In January 2024, Fourth Doctor companion Louise Jameson returned to Doctor Who in the short promotional film Leela vs the Time War for the release of the Season 15 Blu-ray boxset. It showed Jameson’s character on Gallifrey in the final moments of the Time War being threatened with extermination by the Daleks. “This is not how this ends,” says Leela, before transporting herself to the safety of the Tardis.
As reported by RadioTimes.com, writer/director Pete McTighe said at a BFI screening of 1977 episode “Horror of Fang Rock”, that he saw the new scene as “an opportunity to right [the] wrong” of Jameson’s character’s original exit, in which Leela was hurriedly married off to a Gallifreyan Time Lord.
McTighe has written increasingly ambitious promotional films for these series releases with original actors returning to play their roles, though the complexity of producing them means they won’t be done for every boxset.
As reported by RadioTimes.com, writer/director Pete McTighe said at a BFI screening of 1977 episode “Horror of Fang Rock”, that he saw the new scene as “an opportunity to right [the] wrong” of Jameson’s character’s original exit, in which Leela was hurriedly married off to a Gallifreyan Time Lord.
McTighe has written increasingly ambitious promotional films for these series releases with original actors returning to play their roles, though the complexity of producing them means they won’t be done for every boxset.
- 2/15/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Sarah Jane Smith, played by the late, great Elisabeth Sladen, was the most important companion in Doctor Who’s history. She played the companion character alongside Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker’s Doctors from 1973 to 1976 and was so successful in the part that she single-handedly made a case for equal billing for the companion character 30 years before it actually happened in the 2005 season.
Looking back, she had such a profound impact on the show and became such a popular character that there was virtually a rejection of other characters in favor of Sarah, leading to the creation of her own spin-off series. But who was Sarah Jane Smith, and how has she evolved in Doctor Who?
Who Is Sarah Jane Smith?
Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter
Sarah Jane Smith is a dogged investigative journalist and a companion of Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor, as well as Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor,...
Looking back, she had such a profound impact on the show and became such a popular character that there was virtually a rejection of other characters in favor of Sarah, leading to the creation of her own spin-off series. But who was Sarah Jane Smith, and how has she evolved in Doctor Who?
Who Is Sarah Jane Smith?
Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter
Sarah Jane Smith is a dogged investigative journalist and a companion of Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor, as well as Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor,...
- 5/11/2022
- by Jason Collins
- buddytv.com
It’s not unusual, in the world of Doctor Who, for the same actor to play more than one role on screen. From classic to modern Doctor Who, Nicholas Courtney, Ian Marter, Lalla Ward, Jaqueline Hill, Jean Marsh, Adjoa Andoh, Eve Myles, Naoko Mori, Vinette Robinson and more have all played multiple parts in the whoniverse. Before she debuted as companion Martha Jones, Freema Agyeman was a Torchwood employee who fell foul of the Cybermen in series two’s ‘Army of Ghosts’. Karen Gillan was a seer in series four episode ‘The Fires of Pompeii’ before she recurred as Eleven’s companion Amy Pond. Even the Doctor has had test runs. Colin Baker played a Gallifreyan commander in season twenty before taking over from Peter Davison. Peter Capaldi appeared in ‘The Fires of Pompeii’ as well as playing John Frobisher on Torchwood before taking up residence in the Tardis.
In...
In...
- 9/21/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Despite recurring criticism for some areas of the Doctor Who fandom, current showrunner Chris Chibnall looks set to continue for at least another season, due to be released in 2021. One of the most striking features of season 12 of the show has been Chibnall turning away from the more standalone approach of season 11, and embracing characters from the history of the series. And now, he’s revealed which existing characters from Doctor Who canon he’d like to bring back to play along Jodie Whittaker.
Speaking as part of an interview with BBC America, Chibnall gave his choices for which much-loved characters would work well in contemporary Who, saying:
“I would really love to bring back Sarah Jane. People working on the show now worked with Lis Sladen, and everybody still remembers her so fondly and talks about her a lot. I would love to see her with the Thirteenth Doctor.
Speaking as part of an interview with BBC America, Chibnall gave his choices for which much-loved characters would work well in contemporary Who, saying:
“I would really love to bring back Sarah Jane. People working on the show now worked with Lis Sladen, and everybody still remembers her so fondly and talks about her a lot. I would love to see her with the Thirteenth Doctor.
- 2/23/2020
- by Jessica James
- We Got This Covered
In news that’s arrived as a special treat for fans on Doctor Who‘s 55th birthday, the legendary Tom Baker – who played the Fourth Doctor throughout the 1970s – is returning to the Whoniverse to write a brand new novel starring his own version of the Time Lord. What’s more, it’s based on an old script that he hoped to have turned into a movie.
Scratchman was originally written as a screenplay by Baker and co-star Ian Marter (companion Harry Sullivan) while they were working on the show. The pair had lofty ambitions for their highly-imaginative tale, too, as they wanted the central villain, the titular Scratchman, to be played by horror icon Vincent Price and the grand third act was to have taken place on a giant pinball machine.
