The Doctor In The TARDIS

For all the stuff perhaps not newsworthy enough for its own thread. Maybe a mod could pin it?

Anyhoo...

David Tennant has been announced as one of the presenters of Comic Relief 2011

Good idea & duly pinned  :)

Not worthy of its own thread? :o :o :'( I can hear fangirls hyperventilating as we speak :P  ;) That will hopefully inspire a DW orientated sketch for the show 8)

Well its not that it doesnt deserve its own thread, but there isnt much you can do with one line of information

David Tennant is to appear on a stamp to commemorate 50 years of the RSC. There is a picture HERE (http://www.norphil.co.uk/2011/04a-royal_shakespeare_company-stamps.htm)

Matt Smith just sneezed.

Piers Wenger has resigned as Head of Drama for BBC Wales.

He will still exec produce DW though

 :o

Do we know why he stepped down?

This (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12674283) is the BBC's report on it. No real reason given just seems to be making a slight shift in his focus.

Apropos of this, do we know if Beth Willis is still involved as an exec producer for season 6?

As far as I know she is. There were rumours a few months back that she had been sacked/stepped down, but it seems to have come out of nothing and she is still being mentioned as part of production as of this months DWM

Yes, I'd heard those rumours too - glad she's weathered the storm. The creative team needed a bit of time to gel and I suspect we will see them really blossom in s6 :)

DT is narrating a new 6 part comedy called  'Twenty Twelve' that starts next Monday (10pm BBC4).

It's been described as a spoof documentary about the fictitious (and by all accounts incompetent) Olympic Deliverance Commission.

It stars Hugh Bonneville who is, of course, soon to be in DW himself.

Not news as such but it is Alex Kingston's birthday today - happy birthday to her  :)

Update - I've just been reliably informed it's John Barrowman's as well so Happy Birthday to him too  :)

Happy Birthday Alex and John 8)

Happy birthday to both of them  :D

Doctor Who features on the cover of the new SFX magazine. I thought it worth mentioning seeing as the pictures are new. The cover is also like those speaking cards and sounds like the TARDIS when you open it.

(http://i.imgur.com/EWHcw.jpg)

Ooo it's worth getting just for the TARDIS audio :D

Moff will be on Graham Norton's Radio 2 show next Saturday morning

SFX mag have also put a Best of British Sci-Fi 2011 issue which features quite a lot about DW & Torchwood as well as many other shows I know people here like. I picked up a copy yesterday & it looks quite good though it costs more than a regular copy at £7.99. By all accounts they have done similar issues before so if you have them it may not be worth it - I don't so it's fresh to me.

DW gets a decade by decade break down, plus a complete episode guide, a brief guide to the TARDIS.

Torchwood gets an interview with RTD, plus an episode guide - much more detailed than the DW one though this may simply be because there are less eps!

Both also get mentioned in other articles.

This is the pic on the packet/wallet thing it's in:

(http://media.sfx.co.uk/files/2011/03/SFXS49.wall_uk.jpg)

And this is the actual cover:

(http://media.sfx.co.uk/files/2011/03/SFXS49.cover_.jpg)

The second cover is awesome.

Lovely covers. Matt get more handsome by the day

Happy 40th Birthday to the 10th Doctor and father to Oliva, David Tennant :)

Yes, happy 40th Tennant. I'd say he's had a pretty awesome birthday present in his first child

I suspect, a couple of weeks into fatherhood he'd settle for 5 hours sleep as his present lol :)

Happy Birthday David :D

Happy Birthday DT for yesterday :)

Vincent and the Doctor, TPO/TBB and A Christmas Carol have all been nominated for this years Hugo Award For Best Dramatic Presentation-Short Form. The show has won it 4 times previously

Apparently (I use this word as the report comes from The Sun) Matt had to have some stitches after tripping up in his flat early yesterday morning.

Story is here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3558361/Matt-Smith-splits-head-open-in-fall.html

An emergency update from your 'Current Bun' reporters - Our Hero Lives :)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3559661/Matts-cover-up-after-Doctors-trip.html

Oh dear - poor clumsy Matt! That could well scar!

David Tennant is to provide the voice of a young Charles Darwin in a new Aardman film The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists (due out 2012)

He rates a mention in the BBC news story HERE (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13295435?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter) although the article is actually about Hugh Grant's role.

