Moffat speaks to Big Issue Scotland

Saturday, 31 May 2008 - Reported by Anthony Weight

Steven Moffat has given his first full-length interview since being announced as the next lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who to the new issue of Big Issue Scotland, the weekly magazine sold by the homeless in Scotland.

In the interview, Moffat admits that he had to think hard about whether to accept the role, comparing his replacing Russell T Davies with fellow Scot Gordon Brown succeeding Tony Blair as Prime Minister.

"You wouldn’t immediately say yes to that job. You imagine that you would say yes immediately, but it’s a huge job and you have to think about it," he tells the magazine. "I was kind of the other contender, which puts me sort of in the position of Gordon Brown. And look how that turned out. The surly Scot comes in and it all goes to ******."

The full interview is available in Big Issue Scotland, on sale now across Scotland.

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - People - Production - Press

Agyeman Cast In Survivors

Saturday, 31 May 2008 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Posted By John Bowman

Freema Agyeman is to star in the BBC's remake of the Terry Nation series Survivors.

According to the BBC Press Office, filming for the action adventure drama is currently taking place in Manchester and will continue until September for an autumn 2008 transmission on BBC One.

The Doctor Who and Torchwood star is playing the role of primary school teacher Jenny Collins.

The original BBC show ran for three series from 1975 to 1977 and the remake reimagines some of the original characters. Based on the character synopsis, it seems likely that Agyeman's role is a reimagining of the character of Jenny Richards (originally played by Lucy Fleming).

Also appearing in it are Shaun Dingwall, who played Rose Tyler's father, Pete, and the parallel-universe Pete Tyler, as well as Paterson Joseph, who portrayed Rodrick in Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways.

BBC Drama Productions acquired the rights to develop the series from the Terry Nation estate last year. The writer and co-executive producer is Adrian Hodges, who wrote the screenplays for The Ruby In The Smoke and The Shadow In The North, both of which starred Billie Piper.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Agyeman had secured the role of Tattycoram in the BBC's television adaptation of Little Dorrit, by Charles Dickens, which is also to be broadcast on BBC One this autumn.

FILTER: - People

Piper Talks About Coming Back

Thursday, 29 May 2008 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Posted By Brigadier Bill

In an interview with BBC NEWS Billie Piper talks about her return to Series Four of Doctor Who. Check out the link for more info but it does contain some minor spoilers.

"I wouldn't have missed this for anything," the 25-year-old told Doctor Who Magazine.

"It means so much to me, this show, and so do the people that make it, so I really wanted to be here for these final episodes."

FILTER: - People - Production - Billie Piper - Series 4/30

Doctor Who Magazine 396

Thursday, 29 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

ROSE TYLER IS BACK

In this months Doctor Who Magazine actress Billie Piper talks about her imminent return to Doctor Who and how Rose's character has developed. "She's changed. She's hardened. She's been through a lot in her parallel world. I think she's been through emotional turmoil. She's quite sad and lonely, but also really bolshy and, that great quality that Rose has, just so headstrong and single-minded."

Billie promises another healthy quota of tear-jerking, heart-rending moments in this year's finale. Are those sorts of scenes as exhausting to perform as the technically-complex effects sequences? "It's just a different kind of intensity, but equally as intense, because you really have to focus. You're imagining things, seeing things, that aren't there. That takes a lot of concentration. But this series will make you cry. That’s a promise."

ALSO THIS ISSUE:

DWM talks to The League of Gentlemen’s Steve Pemberton about his role in the much-anticipated Doctor Who story, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead.
Previews of the forthcoming Series Four episodes – Midnight and Turn Left – featuring new and previously unpublished photos
Russell T Davies talks candidly to DWM readers about his latest trip to the BAFTA awards and meeting an acting legend in Production Notes.
Who's best? UNIT or the Sontarans? There was only one way to find out. FIGHT! DWM was there to file an exclusive report on the epic battle.
Whodunnit? And why – and how? DWM investigates the mysterious happenings at Eddison Hall with a behind-the-scenes look at The Unicorn and the Wasp, featuring excusive interviews with the cast and crew.
The Doctor and Donna encounter Zombies and Sycorax in Part Two of the latest, full colour, comic strip adventure, The Widow’s Curse.
Who are the great 'unsung heroes' of Doctor Who? Discover the surprising answers in You Are Not Alone!
Actor Joe Dempsie, star of The Doctor's Daughter, reveals all on love, war and, er, kissing a Hath.
It's the end of the series and Davros is back! Find out what happened when the Time Team watched 1985’s Revelation of the Daleks.
Which story do fans most want out on DVD? Discover the answer, and much more, as the results of the DWM merchandise poll are finally revealed.
PLUS all the latest news, exclusive photos, reviews, previews, competitions… and a double-sided poster.

