William Russell, one of the earliest companions in BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who, has died aged 99. He passed away on June 3.
The Doctor Who X account posted the news, writing: “We’re sad to report the passing of William Russell, a legend in #DoctorWho history – who played one of the first and original companions to the Doctor, Ian Chesterton.”
Current showrunner Russell T Davies, who is into his second stint at the helm, also posted his condolences to X.
“An absolute legend, for Doctor Who and the whole of television,” he wrote. “In 1963, William created the template for the Doctor’s companion, and that’s still going strong, 61 years later. He’s adored by fandom, and will never be forgotten.”
Born in 1924, Russell quickly gained prominence in the UK when he was cast as lead in ITV’s The Adventures of Sir Lancelot in the mid-1950s.
In 1963, he landed the Doctor Who role,...
The Doctor Who X account posted the news, writing: “We’re sad to report the passing of William Russell, a legend in #DoctorWho history – who played one of the first and original companions to the Doctor, Ian Chesterton.”
Current showrunner Russell T Davies, who is into his second stint at the helm, also posted his condolences to X.
“An absolute legend, for Doctor Who and the whole of television,” he wrote. “In 1963, William created the template for the Doctor’s companion, and that’s still going strong, 61 years later. He’s adored by fandom, and will never be forgotten.”
Born in 1924, Russell quickly gained prominence in the UK when he was cast as lead in ITV’s The Adventures of Sir Lancelot in the mid-1950s.
In 1963, he landed the Doctor Who role,...
- 6/5/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
William Russell, an actor who played one of Doctor Who’s first companions, died Monday. He was 99 years old.
“We’re sad to report the passing of William Russell,” the show’s official X account posted, “a legend in #DoctorWho history who played one of the first and original companions to the Doctor, Ian Chesterton.”
More from TVLineMandisa: Cause of Death for Grammy-Winning American Idol Alum RevealedFelicity Vet Erich Anderson Dead at 67Johnny Wactor's 'Heartbroken' Co-Worker Shares Details of Fatal Shooting: 'I Am His Voice Now'
Russell T Davies, the series’ current showrunner, called Russell “an absolute legend.”
“In...
“We’re sad to report the passing of William Russell,” the show’s official X account posted, “a legend in #DoctorWho history who played one of the first and original companions to the Doctor, Ian Chesterton.”
More from TVLineMandisa: Cause of Death for Grammy-Winning American Idol Alum RevealedFelicity Vet Erich Anderson Dead at 67Johnny Wactor's 'Heartbroken' Co-Worker Shares Details of Fatal Shooting: 'I Am His Voice Now'
Russell T Davies, the series’ current showrunner, called Russell “an absolute legend.”
“In...
- 6/5/2024
- by Nick Caruso
- TVLine.com
William Russell, the stage and screen actor who played schoolteacher Ian Chesterton in the original series of Doctor Who, has died. He was 99. He is the father of Harry Potter and How to Get Away With Murder actor Alfred Enoch. The passing was announced in an obituary posted by The Guardian newspaper in the U.K., revealing Russell died on Monday, June 3. A cause of death was not provided. Born on November 19, 1924, in Sunderland, County Durham, England, Russell was involved with acting from a young age, organizing entertainment during his national service in the Royal Air Force and then, after university, going onto repertory theatre. He is best known for portraying science teacher Ian Chesterton in the original two series of Doctor Who, which premiered in 1963. He was one of the four leads alongside William Hartnell as the First Doctor, Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright, and Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman.
- 6/5/2024
- TV Insider
The passing of a Doctor Who Legend: William Russell, the Original Companion, Dies at 99 William Russell, an iconic figure in the world of “Doctor Who,” has left an indelible mark on the series and its fans. His portrayal of Ian Chesterton, the Doctor’s first male companion, in the earliest seasons of the show, cemented […]
‘Doctor Who’ Legend William Russell Passes Away Aged 99...
‘Doctor Who’ Legend William Russell Passes Away Aged 99...
- 6/4/2024
- by Noah Masire
- MemorableTV
The late 1950s and the entirety of the 1960s was the golden age for big, brawny, studio-produced action-adventure epics. Films like "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "The Guns of Navarone," and "The Train" plopped big movie stars in the midst of finely crafted yarns about unflappable heroes pooling their expertise to pull off seemingly impossible tasks. Most of these were next-phase World War II movies that eschewed the reverential tone of the films made in the immediate wake of the conflict's end; they were less about the Axis enemy, and more about the ingenuity of men in high-pressure situations. When done well, they were hailed by critics and ticket-buyers alike.
And with due respect to the many entertaining entries in this subgenre, none of them can match the armrest-shredding suspense and rousing camaraderie of John Sturges "The Great Escape."
Working from a screenplay credited to W.R. Burnett and the...
And with due respect to the many entertaining entries in this subgenre, none of them can match the armrest-shredding suspense and rousing camaraderie of John Sturges "The Great Escape."
Working from a screenplay credited to W.R. Burnett and the...
- 2/24/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The joke across the United Kingdom is that their entertainment industry has a grand total of twelve actors, six sets, and one tie. One need only look at the overlapping area on the Venn Diagram of actors who have appeared on both Doctor Who and in the Harry Potter film series to see it. One such actor is David Tennant, who appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Bartemius Crouch Jr. in 2005 before going on to play one of the most beloved incarnations of the Doctor from Christmas Day of that year until the end of time, which, for him, aired in two parts on Christmas Day of 2009 and New Years Day of 2010.
Tennant’s son, the eldest child of his wife Georgia Moffett, has also caught the acting bug, and the 17-year-old has already put some thought into his potential Doctoral future. Asked in an interview...
Tennant’s son, the eldest child of his wife Georgia Moffett, has also caught the acting bug, and the 17-year-old has already put some thought into his potential Doctoral future. Asked in an interview...
- 2/25/2020
- by Anthony Fuchs
- We Got This Covered
Few World War II adventure films are as, well, great, as John Sturges’ 1963 film The Great Escape. Based on true events the film had an unrivaled ensemble cast including Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, David McCallum and Donald Pleasence. In August Virgil Films will release The Coolest Guy Movie Ever, a documentary about the making of The Great Escape. Seeing as David McCallum, William Russell and John Leyton are the last surviving stars of the film Espenan had to assemble a team of cameramen, historians, film buffs, and local experts to find the exact locations where the film was made. It promises to be a fascinating trip back into film history for fans of The Great...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 7/23/2018
- Screen Anarchy
Hollywood child actor who was one of the last surviving performers from the silent film era
Lassie Lou Ahern, who has died aged 97, enjoyed a substantial career as a child actor in 1920s Hollywood, and was one of the last surviving performers from the silent film era.
She made her debut aged three, in Hal Roach’s first full-length movie, an adaptation of The Call of the Wild (1923), and soon was regularly cast in Charley Chase comedies and as the object of rescue in the popular serials of Helen Holmes. In pictures such as Webs of Steel (1925), Ahern and Holmes carried out their own dangerous stunt work. She appeared in productions by independent producers (The Dark Angel for Samuel Goldwyn, Hell’s Highroad for Cecil B DeMille, Robes of Sin for William Russell, all in 1925), and features at major studios (John Ford’s now lost film Thank You and Excuse Me starring Norma Shearer,...
Lassie Lou Ahern, who has died aged 97, enjoyed a substantial career as a child actor in 1920s Hollywood, and was one of the last surviving performers from the silent film era.
She made her debut aged three, in Hal Roach’s first full-length movie, an adaptation of The Call of the Wild (1923), and soon was regularly cast in Charley Chase comedies and as the object of rescue in the popular serials of Helen Holmes. In pictures such as Webs of Steel (1925), Ahern and Holmes carried out their own dangerous stunt work. She appeared in productions by independent producers (The Dark Angel for Samuel Goldwyn, Hell’s Highroad for Cecil B DeMille, Robes of Sin for William Russell, all in 1925), and features at major studios (John Ford’s now lost film Thank You and Excuse Me starring Norma Shearer,...
- 2/26/2018
- by Jeffrey Crouse
- The Guardian - Film News
Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.