Seriously not sure about that title - kind of hoping that's a working title! - but I do love Aardman animations  :D

Tennant will star in a new animated film by Aardman Animations called 'The Pirates! Band of Misfits'

It will be one of those clay Wallace and Gromit type films and will also feature Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Russell tovey and Ashley Jenson

Karen Gillan is on Paul O'Grady tonight at 9 if anyone wants to tune in

I have someone watching for me - so if, like me, you can't endure POG then I shall have a full report

Yes, give us all the details. I have had to sit through a 'chick flick' for the last hour so didnt get a choice either way :(

Oi, what's wrong with Chick Flicks!!! :P

Haha, nothing ::) :P

I did some digging and apparantly all she did was confirm that Ten's TARDIS is returning. There was apparantly a clip of tomorrows episode too but I don't know if its a new one

Well, I actually watched it. She didn't really say anything at all. Paul O Grady told us how he was a massive Doctor Who fan.

[spoiler] James Cordon confirmed he was coming back. He also said that him and Karen 'never get any scenes together [/spoiler]

Karen was wearing a lovely little dress and she said having those little action figures was 'weird'.

I am never watching ITV again.

I don't think I've ever watched ITV in my life!

Here's the full interview :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09csOsuCP2w

Karen Gillan is one the faces of the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign 2011

(http://fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2415_FTBC_MASTER_6_KAREN.jpg)

UK peeps watch out for this pic popping up on your local high street.

Find out more about the campaign HERE (http://fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org.uk/tag/karen/)

Do you know if there is a way we can buy one of these posters? Karen is looking might fine and would most definitely brighten up the study and it would give money to a really good cause :)

I do not know. I follow FTBC on FB & Twitter, so I shall look into it & let you know. If you can I'll be miffed because I would've loved the Kylie one from last year!

Oooh, me too actually - Kylie and Karen :D FTW

Matt Smith is on The One Show tonight (24/05/2011) apparently.

There will apparantly be a brand new never before seen clip when he is on the show tonight, but I don't know if its from TAP or AGMGTW

Alex Kingston will be on The Graham Norton Show at 10.35 on Friday

Here he is on last nights One Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BLiwxwkYks

The Graham Norton Show is just about to start with Alex Kingston on it :)

Is anyone watching? Its brilliant

I saw it. That story about her biting through her co-stars tongue made me cringe! She is a very funny lady though

Here it is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oRE0Uk54NU

HBO are turning Neil Gaimans book American Gods into a series

Just to add to that, its apparantly been pre-picked up for 6 series and Tom Hanks will be producing it

Ooh ... probably should bump it up my list of books to be read then  :)

Sort of Classic Who related. The BBC today announced that they are putting 'Television Centre' up for sale in London. Never thought they would do that :o

Really? I knew they were talking of moving up to Manchester I never realised they'd decided they would!  :(

They're moving everywhere. Thats why the site in Wales has been made so much bigger and a new site has been built in Manchester and a lot of stuff is going to Glasgow too I think, but I thought they would keep the London base as well

I don't know if it is true, but apparantly the company who wants to buy it wants to tear it down and build two 'luxury' tower blocks of apartments on the site.

I think some of it's listed, so they might have a job doing that.  Of course, it might randomly catch fire.

Did anyone pick up that ridiculous story (In the Sun so please add the appropriate Sodium Chloride at this point) about Karen Gliian walking naked around a New York Hotel (well naked apart from a bed sheet)? It was in there - i promise it wasn't just my imagination!

It sounds like something I might imagine. But it wasn't.

Shows how well I've been 'reading' that as I didn't even notice (I'm trying to persuade mother of mine to buy something else - losing battle for some reason!) I have heard the story though. Not sure why people are making a big deal as it's her private life (if it's even true) - it might not be something I personally would do, but plenty of people do. I'm not going to judge her for it.

Oh I heard about that, also about her getting pretty drunk or something. What you hear over Twitter is pretty awesome! :P

I'm glad it wasn't just me who imagined it - thats really why I put the story on here.

Just for record, I read the Times :P it just so happens that a friend of mine told me about this.

I saw about it somewhere online (can't remember where) then forgot.  We all do silly things at the end of a party.

