"Bad Wolf" returns!

Thursday, 3 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
An old name has emerged associated with the production of Torchwood!

Bad Wolf Productions LLC is the company name that was registered by BBC Worldwide Americas Inc in the United States on the 16th September 2010, and has now appeared on documentation relating to filming currently taking place in Los Angeles.

The use of the name is an in-joke by the production team - it originally featured in the first series of the revived Doctor Who, also masterminded of course by Russell T Davies. It featured throughout that series and was ultimately unveiled as a message sent back through time by the Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler: "I am the Bad Wolf. I create myself. I take the words. I scatter them ... in time, and space. A message to lead myself here."
 
The company name has provided links to a couple more members of the production team:

Jill Rytie Lutz's online CV with business connnections site Linkedin indicates that she is Travel Coordinator, and joined the production in January (when filming began); prior to this she worked in a similar capacity for The Event, and has been involved in other production capacities for projects like Beneath The Blue, Deadland and We Were Soldiers

The site also cites Paris Pickard as Art Department Coordinator (from November 2010); in her entry she says: "I'm on the BBC TV show Torchwood shooting at Warner Brother's Studios.". Her previous credits include Angels and Demons, Pushing Daisies and Frost Nixon.


Finally, with action ramping up once more in the United States, some of the production team have resumed their hints of activity on set during the production via Twitter, including providing us with faces for some of the names involved!



Jane Espenson
(writer episodes 3,5,7,8)


Doris Egan
(writer episode 2)


Alana Stone: your Torchwood set costumers Joey, Eddie and I... who is gonna bail us out?





FILTER: - Torchwood - Production

Frontios in June

Thursday, 3 February 2011 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor WhoThe June Classic DVD release will be Frontios, the Fifth Doctor story first shown in 1984.

The show has been confirmed by Warner Home Video for release in North America on June 14th, with a UK release expected shortly before. The story includes a commentary with actors Peter Davison, Jeff Rawle and John Gillett, as well as script editor Eric Saward and special sounds designer Dick Mills.

Also available on June 14th will be the North American release of the first story for the Seventh Doctor, Time and the Rani. The story was released in the UK last September.

2|Entertain have confirmed via their twitter feed, that the classic Third Doctor story, The Daemons, has now been officially commissioned and is in production. It is expected sometime in 2012

For full details of the global DVD release schedule see our product page.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Competition Roundup (3 Feb 2011)

Thursday, 3 February 2011 - Reported by Marcus
Here is a list of the currently known open competitions related to Doctor Who:

Quotable Doctor Who7 FebWin one of three copies of the official 2011 Calendar from Blue Eyed Books
Doctor Who Adventures11 FebWin a prize every day!
Doctor Who News11 FebWin one of three copies of K9: Series 1 Vol 1 on DVD
Cultbox11 FebWin one of two copies of A Christmas Carol on DVD
Cultbox14 FebWin one of two copies of K9: Series 1 Vol 2 on DVD
DrWho Online28 FebWin one of three copies of The Ark on DVD
DrWho Online28 FebWin one of three copies of K9: Series 1 Vol 1 on DVD
DrWho Online28 FebWin one of three copies of The War Games on audio
Petside28 FebWin one of three copies of K9: Series 1 Vol 1.
Syfy28 FebWin one of three copies of K9: Series 1 Vol 1.
Eye of Horus7 MarWin one of ten copies of Mara Tales.
Whovian Netn/aWin one of three copies of the official 2011 Calendar when they reach 1000 Twitter Followers




FILTER: - Competitions

A Christmas Carol - Soundtrack details

Thursday, 3 February 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward
Silva Screen have released the cover art and tracklisting for the soundtrack to A Christmas Carol. The album was originally due to be released in the UK on 21 February but has now been delayed until 21 March.

