People Roundup

Thursday, 5 January 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Several prominent guests attended the wedding party of David Tennant and Georgia Moffett which took place on New Year's Eve at the New Globe Theatre in London, including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife, actors Patrick Stewart and David Morrissey, DJ Christian O'Connell, and QI host Stephen Fry. [Daily Mail, 2 Jan 2012]

Noel Clarke has been cast in Star Trek 2, the sequel to the 2009 Paramount film. Variety report that the actor, who played Micky Smith in Doctor Who, will play a family man with a wife and young daughter in the film which is due for release in May 2013. He will join a small group of actors who have worked on both the Doctor Who and Star Trek franchise.

John and Carole Barrowman's children's book Hollow Earth is due to be released in February. The fantasy adventure takes place in their native Scotland and is inspired by memories of their formulative years; says John: "The island where most of the novel takes place is a real place off the coast of Largs - but we changed the geography and name." [Herald Scotland, 3 Jan 2012]

The actor was also pleased to discover that his show Tonight's The Night has helped facilitate research into Parkinsons Disease; sufferer Bryn Williams was introduced to one of the world's leading experts in the field, Professor Steven Gill - Barrowman's father-in-law - through the show, and together they have now raised over £400,000 in the search for a cure. Barrowman said: "The fact this has grown from a TV show to this major medical fund-raising drive is just incredible. If a cure came from a small chance meeting on a TV show that really would be an incredible legacy for us all." [Scottish Sun, 3 Jan 2012]

Colin Baker, who won this Christmas's Celebrity Come Dine With Me, said of his role in the specials: "It was the scariest, most exhausting but rewarding and challenging thing I have ever done on television. It was a lot of fun and the other diners were great!" [Derbyshire Times, 24 Dec 2011]

The career of Charles Dickens is compared to that of Russell T Davies: Had he been around today, it seems unlikely that Dickens would have been wasting his time on the moribund medium that is the novel; instead, he would have gone where the money is. Perhaps he would have ended up in Hollywood. Perhaps he would have been a Russell T Davies figure, almost singlehandedly reviving the British television drama industry with his endlessly inventive storylines. [Telegraph, 29 Dec 2011]

New Year Honours

In the 2012 New Year Honours, the cinematographer Remi Adefarasin, who was the film cameraman on Terminus and The King's Demons, became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to television and film. In addition, the actor David Harewood (Joshua Naismith in The End of Time and the voice of President Vallan in Big Finish's Eighth Doctor audio drama Army of Death) was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to drama, radio presenter David Rodigan, who played Broken Tooth in The Mysterious Planet (the first four episodes of the Trial of a Time Lord season), was made an MBE for services to broadcasting, while entertainer Ronnie Corbett, who portrayed Ambassador "Rani" Ranius in the 2009 Sarah Jane Adventures special for Comic Relief, became a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to entertainment and to charity.

(compiled by John Bowman)


Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

The latest latest online update to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography contains articles on several Doctor Who alumni.

The online dictionary is updated three times a year and the January release always concentrates on the lives of people distinguished or notorious in many aspects British life or with British connections who died four years before publication - in this case, 2008.

Tristram Cary, who composed incidental music for 'The Daleks' and several other stories up until 'The Mutants' is included. His entry is written by another electronic music composer who contributed to Doctor Who, Roger Limb. Other new subjects include Bill Cotton, who was managing director of BBC Television at the time of the eighteen-month suspension of Doctor Who in 1985, with an article written by Michael Grade. Bryan Cowgill, controller of BBC1 in the 1970s is also included. Also included are Elizabeth Spriggs, who was the first performer cast as Chessene in 'The Two Doctors' before finally appearing in Doctor Who in 'Paradise Towers'.

Full access to the new lives is only available to subscribers, including most public libraries in the UK, several in the Republic of Ireland, and academic institutions; but most public libraries with subscriptions now allow library members to use their library cards to access their online resources remotely, including the Oxford DNB; and a selection of the new articles will be available for free on the Oxford DNB website later today.
(Thanks to Matthew Kilburn)





FILTER: - People - Russell T Davies - Online - David Tennant - Colin Baker

Wrap Party Videos

Tuesday, 1 November 2011 - Reported by Marcus
Two videos have recently surfaced on YouTube marking the end of Tenth Doctor's era on Doctor Who.

