As the actor stars in a new thriller, here’s your chance to ask him about Withnail, Doctor Who and Lesbian Vampire Killers
It’s funny how life works out. Liverpool-born actor Paul McGann had left school and was working in a shoe shop when he bumped into his old schoolteacher, Joe Hartley, who had given him the lead role in a school production of Antony and Cleopatra. Feeling McGann was wasting his talents fitting shoes, Hartley suggested he apply to Rada – which lead to a part in the snooker drama Give Us a Break opposite Robert Lindsay, then the lead role in Alan Bleasdale’s controversial first world war drama The Monocled Mutineer.
The rest is history. McGann went on to star as Marwood, the eponymous I to Richard E Grant’s Withnail in 1987 and then was cast as the eighth Doctor in the 1996 TV film, Doctor Who (the...
It’s funny how life works out. Liverpool-born actor Paul McGann had left school and was working in a shoe shop when he bumped into his old schoolteacher, Joe Hartley, who had given him the lead role in a school production of Antony and Cleopatra. Feeling McGann was wasting his talents fitting shoes, Hartley suggested he apply to Rada – which lead to a part in the snooker drama Give Us a Break opposite Robert Lindsay, then the lead role in Alan Bleasdale’s controversial first world war drama The Monocled Mutineer.
The rest is history. McGann went on to star as Marwood, the eponymous I to Richard E Grant’s Withnail in 1987 and then was cast as the eighth Doctor in the 1996 TV film, Doctor Who (the...
- 10/6/2023
- by Rich Pelley
- The Guardian - Film News
Most of this year's Oscar contenders are based on historical events – and there are academics waiting to pounce on every slip-up and blunder. But there is more to a great movie than getting the facts straight
• Top 10 biopics
• Alex von Tunzelmann's Reel History series
It's Oscars time again, and this year many of the big contenders have one thing in common. Two thirds of the contenders for best film are based on historical events. History also picks up four out of five best actor nominations, two out of five best actresses, and three out of five directors. So fierce has the competition among historical films become that it was reported that academic "history assassins" were paid handsomely by marketing consultants to spot errors in other studios' films. These errors would then be filtered out subtly through blogs, undermining rivals' Oscar hopes.
It was rumoured that sniping about the liberties...
• Top 10 biopics
• Alex von Tunzelmann's Reel History series
It's Oscars time again, and this year many of the big contenders have one thing in common. Two thirds of the contenders for best film are based on historical events. History also picks up four out of five best actor nominations, two out of five best actresses, and three out of five directors. So fierce has the competition among historical films become that it was reported that academic "history assassins" were paid handsomely by marketing consultants to spot errors in other studios' films. These errors would then be filtered out subtly through blogs, undermining rivals' Oscar hopes.
It was rumoured that sniping about the liberties...
- 1/31/2014
- by Alex von Tunzelmann
- The Guardian - Film News
Sir Tony Robinson has hit out at Michael Gove MP over recent comments about Blackadder.
The actor and activist - who played Baldrick in the classic BBC comedy - responded to the education secretary's claims that the show used "left-wing academics" to "feed myths" about World War I.
Robinson stated that Gove was practically "slagging off teachers" with his remarks.
In response, the Conservative politician said that Robinson was "wrong" and that he was only attacking "myths", not teachers.
Gove told the Daily Mail that Blackadder had influenced people's understanding of the war by displaying "an unhappy compulsion on the part of some to denigrate virtues such as patriotism, honour and courage".
He wrote: "The war was, of course, an unspeakable tragedy, which robbed this nation of our bravest and best.
"But even as we recall that loss and commemorate the bravery of those who fought, it's important that we...
The actor and activist - who played Baldrick in the classic BBC comedy - responded to the education secretary's claims that the show used "left-wing academics" to "feed myths" about World War I.
Robinson stated that Gove was practically "slagging off teachers" with his remarks.
In response, the Conservative politician said that Robinson was "wrong" and that he was only attacking "myths", not teachers.
Gove told the Daily Mail that Blackadder had influenced people's understanding of the war by displaying "an unhappy compulsion on the part of some to denigrate virtues such as patriotism, honour and courage".
He wrote: "The war was, of course, an unspeakable tragedy, which robbed this nation of our bravest and best.
"But even as we recall that loss and commemorate the bravery of those who fought, it's important that we...
- 1/6/2014
- Digital Spy
Earlier this month, Doctor Who history was made with the unveiling of the mini-episode 'The Night of the Doctor', which finally answered fans' questions about the fate of the eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann.
As the actor with the shortest run in Doctor Who, we had less of an opportunity to get to know him, so we thought it a good time to round up ten things you might not already know about Paul McGann.
1. Paul McGann was born in 1959 in Kensington, Liverpool. He was the third of six children to his teacher mother and metallurgist father. His three brothers, Joseph, Mark and Stephen, are also actors and have starred alongside Paul in the series The Hanging Gale as well as the TV film Catherine the Great.
2. It's not just acting that interests Paul, he's also a keen singer. In fact, having been heard singing in the TV series The Monocled Mutineer,...
As the actor with the shortest run in Doctor Who, we had less of an opportunity to get to know him, so we thought it a good time to round up ten things you might not already know about Paul McGann.
1. Paul McGann was born in 1959 in Kensington, Liverpool. He was the third of six children to his teacher mother and metallurgist father. His three brothers, Joseph, Mark and Stephen, are also actors and have starred alongside Paul in the series The Hanging Gale as well as the TV film Catherine the Great.
2. It's not just acting that interests Paul, he's also a keen singer. In fact, having been heard singing in the TV series The Monocled Mutineer,...
- 11/22/2013
- Digital Spy
The 1990s were Doctor Who's very own Decadus Horriblus (thanks to the Basil Brush Book of Latin for this). Up until 1990, Doctor Who had carved itself a niche in the BBC schedules, usually to worldwide applause, high ratings and positive critical feedback.
And then it all went horribly wrong.
By the mid-1980s, Doctor Who was starting to get out of its depth as a result of a misunderstood Doctor, over-complicated plots and a dash of violence. Cue an extended holiday; but on its return, its reputation was still in tatters. Despite a bold attempt to re-invent itself as a confident, clever show of mystery, the BBC bosses weren't impressed. And so the axe fell, leaving the faithful mob of Doctor Who fans to wait and wonder.
But don't forget – TV programming had radically changed in the 1990s in a number of ways. For one thing, there was an...
And then it all went horribly wrong.
By the mid-1980s, Doctor Who was starting to get out of its depth as a result of a misunderstood Doctor, over-complicated plots and a dash of violence. Cue an extended holiday; but on its return, its reputation was still in tatters. Despite a bold attempt to re-invent itself as a confident, clever show of mystery, the BBC bosses weren't impressed. And so the axe fell, leaving the faithful mob of Doctor Who fans to wait and wonder.
But don't forget – TV programming had radically changed in the 1990s in a number of ways. For one thing, there was an...
- 4/18/2011
- Shadowlocked
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