Doctor Who

[SithLordWiccan]

You never know, you might even like Donna Noble

Never.

[Feena]

Verity Lambert RIP

Original Doctor Who producer passes away.

It's with great sadness that we have to announce the first producer of Doctor Who, Verity Lambert has passed away.

Verity produced Doctor Who when the series began in 1963.

It was the 44th Anniversary on Friday. I'm so glad she got to see how popular the show has become, second time around. Sydney Newman, the creator of the show, died in 1997.

In Human Nature John Smith tells Joan his parents were called Sydney and Verity, as a tribute to them both.

[Feena]

Rumoured press release at midnight tonight - two hours time. It may be about the Christmas Special, may be something else...


MEGA MEGA MEGA SPOILER

Spoiler:

Billie Piper has been seen on set, according to two seperate people. I'm trying to find out more.

I'm not particularly happy about it, but I'll wait and see the story.

I'll post when I find out more

eta

A picture has been posted on OG

Spoiler:

It's made tomorrow's papers - it's true! :eek

[WebWarlock]

eh.

It could be anything really. I am not going to get worked up yet at this point.

Tim

[SithLordWiccan]

MEGA MEGA MEGA SPOILER

Spoiler:

Billie Piper has been seen on set, according to two seperate people. I'm trying to find out more.

Hear that sound, folks? That's the sound of Series IV offically going down the toilet.

Spoiler:

I'm not particularly happy about it, but I'll wait and see the story.

Go to OG and check out their October 2007 news archive. That should tell you all you need to know about the "story".

[Feena]

They're not giving much away

Spoiler:

Rose Tyler returns for Series Four.

Following a series of unconfirmed reports across the media this morning, we're delighted to officially confirm that Billie Piper will return as Rose Tyler in Series Four of Doctor Who.

Anything you may read elsewhere about when, how or for how long Rose returns to Doctor Who should be treated as pure speculation at this point.

[Feena]

Official Press Release

Spoiler:

Billie Piper to return to Dr Who

Actress Billie Piper is to return to Doctor Who, the BBC has confirmed. She will star in three episodes of the sci-fi drama, reprising her role as the Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler.

Rose's return will mean the Doctor has three assistants in next year's series - Donna, played by Catherine Tate, and Freema Agyeman as Martha.

The new series begins in March and will run for 13 episodes. There will be three special editions in 2009 before the show takes a break until 2010.

Piper left Doctor Who last year, when Rose was transported into a parallel universe.

The character had been a hit and Piper won a number of awards for her performances. She was named most popular actress at the National Television Awards in 2005 and 2006.

A separate show based on Rose had been planned by writer and series producer Russell T Davies, but was scrapped when Davies decided the programme was "a spin-off too far".

Filming is currently under way in Cardiff for the new series of Doctor Who, which sees the Doctor meeting an old group of enemies - the Sontarans - 35 years after first encountering them.

Before that, the programme will return to television screens at Christmas with a special episode set on the Titanic, which will co-star singer and actress Kylie Minogue.

[SithLordWiccan]

Great. Now all we need is news of Elisabeth Sladen's return and Ben Kingsley's casting as Davros to ensure the end of Series IV becomes a bad fan fiction.

[Feena]

Great. Now all we need is news of Elisabeth Sladen's return and Ben Kingsley's casting as Davros to ensure the end of Series IV becomes a bad fan fiction.

Well.....Kingsley's already said he knows nothing about playing Davros

Have you seen The Sarah Jane Adventures? I think it's brilliant, Lis Sladen is great. It's reminiscent of the best bits of Classic Who

[Knock yourself out]

Have you seen The Sarah Jane Adventures? I think it's brilliant, Lis Sladen is great. It's reminiscent of the best bits of Classic Who

:blush I must admit that I preferred watching The Sarah Jane Adventures over Doctor Who precisely because it's reminiscent of classic Who. Elisabeth Sladen and the children were marvellous. The only character I could have done without was Maria's mum who was annoying.

[SithLordWiccan]

Well.....Kingsley's already said he knows nothing about playing Davros

So? Kylie also said she wasn't doing "Voyage of the Damned", remember?

Have you seen The Sarah Jane Adventures? I think it's brilliant, Lis Sladen is great. It's reminiscent of the best bits of Classic Who

Haven't seen it yet. It is coming to Canada, though (but to BBC Kids. Damn.)

[BBOvenGuy]

Patrick Stewart could play Davros if Ben Kingsley's not available.

[SithLordWiccan]

Patrick Stewart could play Davros if Ben Kingsley's not available.

Well, that's...I don't want to say a "better" idea, because it isn't. It's a slightly less annoying one, at any rate.

