Dr Who

[Mr. Pointy]

The Doctor seems to be winning the Saturday night ratings war, according to BBC Cult. However, given the dross that seems to pass for entertainment now, it's not really a fair contest 🙂 -

Doctor Who | TV | News | 10 April 2005
Unquiet Audience
8.3 Million makes episode three Saturday's top show.

Episode Three of Doctor Who was another strong ratings scorer, beating a Royal Wedding (6.2 million), a Grand National (7.3 million), and Casualty (8.0 million).

The Welsh Zombies also saw off Geordie boys Ant and Dec (7.1 million), gaining a 36.7 per cent audience share.

The programme followed the trend of previous weeks, and gained over a million viewers across the episode, starting out at 7.7 and climbing to 8.9.

The scarier themes proved a hit with audiences - the Doctor Who inbox was flooded with praise from parents gleefully reporting their offspring still cowering behind various soft furnishings (and even a pair of curtains).

Next week, of course, Big Ben blows up. Who's going to miss that?

BTW - the alien ship crashing into Big Ben trailer makes the next ep look like a right cracker...(Chris Eccleston pun not deliberate there 😉)

Source

 

[nerd4hire]

We just got the second episode over here on tuesday. I guess it's the Charles Dickens one coming up.

West coast Canadian Tuesdays are great for Genre fans. Doctor Who followed by Veronica Mars, then a rerun of Angel - one, two, three.

On the Canadian run of Doctor Who, Chris Eccleston comes on at the end, and gives a question. If you answer correctly you win a chance to win a trip to london, to view a live filming of the series.

The questions are pretty easy. Last weeks was, "What does TARDIS stand for?".

Hey, I don't know how many of you were fans of the old series, but how do you think this new rendition of the theme stands up against the original. The theme was always my favourite in the history of television, so I was cynical they could improve on it, and I'm not sure they have, but it is growing on me, and I do still love it.

 

[nerd4hire]

From what I've read in the papers today David Tennant has the part and they've asked Chris Eccleston to re-shoot his last scenes to accomodate this.

So 2 weeks later they caught up with you. It's confirmed by BBC. David Tennant will be the next Doctor Who.

I don't know. Never seen him act, but in appearance he looks too much the glam-boy to be the Doctor.

Casanova star Tennant is next Dr Who
Deborah Haile
David Tennant

CASANOVA star David Tennant has been named as the man who will take over the role of Doctor Who from Salford actor Christopher Eccleston.

The BBC announced Eccleston was to quit the role of TV's Time Lord two weeks ago, after the screening of just one episode of the new series.

They had initially hoped that Eccleston, whose first appearance as the ninth doctor attracted 10 million viewers, would continue in a second series.

But Eccleston said that, while he was proud to have been a part of Doctor Who, he wanted to leave and was planning new projects.

The BBC announced that David Tennant - currently starring in the BBC drama Casanova - would take over the role when the next series is made.

Tennant, a long-time fan of the series, was always the bookies' favourite to land the role.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/155/155027_casanova_star_tennant_is_next_dr_who.html

 

[Faith]

If you had saw him in Blackpool you would know he's not to glam for it. I think he will be good, I would rather have Chris but as far as replacements go David is good.

Was so annoyed this week as it was a two parter!

 

[Mr. Pointy]

If you had saw him in Blackpool you would know he's not to glam for it. I think he will be good, I would rather have Chris but as far as replacements go David is good.

Was so annoyed this week as it was a two parter!

David T is also excellent as Casanova (also written by Russell T Davies btw). I think he will do a good job taking over from Chris, especially as he's such a big fan.

Two parter good! One of the only things I've been missing about the new series is the traditional Dr Who end-of-episode cliff-hanger 🙂

Hey, I don't know how many of you were fans of the old series, but how do you think this new rendition of the theme stands up against the original. The theme was always my favourite in the history of television, so I was cynical they could improve on it, and I'm not sure they have, but it is growing on me, and I do still love it.

I quite like the new version of the theme. All they seem to have done is added some orchestral stuff underneath what sounds like an acceptable version of the original electronic theme. There is a nice BBC Radio2 piece (for RealPlayer) from Stuart Maconie's show about the theme HERE

Also, you have to bear in mind that there have already been several different versions of the theme already - some are more successful than others (IMO)

 

[Faith]

And its that time again 😀

So what were your thoughts on the Daleks? I missed the original ones but I know of their history and the past week here its all everyone has been talking about. I must admit that when it elevated I did get the chills. And once again I cried (the first being the second episode where the Doctor shed a tear for his planet), when Rose was saying goodbye to the Doctor and his face.

And gotta comment on when the Dalek said about 'saving the woman you love.' Not too keen on Adam (I think his name was) joining them, I prefer it just Rose and the man himself.

 

[Mr. Pointy]

It just keeps on getting better. This was my fave ep so far. I really felt sorry for the Dalek at the end...the writing must be top-notch for that to happen 🙂

 

[Patran]

Not sure about the whole "Dalek getting emotions due to Rose's DNA" story, but I have to admit it was one of the best so far. Especially the scene when the Dalek starting the move up the stairs. 🙂 And Mr Ecclestone's acting gets better as the series progresses. What a pity he's bailed out so quickly.

 

[Xin Rong]

Exactly how did the dalek get rose's emotions and develop feelings, i missedhat bit, i know it was something about absorbing DNA. I too loved this episode and i think this show keeps gettin better and better each passing week

 

[Mr. Pointy]

Interesting interview in Dreamwatch this month with Russell T Davies - he states that American shows (particularly Buffy) influenced his take on the Doctor. I'll dig out the exact quote and post it later...

