The 2007 Doctor Who (and spin-offs) Thread

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:34 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6260374.stm

Well, Martha will only be appearing in the latter half of Series 4 (presumably to get her on board to smooth over the regeneration) and a new companion will be appearing in all 13 episodes of Series 4 (casting due to be announced soon).

Meanwhile Martha will appear in 3 episodes of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, as its slightly rejigged for a BBC2 audience. Word is this means less gore and sex than the 1st series. Which is good, because it was mainly inappropriate uses of both that let Torchwood down.

It's a shame Martha's not going to be in a Sarah Jane Adventures too - think of the coup of having the same character in all three series!

I do think a mistake is being made, but hopefully Martha will have time to grow as a character before calling for the Doctor's help. It would be good, for example, if when she came back she was a fully qualified Doctor, rather than a medical student.

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:55 pm

2099net wrote:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6260374.stm

Well, Martha will only be appearing in the latter half of Series 4 (presumably to get her on board to smooth over the regeneration) and a new companion will be appearing in all 13 episodes of Series 4 (casting due to be announced soon).

Regeneration? We're getting a new doctor at the end of the fourth series?

Escapay

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:41 pm

It seems likely David Tennant and Showrunner Russell T Davies are to leave at the end of the 4th series. It's all whispers and rumours, but the fan network is reasonably accurate... there's normally not smoke without fire. In fact, some rumours are the regeneration will be mid-season.

yamiiguy · Post by **yamiiguy** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:24 am

It'll be sad to see David go, I know alot of fans think the new series is alot of tosh compared to the classic but David has been my favourite doctor, it'll take alot to replace him.

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 1:33 am

The new companion is....

Are you ready for this 'Bod?

Catherine Tate

The official BBC Doctor Who website has announced that comedienne and actress Catherine Tate, who guest starred in the 2006 Christmas episode The Runaway Bride, is to return to the role of Donna Noble as a full-time companion of the Doctor throughout the fourth series of Doctor Who in 2008.

Executive producer Russell T Davies is quoted by the site as saying: "Catherine was an absolute star in The Runaway Bride and we are delighted that one of Britain's greatest talents has agreed to join us for the fourth series. Viewers can expect more ambitious storylines and a whole host of guest stars in 2008."

Tate herself added that: "I am delighted to be returning to Doctor Who. I had a blast last Christmas and look forward to travelling again through time and space with that nice man from Gallifrey."

Tate replaces Freema Agyeman (Martha) as a regular cast member; Agyeman will appear in several episodes later in the season, and three episodes of Torchwood.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cul ... 6831.shtml

ichabod · Post by **ichabod** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:32 am

2099net wrote:The new companion is....

Are you ready for this 'Bod?

Catherine Tate

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:43 am

The public has spoken... and it seems to be more negative than positive:
BBC's Have Your Say...

And if you think that's bad, do not read any WHO fan forums or blogs.

*sigh* Fans. Their own worse enemy.

Personally, I have mixed feelings. I'm a little angry that Freema's Martha seems to have been pushed aside to let the bigger "name" star in the series.

But... on the other hand, a (somewhat) toned down Donna Nobel is just what the Doctor ordered - so to speak. No more of these "Doctor, I Wov Woo" companions. I hope Donna slaps the Doctor at least once each episode.

And let's face it, when Martha does come back, we all know sparks are going to fly.

Martha vs Donna: Already I'm excited.

So yes, on the whole, I'm excited by this news.

MagicMirror · Post by **MagicMirror** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:33 pm

But... on the other hand, a (somewhat) toned down Donna Nobel is just what the Doctor ordered - so to speak. No more of these "Doctor, I Wov Woo" companions. I hope Donna slaps the Doctor at least once each episode. And let's face it, when Martha does come back, we all know sparks are going to fly.

Agreed. We can't have every companion fancying the Doctor, so Donna's a good idea in that respect.
I'm glad that Martha is coming back in the middle of the series, though. I generally preferred her to Rose (who was annoyingly cocky in the second series; she worked better with Doctor no. 9).

Though I must say I'm a bit worried about her appearing in Torchwood (aka Look-at-us-we-swear-so-we-must-be-adult). I'm really hoping that TW's going to improve. The Sarah Jane Adventures, on the other hand, I'm looking forward to immensely! It almost felt more like Doctor Who than Doctor Who!

