The Dr Who thread

[Alarm]

Ta HGFB.

[Driller]

Glennister would have made a better Master.

[Governmentyard]

Freema

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6478495.stm

New Doctor Who companion Freema Agyeman says she has been overwhelmed by the positive response she's received from fans of the long-running sci-fi series.

Her character Martha Jones, a trainee doctor, will be seen stepping into the Tardis when Doctor Who returns to BBC One at the end of the month.

Speaking after being mobbed by autograph hunters and photographers at the series launch in London, Agyeman said: "I'm so bowled over at how encouraging the fans have been from day one."

The BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who, which stars David Tennant as the Time Lord, will be returning for a fourth series next year.

Russell T Davies, the show's executive producer, said he couldn't wait for viewers to meet Martha Jones, who joins the Doctor following the departure of his previous assistant Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper.


You can't be a shrinking violet and go to the Moon
Freema Agyeman
"I just think people will open their hearts and let her in - they'll love it."

Asked about the chemistry between Martha and the Doctor, Davies said: "She's working flat out as a medical student, then in walks the most amazing man who saves the world in front of her, so you can't blame her if her heart goes pitter patter..."

Cousin

Still from Doctor Who
Agyeman (right) had a cameo role in the last series of Doctor Who
The opening episode - Smith and Jones - sees the Doctor meet Martha in a London hospital, which is dramatically transported to the Moon. There they battle a blood-sucking alien and the Judoon - a clan of galactic stormtroopers.

As you would expect from a Russell T Davies-penned episode, it's full of witty one-liners, some nasty bits to scare the younger viewers and breathtaking special effects.

Agyeman first appeared in a Doctor Who episode last year as a minor character, who is later revealed to be a cousin of Martha.

But now she's back as a bona fide passenger in the Tardis, has she had any advice from any former Doctor Who companions?

"I got messages from Billie and Elizabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith). I'm companion number 32 or 33 so it's nice to hear former companions say 'just do it your way' - it means the world to me," she told the BBC News website.


MONSTER MAKE-UP
Still from Doctor Who
Series three of Doctor Who required:
20 gallons of latex rubber
40 gallons of silicon rubber
Four tonnes of clay
10 litres of prosthetic adherent
Three sets of prosthetic dentures
And she thanked fans for making her feel so welcome.

"I'm so grateful. Not a lot of people like change, but the fact they are embracing it is great for me."

Agyeman acknowledged there are a few similarities between Martha and Rose.

"They are both fiery and feisty, but you need those qualities to be a Doctor Who assistant. You can't be a shrinking violet and go to the Moon.

"But Martha is more independent, more academic. She can see that the Doctor is a man with a broken heart."

Actor David Tennant hinted at interesting developments in their relationship.

"The Doctor thinks he's moved on and that he's terribly strong, but Martha realises that he needs her more than he realises. That story will twist and turn over 13 episodes - so stay tuned," he said.

Monsters

Image from Doctor Who
Doctor Who returns to BBC One on 31 March
Doctor Who, which is made by BBC Wales, will feature a host of guest actors over the coming weeks, including Sir Derek Jacobi, comedian Ardal O'Hanlon, Michelle Collins and John Simm.

John Barrowman will be returning in the role of Captain Jack Harkness - seen most recently in spin-off series Torchwood.

And there will be plenty of new monsters, including the witch-like Carrionites and the return of the Daleks.

Tennant did let slip that a monster from the 1960s Patrick Troughton era of Doctor Who would also be making a comeback.

But Russell T Davies wasn't giving anything way.

"It's not the yeti - that's all I'm telling you!" he said.

Not sure if we knew about teh Troughton monster but there we go - not the master, is it? When did he come in?

[HGFB]

The Master arrived in the Pertwee era

The BBC news website seems to have missed out this bit

They included a short sighting of Life On Mars star John Simm, playing The Master – the Doctor’s nemesis – towards the end of the new series. He was duly booed by the audience.

and these

Episode One: Smith and Jones

We first meet medical student Martha as she walks to work at the Royal Hope Hospital. On the way she bumps into the Doctor, who then appears in bed as patient John Smith. The episode stars former Corrie actress Anne Reid as an alien killer in human form and sees the hospital transported to the moon, along with 1,000 staff and patients. It’s all the work of the Judoon – intergalactic cops or “rhinos from space”. The Doctor and Martha kiss, but it’s simply the Time Lord performing a genetic transfer. She later saves his life by giving him the kiss of life. The Doctor mentions Rose to Martha, one of several references throughout the third series. A spectacular start to the new era, with lots of running and a burned out sonic screwdriver.

Episode two: The Shakespeare Code

All the world’s a stage. Set in the London of 1599 and guest starring ex-Shameless actor Dean Lennox Kelly as William Shakespeare. The Doctor tells Martha: “When you get home, you can tell everyone you’ve seen Shakespeare.” She replies: “Then I’ll get sectioned.” We meet the three witches, find out what happened to the Bard’s lost play and see where Will got some of his best lines from. The Doctor also mentions Back To The Future and Harry Potter. Just magic.