Obviously, Baker struggled to find funds to support the project but now, 40 years later, BBC Books has approached...
Scratchman was originally written as a screenplay by Baker and co-star Ian Marter (companion Harry Sullivan) while they were working on the show. The pair had lofty ambitions for their highly-imaginative tale, too, as they wanted the central villain, the titular Scratchman, to be played by horror icon Vincent Price and the grand third act was to have taken place on a giant pinball machine.
Obviously, Baker struggled to find funds to support the project but now, 40 years later, BBC Books has approached...
- 11/23/2018
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Doctor Who is coming to a movie theater near you. BBC Studios Americas and Fathom Events are teaming for a one-night-only U.S. theatrical release of Doctor Who: Genesis of the Daleks, the 1975 movie starring Tom Baker. The never-before-seen 90-minute director’s cut will hit big screens Monday, June 11.
The film will be followed by an exclusive interview with Baker, who embodied the Time Lord for a record seven seasons, from 1974-81. Genesis of the Daleks combines episodes from the iconic sci-fi series’ 12th season, which will be released on home video June 19.
Here’s the movie’s logline: The Fourth Doctor and his companions Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter) are transported thousands of years into the past to the ancient planet Skaro where they are given a mission from the Time Lords to prevent the evil scientist Davros from introducing to the universe the...
The film will be followed by an exclusive interview with Baker, who embodied the Time Lord for a record seven seasons, from 1974-81. Genesis of the Daleks combines episodes from the iconic sci-fi series’ 12th season, which will be released on home video June 19.
Here’s the movie’s logline: The Fourth Doctor and his companions Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter) are transported thousands of years into the past to the ancient planet Skaro where they are given a mission from the Time Lords to prevent the evil scientist Davros from introducing to the universe the...
- 4/30/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
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Our viewing notes and geeky spots for Doctor Who series 9: The Zygon Inversion...
We’re now eight episodes into this series of Doctor Who, and after tonight you can’t complain that they’re not giving Peter Capaldi enough to do. In an episode unlike any we’ve had before, there didn’t seem to be much room for references, allusions and other such things; the ones we did spot are listed below. Did we get them all, or were we too caught up in Mr Capaldi’s eyebrows to notice some? Let us know in the comments!
Five References Rapid
This isn’t the first time aliens have posed as policemen; in 1971’s Terror Of The Autons, a memorable sequence saw the third Doctor pull off a policeman’s face to reveal a blank plastic dummy underneath. The sequence drew a number of complaints -...
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Our viewing notes and geeky spots for Doctor Who series 9: The Zygon Inversion...
We’re now eight episodes into this series of Doctor Who, and after tonight you can’t complain that they’re not giving Peter Capaldi enough to do. In an episode unlike any we’ve had before, there didn’t seem to be much room for references, allusions and other such things; the ones we did spot are listed below. Did we get them all, or were we too caught up in Mr Capaldi’s eyebrows to notice some? Let us know in the comments!
Five References Rapid
This isn’t the first time aliens have posed as policemen; in 1971’s Terror Of The Autons, a memorable sequence saw the third Doctor pull off a policeman’s face to reveal a blank plastic dummy underneath. The sequence drew a number of complaints -...
- 11/6/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Digital Spy presents Doctor Who Week - seven days of special features celebrating the return of the world's favourite sci-fi series, and the arrival of a brand new Doctor - on August 23.
We've known he was coming since August 2013 - and he's officially been our Doctor since Christmas - but in a mere three days, Doctor Who fans will finally get the chance to size up Peter Capaldi's debut as a new, "more mysterious" Time Lord.
Between 1963 and 2014, the show's had 11 stabs at introducing a new Doctor - so before Steven Moffat's 'Deep Breath' is unveiled to the general public, let's take a look back at those other attempts - from the awesome to the audacious to the seriously misjudged.
The musical world of Doctor Who: From Ron Grainer to The Klf
An Unearthly Child
Aired November 23-December 14, 1963
Doctor Who fans accustomed to David Tennant...
We've known he was coming since August 2013 - and he's officially been our Doctor since Christmas - but in a mere three days, Doctor Who fans will finally get the chance to size up Peter Capaldi's debut as a new, "more mysterious" Time Lord.
Between 1963 and 2014, the show's had 11 stabs at introducing a new Doctor - so before Steven Moffat's 'Deep Breath' is unveiled to the general public, let's take a look back at those other attempts - from the awesome to the audacious to the seriously misjudged.
The musical world of Doctor Who: From Ron Grainer to The Klf
An Unearthly Child
Aired November 23-December 14, 1963
Doctor Who fans accustomed to David Tennant...
- 8/20/2014
- Digital Spy
Peter Capaldi is far from the only Doctor Who actor to appear in multiple roles. Mark talks us through the many others to have done so...
It's been just over a year since the BBC announced that Peter Capaldi would play the Twelfth Doctor. There were rumblings of his casting in the week before the announcement was made, to the point where bookies stopped taking bets on it.