The red-fingernailed hand picking up the Master's ring is presumably Lucy's (Saxon's wife), but that shot is apparently not going to be followed up anytime soon, according to Russell T. Davies. It's just there so that the next writer/producer that wants to bring the Master back can do so.

Davies is bringing back another icon from the old series next year - any ideas? I'm crossing my fingers for Davros!

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:58 pm

I think Davros is likely. There's only 1 dalek again, so Caan will probably try to seek out their creator.

The only other "icon" I can think of are Ice Warriors, and that's only because they've been rumoured in the past. Personally I would prefer the Yeti though. Imagine Yeti with cgi claws! I'm not sure that they're that iconic though (unless you're over 40).

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:08 am

Here's a good article on the Catherine Tate "casting controversy".

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/op ... 1063752007

It's actually eyeopening reading - the amount of bile and anger that has been posted about her on Fan Forums (and elsewhere) is incredible, but most importantly, it's deeply hurtful.

Back in the mid to late 80's when the programme was struggling for survival, the majority of fandom was similarly offensive about most of the decisions the showrunners had made. I'm convinced the endless bile directed at the show and the BBC played no small part in it being quietly cancelled.

It was at that time I finally grew up and distanced myself from fandom entirely content to stick to buying the odd Doctor Who magazine from a newsagents shelf while reading and enjoying the novels on my own.

I hoped with the successful revival (and the show is more successful now than ever before) this sort of sniping would be collectively behind us. I see I was wrong. In the 80's I was embarrassed to be a WHO fan because of the low regard the programme had in the eyes of the public. Now its lifted by huge public support, I'm embarrased to be a WHO fan due to the spiteful, petty tone of the vocal minority of fandom.

Tony J Case, Super Genius · Mon Jul 09, 2007 1:34 pm

2099net wrote:It's actually eyeopening reading - the amount of bile and anger that has been posted about her on Fan Forums (and elsewhere) is incredible, but most importantly, it's deeply hurtful.

The pure bile spewing forth from the fans over this makes me sad. It's ok to not like the lady (outside of Who, I didnt like her show - at least of the brief bits I saw on youtube), but to character assassnate her like this is disgraceful.

Between this and what happened when Doctor Nine left the show makes me sad to be a fan.

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:04 pm

Toys, Toys, Toys and More Toys - Some Series 3 figures are on the list, so be aware of spoilers for those non-UK viewers.

But exciting news about revisiting Series 1 and 2 for more figures:

From Series Two these figures are expected in 2007

Nurse Novice Hame
This 5" figure features Novice Hame as she appears in Series Two New Earth (2006) with the white habit as opposed to the dark habit featured with the Series Three Novice Hame figure from Gridlock (2007). The cat nun, a member of the Order of the Sisters of Plenitude, Nurse Novice Hame looks after the Face of Boe in New Earth

Faceless Mrs Connolly with The Wire TV Set
From The Idiot's Lantern (2006). In 1950s London Mrs Connolly is overcome by a mysterious energy, The Wire, emananting from her newly delivered TV set. The Wire is an entity that consumes the human brain's electrical activity, erasing the face as well. The Wire has become trapped in television requiring more energy to restore its true form

Evil Toby
Toby Zed from The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit (2006). On a barren plane circling a black hole, the archaeologist Toby Zed discovers fragments of alien writing which transfer onto his face and hands

Mickey Smith with Preacher Gun
Played by Noel Clarke, Mickey Smith is Rose Tyler's boyfriend, a mechanic from South East London. Mickey's first appearance was in Rose, 2005. In Rise of the Cybermen, 2006, Mickey Smith meets Ricky Smith, his parallel universe other-self. Ricky Smith is the commander of the Preachers, an army of rebel fighters resisting the Cybermen. The 5" Mickey Smith action figure is of Mickey disguised as a security guard at Canary Wharf's Torchwood operation. Mickey wears grey rollneck top and fingerless gloves with black trousers and boots and carries removeable weapon

