Thursday 30 September 2010

BBC Press Pack: The Sarah Jane Adventures Series Four

The BBC Press Office have now released full details about the forthcoming fourth series of the Sarah Jane Adventures:

The Sarah Jane Adventures returns to CBBC with a host of guest stars, amazing monsters, and a visit from the Doctor

Alien investigator, Sarah Jane Smith, is back on CBBC with a fourth series of The Sarah Jane Adventures from Monday 11 October.

Created by Russell T Davies, the hugely successful Doctor Who spin-off sees Sarah Jane and her teenage gang set off on brand new adventures that take them out into space and back in time to face Nazi soldiers, a Victorian ghost-hunter, and turmoil in the Tower of London.

From their secret attic in Ealing the gang battle enemies old and new, including Androvax the veil, deadly androids, relentless robots and undertaker vultures. Luke confronts his worst dreams when he meets the Nightmare Man; Rani and Clyde wake up to find they are the only humans left on Earth; and in a very special episode, Sarah Jane joins forces with the Doctor's former companion Jo Grant to uncover an interstellar conspiracy that threatens the life of the Doctor himself.

Elisabeth Sladen returns as intrepid investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith alongside young stars Tommy Knight as Luke, Daniel Anthony as Clyde and Anjli Mohindra as Rani.

This series also sees a whole host of special guest stars joining the out-of-this-world fun including Katy Manning as the Doctor's former companion Jo Grant; Survivors star Julie Graham as Ruby White; Primeval and Strictly Come Dancing star Laila Rouass as Colonel Karim; former X Factor contestant Lucie Jones as Gemma; Smack The Pony's Doon Mackichan as Louise Marlowe; Cheryl Campbell as Ocean Waters; Julian Bleach as the terrifying Nightmare Man, and David Bradley (short-tempered Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter movies) as the voice of the sinister Shansheeth.

Best of all, the Eleventh Doctor himself, Matt Smith, makes a star appearance in the intriguingly entitled Death Of The Doctor.

Executive Producer Nikki Wilson says: "We are absolutely thrilled to introduce Sarah Jane and the gang to both the Eleventh Doctor and Jo Grant, and to have a script written by Russell T Davies is the icing on the cake.

"Viewers are in for a real treat, with an action-packed story full of Russell's usual wit and warmth, which takes the gang inside a secret base beneath Snowdon and introduces brand new aliens, the mysterious Shansheeth. All this, plus a trip to an alien planet – a first for The Sarah Jane Adventures."

Matt Smith says: "The opportunity to appear in The Sarah Jane Adventures came along towards the end of filming the first series of Doctor Who and I jumped at the chance.

"I knew Russell was going to write it, I'm very fond of Lis, she's just lovely, and it's a privilege to be working with two former companions. I felt such a bond working with the actresses and loved picking their brains about working with their Doctors in the past."

Commenting on working with Matt, Lis Sladen adds: "He's such an inclusive actor... He just had a week and he was really, really good. I think people will love it actually."

The Sarah Jane Adventures is executive produced by Russell T Davies and Nikki Wilson and is produced by Brian Minchin. Writers on the fourth series include co-producer Phil Ford, Gareth Roberts, Joseph Lidster, Rupert Laight, and Clayton Hickman.

The Sarah Jane Adventures airs every Monday and Tuesday at 5.15pm on CBBC channel and on Wednesday and Thursday at 4.30pm on BBC Two in the first week moving to BBC One thereafter. And, new to CBBC this year, Sarah Jane and the Bannerman Road gang recount their adventures each week in Sarah Jane's Alien Files – the ultimate guide of everything you could possibly need to know when facing hostile aliens.

For more information and fun please visit The Sarah Jane Adventures website.

The Sarah Jane Adventures is a BBC Cymru Wales/Children's BBC Production.

Interviews with the cast:

Elisabeth Sladen steps back into the boots of Sarah Jane Smith...

Why should newcomers watch The Sarah Jane Adventures?

Well, it's an adventure and I think all children love an adventure. It allows your imagination to go to places maybe other programmes can't take it but in a very supported way because you know everything's going to be alright in the end. Sometimes we deal with quite weighty matters – bullying, or being left alone or dying – all sorts of things that can happen to children growing up, but it's in a very supported environment so children can actually go there, experience the adventure, and come back quite safely.

What thrills and spills can viewers expect from this fourth series?

New monsters, new protagonists and old ones returning which I think is nice. They're quite tangible our monsters. They're in the scene with you – it's a reality. You can poke them, they breathe on you, you can touch them. But at the same time there's a great deal of humour there. I am allowed to become something other than just Sarah Jane in boots and jackets this time and I don't think anyone will guess what it's going to be and it was such fun! I wish I could say more but I can't!

You mention jackets and boots, do you like Sarah Jane's costumes?

I do actually – I love them! Stewart Meachem is our costume designer and I thought I could shop but I don't have anything on him! I have to have pit-stops when I go shopping with him! We do a big shop at the beginning and I love the jackets he gets for me. I think we've found Sarah Jane an iconic look with the jacket and the boots.

Have you been surprised by the response to The Sarah Jane Adventures?

When you're filming you're in a bubble and you do your work and quite often you forget that people are going to see it later. It's quite a shock sometimes! I had no idea the response was going to be this huge. It is an incredible thing that Russell has done to bring this character back to such enjoyment for the viewers. It's such a great standard to set and we are all so pleased to be part of that.

What sort of feedback do you get?

I get very varied feedback but I've never had an unpleasant letter! I have firemen writing saying they'll come and clean my house and make me a meal, parents writing on behalf of their children who are not even at school, 92-year-old Elsie who says it's the only programme she'll watch on TV! And also, of course, people who remember Doctor Who with affection from the past. It is really bizarre because I never tried to hang on to the programme but it kind of hung on to me and I'm forever grateful for that because I never ever expected to be known for a particular role. I'm a jobbing actress and how lovely to work in something that I love doing.

Sarah Jane is consistently voted Doctor Who's best loved companion. What do you think is the secret of her appeal?