Later this year, the First Doctor and his companions return for a set of four full-cast audio adventures… one of which features a future regular enemy! Big Finish’s Doctor Who: The Early Adventures comes back this September, with new tales starring Carole Ann Ford as Susan, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, Maureen O’Brien as Vicki, Peter...
The post Jemma Powell Stars as Barbara Wright in Big Finish’s Early Adventures! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
Later this year, the First Doctor and his companions return for a set of four full-cast audio adventures… one of which features a future regular enemy! Big Finish’s Doctor Who: The Early Adventures comes back this September, with new tales starring Carole Ann Ford as Susan, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, Maureen O’Brien as Vicki, Peter...
The post Jemma Powell Stars as Barbara Wright in Big Finish’s Early Adventures! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
- 2/8/2016
- by Philip Bates
- Kasterborous.com
Andrew Reynolds is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.
What does Sunderland, a purple man, the 1977 Burton Regatta, an assortment of fan art, the musing of a Labour backbencher, the passing of talented polymath, and a writers year profits have in common? They’re all part of today’s far-reaching News Blast! The Tardis and Sunderland There’s William Russell – who was born in Sunderland...
The post Pertwee, Tennant, Mackems in the Tardis and More! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
What does Sunderland, a purple man, the 1977 Burton Regatta, an assortment of fan art, the musing of a Labour backbencher, the passing of talented polymath, and a writers year profits have in common? They’re all part of today’s far-reaching News Blast! The Tardis and Sunderland There’s William Russell – who was born in Sunderland...
The post Pertwee, Tennant, Mackems in the Tardis and More! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
- 9/24/2015
- by Andrew Reynolds
- Kasterborous.com
It's Us TV's most talked about new drama - and from Sunday night, it's back in the UK, with How to Get Away with Murder returning to Universal Channel for season one's final six episodes.
Ahead of the show's return, Digital Spy spoke to actor Alfred Enoch - who plays Wes Gibbins - about the series's soaring success, his Harry Potter past and his surprising connection to Doctor Who.
The response to the first season of How to Get Away with Murder has been phenomenal - what's it been like to be at the centre of all that?
"It's been exciting! I had this very monastic life when I was in La; we were working most days, so I wasn't as aware as I might have been of the popularity of it, other than people saying it's going well, people are watching it, it felt very much like getting on with it.
Ahead of the show's return, Digital Spy spoke to actor Alfred Enoch - who plays Wes Gibbins - about the series's soaring success, his Harry Potter past and his surprising connection to Doctor Who.
The response to the first season of How to Get Away with Murder has been phenomenal - what's it been like to be at the centre of all that?
"It's been exciting! I had this very monastic life when I was in La; we were working most days, so I wasn't as aware as I might have been of the popularity of it, other than people saying it's going well, people are watching it, it felt very much like getting on with it.
- 3/20/2015
- Digital Spy
"A thing that looks like a police box, stuck in a junkyard, can move anywhere in time and space?"
November 23, 2014 is Doctor Who's 51st anniversary - alright, so it's not as big a deal as last year, but all the same, we thought we'd take a look back at the show's very beginnings... and then go even further back than that.
The world's longest-running science-fiction series shot its original 'pilot' episode - in its entirety - on September 27, 1963. But when Sydney Newman, BBC Head of Drama, saw the finished product, he was appalled - demanding that producer Verity Lambert and director Waris Hussein do the entire thing over again from scratch.
But is this first attempt at Doctor Who really as bad as this story would suggest, and how different is it really from the version of 'An Unearthly Child' that we would come to know and love?
Remarkably...
November 23, 2014 is Doctor Who's 51st anniversary - alright, so it's not as big a deal as last year, but all the same, we thought we'd take a look back at the show's very beginnings... and then go even further back than that.
The world's longest-running science-fiction series shot its original 'pilot' episode - in its entirety - on September 27, 1963. But when Sydney Newman, BBC Head of Drama, saw the finished product, he was appalled - demanding that producer Verity Lambert and director Waris Hussein do the entire thing over again from scratch.
But is this first attempt at Doctor Who really as bad as this story would suggest, and how different is it really from the version of 'An Unearthly Child' that we would come to know and love?
Remarkably...
- 11/23/2014
- Digital Spy
New pictures from Doctor Who's next episode 'The Caretaker' have debuted online.
The BBC sci-fi's latest episode - co-written by Gareth Roberts and Steven Moffat - sees the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) pose as a caretaker at Coal Hill School, where Clara (Jenna Coleman) works as a teacher.
The episode's official synopsis reads: "The terrifying Skovox Blitzer is ready to destroy all humanity - but worse, and any second now, Danny Pink and the Doctor are going to meet.
"When terrifying events threaten Coal Hill School, the Doctor decides to go undercover."
Samuel Anderson reprises his role of Danny Pink for the instalment, helmed by 'Robot Of Sherwood' director Paul Murphy.
Coal Hill School was introduced in the first ever episode of Doctor Who back in November 1963.
The Doctor's granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford) originally attended the school, where she was taught by companions Ian (William Russell) and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill...
The BBC sci-fi's latest episode - co-written by Gareth Roberts and Steven Moffat - sees the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) pose as a caretaker at Coal Hill School, where Clara (Jenna Coleman) works as a teacher.
The episode's official synopsis reads: "The terrifying Skovox Blitzer is ready to destroy all humanity - but worse, and any second now, Danny Pink and the Doctor are going to meet.
"When terrifying events threaten Coal Hill School, the Doctor decides to go undercover."
Samuel Anderson reprises his role of Danny Pink for the instalment, helmed by 'Robot Of Sherwood' director Paul Murphy.
Coal Hill School was introduced in the first ever episode of Doctor Who back in November 1963.
The Doctor's granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford) originally attended the school, where she was taught by companions Ian (William Russell) and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill...
- 9/23/2014
- Digital Spy
Doctor Who, “An Unearthly Child”
Written by Anthony Coburn
Directed by Waris Hussein
Originally aired November 23, 1963 on BBC TV
“Have you ever thought what it’s like to be wanderers in the fourth dimension?”
Setting aside how iconic Doctor Who has become, in watching its pilot episode “An Unearthly Child”, it’s stunning how ambitious and magical the episode still feels; it’s not hard to see why the show has lasted 50 years.
Technically speaking, “pilot” was not a term used in British television at the time Doctor Who was commissioned and the version of “An Unearthly Child” that aired was not the first one shot. There were adjustments to the characters, especially the Doctor, who was made to be less cruel (at one point he called Susan a “stupid child”), as well as the technical side of the production. The episode benefited from this tinkering, however, and Doctor Who was born.
Written by Anthony Coburn
Directed by Waris Hussein
Originally aired November 23, 1963 on BBC TV
“Have you ever thought what it’s like to be wanderers in the fourth dimension?”
Setting aside how iconic Doctor Who has become, in watching its pilot episode “An Unearthly Child”, it’s stunning how ambitious and magical the episode still feels; it’s not hard to see why the show has lasted 50 years.
Technically speaking, “pilot” was not a term used in British television at the time Doctor Who was commissioned and the version of “An Unearthly Child” that aired was not the first one shot. There were adjustments to the characters, especially the Doctor, who was made to be less cruel (at one point he called Susan a “stupid child”), as well as the technical side of the production. The episode benefited from this tinkering, however, and Doctor Who was born.
- 3/3/2014
- by Tressa
- SoundOnSight
Regular followers are probably aware that we here are at Sound on Sight are more than a little fond of an obscure British science fiction program that celebrated an anniversary of some kind last weekend. Anniversaries are always an excellent time to reflect upon and celebrate a show’s history and the lead up to last Saturday’s “The Day of the Doctor” saw the entire Whoniverse coming together to share their thoughts on everything from their favourite episodes, most beloved eras, and of course, “their” Doctor. I just love that a top ten list can be the beginning of a good conversation or a great fight, and I find that the most heat, and some of the best light, is generated when Whovians start talking about their favourite Companions. A Companion is more than just our surrogate, they’re a gateway and guide to the series who helps us...