We've spent the last twelve months in anticipation of what seems like dream casting for the Time Lord, but some of us were a little sceptical that an actor of his profile and standing would take the role until it was actually announced, but “he's been in it before” was not atop the list of reasons why we thought it was too good to be true.
Over the course of 50 years, Doctor Who has inevitably reused actors as different characters- there are...
It's been just over a year since the BBC announced that Peter Capaldi would play the Twelfth Doctor. There were rumblings of his casting in the week before the announcement was made, to the point where bookies stopped taking bets on it.
We've spent the last twelve months in anticipation of what seems like dream casting for the Time Lord, but some of us were a little sceptical that an actor of his profile and standing would take the role until it was actually announced, but “he's been in it before” was not atop the list of reasons why we thought it was too good to be true.
Over the course of 50 years, Doctor Who has inevitably reused actors as different characters- there are...
- 8/12/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
The Letter, about the early life of Tom Baker, is heading for production soon. Here are some details...
Comfortably one of the funniest autobiographies we've ever had the pleasure is Tom Baker's Who On Earth Is Tom Baker?, which we talked about in the Den Of Geek Book Club (which is a thing), right here.
Now, however, news has reached us, via The Digital Fix, that there's a one-off drama heading to our screens that tells the story of Tom Baker's early life. A casting call for a project called The Letter has appeared online, with the focus on "how a chance letter to the BBC when working as a builder's labourer lead to him becoming the most iconic Doctor Who".
The following roles, lists the casting call, are all required for a single day of filming. Given that contracts are on a "deferred profit share" basis and...
Comfortably one of the funniest autobiographies we've ever had the pleasure is Tom Baker's Who On Earth Is Tom Baker?, which we talked about in the Den Of Geek Book Club (which is a thing), right here.
Now, however, news has reached us, via The Digital Fix, that there's a one-off drama heading to our screens that tells the story of Tom Baker's early life. A casting call for a project called The Letter has appeared online, with the focus on "how a chance letter to the BBC when working as a builder's labourer lead to him becoming the most iconic Doctor Who".
The following roles, lists the casting call, are all required for a single day of filming. Given that contracts are on a "deferred profit share" basis and...
- 8/11/2014
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Andrew argues that Doctor Who series 8 could do worse than look to Hinchcliffe/Holmes story The Ark in Space for inspiration...
4C or not 4C? (Yes, it's a cryptic start, but frankly we don't have enough production code puns on the website). Let us speculate, just for a change, about what series eight of Doctor Who holds in store.
Is Peter Capaldi's Twelth Doctor going to be a less risky version of the Sixth? Initially unlikeable, but with the audience warming to him as he progresses?
Is Clara going to become a more rounded character, with the writers raising their game to reflect the quality of Jenna Coleman's performance?
Will you read a comment along the lines of 'Actually there were twenty six seasons of Doctor Who already, so I don't see why you're referring to it as “series eight”'?
Maybe, maybe, and yes.
For those of...
4C or not 4C? (Yes, it's a cryptic start, but frankly we don't have enough production code puns on the website). Let us speculate, just for a change, about what series eight of Doctor Who holds in store.
Is Peter Capaldi's Twelth Doctor going to be a less risky version of the Sixth? Initially unlikeable, but with the audience warming to him as he progresses?
Is Clara going to become a more rounded character, with the writers raising their game to reflect the quality of Jenna Coleman's performance?
Will you read a comment along the lines of 'Actually there were twenty six seasons of Doctor Who already, so I don't see why you're referring to it as “series eight”'?
Maybe, maybe, and yes.
For those of...
- 7/30/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Ever since Former Doctor Who Star Sylvester McCoy revealed that he had some inside information on the upcoming season 8 episodes of the popular BBC series--which will feature Peter Capaldi stepping into the iconic role of the heroic Time Lord—there has been speculation that the Doctor’s greatest rival, the Master, will be back. If he does return, who should play him?
Back in March, Sylvester Mc Coy--who portrayed the enigmatic seventh Doctor in the classic Doctor Who series—gave an interview with Zap2it at the Newcastle Film and Comic Convention, where he reported that he had inside information on the return of the Doctor’s arch rival, the Master. According to McCoy, the newest incarnation of the Master will be “very, very scary”. Furthermore, there is a picture from this season of a shrunken Tardis (see below) and we all know that in the classic series, the Master loved to shrink things.
Back in March, Sylvester Mc Coy--who portrayed the enigmatic seventh Doctor in the classic Doctor Who series—gave an interview with Zap2it at the Newcastle Film and Comic Convention, where he reported that he had inside information on the return of the Doctor’s arch rival, the Master. According to McCoy, the newest incarnation of the Master will be “very, very scary”. Furthermore, there is a picture from this season of a shrunken Tardis (see below) and we all know that in the classic series, the Master loved to shrink things.
- 7/7/2014
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
Ever since Former Doctor Who Star Sylvester McCoy revealed that he had some inside information on the upcoming season 8 episodes of the popular BBC series--which will feature Peter Capaldi stepping into the iconic role of the heroic Time Lord—there has been speculation that the Doctor’s greatest rival, the Master, will be back. If he does return, who should play him?