I'd bottle it if I knew! I'd have to go back to Barry Letts – my first producer on Doctor Who. I owe him not just a great debt for work but for the way he handled the programme and my character. I was also fortunate with my Doctors, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, because I think we worked so well together. There are things I aspire to in Sarah Jane. She has a huge frailty but she won't give up. She almost has a child's sense of what's fair and what's not fair. It's something you have to lose as an adult but she just doesn't let go of that and maybe that is something that makes people feel safer. I don't know what her appeal is really but I love her – I really do.

Do you have a favourite Doctor?

It's such a revelation each time because they are chosen for a specific reason – they are good actors and they have something extra, something different that they can bring to it. It's a joy to watch him being regenerated and I have no problem with that. It's like I see them and think 'Oh, that's what the Doctor looks like now'. I'm closest I suppose to Jon and Tom because I worked with them longer and they were both very supportive. I had a lovely card from Tom when I was reinvented in the attic.

What was it like working with the new Doctor, Matt Smith?

He's such an inclusive actor. It's my favourite way of working. He'd just come back from Los Angeles and he was absolutely jetlagged and they gave him this big scene to start with. He walked into this unfamiliar set-up and no matter who you are I think you feel that. He just had a week and he was really, really good. I think people will love it actually.

How do you find working with 'the kids'?

They are the best, they really are. I cannot tell you what they do! They are just so lovely. I love working with them. They are so funny and irreverent with each other but they're much nicer to me!

Do you have to do lots of stunts?

Just going into the attic is a stunt! You come in the door and you go down two steps that are so strangely positioned, I'm still trying to get down them without looking! Then I have to circumnavigate the pillar and step over the track of the camera. And God help you if you're in the way of the doors when the steam comes out. If you're in the wrong position when the steam comes out your hair just goes wild!

So you've talked about the villains and the monsters. Which is the toughest adversary you've had to face?

Well they all have something different. They all have something that you've got to be aware of. This year we have the Nightmare Man, who is devious, devious beyond anything I could think up. And then we have Androvax coming back but in a very different guise. And then we have the new monsters, The Shansheeth who are I think pictorially the most stunning we have ever had. They are operated with the puppeteer's hand up the neck so quite often you're in a scene and it cuts and this bird head flops on your shoulder because the hands got to rest and it goes for the nearest shoulder! It's like that moment on Parkinson with Emu!

What is the most rewarding thing about doing The Sarah Jane Adventures?

Just being Sarah Jane actually. Just being in the moment in that attic with Clyde, Rani and Luke – with an occasional phone call from K-9! Just being aware of that whole amazing programme, that all the wonderful technical people put their input into and that everyone enjoys so much. And we are very, very grateful to the audience because they actually care what happens to the characters. Because if you care enough about someone then you don't want to let them go!

A few words from Matt Smith about appearing in the Sarah Jane Adventures...

How did your role in The Sarah-Jane Adventures come about?

The opportunity arose towards the end of filming my first series as Doctor Who and I jumped at the chance. I knew Russell [T Davies] was going to write the episodes, I'm very fond of Lis [Sladen], she's just lovely, and it's a privilege to be working with two former companions. I felt such a bond working with the actresses and loved picking their brains about working with their Doctors in the past.

Who provides the main threat to the Doctor in these episodes?

The Shansheeth are prominent in these episodes, they are Galactic coffin bearers of the Cosmos and very impressive! They are brilliant, the best. I definitely think we should get them into an episode of Doctor Who.

Tell us about working with Katy Manning, who was the doctor's companion Jo Grant in the Seventies?

Working with Katy Manning has been wonderful. She's a lovely person, mad as a box of fish, but totally dynamite! And she is so forthcoming about her time on Doctor Who. She has made me aware of what a privilege it is [to be playing Doctor Who]. I'm constantly aware of Doctor Who's rich history. There's a line in my Sarah Jane episodes that refers to a ventilation shaft – when Lis was Tom Baker's assistant her character got stuck in a lift shaft so my line is: 'ventilation shaft... that takes me back – or maybe it's forward.' So I am aware of the heritage and aware too that I am just another stage in this very brilliant and wonderful show.

Daniel Anthony is back at Sarah Jane's side as wisecracking Clyde

Describe Clyde's character?

Clyde would be my best mate ever. He's really funny and a laugh, so I'd definitely hang out with him. This series he's a lot older and more mature. You'll also see a little bit of romance and a lot more jokes.

What aliens will we be meeting in this series of The Sarah Jane Adventures?

We've got a couple of new aliens. In the first story we've got the Nightmare Man who puts people into nightmares and freaks them out. We've also got the Shansheeth who are completely new and were created for us. They're like massive vultures.

Do you like doing the stunts?

For one stunt I had to dive away from an explosion. Obviously, I watched it afterwards as I felt like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible – it looks wicked. It's quite daunting before you go for the take because you know you can only do it once, but it's good fun when it all comes together.

What was it like working with the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith?

Matt Smith is an absolute legend, he's well cool. Last year we worked with David Tennant and he was wicked, so I think all the Doctors must have to have this quirkiness about them as they're both really chatty and lovely people. I guess it's because on Doctor Who they work with so many people they have to be really social and make people feel comfortable. Matt Smith loved his time on The Sarah Jane Adventures as far as I know and it was lovely to meet and work with him.

This series the gang do some time travel. Can you tell us about it?

We do travel back in time looking for specific objects. I travel back to when the Nazis were here, Rani travels to Tudor times – she's in a corset with this massive dress which she loved - and Sarah Jane goes to a haunted house.

Where would you go if you could travel back in time?

If I could go back in time I'd probably go back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. When I was little I loved dinosaurs – so I'd love to see Raptors and a Tyrannosaurus Rex!

Anjli Mohindra returns as the character she's been playing for two years – smart and sassy Rani Chandra

Are you like your character?

Rani's like a much younger version of me. Like me she'll go in, do something then question it later. I think a lot of Sarah Jane's gang are like that. They'll go off and do things and then work out what's going on later. Because you can't really deal with the situations they're faced with by thinking about them first, you've got to go with your gut and do what you think is best.

How does the relationship between Rani and Clyde develop in this series?

It's always very playful with Rani and Clyde. I can't say whether or not they'll get together but they do get closer. There's all sorts of interesting things happening in this series, the sort of things that people go through when they're 17. Relationships build and you see what impact that has on the friendship group as well.

