Shearsmith talks An Adventure in Space and Time

Actor and comedian Reece Shearsmith has spoken briefly about playing Patrick Troughton in the 50th Anniversary docudrama, An Adventure in Space and Time.

 Shearsmith told Digital Spy it is only a small scene: “I was honoured to be part of it. I think [Mark Gatiss] just always had this idea that I would [play Troughton]. It’s very small – I’m literally only in a very small little bit, but it was lovely to be part of it.”

He added: “Mark was in his absolute element, wandering around the TARDIS… the attention to detail was immaculate. He’s done a really good rendering of that time and that story. I think it’s a real treat.”

Of course, Shearsmith is asked about the possibility of himself becoming the 12th Doctor.

“Oh God, no! I’ve literally not even thought about it. I’ve had a few people tweeting me that, saying, ‘You should be the Doctor’… I’m like, ‘What??’ It could be literally anyone. I can’t imagine who we’re gonna get. But it would be good to go older, I think, because they’ve done two younger ones."

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Happy birthday Maureen

Happy 70th birthday (belated)

(29th June 1943) 

 

Maureen O'Brien played Vicki in 1965 during William Hartnell's tenure as the Doctor. She replaced Carole Ann Ford (Susan), and made her debut in the serial The Rescue and left in The Myth Makers.  

Recently, O'Brien has worked on a number of Doctor Who-related audio plays for Big Finish Productions, initially playing a new character for the Dalek Empire IV miniseries, as well as for AUDIO: Year of the Pig, then reprising the role of Vicki for the Companion Chronicles. She has also participated in DVD commentaries and interviews for BBC Video releases of stories from her era.

 

With William Hartnell (The Romans: Inferno 1965)

Belated Mary Tamm Post

In memorandum of the late Mary Tamm who died 26th July 2012 from the evil that is cancer. I apologise for the lateness of this anniversary post.

RIP

22 March 1950 – 26 July 2012

Happy Birthday Romana

Today is the 62nd birthday of Lalla Ward 

Born Sarah Ward, her stage name of Lalla comes from her inability to pronounce her own name when she was a toddler. She is of course married to Prof Richard Dawkins (who had a cameo appearance in the 2008 episode The Stolen Earth, with David Tennant as the Doctor). Lalla was also briefly married to former Doctor - Tom Baker.

 As Romana

Lalla is best known for her portrayal of the second incarnation of Romandvortralundar or Romana for short. She made her debut as Romana in the 1979 serial Destiny Of The Daleks alongside Tom Baker as the Doctor. She had appeared in Doctor Who in the previous series as Princess Astra in the Doctor Who story The Armageddon Factor which was part of The Key To Time series arc. 

As Princess Astra
 

Wand Company Launches Two New Sonic Screwdriver Remote Controls

 The Wand Company have teamed up with BBC Worldwide again to produce two more Sonic Screwdriver Remote Controls, check out the details and pictures below (click on them for bigger versions):

This summer, in response to massive consumer demand, The Wand Company will reveal their new, authentic Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Remote Control. Painstakingly 3D scanned from the original screen-used prop, kindly loaned to The Wand Company by David Tennant himself, this Tenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver is a faithful clone, CNC machined from aluminium, crammed full of technology and is a fully functioning gesture-based universal remote control that looks, feels and works just like the real prop.


Previewing on the ThinkGeek Booth at San Diego Comic-Con in July, the Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Remote will be available exclusively through selected retailers in the UK, US and Australia in October to coincide with BBC Worldwide’s Tenth Doctor celebrations (BBCW have been celebrating a different Doctor during every month of 2013) of the popular and long-running series’ 50th anniversary year.

To further commemorate Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary year, The Wand Company is also launching a limited-edition gold and silver plated version of their enormously successful Eleventh Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver Remote Control. A small quantity will be available first at San Diego Comic-Con, and then from other selected retailers in the UK and US, but with only 250 of these special, individually laser-numbered Sonic Screwdrivers ever being produced, this is the ultimate collectible for Doctor Who fans.

The Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver, officially licensed from BBC Worldwide, is a 1:1 scale replica of the original filming prop. As well as being a fully-functioning universal learning remote control, the Sonic Screwdriver comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, has authentic sound effects taken from the BBC sound effects archives, 10 special secret Morse code messages to discover and a light-up blue tip. It is supplied with a die cast metal stand and comes in its own protective hard case. The Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver is expected to retail for £69.95 in the UK, $109.95 in the US and $129.95 in Australia.

The 50th Anniversary gold and silver plated Eleventh Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Supplied in a premium high-quality presentation box, with a hand-painted stand and certificate of authenticity, each unit is individually laser-numbered. Limited to 250 units worldwide, and expected to retail for £119.95 in the UK and $199.95 in the US.

The Wand Company

Thanks to Blogtor Who

New Zealand Mint Doctor Who coin update

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In collaboration, BBCW ANZ and New Zealand Mint offer this stunning 1oz silver proof coin to celebrate Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary (pictured left). Issued by New Zealand Mint as legal tender under the authority of Niue Island, only 10,000 1oz silver proof coins will be released in special TARDIS packaging.

 The coin’s reverse depicts an engraved relief of the iconic TARDIS used by the Doctor to travel through space and time. This bursts forth out of a dynamic high quality colour printed background representing time travel. The coins border features the finely engraved words DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1963 – 2013. The coin’s obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2013 year-date and the monetary denomination.

The 50th anniversary coin is packaged in a special presentation case in the shape of the iconic TARDIS (pictured right). The packaging has the distinctive sound effects of the TARDIS when opened, making it entirely unique. The doors of the TARDIS open to display the 1oz coin and Certificate of Authenticity.

You can purchase here

Jenna-Louise Coleman to star in Death Comes to Pemberley

 

It’s been announced that Jenna Coleman will play Lydia Wickham in Death Comes To Pemberley, a major new 3x60-minute serial that will be made for BBC One and directed by the BAFTA award-winning Daniel Percival. 

 

Based on the bestselling novel by P.D. James, the story returns to the world of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and involves its characters in a new tale of murder and emotional mayhem.

Producer David Thompson said, ‘We're delighted to be filming this witty, original and beautifully imagined book from Britain's best loved crime writer - murder and Jane Austen, a delicious combination! This will be a very unexpected and audacious period drama. And we are so pleased with the cast that have been drawn to it…’

Aside from Jenna Coleman that cast includes Matthew Rhys who stars as Mr Darcy and Anna Maxwell Martin – Suki in the Ninth Doctor adventure The Long Game - who plays Elizabeth.  Doctor Who fans will also recognise Tom Ward – Captain Latimer in The Snowmen and here playing Colonel Fitzwilliam, and James Norton who recently appeared as Onegin in Cold War. Eleanor Tomlinson - Eve in The Sarah Jane Adventures two-parter, The Mad Woman in the Attic – is also on board playing Georgiana Darcy.

Filming on Death Comes To Pemberley will begin this month on location in Yorkshire. The drama was commissioned by Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, Ben Stephenson and former Controller of BBC One, now Director of Television, Danny Cohen.

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