- 11/29/2013
- by Derek Gladu
- SoundOnSight
The BBC did a cracking job of filling the week before the Doctor Who 50th anniversary with new programming to appeal to Whovians across the globe. Noted scientist Brian Cox hosted a seminar about the nature of space and time, while noted actor Brian Cox starred in An Adventure in Space and Time. Paul McGann starred in a short adventure featuring the eighth Doctor, while Doctors Five, Six, and Seven hatched their own plan to crash the festivities.
David Bradley as William Hartnell as The Doctor in An Adventure in Space and Time
Mark Gatiss penned An Adventure in Space and Time, a dramatic adaptation of the early years of the classic series. Brian Cox and Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife) starred as Sydney Newman and Verity Lambert respectively, the minds behind the show, while David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Harry Potter) took the role of William Hartnell, the first Doctor.
David Bradley as William Hartnell as The Doctor in An Adventure in Space and Time
Mark Gatiss penned An Adventure in Space and Time, a dramatic adaptation of the early years of the classic series. Brian Cox and Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife) starred as Sydney Newman and Verity Lambert respectively, the minds behind the show, while David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Harry Potter) took the role of William Hartnell, the first Doctor.
- 11/25/2013
- by Vinnie Bartilucci
- Comicmix.com
When watching An Adventure In Space And Time, I noticed one feeling dominated all others. It wasn’t excitement at seeing early Doctor Who recreated in high definition colour. It wasn’t admiration in the playing of the lead actors (all wonderful), nor even some fannish desire for accuracy (I let several anachronisms of speech and behaviour slip by, suspending my disbelief in the spirit of the piece).
The overwhelming feeling I had was one of protectiveness. I felt protective towards Verity Lambert, Waris Hussein, even Sydney Newman, the old so-and-so. But I felt especially protective towards William Hartnell. As an actor his reputation is pretty much intact, despite a few swipes at his memory from those too ignorant to know better. But as a man I felt that he had been much maligned, and An Adventure In Space And Time could either support the myths, or set the record straight.
The overwhelming feeling I had was one of protectiveness. I felt protective towards Verity Lambert, Waris Hussein, even Sydney Newman, the old so-and-so. But I felt especially protective towards William Hartnell. As an actor his reputation is pretty much intact, despite a few swipes at his memory from those too ignorant to know better. But as a man I felt that he had been much maligned, and An Adventure In Space And Time could either support the myths, or set the record straight.
- 11/24/2013
- by David Martin Farmbrough
- Obsessed with Film
Former Doctor Who star Peter Davison has unveiled a short film in commemoration of the show's 50th anniversary.
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot takes a humorous look Davison and his fellow former Doctors' attempt to take centre stage for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.
> Doctor Who 50th: Digital Spy's greatest ever story revealed
> Doctor Who: 11 golden moments from 50 years of the BBC sci-fi smash
This short film is the latest component in the wide-ranging celebration that has spanned the past several weeks.
Mark Gatiss's well-received drama An Adventure in Space and Time dramatised the origins of Doctor Who, with David Bradley portraying the late William Hartnell.
> Doctor Who at 50: 5 shows that tried to fill the sci-fi's slot
'The Day of The Doctor' aired on Saturday (November 23), and featured Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt and a host of other surprises.
Doctor Who originally debuted on November 23, 1963 with...
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot takes a humorous look Davison and his fellow former Doctors' attempt to take centre stage for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.
> Doctor Who 50th: Digital Spy's greatest ever story revealed
> Doctor Who: 11 golden moments from 50 years of the BBC sci-fi smash
This short film is the latest component in the wide-ranging celebration that has spanned the past several weeks.
Mark Gatiss's well-received drama An Adventure in Space and Time dramatised the origins of Doctor Who, with David Bradley portraying the late William Hartnell.
> Doctor Who at 50: 5 shows that tried to fill the sci-fi's slot
'The Day of The Doctor' aired on Saturday (November 23), and featured Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt and a host of other surprises.
Doctor Who originally debuted on November 23, 1963 with...
- 11/24/2013
- Digital Spy
Former Doctor Who star Peter Davison has unveiled a short film in commemoration of the show's 50th anniversary.
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot takes a humorous look at Davison and his fellow former Doctors' attempt to take centre stage for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.
> Doctor Who 50th: Digital Spy's 'The Day of the Doctor' review
> Doctor Who: 11 golden moments from 50 years of the BBC sci-fi smash
This short film is the latest component in the wide-ranging celebration that has spanned the past several weeks.
Mark Gatiss's well-received drama An Adventure in Space and Time dramatised the origins of Doctor Who, with David Bradley portraying the late William Hartnell.
> Doctor Who 50th: Digital Spy's greatest ever story revealed
> Doctor Who at 50: 5 shows that tried to fill the sci-fi's slot
'The Day of The Doctor' aired on Saturday (November 23), and featured Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt and a host of other surprises.
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot takes a humorous look at Davison and his fellow former Doctors' attempt to take centre stage for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.
> Doctor Who 50th: Digital Spy's 'The Day of the Doctor' review
> Doctor Who: 11 golden moments from 50 years of the BBC sci-fi smash
This short film is the latest component in the wide-ranging celebration that has spanned the past several weeks.
Mark Gatiss's well-received drama An Adventure in Space and Time dramatised the origins of Doctor Who, with David Bradley portraying the late William Hartnell.
> Doctor Who 50th: Digital Spy's greatest ever story revealed
> Doctor Who at 50: 5 shows that tried to fill the sci-fi's slot
'The Day of The Doctor' aired on Saturday (November 23), and featured Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt and a host of other surprises.
- 11/24/2013
- Digital Spy
Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.
Ever since the missing episodes #omnirumour train started rolling, one serial that has often been mentioned is lost Doctor Who classic Marco Polo from 1964. Even as recently as last week there were rumours that an episode from the seven parter starring William Hartnell, Carole Ann Ford, Jacqueline Hill and William Russell – with Mark
The post Marco Polo Discovery Claim: Recorded By A Fan? appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
Ever since the missing episodes #omnirumour train started rolling, one serial that has often been mentioned is lost Doctor Who classic Marco Polo from 1964. Even as recently as last week there were rumours that an episode from the seven parter starring William Hartnell, Carole Ann Ford, Jacqueline Hill and William Russell – with Mark
The post Marco Polo Discovery Claim: Recorded By A Fan? appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
- 11/23/2013
- by Christian Cawley
- Kasterborous.com
In celebrating the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary, BBC America will be showing An Adventure in Space and Time tonight to honor the beginnings of the show. This very special dramatization of the origins of Doctor Who is clearly a labor of love as shown in this behind the scenes featurette. The cast and cameo list is extensive, and this video is almost eleven minutes long, but hang on til the end to see the special cameo playing third doctor John Pertwee.
This behind the scenes look at the making of An Adventure in Space and Time features interviews with Carole Ann Ford (who played the Doctor’s Granddaughter), writer and executive producer Mark Gatiss, Brian Cox (Sydney Newman), Jessica Raine (Verity Lambert), David Bradley (William Hartnell), William Russell (who played Ian Chesterton), Sacha Dhawan (Waris Hussein), first director of Doctor Who, director Waris Hussein, Claudia Grant (Carole Ann Ford), Jamie Glover...
This behind the scenes look at the making of An Adventure in Space and Time features interviews with Carole Ann Ford (who played the Doctor’s Granddaughter), writer and executive producer Mark Gatiss, Brian Cox (Sydney Newman), Jessica Raine (Verity Lambert), David Bradley (William Hartnell), William Russell (who played Ian Chesterton), Sacha Dhawan (Waris Hussein), first director of Doctor Who, director Waris Hussein, Claudia Grant (Carole Ann Ford), Jamie Glover...
- 11/22/2013
- by Jess Orso
- ScifiMafia
Feature Seb Patrick 21 Nov 2013 - 22:30
Here's what writer Mark Gatiss said about An Adventure In Space And Time at the BFI screening. Spoilers ahead if you haven't seen it...
Warning: contains spoilers for An Adventure In Space And Time. Our spoiler-free review is here.