Back in March, Sylvester Mc Coy--who portrayed the enigmatic seventh Doctor in the classic Doctor Who series—gave an interview with Zap2it at the Newcastle Film and Comic Convention, where he reported that he had inside information on the return of the Doctor’s arch rival, the Master. According to McCoy, the newest incarnation of the Master will be “very, very scary”. Furthermore, there is a picture from this season of a shrunken Tardis (see below) and we all know that in the classic series, the Master loved to shrink things.
Back in March, Sylvester Mc Coy--who portrayed the enigmatic seventh Doctor in the classic Doctor Who series—gave an interview with Zap2it at the Newcastle Film and Comic Convention, where he reported that he had inside information on the return of the Doctor’s arch rival, the Master. According to McCoy, the newest incarnation of the Master will be “very, very scary”. Furthermore, there is a picture from this season of a shrunken Tardis (see below) and we all know that in the classic series, the Master loved to shrink things.
- 7/7/2014
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
Feature Alex Westthorp 9 Apr 2014 - 07:00
In the next part of his series, Alex talks us through the film careers of the second and fourth Doctors, Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker...
Read Alex's retrospective on the film careers of William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee, here.
Like their fellow Time Lord actors, William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker also shared certain genres of film. Both appeared, before and after their time as the Doctor, in horror movies and both worked on Ray Harryhausen Sinbad films.
Patrick George Troughton was born in Mill Hill, London on March 25th 1920. He made his film debut aged 28 in the 1948 B-Movie The Escape. Troughton's was a very minor role. Among the better known cast was William Hartnell, though even Hartnell's role was small and the two didn't share any scenes together. From the late Forties, Troughton found more success on the small screen,...
In the next part of his series, Alex talks us through the film careers of the second and fourth Doctors, Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker...
Read Alex's retrospective on the film careers of William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee, here.
Like their fellow Time Lord actors, William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker also shared certain genres of film. Both appeared, before and after their time as the Doctor, in horror movies and both worked on Ray Harryhausen Sinbad films.
Patrick George Troughton was born in Mill Hill, London on March 25th 1920. He made his film debut aged 28 in the 1948 B-Movie The Escape. Troughton's was a very minor role. Among the better known cast was William Hartnell, though even Hartnell's role was small and the two didn't share any scenes together. From the late Forties, Troughton found more success on the small screen,...
- 4/8/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Harry Sullivan
Portrayed by: Ian Marter
Doctor(s): Fourth Doctor
Tenure: 7 stories, from Robot (Dec, 1974) to Terror of the Zygons (Sept, 1975)
Background: Dr. Harry Sullivan is a surgeon working for Unit when he’s called in to check on the Third Doctor after his fatal dose of radiation at the end of Planet of the Spiders. He arrives just after the Doctor regenerates and is tasked by the Brig to give the Fourth Doctor a physical, leading to one of the most entertaining opening scenes with a new Doctor in the series’ run. Afterward the events of Robot, Harry is swept away in the Tardis for the Doctor’s next adventure, one Tardis trip that lasts the next five stories.
Family/Friends: Harry’s family isn’t discussed on the show, but he does have a close relationship with his colleagues at Unit.
Personality: Harry is brave and capable,...
Portrayed by: Ian Marter
Doctor(s): Fourth Doctor
Tenure: 7 stories, from Robot (Dec, 1974) to Terror of the Zygons (Sept, 1975)
Background: Dr. Harry Sullivan is a surgeon working for Unit when he’s called in to check on the Third Doctor after his fatal dose of radiation at the end of Planet of the Spiders. He arrives just after the Doctor regenerates and is tasked by the Brig to give the Fourth Doctor a physical, leading to one of the most entertaining opening scenes with a new Doctor in the series’ run. Afterward the events of Robot, Harry is swept away in the Tardis for the Doctor’s next adventure, one Tardis trip that lasts the next five stories.
Family/Friends: Harry’s family isn’t discussed on the show, but he does have a close relationship with his colleagues at Unit.
Personality: Harry is brave and capable,...
- 11/20/2013
- by Kate Kulzick
- SoundOnSight
Digital Spy readers named David Tennant as Doctor Who's greatest ever Doctor - now, with less than three weeks to go until the 50th anniversary, DS is embarking on a new quest... to list the top 10 Who stories of all time.
After paying heed to 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang', this week we've opted for another Tom Baker tale - the third greatest Doctor Who story of all time transports us to the battle-ravaged planet of Skaro, where a war between two races culminates in the creation of a scientific abomination...
3. Genesis Of The Daleks (1975) - Six episodes - written by Terry Nation
"Do I have the right?"
Yes, the giant clam is rubbish.
With that out of the way, let's get about appreciating everything that's amazing about 'Genesis of the Daleks' - without question, Terry Nation's best Doctor Who script and indeed one of the show's finest ever serials.
After paying heed to 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang', this week we've opted for another Tom Baker tale - the third greatest Doctor Who story of all time transports us to the battle-ravaged planet of Skaro, where a war between two races culminates in the creation of a scientific abomination...