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Classic Era Items Up For Auction

Thursday, 29 May 2008 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Posted By John Bowman

Two items from the 1980s era of Doctor Who are to be auctioned at the Knightsbridge branch of Bonhams next month.

A moulded and painted foam baby Tyrannosaurus rex in a jar from the 1985 Colin Baker story The Mark of the Ranicarries an estimate of 600 to 800 pounds.

The lot originally came from the collection of the late producer John Nathan-Turner.

Also going under the hammer in the entertainment memorabilia sale on June 18 is a Dalek guard costume from thePeter Davison adventure Resurrection of the Daleks.

This particular lot has 'Rula Lenska' plus a measurement inscribed in ballpoint on the neck and comes with a moulded weapon plus background paperwork, including a copy of a note by Lenska, who played Styles in the 1984 story, and a signed photo (of whom is unclear but a good guess would be Lenska).

The estimate placed on the costume is 800 to 1,200 pounds.

FILTER: - Special Events - Classic Series

Series Four in Australia

Wednesday, 28 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

ABC have revealed the start date of Series Four in Australia.

According to a reply on their message board, the series will start on ABC1 on Sunday 29th June with Voyage of the Damned. The rest of the series follow, starting on the following Sunday.

FILTER: - Series 4/30 - Australia

Unicorn and the Wasp - Final Ratings

Wednesday, 28 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Final figures released by BARB give episode Seven of Series Four, The Unicorn and the Wasp, an official rating of 8.41 million viewers.

The programme was the 7th most watched for the week on British Television and the 2nd most watched on BBC Television. It got higher ratings than three editions of EastEnders.

Helped by the later timeslot, the figure is a million higher than the previous week and nearly two million higher than The Poison Sky. The reach of the programme, which includes all repeat showings and iPlayer downloads, is back above 10 million for the first time since The Fires of Pompeii.

On multi-channel television, the Sunday BBC3 repeat was watched by 0.82 million viewers and was the 10th most watched programme on multi-channel for the week. The Saturday showing of Doctor Who Confidential got 0.69 million viewers making it the 20th most watched multi-channel programme.

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

Top Programmes w/e 18 May 2008

1 CORONATION STREET (MON 2030) - 9.78 - ITV1
2 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (SAT 2000) - 9.11 - ITV1
3 CORONATION STREET (MON 1933) - 9.07 - ITV1
4 CORONATION STREET (FRI 1934) - 9.05 - ITV1
5 CORONATION STREET (FRI 2029) - 8.99 - ITV1
6 EASTENDERS (MON 2000) - 8.76 - BBC1
7 DOCTOR WHO (SAT 1858) - 8.41 - BBC1
8 EASTENDERS (FRI 1958) - 8.06 - BBC1
9 FILM: INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (SUN 2002 - 7.53 - BBC1
10 EASTENDERS (THU 1930) - 7.17 - BBC1
11 THE APPRENTICE (WED 2100) - 7.11 - BBC1
12 EMMERDALE (FRI 1902) - 6.97 - ITV1
13 CASUALTY (SAT 2136) - 6.83 - BBC1
14 WAKING THE DEAD (MON 2101) - 6.69 - BBC1
15 I'D DO ANYTHING (SUN 1931) - 6.66 - BBC1
16 EMMERDALE (THU 1900) - 6.51 - ITV1
17 WAKING THE DEAD (TUE 2100) - 6.50 - BBC1
18 CORONATION STREET (WED 1859) - 6.44 - ITV1
19 EASTENDERS (TUE 1929) - 6.37 - BBC1
20 EMMERDALE (MON 1902) - 6.36 - ITV1

