22 November 2005 :: 'The Christmas Invasion' synopsis

Some exciting information is just in from the BBC Press Office - a detailed synopsis of the Doctor Who Christmas special, 'The Christmas Invasion'.

It reveals a number of potential spoilers so we've hidden the text below for those who are avoiding such information but if you'd like to read it just highlight the spoiler box below.

The original press release with details of Doctor Who and many other excellent BBC programmes for the festive season is available on the BBC Press Office website - click here for more

 

 

With thanks to ?hil.

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22 November 2005 :: Press Update

Todays newspapers include the first details of the BBC's Christmas schedule and follow the BBC press release mentioned above. Unsurprisingly many of the headlines concentrate on the 'big' programmes of the season: Doctor Who, Little Britain, The Two Ronnies and The Goodies.

Amongst the red-top tabloids the competition to get the earliest Christmas TV supplements out is intensse and the Daily Mirror will apparently be publishing it's first supplement this Thursday (24th November) so further details may well appear there.

The Mirror, The Sun, The Daily Record (Scotland), The Scotsman (Scotland), The Herald (Scotland) and The Manchester Evening News (local) all cover news of the higlights (with mentions for Doctor Who).

Additionally The Mirror's ShelleyVision TV Column, in it's pluses and minuses of the week, has David Tennant as a minus, commenting that his appearance on Children in Need makes him "already irritating".

Links to online versions of these and other articles are below:

Online articles and stories - Tuesday 22nd November

Online news

• » BBC News: "Final Ronnies in festive line-up" [view]

Online newspapers

• » The Sun: "The last Ronnies" [view]
• » The Mirror: "BBC'S CHRISTMAS GOODIES ..are The Goodies, Two Ronnies and Dr Who" [view]
• » Daily record: "GOODIES BOX FROM THE BEEB" [view]
• » The Herald: "Still Game to lead festive line-up on BBC1" [view]
• » The Scotsman: "BBC hopes Little Britain and Doctor Who will bring Xmas cheer" [view]
• » Manchester Evening News: "Doctor Who to materialise at Christmas" [view]

Other online media

• » Digital Spy: "BBC announces Christmas schedule" [view]
• » RTE (Ireland): "Doctor Who on BBC's Christmas list" [view]
• » Brand republic: "Doctor Who and Little Britain headline BBC Christmas schedule" [view]

 

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21 November 2005 :: Press Update

We hope you enjoyed Friday's Children in Need Doctor Who short, we certainly did. If you haven't already please spare a moment to make a donation if you can.

Some varied coverage over the weekend and today, details below:

UK Newspapers - Monday 21st November

• The Mirror - reports that Rachel Stephens is auditioning for a role in Torchwood, hoping to emulate the success of Billie Piper.
• The Guardian - Media Guardian's My Media column is illustrated with a Dalek, as author Geraldine McCaughrean reveals that the show "was the last thing that really excited my imagination".

UK Newspapers - Sunday 20th November

• The Observer - the magazine section featured a Christmas gift guide selected by Observer columnists. Phil Hogan warns his children that they might get a remote control Dalek whether they want one or not.
• The Sunday Post (Scotland) - ran a competition to win the new series box set in its teenagers page Stuff! The same page features an interview with a 17-year-old who thinks Doctor Who is a load of tosh because time travel is impossible.
• The Sunday Mail (Scotland) - ran a piece about David Tennant's "Cockney" accent in Doctor Who titled "EXCLUSIVE: DOC VAN DYKE". More details online here

UK Newspapers - Saturday 19th November

• The Mirror - the We Love Telly! mag published a full-page advert for the new series one boxset.
• The Guardian - the sports section featured a picture of a Cybermen to illustrate a small story about Posh Spice buying David Beckham a Doctor Who book in Harrods. The Guide in Saturday's Guardian featured a single line about the DVD box set being made available from today.

 

With thanks to ?hil.