What's the best alien you've encountered whilst filming the show?

I quite like Androvax because you never know where he is. He's within someone but that person is trying to pretend that Androvax isn't inside them. From an actor's perspective it's quite fun and a real challenge when he takes you over.

Are there ever times you actually get scared during filming?

Yes, sometimes you do. Especially with the haunted house stuff we did in Series Three. We were actually filming in a haunted place and I don't believe in that stuff at all, I think there's always a scientific explanation for everything, but there were so many sightings that when we came to do scenes when we were running away from stuff you think, there might actually be something here. Acting does get fused with reality.

This series sees the gang go back in time, if you could go back in time to any point in history, when would it be?

I think I'd quite like to go back to slave trade times and try and show people how wrong it is. I'd like to go back to a big event in history and see what life was like, like to try and understand why people followed Hitler or used slaves.

What's been your favourite episode of this series?

I love episodes five and six, we've got a guest on the show that all the fans will be really excited about. And it's really farcical – it's a bit like an episode of Scooby Doo!

Tommy Knight plays Sarah Jane's adopted son Luke

How has Luke changed since The Sarah Jane Adventures started?

He's changed in that he's maturing, he's not so much the nerdy kid anymore – although he still is a massive geek. But he's getting cooler and wearing nicer clothes!

What's in store for him this series?

Luke's going off to university, he did really well in his A levels and got all A*s, but he's having fears about leaving and the Nightmare Man sees those fears and starts picking on him. But he goes off to University, has a whale of time and comes back every now and again to save the day!

What's it like to film the special effects?

I've got a wild imagination so we'll do a scene when I'm supposed to be in a void and I'll just be surrounded by green. And sometimes we're supposed to be scared of an alien, but it's just a tennis ball on a big long pole. They will wiggle it around and the director shouts, 'Be scared, be scared!' The first time I did it we were supposed to be being chased up the stairs by an alien and trying to be scared of the director with this pole and tennis ball so we laughed a lot. But after a while you realise you just need to focus and get on with it. I've also done all my own stunts so far – I'm like Jackie Chan!

How do you cope with the attention that comes with The Sarah Jane Adventures?

I pick my little brother up from primary school and you can kind of imagine what that's like as a lot of them watch the show. My brother gets kudos for it though – everyone loves him because his big brother's on the telly! And once I was walking around Bluewater shopping centre with my mates and this group of people stalked us from shop to shop and when we turned around they'd hide!

What's your favourite thing about filming The Sarah Jane Adventures?

My favourite scenes are always when we have explosions or dunkings. In the very first scene we shot for this we had to blow up the Slitheen. We had these big machines in front of us filled up with goo, then there was a countdown and we got bombarded with this gunky, gooey stuff. We had to be straight faced but we had goo dripping down our faces – it was so funny!



Series Four Episode Summaries

The Nightmare Man, by Joseph Lidster

Part One: Luke faces life-changing events, and Bannerman Road will never be the same again. But when Sarah Jane's son has his first nightmare, he's haunted by a dark figure from his dreams. A strange entity is reaching out to our world, with terrible consequences for the whole human race.

Part Two: With Luke, Clyde and Rani trapped in a bizarre dreamscape, Sarah Jane must fight alone! As the Nightmare Man grows stronger, only K-9 might hold the key. But can Luke summon the courage to face his adult life before the whole world is trapped in an endless nightmare?

The Vault Of Secrets, by Phil Ford

Part One: When an old enemy, Androvax the Veil, returns to Earth, the gang face a dilemma – should they trust him? Or does the legendary Vault hold an even greater terror? But a second threat arises, when android guardians threaten to destroy anyone who uncovers their secrets.

Part Two: As the battle between Sarah Jane, Androvax and the androids reaches its climax, Rani has to save her own mother from being caught in the crossfire. But as the Vault opens the destiny of the entire Veil species is at stake. Is it too late to save them?

Death Of The Doctor, by Russell T Davies

Part One: When the Doctor is declared dead, old companions Sarah Jane and Jo Grant meet for the very first time, and join forces to discover the truth. As an interstellar conspiracy gathers around UNIT HQ, Clyde finds that he holds the fate of the Time Lord in his hand – quite literally!

Part Two: Old friends fight together to make one last stand against the sinister Shansheeth. But with Clyde and Rani trapped in terrible danger, Sarah Jane and Jo Grant realise their worst fears – their friendship with the Doctor might be the very thing that dooms them.

The Empty Planet, by Gareth Roberts

Part One: Clyde and Rani wake up one day to discover that they are the only survivors of the human race! The whole of Earth is empty – even Sarah Jane has vanished. But a deserted London holds terrors of its own. Strange forces lurk in the shadows, as mysterious visitors approach!

Part Two: Clyde and Rani meet their enemy, as the Robots arrive on Earth – but what do they want, and where has the human race gone? It's a race against time, but without Sarah Jane's expertise, Clyde and Rani must trust each other like never before if they're to save the whole world.

Lost In Time, by Rupert Laight

Part One: A harmless investigation turns into an epic quest across time and space. Sarah Jane and the gang are separated by the enigmatic Shopkeeper, and find themselves in three different time-zones throughout history – doing battle against ghost hunters, Nazis, Tudors and a mysterious parrot called Captain!

Part Two: While Sarah Jane tries to prevent a future tragedy, Clyde has to take on the Third Reich single-handed! But Rani discovers to her horror that the march of history cannot be stopped, as a greater danger from the Time Vortex threatens to consume them all.

Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith, by Clayton Hickman and Gareth Roberts

Part One: Sarah Jane faces her saddest day, as she realises that no one can defend the Earth forever. She's saved the world so many times, but must now hand over the task to safer hands. Clyde and Rani are distraught, and the forces of darkness gather as the inevitable day approaches.

Part Two: Sarah Jane has gone – but a new regime begins at Bannerman Road! Clyde and Rani must face the fact that nothing lasts forever – but can they still unite as a team, to face a new and deadly threat from outer space? Or is the old gang finished for good?