The videos were made by members of the production team and played at the wrap party as production of The End of Time came to an end. The first features David Tennant and members of the cast and crew performing to the Proclaimers hit I'm Gonna Be. Tennant is known to be a big fan of the group.

The second is a tribute to executive producers Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner, both of who left with Tennant at the end of production on The End of Time. It features David Tennant, Catherine Tate and John Barrowman performing a homage to their bosses based on the Victoria Wood song Let's Do it.


Cast and Crew Special, via YouTube



The Ballad of Russell and Julie, via YouTube




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Catherine Tate - David Tennant

Doctor Who Magazine 437

Thursday, 28 July 2011 - Reported by Marcus
The new Doctor Who Magazine takes a look at Torchwood: Miracle Day with behind the scenes to talk to the cast and crew of this extraordinary adventure, including stars John Barrowman (Captain Jack), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), Mekhi Phifer (Rex Matheson), Alexa Havins (Esther Drummond), Kai Owen (Rhys Williams), Lauren Ambrose (Jilly Kitzinger) and head writer and creator Russell T Davies.

DWM asked John Barrowman, could Jack ever return to Doctor Who?
Yes, I want to come back! The beautiful thing about Doctor Who is, it’s time travel. Matt’s Doctor could go back before Jack met his Doctor. Or Matt’s Doctor could meet a darker Jack...? That’s fine too. There are ways to do it. When he’s in Doctor Who, Jack is very different to the Jack that’s in Torchwood. Everybody knows my love of Doctor Who, and I would do it at the drop of a hat.

Also in this issue:
  • Called to Action - Five remarkable individuals joined the Doctor in his fight against Amy’s kidnappers in A Good Man Goes To War – but could they return to help him again? Find out as DWM talks to the actors who played them: Simon Fisher-Becker (the ‘fat, old, and blue’ Dorium Maldovar), Neve McIntosh (Silurian warrior Madame Vastra), Catrin Stewart (Victorian maid Jenny), Dan Starkey (lactating Sontaran Strax) and Christina Chong (forest-dwelling soldier Lorna Bucket).
  • Storytellers - Doctor Who’s showrunner Steven Moffat presents an exclusive guide to the writers of the new series. Find out who’s a wimp, who’s a polymath and who’ll break you heart (twice) in Production Notes...
  • Masterpieces - It was the season that gave us Axons, Dæmons and Autons... and which introduced the Doctor’s arch-enemy, the Master! DWM takes a nostalgic look back at the adventures of the Third Doctor, Jo and the Brigadier in 1971’s Series Eight, as Countdown to 50! continues.
  • Time for a Shock - As Amy and the Doctor struggle against the ravages of time, they’re shocked when an old enemy appears… Don’t miss the thrilling final chapter of the latest comic strip adventure, Apotheosis, written by Jonathan Morris with art by Dan McDaid!
  • Roy's Roles - DWM pays tribute to the late Roy Skelton, the versatile actor who was the voice of dozens of characters, including the Daleks and Cybermen in Doctor Who... and Zippy and George in Rainbow.
  • Nice Day for a White Wedding - Emma, Michael, Chris and Will get their hankies ready as they prepare watch the emotionally-charged, time-twisting Ninth Doctor story Father's Day. Who will blub and who will retain their composure? Find out in The Time Team
  • Happy Anniversary - To celebrate the release of the 150th audio adventure in the regular monthly range, DWM catches up with the men behind Big Finish. Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery, Nicholas Briggs and David Richardson talk candidly about the past and future of the range – including the new series featuring the Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker...
  • Spoilt for Choice - What’s best – assiduously avoiding all spoilers, or finding out as much as possible about future episodes of Doctor Who? Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon argue the pros and cons in the latest (spoiler-free!)
  • Smuggled In - The First Doctor, Ben and Polly enters a world of skullduggery, murder and deceit as they take on a band of merciless pirates – erstwhile crew of the notorious Captain Avery! Join The Fact Of Fiction as it goes back in time to reveal a treasure trove of secrets concerning the 1966 adventure The Smugglers
PLUS! All the latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, competitions and a prize-winning crossword.





