coromandel peninsula; speaking on Lake Taupo: "You can take a fishing boat out on the placid waters, see hot steam coming out of the ground at The Craters of the Moon – reminiscent of an early Doctor Who landscape – and watch the majestic Huka Falls." [Daily Mail]

Catherine Tate has expressed an interest in taking up directing; speaking at a platform event at the National Theatre in London, the actress said: "I directed for the first time at Christmas, a short film for TV. I would like to do more. I have got a project but I don't know what's happening with that." [Express]

Alex Kingston discussed her feelings towards her Doctor Who character River Song in the Readers Digest: "I'm not allowed to breathe a word about the new storylines... otherwise, they take away my sonic screwdriver. When I was first offered the part, I had no idea how successful the new Doctor Who was because I was in the US. But as soon as I read the script, I fell in love with River. She provides a very complex link to the Doctor's life and ever since I saw Alien, a little bit of me has wanted to run around a spaceship shooting intergalactic monsters." [Press Association]

Mark Strickson has been based in Qatar for the last couple of years, and recently talked about his filming projects at the Qatar Natural History Group, during which he regaled its members with tales of his adventures over the years, including his time in Doctor Who. [Gulf Times]

Welsh Opera singer and recent Doctor Who guest star Katherine Jenkins announced that she and long time partner Gethin Jones would be getting married. (Jones has also featured in Doctor Who under monster costumes during his tenure as a Blue Peter presenter). [BBC News]

Third Doctor Jon Pertwee's son Sean explains why he never expected to follow in his father's footsteps when David Tennant was announced as leaving: "No, I never said I wanted the part, but there is a financial tale behind how the rumour started. For a laugh I tried putting a £50 bet on me to play the next Doctor because I thought I was in with a chance, but all the boys I knew in Islington decided I must have some inside info so they piled in behind me. When the betting shop staff asked who I was, the boys told them my father had played Doctor Who so they called head office about it and then declared all bets off. The next thing I knew I was in the news as running for the part, but I think it stemmed from trying to put £50 on myself. I'd love to have a guest part, but when it comes to the main role my father was too big an act to follow." [Telegraph]

Former First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan, pays tribute to outgoing BBC Wales Controller Menna Richards, during which he also reflected on how he almost ended up in Doctor Who back when the series first started filming in 2004: "I'm still kicking myself though. If you knew how my grandchildren rate having a First Minister in the family tree compared to playing a tree on Doctor Who in relative street cred in the playground, you'd understand why, too!" [Western Mail]

BAFTA winner and Oscar nominee Colin Firth was interviewed on Twitter by Vue Cinemas, during which he was asked about Doctor Who: "I'd never rule out a part in Doctor Who or Torchwood – especially Doctor Who. I'd also love to play a villain like Moriaty in Sherlock Holmes."

Finally, speaking of the Oscars, Tariq Anwar is also nominated for an Editing award for The King's Speech; the film editor worked back on Fourth Doctor stories The Face of Evil, The Sun Makers and Shada during the 1970s.

New interview with Experience curator, Andrew Beech

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 01:18 AM PST

The Telegraph have today posted their review of the Doctor Who Experience, as well as a new video interview with its curator, Andrew Beech. Beech explains that they "wanted to take the whole exhibition idea to a completely new level" to allow fans to "get as close to possible" to the costumes, props and monsters from the series. You can [...]

Doctor Who attraction opens in London - Attractions Management

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 01:05 AM PST


Doctor Who attraction opens in London
Attractions Management
The 'show', which has been devised with input from Doctor Who executive producer and show runner Steven Moffat, will feature spectacular special effects and exclusively filmed footage. Visitors will be put at the heart of the action helping the Doctor ...