Media Coverage:
Daily Star(4th) - Doctor Who gets help from old friends
The List(4th) - Old Doctor Who stars save Time Lord
Seenit(4th) - Sarah Jane Adventures returns this month
Digital Spy(1st) - Sladen 'can't explain Sarah Jane popularity'
Digital Spy(1st) - 'SJA' Sladen praises Smith guest stint
Digital Spy(1st) - Matt Smith 'loved SJA guest appearance'
BBC Doctor Who(1st) - The Return of Sarah Jane Smith!
Rapid Talent(30th) - The Sarah Jane Adventures Returns
BBC Doctor Who(30th) - A Date with Sarah Jane Smith & the Doctor!

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Article roundup 27th-29th September 2010

News breaks on the demise of the Cardiff Doctor Who exhibition, but from the ashes will come a new, larger venture. Meanwhile, Matt Smith would like a piano in the TARDIS!


Series Coverage
CBBC(29th) - Doctor Who star Matt Smith wants piano for Tardis
Telegraph(28th) - Doctor Who star Matt Smith keen to show off piano skills in Tardis
The Sun(28th) - Matt wants TARDIS to tinkle
Digital Spy(28th) - Matt Smith 'wants a piano in the Tardis'
Anglophenia(28th) - Want To See The Doctor Tickling the Ivories?
Press Association(28th) - Smith: Tardis piano would be grand
ATV Network(28th) - Matt Smith Praises Who Christmas Special
Digital Spy(28th) - Smith: 'Doctor Who Xmas ep is brilliant'
Contact Music(27th) - Florence Welch - Dr. Who Star Smith Wants Welch
Anglophenia(27th) - Matt Smith Fancies Florence for 'Doctor Who'
Blastr(27th) - New Doctor Who season 6 monsters leaked? (Possible spoilers!)
AOL TV(27th) - Doctor Who's Matt Smith vows to save Amy Pond

Broadcast
Media Update [ZA] (28th) - BBC Entertainment gets action

People
Point Park Globe(28th) - Alumni finds success in London (Lachele Carl)

Obituaries
ATV Network(28th) - Writer and producer Louis Marks dies

Merchandise
io9(28th) - This Wednesday, Chloe from Smallville debuts in comics and Ianto pens Torchwood

Exhibitions
Wales Online(29th) - Doctor Who exhibition to close

Miscellaneous
CBBC(29th) - What would you put in the Tardis?
South Yorkshire Star(29th) - Close encounters of the Doctor Who kind
BBC News(28th) - 'Rubbish' Dr Who portrait on show in Newcastle
flick filosopher(28th) - ‘Doctor Who’ thing of the day: kid video-blogs about ‘Doctor Who,’ gets invited to the set
Escapist(28th) - Dalek Mysteriously Appears in UK School
Gather(27th) - Dr. Who Enemy No Longer on the Loose - Abandoned Dalek Has New Home
Geekosystem(27th) - Homeless Dalek Gets Foster Parent
Blastr(27th) - Mysterious full-size Dalek replica left anonymously at English school
8Ball(27th) - New T-Shirt deal for Doctor Who Fans
Tv.com(27th) - My Geek Birthday – Doctor Who TARDIS Cake and Cookie Jar
Shadowlocked(27th) - Doctor Who complete reviews: Pyramids Of Mars

Related Stories/Passing Mention
Den of Geek(29th) - Is Starz the new ‘geek’ channel of choice?
Telegraph(26th) - UN 'to appoint space ambassador to greet alien visitors'

Series Announcement: The Sarah Jane Adventures Series Four

Sarah Jane Aventures

BBC Programme information for the 11th and 12th October have details for the forthcoming series of the Sarah Jane Adventures.

The Sarah Jane Adventures – The Nightmare Man: Part One Ep 1/12
Monday 11 October - 5.15-5.45pm CBBC

Sarah Jane Smith and her gang of trusty sidekicks return with more alien-busting adventures in the fourth series of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Featuring the usual mixture of thrills, laughs and scares the new series promises fun with enemies old and new, including the terrors of the Nightmare Man and a dangerous journey back into history. The show also takes its first visit to an alien world and tackles brand new vulture aliens the Shansheeth.

The Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) makes a guest appearance in two special episodes which unite Sarah Jane, with another of the Doctor's former companions, Jo Grant (Katy Manning), in the mysteriously entitled Death Of The Doctor written by Russell T Davies. Additional guest stars include: Laila Rouass, Cheryl Campbell, David Bradley, Julie Graham and Lucie Jones.

In the first two-part adventure, The Nightmare Man, Sarah Jane's adopted son, Luke, faces life-changing events and Bannerman Road will never be the same again when he has his first nightmare and is haunted by a dark figure from his dreams. A strange entity is reaching out to our world, with terrible consequences for the whole human race.

The Sarah Jane Adventures is executive produced by Russell T Davies and Nikki Wilson, and produced by Brian Minchin. Writers on the fourth series include Phil Ford (also co-producer), Joseph Lidster, Rupert Laight, Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman.

This opening episode will be repeated on BBC One on Wednesday 13 October at 4.30pm.

Elisabeth Sladen returns as Sarah Jane Smith, alongside Tommy Knight as Luke, Daniel Anthony as Clyde and Anjil Mohindra as Rani, Julian Bleach plays the Nightmare Man.

The Sarah Jane Adventures – The Nightmare Man: Part Two Ep 2/12
Tuesday 12th October - 5.15-5.45pm CBBC

With Luke, Clyde and Rani trapped in a bizarre dreamscape, Sarah Jane must fight alone in the concluding part of the first story in the fourth series of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

As the Nightmare Man grows stronger, only K9 might hold the key, but can Luke summon the courage to face his adult life before the whole world becomes trapped in an endless nightmare?

This episode will be shown again on BBC One on Thursday 14 October at 4.30pm.

Luke is played by Tommy Knight, Clyde by Daniel Anthony, Rani by Anjil Mohindra, Sarah Jane by Elisabeth Sladen and the Nightmare Man by Julian Bleach.

You can watch the series four trailer via the BBC's Sarah Jane Adventures website.

Monday 27 September 2010

Article roundup 23rd-27th September 2010

Over the weekend the media took an interest in Matt Smith's thoughts on Florence & The Machine, and his defence of Amy Pond's role in the series. Also, Matt's excitement at his appearance in the Sarah Jane Adventures is covered, as is confirmation for the series broadcast from 11th October (CBBC). Meanwhile, a Dalek is mysteriously found in a school ...