Exactly - I wish I had a pound for every time I ended up with no clothes on trying to get into someones room :) But thats probably not for here ;@

Matt and Karen have been announced for Comic Con this year

Doctor Who will apparantly be appearing in some form as part of a story in Ricky Gervais' new sitcom

(http://tvovermind.zap2it.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/tsott_090711_1-211x300.jpg)

(http://tvovermind.zap2it.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/tsott_090711_2-300x199.jpg)

http://tvovermind.zap2it.com/cable/hbo/lifes-too-short/doctor-daleks-ricky-gervais-comedy-lifes-short/69182 (http://tvovermind.zap2it.com/cable/hbo/lifes-too-short/doctor-daleks-ricky-gervais-comedy-lifes-short/69182)

Matt Smith is on Chatty Man, Friday at 9:30

Way back in this thread Roranicus & I both mentioned that DT would be voicing Charles Darwin in a new Aardman Animation - though there seems to be some discrepancy about the name of it (likely it will have different titles in different countries I guess!). Just bringing it up again as the first trailers have appeared. One on YouTube which can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnYpfvbmGGo&feature=player_embedded

You do very briefly get to hear DT's voice in that one. The other one is on the Guardian's website so you'll have to pop over there to see it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2011/jul/14/pirates-animation-hugh-grant

No DT voice in that one, but you still get to see his character  :)

Steven Moffat has this week entered the Guardian Media 100, a list of who they consider are currently the most powerful people in the UK Media, at 92

Matt is on the cover of the latest SFX Magazine, due out on Wednesday

(http://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/magazine-sfx212.jpg)

And here's the Radio Times cover:

(http://www.radiotimes.com/rt-service/image/render?imageUrl=/Libraries/News_and_blogs_images/magwk34.sflb.ashx&width=580&height=350&quality=85)

Here is another cover :)

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6085/6072472453_9cd8a799d5_b.jpg)

This is worth a watch. Nothing new really, but a cool interview from this morning with Karen Gillan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmf-IdlDOfU

I particularly liked with that ^^, how the woman host freely admitted that she had stopped watching the show because it was getting over complicated and if she missed something then she would be lost. I do think that that is a real issue with the show at the moment if you are new to it

I totally agree - and this has been an issue i've spoken about elsewhere - my Uncle (who introduced me to Who and has seen almost every episode since An Unearthly Child) declared that he found this new series to be too disjointed.

I also wanted to say that Jon Pertwee never had the luxury of an exclusive Radio Times cover all to himself. Matt Smith should count himself lucky :D

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6082575988_b648d45b7d_b.jpg)

The more i see/read about Arthur Darvill, the more i like him :) Interesting what he says about remaining with the seems like he'll still be involved which is good news :)

The Mirror is the holder of this weeks vendetta. Firstly, reviewer Jim Shelley thinks we should kill Alex Kingston for ruining the show HERE (http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/columnists/jim-shelley/2011/08/29/doctor-who-s-plots-are-getting-lost-in-space-115875-23379683/)

And they also are claiming that the show is on the slide HERE (http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/tv/2011/08/29/is-doctor-who-running-out-of-time-as-viewing-figures-for-new-series-slump-115875-23379717/), though once again they do it by comparing overnight figures to official figures then trying to pass off the difference as a drop in ratings rather than explaining what the difference actually is. That would be way too easy, obviously. They also are counting the latest episode as a season opener and so are comparing it to The Eleventh Hour etc.

Carey Mulligan (Sally Sparrow) has been cast in Baz Luhrmanns remake of The Great Gatsby featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Isla Fisher and Tobey Maguire

49-year-old Rob Hull from Doncaster has entered this years Guinness World Records with the largest collection of Daleks in the world. His has a total of 571 models.

I am both terrified and envious of this man's geekery!

Are they really models, though?  Maybe he's going to use them to conquer the universe.

Alex Kingston has joined the cast of Upstairs Downstairs for the new series as a character called Blanche

The show has got this weeks Radio Times cover again.

(http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/radio-times-doctor-who-1-7-october.jpg)

For those who are interested, the latest radio Times (on sale now) also has an interview with Lis Sladens daughter Sadie, talking about her mum and her life outside of Doctor Who/SJA.

Doctor Who and Torchwood: Miracle Day have been nominated in the 'Most Popular Drama' category at this years National Television Awards. Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, John Barrowman and Eve Myles have all been nominated in 'Outstanding Drama Performance' for their roles in Doctor Who and Torchwood. Voting is open now.

Well, not sure if this belongs in here as such, but for those of you who like Kai Owen...