As part of a Q&A session with members of the cast and crew at the premiere screening of An Adventure in Space and Time at the BFI, writer Mark Gatiss had plenty to say about the making of the ninety-minute BBC2 film. Now that the special has been broadcast – and with the proviso that it contains spoilers if you haven’t yet watched it! - here’s a selection of what he had to say about bringing William Hartnell, Verity Lambert, Sydney Newman and the rest of the early days of Doctor Who to life…
To begin with, Gatiss talked about the origins of the story,...
Here's what writer Mark Gatiss said about An Adventure In Space And Time at the BFI screening. Spoilers ahead if you haven't seen it...
Warning: contains spoilers for An Adventure In Space And Time. Our spoiler-free review is here.
As part of a Q&A session with members of the cast and crew at the premiere screening of An Adventure in Space and Time at the BFI, writer Mark Gatiss had plenty to say about the making of the ninety-minute BBC2 film. Now that the special has been broadcast – and with the proviso that it contains spoilers if you haven’t yet watched it! - here’s a selection of what he had to say about bringing William Hartnell, Verity Lambert, Sydney Newman and the rest of the early days of Doctor Who to life…
To begin with, Gatiss talked about the origins of the story,...
- 11/21/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Join me here on Tuesdays and Thursdays as I explore the earliest seasons of "Doctor Who" -- as a complete newbie to the series. A full explanation can be found here. I'm starting at the very beginning, with "An Unearthly Child" and "The Cave of Skulls."
An Unearthly Child
It's so neat that the DVD set of the first three stories includes both the original pilot and the one that actually aired on Nov. 23, 1963. The differences aren't earth-shattering, so to speak, but they are there.
It introduces us to the four main characters for the First Doctor -- the Doctor (William Hartnell), Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill).
I actually preferred the way the Doctor and Susan behaved in the unaired pilot than the aired one -- am I alone in this? The Doctor was a bit more angry, more menacing perhaps? It...
An Unearthly Child
It's so neat that the DVD set of the first three stories includes both the original pilot and the one that actually aired on Nov. 23, 1963. The differences aren't earth-shattering, so to speak, but they are there.
It introduces us to the four main characters for the First Doctor -- the Doctor (William Hartnell), Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill).
I actually preferred the way the Doctor and Susan behaved in the unaired pilot than the aired one -- am I alone in this? The Doctor was a bit more angry, more menacing perhaps? It...
- 11/19/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Feature Andrew Blair 15 Nov 2013 - 16:37
Andrew talks us through the best of the Eighth Doctor Audio Adventures from Big Finish. No particular reason...
Contains spoilers for The Night of the Doctor and several Big Finish plays.
Now is a very good time to start investigating the Eighth Doctor stories from Big Finish audio productions. If you don't know why, you should probably look here immediately, and maybe have some coffee.
Mentioned in The Night of the Doctor are the names of the Eighth Doctor's audio companions: Charley Pollard, C'rizz, Lucie Miller, Tamsin Drew and Molly O'Sullivan. The reason this is a big deal is that the Eighth Doctor had previously only appeared in one television story (1996's Doctor Who TV movie), and as a result multiple continuities had opened up across novels, comics and audioplays. The audioplays are still ongoing, and have now been tentatively slotted into the TV continuity.
Andrew talks us through the best of the Eighth Doctor Audio Adventures from Big Finish. No particular reason...
Contains spoilers for The Night of the Doctor and several Big Finish plays.
Now is a very good time to start investigating the Eighth Doctor stories from Big Finish audio productions. If you don't know why, you should probably look here immediately, and maybe have some coffee.
Mentioned in The Night of the Doctor are the names of the Eighth Doctor's audio companions: Charley Pollard, C'rizz, Lucie Miller, Tamsin Drew and Molly O'Sullivan. The reason this is a big deal is that the Eighth Doctor had previously only appeared in one television story (1996's Doctor Who TV movie), and as a result multiple continuities had opened up across novels, comics and audioplays. The audioplays are still ongoing, and have now been tentatively slotted into the TV continuity.
- 11/15/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Do you fear getting into a situation where your TV-loving partner/friend/relative asks, 'When's show X coming back?' and you're forced to admit you don't know, and as a result they disown you, leaving you a hollow shell of a person?
Well don't you worry, precious flower, because we at Tube Talk are here to bestow you with knowledge and help you avoid tragic telly faux-pas. This week we've got scoop on True Detective, Revenge and more...
I don't think I have ever been more excited for a TV show than True Detective - please tell me it has been picked up by a UK network?
It has! As part of its five-year deal securing all new HBO programming, Sky Atlantic will air True Detective in February 2014... mere weeks after its Us premiere on January 12.
We're chuffed, because Tony Barret is right to be excited - the eight-part series,...
Well don't you worry, precious flower, because we at Tube Talk are here to bestow you with knowledge and help you avoid tragic telly faux-pas. This week we've got scoop on True Detective, Revenge and more...
I don't think I have ever been more excited for a TV show than True Detective - please tell me it has been picked up by a UK network?
It has! As part of its five-year deal securing all new HBO programming, Sky Atlantic will air True Detective in February 2014... mere weeks after its Us premiere on January 12.
We're chuffed, because Tony Barret is right to be excited - the eight-part series,...
- 11/14/2013
- Digital Spy
Digital Spy readers named David Tennant as Doctor Who's greatest ever Doctor - now, with less than two weeks to go until the 50th anniversary, DS is embarking on a new quest... to list the top 10 Who stories of all time.
12 days 'til 'The Day of the Doctor' and we've reached our penultimate entry - just missing out on the top spot is a Steven Moffat-penned favourite, beloved by fans and critics alike...
2. Blink (2007) - written by Steven Moffat
"Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink."
Steven Moffat once remarked that you know you've got a great concept for a Doctor Who story when you think, 'Well, there goes that film idea…'
One of Moffat's greatest ever was 'Blink' - first aired in 2007 and held in high esteem by both Whovians and non-fans ever since, it's a bloody fantastic supernatural horror masquerading as a Doctor Who episode.
12 days 'til 'The Day of the Doctor' and we've reached our penultimate entry - just missing out on the top spot is a Steven Moffat-penned favourite, beloved by fans and critics alike...
2. Blink (2007) - written by Steven Moffat
"Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink."
Steven Moffat once remarked that you know you've got a great concept for a Doctor Who story when you think, 'Well, there goes that film idea…'
One of Moffat's greatest ever was 'Blink' - first aired in 2007 and held in high esteem by both Whovians and non-fans ever since, it's a bloody fantastic supernatural horror masquerading as a Doctor Who episode.
- 11/11/2013
- Digital Spy
With just two weeks before it’s airing, the BBC has finally released an extended trailer for Day of The Doctor, the 50th Anniversary episode of Doctor Who.
The plot: “The Doctors embark on their greatest adventure in this 50th anniversary special. In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him.”
While this story line seems everyday, the trailer reveals that for the first time since the series returned in 2005 we’ll get a (detailed?) look at the Time War that cost the life of Gallifrey and the Doctor’s people. It will also explore how John Hurt’s Doctor figures within the personal timeline of the Doctor as well. David Tennant...
The plot: “The Doctors embark on their greatest adventure in this 50th anniversary special. In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him.”
While this story line seems everyday, the trailer reveals that for the first time since the series returned in 2005 we’ll get a (detailed?) look at the Time War that cost the life of Gallifrey and the Doctor’s people. It will also explore how John Hurt’s Doctor figures within the personal timeline of the Doctor as well. David Tennant...
- 11/10/2013
- by spaced-odyssey
- doorQ.com
The good news? If you’re planning on traveling during Thanksgiving week, you won’t be missing any of the amazing Doctor Who programming that BBC America has announced for the 50th anniversary, including several new specials. The bad news? You’re going to need to take an extra week of vacation the week before Thanksgiving, in order to watch it all. Or maybe you feel some illness coming on?
We’ll have all of this on the SciFiMafia.com calendar, but here it all is in one convenient place, along with descriptions of everything. Also included is a confirmation of the Dw:datd simulcast time: 2:50pm Eastern, November 23.
If you’re new to Doctor Who, Now Is The Time to join us. BBC America has included an excellent catch-up summary of the entire show, under “About Doctor Who” in the press release below, so you’ll be ready. You won’t really know,...