Series Coverage
Metro(27th) - Doctor Who's Matt Smith: Steven Moffat has 'written his best script yet'
Den of Geek(27th) - Doctor Who: Matt Smith denies Amy Pond rumours
ATV Network(25th) - Matt Smith denies Gillan’s departure from Doctor Who
Unreality TV(25th) - Doctor Who: Matt Smith ‘Amy Pond won’t die!’
Wales Online(24th) - Doctor Who pledges to save Amy Pond (plus Live Show video)
Press Association(24th) - Doctor Who star Matt: I'll save Amy
Spinner Music(27th) - Matt Smith Fancies Florence Welch for Doctor Who Cameo
Beehive City(27th) - Doctor Who’s Matt Smith wants Florence Welch & Eric Cantona in Tardis
Clash Music(27th) - Florence and the Machine for Doctor Who?
Pop Dash(27th) - Florence Welch Wanted On Doctor Who
Digital Journal(27th) - Florence Welch for Doctor Who sing-along-a-TARDIS?
411Mania(26th) - Florence and the Machine Supported for Doctor Who Cameo
Gigwise(26th) - Matt Smith wants Florence & The Machine on Dr Who
Celebrifi(26th) - Florence and the Time Machine
NME(26th) - Florence And The Machine frontwoman backed to appear in Doctor Who
Digital Spy(26th) - Matt Smith wants Florence on Doctor Who
Press Association(26th) - Florence and the Time Machine
ATV Network(25th) - Suranne Jones confirmed for Doctor Who
Digital Journal(24th) - Steven Moffat insists BBC is committed to Doctor Who
STV(24th) - 'Con artist' actress Katherine Jenkins
RTE(23rd) - Corrie favourite Jones set for Doctor Who
Bang Showbiz(23rd) - Amy Pond's Doctor relationship revealed
Digital Spy(23rd) - Suranne Jones cast in 'Doctor Who'
Den of Geek(23rd) - Steven Moffat drops big hints for Doctor Who series 6
What's on TV(22nd) - Suranne Jones to star in Doctor Who in 2011
The List(23rd) - Amy Pond's Doctor relationship revealed

Sarah Jane Adventures
Digital Spy(27th) - BBC confirms 'Sarah Jane' return date
ATV Network(25th) - Return date for The Sarah Jane Adventures confirmed
Digital Spy(24th) - It's some brand new 'Sarah Jane' pics!
Unreality TV(24th) - Doctor Who: Matt Smith ‘very excited’ about Sarah Jane Adventures
Digital Spy(23rd) - Matt Smith teases SJA appearance
The Sun(24th) - It's ruff for Hol and Phil (Matt Smith/SJA)

Competitions
Forbidden Planet - Win tickets to see Doctor Who Live!
The Sun - Win Family Tickets to Exclusive Doctor Who Live Show!

People
Digital Spy(25th) - Colin Baker: 'I'll never forget Doctor Who'
Guardian(25th) - One last thing... Trinny & Susannah
Stoke and Staffordshire(24th) - Stage role sends space warrior back to 1800s (Gareth Thomas)

Obituaries
Stroud News and Journal(24th) - Renowned composer, jazz trumpeter and Five Valleys gentleman Geoffrey Burgon dies, aged 69
Telegraph(23rd) - Geoffrey Burgon
Chortle(23rd) - Life Of Brian composer dies

Merchandise
Media Connection(27th) - Underground Toys Announces Doctor Who Promotion
Pop Culture Zoo(24th) - Underground Toys And Hastings Announce Doctor Who Promotion
TV Shows on DVD(22nd) - Doctor Who - Meglos to be Joined in January by The Dominators: Date, Packaging, Extras
TV Shows on DVD(25th) - Doctor Who - Story #044: The Dominators
TV Shows on DVD(25th) - Doctor Who - Story #111: Meglos
Comet(23rd) - Audio Review: Doctor Who: Hornet’s Nest Box Set

Miscellaneous
Wired(27th) - Time to Call the Exterminators: Build Your Own Dalek!
Daily Dust(26th) - No it’s not really a copy of The Evil of the Daleks
Pocket Lint(26th) - Hello Kitty meets Star Wars and Doctor Who
This is Devon(25th) - Abandoned Dalek given new home
Geek-o-System(25th) - Teachers Find Homeless Dalek in Their School
This is Devon(23rd) - City school hasn't got time or space for lost Dalek
Exeter Express and Echo(24th) - Dalek dilemma shows no sign of extermination
SFX(25th) -Doctor Who cosplay costume -of-the-week- ever
technabob(25th) - make your own daleks to take over the world with these amazing plans!
Geek.com(24th) - DIY Dalek using official BBC blueprints
Walyou(23rd) - How to build a full size Dalek
io9(24th) - The most ludicrous depictions of evolution in science fiction history
Shadowlocked(24th) - Doctor Who complete reviews: Planet Of Evil
BBC Doctor Who(23rd) - Invasion Week, Day Four: The Sontarans

Related News/Passing Mention
Guardian(27th) - Our love for Van Gogh costs Paul Gauguin dear
Guardian(27th) - Why children's television has to rely on merchandising deals
Telegraph(26th) - Never knowingly outdone. . . John Lewis takes its price promise online
Daily Mail(25th) - The Seventies: The decade when men stopped being men
Comic Book Movie(24th) - Captain America Caerwent And Aldershot, Hampshire Filming Dates Revealed!

Thursday 23 September 2010

Article roundup 18th-23rd September 2010

The week in news this week saw a the success of the Adventure Games leading to a second wave being announced, and filming in Bristol creating quite a bit of interest as the first publicly viewable filming for Doctor Who in some time. Doctor Who is up for NTA Awards as usual. And you can tell DWM has just come out by the number of quotes from it cropping up in the media!


