BAFTA win for Moffat

Sunday, 11 May 2008 - Reported by Anthony Weight

Steven Moffat has tonight been awarded the British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) for Best Writer, for the script of his 2007 Doctor Who episode "Blink". The Award was presented at the annual BAFTA Craft Awards ceremony, which honours those who work behind-the-scenes in the industry. Moffat won the award ahead of Jimmy McGovern (for "The Street"), Tony Marchant (for "The Mark of Cain") and Heidi Thomas (for "Cranford"). Full details can be found on the BAFTA website.

One of the highest accolades available to a British scriptwriter, it is Moffat's second BAFTA Award in recent weeks, having also won the BAFTA Cymru (Welsh BAFTAs) scriptwriting category, again for "Blink".

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Production - Awards/Nominations

Tate In West End Play

Sunday, 11 May 2008 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Posted By John Bowman

Catherine Tate will be appearing in London's West End this summer in the play Under The Blue Sky.

It is being staged at The Duke of York's Theatre, in St Martin's Lane, from Tuesday, July 15 until Saturday, September 20.

The play, by David Eldridge, consists of three love stories that are connected subtly. Tate will be appearing with Francesca Annis, Lisa Dillon, Chris O'Dowd and Dominic Rowan.

Her previous theatre credits have included Some Girls at The Gielgud Theatre, with David Schwimmer, as well as The 24 Hour Plays at The Old Vic.

FILTER: - People - Catherine Tate

Doctor Who Adventures 63

Friday, 9 May 2008 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Posted By John Bowman

Sontaran stationery is the giveaway with this week's Doctor Who Adventures.

Issue 63 looks back at last week's episode, The Poison Sky, and previews what is happening in tomorrow's adventure,The Doctor's Daughter.

Also in the magazine:

Tales from the TARDIS: The Doctor meets Donna again in Partners in Crime
Who's where? Trouble for the Doctor on The Weakest Link
Quiz: What do you remember from The Poison Sky?
Puzzle: Get the Adipose back to the Nursery Ship
Secrets: Making Vesuvius erupt
Doctor's Data: UNIT facts and statistics
Comic strip: Part one of Nightmare on the Boulevard - trouble in Hollywood for the Doctor and Donna
Who knows: What happened to the Lazarus experiment and who does the Doctor fear the most?
Part two of a three-part competition to win an Ood head worth 700 pounds

FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Tate was robbed of Comedy Award

Thursday, 8 May 2008 - Reported by Anthony Weight

An investigation by the British broadcasting industry regulator OfCom has found that Doctor Who star Catherine Tate was unfairly denied the People's Choice Award at the 2005 British Comedy Awards, screened on the ITV network. The recipient of the award was to have been decided by a telephone vote from viewers.

BBC News reports that even though Tate won the most votes in the category, the prize was given to presenting duoAnt and Dec. This was done because pop star Robbie Williams had agreed to attend the ceremony and present a prize, but would only do so if it could be for Ant and Dec. As they had not won any of the jury-decided categories, it was decided that they should win the audience award to ensure Williams's attendance.

The Times quotes a spokesman for Tate as saying that the actress was an "innocent bystander" in the matter, and had no desire to comment. Ant and Dec have said that they will return their award, which will presumably now be given to Tate.

FILTER: - People - Catherine Tate

Sontaran Stratagem - Final Ratings

Wednesday, 7 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Final figures released by BARB give episode four of Series Four, The Sontaran Stratagem, an official rating of7.06 million viewers. The programme was the 17th most watched for the week on British Television.

On multi-channel television, the Sunday BBC3 repeat was watched by 1.04 million viewers and was the 6th most watched programme on multichannel for the week. The Saturday showing of Doctor Who Confidential got 0.59 million viewers. Also listed is Fridays repeat of Planet of the Ood which got 0.64 million viewers.

Full ratings data, including data for iPlayer downloads can be found in the Doctor Who Forum.