Matt Smith - Matt Smith Says Doctor Who Is The 'greatest' Role - Contactmusic.com

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 12:19 AM PST


Contactmusic.com

Matt Smith - Matt Smith Says Doctor Who Is The 'greatest' Role
Contactmusic.com
Matt came face-to-face with a host of enemies from the BBC show's entire 48-year history, including several different generations of Daleks, a Zygon - who battled the Fourth Doctor Tom Baker in 1975 - an Ice Warrior - who clashed with Second Doctor ...

and more »

Pre-order the A Christmas Carol soundtrack on iTunes!

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 11:49 PM PST

The official soundtrack to last year's Christmas special, A Christmas Carol, can now be pre-ordered for £7.99 on iTunes in the UK and Europe! The soundtrack will be released a month today, on 21st March, and contains 29 tracks featured in the Eleventh Doctor's first festive adventure, including the full version of Abigail's Song, peformed by the episode's [...]

Rhodri Morgan as a Tree

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 11:36 PM PST

Former Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan is a big name in politics, but apparently not big enough to be recognized by a member of the Doctor Who make-up team!

Here's an excellent anecdote directly from the keyboard of Morgan himself about one night when he was mistaken for a Who cast member, which presumably took place during production of The End of the World, via WalesOnline:

I had just become First Minister when the remake of Doctor Who was getting going. I arrived at BBC Llandaff one evening for an interview. The "meeter and greeter" was very new. She escorted me to make-up. I patiently waited for the make-up lady (and they always were ladies). To my amazement, in walked a man with a suitcase, not a compact case.

When I checked my watch and asked "How long is this going to take?" he told me not to worry: "Only about two hours". "Impossible!" I said, "I'm on in five minutes!"

When the confusion was resolved, it turned out he had come down on the train from the Big Smoke to make up an unspecified actor on Doctor Who into a tree. He had taken one look at my bushy hair style and concluded I was obviously the right man. Sadly I didn't play my cards right and I didn't have my Equity union card (politicians sub-section) on me. So I missed my big chance of stardom.

It won't happen to Carwyn, because all those specialist make-up artists now live in Wales.

That story becomes doubly amusing when you consider, as Morgan points out in his article, that Upper Boat Studios is located in Treforest, whose name, er… reminds one of trees.  Okay, maybe that's not so amusing.  I tried.

Read the full piece, which mostly serves as a tribute to Menna Richards' success at bringing BBC productions to Wales, at WalesOnline.

Davison Downunder

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 11:23 PM PST

In a recent article for the Daily Mail newspaper, Classic Series Doctor; Peter Davison discusses his recent trip to Australia and New Zealand.

On the thought of travelling with children, Davison had the following to say:

"My wife Elizabeth and I thought it sounded a great idea but we had two major reservations. It wasn't the fans, the signings or hanging out with the likes of Hercules and Flash Gordon at sci-fi events that bothered us; it was the thought of dragging our two boisterous boys, Louis and Joel, both aged under ten, halfway across the world. The prospect of a nightmare 21-hour flight was not enticing. But we decided to bite the bullet and booked New Zealand, with a stopover in Sydney."

On the New Zealand leg of his trip, Davison got to meet the Weta team, who, it became clear, were big Doctor Who fans:

"Mix in a dash of geekdom (one of the Weta guys disappeared suddenly, only to return from his house around the corner with an obscure episode of Doctor Who circa 1982 that he just happened to have on his bookshelf) and their success in the film industry begins to make sense."

+ Read the article in full on the Daily Mail website.

[Source: The Daily Mail]

Matt Smith drops Series 6 Hints - Doctor Who TV (blog)

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 11:20 PM PST


Matt Smith drops Series 6 Hints
Doctor Who TV (blog)
Smith On the Silence: "I think The Silence is the scariest Doctor Who monster in a long time, well since the Weeping Angels. Steven's [Moffat] written a killer monster." Smith on the cliffhanger: "The Doctor and Amy are really faced with some quite ...

Matt describes the Doctor as “greatest television part”

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 10:57 PM PST

Matt Smith described the Doctor as the "greatest television part" at the launch of the Doctor Who Experience yesterday. "In my mind, it's the greatest television part in this country, and one that I relish and enjoy," the actor told BANG Showbiz. "I feel lucky to have such a wonderful writer behind me, who makes it unpredictable [...]