Series Coverage
What's on TV(22nd) - Suranne Jones to star in Doctor Who in 2011
The List(22nd) - Doctor Who fans set for Xmas treat
Digital Spy(22nd) - Moffat teases 'Who' series cliffhanger
Bang Showbiz(22nd) - Doctor Who fans set for Xmas treat
Digital Journal(22nd) - Doctor Who: two series coming in 2011
Den of Geek(22nd) - Steven Moffat drops new hints about Doctor Who Christmas Special
TV Overmind(21st) - “Genuine Tragedy” in ‘Doctor Who’ Christmas Special
SFX(21st) - Moffat On The Doctor Who Christmas Special And Season Six
Comic Book Movie(20th) - Neil Gaiman writes for 'Doctor Who' Series 6

Filming Coverage
Comic Book Movie(22nd) - Doctor Who Series 6 and Christmas special Spoilers
Blastr(22nd) - Set photos from season 6 of Doctor Who (spoilers possible)
SFX(22nd) - Doctor Who Set Photos
The Sun(22nd) - Who's the new action girl? (plot spoiler present)
Bristol Evening Post(22nd) - Look Who's in town...
Bristol Evening Post(22nd) - Cast and crew of Dr Who film scenes in Bristol for latest series

Sarah Jane Adventures
Digital Spy(22nd) - 'SJA' execs: 'Jo return more than cameo'
Daemon's TV(20th) - THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES Season 4 Preview
SFX(17th) - Russell T Davies On Jo Grant’s Return In The Sarah Jane Adventures

Torchwood
End of Show(20th) - Casting the new season of Torchwood on Starz

Doctor Who Live
Bloginity(22nd) - Doctor Who's scary Daleks
Bang Showbiz(22nd) - Doctor Who's 'scary' Daleks
STV(22nd) - Doctor Who's 'scary' Daleks

Events/Shows
WalesOnline(23rd) - Former Doctor Who meeting fans in Cardiff (Colin Baker signing Kangazange)
Norwich Evening News(22nd) - Sci-fi festival coming to Norwich
flickfilosopher(21st) - ‘Doctor Who’ thing of the day: fan play ‘Hell Blossom’ on in London
South Wales Echo(21st) - Colin Baker regenerates in a Dr Who-dunnit

Awards/Nominations
Anglophenia(21st) - 'Doctor Who', 'Top Gear' Earn NTA Nominations
Digital Spy(21st) - National Television Awards 2011 - Nominees
Digital Spy(21st) - 'One Show', 'Daybreak' battle for NTAs
SFX(20th) - Doctor Who And Let The Right One In Winners At The British Fantasy Awards 2010

Obituaries
ATV Network(23rd) - Geoffrey Burgon dies at the age of 69
Associated Press(23rd) - Geoffrey Burgon, composer for "Life of Brian" and "Brideshead Revisited," dies at 69

People
Barry and District News(23rd) - Kind gesture (John Barrowman)
Digital Spy(22nd) - Martin Shaw: 'I would play the Doctor'
Digital Journal(21st) - Martin Shaw would play Doctor Who but turned down James Bond
Twin Cities(21st) - Novel Approach (Carey Mulligan)
Holy Moly(20th) - Karen Gillan possibly becoming lingerie model, nerds mobilise
Metro(20th) - Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan has a hairy moment
3am(20th) - Well, someone’s got to be on dog poo duty while Daisy walks the catwalk… (Matt Smith)
Worcester News(20th) - Can you spare a little time to help sick children? (Kai Owen)
Northwest Evening Mail(18th) - Group drums up support with live TV performance (John Barrowman)
Guardian(18th) - One last thing... Matt Smith

The Adventure Games
Digital Trends(21st) - Doctor Who: The Adventure Games to return for a second season
InGamers(21st) - BBC Commissions Second Series Of Doctor Who Adventures
Top News(21st) - BBC re-commissions Doctor Who games
Web User(21st) - Doctor Who: The Adventure Games gets second series
Geeks(21st) - Beeb: More Free Dr Who Games
Gamasutra(21st) - Doctor Who: The Adventure Games Returns For Second Series
io9(20th) - More Doctor Who "Adventure Games" coming in 2011
MTV(20th) - Second 'Doctor Who: The Adventure Games' Series Commissioned
Gaming Union(20th) - Doctor Who Games Hit Gold, More Coming In 2011
Joystiq(20th) - Doctor Who: The Adventure Games receiving second season
Play(20th) - Doctor Who Adventures secures a second series
PlaySwitch(20th) - BBC Confirms Second Season Doctor Who Adventure Games For 2011
Electonic Theatre(20th) - BBC Commissions Second Series of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games
Absolute Gadget(20th) - Further adventures for Doctor Who
Beehive City(20th) - BBC confirms second series of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games
Escapist(20th) - Doctor Who Games Score Second Season
Video Gamer(20th) - More Doctor Who games in 2011
Computer and Video Games(20th) - Doctor Who games return in 2011
MCV(20th) - BBC recomissions Doctor Who Adventure games
Gamasutra(20th) - Following out-of-this world success, BBC recomissions Doctor Who: The Adventure Games
Digital Spy(20th) - 'Doctor Who: Adventure Games' to return
Metro(20th) - Doctor Who: The Adventures Games gets second season
Guardian(20th) - BBC commissions fresh set of Doctor Who games
SFX(20th) - More Doctor Who Adventure Games For 2011

Merchandise
Online Social Media(22nd) - Coming Soon: Doctor Who game with Sonic Screwdriver Wiimote
Child Mode(17th) - BBC Launches Dr. Who Toys For Christmas Gifting

Miscellaneous
BBC Doctor Who(22nd) - Invasion Week, Day Three: The Drahvins
Blastr(22nd) - 13 awesome (and 7 not-so-awesome) episodes of the new Doctor Who
io9(22nd) - Make your workspace dimensionally transcendental with this levitating, spinning TARDIS
Blastr(21st) - Star Trek, Serenity, BSG and 23 other awesome LEGO creations (Dalek)
Online Betting Guide(21st) - Doctor Who Movie Betting Odds Now Make Johnny Depp Favourite To Take Famous Role 
Coolest Gadgets(20th) - Doctor Who Spinning Tardis
SFX(20th) - Attack Of The Clones #1 (The Abzorbaloff Vs Bobo And Lil’ Debbul)
Escapist(20th) - Build Your Own Dalek With Official Doctor Who Blueprints
Shadowlocked(20th) - Doctor Who complete reviews: Revenge Of The Cybermen
Shadowlocked(22nd) - Doctor Who complete reviews: Terror Of The Zygons