Kai Owen appeared in this week's Waterloo Road (as a pretty cool rugby coach) which I've just watched, so you can watch it on iPlayer here....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015n02m/Waterloo_Road_Series_7_Episode_14/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015n02m/Waterloo_Road_Series_7_Episode_14/)

The NTA voting has so many different nominations for 'Most Popular Drama' that I suspect it will be difficult for the good Doctor to triumph this year. I did vote loyally though :) If you fancy a vote it can be found here...

http://www.nationaltvawards.com/home (http://www.nationaltvawards.com/home)

This is only incidentally DW related, but a new theory has been proposed that Van Gogh didn't actually commit suicide, but was shot accidentally.  The story can be read here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15328583 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15328583)

I saw that very very interesting and totally worth a read!

David Tennant is on tonight's episode of Fry's Planet Word - BBC 2, 9pm.

I've been watching the whole series & it has been quite interesting - if you like that kind of thing (I do obviously!  :) )

Just saying.... Billie Piper is pregnant again

My usual response - better her than me!   ;D

Seriously, congrats to them!   O0

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6404264321_cca73a409b.jpg)

Some terribly sad news regarding RTD's partner, Andrew being diagnosed with brain cancer. It must be a horrible time for them both.

A wonderful but very poignant interview in the Pink Paper detailing the effect that this has had upon him can be found here... http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/12/05/interview-russell-t-davies-on-shelving-us-projects-his-partners-cancer-diagnosis-and-coming-home/ (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/12/05/interview-russell-t-davies-on-shelving-us-projects-his-partners-cancer-diagnosis-and-coming-home/)

That's really sad. I hope he pulls through it.

It's not exactly news, but I met Paul Cornell last night at a British Fantasy Society meeting.  I only had a chance to talk to him very briefly, but he came over as a really nice guy.  Apparently he has a fantasy novel coming out next year, which should be well worth reading.

I follow him on twitter and he always comes across as one of the more decent, less affected writers. I'm glad you've kind of confirmed this :) Would be my choice as show runner if/when Moff leaves and if the show survives beyond the 50th

I was sure there was a thread for SFX stuff. Anyway, the issue out this week has a 4 page behind the scenes special on TDTWATW

This was on the news yesterday :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evn563yX164

Noel Clark and Benedict Cumberbatch have both been announced as having roles in the upcoming Star Trek sequel. Nothing is known about the latter, but Noel will play a "family man with a wife and daughter."

I'm seeing reports BC will play the villain. Nothing official though.

Nothing particularly new other than rolling ideas about filming in Oz, but a good interview and worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG1J8Kf0zag

I know it's been all about the NTAs, but this week was also the Virgin Media TV Awards, and Doctor Who sort of won a lot, so its worth mentioning and congratulating.

TV Show of the Year - Doctor Who

TV Character of the Year - Rory Williams in Doctor Who

Most Explosive TV Moment of the Year - The Doctor Gets Shot (The Impossible Astronaut)

Best Newbie - Joseph Gilgun for Misfits

Most Bonkers TV Show of the Year - American Horror Story (watch it, its actually awesome)

Hottest Female Star - Karen Gillan for Doctor Who

Hottest Male Star - Bradley James for Merlin

Best Actress - Karen Gillan for Doctor Who

Best Actor - Colin Morgan for Merlin

There were other awards as well, but these were the main ones. You can see the rest at http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/features/vm-tv-award-winners.php?page=1

Great stuff - well done them.

And well done to the Merlin peeps as well. They've had a great year too  :)

Matt Smith last night proposed to his long-standing girlfriend at the Doctor Who Experience in London. The marriage offer, which Matt had been planning for weeks (with some help from BBC Worldwide), came as a complete surprise to his girlfriend who was under the impression she was visiting the capital for a shopping trip.

Matt, 22, from Rochford, Essex coincidentally shares the same name with the star of the globally successful BBC TV series and even chose to dress in a tweed jacket and bow tie for the occasion, the standard uniform of the Eleventh Timelord. He stunned his wife-to-be, Stacie-Anne Dilkes, by pretending to be an exhibit in a section of the Experience which hosts original props, costumes and monsters from almost 50 years of the programme – before bending down on one knee and asking for her hand in marriage. And happily, she said YES!

Emma Watson has come top of a poll to find the perfect new assistant for Doctor Who.

In a survey for entertainment and games website IGN.com, more than a quarter of the 5000 people questioned picked former Harry Potter star Emma as the ideal new co-star for leading man Matt Smith.