Rose Tyler, Version 2, with Chip
Ninth and Tenth Doctor's companion Rose with tattooed Chip figure, Cassandra's manservant, as seen in Series Two New Earth (2006) - Just repackaging

Dalek Sec
A 5" scale black Dalek Sec, Leader of the Cult of Skaro. Daleks Sec, Thay, Caan and Jast make up the elite Cult of Skaro, a crack Dalek unit formed to penetrate the enemy psyche. The Cult is distinguished by having individual names, and Dalek Sec is further differentiated by his all black Dalekanium panels

The Doctor in Spacesuit
From Series Two The Satan Pit (2006) and Series Three 42 (2007) the 5" Doctor in Spacesuit figure. The Doctor in Spacesuit features a removeable space helmet

The Hoix
The Hoix is the fearsome dripping-fanged monster confronted by protagonist Elton Pope at the beginning of Love & Monsters (2006)

Clockwork Man (2007)
There should be a new version of Clockwork Man. Clockwork Man (black) may be discontinued and followed by a new dark blue Clockwork Man

From Series One the following figures are expected in 2007

Assault Dalek
Bronze coloured 5" scale Assault Dalek action figure from Series 1. The Assault Dalek features a claw arm

Doctor Constantine
The hospital doctor meets the Ninth Doctor in wartime London in The Empty Child (2005). Doctor Constantine is a medical doctor at the Albion Hospital, overrun with plague victims. Doctor Constantine himself succumbs to the mysterious plague of the living dead as his wartime gas mask apparently fuses to his head. The Dr Constantine figure comes with a gas mask head accessory. The figure also comes with the cane that Constantine uses to tap against a table leg to awaken the hospital corpses

The Gelth Zombie
As seen in The Unquiet Dead (2005) the Gelth are gaseous alien entities that colonise fresh corpses. The Gelth plan to destroy all human life on planet earth thereby creating a plentiful supply of corpses for colonisation by ever more Gelth Zombies

The Moxx of Balhoon
Moxx of Balhoon 2007 re-release. Features pull back and go motion and two robot spiders. Note the packaging change to Series 1. The Moxx of Balhoon was originally released as part of Wave 1 (2006)

The 9th Doctor
For the first time ever as a single carded figure The 9th Doctor is available now in the USA on the exclusive new American release card back with no Series branding. This figure has been released in America with the Moxx of Balhoon, Cassandra, Dalek with Mutant Reveal and Sycorax Leader all with new US cardbacks. The Christopher Eccleston 9th Doctor figure should be released soon in the UK too, but branded as Series 1. The Ninth Doctor may also appear in a mid-regeneration version and as part of a re-released Regeneration Set with the 10th Doctor. The 9th Doctor and the exclusive new US five figure release wave can be found in the UK on eBay.co.uk or in the US on www.ebay.com

Sycorax Leader
Sycorax Leader will be released again and packaged as 'Series 1'

Dirty Dalek
A battle worn Dalek from Dalek (2005). The Ninth Doctor and Rose encounter the Daleks in a strange underground museum in Utah in 2012

The Editor
The villain played by Simon Pegg from The Long Game (2005). The Editor is, in the distant future, the controller of the Satellite 5 news space station orbiting the planet Earth

Deluxe figure in scale with 5" figures available shortly

The Reaper (Electronic)

With their distinctive scythe-like tails, these flying alien lizards confronted the Ninth Doctor in the New Series One episode Father's Day. Voracious carnivores, reapers have huge wingspans, multiple limbs, a toothed beak and mouths in their chests. Importantly, Reapers have the ability to rematerialise around the spacetime vortex, feeding especially during temporal paradoxes. This is in the 5" deluxe figure series and similar in scale to the Empress of the Racnoss

Yummy!

As for Torchwood... there's been reports of Freema (Martha) being seen filming with John Barrowman and... cybermen! Could this be part of the "retooling" of Torchwood... making it appeal more to the Who audience?

Play.Com is reporting that the upcoming UK Key To Time boxset will be 7 discs. One disc extra than the US release. The new set will include many more supplements than the US only release (which will be discontinued and replaced by the contents of the new UK set in due time). It is not clear if extra commentaries have been recorded though (earlier there was speculation the set would contain two commentary tracks on each story).