The Troughton era monster narrows it down quite a lot

Fish People, Macra, Ice Warriors (previously denied), seaweed creature, Quarks, Krotons, Cybermen, Daleks or Chameleons. Have I missed any?

My guess would be Ice Warriors.

[arron]

The Troughton era monster narrows it down quite a lot

Fish People, Macra, Ice Warriors (previously denied), seaweed creature, Quarks, Krotons, Cybermen, Daleks or Chameleons. Have I missed any?

My guess would be Ice Warriors.

Don't forget the Yeti. And Daleks and Cybermen, the latter having more stories under that Doctor than any other..

John Sims as the Master? What? Are casting being about as lazy as your average british builder or something? Even Dennis Greenidge would have made a better choice!

John Sims is a bit too close to Simon Pegg, and he didn't convince me as a good villain character actor either! I think they could have given it to someone with a bit of gravitas to their acting..someone like Christopher Lee, only quite a bit younger. I thought that Roger Delgado worked particularly well..

[HGFB]

We already know the Daleks are in so it's not them. I very much doubt it's Troughton era cybermen and RTD said in the original post that it wasn't the Yeti.

What on earth does John Sims have to do with Pegg? What villain roles have you seen him play? I think they were trying to avoid the overdramtic pantomime villain and have gone with someone of David Tennent's age. Probably to make it more obvious visually that they're contemparies.

Who would you suggest?

[Sir_LANs-a-lot]

Vera Duckworth.

[Dio]

My guess would be Ice Warriors.

Seems logical. Was always surprised they never turned up again later anyway.

[arron]

What on earth does John Sims have to do with Pegg? What villain roles have you seen him play? I think they were trying to avoid the overdramtic pantomime villain and have gone with someone of David Tennent's age. Probably to make it more obvious visually that they're contemparies.

Who would you suggest?

Simon Pegg was in Long Game, and no..he didn't convince me as a villain.

Most of the people I would suggest are getting on a bit unfortunately. I like Tony Beckley, but he's too old as well. someone cold, calculating and deliberate without going over the top. Someone who comes into the room and you find yourself mesmerised with their presence..much like Roger Delgado did. Someone who doesn't appear as some everyday blokish pubite and is detached from humanity. Perhaps a foreigner. I'd have to think a lot more and see who I could come up with.

All I can say, at least Jane Horrocks didn't get cast as the Rani. That would have worked really well..</sarcasm>

[HGFB]

Simon Pegg was in Long Game, and no..he didn't convince me as a villain.

Most of the people I would suggest are getting on a bit unfortunately. I like Tony Beckley, but he's too old as well. someone cold, calculating and deliberate without going over the top. Someone who comes into the room and you find yourself mesmerised with their presence..much like Roger Delgado did. Some one who doesn't appear as some everyday blokish pubite and is detached from humanity. Perhaps a foreigner. I'd have to think a lot more and see who I could come up with.

All I can say, at least Jane Horrocks didn't get cast as the Rani. That would have worked really well..</sarcasm>

I meant what villain roles have you seen John Sims in that discount him for the role of the Master? We already know Pegg is a crap bad guy

I have a sneaking suspicion that Sims is going to turn out to be bloody creepy

[Governmentyard]

So who to replace Tennant, then? After his red carpet quote about avoiding doing a Tony Blair, and the fourth series not having him confirmed in it yet?

I'd be very tempted to have £100 on James McAvoy to play a nice creepy Doctor were the speculation to begin in earnest anytime soon. He'd even have been good as the Master but it wasn't to be. Maybe with Tennant to go middle of series four?

[HGFB]

I think DT will do the whole of series 4. For a replacement just have a browse through any male actor of about the right age that RTD has worked with previously

[Darkflame]

Dr Who shouldnt be so casualy cast.

Quirky is easy, but getting intensity and the "age" of the charecter is hard.
Something that Tennant hasnt really done imo.

[HGFB]

Dr Who shouldnt be so casualy cast.

*Sigh* I keep forgetting that I'm not at OG where jokes like the one I made would be understood.

I didn't mean just pick a random actor RTD has worked with to play the Doctor. I meant that if you want to guess who'll play the Doctor next have a look through the actors RTD has worked with in the past. He's got a habit of casting them in new shows. (Eccleston. Tennant. etc.) It's a Who fanboy gag.

[rockwaldo]

Dr Who shouldnt be so casualy cast.

*Sigh* I keep forgetting that I'm not at OG where jokes like the one I made would be understood.

I didn't mean just pick a random actor RTD has worked with to play the Doctor. I meant that if you want to guess who'll play the Doctor next have a look through the actors RTD has worked with in the past. He's got a habit of casting them in new shows. (Eccleston. Tennant. etc.) It's a Who fanboy gag.

thats why you are rubish

shit! i posted in a Dr Who thread....arghhhhhh