The top 5 were:

1. Emma Watson
2. Zooey Deschanel
3. Anna Friel
4. Pixie Lott
5. Emelia Clarke

The SFX Awards 2012 winners have been announced. The awards recognise film, television, novels and comics from the world of sci-fi, cult and fantasy.

Winning the Best Film category was Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows (part two) which beat the short-listed X-Men: First Class and Thor. Matthew Vaughn was voted Best Director for X-Men First Class. Vaughn beat David Yates, for Harry Potter, who is rumoured to be directing a film version of Doctor Who. Also nominated for best director was Kenneth Branagh for Thor.

Doctor Who was voted best TV Show beating Games of Thrones, Misfits and Fringe. Game of Thrones did however pick up Best New Show beating the American remake of Being Human which airs on Syfy as well as Falling Skies and Starz’s Camelot which was cancelled after just one series. Matt Smith won best actor for Doctor Who beating Michael Fasbender for X-Men: First Class, Peter Dinklage for Game of Thrones and Iwan Rheon for Misfits. Smith’s Doctor Who co-star Alex Kingston won Best Actress for her role of River Song beating lead actress Karen Gillan as well as Torchwood’s Eve Myles and Maisie Williams for Game of Thrones.

Biggest Disappointment was fore the lack of Stan Lee cameo in X-Men: First Class. Amusingly also nominated was the BBC’s censorship of “Jack’s [John Barrowman] arse” in Torchwood: Miracle Day, the film Green Lantern, as well as the fairies in True Blood. The Walking Dead won Best Comic while George RR Martin’s A Dance with Dragons was named Best Novel.

Meanwhile the SFX Team Choice awards were also revealed. Screenwriting Excellence went to Neil Gaiman for his episode of Doctor Who, The Doctor’s Wife. Brian Blessed was named Living Legend while Joe Gilgun of E4’s Misfits was named Breakout Star. The Elisabeth Sladen Award, a new award created in memory of the late actress, went to her CBBC series The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Source (http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3666:sfx-awards-2012-winners-revealed&catid=2:cult-sci-fi&Itemid=5)

In recognition of his contribution to drama business for BBC Wales, Doctor Who's former lead writer Russell T Davies has had the main walkway connecting all of the new Media Village facilities in Cardiff Bay named after him, with a plaque put up denoting Russell T Davies Alley.

Well deserved.  O0

That's a really nice tribute to him. He must be chuffed about it.

Not  *that* sure what it is but:

Matt Smith is to become the next patron of the Royal Court’s Young Writers Festival

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/latest-news/article/item134390/doctor-who-appointed-festival-patron/

Well done him :D

Matt Smith is on Top Gear tonight.

Here is his segment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhcvWdB_D3I

Knowing the type of guy he is, I'm sure Rusty has made numerous jokes about this but I think it is a really touching tribute to the man who gave us back our Doctor! This is fabulous news :)

That was my first thought, too.

Definitely not looking forward to that Sex and the City prequel :( :(

This is what I'm talking about!!! I really think Big Finish could have explored Mel a lot more than they have. I say again, her performance in Terror of the Vervoids (Trial of a Timelord) was bloomin' marvellous!

I wouldn't have a problem with it but I think the chances of Mel returning hover around zero.

Deliberate pun?  ::)

It really was :) :) and I can only apologise (I promise no puns about how only Rose would have been better in the story)

If you did, you'd have to be scent into exile 8)

Paul McGann has insisted that he would return to Doctor Who if asked.

The actor - who played the Time Lord in a 1996 TV movie - told Digital Spy that he would "love" to reappear on the show.

"Being Doctor Who, there's always anniversaries looming large - celebration programmes and episodes," he said. "I'm often asked, 'If they get the five Doctors together, would you do it?' and of course, I'd do it. They've just got to ring me up!"

McGann added that he is "still in the Doctor Who loop".

"Although I was [in] Doctor Who for six weeks, sixteen years ago, it never goes away - it only ever seems to get stronger," he suggested.

"I'd love to do that again, but that's not up to me."

The sci-fi drama's current star Matt Smith previously admitted that he would like to appear opposite McGann.

"Paul McGann is a great actor, man, and a great Doctor," he said. "I say bring back Chris [Eccleston] and Dave [Tennant], too!

"How many Doctors can we get into one story? Imagine if there were five or six of us in one ep and we could all just look at each other and judge each other."