1. Come Along Pond
2 .Halfway out of the Dark
3. Pray for a Miracle
4. Geoff
5. You Didn't Hit the Boy
6. Fish
7. Kazran Sardick 12 1/2
8. Ghost of Christmas Past
9. Babysitter
10. Talk About Girls
11. Sonic Fishing
12. Just a Little One
13. Big Colour
14. I Can't Save Her
15. The Other Half's Inside the Shark
16. Abigail
17. He comes every Christmas
18. Shark Ride
19. New Memories
20. Holding Hands
21. Christmas Dinner
22. Goodlucknight
23. Goodnight Abigail
24. This Planet Is Ours
25. Ghost of Christmas Present
26. The Course of my Life
27. Ghost of Christmas Future
28. Abigail's Song (Silence is all you Know), (performed by Katherine Jenkins)
29. Everything Has to End Some Time

The music is composed by now Doctor Who composer of choice Murray Gold and performed by the excellent BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Crouch End Festival Chorus. The album will be released both physically (SILCD1360) and digitally (SILED1360). The TV episode was broadcast on Christmas Day at 6pm and featured Matt Smith as The Doctor, Karen Gillan as Amy Pond and Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams. They were joined by Michael Gambon as Kazran Sardick and Katherine Jenkins as Abigail Pettigrew.





FILTER: - Music - Murray Gold - Merchandise - Doctor Who - Series 6/32

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

Mara Tales: DVD release details

Wednesday, 2 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The two tales featuring the Mara are to be released in the United Kingdom by 2|Entertain on the 7th March 2011 (see here for the North American release date). Details for the two stories in the Mara Tales boxed set, Kinda and Snakedance, are listed below.

2|Entertain released a trailer online last year to promote the set, featuring some of the new special effects that have been especially created for the two tales; this can be viewed in our earlier article about the DVD.
 
Kinda

Written by Christopher Bailey
Directed by Peter Grimwade
Broadcast: 1st-9th February 1982

 
On a beautiful, paradise planet, Deva Loka, its inhabitants, the Kinda, are a gentle and seemingly primitive people. On the surface, a perfect place to colonise. But if it is so perfect, why are the colonisation team disappearing one by one?

Unaware of this, the Doctor and his companions choose to rest on Deva Loka. Enchanted by the beautiful Chimes, "the place of dreams", Tegan sleeps and falls prey to the Mara, a malevolent force out to steal her mind. But just what are its ultimate evil intentions?

Meanwhile, the Doctor and Adric are captured by the surviving colonisation team's officers, Sanders and the unstable Hindle. When Sanders disappears, Hindle collapses into a world of paranoid delusions and suddenly the security of the entire base is at risk.

Can the Doctor rescue Tegan from the Mara and defeat it - before it pushes Hindle over the edge? And who is the mysterious blind woman who appears in visions? Will she help the Doctor or ultimately impede him...

Special Features
  • Commentary - stereo. With actors Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Matthew Waterhouse and Nerys Hughes.
  • Dream Time (dur. 34’ 05”) – cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Janet Fielding, Nerys Hughes, Simon Rouse and Adrian Mills, director Peter Grimwade, writer Christopher Bailey, script editors Christopher H. Bidmead, Eric Saward and Antony Root, designer Malcolm Thornton, new series writer Robert Shearman.
  • Peter Grimwade - Directing with Attitude (dur. 22’ 57”) – a look at the Doctor Who career of writer and director Peter Grimwade. With Peter Grimwade, actors Janet Fielding and Nerys Hughes, writer Christopher Bailey, script editor Eric Saward, production assistant Margot Hayhoe, designer Malcolm Thornton, production secretary Jane Judge, script consultant Ian Levine, and Target Books editor Nigel Robinson. Presented by Mark Strickson.
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes (dur. 14’ 36”) – a fascinating collection of deleted sequences taken from timecoded domestic videotape copies of the story’s early edits.
  • Optional CGI Effects Sequence – option to view episode four with the original giant puppet snake replaced by a CGI snake
  • CGI Effects Comparison (dur. 1’ 34”) – a side by side comparison of the original puppet and new CGI snake shots.
  • Trails & Continuity (dur. 4’ 13”) – BBC trails and continuity announcements from the story’s original transmission.
  • Photo Gallery (dur. 4’ 42”) - production, design and publicity photos from the story.
  • Isolated Music – option to watch the story with the isolated music score.

Snakedance

Written by Christopher Bailey
Directed by Fiona Cumming
Broadcast: 18th-26th January 1983

 
Surely Tegan must have made a mistake when she set the TARDIS' co-ordinates, because the Doctor certainly hadn't intended landing on Manussa? But upon learning that Manussa was once home of the Sumaran Empire, the Doctor knows that their arrival has been no accident but has been orchestrated by a hostile force - a force which is rapidly gaining control of Tegan's will.

By first infiltrating Tegan's subconscious mind, through strange and disturbing dreams dominated by the image of a huge snake's skull, this force - the Mara - is planning on as a vehicle for its return to power on the planet Manussa.