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:56 pm

2099net wrote:Play.Com is reporting that the upcoming UK Key To Time boxset will be 7 discs. One disc extra than the US release. The new set will include many more supplements than the US only release (which will be discontinued and replaced by the contents of the new UK set in due time). It is not clear if extra commentaries have been recorded though (earlier there was speculation the set would contain two commentary tracks on each story).

Could the 7th disc simply be for the bonus features for The Armageddon Factor since that's a 6-episode story? Or will it just be an all-encompassing bonus disc for the entire Key to Time season? Either way, I'll be excited when it comes (back) to R1 with all the goodies.

TVShowsonDVD.com said the November Who releases would be Time-Flight and Arc of Infinity (yay, two from the Fifth Doctor!), meaning they're skipping over Timelash until a later date. Boo! I was in the mood for a new Sixth Doctor story coming stateside (though I still have to get Revelation of the Daleks and The Mark of the Rani). But given that the next R2 titles are all Third and Fourth Doctors (The Time Warrior, The Key to Time, and Planet of Evil), I'm fearing it'll be bumped again and again. Maybe we'll get it with The Time Meddler...

Escapay

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:49 am

Escapay. You'll never be in the mood for TimeLash. Trust me.

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:35 am

As Professor Yana says... "As one door closes, another one opens." In this case, Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood.

The BBC have issued a press release for Torchwood S2, to be screened on BBC2 early 2008, which hints at some of the upcoming storylines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressr ... wood.shtml

The high-octane storylines, filmed in and around Cardiff, include Torchwood's encounter with a rogue Time Agent; a tragic time-slip from World War One; and a memory-thief who uncovers long-forgotten secrets among the entire team.

Another familiar face among the surprise guest stars is Doctor Who's gorgeous companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) who brings her time-travelling expertise and medical skills to the team halfway through the series.

She says: "I'm really looking forward to working with the Torchwood team and can't wait to start filming.

"It's a huge new challenge and a wonderful opportunity to develop and expand the character of Martha Jones."

Rumours are Torchwood S2 will include Cybermen in some capacity or other, "Bad" Jack - a rather bitter, disillusioned and nasty Captain Jack from the 1880's where he landed when escaping the GameStation as the end of Parting of the Ways (who could be Jack the Ripper according to some speculation/rumours) and possibly an exploration of the fact Captain Jack was frozen by Torchwood for 75 years! (Documents relating to this "fact" have recently been "declassified" on the Torchwood website).

Sarah Jane is expected to air on CBBC and BBC1 sometime in September or October. One of the 2 part stories is rumoured to include the Slitheen.

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:48 am

Well, its a bit of a spoiler (for all those who have had their head in a bucket for the past 18 or so months) but the cover for the Vanilla S3 vol 4 release is awesome.

Check it out - its MASTERFUL: http://www.gallifreyone.com/picview.php ... 4cover.jpg

Being as Torchwood S1 is soon to appear on BBC America there's yet another <strike>Barrowboy</strike> Barrowman interview here:

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.ph ... 1&id=42439

So... two bits stand out:

"You don't know the exact date when Jack returned yet," Barrowman said. "We do know he was left on Satellite Five [at the end of season one of Doctor Who]. He was brought back to life. He then came back to Earth and arrived back in another time and had to live through it to get to the point where the Doctor came back. In [season] two of Torchwood, there's some of that revealed."

"Bad" Jack? Jack being cryogenically frozen for 75 years?

Season two of Torchwood will also further develop the character of Martha Jones, played by Freema Agyeman, who will be making a guest appearance in three episodes.

"It's a perfect progression for her character," Barrowman said. "Because she develops such a strong character by the end of [season] three. So if Jack needs help, who else is he going to call? Jack trusted her to save the world. So did the Doctor. So who are you going to call? Martha Jones."

Yay! Go Martha! Go! And we look forward to seeing you back in Doctor Who later in Series 4.