[BBOvenGuy]

Oh, pffft... I was only kidding.

Actually, I did see an article some time ago about Patrick Stewart, in which he was saying he'd like to make a Doctor Who appearance but hadn't been approached about it.

[WebWarlock]

Ok, this might be old news to some, but it is new to me.

A web-comic called "The Ten Doctors" and man does this guy have them down!
http://www.shipsinker.com/wordpress/200 ... rs-page-1/

LOVE the Rose-Ace interactions.

There is a cool poster for it here, http://gorpo.deviantart.com/art/The-Ten ... r-64389582

Anyway, it is a fun read.

Tim

[SithLordWiccan]

Anyway, it is a fun read.

Yes. Yes, it is. And quite possibly better than anything we're likely to get in the next series.

[WebWarlock]

Yes. Yes, it is. And quite possibly better than anything we're likely to get in the next series.

Damn. No offense, but must you be so negative about this? I have seen nothing to merit it.

Tim

[Feena]

Yes. Yes, it is. And quite possibly better than anything we're likely to get in the next series.

Just out of interest, what would make you enjoy the next series? And I mean what in a positive way - Catherine Tate being hit by a truck wouldn't count!

[BBOvenGuy]

A web-comic called "The Ten Doctors" and man does this guy have them down!
http://www.shipsinker.com/wordpress/200 ... rs-page-1/

Hmmm... looks a bit reminiscent of another big crossover story I could mention...

Not that that's a bad thing. I merely mention it.

[SithLordWiccan]

Just out of interest, what would make you enjoy the next series? And I mean what in a positive way - Catherine Tate being hit by a truck wouldn't count!

1. Not bring back John Barrowman. He has his own series now, he should stay there.

2. Not bring back Billie Piper. She was given a very proper send off at the end of Series 2 that stamped home the idea that she couldn't return. Doing anything to suggest otherwise undermines what was a very good pair of episodes.

3. Not, once again, stamp on Classic Who icongraphy. I don't know what the hell this is, but it ain't a Sontaran.

4. Not bring back Davros. Yeah, we all know that Ben Kingsley's agent denied the news. But, as I said before, Kylie also said she wasn't doing "Voyage of the Damned", so maybe we should come to not believe anything we're told.

5. Get Russel T. Davis away from the executive producer position. The guy has had his fair share of bad mistakes (re: Love and Monsters), but very little from the past series was of any real note (Human Nature and Family of Blood being the sole exception), and it really proved his hypocrisy: saying he wouldn't bring the Master back without doing it properly, then did it himself and, in my opinion, screwed it up badly, also tying into point 3 in stamping over Who icongraphy, much as he had already done with the Cybermen and the Daleks, and doing a multi-Doctor story when he had already expressed his displeasure at such story (the fact that it worked being pretty much irrelevant.)

Ironically, Tate's return might end up being the most tolerable element of Series IV, given everything else we got coming down the pipeline.

[Feena]

Thanks for your detailed reply SLW

1. I have mixed feelings about bringing back John Barrowman. I've liked Captain Jack in Doctor Who much more than in Torchwood. If he's the happier Jack version in the new series then I don't mind if he's just in Torchwood.

2. I agree completely about Billie Piper. I know it's partly because I found Rose irritating at times in S2, but also because I do think it would take away from the ending of Doomsday. I get the feeling that it's always been planned, that she would always return in some way.

Spoiler:

At the moment I think she's only been confirmed as being in the Doctor-lite episode, she's been filming with Catherine Tate.

3. I think the publicity photo is a terrible one, hopefully the Sontarans will look better on screen. Someone on OG made this wallpaper, I think they look more threatening here.

4. Davros could be interesting, depending on how they did it. I would like to see a 'Genesis of Davros' story, an explanation of how he ended up as he did. Do we know much about his backstory?

5. This is probably his last season, which is why I think that Rose is coming back now. Who knows what will happen next!


eta

Catherine Tate only doing S4

[SithLordWiccan]

1. I have mixed feelings about bringing back John Barrowman. I've liked Captain Jack in Doctor Who much more than in Torchwood. If he's the happier Jack version in the new series then I don't mind if he's just in Torchwood.

Yeah, I liked Jack in Doctor Who, too. But really, what real purpose did he serve in the last three episodes (you know, aside from bringing the Master back?)

2. I agree completely about Billie Piper. I know it's partly because I found Rose irritating at times in S2, but also because I do think it would take away from the ending of Doomsday. I get the feeling that it's always been planned, that she would always return in some way.

I'm no real big fan of Rose either, but the reason for my disgust at her return is for the reasons I've already mentioned. Of course, if it serves some real purpose other than to drive a railspike through the head of those who despise her, I'll put up with it.