So just as Manussa prepares festivities to commemorate the destruction of the Sumaran Empire by the ruling Federation, it seems that the Legend of the Mara could be about to come true. According to this Legend, the Mara was never destroyed by the Federation but merely banished.

Furthermore, the Legend claims that the Mara will return in a dream - a precursor to its gaining control of all their minds... It is clear to the Doctor that the first steps in the Mara's return have already been taken...

Special Features
  • Commentary - stereo. With actors Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton.
  • Snake Charmer (dur. 24’ 37”) – cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, director Fiona Cumming, writer Christopher Bailey, script editor Eric Saward, designer Jan Spoczynski, and new series writer Robert Shearman.
  • Deleted Scenes (dur. 3’ 05”) – scenes from the original ending of episode four, courtesy of a timecoded recording kept by producer John Nathan-Turner.
  • In Studio (dur. 6’ 12”) – a rare glimpse inside the studio during recording of effects sequences for the story, including the infamous ‘farting Mara’!
  • Saturday Superstore (dur. 14’ 16”) – Peter Davison guests on the Saturday morning children’s show, where he plays cricket with Mike Read and John Craven and takes questions from callers.
  • Photo Gallery (dur. 5’ 21”) - production, design and publicity photos from the story.
  • Isolated Music – option to watch the story with the isolated music score.
  • Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.


(Mara Tales is available to pre-order from our Amazon Shop)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Peter Davison

Bharat Nalluri talks Torchwood

Wednesday, 2 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Torchwood returned to its origins yesterday with filming taking place at various locations in Cardiff Bay. During a quiet moment, fan Chris Williams (aka Twitter's TheTimeKill) was able to have a chat with Director Bharat Nalluri about the show.


Director Bharat Nalluri with Chris Williams
I caught up with Bharat near Sergeant Andy's police station at a converted bank in Bute Street, Cardiff. I took the chance of having a few words with him before Andy delivered his lines in front of a full-sized movie camera in the street.

I started by asking Bharat where he was from. He has a curious accent, some sentences sound pure American, or possibly Canadian, but at other times, he sounds more non-descript. I ws wrong - he's not an American, but a Brit, from Newcastle. He was born in India, lived for most of his life in the English North-East, and moved back and forth to the US to work on shows such as Buffy, and in the UK, Life on Mars, Spooks, Hustle and now Torchwood. It's clear that he is a major, top-rated director - and that Torchwood is well and truly in competent and safe hands.

We spoke about Children of Earth. I said that it was, in my opinion, it was excellent drama, but perhaps too close the the edge. I added that for my personal tastes, it was actually too dark, and wondered whether Miracle Day would be in the same style. Bharat smiled, and said that the 'edginess' came from Russell (RTD), and that would never change. There definitely some bleak or 'heavy' scenes, but that the show was balanced by some really light and very funny moments. He added that some of the humour in the show was at the expense of the American audience, who were believed to be 'naive' about Wales and Welshness... and was primarily meant for us in the UK. Should indeed be fun!

I was curious as to whether the show would be toned down for an American audience, as US TV has very strict codes of 'propriety' - with swearing, lewd behavior, etc pretty much taboo. Again, Bharat was reassuring. The network Torchwood are working with is Starz: a cable TV channel with a US-wide reputation for edginess and a 'gritty', no-holds barred approach to what can be shown. He quoted Spartacus as an example of one of their shows and said that Torchwood was RTD's baby. It would be just the same as ever, cheeky, occasionally rude, perhaps steamy - and very reflective of what we had enjoyed in Torchwood in the past. Bharat made it very clear that Russell would not tone Torchwood down - and that he was still completely in charge of the show. This really was very good to hear!

A fellow fan (@ohaiadam, a professional V-logger) put it to Bharat that being based in America, Torchwood would lose its Welshness, and become just another show. Yet again, the reply was encouraging. We were reminded that Torchwood was "entirely RTD's baby" - and that Russell was intensely proud of being Welsh, immensely fond of his country, and all it had to offer. The show would continue to be very Welsh ("Gwen will see to that!"). RTD had previously told me that Wales was such an enormous place, and that he'd never run out of stunning, beautiful locations'

Bharat emphasized that although only two weeks of filming was (initially) planned to happen in Wales, we would be amazed how 'Welsh' the show would be. A fantastic number of scenes would be shot here, and often, an external scene shot in Wales would cut to a studio scene filmed in LA. Wales would be 'much more apparent' than we were expecting, and "Russell wouldn't allow it any other way". He added that they'd be returning to Wales for more filming later.