FILTER: - Doctor Who - Torchwood - Russell T Davies - DWM - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Russell T Davies talks Torchwood

Wednesday, 2 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Torchwood writer/executive producer Russell T Davies has spoken to BBC Wales Today about the forthcoming series and how he sees the future.

It's brilliant to return to Torchwood - in a way for me Torchwood never went away because it always lives in my head, really. The chance to take those characters, take Eve Myles's character Gwen Cooper and obviously Captain Jack, played by John Barrowman. It's their fourth year of stories now, it's kind of like they have become modern legends, I love that. And I think people of Wales have enjoyed it, everyone's in on the story, they're kind of in on the fun of it all, it's great to keep going.

And on what he'll do afterwards:

It's interesting as to how long I can stay in the science fiction world. Personally I think I'm coming to the end of it now and I've saved the world and blown up the world too many times, and I hope I leave Torchwood in rude health, and then I'll probably move onto something else then

It's time to write something just where people talk in kitchens, at least for me. But I hope we literally leave the franchise in in a very strong position that other writers come in and take it over.
 

You can watch the full interview online.


As reported earlier in the week, actor William Thomas returns to Torchwood playing Gwen's father Geraint. Russell T Davies confirmed in his interview (above) that Gwen's mother Mary is indeed back too, with actress Sharon Morgan reprising her role.

Since her previous appearance in Something Borrowed, like Thomas she has appeared in both Belonging (Nancy) and Alys (Lisabeth)!
Another member of the cast spotted at filming over the weekend was Ian Hughes (pictured); this was confirmed by his Spotlight listing as playing a character named Ralph Finch; the actor has played roles in Holby City, Casualty, Gavin and Stacey and Robin Hood, and is also a voice-over artist and drama coach.

Two other supporting actors recently mentioned their upcoming appearances online: Martin James Fox reported on Facebook: "Look out for me, as an extra in a police uniform being for the Monday evening filming. Am excited about the prospect of 'spectacular action'"; Graham Burton revealed his rendezvous with the show via Twitter: "I'm travelling down to Cardiff on Monday - filming Torchwood early Tuesday!"

Californian actor's workshop The Actor's Key have reported that Hymnson Chan is a co-star on the show; the actor/stuntman has appeared in Greek and performed stunts in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The Internet Movie Database has also listed Brian Guest appearing in the show as Alexander Peterssen, and Denny Torich as "Prison Guard".



With the first three weeks of the shoot now completed and the fourth week well under way, information on the production team involved with the shoot has slowly emerged. Russell T Davies is, of course, the brainchild behind the series, and he is an Executive Producer alongside Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter, plus Vlad Wolynetz on the BBC Worldwide front. Producer in the US is Kelly Manners (Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and his UK counterpart is the previously reported Brian Minchin (who previously helmed The Sarah Jane Adventures); line producer in the UK is Debbi Slater (who most recently worked on the BBC's continuation of Upstairs Downstairs).

Directors currently assigned are Bharat Nalluri (Spooks, Hustle) for episode one and Bill Gierhart (Sons of Anarchy, The Shield) for episode two; Director of Photography is Nathaniel Goodman (Heroes). Production design is by Gregory Melton (The Walking Dead) in the US and Ed Thomas (the original Torchwood designer!) in the UK. Visual Effects are supervised by Eric McAvoy (True Blood, CSI).

Costumes are handled by Shanwa Trpcic (Dollhouse) in the US with Alana Stone (fashions), with the UK side handled by Lindsay Bonaccorsi with Maria Franchi (both old hand with Doctor Who). Makeup comes under the purvue of Todd McIntosh (Detroit 1-8-7, Pushing Daisies) in the US and Claire Pritchard Jones (Sherlock, Gavin and Stacey in the UK.

Other UK crew include Gareth Skelding (Location Manager), Paul Davies (Production Unit Manager), Sam Baker (Production Co-Ordinator), and James North (design), plus practical effects from Danny Hargreaves and Real SFX.