Related News/Passing Mention
York Press(23rd) - Starship trooper stirs up a storm in York
Canterbury Star(23rd) - Blasts from the past in collector's new museum
BBC Radio Five Live(21st) - Nerdcore rappers rhyme for BBC Radio 5 Live
The Age(20th) - Nobody likes a ginger whinger
Biz Community(21st) - 'Innovation for the sake of innovation, impresses no-one but your peers'
Mirror(20th) - Online fraud is growing rapidly
IT Pro(18th) - Your network is under attack from The Cybermen

Humour
The Spoof(18th) - Doctor Who to have sex

Sunday 12 September 2010

Article roundup 3rd-12th September 2010

Doctor Who wins three awards at TV Choice, GQ and the Hugos, more information on Torchwood: The New World, a new promo pic for The Sarah Jane Adventures (believed to be starting on 11th October), and plenty of Doctor Who Live coverage. Throw in a sonic wii remote, rumours of Matt Smith's impending marriage, and his alleged "on-screen" wife dying (which the journalist seems to have missed that already happening in Forest of the Dead!), and Karen Gillan being tempted back to modelling, it's been a busy week!


Series Coverage
TV Overmind(11th) - Christopher Eccleston is a fan of Matt Smith’s Doctor
Unreality TV(10th) - Christopher Eccleston thinks Matt Smith is a “great choice for Doctor Who”
Digital Spy(10th) - 'Who' star Gillan 'wants Amy to evolve'
Belfast Telegraph(9th) - Gillan wants Amy Pond to change
Press Association(9th) - Gillan wants Amy Pond to change
Mirror(9th) - Dr Who too grown-up, says comic David Mitchell
STV(9th) - Katherine Jenkins was worried about Dr Who role
Digital Spy(8th) - Jenkins: 'I didn't think I could act'
Techland(7th) - Rumor PaTroll: Doctor Who and Gravity Rumors Debunked
Daily Star(6th) - Doctor Who's wife River Song to Die
All Your TV(6th) - 'Dr. Who's' River Song To Be Killed Off?
io9(6th) - Watch Steven Moffat and Karen Gillan give a "Doctor Who Masterclass"
Digital Spy(6th) - Filming begins on new 'Doctor Who'

Torchwood
Digital Spy(10th) - Writer: 'New Torchwood is more ambitious'
SFX(10th) - The Man Who Killed Off Torchwood’s Ianto Jones (John Fay)
flick filosopher(10th) - ‘Doctor Who’ thing of the day: why Ianto Jones had to die
Scyfilove(9th) - Torchwood writer John Fay excited by The New World, plus why killing Ianto was ‘right thing to do’
Digital Spy(8th) - Barrowman 'quit Housewives for Torchwood'
Den of Geek(8th) - Torchwood: The New World news round-up
Manchester Evening News(6th) - I Am What I Am has become my signature tune (John Barrowman)
Film Shaft(6th) - New Details Emerge For Torchwood: Season 4
Unreality Shout(6th) - Jane Espenson teases Torchwood: The New World
About(5th) - Espenson Talks Torchwood: The New World
io9(3rd) - Jane Espenson says Torchwood will allow her to "push the boundaries of what can be done on television."

Sarah Jane Adventures
Den of Geek(6th) - New promo pic for The Sarah Jane Adventures series 4
Unreality Shout(5th) - Preview for Sarah Jane Adventures Series 4!

Doctor Who Live
The Sun(10th) - Doctor in the House (video)
Digital Spy(10th) - First look at the 'Doctor Who' arena tour!
SFX(10th) - Doctor Who Live Trailer
The South Yorkshire Star(10th) - Doctor Who Live arena show sneak preview - VIDEO
On The Box(10th) - Doctor Who Live Trailer
Southport Visiter(10th) - Dr Who monsters surprise shoppers at Tesco Southport
Liverpool Echo(10th) - Director Will Brenton on Doctor Who Live at the Echo Arena
Beehive City(9th) - Matt Smith’s in the trailer, but Nigel Planer stars in Doctor Who Live
Yahoo News(8th) - 'Doctor Who Live' out of control?
STV(8th) - 'Doctor Who Live' out of control?
BBC News(8th) - Doctor Who monsters invade Belfast
Belfast Telegraph(8th) - Doctor Who monsters stalk Belfast streets
io9(7th) - Your new Doctor Who catchphrase: "Wibbly wobbly explodey wodey."
Liverpool Echo(4th) - Doctor Who monsters invade Mathew Street in Liverpool

The Proms
Den of Geek(5th) - If I could turn back time: Doctor Who At The Proms
Telegraph(5th) - Record-breaking year for the BBC Proms

Events
Coventry Telegraph(8th) - Daleks and Doctor Who guest stars at the National Space Centre

Awards
BBC Newsbeat(8th) - Stars out for GQ Men of the Year awards
Press Association(8th) - GQ awards for Arterton and Smith
ATV Network(8th) - Matt Smith wins GQ Award
Anglophenia(8th) - Doctor Who's Matt Smith Named GQ's Actor of the Year
Mirror(8th) - GQ Men of the Year awards: Organisers keep Matt Smith, Daisy Lowe and Mark Ronson apart
Daily Mail(8th) - Daisy Lowe and Matt Smith make their red carpet debut...
Matt Smith(8th) - Matt Smith, Dizzee Rascal win at GQ Awards
The Sun(8th) - Daisy's Smitten
BBC Newsbeat(7th) - Doctor Who and Emmerdale win TV Choice awards
CBBC(7th) - Doctor Who wins best family drama at TV Choice Awards
OsoBlog(7th) - Karen Gillan at the TV Choice awards
BBC Newsbeat(7th) - Doctor Who and Emmerdale win TV Choice awards
BBC News(6th) - Emmerdale scores TV Choice hat-trick
Gearlive(6th) - 2010 Hugo Awards: Phil Foglio, Doctor Who, Shaun Tan!
The Daily Dust(5th) - Doctor Who now the most successful sc-fi TV show ever
Airlock Alpha(5th) - 'Doctor Who' Wins Fourth Hugo Award
Wired(5th) - Moon Lands Hugo Award for Best Sci-Fi Movie

