Doctor Who News, Articles, Cast and Crew Interviews

[Blencathra]

Behind the scenes at the Abbey Road photoshoot

[BruTak]

I can just picture that poor cab driver, "Sorry mate, I don't go south of the Horsehead Nebula."

[Blencathra]

Second preview clip of The Witch's Familiar.

Spoiler:

[Teddybrown]

http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/the-wit...et-1-76298.htm
First set of hints and teasers for The Witches Familiar

http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/before-...psis-76300.htm
Before the Flood oficial synopsis.

[Blencathra]

BBC One to repeat The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2015/09...ce=twitterfeed

BBC One have made a late change to their schedules on Sunday afternoon by adding a special feature-length broadcast of The Magician's Apprentice and The Witch's Familiar. The 90 minute omnibus is to be broadcast from 3:15pm, replacing the previously scheduled repeats of Eat Well For Less? and The Great British Bake-Off, with an episode of Escape To The Country following afterwards to plug the gap before Points Of View at 5:15pm.

No reason has currently been given for the repeat of Doctor Who's opening story, but it is possible that this is to enable viewers to catch up on the Doctor's adventure who might have missed Saturday's episode owing to the England vs Wales Rugby World Cup game, broadcast live on ITV from 7:15pm.

[BruTak]

*Sets Freeview+ box to record*

[Blencathra]

Russell T Davies at the Radio Times Fest

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2015/09...75015.html?m=0

Russell T Davies has made a strong defence of the BBC and the licence fee and the values it stands for.

Speaking at the Radio Times Festival, he urged people to consider the alternatives to the compulsory licence fee, such as a subscription model and to look at the schedules of current subscriber services such as the American premium cable network HBO and see what subscribers get for their money. He said: "couple of high class dramas. No news. No soaps. No Bake off. Google their schedules and see if that is what you want?"

Davies was being interviewed by Alison Graham for the first ever Radio Times Festival, which is being held at Hampton Court in West London. He said his favourite memory of working on Doctor Who was the laughter he had. "It was hard work but we did have fun". He revealed he most enjoyed writing dialogue for Daleks. "They are so clever. I love them".

He also spoke of how proud he was of Doctor Who. "It's indestructible. Imagine if they tried to cancel it now. There would be riots in the streets".

Speaking on writing for the Doctor: "you get the secret of writing for the Doctor when you realise he is much cleverer than you are. Then it falls into place".

He talked about how he started in the industry and advised aspiring writers to just write. "get all the experience you can, not necessarily on your pet project but say for your local youth theatre".

He talked about his current project, a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream for the BBC. "It's something I've always wanted to do, he told the audience. It has a fantastic cast, and the whole play finishes with a joyous dance choreographed by Arlene Phillips. It's going to be on Saturday night in prime time. Only the BBC would do that".

Davies finished the session by talking to fans and signing autographs.

[Blencathra]

Jenna Coleman on Her Final Day Filming, Missy/Clara Spin-off

http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/jenna-c...-off-76335.htm

In a new interview, Jenna Coleman has spoken to Entertainment Weekly about leaving Doctor Who, her thoughts on a spin-off, and the possibility of the returning one day:

Spoilered for events in The Magician's Apprentice.

Spoiler:

I believe you thought about leaving at the end of last season, and then maybe after the special Christmas episode. This time around, did Steven Moffat [Doctor Who executive producer] say, “Are you really really, really sure?”

JENNA COLEMAN: My contract was up at the end of last season, so that initiated conversations of, “Okay, when and how?” I don’t know how a story was leaked that I was leaving — it was because the contract was up. There were just ongoing discussions about how to end Clara’s story, as it were, in the TARDIS, and this is where it ended up.

Can you say anything specific about when we will see your character leave the show, assuming we haven’t already [at the end of last week’s episode Clara was seemingly exterminated by those dreaded, armor-clad mutants, the Daleks]?

I can’t. But I’m hoping it will be a surprise, and I’m hoping it will stay a surprise. Yeah. [Laughs]

What kind of response have you received since making the announcement you were leaving?

People tweet at you but it’s been really warm and lovely, in fact. I have to say, it’s kind of a relief because, having known for such a long time, it’s really nice to be able to say it.

What was it like shooting your last day on Doctor Who?

It did not feel real at all. I mean, it’s become more my home than my home actually is. It was just really weird. But we film out of sequence as well so, my last part with Peter, I couldn’t quite look at him because it wasn’t supposed to be a sad part. It’s hard to go into detail without telling you anything, but I was really overwhelmed. I recognize that it’s a special part of my life. The storytelling is so dynamic, and big, and whimsical, and magical. You feel like you’re in a fairy tale and it’s really hard to walk away from that. It’s a lot more than just a job — the friendships I have with the crew and Peter, it’s very hard to say goodbye to it.

I know you keep in contact with Matt Smith, who played the Doctor before Capaldi. Have you spoken with him about life after Who?

Yeah, I’ve spoken to Matt a lot. I speak to Matt all the time anyway. He’s been around and he had obviously been through the same things. What happens when you stop chasing monsters and traveling through time and space? I don’t know yet. I’ll have to wait and see.

Although he’s in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. So I don’t know that he has stopped chasing monsters.

No. Maybe I never will.

Personally, I want to see a Doctor Who spin-off show with Clara and Michelle Gomez’s character, Missy.