Top 20 Programmes (w/e 27 April 2008)

1 - CORONATION STREET (MON 2029) 10.81
2 - CORONATION STREET (MON 1933) 10.22
3 - BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (SAT 2005) 9.86
4 - EASTENDERS (MON 2000) 9.66
5 - CORONATION STREET (FRI 1933) 9.41
6 - EASTENDERS (THU 1929) 9.19
7 - CORONATION STREET (FRI 2029) 9.14
8 - CORONATION STREET (WED 1931) 8.87
9 - EASTENDERS (FRI 1959) 8.79
10 - EASTENDERS (TUE 1929) 8.59
11 - UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (TUE 1928) 8.53
12 - MIDSOMER MURDERS (SUN 2002) 7.98
13 - THE APPRENTICE (WED 2100) 7.85
14 - EMMERDALE (MON 1901) 7.49
15 - EMMERDALE (FRI 1902) 7.20
16 - EMMERDALE (THU 1903) 7.15
17 - DOCTOR WHO (SAT 1819) 7.06
18 - EMMERDALE (TUE 1859) 6.77
19 - EMMERDALE (WED 1900) 6.72
20 - CASUALTY (SAT 2057) 6.56

Top Twenty Multichannel Programmes (we 27 April 2008)

1 - UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE (Wed 1900) 1.77m - Sky Sports 2
2 - LIVE FORD FOOTBALL SPECIAL-MATCH (Sat 1200) 1.39m - Sky Sports 1
3 - BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (Sun 1959) 1.19m - ITV2
4 - EASTENDERS (Tue 2202) 1.09m - BBC3
5 - EASTENDERS (Thu 2201) 1.04m - BBC3
6 - DOCTOR WHO (Sun 2002) 1.04m - BBC3
7 - HEROES (Thu 2231) 990,000 - BBC3
8 - FORD SUPER SUNDAY (Sun 1533) 968,000 - Sky Sports 1
9 - BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT AUDITIONS (Sun 2103) 921,000 - ITV2
10 - KATIE AND PETER: THE NEXT CHAPTER (Thu 2101) 876,000 - ITV2
11 - UEFA CUP (2007- 2008) (Thu 1859) 872,000 - ITV4
12 - EASTENDERS (Mon 2200) 810,000 - BBC3
13 - 60 SECONDS (Tue 2200) 807,000 - BBC3
14 - BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT AUDITIONS (Sat 2204) 760,000 - ITV2
15 - HOME AND AWAY (Wed 1829) 710,000 - Fiver
16 - HOLLYOAKS (Mon 1900) 708,000 - E4
17 - HOME AND AWAY (Mon 1829) 706,000 - Fiver
18 - HOME AND AWAY (Thu 1829) 705,000 - Fiver
19 - HOME AND AWAY (Fri 1829) 700,000 - Fiver
20 - HOME AND AWAY (Tue 1829) 694,000 - Fiver

Source: BARB

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 4/30

Sylvester McCoy stars in 'The Mikado'

Wednesday, 7 May 2008 - Reported by R Alan Siler

Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy will be playing the lead in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. The production opens at the Sheffield Theatre Lyceum following a successful run in the West End and features the Oscar-winning sets and costumes from Mike Leigh's film Topsy Turvy.

Starring alongside the Professor is Nichola McAuliffe, who will be reprising her role of Katisha from the West End run. McAuliffe previously appeared in Doctor Who as Vivien Rook in 2007's "The Sound of Drums" and was also the voice of James Bond's BMW in 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies.

Transporting you to the magnificent Japanese court of Titipu, this hilarious tale of love, marriage, executions and heroics brings to life some of Gilbert & Sullivan's most colourful and popular comic characters from Ko-Ko the Lord High Executioner, Pooh-Bah and Nanki-Poo, to the delightful three little maids.