People
News of the World(12th) - I Who (Matt Smith to get married?)
Guardian(11th) - The Measure: Karen Gillan ... – who is hot and who is not?
SFX(9th) - Why Is Chuck Ignoring The Greatest Sci-Fi Icon Ever? (Bernard Cribbins)
Get Reading(9th) - Inspector Morse at New Theatre, Oxford (Colin Baker)
Salford Advertiser(9th) - Torchwood star John Barrowman aims to light up park proms
Manchester Evening News(9th) - Torchwood star John Barrowman aims to light up park proms
Mirror(9th) - Tense moment as Daisy Lowe introduced ex Mark Ronson to new boyfriend Matt Smith
The Sun(9th) - A brew with Who
Northern Times [AU](9th) - School in for Daleks (Stephen Cole)
Gamasutra(9th) - Award-winning screen writer and Dr Who author David Bishop to script Fate of the World
Unreality TV(8th) - Michelle Mone wants to hire Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan as underwear model
Digital Spy(8th) - Karen Gillan 'wanted as underwear model'
The Sun(8th) - Karen: I'm the Bra-dis
Holy Moly(8th) - TV Choice Awards 2010: Karen Gillan, Loose Women and Louis Spence give it some
Now(7th) - Karen Gillan is best dressed at TV Choice Awards
LOOK(7th) - Karen Gillan Wins Best Dressed At The TV Choice Awards
The Sun(7th) - Karen joins Who's Who of Soapland
The Sun(4th) - Karen looks Dalek-table
Daily Mail(4th) - Careful Karen! Doctor Who star gets overexcited as she spots her friend... and drops her phone in the road

Merchandise
Mirror(10th) - Toy firm The Character Group banking on Dr Who figure success
Daily Mail(10th) - Dr Who toy firm shows character
SFX(10th) - DVD REVIEW Doctor Who: Time And The Rani
Den of Geek(9th) - Doctor Who Series 5 Volume 4 DVD review
Technabob(8th) - doctor who sonic screwdriver wii-mote: bleh?
Coolest Gadgets(8th) - Doctor Who’s Sonic Screwdriver is now a Wiimote
Nintendo Life(8th) - Even a Wii Remote or a DS Stylus Can Be a Sonic Device
IGN(7th) - Doctor Who Gets His Own Wiimote
Slashgear(7th) - Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver Controller Coming to the Nintendo Wii
Wired(7th) - Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver Wiimote
CNET UK(7th) - Doctor Who Wii game gets Sonic Screwdriver Wiimote
DVICE(7th) - Sonic Screwdriver Wiimote helps you save the universe with your Wii
Pocket-Lint(7th) - Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver: Wii-stylee
Geek(7th) - Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver Controller coming to the Wii
Electric Pig(7th) - Doctor Who sonic screwdriver Wiimote incoming
Destructoid(7th) - Doctor Who's Sonic Screwdriver is soon to be a Wii remote
Kotaku(7th) - A Wii Remote Suited For Doctor Who
Escapist(7th) - Doctor Who's Sonic Screwdriver Tranformed Into Wii Remote
Cubed3(6th) - Zap Foes with Doctor Who Wii Sonic Screwdriver
Digital Spy(6th) - 'Doctor Who' accessories for Wii, DS
MCV(6th) - Doctor Who accessories materialise
NJ(5th) - 'Torchwood,' a 'Dr. Who' spin-off, brings its sci-fi world to comics, says Kulesa
TV Shows on DVD(4th) - 'Story #111: Meglos' Revealed as the First DVD of 2011 for North America

Miscellaneous
Daily Mail(12th) - Ed-terminate! Or why Buckingham Palace vetoed Prince Edward's role in Doctor Who
Slippery Brick(11th) - 1TB hard drive inside a toy TARDIS makes it truly bigger on the inside
Wired(11th) - Lego TARDIS With Lights and Sound
Daemons TV(10th) - DOCTOR WHO Christmas 2010 Special Trailer (Fan Made)
Blastr(9th) - 10 of the best science fiction TV episodes that ever aired (inc. Blink)
Anglotopia(9th) - DragonCon 2010 Parade Video: British and Doctor Who Themed Costumers
Kennet Gazette and Herald(9th) - Fun and games boost Gastard's village hall
Corsham People(6th) - Gastard Fete Opened by Paraolympic Medallist
SFX(8th) - With This Ring… (The Runaway Bride/The Big Bang)
Paul Fraser Collectibles(8th) - Our Top Five... Pieces of collectible Sci-Fi memorabilia
Anglophenia(7th) - Monday Catchup: Booker Prize, Torchwood, Stephen Fry, Doctor Who
Geeky Gadgets(7th) - Dr Who Lego Tardis
Digital Spy(6th) - Trevor Eve slams BBC 'Who' focus
ATV Network(6th) - Trevor Eve blasts BBC over Doctor Who
Anglophenia(3rd) - Roundup: John Barrowman, Doctor Who, X Factor, Tom Hardy
Blastr(3rd) - Functional TARDIS painstakingly re-created with custom LEGOs
Blastr(3rd) - 13 worker revolts and labor union uprisings from sci-fi history (Planet of the Ood)
Shadowlocked(4th) - Doctor Who complete reviews: The Monster Of Peladon
Shadowlocked(6th) - Doctor Who complete reviews: Planet Of The Spiders
Shadowlocked(10th) - Doctor Who complete reviews: Robot

Related News/Passing Mention
Observer(12th) - Rewind TV (David Morrissey)
Inventor Spot(11th) - Social Media TVs' Remote Control May Be In The Hands Of Auntie Beeb (charging for programmes e.g. Torchwood)
Irish Times(11th) - What is the stars? (Armagh Planetarium/David Tennant)
The Sun(10th) - The Beeb branded me a Dalek and bullied me out of the Stig job
Guardian(10th) - The Stig: Top Gear bosses compared me to a Dalek
Paisley Daily Express(9th) - Celeb hunter hopes to raise 10k for charity
Guardian(9th) - David Mitchell's Soap Box: Kids' TV
Den of Geek(7th) - Dennis Potter: Karaoke & Cold Lazarus DVD review
Variety(4th) - Pining for past forgets TV's presents
Guardian(3rd) - Are we there yet? Soon we'll all be on a road to nowhere