Matt teases US two-parter, discusses his future in role

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 10:42 PM PST

Matt Smith spoke to DigitalSpy at the launch of the Doctor Who Experience yesterday, and during the interview he teased the Series 6 opening two-parter! He also discussed his future as the Eleventh Doctor, revealing what he hopes to achieve in his next series. "I just want to keep pushing boundaries and try to make it inventive," [...]

More Doctor Who Busts!

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 10:32 PM PST

Doctor Who Third Doctor Weeping Angel Maxi BustYet more collectibles are on the way from the good people at Forbidden Planet in the shape of a "Maxi Bust"!

Available for pre order now, these stunning and wonderfully detailed busts by Titan Merchandise encapsulate two excellent pieces from the Doctor Who universe. First up is the Third Doctor, sporting his recognisable outfit from his first three years on the show. The second bust is of a terrifying Weeping Angel, poised and ready to displace someone out of time and feed on their remaining energy, although this may be a little creepy for some to have on their mantelpiece, it's eyes seem to follow you around the room…

Each bust stands at a healthy 8 inches and will ship after 28th August 2011. Forbidden Planet have gone the extra mile for their loyal customers and have taken ten pound off the RRP, meaning that you can pre order one (or both) of these fine pieces of sculpturing for only £49.99!

So, work out which Doctor Who fan friend has a birthday or anniversary coming up soon (just want treat yourself to something spectacular…) and head over to www.forbiddenplanet.com now to secure your collectible!

London Fashion Week 2011: Dr Who star Matt Smith arrives at Pam Hogg with ... - Daily Mail

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 10:06 PM PST


Daily Mail

London Fashion Week 2011: Dr Who star Matt Smith arrives at Pam Hogg with ...
Daily Mail
The Doctor Who's co-star Karen Gillan gets to spend the working day with him, while girlfriend Daisy Lowe makes do with his off-time. But last night, Matt managed to juggle both ladies, when Karen accompanied him to watch model Daisy walk in the Pam ...

BroaDWcast launched

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 09:06 PM PST


BroaDWcast is a new online resource that traces and catalogues the broadcasting of 20th Century Doctor Who throughout the world.

It is the brainchild of prominent New Zealand fan Jon Preddle, and is the culmination of many years work travelling and collating information from broadcasters etc. to create a site providing comprehensive coverage of 20th Century Doctor Who, with airdates and screening schedules from 1964 onwards for more than 70 fully-profiled countries.

Have you ever wanted to explore exciting foreign worlds? Worlds where El Doctor Misterio battles with the Dalekios; where Hombres Metalicos seek venganza; where the Sechst Doktor encounters Zweimel Einstein and Kybermanner; where Le Docteur Who is trapped by L'Araignee whilst seeking Les Yeux de Maurinius?

And have you have ever wondered:
  • when The Tomb of the Cybermen screened in Hong Kong?
  • why Carin C. Tietze is ace?
  • what is a Senorita Sistema Solar?
  • which city in America was the first ever to screen Doctor Who?
  • what is a Witchmaster from Gallifrey?
  • how many countries screened The Claws of Axos?
  • where Rhodesia sent its film prints?
  • who Gonzalo Uriarte provided the voicefor?
  • what was on television at 5.01pm on 14 March 1987 in the Seychelles?
The answers to those questions - and much, much more - can befound at BROADWCAST - the ultimate online index, directory and history of foreign broadcasts of DOCTOR WHO.
The site was launched at the weekend's GallifreyOne convention in Los Angeles, with layout design by Preddle, John Lavalie and Steven Warren Hill.