 

[Mr. Pointy]

Here is the quote from the Dreamwatch interview I mentioned above -
Dreamwatch - What were your inspirations in structuring the new show?

Russell - The stuff that happens with American fantasy shows was our reference, where they give everything an emotional base. I love Buffy, absolutely love it. That show can break your heart sometimes whereas Doctor Who broke your heart once, when Katy Manning left! (she played Jo Grant - obviously his fave companion🙂)

 

[Patran]

Here is the quote from the Dreamwatch interview I mentioned above -
Dreamwatch - What were your inspirations in structuring the new show?

Russell - The stuff that happens with American fantasy shows was our reference, where they give everything an emotional base. I love Buffy, absolutely love it. That show can break your heart sometimes whereas Doctor Who broke your heart once, when Katy Manning left! (she played Jo Grant - obviously his fave companion🙂)

So how about starting a campaign for "Rose the Vampire Slayer"! Her first vampire kill could be Chris Evans, 'cause he's definitely not human.

 

[Old Master 3.0]

I've just read that Billie Piper has quit the series. Is this true? Why the hell is everyone quitting?

 

[nerd4hire]

OMG. I couldn't believe it. I had to rush to Google to get it confirmed -

Piper quits Doctor Who
By smh.com.au
May 24, 2005 - 1:10PM

Christopher Eccleston as The Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose Tyler in the current series of Doctor Who.

Billie Piper is set to follow her co-star Christopher Eccleston in quitting Doctor Who, according to reports.

The 22-year-old, who plays the Doctor's assistant Rose Tyler, will return for the new series but it is not confirmed for how many episodes, a BBC spokeswoman said.

"With regard to how many episodes she will be in, we are currently story-lining series two," she said.

Piper is thought to appear in just three episodes of the next series.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/TV--Radi...o/2005/05/24/1116700692210.html?oneclick=true

Piper calls it a day

Wyndham King

Billie eyes pastures new
More trouble in't Tardis for Dr Who.

As the excellent revival series of the Time Lord gubbins comes to a conclusion, the Doctor's foxy assistant Billie Piper has decided to follow Christopher Eccleston and quit the show.

It seems Piper's becoming a victim of her own success.

Chris Evans' ex-wife is awash with offers of work apparently flooding in from home and abroad - well, the States - on the back of her feisty portrayal of Rose Tyler, time-traveller in the show.

Eccleston bows out in a Christmas special, to be replaced by Casanova actor David Tennant.

Piper, meanwhile, is expected to appear in three episodes of the new series before moving on.

However, industry insiders are hoping to coax the actress into sticking it out for seven or so episodes as Tennant beds in.

http://www.megastar.co.uk/ents/news/2005/05/23/sMEG01MTExNjg1MDE4NTc.html

Ryan leads running for Rose role

Wyndham King

Ryan's oughta
As revealed yesterday on MegaStar, Billie Piper's announced she's going to step into the Tardis one final time, never to re-emerge.

And now the race is on for an all-too-soon replacement for the chipmunk-chopped one's feisty Time Lord sidekick, Rose Tyler.

The Mirror asks "Who's Next?", surveying the runners and riders for the role.

These include ubiquitous thespy type, Rachael Stirling (Dame Diana Rigg's daughter, of course), Aussie actress Rosie Byrne, someone called Olivia Lee, someone else called Rebecca Clarke (been in a Yakult ad, apparently), Claudine Spiteri, Lisa Hogg, Loo Brealey and Rachel Stevens.

Yes, the very same.

However, top of the pile, as a future sparring partner for the next Doc, David Tennant, seems to be EastEnders' Michelle Ryan.

Well, since Dirty Den got pranged permanently in that Queen Vic three witches guff-plot, and Dennis 'Method' Rickman bogged off, old Zoe Slater's looked a bit lost out there on the stall.

The Mirror makes Ryan's picture the biggest of the bunch, so you can see who they're banking on.

TV insiders are quoted as saying Dr Who bosses are after a sophisticated, feisty, sexy, brunette with great legs, who looks good in short skirts.

Aren't we all, love.

Join the queue.

http://www.megastar.co.uk/ents/news/2005/05/23/sMEG01MTExNjg1MDE4NTc.html

Although the BBC dated May 23 sounds a little more hesitant -

Piper 'to leave Who series two'
Billie Piper stars as Rose Tyler
Billie Piper may not appear in every episode of the second series of Doctor Who on BBC One, according to reports.

Piper, who plays the Doctor's assistant Rose, will return for the new series but it is not confirmed for how many episodes, said a BBC spokeswoman.

"With regard to how many episodes she will be in, we are currently story-lining series two," she said.

Christopher Eccleston has already said he will not return as the Doctor - David Tennant will become the timelord.

The return of Doctor Who has been a huge success for the BBC - both critically and with audiences.

But the loss of Eccleston was a blow for the corporation looking to build on the success of the first series.

The show has been developed by Russell T Davies, writer of Queer As Folk and The Second Coming, who is a lifelong Doctor Who fan.

The BBC spokeswoman said plans for the second series had not been finalised.

"It has not been confirmed how many episodes she will be in," she said.

"We are waiting to see the storylines and scripts."

Filming on a new 13-part adventure and Christmas special will start at BBC Wales later in 2005.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4572551.stm

 

[Faith]

I was reading that they also talked about her boyfriend Mickey being a possibility as the new companion. Hope that is a lie because he's boring. As for Michelle I don't like her in Eastenders so hopig its not her either.

I'll do it 😉 Then it could be a Scottish Doctor and companion 😀