Tomorrow see the start of the Official Doctor Who Convention. I am sure that the people who chose to go will have lots of fun and it will be brilliant :) If you are on Twitter and following the fun then I think the hashtag is #dwcuk

Apropos the above, Moff has just been on Breakfast TV promoting the Doctor Who Convention - he didn't give too much away but he did say that the script read throughs have been "emotional, with Karen barely making it to the end"

Tennant is to play a spy in a new BBC drama

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17622069

Billie Piper apparently had another baby boy, born last night/this morning :)

DW has been nominated once again at the Hugo Awards.

This year 3 eps have been nominated for the Best Dramatic Presentation, Short form.

They are:

”The Doctor’s Wife”, written by Neil Gaiman; directed by Richard Clark (BBC Wales)
”The Girl Who Waited”, written by Tom MacRae; directed by Nick Hurran (BBC Wales)
”A Good Man Goes to War”, written by Steven Moffat; directed by Peter Hoar (BBC Wales)

The ceremony takes place later this year.

Any of these would be worthy winners but I have a sneaky fancy that Neil Gaiman will be (deservedly) walking away with the Hugo

Agreed on both counts.

So they didn't change the title!

But anyway, I went to see this & I really enjoyed it (my love of Aardman continues!) - it's very funny.

I'd recommend it if you like these kind of films  :)

This appeared today:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17752997

A real sonic screwdriver:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17760077

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-04-12/robert-glenister-doctor-who-performance-still-haunts-me (http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-04-12/robert-glenister-doctor-who-performance-still-haunts-me)

Robert Glenister showing that he in no way appreciates the iconic role he has within the shows history. Frankly it annoys me when actors do this (Sci-Fi and Doctor Who just seem like an easy target for actors to win "cool points") but while the current social, legal and political systems have their moment in the sun, he has the right to free expression.

Also on Yahoo:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/scientists-sonic-screwdriver-101125960.html (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/scientists-sonic-screwdriver-101125960.html)

Matt's reading poetry on a Disney show:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17867099

Today is the 10th Anniversary of the death of John Nathan-Turner.

Always a colourful and controversial figure, he worked on the show starting as a floor assistant in 1968 and working his way through the ranks to become the shows producer, aged just 33 in 1980. He would go on to be the producer for another 10 years until the Classic Show was finally jettisoned by the BBC.

He was someone who sought and succeeded to give the show a high profile and he piloted the show through some troubled times, energising the fan base to resist the first cancellation and selected three actors, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy to play the Doctor.

He died over a year before the BBC announced that the show was to be revived and, looking at the extras on the 2Entertain DVDs he died before the classic show underwent something of a renaissance gaining a whole new legion of followers.

He received criticism at various times from fans, the BBC and the cast and crew. But in spite of that he remained a steadfast ally of the show, refusing to quit in 1987 (despite wanting to move on to other projects) when it meant that him leaving would have killed the show. In the history of the shows 49 years, he remains a hugely significant figure.

RIP John Nathan-Turner, 12 August 1947 - 1 May 2002

I consider a lot of his choices as wrong, but you can't fault his love and dedication to the show.  RIP.

Matt Smith is apparantly carrying the Olympic Torch through Cardiff on Saturday. How cool is that? It would have been awesome if Tennant had done it though, given the events of Fear Her :P

This was confirmed by the Doctor Who Twitter feed at midnight last night - they had been running a 'guess who it is' type thing throughout the day. Up til then it was only speculation (albeit accurate speculation as it turns out!)

I think it's brilliant - very glad it's Matt :D

David Tennant couldn't have done it because of the Blinovich Limitation Effect

Not really of any news worthy value, but some more comments from Christopher Ecclestone on his departure from the show. I think it is safe to say that "The 11 Doctors" is an unlikely title for the 50th anniversary special.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a383450/christopher-eccleston-on-doctor-who-exit-my-conscience-is-clear.html (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a383450/christopher-eccleston-on-doctor-who-exit-my-conscience-is-clear.html)

Here is a little Matt Smith Interview before he carries the Olympic Torch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K95Bi_cdXTc&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K95Bi_cdXTc&feature=related)

Wasn't sure where to put this, so this seems as good a thread as any.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLzPW3L7Zmc

Ooh - looks interesting. Wonder how long 'coming soon' can be stretched out to this time!

Only the American airdate is known so far. That will be July 25th on BBCA. If it's anything like what they did with Christopher and his Kind we can probably expect to see it next March or something.