Wow, that would be good, right? She is absolutely brilliant. I love Michelle. The problem is, I have to keep reminding myself that I’m not supposed to like her, because she’s just so funny, and you get so drawn in by her, and you’re like, “Hang on, you’re the bad guy!” To not [crack up] with Michelle is a real skill that I had to acquire otherwise we would never have got any shooting done.

When you look back, what will be your fondest memory of working on the show?

Just moments, I think. Moments with Matt and moments with Peter. I mean, literally, you’d laugh the whole way through. You laugh every single day. The production sent me this video of outtakes and things gone wrong, and I sent it to one of my friends, and she just replied, “Your job is ridiculous!” And it is! But it becomes so normal. You start living this other reality that becomes normal to you. I now can’t see Peter outside of work doing normal chores because it makes me laugh too much. I’m so used to seeing him with his screwdriver, running down corridors. Yeah, it’s unique.

Would you be happy to come back and guest on the show, as Billie Piper did for the 50th anniversary episode?

Yeah, I would always be happy if there was a good story. But I think we’ll have to see what happens. How many times have I said that during this interview. “We’ll have to see what happens! We’ll have to see what happens!”

[BruTak]

Well, I dunno about you guys but "No soaps, no Bake Off" sounds good to me.

[Blencathra]

Well... I wasn't going to say anything....

Actually I'll defend the BBC until the bitter end. I love BBC4. It's only the BBC that can make a programme about rock pools or an oak tree and actually make it interesting. I love programmes like that. Only the BBC cater for slightly odd people like me.


A couple of tweets from the Radio Times Fest

Both from Peter Capaldi News

https://twitter.com/PCapaldiNews/sta...85094903566336

Peter Capaldi says filming on #DoctorWho Christmas special finishes tomorrow @RadioTimesFest

https://twitter.com/PCapaldiNews/sta...84208739446784

On next companion - Frank Skinner asks "Do you know who the next companion will be?" Moffat "No!" @RadioTimesFest #doctorwho

[rushy]

Please be Shona... please be Shona... please be Shona...

[BruTak]

My money's on Courtney.

[Blencathra]

Capaldi at Radio Times Festival

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2015/09...ce=twitterfeed

Fans at the Radio Times Festival were treated to an extended Doctor Who session tonight, when the main star of the series, Peter Capaldi, having defeated Daleks and Cybermen, and conquered time, fell foul of the Friday night rush hour traffic on the M4, and arrived 30 minutes late late for the session.

The actor had been filming all day at the Doctor Who studios in Cardiff, and had been whisked by car to London when he was greeted by a capacity audience in the main festival tent. The organisers extended the session to make sure the crowd had a full hour to enjoy a conversation with the Doctor.

The session was hosted by comedian and rabid Who fan Frank Skinner and also featured executive producers Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin. With last week's episode fresh in everybody's mind the trio discussed The Magician's Apprentice and Julian Bleach's impressive performance as Davros. You wait until you see the next episode said Moffat, He is amazing.

Peter Capaldi told of how some of the most surreal moments in filming the series came when acting with the Daleks. You rehearse with the guy who sits inside the Dalek, he said. His eyelevel is the same as a Daleks eyestalk, so you rehearse with him just standing there wriggling. I found it very funny.

Moffat denied an ancient fan rumour that there was a contractual duty to include the Daleks in each series of Doctor Who. My mother in law was Terry Nation's agent when he created the Daleks. Believe me there is no such clause in the contract.

One question that was met with a grimace from the Executive Producer came when Skinner asked about the plans for Series 10 and whether, contrary to rumour, there would be a full series of Doctor Who in 2016. Moffat seemed irritated by the question and said he wished people would concentrate on this series. We don't even know if the Doctor will survive until Christmas. Moffat did confirm he had signed up for series 10, but said that was only done 'very recently'.

The team discussed Jenna Coleman's departure from the series, which has been confirmed as taking place this year. Coleman had originally wanted to leave at the end of Series Eight, but had then decided to stay on for the Christmas special. It was on the World Tour that we ambushed her, said Capalid, and persuaded her to stay for another season. I said it would be so much fun. Moffat said he has no idea who the new companion will be.

All members of the team were adamant that they would not be able to produce more Doctor Who episodes per year. We started filming in January and we finish tomorrow, said Capaldi. The crew need a break. They are exhausted.

Peter Capaldi spoke of his costume and how he didn't want his doctor to have a specific costume, but more a look, in the same way Tom Baker's Doctor had a look. I loved his first season where he just grabbed some clothes and ran around looking like a tramp. He was asked about his recent comment that he didn't feel he had nailed the role in Series Eight. I don't think you ever really nail a role. Capalid said he would happily be typecast as The Doctor. I don't mind being typecast as Doctor Who. I mean what's wrong with that? It's great, you know, if that's the stigma that's attached to you, how lucky you are.

[rushy]

Peter Capaldi spoke of his costume and how he didn't want his doctor to have a specific costume, but more a look, in the same way Tom Baker's Doctor had a look. I loved his first season where he just grabbed some clothes and ran around looking like a tramp. He was asked about his recent comment that he didn't feel he had nailed the role in Series Eight. I don't think you ever really nail a role. Capalid said he would happily be typecast as The Doctor. I don't mind being typecast as Doctor Who. I mean what's wrong with that? It's great, you know, if that's the stigma that's attached to you, how lucky you are.

Didn't Tom Baker wear the same costume his entire first season?

But other than that, everything he says is completely correct. His series 8 performance(please don't attack me for this) was erratic.

[Alan]

Under the Lake: Official TV Trailer - Doctor Who: Series 9 (aka Series 35) Episode 3 - BBC One