We’ll have all of this on the SciFiMafia.com calendar, but here it all is in one convenient place, along with descriptions of everything. Also included is a confirmation of the Dw:datd simulcast time: 2:50pm Eastern, November 23.
If you’re new to Doctor Who, Now Is The Time to join us. BBC America has included an excellent catch-up summary of the entire show, under “About Doctor Who” in the press release below, so you’ll be ready. You won’t really know,...
- 11/8/2013
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
Jessica Raine has opened up about her lifelong connection to Doctor Who.
The Call the Midwife actress discussed her history with the sci-fi series while promoting her upcoming television film An Adventure in Space and Time, which dramatises the beginnings of Doctor Who.
> Doctor Who 50th special: Broadcast details confirmed by BBC One
> Doctor Who 50th clips to be unlocked by fans on new website
"I actually do remember being really afraid of the Daleks," Raine told the Radio Times. "I was just terrified of their horrible voice which I always equated with the voice on the Tube."
She continued: "We used to go up to London, because I was from the countryside, for a London weekend and the Tube voice, 'Mind the gap', used to always remind me of the Daleks so it was just a terrifying experience."
Raine also discussed her role in An Adventure in Space and Time...
The Call the Midwife actress discussed her history with the sci-fi series while promoting her upcoming television film An Adventure in Space and Time, which dramatises the beginnings of Doctor Who.
> Doctor Who 50th special: Broadcast details confirmed by BBC One
> Doctor Who 50th clips to be unlocked by fans on new website
"I actually do remember being really afraid of the Daleks," Raine told the Radio Times. "I was just terrified of their horrible voice which I always equated with the voice on the Tube."
She continued: "We used to go up to London, because I was from the countryside, for a London weekend and the Tube voice, 'Mind the gap', used to always remind me of the Daleks so it was just a terrifying experience."
Raine also discussed her role in An Adventure in Space and Time...
- 11/8/2013
- Digital Spy
We had a feeling that An Adventure in Space and Time would be aired over the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who celebration weekend, but the exact day and time were still to be specified. We have confirmation of that now, November 22nd at 9/8c on BBC America. Wouldn’t want to miss it. Here’s the official press release.
Doctor Who’s First Doctor Regenerated in BBC America’s An Adventure in Space and Time Premiering on November 22 The story of how it all began stars David Bradley, Jessica Raine and Brian Cox
What do you get when you mix C.S. Lewis with H.G. Wells, and sprinkle in a bit of Father Christmas? An alien Time Lord exploring space and time in a Police Box spaceship called the “Tardis” (Time And Relative Dimension in Space). On November 23, 1963, a television legend began when the very first episode of Doctor Who was broadcast on BBC One.
Doctor Who’s First Doctor Regenerated in BBC America’s An Adventure in Space and Time Premiering on November 22 The story of how it all began stars David Bradley, Jessica Raine and Brian Cox
What do you get when you mix C.S. Lewis with H.G. Wells, and sprinkle in a bit of Father Christmas? An alien Time Lord exploring space and time in a Police Box spaceship called the “Tardis” (Time And Relative Dimension in Space). On November 23, 1963, a television legend began when the very first episode of Doctor Who was broadcast on BBC One.
- 11/5/2013
- by Jess Orso
- ScifiMafia
Ian Chesterton
Portrayed by: William Russell
Doctor(s): First Doctor
Tenure: 16 Stories (73 episodes), from An Unearthly Child (Nov, 1963) to The Chase (June, 1965)
Background: Ian Chesterton is a science teacher at the Coal Hill School alongside Barbara Wright. We are introduced to him in the series’ pilot episode as the teacher of Susan Foreman, who is soon revealed to be The Doctor’s granddaughter. Perplexed by Susan’s strange behavior, Ian and Barbara follow her back to her home in a junkyard, where they see her enter a mysterious police box. They follow her in, only to discover the Tardis, the time machine that serves as a home to Susan and The Doctor. Though they promise to keep the secret, the paranoid Doctor refuses to let them leave and instead whisks them off through space and time.
Personality: Ian is an incredibly logical man of action, often taking on the...
Portrayed by: William Russell
Doctor(s): First Doctor
Tenure: 16 Stories (73 episodes), from An Unearthly Child (Nov, 1963) to The Chase (June, 1965)
Background: Ian Chesterton is a science teacher at the Coal Hill School alongside Barbara Wright. We are introduced to him in the series’ pilot episode as the teacher of Susan Foreman, who is soon revealed to be The Doctor’s granddaughter. Perplexed by Susan’s strange behavior, Ian and Barbara follow her back to her home in a junkyard, where they see her enter a mysterious police box. They follow her in, only to discover the Tardis, the time machine that serves as a home to Susan and The Doctor. Though they promise to keep the secret, the paranoid Doctor refuses to let them leave and instead whisks them off through space and time.
Personality: Ian is an incredibly logical man of action, often taking on the...
- 11/2/2013
- by Jordan Ferguson
- SoundOnSight
We know a lot of things about The Doctor, even as we still know so very little. We know he travels through time and space in a Police Box that’s bigger on the inside. We know he fights for justice wherever he lands. And we know he hates to travel alone. Throughout the vast majority of the series he forms the center of, he is accompanied by one or more people (known colloquially as “Companions”) who serve as audience surrogates, conversation partners, and, as often as not, a moral compass to ensure The Doctor doesn’t lose his way in the stars. In its first two seasons, Doctor Who wasn’t just learning how to be a TV show (a precarious process for all new series), it was also forming the building blocks for a legacy that now spans a half century and virtually every medium we have invented for communicating stories.
- 11/1/2013
- by Jordan Ferguson
- SoundOnSight
New details of BBC Worldwide's Doctor Who 50th Celebration have been announced.
Peter Davison is the latest star to be added to the guest-list for the three-day event, which takes place at ExCeL London from Friday, November 22 to Sunday, November 24.
The fifth Doctor actor joins Matt Smith and former Doctors Tom Baker, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy in attending the celebration.
It has also been confirmed that 50th anniversary special 'The Day of the Doctor' will be screened, in 2D and free of charge, on the evening of Saturday, November 23.
The screening will have limited availability and tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis, with Saturday attendees due to be e-mailed shortly with details about how they can reserve a seat.
The full guest list for all three days is as follow:
Friday, November, 22:
Waris Hussein, Anneke Wills, Kate O'Mara, Richard Franklin, Matthew Waterhouse,...
Peter Davison is the latest star to be added to the guest-list for the three-day event, which takes place at ExCeL London from Friday, November 22 to Sunday, November 24.
The fifth Doctor actor joins Matt Smith and former Doctors Tom Baker, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy in attending the celebration.
It has also been confirmed that 50th anniversary special 'The Day of the Doctor' will be screened, in 2D and free of charge, on the evening of Saturday, November 23.
The screening will have limited availability and tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis, with Saturday attendees due to be e-mailed shortly with details about how they can reserve a seat.
The full guest list for all three days is as follow:
Friday, November, 22:
Waris Hussein, Anneke Wills, Kate O'Mara, Richard Franklin, Matthew Waterhouse,...
- 11/1/2013
- Digital Spy
BBC Radio Two and Radio Four Xtra will air a lineup of special programmes to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.
Air dates and details have been revealed for the shows, which will be broadcast between November 16 and November 22.
BBC Radio Four Xtra will mark the cult show's 50th year with its 'Doctor Who at 50' run, bringing a different adventure each night between 6pm and 6.45pm.
The series kicks off with Doctor Who and the Daleks. Told from the point of view of Ian Chesterton (played by William Russell), the programme addresses the Doctor's first encounter with his extra-terrestrial enemies.
Sylvester McCoy stars in the second programme Protect and Shelter, while Monday (November 18) evening's segment Fanfare For The Common Men brings back fifth Time Lord Peter Davison. McCoy once again appears in Tuesday's (November 19) Thousand Tiny Wings.
Farewell Great Macedon will air on November 20, Sheridan Smith stars in...
Air dates and details have been revealed for the shows, which will be broadcast between November 16 and November 22.
BBC Radio Four Xtra will mark the cult show's 50th year with its 'Doctor Who at 50' run, bringing a different adventure each night between 6pm and 6.45pm.