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18 November 2005 :: Press Update

It's Children in Need day today and there's some coverage in the press along with a few other snippets - see below for details:

UK Newspapers - Friday 18th November

• The Independent - reports that Shada "has been revived, re-recorded and will be broadcast for the first time by the BBC". In an article that is slightly misleading they don't make it clear that this is simply a broadcast of the online audio/animated version of the story re-made with Paul McGann and Lalla Ward in 2003. More details online here
• The Daily Star - features a Children In Need picture of K9.
• The Sun - includes a picture of Billie Piper and David Tennant on its TV page.
• The Mirror - the TV Land page reports that ITV and the BBC are lining Billie Piper up for top secret projects that are far removed from the role of Rose.
• The Guardian - reports that classic 1960s cult series The Prisoner is going to be remade by Bill Gallagher for Sky One, and suggests that the reason for the remake is the success of Doctor Who. (And apparently it won't be filmed in Portmerion!)

UK Newspapers - Thursday 17th November

• The Sun - published a piece about football star David Beckham being mad about Doctor Who.

And don't forget tonight's Children in Need Doctor Who special at 9PM on BBC ONE (or online from 9.30) - enjoy!

 

With thanks to ?hil.

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16 November 2005 :: Press Update

It's been very quiet in the press over the last few days and there's been no word from any official source with regards to Billie Piper (see stories below).

One thing to note today, in the TV Times - see below:

UK Listings Magazines - Wednesday 16 November (Cover dated: 19-25 Nov. 2005)

• TV Times - includes a preview piece about the 'Christmas Invasion', but the pictures accompanying it are ones that have been published and seen before.

As a side note remember that next Thursday should see the first Christmas TV supplements in the newspapers (the red tops race each other to get the first ones out every year). However, these initial offerings are the wildly inaccurate ones that look like they've been second guessed by the various planning departments so take them with a pinch of salt.

More accurate listings and features will follow so watch this space...

 

With thanks to ?hil.

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14 November 2005 :: Billie doesn't quit (again!)

Billie Piper isn't 'quitting' Doctor Who at least according to The Daily Star...

Sunday's Star claimed, in a page 8 'exclusive', that Piper has "laughed off" reports that she is leaving Doctor Who. They quote her as saying "It's ludicrous. I'd never let Russell [T Davies] down after what he's done for me." This directly contradicts Saturday's story in The Mirror (see below) that she was leaving after the upcoming Christmas Special and 2006 series.

The Star also claims, via an alleged 'friend', that she has already signed a contract to do a third series.

We don't know whether this story is true but the fact it's been published in our opinion doesn't make the original Mirror article any more or less likely to be true - if we were betting we'd place equal money on each of the tabloid reports with perhaps an extra 'little' flutter on The Mirror story.

Bear in mind that there is other circumstantial evidence, from past genre interviews (Dreamwatch) and elsewhere, to suggest that there may be a likelihood of her wishing to move on after the upcoming run. We underline though that this is all speculation and until there has been an official announcement we are all in the dark as to the truth.

The story has been picked up by the ITN online news service who quote The Star, although they don't mention the newspaper by name:

• » ITN News: "Billie squashes Dr Who rumours" [view]

On a related note there appear to be no further articles on this, or any Doctor Who related subject, in Monday morning's newspapers.

 

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12 November 2005 :: Billie quits (again!)

In a prominent front-page 'exclusive', by Kiki King and Nicola Methven, this morning's Mirror is reporting that Billie Piper is to leave Doctor Who. (See cover left, click for larger version.)

According to the accompanying article, which can be seen online here, "The 23-year-old star told producers she did not want to become typecast as they begged her to stay for a third run of the hit show."

The article goes on to state that "miffed BBC chiefs have now launched a secret bid to find her replacement."

They add that "the casting people have been conducting secret auditions with a small number of actresses and keeping it very, very quiet.

"They are after a relative newcomer so this is the role which puts her in the public eye."

Although no confirmation of this story has come from any official source, and there were rumours before the second season began filming that Piper was leaving which were subsequently proved to be wrong, the Cuttings Archive believes this story may be true given it's prominence in the paper and the fact that it is co-authored by Nicola Methven, who accurately broke the story of Eccleston's departure earlier this year.