3. Genesis Of The Daleks (1975) - Six episodes - written by Terry Nation
"Do I have the right?"
Yes, the giant clam is rubbish.
With that out of the way, let's get about appreciating everything that's amazing about 'Genesis of the Daleks' - without question, Terry Nation's best Doctor Who script and indeed one of the show's finest ever serials.
- 11/4/2013
- Digital Spy
Over the summer I came across an article at the Mirror about Doctor Who’s location manager, Iwan Roberts. I put the link aside and never found the right time to post it — it’s worth a read if you’re a production dork, or if you want to learn about the places in Cardiff they use over and over again — but when I rechecked it again today, I saw something I missed the first time around (or perhaps it wasn’t there).
Smack in the middle of the article — in a sidebar sort of way, not actually related at all to the Roberts’ piece — is an incredible collection of behind-the-scenes photos from the classic series, none of which I had ever seen before. And I’m so familiar with the material that’s generally available that I was astonished to find a trove of “new” old stuff.
Here’s a sampling.
Smack in the middle of the article — in a sidebar sort of way, not actually related at all to the Roberts’ piece — is an incredible collection of behind-the-scenes photos from the classic series, none of which I had ever seen before. And I’m so familiar with the material that’s generally available that I was astonished to find a trove of “new” old stuff.
Here’s a sampling.
- 10/4/2013
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Review Andrew Blair 30 Sep 2013 - 08:15
Andrew checks out the DVD release of Tom Baker story Terror Of The Zygons...
This review contains spoilers.
It's aptly named, is Terror of the Zygons. Its opening episode is a slow-build towards one gloriously unexpected shock moment. Even now, when you know it's coming, it's a brilliant moment of jarring editing. A sudden reveal, a scream, a zoom into a shadowy monstrous face, cue credits. You don't quite have time to process it before its over.
That's after some enjoyably ripe Hammer horror scene-setting in the north-east of Scotland. Tales of ancient horror are spun to incredulous newcomers, and we occasionally cut away to ineffable alien eyes. Most formidable of all, of course, is Tom Baker. Here he's in prime unnerving form amidst a lot of competition. Perhaps there was a competition between him, Lillias Walker and Robert Russell. That would certainly explain a lot.
Andrew checks out the DVD release of Tom Baker story Terror Of The Zygons...
This review contains spoilers.
It's aptly named, is Terror of the Zygons. Its opening episode is a slow-build towards one gloriously unexpected shock moment. Even now, when you know it's coming, it's a brilliant moment of jarring editing. A sudden reveal, a scream, a zoom into a shadowy monstrous face, cue credits. You don't quite have time to process it before its over.
That's after some enjoyably ripe Hammer horror scene-setting in the north-east of Scotland. Tales of ancient horror are spun to incredulous newcomers, and we occasionally cut away to ineffable alien eyes. Most formidable of all, of course, is Tom Baker. Here he's in prime unnerving form amidst a lot of competition. Perhaps there was a competition between him, Lillias Walker and Robert Russell. That would certainly explain a lot.
- 9/30/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Hayley Atwell
Kieran Kinsella
Acorn Media are providing some much needed relief to those of us who are still upset about the BBC’s decision to cancel Zen. The Brit-loving DVD distributors are giving a U.S. debut to the Sky crime drama Falcon. Ok, so it’s not set in Rome but Seville is a pretty good setting as it is a fascinating city steeped in history and culture. No, Rufus Sewell isn’t in it but it does feature Kiwi actor Marton Csokas, who I am told is equally popular with the ladies.
As with Zen, the producers of Falcon got their inspiration from a popular series of crime novels. Wisely or not, the producers of both shows decided that all or most of the characters should have decidedly British accents despite the fact that they are in Italy or Spain. That element of the show takes some...
Kieran Kinsella
Acorn Media are providing some much needed relief to those of us who are still upset about the BBC’s decision to cancel Zen. The Brit-loving DVD distributors are giving a U.S. debut to the Sky crime drama Falcon. Ok, so it’s not set in Rome but Seville is a pretty good setting as it is a fascinating city steeped in history and culture. No, Rufus Sewell isn’t in it but it does feature Kiwi actor Marton Csokas, who I am told is equally popular with the ladies.
As with Zen, the producers of Falcon got their inspiration from a popular series of crime novels. Wisely or not, the producers of both shows decided that all or most of the characters should have decidedly British accents despite the fact that they are in Italy or Spain. That element of the show takes some...
- 6/30/2013
- by Edited by K Kinsella
Using the new Doctor Who Limited Edition Gift Set, your noble author will make his way through as much of the modern series as he can before the Christmas episode,The Snowmen.
Humanity’s natural response to the order “no” is “why?” Put up a sign marked “wet paint”, and count all the people who touch what it’s hanging on. And if you bury the devil, it’s a poor idea to put him on…
The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit
by Matt Jones
Directed by James Strong
The Doctor and Rose land on a space base orbiting around a black hole (this is of course impossible), filled with writing so old the Tardis can’t translate it (this is of course impossible). The crew of the base explain that there’s an ancient power source at the core of the planet so strong it’s not only holding the planet in place,...