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:55 am

UK Key to Time extras:

00:02:05:13 (continuities) (disc 1)
00:00:39:21 (season 16 Trail)
00:06:00:18 The Ribos Operation - Photo Gallery
00:19:36:04 The Ribos File
00:00:58:10 Doctor Who - Coming Soon To Dvd... - Planet Of Evil
00:59:59:10 A Matter Of Time

00:03:41:01 (continuities) (disc 2)
00:13:55:23 (untitled)
00:17:23:13 Weird Science
00:06:59:22 The Pirate Planet - Photo Gallery
N/a Doctor Who - Coming Soon To Dvd... - Planet Of Evil (00:00:58:10
00:30:27:17 Parrot Fashion

00:02:39:24 The Model World Of Robert Symes - Mat Irvine's Models (disc 3)
00:06:03:04 Blue Peter
00:02:09:21 (untitled)
00:08:46:05 (untitled)
00:02:21:14 (continuities)
00:13:04:10 Hammer Horror
00:08:57:15 Stones Free
00:08:00:02 The Stones Of Blood - Photo Gallery
N/a Doctor Who - Coming Soon To Dvd... - Planet Of Evil (00:00:58:10)
00:26:31:11 Getting Blood From The Stones

00:11:01:22 Double Trouble (disc 4)
00:21:12:05 The Humans Of Tara
00:07:43:20 The Androids Of Tara - Photo Gallery
00:10:17:00 Now And Then - The Androids Of Tara
N/a Doctor Who - Coming Soon To Dvd... - Planet Of Evil (00:00:58:10)

00:06:23:16 "variations" (disc 5)
00:02:47:09 (continuities)
00:11:24:19 The Power Of Kroll - Studio Extracts
00:09:39:20 Philip Madoc - A Villain For All Seasons
00:04:52:13 The Power Of Kroll - Photo Gallery
00:09:45:06 There's Something About Mary...
N/a Doctor Who - Coming Soon To Dvd... - Planet Of Evil (00:00:58:10

00:08:28:20 (untitled) (disc 6)
00:00:58:10 (untitled)
00:00:25:17 Temporary Fault
00:00:20:22 (untitled)
00:02:54:03 (continuities)
00:02:49:07 (untitled)
00:04:26:04 First Broadcast In "pebble Mill At One"
00:13:09:00 Rogue Time Lords
00:04:45:07 The Armageddon Factor - Photo Gallery
00:08:23:17 Directing Who With Michael Hayes
00:01:11:05 (untitled)
00:15:38:04 Defining Shadows
N/a Doctor Who - Coming Soon To Dvd... - Planet Of Evil (00:00:58:10)

00:14:30:11 Late Night Story - The Photograph (disc 7)
00:13:42:02 Late Night Story - The Emissary
00:14:17:20 Late Night Story - Nursery Tea
00:14:59:15 Late Night Story - The End Of The Party
00:12:51:12 Late Night Story - Sredni Vashtar

Confused at to what Late Night Story is? Check out the following link
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1155411/index.html

There's the same trailer on each of the discs, because in the US they will be released in a re-issued boxset, or available individually.

It is possible more extras will be revealed later (but what we know is already almost 8 hours, and in addition there'll be a commentary on every episode and production note subtitles on every episode), and possible the R2 set may get new commentaries (even two commentaries per episode, the US original and the UK new one if new ones have been recorded).

Loomis · Post by **Loomis** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:20 am

Wow, very glad that I didn't pick up the US Key to Time box set now. It should rival the Police Academy Box Set for super happy goodness.

KTT isn't my favourite Doctor Who Season, although there are some good episodes in there, but I'll definitely fork out for that when (if) it comes Down Under.

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:30 pm

2099net wrote:UK Key to Time extras:

<snip>

It is possible more extras will be revealed later (but what we know is already almost 8 hours, and in addition there'll be a commentary on every episode and production note subtitles on every episode), and possible the R2 set may get new commentaries (even two commentaries per episode, the US original and the UK new one if new ones have been recorded).

I'm hoping this will be R1's March 2008 boxset!

Judging simply by the titles, I'm really looking forward to "A Matter of Time", "The Humans of Tara", and "There's Something About Mary".

Escapay

2099net · Post by **2099net** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:44 am

The official Key to Time announcement, and yes, most episodes have 2 commentaries!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cul ... 7393.shtml

DVDizzy Forum

Latest Movie Reviews

🎬 DVDizzy Top Stories️️

The 2007 Doctor Who (and spin-offs) Thread