The Mikado plays seven exclusive performances from Tuesday 27 May to Saturday 31 May, 2008. For more information, please visit http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/

FILTER: - People

Freema Agyeman cast in BBC One's Dickens

Wednesday, 7 May 2008 - Reported by R Alan Siler

BBC Drama Production today announced the key cast for Little Dorrit, Andrew Davies' major adaptation of Dickens' novel, which will be broadcast on BBC One this autumn (date to be announced). Freema Agyeman, best known to audiences as Martha Jones from Doctor Who and Torchwood, has been cast as Tattycoram, the foundling companion of the Meagles' daughter Pet.

The Dorrit family are joined by a host of colourful characters who they encounter on their way from rags to riches in Dickensian society.

When the benevolent Arthur Clennam returns from overseas he is determined to solve the mystery of his father's dying words, "Put it right Arthur. Your mother. Put it right."

The 15-part drama series began filming last week (commencing 28 April 2008) and will film throughout the summer in locations in and around London, Buckinghamshire, Kent and Herefordshire.

Adapted by acclaimed writer Andrew Davies (Sense And Sensibility, Bleak House) Little Dorrit will play out in soap opera format with 14 half-hour episodes following an initial hour-long episode.

Kate Harwood, BBC Head of Series and Serials, says: "We are very proud to be presenting this wonderful line-up of cast who will be bringing to life one of Dickens' broadest range of characters in a gripping, witty and touching script by the inimitable Andrew Davies. Part-murder mystery, part-love story, and wholly entertaining, Little Dorrit promises to be an autumn treat."

FILTER: - People

Bernard Archard 1916 - 2008

Tuesday, 6 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Classic series actor Bernard Archard has died at the age of 91.

Archard created two memorable roles in the series. In 1966 he played the role of Bragen, the security chief seeking complete control of a colony of humans on the planet Vulcan, in Patrick Troughton's first story, The Power of the Daleks.

He returned to the series in 1975 to create the classic role of Marcus Scarman in the Tom Baker story Pyramids of Mars a story highly rated by fans.

Bernard Archard had a long and distinguished career appearing in such series as No Hiding Place (1962), The Avengers (1968), The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971) and Bergerac. A detailed obituary is available in the Independent.

Thanks to Trevor Smith

FILTER: - People - Obituary

The Poison Sky - AI and Digital Ratings

Monday, 5 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Episode five of series four, The Poison Sky, achieved an Appreciation Index of 88. Not only one of the highest scores in the series history, but the joint highest score for the weekend on any of the five main channels.

With overnights now available for the whole week, Doctor Who is currently the 19th most watched programme of the week. Final figures will be released by BARB in 9 days time.

Saturday's edition of Doctor Who Confidential was watched by 0.58 million viewers, according to unofficial overnights. The programme, which had a share of 3.3%, was the 3rd most watched on multi channel television on Saturday.

Sunday's BBC3 repeat of The Poison Sky got an overnight audience of 0.63 million, a 3.1% share and was the 5th most watched programme on multi channel TV for Sunday. Doctor Who Confidential got an audience of 0.32 millionfor the repeat showing.

Meanwhile last Friday's repeat of The Sontaran Stratagem got an audience of 0.39 million and was the 11th most watched multi channel programme for the day.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 4/30

The Poison Sky - Overnight Ratings

Sunday, 4 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Unofficial figures show that episode five of Series Four, The Poison Sky, was watched by 5.9 million viewers, giving it a 32.5% share of the total television audience.

Although dipping below the 6 million mark, the programme was still the second most watched of the day, being beaten by ITV1's Britain's Got Talent, which got 8.5 million viewers. It was the highest rated programme on BBC1 for the day.

The programme is currently the 17th most watched of the week. Final figures will be released by BARB in ten days time.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 4/30

Previous 2 Stories

BAFTA win for Moffat

Tate In West End Play

Doctor Who Adventures 63

Tate was robbed of Comedy Award

Sontaran Stratagem - Final Ratings

Sylvester McCoy stars in 'The Mikado'

Freema Agyeman cast in BBC One's Dickens

Bernard Archard 1916 - 2008

The Poison Sky - AI and Digital Ratings

The Poison Sky - Overnight Ratings

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