The series kicks off with Doctor Who and the Daleks. Told from the point of view of Ian Chesterton (played by William Russell), the programme addresses the Doctor's first encounter with his extra-terrestrial enemies.
Sylvester McCoy stars in the second programme Protect and Shelter, while Monday (November 18) evening's segment Fanfare For The Common Men brings back fifth Time Lord Peter Davison. McCoy once again appears in Tuesday's (November 19) Thousand Tiny Wings.
Farewell Great Macedon will air on November 20, Sheridan Smith stars in...
- 10/31/2013
- Digital Spy
BBC America has released three new images from An Adventure in Space and Time.
The BBC Two drama, written by Mark Gatiss, will chronicle the creation of Doctor Who and the show's early years under original lead William Hartnell.
David Bradley (Broadchurch, Harry Potter) will play Hartnell in the biopic, while Claudia Grant stars as Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor's granddaughter Susan.
Jemma Powell and Jamie Glover also appear in the new images, portraying original companion actors Jacqueline Hill and William Russell
An Adventure in Space and Time - also starring Jessica Raine and Brian Cox - will air on BBC Two in November as part of a celebratory slate of programming marking Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.
Classic episodes, documentaries and special editions of BBC programmes will also air on the corporation's major TV channels, on radio and on iPlayer.
> Doctor Who 50th anniversary biopic: New pictures...
The BBC Two drama, written by Mark Gatiss, will chronicle the creation of Doctor Who and the show's early years under original lead William Hartnell.
David Bradley (Broadchurch, Harry Potter) will play Hartnell in the biopic, while Claudia Grant stars as Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor's granddaughter Susan.
Jemma Powell and Jamie Glover also appear in the new images, portraying original companion actors Jacqueline Hill and William Russell
An Adventure in Space and Time - also starring Jessica Raine and Brian Cox - will air on BBC Two in November as part of a celebratory slate of programming marking Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.
Classic episodes, documentaries and special editions of BBC programmes will also air on the corporation's major TV channels, on radio and on iPlayer.
> Doctor Who 50th anniversary biopic: New pictures...
- 10/23/2013
- Digital Spy
News Louisa Mellor 18 Oct 2013 - 11:45
See David Bradley as William Hartnell, Brian Cox as Sydney Newman, and more in new pictures from An Adventure In Space And Time...
Each inward groan elicited by seeing glittery reindeer ornaments and tins of Cadbury's Celebrations in prematurely stocked supermarket aisles this month can be balanced by a tacit 'yippee'; for the closer we come to the end of the year, the closer we come to Doctor Who's fiftieth anniversary celebrations.
A key part of those celebrations is the Mark Gatiss-scripted ninety-minute docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time, chronicling the birth of Doctor Who on the BBC in the period running up to the first broadcast of An Unearthly Child in November 1963.
A clutch of glossy new stills has been released in the lead-up to broadcast, giving us a proper look at just how wonderful David Bradley and co. look as William Hartnell and chums.
See David Bradley as William Hartnell, Brian Cox as Sydney Newman, and more in new pictures from An Adventure In Space And Time...
Each inward groan elicited by seeing glittery reindeer ornaments and tins of Cadbury's Celebrations in prematurely stocked supermarket aisles this month can be balanced by a tacit 'yippee'; for the closer we come to the end of the year, the closer we come to Doctor Who's fiftieth anniversary celebrations.
A key part of those celebrations is the Mark Gatiss-scripted ninety-minute docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time, chronicling the birth of Doctor Who on the BBC in the period running up to the first broadcast of An Unearthly Child in November 1963.
A clutch of glossy new stills has been released in the lead-up to broadcast, giving us a proper look at just how wonderful David Bradley and co. look as William Hartnell and chums.
- 10/18/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Doctor Who's 50th anniversary biopic has unveiled a number of new pictures.
An Adventure in Space and Time, starring David Bradley as the first Doctor William Hartnell, charts the sci-fi drama's early years and has been written by Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss.
Bradley appears alongside Claudia Grant as Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor's granddaughter Susan Foreman in one photo.
Jemma Powell and Jamie Glover appear as Jacqueline Hill and William Russell, who were the First Doctor's companions Barbara and Ian.
Elsewhere, Sasha Dhawan stars as director Waris Hussein, while Jessica Raine portrays producer Verity Lambert.
Finally, Brian Cox appears as Sydney Newman, Head of Drama at the BBC in 1963.
An Adventure in Space and Time will air on BBC Two later in 2013.
Watch Gatiss and Bradley talk to Digital Spy about the project below:...
An Adventure in Space and Time, starring David Bradley as the first Doctor William Hartnell, charts the sci-fi drama's early years and has been written by Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss.
Bradley appears alongside Claudia Grant as Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor's granddaughter Susan Foreman in one photo.
Jemma Powell and Jamie Glover appear as Jacqueline Hill and William Russell, who were the First Doctor's companions Barbara and Ian.
Elsewhere, Sasha Dhawan stars as director Waris Hussein, while Jessica Raine portrays producer Verity Lambert.
Finally, Brian Cox appears as Sydney Newman, Head of Drama at the BBC in 1963.
An Adventure in Space and Time will air on BBC Two later in 2013.
Watch Gatiss and Bradley talk to Digital Spy about the project below:...
- 10/18/2013
- Digital Spy
Review Andrew Blair 14 Oct 2013 - 10:26
Andrew checks William Hartnell's final story, newly released and restored, The Tenth Planet...
This review contains spoilers.
The Tenth Planet, Mondas, is a vampire. So are its inhabitants. This vaguely supernatural aspect of the Cybermen is promptly never mentioned again. Author Dr. Kit Pedler – co-creator of Doomwatch – had begun Doctor Who's glorious tradition of turning scientific theories into fantasy yarns, the pseudo-science in the background just as motivated by narrative necessity as before.
Compared with the titular entity, there's a lot that's grounded about the final First Doctor story. Set on an Antarctic Base in the distant future of 1986, the space programme is in full swing, and it's a multi-national organisation (courtesy of the script and good casting decisions by director Derek Martinus). Sexually frustrated men of all creeds and colours gather to supervise routine probe flights. It's like a British version...
Andrew checks William Hartnell's final story, newly released and restored, The Tenth Planet...
This review contains spoilers.
The Tenth Planet, Mondas, is a vampire. So are its inhabitants. This vaguely supernatural aspect of the Cybermen is promptly never mentioned again. Author Dr. Kit Pedler – co-creator of Doomwatch – had begun Doctor Who's glorious tradition of turning scientific theories into fantasy yarns, the pseudo-science in the background just as motivated by narrative necessity as before.
Compared with the titular entity, there's a lot that's grounded about the final First Doctor story. Set on an Antarctic Base in the distant future of 1986, the space programme is in full swing, and it's a multi-national organisation (courtesy of the script and good casting decisions by director Derek Martinus). Sexually frustrated men of all creeds and colours gather to supervise routine probe flights. It's like a British version...
- 10/14/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Digital Spy readers named David Tennant as Doctor Who's greatest ever Doctor - now, with just 10 weeks to go until the 50th anniversary, DS is embarking on a new quest... to list the top 10 Who stories of all time.
We kick off with a William Hartnell classic - a sublime character drama set in 15th century Mexico that saw Doctor Who confront the dangers of time-travel and changing history for the first time...
10. The Aztecs (1964) - Four episodes - written by John Lucarotti
Narrowing down Doctor Who's (as-of-writing) 239 stories to the 10 best was an incredibly difficult task, but one serial that was always guaranteed to make it into this writer's own personal 'Best Of' list is John Lucarotti's fantastic jaunt into history, 'The Aztecs'.
William Hartnell's first Doctor struck gold early on - his sixth story is his very best, with a multi-layered and powerful script,...
We kick off with a William Hartnell classic - a sublime character drama set in 15th century Mexico that saw Doctor Who confront the dangers of time-travel and changing history for the first time...
10. The Aztecs (1964) - Four episodes - written by John Lucarotti
Narrowing down Doctor Who's (as-of-writing) 239 stories to the 10 best was an incredibly difficult task, but one serial that was always guaranteed to make it into this writer's own personal 'Best Of' list is John Lucarotti's fantastic jaunt into history, 'The Aztecs'.
