Jane Asher Cast In SJA

Tuesday, 31 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Jane Asher will be a guest star in The Sarah Jane Adventures, according toThe Sun today.

It is not Asher's first involvement with the world of Doctor Who, as she portrayed the Doctor's granddaughter in the BBC Radio 4 play Whatever Happened To . . . Susan Foreman? in 1994.

The Sarah Jane Adventures will be part of the CBBC autumn season.




FILTER: - Production - Sarah Jane

Doctor Who Adventures - 35

Tuesday, 31 July 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The Scarecrows are waiting for you in the latest edition of Doctor Who Adventures with a fact file about the Family of Blood. You can find out about the Family's fate and everything you need to know about the fearsome four.

Also in this issue, a fact file about the Sun-Possessed, a Dalek or two, and news of the returning friendly foes, the Ood.

There is also a look back at the best scenes of the last series, from severely scary to just plain brilliant and the Comic strip, part two of The Last Soldier.

With a Scary mask you can become a Weeping Angel and dare your friends to blink! And there are four exclusive posters of the Master, a Pig Slave, Captain Jack clinging to the TARDIS and Yana and Chantho from Utopia.

This issue comes with a set of four bouncy balls and holographic stickers.

Doctor Who Adventures issue 35, is out across the UK, on Thursday 2 August.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Helen McDonald Appeal Update

Tuesday, 31 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

More than 6,000 pounds has been collected by fans as part of an appeal in memory of David Tennant's mother Helen McDonald who died recently.

BBC News reports that members of the fan site david-tennant.com have so far have donated more than 4,000 pounds to the collection, which is in aid of theACCORD Hospice.

They also plan an auction to help raise more money for cancer research. Items up for auction include rare artwork and a 2 foot tall ceramic Dalek.

Tennant told the website, "At this difficult time, I can't tell you what it means that you are doing this."

He added: "Thanks to everyone who has been able to make a donation. I promise you, your money will be well spent."

The idea for the collection was first proposed by a group of Outpost Gallifrey Forum members. They have so far raised nearly 2,000 pounds.

Donations can still be made at justgiving.com. People who donate are asked not to mention David Tennant in the comments section, in order to protect his privacy




FILTER: - David Tennant

Minogue Mistake By OAP

Tuesday, 31 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

A pensioner thought Kylie Minogue was a real-life waitress during filming for the Doctor Who Christmas special, reportsBBC News today.

Minogue plays the role of Titanic waitress Astrid in Voyage of the Damned, and while filming was taking place outside Morgan's hotel in Swansea an elderly customer confused the singer for a member of staff.

An eyewitness said: "It was absolutely comical. Kylie is an international star but obviously this old dear didn't know who she was.

"She said to Kylie: 'Excuse me, love, is it too late for a cup of tea?'

"Kylie saw the funny side and just laughed."

FOOTNOTE: The Sun reported today that Minogue had been comforting David Tennant over the death of his mother from cancer.




FILTER: - People

John Normington

Monday, 30 July 2007 - Reported by Marcus
According to a report at WhatsOnStage.com, the actor John Normingtonhas died at the age of 70.

Normington was best known to Doctor Who fans for his highly-acclaimed role as the villain Trau Morgus in Peter Davison's final story as the Fifth Doctor, The Caves of Androzani, in 1984.

He later appeared again in the series in the Sylvester McCoy serial The Happiness Patrol in 1987, and finally guested in 2006's Ghost Machine, an episode of the Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood.

Normington was a busy working actor right up until this year, appearing at the Old Vic opposite Robert Lindsay in The Entertainer. A former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he also appeared in television series such as Coronation StreetYes, Prime Minister and Casualty.

Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey, the artistic director of the Old Vic, said in tribute: "We were honoured to have enjoyed John's company for as long as we had him. His spirit and influence remained throughout and now that same spirit joins the other great actors who have played the Old Vic stage, where he will always be remembered with admiration and affection.

"They don't make them like him any more. We send our love and condolences to John's partner, family and friends."




FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Gardner Rules Hopper Out

Monday, 30 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

iF Magazine has an interview with BBC head of drama commissioning Julie Gardner in which she talks about a range of subjects concerning Doctor Who,Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, all of which she also co-executive produces.

In the interview, she quashes speculation that Dennis Hopper will be appearing on Doctor Who. "That's an unfounded rumor I'm afraid. He's not going to be on the show. It was all over the place, but he's not coming," she says.