Humanity’s natural response to the order “no” is “why?” Put up a sign marked “wet paint”, and count all the people who touch what it’s hanging on. And if you bury the devil, it’s a poor idea to put him on…
The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit
by Matt Jones
Directed by James Strong
The Doctor and Rose land on a space base orbiting around a black hole (this is of course impossible), filled with writing so old the Tardis can’t translate it (this is of course impossible). The crew of the base explain that there’s an ancient power source at the core of the planet so strong it’s not only holding the planet in place,...
- 12/22/2012
- by Vinnie Bartilucci
- Comicmix.com
Who’s your favorite Doctor?
I discovered the Time Lord back in the late 1970s (I think), when Wnet, the New York PBS station, started running the Tom Baker episodes. Baker’s Doctor, with his floppy-brimmed hat, outback duster, and loonnnng, multi-colored, scarf – did Granny Who knit it for him? – was the itinerant cosmic hobo. Only instead of hopping the rails, he “tripped the light fantastic” across the universe in the Tardis. Companions Sara Jane Smith (the late Elisabeth Sladen) and Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter) were – seen with the advantage of hindsight –sort of “Mulder/Scully” prototypes, with Sara Jane as the believing Mulder and Harry as the skeptic. I can’t say that the British military operations called Unit – Unified Intelligence Taskforce – was the FBI, although Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart did sort of act like the Assistant Director Walter Skinner, walking the high-wire tightrope between helping the Doctor and answering to his superiors.
I discovered the Time Lord back in the late 1970s (I think), when Wnet, the New York PBS station, started running the Tom Baker episodes. Baker’s Doctor, with his floppy-brimmed hat, outback duster, and loonnnng, multi-colored, scarf – did Granny Who knit it for him? – was the itinerant cosmic hobo. Only instead of hopping the rails, he “tripped the light fantastic” across the universe in the Tardis. Companions Sara Jane Smith (the late Elisabeth Sladen) and Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter) were – seen with the advantage of hindsight –sort of “Mulder/Scully” prototypes, with Sara Jane as the believing Mulder and Harry as the skeptic. I can’t say that the British military operations called Unit – Unified Intelligence Taskforce – was the FBI, although Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart did sort of act like the Assistant Director Walter Skinner, walking the high-wire tightrope between helping the Doctor and answering to his superiors.
- 8/6/2012
- by Mindy Newell
- Comicmix.com
“The very brilliant David Yates was talking off the cuff and a little prematurely: there simply are no developed plans for a Doctor Who movie at the moment. But it’s an incredibly exciting idea to get that magic blue box flying across our cinema screens, so stand by for further developments.
However, if and when the movie happens, it will need to star television’s Doctor Who – and there’s only every one of those at a time. And it would need to come out of the same production operation that makes the series. Doctor Who is a vitally important BBC brand with a huge international audience and not even Hollywood can start this one from scratch.
So sorry if there’s been any confusion, but on the plus side it has reminded us all what an exciting prospect this could be. Whatever happens, the BBC and BBC Worldwide...
However, if and when the movie happens, it will need to star television’s Doctor Who – and there’s only every one of those at a time. And it would need to come out of the same production operation that makes the series. Doctor Who is a vitally important BBC brand with a huge international audience and not even Hollywood can start this one from scratch.
So sorry if there’s been any confusion, but on the plus side it has reminded us all what an exciting prospect this could be. Whatever happens, the BBC and BBC Worldwide...
- 5/20/2012
- by Rupert David Bath
- Obsessed with Film
After defeating Omega and meeting his former selves, the Doctor is given control of the Tardis again and his first adventure finds him joining a peepshow. Parlae the carny? Step right up and see the ferocious Drashigs if you dare. The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) take the Tardis on a test flight. They arrive on a cargo ship, the SS Bernice, that appears to be crossing the Indian Ocean in 1926 but something seems odd with the passengers Major Daly (Tenniel Evans), his daughter Claire (Jenny McCracken), and ship.s officer Lt. Andrews (Ian Marter). Meanwhile on the planet Inter Minor, showman Vorg (Leslie Dwyer) and his assistant Shirna (Cheryl Hall) arrive in unceremonious fashion...
- 3/29/2012
- by Jeff Swindoll
- Monsters and Critics
Huzzah! After much media brooding and betting about the identity of the new Doctor Who companion, actress Jenna-Louise Coleman was announced at a press call last Wednesday.
The speculation had been gathering at pace of late, with a few whispers of Sophia Myles somehow coming back to Who after playing Madame du Pompadour six-odd years ago. Possibly this was some sneaky red herring paper trail left by Steven Moffat who urged his Twitter followers to follow La Myles, while a forthcoming interview in Doctor Who Magazine could have also been a clue. But no – quite how Sophia will be involved in the next series (at the time of writing this) is a mystery, so apologies if early next week she's announced as the next incarnation of The Rani.
What else? Waterloo Road, a programme that I dip into about once in a blue moon. It's an odd one in that...