However, Piper is appearing throughout Season 2 next year so will be seen in the series for some time to come and as yet the story remains unconfirmed by any other source so we feel it should still be treated as a likely rumour rather than as proven fact.

The full article is available online and in the print edition of the newspaper.

 

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11 November 2005 :: THEY ARE THE CYBERMEN!

The Cybermen are back and back with a bang it would appear!

As reported yesterday by our friends at Outpost Gallifrey and other online news sources the BBC have issued a press release officially announcing the return of the Cybermen for the second season of the new Doctor Who series.

The press release, which is accompanied by a first 'new' Cyberman photograph (see right - click for larger, full-length, version) confirms that "filming of the eagerly awaited Cybermen adventure is underway in Cardiff" and "sees The Doctor and companions’ battle against a new, more deadly breed of Cybermen who are out to convert humanity into their own kind."

The release goes on "Producer, Phil Collinson says: 'The villainous Cybermen are as much a part of Doctor Who heritage as the Daleks and so it's a huge personal thrill to see them back. I hope that the evil silver giants will terrify a whole new generation of viewers as they confront the tenth Time Lord.'

"The sinister breed of monsters; second only to the Daleks in their infamy made their first appearance in 1966 and haven't darkened our screens since 1988. Next year will mark their 40th anniversary.

"Originally created by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis, (also the creators of Doomwatch), the modernised version have been superbly redesigned by Edward Thomas's design team and Neil Gorton at Millennium FX.

"The episodes which will be seen next year in the highly anticipated second series, directed by Graeme Harper, also stars Camille Coduri as Rose's mum Jackie, Noel Clarke as Rose's hapless boyfriend Mickey, Roger Lloyd-Pack as the monstrous John Lumic, Andrew Hayden-Smith as Jake Simmonds and Shaun Dingwall returns as Peter Tyler, Rose's dad."

Predictably the UK press have picked up the story and most Friday editions include a story covering the news, many of them large photo based features, all are detailed below:

UK Newspapers - Friday 11th November

• The Mirror - includes a black and white picture story "The Dark Cybe" (p31) introduces the "tough new Cybermen - back to terrorise Doctor Who next year on the 40th anniversary of their debut." Not only is a new series Cyberman shown, but they've compared it with the 1960s "Tomb of the Cybermen" version.
• The Daily Star - includes a story on Cybermen Makeover and points out the changes in costume: "BBC bosses have decided to shrink the headphone-like ears, give them a leaner face and swap their flimsy silver uniforms for metallic suits with a six-pack." (p8)
• Metro - the free newspaper for commuters, has a small picture story headed "A new, shiny, tinpot terror". "The last time we saw them, they were a bunch of blokes in flimsy tin pot costumes. But the Cybermen have been given a scary makeover for next year's series of Doctor Who." (p13)
• The Sun - the TV Biz page features the metal monsters in full colour. "Look Who's back" shows the whole costume (boots and all) and a black and white picture of Tom Baker and a Revenge Cyberman. The article says the Cyberman "looks a bit like a cross between Robocop and C-3PO".
• The Express - is the only newspaper to manage to print the picture back to front, so the 'C' on the chest plate is the wrong way round. "Return of the Cybermen" warns "those of a nervous disposition had better not read on". Also pictured is a 1980s style Cyberman. (p25)
• The Times - also features the picture story, headed this time "Aaaaaargh! It's the Cybermen!". "They have been redesigned by the same experts who reinvented the Daleks and previously worked on films including Hellraiser II".

We can't see any coverage in the Independent or The Guardian - but it is possible that different editions feature coverage so stay on the look out for further press coverage (and do please e-mail us details if you find any).

 

Online articles and stories - Thursday 10th/Friday 11th November

• » BBC News: "New design Cyberman is revealed" [view]
• » BBC Doctor Who website: "WE ARE THE CYBERMEN" [view]
• » UTV: "Doctor Who to take on old foe" [view]

The rest of the last few days coverage is detailed separately below.

