Doctor Who Magazine 427

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine looks in detail at next weeks story in The Sarah Jane Adventures which not only features Matt Smith as The Doctor, but also sees the return of Katy Manning to the role of Jo Jones (nee Grant) some 36 years since she left the series.

Death of the Doctor is written by Russell T Davies who talks to the magazine about the story, along with Katy Manning, Elisabeth Sladen and Matt Smith, who says on working with his two co-stars.

It’s incredible. You realise what a wonderful legacy you are part of, and how much it affects people. Just the very notion of the Doctor and the companion. It makes me feel quite warm that I get to work with two companions who have worked with two really great Doctors.

Also this issue:

The Fourth Doctor himself, Tom Baker is out to lunch with costume designer June Hudson in the streets of Soho, London. DWM tags along and discovers a wealth of stories about Seagulls, Ice Queens and crumbly pastries, not to mention Baker’s return as the Doctor in Demon Quest.
They’re everyone’s favourite race of militaristic clones. Yes, the secrets of those squat, troll-like monstrosities, The Sontarans, are finally revealed, as The Watcher's Guide presents the definitive low-down on one of the Doctor’s most enduring foes.
DWM meets Fin Jones, who plays Santiago in Death of the Doctor, to talk monsters, Matt Smith, and the possibility of his character’s return to the series.
What have rain gods, Daleks and Karen Gillan’s legs got in common? Find out, as Neil Gaiman writes exclusively in DWM about his much-anticipated Doctor Who episode in Production Notes.
It’s the show of the century. DWM goes behind the scenes of the brand new touring production, Doctor Who Live, and talks to stars Matt Smith, Nigel Planer and Nicholas Briggs, and writer Gareth Roberts about the new stage show.
Things look grim for the Doctor and Amy as the Axons invade Tokyo. It’s action all the way as the new comic strip, The Golden Ones by Jonathan Morris and Martin Geraghty continues.
The Fact of Fiction journeys back to 1983 and 1977, to look at the time-bending, Bliovitch-limiting, UNIT-dating-controversy-causing Fifth Doctor adventure Mawdryn Undead and reveals all you need to know to make sense of the temporal paradoxes presented.

Also Doctor Who’s executive producer and head writer Steven Moffat tells DWM all the latest official news; the latest DVDs and CDs are previewed; merchandise reviews; prize-winning competitions; and much more.

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Tom Baker - DWM - Sarah Jane

Writers' Guild award nomination

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

As with last year, Doctor Who is nominated for an award from The Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Series five writers included within the nomination for Best Television Drama Series are Steven Moffat, Toby Whithouse, Simon Nye, Mark Gatiss and Chris Chibnall.

Once again, the show is up against last year's winner in this category, Whithouse's successful 'horror' series Being Human; and for this year the other show in the running is another sci-fi/fantasy series, Ashes to Ashes.

The awards ceremony takes place on Sunday 21 November 2010.

The guild is a trade union for professional writers and the awards are deemed to be special because the work of writers is honoured by their peers and colleagues.

FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Series 5/31

Nintendo Games Update

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The release date for the two Nintendo Games Evacuation Earth and Return to Earth seems to have finally settled down for 12th November, according to online retailers.

Games publisher Asylum's associate producer Glen Parry talked to the Official Nintendo Magazine about the differences between the Wii and DS versions:

The Wii game is a third-person action adventure which includes stealth, distraction devices and the ability to fire sonic blasts at appropriate targets, so definitely more action based. It is set in a dangerous starship that the Doctor and Amy have to traverse through solving puzzles within the environment.

The DS game is a puzzle adventure game in which the Doctor and Amy are investigating the last spaceship to leave Earth during a solar flare storm. Both games contain a strong Doctor Who story which unfolds throughout, penned by Doctor Who author Oli Smith.

The age group the games are aimed at are for 7-11 year olds. Both games will feature characters well known to the Doctor Who universe, notably the Daleks and Cybermen, but also a new adversary for the Doctor to face.

Parry went on to explain why this platform was chosen over others such as the Sony PS3 or Microsoft XBox360:

The Nintendo Wii and DS are perfect due to the control options and the Wii Remote was just crying out to be used as a Sonic Screwdriver! Nintendo also connect to a wider audience and Doctor Who is loved by young children and adults alike, which makes Nintendo platforms perfect for the Doctor Who games.

Read the full interview with Glen Parry here.

The magazine also features a number of screenshots from Return to Earth:

More details on the games may be found in our previous article.

FILTER: - Games

Filming roundup 19th October

Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Today saw filming resume in Cardiff Bay, this time at the American-themed restaurant Eddie's Diner on Mermaid Quay. This time the three principal actors were all in attendance, plus guest star Alex Kingston.

FILTER: - Series 6/32 - Filming Reports

Christmas Special Fast-tracked to Australia

Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus

Australian sources are reporting that the 2010 Doctor Who Christmas Special will be fast tracked to ABC Television where it will be shown on Boxing Day.

In previous years the Christmas Specials have taken a couple of months to travel down under with The End of Time being shown in the middle of February.

The programme, which co-stars Michael Gambon and Katherine Jenkins, will almost certainly be shown in the UK on Christmas Day, although schedules will not be confirmed until the end of next month. A fast track to the USA and Canada is also likely.

FILTER: - Specials - Broadcasting - Australia

Filming roundup 18th October

Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

After a quiet start to the episode one/two recording block last week, the cast and crew were finally seen in public once more tonight, with filming taking place at an unfinished building on West Bute Street, at Cardiff Bay. The evening saw scenes taking place with guest stars Alex Kingston and Mark Sheppard.