The speculation had been gathering at pace of late, with a few whispers of Sophia Myles somehow coming back to Who after playing Madame du Pompadour six-odd years ago. Possibly this was some sneaky red herring paper trail left by Steven Moffat who urged his Twitter followers to follow La Myles, while a forthcoming interview in Doctor Who Magazine could have also been a clue. But no – quite how Sophia will be involved in the next series (at the time of writing this) is a mystery, so apologies if early next week she's announced as the next incarnation of The Rani.
What else? Waterloo Road, a programme that I dip into about once in a blue moon. It's an odd one in that...
- 3/28/2012
- Shadowlocked
If you’re familiar with the television program and science fiction phenomenon that is Doctor Who, you probably know who and what exactly the “Daleks” are. However, for those unfortunate few who have never seen or heard of Doctor Who, first stop everything you are doing and read Tom Salinsky’s excellent beginners piece for where you should start!
After you’ve done that, read on…
Doctor Who centers on a Timelord, aka The Doctor, who travels through time and space in a 1960s police box called the Tardis, which stands for “Time and Relative Dimension In Space.” First shown on British TV in 1963, Doctor Who has become a cultural phenomenon in this country, and since the series was rebooted eight years ago, has taken America by storm. Series Six was shown on BBC America last year to great ratings, and Doctor Who was also the number one most downloaded...
After you’ve done that, read on…
Doctor Who centers on a Timelord, aka The Doctor, who travels through time and space in a 1960s police box called the Tardis, which stands for “Time and Relative Dimension In Space.” First shown on British TV in 1963, Doctor Who has become a cultural phenomenon in this country, and since the series was rebooted eight years ago, has taken America by storm. Series Six was shown on BBC America last year to great ratings, and Doctor Who was also the number one most downloaded...
- 2/16/2012
- by Brad Christensen
- Obsessed with Film
Remembering Doctor Who’s Elisabeth Sladen
This is a piece I never thought I’d write. At the very least, not until I was much older and it might be something that was almost expected because of advanced age. But here I am, still not quite believing what I’ve been told, regardless of how reliable the source may be.
My friend, Elisabeth Sladen, has died, losing what is being reported as a long fight with cancer. Not that you’d have known it while watching her work over the past several years. Her own series, Sarah Jane Adventures, had become very successful and she had just signed with Big Finish to perform alongside her former co-star, Tom Baker, in a new series of Doctor Who audio dramas. We were supposed to have Lis and Sarah Jane around for a long, long time.
Like most people reading this, I was...
This is a piece I never thought I’d write. At the very least, not until I was much older and it might be something that was almost expected because of advanced age. But here I am, still not quite believing what I’ve been told, regardless of how reliable the source may be.
My friend, Elisabeth Sladen, has died, losing what is being reported as a long fight with cancer. Not that you’d have known it while watching her work over the past several years. Her own series, Sarah Jane Adventures, had become very successful and she had just signed with Big Finish to perform alongside her former co-star, Tom Baker, in a new series of Doctor Who audio dramas. We were supposed to have Lis and Sarah Jane around for a long, long time.
Like most people reading this, I was...
- 4/28/2011
- by UncaScroogeMcD
Tom Baker talks about Lis Sladen at his Web site: Lis Sladen was very important to me, you know. When I joined the little world of Doctor Who, Lis was already a star. She had an enormous success with Jon Pertwee. She was good pals with the Brigadier, our beloved Nicholas Courtney; she knew all the regular directors.... So when I replaced Jon Pertwee, it must have been an anxious time for Lis; it was a very anxious time for me. Following in the big footsteps of Jon was daunting. Tom Baker? Never heard of him. And so we started on the first story under Barry Letts as director. We did the location stuff first and I just obeyed orders; running about, with the Brigadier and that silly car Bessie Trotwood, I think it was called: too small for me, but also in its own way a "character". Jon loved cars.
- 4/21/2011
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Liz Sladen says goodbye to Tom Baker's Doctor at the end of The Hand Of Fear:
Elisabeth Sladen, Doctor Who's very own plucky Metropolitan journalist and all-time great companion, has passed away at the age of 63.
Born in Liverpool on February 1st 1948, Elisabeth's performing roots started at a very young age, with a keen interest in dancing and one appearance with the Royal Ballet. Drama school beckoned after this, and by the early 1960s, she was working at the Liverpool Playhouse repertory company - where she met her husband Brian Miller (Dugdale from Snakedance).
Liz's first on-screen work was as an uncredited extra in Gerry And The Pacemakers film, Ferry Cross The Mersey in 1965. By the early 1970s, she was starting to gain roles in popular TV series such as Coronation Street, Doomwatch and Z Cars. She nearly won the role of Betty in popular sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em,...
Elisabeth Sladen, Doctor Who's very own plucky Metropolitan journalist and all-time great companion, has passed away at the age of 63.
Born in Liverpool on February 1st 1948, Elisabeth's performing roots started at a very young age, with a keen interest in dancing and one appearance with the Royal Ballet. Drama school beckoned after this, and by the early 1960s, she was working at the Liverpool Playhouse repertory company - where she met her husband Brian Miller (Dugdale from Snakedance).