Sounds about right  :P

For those who are interested in such things, Karen Gillen yesterday won a Scottish Fashion Icon Award.

www.metro.co.uk/lifestyle/901773-doctor-who-star-karen-gillan-named-scottish-fashion-icon (http://www.metro.co.uk/lifestyle/901773-doctor-who-star-karen-gillan-named-scottish-fashion-icon)

Bit random but I thought I'd pop this in here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG4T6tQOvPQ

Yeah I saw this the other day. He's promoting his new film & they ask about DW. Odd.

BTW if anyone is interested - I saw the 'The Amazing Spider-Man last week at a press screening & it is fab (well I thought so anyway).

A series 7 preview will be shown at this years SDCC :D

The show has three nominations at this years TV Choice Awards.

Doctor Who is nominated in the Best Family Drama and is up against Merlin, Waterloo Road and Glee.

Matt Smith is nominated in the Best Actor category up against Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch, Merlin's Colin Morgan and Martin Clunes for Doc Martin.

Karen Gillan is nominated in the Best Actress category up against Miranda Hart for Call the Midwife, Freya Mayor for Skins and Jaye Jacobs for Waterloo Road.

Not news as such, but 'Bert & Dickie' starring Matt Smith, is on BBC1 on Weds at 8.30pm.

Apropos of PRG's announcement, here is a little bit of a feature on Bert & Dickie (this looks like it is going to be really good!)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18899346 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18899346)

BBC America are set to present four new original Doctor Who specials in August of this year They cover many different aspects of Doctor Who, they are as following:

The Science of Doctor Who: explores the real life science behind the biggest concepts and most iconic ideas in Doctor Who. The Science of Doctor Who premieres Saturday, August 4, 11:00 pm ET.

The Women of Doctor Who: Behind every great Time Lord there's a great woman. Whether they're busting Daleks or the Doctor's ego, the women of Doctor Who prove that you don't need testosterone to save the universe. Premieres Saturday, August 11, 9:00pm ET.

The Timey-Wimey Stuff of Doctor Who: When the Doctor's around, tomorrow is yesterday, yesterday is tomorrow and 18th century France is in your fireplace. Confused yet? You've already seen it in the future. The Timey-Wimey Stuff of Doctor Who premieres Saturday, August 18, 11:00pm ET.

The Destinations of Doctor Who: Leave the beach towel at home and take a trip to the end of the Earth – literally. From the Starship UK to one very haunted hotel, you won't find the destinations of Doctor Who in any guidebook. This final instalment premieres Saturday, August 25, 9:00pm ET.

This isn't huge show news but it is kind of cool. Doctor Who is on the cover of this weeks Entertainment Weekly in the US, making it the first British Show to ever do so in it's 22 year run

Apropos of his recent wonderful performance in Bert & D1ckie, Matt Smith was present at Eton Dorney for the Olympic Rowing this morning (seeing some smashing results for Team GB as well). I even managed to grab a screen shot with my phone.. (still trying to work out how to upload it on to here)

I've never worked out how to do that either. You might need to post it elsewhere & link to it. I'd love to see it  :)

Again, this will not really be news to anyone, but for sake of completeness...

Asylum of the Daleks is going to get its premier tonight at the BFI. I have seen the tweets roll in and Matt Smith and Karen Gillen are both there (I haven't seen Arthur Darvill but I am almost certain he will roll up as well).

Tommy Knight has been cast in the new series of Waterloo Road as a regular called Kevin. He will appear from episode 9

Oooh.... More of a reason to watch! ;)

Neil Gaiman last night won a coveted Hugo award for The Doctor's Wife... https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/neilhimself/status/242527423843930112 (https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/neilhimself/status/242527423843930112)

And highly deserved  :D

Awesome, that's the episode I was rooting for!  He also said he's on the third draft of another Doctor Who episode!   :D

Well done to him. Doctor Who does well there every year, it's great news.

From the BBC:

Doctor Who has been recognised with three nominations for this year’s BAFTA Cymru Film, Television and Interactive Media Awards.

The prestigious nominations came in the categories of Best Television Drama and a nomination for the Sound department with the Adventure Game, Doctor Who: The Gunpowder Plot nominated in the Digital Creativity and Games section. And we’re delighted that The Sarah Jane Adventures has been nominated in the Children’s Programme category.