Reassured and happy with Bharat's comments, I tried a question I knew I wouldn't get an answer to. Would any of our favorite characters die in Miracle Day? Bharat again smiled, and said he couldn't comment. Would people who loved Gwen and Rhys be happy after episode 10? Again - Bharat said his contract forbade him to speak.. I couldn't guess anything from his body language, so I guess (gladly, I suppose) we'll have to wait and see!

Bharat added that Torchwood really was going to be a cracking show - and a massive production too. He then posed for photographs and did a stack of autographs, before being dragged away by (producer) Brian Minchin, who quietly said "Can I have my director back now!"







FILTER: - Torchwood - Production

Margaret John (1926-2011)

Wednesday, 2 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Margaret JohnThe actress Margaret John has died, aged 84.

She appeared twice in Doctor Who, featuring in the 1968 Patrick Troughton story Fury from the Deep as Director of Euro Sea Gas, Megan Jones, and returning in the revived series as Grandma Connolly, victim to the Wire in The Idiot's Lantern. Speaking in a special programme dedicated to her last year (Margaret John: National Treasure ), she was quite proud of holding the title for the longest spanned appearances in Doctor Who until Bernard Cribbins came along (if you count the movies!).

John has had a varied career, with appearances on stage (The Vagina Monologues, Calendar Girls, soaps (Coronation Street, Crossroads), drama (Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, The District Nurse), film (The Baker, Run Fatboy Run), and comedy (High Hopes, Satellite City); she also played alongside Torchwood star Eve Myles and Trevor Eve in the 2009 BBC Wales drama Framed. Her last role has yet to be seen, in an episode of new American fantasy series Game of Thrones.

She was awarded the Bafta Cymru Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

However, she will be perhaps best remembered as Doris, the "unrestrained" neighbour to the Wests from the sitcom Gavin and Stacey. Co-writer and star of the programme James Corden said on Twitter: "All my thoughts are with the family of Margaret John who played Doris in G and S. A great actress and an incredible lady. She will be missed x".

Margaret John (December 1926 - February 2011)


Media coverage by: BBC Wales Arts, BBC News, Wales Online.





FILTER: - Obituary

Doctor Who: casting and filming update

Tuesday, 1 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Agency Gordon & French have listed Danny Sapani as appearing in episode seven of the next series, playing a character named Colonel Manton.

The actor appeared in The Bill as Oscar Danniels in the Witness strand, and more recently played probation officer Tony Morecombe in Misfits and Gustavus Vassa in an episode of Garrow's Law.

Gordon & French have also listed another actor for episode three, Lee Ross, playing the character "Boatswain".

Ross's Who connections include Mick Mahoney in the recent Moses Jones (featuring Matt Smith), and also as Kenny in Steven Moffat's popular Press Gang of the late 1980s. The actor also had prominent roles as DCI Litton in Ashes to Ashes, and was semi-regular character Owen between 2006 and 2009 in Eastenders.
 

As reported last week, work has commenced on episode three, directed by Jeremy Webb, and the cast and crew have descended upon the harbour of Charlestown near St. Austell, Cornwall, where they will be filming for a few days.

Production base, more vehicles yet to arrive apparently:


4 or 5 guys were in the process of putting up the black awning which was massive and shrouded almost the entire eastern harbour wall (presumably to cover up whatever normally resides behind it). Another half dozen or so guys were unloading props onto the first ship on the western side of the harbour.


4 or 5 guys were in the process of putting up the black awning which was massive and shrouded almost the entire eastern harbour wall (presumably to cover up whatever normally resides behind it). Another half dozen or so guys were unloading props onto the first ship on the western side of the harbour.




A title has now been attributed to episode seven, thanks to the Spotlight entry for guest star Simon Fisher-Becker. As with others that have emerged over the last few months, this may only be a working title for the episode (see the series summary for details).

Finally, another director for the series has been identified as Nick Hurran, at least according to details listed under Production Designer Michael Pickwoad; Hurran recently directed the remake of The Prisoner, and also directed the pilot episode for The Last Detective (starring former Doctor, Peter Davison). He joins fellow director Adam Smith in being listed but having not been seen in action thus far - episodes 8,10-13 have yet to be recorded.





FILTER: - Series 6/32 - Production