William Hartnell's first Doctor struck gold early on - his sixth story is his very best, with a multi-layered and powerful script,...
- 9/16/2013
- Digital Spy
The 50th anniversary of Doctor Who is right around the corner and, with mere months to go before the celebrations kick off in earnest, Digital Spy wants to know the answer to a very important question - who is your favourite Doctor?
Join us every day from August 28 to September 6 as we take a look back at a half-century of Who and - in a new daily blog - weigh up the merits of each Doctor - from William Hartnell to Matt Smith, before finally revealing DS readers' favourite Doctor of all time on Monday, September 9!
We begin, of course, back in that misty London scrapyard where two inquisitive schoolteachers learnt a shocking truth and met an irascible, enigmatic old man...
10 incarnations later and William Hartnell's first Doctor remains perhaps the most unlikely hero of them all. The man who emerges from the London smog in 'An Unearthly Child'...
Join us every day from August 28 to September 6 as we take a look back at a half-century of Who and - in a new daily blog - weigh up the merits of each Doctor - from William Hartnell to Matt Smith, before finally revealing DS readers' favourite Doctor of all time on Monday, September 9!
We begin, of course, back in that misty London scrapyard where two inquisitive schoolteachers learnt a shocking truth and met an irascible, enigmatic old man...
10 incarnations later and William Hartnell's first Doctor remains perhaps the most unlikely hero of them all. The man who emerges from the London smog in 'An Unearthly Child'...
- 8/28/2013
- Digital Spy
News Louisa Mellor 11 Jul 2013 - 08:55
Wondering how David Bradley scrubs up in costume as the First Doctor in An Adventure In Space And Time? Then look no further...
We first saw David Bradley in his role as William Hartnell in forthcoming Who docudrama An Adventure In Space and Time sitting on a park bench in civvies, accompanied by wife and dog. This official picture showing the actor in costume as the First Doctor (and looking remarkably authentic, we might add) is somewhat more of an exciting prospect.
There. It's difficult to see how they could have done better.
In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Steven Moffat described the Mark Gatiss-scripted drama as "gorgeous", adding, "It's a very, very different celebration of Doctor Who" from his fiftieth anniversary special. Moffat went on to praise David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Broadchurch) as "such a clever actor".
Bradley...
Wondering how David Bradley scrubs up in costume as the First Doctor in An Adventure In Space And Time? Then look no further...
We first saw David Bradley in his role as William Hartnell in forthcoming Who docudrama An Adventure In Space and Time sitting on a park bench in civvies, accompanied by wife and dog. This official picture showing the actor in costume as the First Doctor (and looking remarkably authentic, we might add) is somewhat more of an exciting prospect.
There. It's difficult to see how they could have done better.
In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Steven Moffat described the Mark Gatiss-scripted drama as "gorgeous", adding, "It's a very, very different celebration of Doctor Who" from his fiftieth anniversary special. Moffat went on to praise David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Broadchurch) as "such a clever actor".
Bradley...
- 7/11/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Feature Louisa Mellor 28 Jun 2013 - 11:30
The BBC is having its own celebrations, but what are fans doing to celebrate 50 years of Doctor Who?
Plenty of posh things are going on this year to mark Doctor Who’s 50th year, some, like the BFI season, Mark Gatiss docudrama, and of course the anniversary special are already in full swing, while others are being kept under wraps until closer to November the 23rd.
The glossy, official celebrations are one thing of course, and they’ll receive publicity aplenty. Alongside those, we want to highlight the smaller stuff, to support the publications, plans, and events being organised here in the UK and abroad by Doctor Who fans. To this end, here’s the first of our soon-to-be regular Doctor Who 50th anniversary local round-ups…
Comics & Magazines
Launched next week on Wednesday the 3rd of July is an ace-sounding magazine created by Ysgol-Pen-y-Bryn special school in Swansea.
The BBC is having its own celebrations, but what are fans doing to celebrate 50 years of Doctor Who?
Plenty of posh things are going on this year to mark Doctor Who’s 50th year, some, like the BFI season, Mark Gatiss docudrama, and of course the anniversary special are already in full swing, while others are being kept under wraps until closer to November the 23rd.
The glossy, official celebrations are one thing of course, and they’ll receive publicity aplenty. Alongside those, we want to highlight the smaller stuff, to support the publications, plans, and events being organised here in the UK and abroad by Doctor Who fans. To this end, here’s the first of our soon-to-be regular Doctor Who 50th anniversary local round-ups…
Comics & Magazines
Launched next week on Wednesday the 3rd of July is an ace-sounding magazine created by Ysgol-Pen-y-Bryn special school in Swansea.
- 6/28/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Meredith Burdett is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.
Meredith Burnett reviews The Library of Alexandria, a new Doctor Who Companion Chronicle release from Big Finish by Simon Guerrier and starring William Russell as Ian Chesterton. The Library of...
The post Reviewed: The Library of Alexandria appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
Meredith Burnett reviews The Library of Alexandria, a new Doctor Who Companion Chronicle release from Big Finish by Simon Guerrier and starring William Russell as Ian Chesterton. The Library of...
The post Reviewed: The Library of Alexandria appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
- 5/30/2013
- by Meredith Burdett
- Kasterborous.com
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
One of the original ideas behind Doctor Who when it first launched in 1963, was that it would exist in part to teach people, generally children, about history. By watching the Doctor and his friends visit various point in history, the audience would learn about that era, the issues and the people. This has even worked for me. Back in the day, when I first saw “Mark of the Rani”, I’d never heard of the Luddites. Because of that story, I know who they were.
Thanks to this latest audio from Big Finish, I know have learned a couple things about Hypatia and the Library of Alexandria, such as the fact that it burned down long after Julius Caesar was dead. I hadn’t known that.
As for Hypatia, she was a philosopher and mathematician who lived in Alexandria around the late fourth and early fifth centuries.
One of the original ideas behind Doctor Who when it first launched in 1963, was that it would exist in part to teach people, generally children, about history. By watching the Doctor and his friends visit various point in history, the audience would learn about that era, the issues and the people. This has even worked for me. Back in the day, when I first saw “Mark of the Rani”, I’d never heard of the Luddites. Because of that story, I know who they were.
Thanks to this latest audio from Big Finish, I know have learned a couple things about Hypatia and the Library of Alexandria, such as the fact that it burned down long after Julius Caesar was dead. I hadn’t known that.
As for Hypatia, she was a philosopher and mathematician who lived in Alexandria around the late fourth and early fifth centuries.
- 5/8/2013
- by Chris Swanson
- Obsessed with Film
Feature Cameron K McEwan 5 Apr 2013 - 07:00
Cameron selects ten tremendous Doctor Who series openers, from Rose to Ribos, and Tomb to Terror...
Over the years, Doctor Who has suffered from what is commonly known as "Sos" or "Season Opener Syndrome". There's been some stinkers like Destiny of the Daleks, Attack of the Cybermen and Arc of Infinity and some mundane instalments such as New Earth, Robot and The Dominators. But there are some genuinely good ones out there too - some damn good ones. So here's ten of the best season openers over the last forty-nine and a bit years of Doctor Who.
10. Partners In Crime (2008)
Despite the levity of the episode, and we're talking about the Adipose here, this Russell T. Davies beauty managed a couple of mean feats. Firstly, he re-introduced us all to the mighty Donna Noble again (The Doctor and Donna's meeting through the windows...
Cameron selects ten tremendous Doctor Who series openers, from Rose to Ribos, and Tomb to Terror...
Over the years, Doctor Who has suffered from what is commonly known as "Sos" or "Season Opener Syndrome". There's been some stinkers like Destiny of the Daleks, Attack of the Cybermen and Arc of Infinity and some mundane instalments such as New Earth, Robot and The Dominators. But there are some genuinely good ones out there too - some damn good ones. So here's ten of the best season openers over the last forty-nine and a bit years of Doctor Who.
10. Partners In Crime (2008)
Despite the levity of the episode, and we're talking about the Adipose here, this Russell T. Davies beauty managed a couple of mean feats. Firstly, he re-introduced us all to the mighty Donna Noble again (The Doctor and Donna's meeting through the windows...