 

With thanks to ?hil.

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11 November 2005 :: Press Update

In addition to the BIG news above a number of articles have popped up over the last week or so, especially with the upcoming Children in Need short on the horizon.

Also note the story in The Sun on Thursday the 3rd of November which states that "The Christmas Invasion" will be aired on Christmas Day on BBC ONE, the 25th of December, this has now been confirmed by the BBC.

Now, the update is well overdue so without further ado here are the full details:

UK Newspapers - Thursday 10 November

The Sun and The Star both link the announcement of ITV's new drama Primaeval with Doctor Who.

• The Daily Star - includes a page three article "Who's up for a fight" which says that "Dr Who is facing a deadly new enemy - ITV bosses are planning to take him on with their own £6m family sci-fi series". The editorial on page 6 speculates that the show might be called "The X-terminate Factor".
• The Sun - relegates the news to a small story on the TV Biz page, again using the Tennant publicity still to illustrate it.

UK Newspapers - Wednesday 09 November

• The Guardian - features a picture of Jean Hudson, a former costume designer on the show, with a Dalek to promote an auction at Bonhams next week.
• The Daily Star - warns the crew that it's cheaper to travel by TARDIS, in a news story that talks about BBC Wales' taxi bill increasing to £236,000 last year.

UK Listings Magazines - Tuesday 08 November

Doctor Who is mentioned in a number of listings magazines, including the Radio Times and TV Times, as part of the coverage of Children in Need night on Friday the 18th November.

UK Newspapers - Monday 07 November

• The Guardian - In an article by Philip Hensher criticising the BBC's current television adaptation of Bleak House (which he hasn't watched!?!) the journalist finishes by praising the compliment paid to Dickens in the recent Doctor Who episode, "The Unquiet Dead". "Television drama can be magnificent on its own terms, and recently it paid homage to Dickens with a power far in excess of anything a mere dramatisation can do. In one episode of Doctor Who, the Doctor met Dickens in 1869. At the end, Dickens, played by Simon Callow, asked with a strange poignancy whether his books would live. The Doctor looked straight back, and said: "Forever." That is the simple truth, a compliment paid by one remarkable imagination to the greatest." The full article can be viewed online here.
• The Daily Star - their front page asked "What gives Billie the willies?", featuring a large picture of her to go with the vexing question. The answer, revealed inside, is Shakespeare's play "Much Ado About Nothing", which she starred in on BBC ONE. There is no Doctor Who mention in the article, it's purely about Billie Piper.

UK Newspapers - Sunday 06 November

• The Sunday Mail (Scotland, not to be confused with The Mail on Sunday) - in an interview piece titled "WHO AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET - Writer warns Timelord's new series is even scarier than last time" new series writer Stephen Moffat warns "The Scot behind Dr Who's scariest episode has warned the next series will be even more terrifying". See the full article online here.

UK Newspapers - Saturday 05 November

• The Daily Telegraph - included a very positive piece about the charms and talents of Billie Piper, it even included an an ode to her! An online version can be seen here.

UK Newspapers - Friday 04 November

• The Daily Star - front page teaser headline "Who's tickled Billie?" points to a two-page spread of pictures featuring non-spoilery shots from season 2 filming. The article, headed "Dr Hoot" starts "The new Doctor Who is a real scream - as in funny, not scary. Dishy David Tennant couldn't stop clowning around as he filmed on location in London."
• The Sun - included a smaller version of the above photo story.

UK Newspapers - Thursday 03 November

• The Sun - the front page reported that "The Christmas Invasion" will be shown on Christmas Day. The report continues on the TV Biz pages, which reveals that the episode will be sandwiched between two episodes of EastEnders.

UK Listings Magazines - Tuesday 01 November

• TV Times - has got a small photo piece about the Children In Need mini-episode.
• Radio Times - has a small piece about the Torchwood spin-off series.