The writers of the show are currently known to be Russell T Davies (1/10), Doris Egan (2), Jane Espenson (3,5,7,8), Ryan Scott (8), and John Shiban (6). The writers for two episodes (4,9) are currently unknown.


(The Doctor Who News Page will shortly be launching a full series summary for the show)




FILTER: - Torchwood - Russell T Davies - Production - BBC

Doctor Who Stars on Canvas - Updated

Wednesday, 17 November 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Several Doctor Who stars have contributed to a new project to raise money for a charity providing special days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds throughout the United Kingdom.

Organised by The Willow Foundation and British artist, Julie-Anne Gilburt, Stars on Canvas is an exhibition of 20x20 cm canvases, each created by different stars from the worlds of sport, art, design, fashion, music and entertainment.

The charity was founded in 1999 by Bob and Megs Wilson as a lasting memorial to their daughter, Anna, who died aged 31. Anna battled cancer for five years, yet during these years she and her family and friends experienced some of their most memorable moments and quality times. The Charity's aim is to replicate the positive impact special days had on both Anna and her family for other seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds throughout the UK.

Pictures online include submissions from Freema Agyeman and Billie Piper, David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Russell T Davies.

The results will be displayed at the Catto Gallery, in Hampstead, North London from 2 to 5 December 2010.

From 26 November until 5 December 2010 each Canvas will be sold online through an eBay auction with profits going to the charity. To register your interest and receive a notification prior to the eBay auction going live, please email your name to starsoncanvas@willowfoundation.org.uk


Doctor Who Doctor Who Doctor Who Doctor Who Doctor Who




FILTER: - People - Russell T Davies - David Tennant - Charities

Ultimate Regeneration

Friday, 12 November 2010 - Reported by Marcus
A new book telling the full story of the Russell T Davies era of Doctor Who in now available for pre-order.

Ultimate Regeneration is the first book from Kasterborous.com and the first to be released in the UK by writer and Editor of the site Christian Cawley. The book tells the real-time critical story of Doctor Who between the years 2005 and 2010.

Featuring essays, articles, reviews and interviews, the full story is put into context with a running commentary on the main events in Doctor Who news and fandom. It includes 60 Doctor Who reviews from Rose to The End of Time, Part Two, and over 30 articles including character, actor and writer profiles.

Upon release, Ultimate Regeneration will have a sale price of £14.99. However a special pre-order price of £9.99 (plus p&p) is currently available, saving 33% on the cover price.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Books

SFX talks to Russell T Davies

Tuesday, 26 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Russell T Davies has been talking to SFX Magazine about the infamous line in the latest episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures which has provoked much debate on the internet.

In the episode the Doctor tells Clyde that he can have 507 different faces contradicting the 12 regeneration limit that was set in The Deadly Assassin in 1976.

Davies told the magazine
I could not resist! I was hooting. It’ll never stick, though. That 13 lives is stuck in people’s heads

The Magazine is also appealing for questions for fourth Doctor Tom Baker who will be the subject of their regular “Fannish Inquisition” pieces.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Tom Baker - Sarah Jane

Sarah Jane - Death of the Doctor Preview

Friday, 17 September 2010 - Reported by Marcus
The British Film Institute is giving fans in London a chance to see a special preview of The Sarah Jane Adventures story, Death of the Doctor. The two part story by Russell T Davies not only features a special appearance from Matt Smith as The Doctor but also sees the return of Katy Manning to the role of Jo Grant, a part she last played on television in 1973.

The showing will be followed by a special panel discussion with Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Brian Minchin (Producer), Gary Russell (Script Editor) and Edward Russell (Brand Manager). The event will be hosted by the BFI's Justin Johnson.

The special showing is on Tuesday 12th October at 8pm and takes place at the NFT1 on London's South Bank.

Tickets cost £9, concs £6.65 and are available from the BFI Website or by ringing the box office on 020 7928 3232.
Press Release

Sometimes being a Doctor Who fan doesn't seem fair. Why should children get to have CBBC, their own channel with the top rating show The Sarah Jane Adventures shown at weekday tea times. Well, as a special treat for those of you who have to work for a living, the BFI, CBBC and BBC Wales gives you the opportunity to come and bathe in the preview of a new Sarah Jane story but this time on the big screen, with a like minded audience and best of all, cast and crew in attendance. But this isn't just any SJA story. This is the story where she comes face to face with both the new Doctor (Matt Smith) and ex-companion Jo Grant (Katy Manning). It's too good to be true.