Top Multi Channel Programmes w/e 18 May 2008

1 EASTENDERS (Thu 2200) 1,378,000 - BBC3
2 HEROES (Thu 2230) 1,364,000 - BBC3
3 GLADIATORS (Sun 1800) 1,257,000 - Sky One
4 EASTENDERS (Tue 2200) 1,149,000 - BBC3
5 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (Sun 1959) 962,000 - ITV2
6 FAMILY GUY (Sun 2202) 948,000 - BBC3
7 LOST (Sun 2102) 922,000 - Sky One
8 FAMILY GUY (Sun 2223) 862,000 - BBC3
9 BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT AUDITIONS (Sat 2159) 822,000 - ITV2
10 DOCTOR WHO (Sun 2002) 821,000 - BBC3
11 HOME AND AWAY (Mon 1828) 806,000 - Fiver
12 HOME AND AWAY (Wed 1828) 801,000 - Fiver
13 LIVE FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Tue 1930) 794,000 - Sky Sports
14 EASTENDERS (Mon 2202) 792,000 - BBC3
15 HOME AND AWAY (Fri 1829) 790,000 - Fiver
16 BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT AUDITIONS (Sun 2101) 769,000 - ITV2
17 DONT FORGET THE LYRICS (Sun 1902) 760,000 - Sky One
18 HOME AND AWAY (Thu 1828) 756,000 - Fiver
19 EASTENDERS (Fri 2203) 721,000 - BBC3
20 DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL (Sat 1945) 688,000 - BBC3

Source BARB

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 4/30

Series Four in Canada

Wednesday, 28 May 2008 - Reported by Mike Doran

The Doctor Who Information Network has reported that Series Four of Doctor Who will debut on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on September 19th, 2008. The information comes from sources at the CBC.

Doctor Who will air on Friday evenings at 9pm. This was previously the time slot for Torchwood during the Autumn of 2007. The last two series of Doctor Who have aired on Monday nights at 8pm.

FILTER: - Canada - Series 4/30

Doctor Who Adventures 66

Wednesday, 28 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

The scariest scares so far

This week's Doctor Who Adventures magazine is full of monster shocks as it looks back at the most frightening moments from the series so far.

The Doctor and Donna encounter danger in the dark in the first part of Steven Moffat's chilling adventure Silence in the Library this Saturday. ReThere is a sneak preview inside.

This issue comes with free stickers, four badges and either a Sontaran or a Heavenly Host mask.

Plus:
Four posters: Daleks, the Sontarans' faceless clone, the Doctor and Donna in the snowy Ood Sphere, and Cobb, Cline and Peck.
Tales from the TARDIS: There's double trouble for Martha in The Sontaran Stratagem.
Make: A Sontaran helmet.
Quiz: How well do you remember eps 1-7?
Secrets: Discover how supermum Sylvia really saved Wilf with that axe.
Doctor's Data: All you need to know about horrible, hairless Halpen.
Comic strip: Part one of The Continuity Cap, trouble for the Doctor and Donna in an alternate reality.
Time Teasers: Help Agatha solve a mystery and work out who has become Oodkind.
Who knows! How did the Beast get control of the Ood and how did the Time Lords build the TARDIS?
Win: A huge stash of Doctor Who goodies in the monster competition!

FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Gaiman to write new Who?

Tuesday, 27 May 2008 - Reported by Jeremy Bement

According to columnist Rich Johnston at Comic Book Resources, Neil Gaiman has already been asked by forthcoming Doctor Who producer Steven Moffat to write an episode of the show in 2010.

Johnston also mentions a couple of rumors flying around that have not yet been comfirmed nor denied. To read the entire article, click here.

FILTER: - Production - Series 5/31

Previous 10 Stories

Moffat speaks to Big Issue Scotland

Agyeman Cast In Survivors

Piper Talks About Coming Back

Doctor Who Magazine 396

Classic Era Items Up For Auction

Series Four in Australia

Unicorn and the Wasp - Final Ratings

Series Four in Canada

Doctor Who Adventures 66

Gaiman to write new Who?

This Week in Doctor Who

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