New Torchwood COE Trailer

Who is Karen Gillan?

The new companion, starring opposite Matt Smith when Doctor Who returns for a full series in Spring, 2010, ha s been revealed! She has appeared previously in Doctor Who, playing the Soothsayer in the Tenth Doctor adventure, The Fires of Pompeii. In that episode the Doctor admits, 'I sometimes need someone' and from 2010 that someone will be Karen Gillan!

After winning the coveted role, Karen, 21, announced, 'I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it.'

Karen grew up in Inverness, Scotland and developed a love for acting very early on, attending several youth theatre groups and taking part in a wide range of productions at her school, Charleston Academy.

Aged 16, Karen decided she wanted to pursue her acting career further and a year later secured a place at the prestigious Italia Conti academy in London. During her first year she landed a role in Rebus and soon appeared in a variety of programmes including Channel 4's Stacked and The Kevin Bishop Show. Karen also stars in the forthcoming film Outcast starring James Nesbitt.

When she's not acting Karen likes to play the piano and loves rummaging through vintage clothes shops. But it looks unlikely she'll be able to do much rummaging in the near future as she gears up for a life in the TARDIS, and in the limelight!

But she's ready for the challenges and adventures that will follow, declaring, 'Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him - I just can't wait to get started!'

bbc.co.uk/doctorwho

Companion For Matt Smith's Doctor Reveled....

The BBC has revealed that 21-year-old Karen Gillan has landed the role of the new Doctor Who companion.
The actress will star alongside new Time Lord Matt Smith when the series returns to BBC One in Spring 2010.

Karen previously appeared as a soothsayer in the 2008 Doctor Who episode, The Fires Of Pompeii. She said she was 'over the moon' to land the part of companion: "The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it."

"Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him - I just can't wait to get started."

Lead writer and Executive Producer, Steven Moffat, added: "We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up. Funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too."

The role of companion in Doctor Who is one of the most coveted in television drama. The series helped to relaunch the career of Billie Piper and Freema Agyeman went on to star in Law And Order: UK and Little Dorrit after starring in the series.

Doctor Who will return for three more specials this year with David Tennant before Matt Smith takes over the role next year.

Do you think Karen Gillan is a good choice for the new companion? Let us know what you think...

RTD Hwyl Fawr I'R TARDIS / Goodbye To The TARDIS

Tonight's the Night Doctor Who Scene

Aired Saturday, 23rd May 2009 on BBC1

Howard Goddall Comment

Howard Goodall is a composer of choral music, stage musicals, film and TV scores. Examples being: Red Dwarf, Blackadder.

I was looking through my blo postings and saw that HG had placed a comment (link : http://thegallifreychronicles.blogspot.com/2009/04/doctor-who-wins-best-sci-fi-theme-poll.html#comments). Surprising who reads our little fan blogs!

Link to HG's site: .howardgoodall.co.uk

The Doctor In SJA - Autumn

BBC SJA Press Release

The BBC Press Office have published a press release regarding the third series of the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures online today. It contains new information about the third series, such as what monsters will appear and what the episodes will be about. It also includes news about David Tennant appearing in one of the stories which we reported yesterday. The press release can be seen below.

Doctor Who fans are in for a treat this Autumn as David Tennant makes a special appearance as The Doctor in CBBC's hit drama series The Sarah Jane Adventures with a starring role across two episodes.

Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, one-time companion to that strange wanderer in time and space known as The Doctor, is reunited with her old friend as The Sarah Jane Adventures is back for a third series of alien-busting adventures on CBBC this September.

Elisabeth Sladen, who plays Sarah Jane, says: "When I heard the news that David was going to be joining us I was absolutely over the moon. Not only has it made my day but it will also make the viewers' day.

"It's fantastic news that Sarah Jane is going to spend some time working with The Doctor again and is testament to just how successful this CBBC series is."

Russell T Davies, Executive Producer of The Sarah Jane Adventures, adds: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat.

"And it's not just a cameo from David – this is a full-on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."

The series includes 12 weeks of brand new adventures featuring a new alien race, the reptilian Veil and their enemies the Judoon, alongside an extraterrestrial girl that can make people play games against their will.

There will also be a living painting, the inhabitants of a supposedly haunted house, monsters who want to infect Earth with a strangely aggressive weed and a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.

Alongside adopted son Luke, Sarah Jane's team is made up of Luke's streetwise pal Clyde Langer, their schoolmate Rani, who lives opposite and has aspirations to become a journalist like Sarah Jane, and Mr Smith, their Xylok supercomputer up in the attic, plus Sarah Jane's robot dog, K-9.

David Tennant will be appearing in the fifth and sixth episodes of the series. Although it was previously reported that the Judoon may be appearing in the series it is now confirmed, and we know that they are after the the reptilian Veil. The Sarah Jane Adventures series three is currently filming and will air in Autumn this year on BBC One and CBBC.