UK Magazines - December 2005

• Word - The December issue of the magazine includes an excellent five page article on the 2005 series (season one) by Andrew Harrison. As well as a well written and researched overview of the entire series there are interviews with Russell T Davies and "Empty Child"/"Doctor Dances" writer Steven Moffat. The magazine (with free CD) comes highly recommended.

 

With thanks to ?hil.

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31 October 2005 :: Press Update

We have a couple of pieces today with one that we spotted over the weekend, and one we missed last week.

UK Newspapers - Monday 31st October

• The Guardian - the media section lists Doctor Who as one of it's highs.
• The Mirror - the front page and page 3 feature pictures from a new photoshoot that Billie Piper has done for a women's magazine. The letters page has the familiar series one publicity picture and a letter praising the new series.

UK Newspapers - Saturday 29th October

• The Guardian - the comment pages included mentions of Doctor Who on three consecutive pages - including a picture of a Dalek and the Tardis.

UK Newspapers - Wednesday 26th October

• The Times - featured a comment piece by Daniel Finkelstein about the religious hatred bill (UK) that talks at length about a friend of his who had a Doctor Who collection including 'a poster of John Pertwee [sic] leaning against a mouldering model of a Dalek'.

 

With thanks to ?hil.

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28 October 2005 :: Press/Children in Need

The BBC Press Office released information about this years Children in Need charity telethon fundraiser on the 25th of October. The event, aired on the evening of Friday the 18th of November on BBC ONE, this year includes "an exclusive special scene of Doctor Who, written by Russell T Davies".

Nothing else about this 'special' has been confirmed by the BBC although rumours have suggested that it will be 15 minutes long and will include Billie Piper and David Tennant, perhaps taking place between "The Parting of the Ways" (season 1, episode 13) and "The Christmas Invasion" (Christmas 2005 special).

It's worth noting that Doctor Who has a long association with Children in Need with "The Five Doctors" (1983) being broadcast as a part of that year's telethon and 1993's "Dimensions in Time", a pantomimesque novelty short, broadcast as part of 1993's programme.

Another charity short was produced in March 1999 for Comic Relief, "The Curse of Fatal Death", and was perhaps a more successful and affectionate take on the classic series than the 1993 effort.

Press wise it's quietened down today with just a single article as detailed below, this contains information about the special Children in Need episode mentioned above.

UK Newspapers - Friday 28th October

• The Mirror - TV Land reports that the upcoming Children In Need episode features some special guest stars and has been written by Russell T Davies. The page also features pictures of Billie Piper in the forthcoming Much Ado About Nothing play.

 

With thanks to ?hil.

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27 October 2005 :: Press Update

Following on from yesterdays Television Awards releated coverage there's plenty more in the poress today, some of it of great interest and some of it less so.

If you spot anything else please e-mail us.

Thursday 27 October

• The Mirror - reveals that Roger Lloyd-Pack, better known as Trigger - has been cast in the second series Cybermen two-parter. The page feature includes a picture of him coming out of the Tardis saying "Hello Dave".
• The Sun - four pieces of note in today's 'soaraway red top'.
  The paper notes that Billie Piper wants to appear in series three, a separate story reports on the casting of Tracy-Ann Oberman (best known as Chrissie in EastEnders) in Doctor Who series two.
  Overleaf, there's a cartoon of some Daleks getting drunk at the awards, and the Sun's outer space correspondent reveals why the revival has been a success in 'Who and Who's Army'.
  Finally, Ally Ross, the Sun's TV critic takes a side-swipe at Doctor Who fans for voting for the show.
• The Daily Star - splashes on Chris Evans' revelation that Doctor Who ruined my marriage
• The Express - reprints Billie Piper's interview from the Sunday Times from a few weeks ago
• The Daily Mail - prints a page three picture of Billie Piper's lips (?!), and asks whether she's had them cosmetically enhanced, and points its readers to its website, where a gallery of 'cosmetic surgery gone wrong' awaits them (lovely!). Nice to know that it's as pleased about Dr Who's three NTA awards as everyone else is!

 

With thanks to ?hil.

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