They'd been setting up all day on the corner of West Bute Street in what looked like the shell of a new block of flats. Greeenscreen in front.

The scene they filmed was reminiscent of the pre-titles to "The Time of Angels"; River Song being cornered by blokes in suits, with guns pointed at her, before managing to escape.

Mark Sheppard: "Stop! Don't move!"
River: "There are loads of them, They're everywhere"
Mark Sheppard: "America is being invaded!"
River: "America was invaded a long time ago, America is occupied"
[River moves back a little more]
Mark Sheppard: "Don't move! There's no way out!"
River: [something that sounded like] "Oh really?"

She then falls off the edge! The stunt woman took over at this point, and surprisingly they only did it once, after which the cast, crew and Alex gave a big applause to the stunt lady.

Tonight's filming was preceeded by two additional filming shoots, once on St. Mary's Street in Cardiff centre at Le Monde, and the other at old filming haunt the Glamorgan Building at Cardiff University.

Filming at Le Monde appeared to feature people in 1960s American fashion, as seen in these photos:

Filming at the Glamorgan Building involved a corridor with a red carpet, with more extras wearing sixties clothes and carrying American flags.

FILTER: - Series 6/32 - Production - Filming Reports

Casting Update: Mark Sheppard

Saturday, 16 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The US convention ValleyCon 36 have reported that the actor Mark Sheppard has had to pull out of their event this weekend due to new work commitments on Doctor Who. Their press release states:

We had just booked Mark’s airline tickets a week ago when less than 12 hours later he got the dream job of any kid who grew up in England-and many kids here too. He landed a huge role in the new Dr. Who but they needed him there the next day. There was no way we were going to stand in the way of that and so Mark took the job but with his deepest apologies. We will try to work out an appearance with him in the future and wish him great luck with Dr. Who!

As the release states his start last week, this suggests that he will feature in the series opening two-parter, which began shooting this week under the helm of director Toby Haynes.

Sheppard has appeared in a number of high profile science-fiction shows of late, including Supernatural as Crowley, Battlestar Galactica as Romo Lampkin, and Warehouse 13 as Benedict Valda.

FILTER: - Production

News Roundup

Saturday, 16 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus

David Tennant's return to BBC One last Sunday was watched by 5.1 million viewers according to unofficial overnight figures. The drama Single Father has received rave reviews and scored an Appreciation Index figure of 87. It continues on Sunday.

The new BBC One controller has been named as Danny Cohen. Cohen has been in charge of BBC Three since May 2007 after previously working for Channel 4 and E4. As Controller he is responsible for the commissioning and scheduling of Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Live continues its tour around the UK. Currently at the Glasgow SECC it moves to Birmingham on Monday.

British musician Mitch Benn, best known for his humorous songs performed on BBC Radio has released a song praising the output of the BBC, in which Doctor Who gets no less than three mentions. The song will be released for download from iTunes, Amazon and other reputable sites on November 1st.

FILTER: - David Tennant - BBC

Tennant goes Classic

Friday, 15 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Former Doctor David Tennant has returned to Doctor Who - at least in documentary form! In his first series-related work since leaving the show, the actor filmed material in June for a feature to appear on the forthcoming Revisitations II boxed set, due out next year.

FILTER: - David Tennant - Classic Series

Frazer Hines on Tour

Thursday, 14 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus

Actor Frazer Hines brings his touring one man show to the UK this Autumn.

Hines, who played Jamie alongside second Doctor Patrick Troughton has previously performed his show on cruise ships travelling everywhere from the Mediterranean to Norway. He now gives fans in the UK a chance to hear of his earliest performances with Charlie Chaplin, Michael Caine, Omar Sharif and Michael York and listen to his entertaining and heartwarming stories of the highs and lows of his long running career.

Five dates have been scheduled for 2010, however it is hoped to extend the tour through 2011.

30th October 2010 - Isle of Man - Erin Arts Centre - Facebook

4th November 2010 - Derby - The Quad - Facebook

7th November 2010 - Prestatyn - Scala Cinema Arts Centre - Facebook

13th November 2010 - Yeovil - The Swan Theatre - Facebook
Preceded by a Signing at Waterstones

14th November 2010 - Truro - Signing at Waterstones 1pm-3pm.

21st November 2010 - Manchester - The Lass O'Gowrie - Facebook

Frazer Hines will also be appearing as Wishee Washee in Aladdin at The Lighthouse Theatre in Kettering Conference Centre from Friday 10 December - Sunday 26 December 2010.

When Aladdin arrives at The Lighthouse Theatre in Kettering this pantomime season, expect a fantastic musical Show full of festive family fun in colossal quantities – with bucket loads of boos and hisses, huge doses of heckling ‘he’s behind you’, panto dames, and maybe even a wish or two from the Genie of the Lamp.

Opening on Friday 10th December and continuing until Sunday 26th December, more than 25 festive performances are in store for audience members at The Lighthouse this year.

Expect to see a flying magic carpet, marvel at a host of magic tricks, watch out for Abanazar (played by DAVID VAN DAY – the man we all love to hate!) and Widow Twankey’s shenanigans. Join Aladdin on his journey from rags-to-riches – defeating the evil Abanazer and winning the heart of the beautiful princess along the way.

With a live band and a host of other familiar faces, this year’s pantomime cast promises good old fashioned family entertainment fit for all ages, a trip to The Lighthouse shouldn’t be missed.

FILTER: - People

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