- 4/4/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
The BBC has released a new video from the filming of An Adventure in Space and Time.
The Doctor Who biopic - commissioned to celebrate 50 years of the BBC sci-fi drama - will explore the show's 1960s origins.
In a new video clip - running at just under 2 minutes - writer Mark Gatiss acts as a guide on an early morning shoot at London's Westminster Bridge, which recreates scenes from classic 1964 Who serial 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth'.
The original six-part adventure starred actor William Hartnell, who will be played by Harry Potter's David Bradley in the biopic.
Second Doctor actor Patrick Troughton will also feature as a character in the docu-drama, played by Gatiss's League of Gentlemen co-star Reece Shearsmith.
Also cast in the film - directed by Breaking Bad's Terry McDonough - are Brian Cox (BBC head of drama Sydney Newman), Jessica Raine (Doctor Who's first...
The Doctor Who biopic - commissioned to celebrate 50 years of the BBC sci-fi drama - will explore the show's 1960s origins.
In a new video clip - running at just under 2 minutes - writer Mark Gatiss acts as a guide on an early morning shoot at London's Westminster Bridge, which recreates scenes from classic 1964 Who serial 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth'.
The original six-part adventure starred actor William Hartnell, who will be played by Harry Potter's David Bradley in the biopic.
Second Doctor actor Patrick Troughton will also feature as a character in the docu-drama, played by Gatiss's League of Gentlemen co-star Reece Shearsmith.
Also cast in the film - directed by Breaking Bad's Terry McDonough - are Brian Cox (BBC head of drama Sydney Newman), Jessica Raine (Doctor Who's first...
- 2/18/2013
- Digital Spy
Reece Shearsmith is to play Patrick Troughton in the Doctor Who 50th anniversary biopic.
An Adventure in Space and Time - which will tell the story of the BBC sci-fi drama's early days - has been written by Shearsmith's League of Gentlemen co-star Mark Gatiss.
"I first asked Reece [to play this role] about 12 years ago when I started thinking about this project," Gatiss told the Radio Times. "We were in the midst of League of Gentlemen and I just remember thinking, if anyone plays Patrick Troughton, it should be Reece.
"Like the second Doctor, he's small, saturnine and a comic genius. The complete package. He thought it was a fantastic idea and I've kind of nurtured it all this time."
Troughton played the second Doctor between 1966 and 1969, inheriting the show's lead role from original star William Hartnell, who will be played by Harry Potter's David Bradley in the biopic.
"Reece [is] not steeped in Doctor Who like I am,...
An Adventure in Space and Time - which will tell the story of the BBC sci-fi drama's early days - has been written by Shearsmith's League of Gentlemen co-star Mark Gatiss.
"I first asked Reece [to play this role] about 12 years ago when I started thinking about this project," Gatiss told the Radio Times. "We were in the midst of League of Gentlemen and I just remember thinking, if anyone plays Patrick Troughton, it should be Reece.
"Like the second Doctor, he's small, saturnine and a comic genius. The complete package. He thought it was a fantastic idea and I've kind of nurtured it all this time."
Troughton played the second Doctor between 1966 and 1969, inheriting the show's lead role from original star William Hartnell, who will be played by Harry Potter's David Bradley in the biopic.
"Reece [is] not steeped in Doctor Who like I am,...
- 2/18/2013
- Digital Spy
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I love a historical. Those are stories that don’t feature any sci-fi elements other than the Tardis and the crew. They were a highlight of the First Doctor’s time, turned up once in the Second Doctor’s era, once again in the Fifth’s, and…that’s it. We haven’t had any since the early 1980s. Or rather, we haven’t had any on TV. Big Finish has done a few, and this is one of them.
The story features the First Doctor, Ian (William Russell), Barbara and Susan (Carol Anne Ford) arriving in Spain during the Inquisition, just a short time before the Armada is set for its date with Sir Francis Drake.
Naturally, it isn’t long before the Tardis crew gets involved. They see a Moorish family being kicked out of their house and the house being burned down. Ian...
I love a historical. Those are stories that don’t feature any sci-fi elements other than the Tardis and the crew. They were a highlight of the First Doctor’s time, turned up once in the Second Doctor’s era, once again in the Fifth’s, and…that’s it. We haven’t had any since the early 1980s. Or rather, we haven’t had any on TV. Big Finish has done a few, and this is one of them.
The story features the First Doctor, Ian (William Russell), Barbara and Susan (Carol Anne Ford) arriving in Spain during the Inquisition, just a short time before the Armada is set for its date with Sir Francis Drake.
Naturally, it isn’t long before the Tardis crew gets involved. They see a Moorish family being kicked out of their house and the house being burned down. Ian...
- 2/14/2013
- by Chris Swanson
- Obsessed with Film
Doctor Who anniversary biopic An Adventure in Space and Time has cast three more roles.
Harry Potter's David Bradley will portray original Who lead William Hartnell in the drama, which will tell the story of the BBC sci-fi drama's creation.
The actor William Russell - who played the Doctor's companion Ian Chesterton - will be portrayed in the biopic by Waterloo Road's Jamie Glover, according to Doctor Who News.
Jemma Powell (Alice in Wonderland) has been cast as Jacqueline Hill - the actress who played Ian's fellow Tardis traveller Barbara Wright - while Claudia Grant will play Carole Ann Ford, who starred as the Doctor's granddaughter Susan until 1964.
Glover, Powell and Grant join Brian Cox - who will play BBC producer Sydney Newman - and Jessica Raine - cast as Doctor Who's first producer Verity Lambert.
Mark Gatiss - who has written An Adventure in Space and Time...
Harry Potter's David Bradley will portray original Who lead William Hartnell in the drama, which will tell the story of the BBC sci-fi drama's creation.
The actor William Russell - who played the Doctor's companion Ian Chesterton - will be portrayed in the biopic by Waterloo Road's Jamie Glover, according to Doctor Who News.
Jemma Powell (Alice in Wonderland) has been cast as Jacqueline Hill - the actress who played Ian's fellow Tardis traveller Barbara Wright - while Claudia Grant will play Carole Ann Ford, who starred as the Doctor's granddaughter Susan until 1964.
Glover, Powell and Grant join Brian Cox - who will play BBC producer Sydney Newman - and Jessica Raine - cast as Doctor Who's first producer Verity Lambert.
Mark Gatiss - who has written An Adventure in Space and Time...
- 2/12/2013
- Digital Spy
News Louisa Mellor Feb 11, 2013
All the big names for Mark Gatiss' birth-of-Who docudrama have now been announced...
We brought you news last week that newcomer Claudia Grant was the official choice to play Carole Ann Ford in the BBC's forthcoming Doctor Who docudrama, An Adventure in Space and Time, and now the remaining roles have been filled.
First up is Jamie Glover (Waterloo Road, Holby City), the man brought in to fill William Russell's shoes, the actor who played Who companion and science teacher Ian Chesterton. Mr Glover, it's been announced, will have added pressure to pull off the part in style as William Russell himself will also be appearing in the docudrama.
Russell's character, about which nothing is known, goes by the name of Harry.
Ian Chesterton's colleague from the history department and fellow Tardis companion, Barbara Wright, aka actress Jacqueline Hill is to be played by Jemma Powell,...
All the big names for Mark Gatiss' birth-of-Who docudrama have now been announced...
We brought you news last week that newcomer Claudia Grant was the official choice to play Carole Ann Ford in the BBC's forthcoming Doctor Who docudrama, An Adventure in Space and Time, and now the remaining roles have been filled.
First up is Jamie Glover (Waterloo Road, Holby City), the man brought in to fill William Russell's shoes, the actor who played Who companion and science teacher Ian Chesterton. Mr Glover, it's been announced, will have added pressure to pull off the part in style as William Russell himself will also be appearing in the docudrama.
Russell's character, about which nothing is known, goes by the name of Harry.
Ian Chesterton's colleague from the history department and fellow Tardis companion, Barbara Wright, aka actress Jacqueline Hill is to be played by Jemma Powell,...
- 2/10/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
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