It is still a work in progress - currently estimated to be around 75% complete - and the site has a plea for further assistance and information in order to create the most complete record of Doctor Who's broadcast possible:
As with any research of this nature, there are gaps in the information - and perhaps even errors. If you can assist us in any way by filling in any of the gaps, or if you've got additional information, such as foreign newspaper articles, clippings, copies of TV listings, or sales literature that we can use, or if you spot something that is wrong or you plain just disagree with, please drop us a line


Jon Preddle is not shy of long-term projects, he is also the author of Timelink: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to the Continuity of Doctor Who, a two volume book exploring the complex continuity of the show, which has taken the author some fifteen years to compile! The books are due to be published by Telos Publishing at the end of February.

West Country Dalek Invasion - 106 JACK fm

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 09:04 PM PST


West Country Dalek Invasion
106 JACK fm
It's one of a number of Dr. Who exhibits on show in Weston later this summer. One of the infamous enemy's of Dr. Who has been spotted at the town's Helicopter Museum. It will be joined by several more characters from the show in July for a major ...

Matt Smith drops Series 6 Hints

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 06:01 PM PST

Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley caught up with Matt Smith for a chat at the launch of the Doctor Who Experience yesterday. Smith dropped a few hints on Series 6.

Smith On the Silence: "I think The Silence is the scariest Doctor Who monster in a long time, well since the Weeping Angels. Steven's [Moffat] written a kill Read more ...


Doctor Who Online on SecondLife

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 06:00 PM PST

Those of you wishing to escape the trappings of the real world for a few hours, can take solace in what is arguably one of the finest online sims for Doctor Who. The 'Katrina' region of SecondLife, is a land dedicated to Doctor Who, with painstaking attention to detail from a team of designers who, quite frankly, are geniuses.

But what is this SecondLife? Isn't it that online virtual world that you sometimes hear about in the news? Well…yes…it is, but the Katrina sim is a little different, in that it has everything a Doctor Who fan could want, housed in a friendly, inviting, and thoroughly entertaining area. It's a place where everything you ever wanted to do in the Doctor Who universe, can actually happen and become reality, albeit, virtually.

The sim is an incredibly loyal reconstruction of the Cardiff bay area, complete with Roald Dahl Plass; Millennium Centre et al (pictured). The best part is that within this familiar setting are attractions that will be of interest to all Doctor Who fans; including a Doctor Who Museum / Exhibition (pictured), a cinema (streaming Doctor Who related YouTube videos), as well as the ability to walk through and operate a wide variety of TARDIS' from the show. You can even dress up as your favourite characters from the show, and take part in battles as your favourite Monster / Villain.

Doctor Who Online has its very own base in Katrina next to the museum (pictured), where you can find out about the site as well as listen to our latest podcast episodes, purchase SecondLife Doctor Who inspired T-Shirts for your Avatars, compare prices for the latest Doctor Who merchandise, and much more.

There are plenty of themed events to take part in too - some of which DWO will be organising in the near future. Our friends over at fellow Doctor Who podcast, Podshock, have a SecondLife meet-up on 27th February in the Katrina sim between 1pm-6pm PST.

One other particular feature of the sim that is worth a special mention, is the Hands of Omega Time Travelling Capsule range. The Hands of Omega team have worked hard to produce fully operational TARDIS' that users of SecondLife can buy and fly around the sim. Just hop aboard your Police Box, set the controls to a location in SecondLife, and within seconds you will be transported through time and space.

One cannot help being reduced to a child as you spend hours playing with the numerous controls and landing in reproduced locations from the TV series. The sheer hard work and effort that the team have put into the range is admirable to say the least. Worthy of a special mention is their 11th Doctor TTC (pictured).

So if you find yourself with a bit of time to spare this week, we strongly encourage you to check out the Katrina Doctor Who sim in SecondLife. It's totally free to use, and the SecondLife software can be downloaded from http://www.secondlife.com/. Don't forget to stop by the DWO SL Base!

** The Doctor Who Katrina sim and Hands of Omega are both non-profit and no copyright infringement is intended.

+ Download the SecondLife software.

+ Watch a SecondLife orientation video by Victor1st Mornington.

+ SLURL for the Katrina region of SecondLife.

+ SLURL for the DWO SL Base in SecondLife.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

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