Spoiler:

At the moment I think she's only been confirmed as being in the Doctor-lite episode, she's been filming with Catherine Tate.

So...how exactly does that work?

3. I think the publicity photo is a terrible one, hopefully the Sontarans will look better on screen. Someone on OG made this wallpaper, I think they look more threatening here.

I agree. Amazing how much changing one small detail makes a difference.

4. Davros could be interesting, depending on how they did it. I would like to see a 'Genesis of Davros' story, an explanation of how he ended up as he did. Do we know much about his backstory?

Yeah, Big Finish did a whole audio series about that. Of course, the canon of the audio adventures in relation to the series is spotty at best.

Catherine Tate only doing S4

Yeah, I read that over @ OG. The second I did, only one thought came to mind.

"Thank fucking God."

[BBOvenGuy]

I would like to see a 'Genesis of Davros' story, an explanation of how he ended up as he did. Do we know much about his backstory?

Big Finish did a four-CD audio series called I, Davros that explores his origins. They also did a couple of regular Doctor Who who audios - Davros and The Juggernauts with Colin Baker and Terror Firma with Paul McGann - that fill in some of the gaps in Davros's progression toward becoming the Emperor Dalek. Terry Molloy seems to enjoy working with them, and they've made the most of that opportunity.

Of course, that doesn't mean Russell T. Davies can't do his own version.

[SithLordWiccan]

Of course, that doesn't mean Russell T. Davies can't do his own version.

I think we can all agree that, if that were to happen, it would be nowhere near as good as those Big Finish audios.

[Feena]

Only just over four days to go!!

[Feena]

Less than 40 minutes!!

[Feena]

feels a bit shell-shocked

How to sum it up in six words???

Rollicking adventure. Christmas carnage. I cried.

[BBOvenGuy]

feels a bit shell-shocked

How to sum it up in six words???

Rollicking adventure. Christmas carnage. I cried.

Sounds good to me.

I shall begin looking for a download...

[SithLordWiccan]

Oh, fuck. (Emphasis mine.)

CORRIE legend Sarah Lancashire is to star in Doctor Who — and will prove to be one of the time lord’s most evil enemies.

Sarah, 43, kicks off the fourth series this spring playing mysterious villainess Miss Foster — armed with her own sonic screwdriver.
Rover returns ... Sarah as Street's Raquel with Tanya

The actress, formerly airhead barmaid Raquel Watts in Coronation Street, revealed she loved filming the hour-long show.

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be in Doctor Who. It’s a brilliant episode.”

A BBC insider added: “This series is going to be the best yet. Sarah’s a cracking actress.”

The series will see comic Catherine Tate, 39, back as the Doctor’s dopey sidekick Donna Noble.

It opens with the pair tackling aliens in London.

They will also travel through time for an encounter with murder mystery writer Agatha Christie and take a trip to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.

Other guest stars in the new series include Felicity Kendal, Fenella Woolgar, Tim McInnerny, Peter Capaldi, Phil Davis and Tracey Childs.

And two of the Doctor’s former assistants will return.

Billie Piper and Elisabeth Sladen will recreate their roles as Rose Tyler and Sara Jane Smith.

John Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack Harkness in spin-off series Torchwood, will also be back.

The series is the last for star David Tennant, 36, but he will play the Doctor in four special episodes in 2009 and in a movie version.

Well, there it is. If I was looking for anymore proof of Series IV's suck factor, here it is. We don't even need to know that Davros is coming back. This is more than enough to confirm those rumors about Series IV's ending.

[Feena]

Preliminary Nebula Awards ballot

Scripts:

Children of Men - Cuaron, Alfonso & Sexton, Timothy J. and Arata, David and Fergus, Mark & Ostby, Hawk (Universal Studios, Dec06)

The Prestige - Nolan, Christopher and Nolan, Jonathon (Newmarket Films, Oct06 based on the novel by Christopher Priest)

Pan's Labyrinth - del Toro, Guillermo (Time/Warner, Jan07)

The Discarded - Ellison, Harlan and Olson, Josh (Masters of Science Fiction, ABC-TV, Apr07)

V for Vendetta - Wachowski, Larry & Wachowski, Andy (Warner Films, Mar06 Written by the Wachowski Brothers, based on the graphic novel illustrated by David Lloyd and published by Vertigo/DC Comics)

World Enough and Time - Zicree, Marc Scott and Michael Reaves, Michael (Star Trek: New Voyages, http://www.startreknewvoyages.com, Aug07)

Blink - Moffat, Steven (Doctor Who, BBC/The Sci-Fi Channel, Sep07)