The winners will be announced at the BAFTA Cymru Awards on Sunday, 30 September 2012 at the Wales Millennium Centre. Good luck to all our nominees!

The BBC are reviving the Radiophonic Workshop, best known for creating the original Doctor Who theme music:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19568120

Not important of itself, but the actor who played Barty Crouch Jr in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was on the board of selection for the new artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/35639/gregory-doran-appointed-artistic-director-of (http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/35639/gregory-doran-appointed-artistic-director-of)

The significant thing is that it shows the calibre of actor that the new series of Doctor Who has attracted to the lead role. Generally (and i mean this with great respect and the exception of Pat Troughton) the role of the Doctor was filled by good but "commercial" actors (Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison et al). The fact that DT has been put in such a position shows that any lingering snobbery which might have existed against Who has well and truly disappeared.

Just for an instant, I was wondering what the significance of this was 8)

Tonight's Who Do You Think You Are? features Alex Kingston.  You might remember they did David Tennant a few years back - with numerous people thinking they were terribly original to suggest he should go back in the TARDIS to find out about his ancestors.

Risible Rag that it is, The Sun has posted a picture of a **** Jenna Louise Coleman. I will not link to them as I don't like linking to the Sun but if anyone is interested they are available on the Sun's website.

Apologies. I feel slightly unclean writing about the Sun

I was at Fantasycon in Brighton yesterday - actually as a guest (in a very minor capacity - long story 8)) and I met Robert Shearman, who wrote Dalek, though I didn't get a chance to chat with him.  Gatiss was there too, but I didn't see him.

Tonight's Waterloo Road introduces Tommy Knight as new character Kevin

Matt Smith has just had a 30th birthday party complete with a TARDIS birthday cake (courtesy of Caro Skinner's twitter)

Colin Baker is appearing in this year's "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" starting on Sunday

Sorry, even that can't persuade me to watch it.

Incidentally, I wonder what the Game Station version of that would involve  8)

THIS!!!

Starting tomorrow (31st) at 8am on BBCAmerica, there will be a 24 hour Tenth Doctor Marathon, ending at 8am on January 1st.

The Sun website (pardon the language) has a brief piece about Jenna - not much information, really, but worth a look.  Scroll down to #7

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/tvmagazine/tvmagazinefeatures/4714832/13-for-13.html

John Barrowman injured (not seriously) in the panto he's in:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-20915946

David Tennant has announced that he and Georgia Moffet are expecting their second child.

Congrats to them both

Congrats to them :)

The nominees for the 2013 British Academy Cymru Awards have been announced and Doctor Who is represented in two categories.

William Oswald is nominated for his editing work on the 2012 Christmas Special, The Snowmen and the Doctor Who Sound Team is nominated in the Sound category. Congratulations also to Doctor Who’s new executive producer, Brian Minchin, who has received a nomination in the Children’s Programme category for the CBBC series, Wizards vs Aliens.

The winners will be revealed at the British Academy Cymru Awards ceremony which will be held in Wales on Sunday, 29 September, 2013.

I can't believe there is no acting or writing nods

Doctor Who won Best Drama at the TVChoice awards last night. In honour of it's fiftieth year it was given a special gold award.

It's been announced that Matt's going to star opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the reboot of Terminator:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27262178

I guess that's a sign for me to actually get around to watch the Terminator films!  :P

A couple of bits of news.  I missed the announcement last week that Julie Gardner and John Barrowman were both awarded MBEs in the Birthday Honours List:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Julie-Gardner-and-John-Barrowman-Awarded-MBEs

Also, it was announced today that Freema Agyemen is going to be in the Netflix sci-fi series Sense8, made by the Wachowskis and also starring Daryl Hannah and Naveen Andrews

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/27962221

A musical tour of Doctor Who has been announced - from the sound of it, rather like the Doctor Who proms, but touring Cardiff, London, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and Glasgow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-28523732

A rather unusual DW-related story - the announcement that the captain of Warwickshire Cricket Club is retiring from cricket due to back trouble. The connection is that he's Jim Troughton, son of David who's featured in three stories, and grandson of Patrick who of course has featured in considerably more.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/28851764

Tonight's edition of Mastermind includes a contestant taking Doctor Who as their specialist subject. I'll be scoring myself against them  8)

The precise subject was Doctor Who since 2005 - the contestant got 14, I got 10 (though of course that was without revision).

Oooh I have to find this!! If I do I shall post my score!

I got 12 :)

Well done  8)