However, Gardner gives a strong indication that the Master will be returning.

"It would be rude not to, and he’s a great character. John Simm is amazing and I would go to work every day with him. His scenes were so much fun to do," she says.





FILTER: - Production - Julie Gardner

K9 Series Funding

Friday, 27 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Australia's Film Finance Corporation has approved funding for the spin-off series featuring K9.

news release says financial backing was agreed at the organisation's July board meeting, although the exact amount of money involved is unknown.

It says: "When we meet him in the new 26-part Australian kids' show K9, this highly intelligent creature is guarding an abandoned prison transportation craft."

The series, previously understood to have been called K9 Adventures and K9 - The Series, has been created and is being written by Doctor Who classic era writerBob Baker, says the FFC.

TV distribution agent Park Entertainment says the half-hour episodes, to be made by Jetix Europe, will be live action and CGI.

The FFC is the Australian government's main agency for funding film and TV production in Australia.

UPDATE: C21 is reporting that Australia's Network Ten has also "come on board" the series.

The TV company will be paying a certain percentage of the production budget in return for rights to air the programme once it is made.

The show was understood to be already in pre-production but C21 quotes Park Entertainment chief executive Jim Howell as saying it was hoped the show would be in pre-production by October.

(Thanks to Adam and Ed Waller.)




FILTER: - K9

Doctor Who Comic

Friday, 27 July 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Newsarama.com has announced that IDW will begin publishing a new title based on the tenth Doctor, with stories written by TV show script editor Gary Russell and art by Nick Roche.

IDW chief Chris Ryall told Newsarama that in addition to the new Tenth Doctor comic book, IDW would be reprinting classic Doctor Who comics drawn by Dave Gibbons, with all-new coloring.

Gary Russell told Newsarama's interviewer:
"Can't get enough Martha. As for Tennant, 'cos he's the current one, simple as that. It's about putting characters from one medium into a totally different, and utilizing the strengths (and weaknesses) the new medium has to offer. So I gain from a bigger budget, more extras and louder bangs, yet the storytelling has to be as concise, clever and charming as the TV show is, but in a wholly different way. I have now just scared myself beyond belief..."

" Old monsters are all very well, but using the big guns like Daleks, Cybermen, the Master - it's a bit gauche. If you're going to use recognizable elements from the show - and I think you should where the story allows it - [it should be] a story that enables you to go "oooh I could put MONSTER X in here, that'd be cool" over to "oooh I need to write a story about MONSTER X" now and again, because people like to spot elements they're familiar with, then they need to be fun. Our first issue does feature something from the current show, and a later issue or two features something from waaaaay back in the series history, but these things should be done sparingly or it's no longer an event, it's the norm. And normal is dull."




FILTER: - Books

Agyeman On BBC Persian

Friday, 27 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The BBC Persian website has posted an interview with Freema Agyeman.

She begins and ends by speaking in Farsi, but for the rest of the eight-minute-plus piece she speaks in English that is dubbed into Farsi.

Agyeman's mother is Iranian and the actress revealed during her interview onFriday Night With Jonathan Ross in May that the tattoo on her right arm includes the word "free" in Farsi in recognition of her heritage.

The interview is currently near the bottom left-hand side of the page.

(Thanks to David C MacKenzie.)

UPDATE - JULY 30: The interview has now gone from the page but if you click on its replacement towards the bottom left-hand side you get the Agyeman interview as an option on the RealPlayer pop-up.




FILTER: - People

Scarifyers on BBC7

Friday, 27 July 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Cosmic Hobo Productions has announced that the first adventure of The Scarifyers will be broadcast on BBC 7 in August.

The Nazad Conspiracy stars classic Doctor Who actors Nicholas Courtney andTerry Molloy in a tale of supernatural adventure set in 1930s London. The first episode will be broadcast 1800-1830 on Saturday 25th August in BBC 7's 7th Dimension sci-fi slot.
Christmas 1936. Ghost story writer Professor Dunning (Terry Molloy) doesn't believe in the supernatural. So he's more than surprised when an invisible winged demon appears in his drawing room.

The Metropolitan Police's longest-serving officer, Inspector Lionheart (Nicholas Courtney), doesn't believe in the supernatural either, wings or no wings. So he's less than impressed when Russian emigres begin dying impossible deaths all over London.

Together, Lionheart and Dunning must face quarrelsome Generals, sinister clowns and Russian demons as they unravel THE NAZAD CONSPIRACY.





FILTER: - Radio