Liz's first on-screen work was as an uncredited extra in Gerry And The Pacemakers film, Ferry Cross The Mersey in 1965. By the early 1970s, she was starting to gain roles in popular TV series such as Coronation Street, Doomwatch and Z Cars. She nearly won the role of Betty in popular sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em,...
- 4/20/2011
- Shadowlocked
The turbulent decade of the 1980s – not much fun, eh? Thatcherism at the height of its powers. The emergence of the yuppies. Not to mention the likes of mannequin crooners like Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet dominating the charts like suited bankers. So no wonder Doctor Who wanted to go revisit the 1960s for inspiration.
Think I'm joking? Well think on this. We've had Hartnell-like temper flares from the main man Davison. We've had an all-new historical adventure. And now, in true Daleks Masterplan-style, a companion is about to bite the dust.
Yes, time's run out for Adric, everyone's favourite laughing stock. He's about to buy it in spectacular fashion at the end of Earthshock, one of the jewels in season nineteen's crown. The great thing about this at the time was that it came totally out of the blue. Normally, companions – of late – tend to leave of their own accord or get married.
Think I'm joking? Well think on this. We've had Hartnell-like temper flares from the main man Davison. We've had an all-new historical adventure. And now, in true Daleks Masterplan-style, a companion is about to bite the dust.
Yes, time's run out for Adric, everyone's favourite laughing stock. He's about to buy it in spectacular fashion at the end of Earthshock, one of the jewels in season nineteen's crown. The great thing about this at the time was that it came totally out of the blue. Normally, companions – of late – tend to leave of their own accord or get married.
- 12/29/2010
- Shadowlocked
Some comments on my review of the Doctor Who Christmas Special 'A Christmas Carol' got me thinking about how it came to be that everyone's favourite Time Lord can never seem to get any 'action', romantically speaking. It's not been for want of attention or admirers; even back in the William Hartnell days, The Doctor was capable of flirting and even having a matrimonial 'near-miss' in the 1964 Who outing 'The Aztecs', so Matt Smith's Doctor is breaking no new ground in running away from connubial bliss with the 1957 version of Marilyn Monroe in 'A Christmas Carol'.
Can 47 years of sexual tension ever be released without killing the fundamental dynamic of the show? I've come to believe that it probably can't - which, if true, puts the Gallifreyan rogue at least neck-and-neck with Star Trek's Mr. Spock in terms of 'attractive unavailability'.
When the show...
Can 47 years of sexual tension ever be released without killing the fundamental dynamic of the show? I've come to believe that it probably can't - which, if true, puts the Gallifreyan rogue at least neck-and-neck with Star Trek's Mr. Spock in terms of 'attractive unavailability'.
When the show...
- 12/27/2010
- Shadowlocked
How soon we forget. In our information age, episodes of Doctor Who are easily found. However, in 1983 it was harder than we could imagine. That was until the BBC released one solitary episode on the fledgling VHS tape . Revenge of the Cybermen. The time ring (after Genesis of the Daleks) takes the Doctor (Tom Baker), Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen), and Harry (Ian Marter) back to space station Nerva, but to a period many thousands of years earlier than their previous visit (The Ark in Space). The station is currently acting as a beacon warning space traffic of the existence of Voga, a new asteroid orbiting Jupiter. A plague has decimated the crew of the quarantined space station...
- 11/22/2010
- by Jeff Swindoll
- Monsters and Critics
The British Board of Film Classification has cleared a trailer for a forthcoming double DVD release of Revenge of the Cybermen and Silver Nemesis.
Revenge of the Cybermen is a fourth Doctor story first shown in 1975. As well as Tom Baker it stars Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith and Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan. Written by Gerry Davis, the co-creator of the Cybermen, and Robert Holmes, the story is set on Nerva Beacon and on Voga the fabled planet of gold. It was the first story for the Cybermen since they appeared in the 1968 second Doctor story The Invasion and their last until Earthshock in 1982. Other cast members include Ronald Leigh-Hunt, Christopher Robbie, Jeremy Wilkin, William Marlowe, Michael Wisher, Kevin Stoney and David Collings. This story was the first Doctor Who story to be released on VHS in October 1983 with a retail price of £39.99.
Silver Nemesis was a seventh Doctor story,...
Revenge of the Cybermen is a fourth Doctor story first shown in 1975. As well as Tom Baker it stars Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith and Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan. Written by Gerry Davis, the co-creator of the Cybermen, and Robert Holmes, the story is set on Nerva Beacon and on Voga the fabled planet of gold. It was the first story for the Cybermen since they appeared in the 1968 second Doctor story The Invasion and their last until Earthshock in 1982. Other cast members include Ronald Leigh-Hunt, Christopher Robbie, Jeremy Wilkin, William Marlowe, Michael Wisher, Kevin Stoney and David Collings. This story was the first Doctor Who story to be released on VHS in October 1983 with a retail price of £39.99.
Silver Nemesis was a seventh Doctor story,...
- 4/21/2010
- by Marcus
- The Doctor Who News Page
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