When the Doctor is declared dead, old companions Sarah Jane and Jo Grant meet for the very first time, and join forces to discover the truth. As an interstellar conspiracy gathers around UNIT HQ, Clyde finds that he holds the fate of the Time Lord in his hand – quite literally.




FILTER: - Special Events - Russell T Davies - Sarah Jane

Waters of Mars wins Hugo

Sunday, 5 September 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Waters of MsrsThe 2009 Doctor Who story The Waters of Mars has won the 2010 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form.

The story was part of the Specials series covering the gap year between Series 4 and Series 5. It was written by Russell T Davies and Phil Ford and directed by Graeme Harper. The story starred David Tennant as the tenth Doctor along with Lindsay Duncan who played Adelaide Brooke.

The award was announced at Aussiecon 4 in Melbourne earlier on Sunday. The Waters of Mars beat two other Doctor Who stories, The Next Doctor and Planet of the Dead as well as the American series Dollhouse and Flash Forward to triumph at the awards.

The Hugo Awards are given every year for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories. Hugo Awards have been presented every year since 1955

The award is the first for Russell T Davies. Doctor Who has previously won three Hugo Awards, all for stories penned by current Showrunner Steven Moffat. In 2006 The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances in 2007 The Girl in the Fireplace and in 2008 for Blink.




FILTER: - Specials - Russell T Davies - Awards/Nominations

Torchwood: The New World

Saturday, 7 August 2010 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
TorchwoodNews sources at the Television Critics Association (TCA) Press Tour are reporting that the forthcoming fourth series of Torchwood will carry the title Torchwood: The New World. A post from The Hollywood Reporter gives details of the series' new characters and quotes from Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner:
The new story will follow a CIA agent (Rex) and analyst (Ester) who tackle an alien-related global issue. Torchwood, having been destroyed and disbanded, is "like a legend now ... it's like something that's ceased to exist and is now spoken of only in whispers." Soon, Rex and Ester are on the run and are seeking out the help of Captain Jack and Gwen.

"The two teams coming together is a big part of the story -- are they friends or enemies? There's a lot of sparks and excitement."

"We definitely have a really big story to tell," added executive producer Julie Gardner. "It's absolutely rebooted to welcome in a new audience." ....

The ten episodes will be very fast paced, telling a self-contained story with the miniseries "Children of Earth" being used as a template.

Being on Starz, the show could potentially take advantage of looser standards for nudity and violence.

"I've always had loose standards and practices," Davies said. "If the story demands intimacy or savagery, we will go there absolutely ... [but] there's nothing better than a great big global thriller that stops for a sex scene -- it's probably hard to make that happen in a thriller."
The report also contains images of teaser posters which were seen at TCA; the images appear to be previously existing photos of John Barrowman and Eve Myles, with the legend "Torchwood: The New World, Coming Summer 2011."

USA Today also has details on the series' tone, and more quotes from Davies:
The team has left Wales for America, as creator Russell T. Davies has left Britain for Los Angeles. The case will tie the two remaining Torchwood members (Jack and Eve Myles's Gwen) to the CIA, and will expand into a world-wide threat. And yet, says Davies, it "will be faithful" to the BBC original.

Davies says this story, which "had been ticking away in my mind for a long while," had not been planned as a Torchwood story at all. "And suddenly I thought, there's a popular show, there's a great story, let's put them together...It felt like it definitely could move forward and become new again."

Though it will be newer and bigger, the tone won't change, says Davies. Barrowman's Jack will still be TV's only bi-sexual hero, character will still be stressed, and humor will still play a large part in the show's make-up.

"I sit there in the editing room saying 'Don't cut that joke! Cut the plot, cut the murder, cut the story, but don't cut the joke.'...It will always be a cheeky show."




FILTER: - Torchwood - Russell T Davies - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Julie Gardner