Whoniverse Australia - Event Cancelled

Unfortunately, Hub Productions have been forced to cancel the forthcoming Whoniverse events in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.  Due to a "personal family emergency", Matt Smith had to cancel and, with Karen Gillan no longer able to attend the second weekend, Hub Productions felt they had no choice but to cancel the event.  Matt's statement reads:

I am deeply saddened to have to advise that I will not be able to come to Australia for the Hub Productions' Whoniverse event. Although I wish it were otherwise, due to a personal family emergency it's not possible for me to leave England at this time. I truly regret the situation, and the disappointment it must be causing, but I'm hoping to be able to reschedule as soon as possible for the future; I look forward to see you all then.

All ticketholders will be contacted directly regarding refunds.

More details can be found at Whoniverse.

Let's hope all turns out for the best with regards to Matt's family emergency.

Peter Capaldi at BBC Worldwide Showcase Event

BBC Worldwide are currently holding a showcase event in Liverpool for International TV buyers - and Peter Capaldi was a surprise guest.

He emerged from the Tardis and talked briefly with Graham Norton.  Doctorwho.tv have the full article but Peter Capaldi commented: “As a lifetime follower of the show, I'm delighted to see its global success. And I'm looking forward to sharing with the world the very exciting journey the new series is taking us on”.  Photos from the event - courtesy of doctorwho.tv are below:

Source: doctorwho.tv

New Recurring Character for Season 8

The BBC have announced a new recurring character for Season 8.  Actor Samuel Anderson will play Danny Pink - a teacher at Coal Hill School:

Rising star Samuel Anderson (The History Boys, Gavin & Stacey, Emmerdale) is set to join the cast of Doctor Who as a recurring character in Series 8, which will also introduce Peter Capaldi as the Doctor.  

Anderson will play Danny Pink, a teacher at Coal Hill School where companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) also teaches. On joining the show Samuel Anderson said: "I was so exited to join Doctor Who I wanted to jump and click my heels, but I was scared I might not come down before filming started!" 

He continued: “It's a quintessential part of British culture and I can't believe I'm part of it. It's an honour to be able to work alongside Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman and I can't wait to show people how my character becomes involved with such a fantastic duo!". 

Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, added: "For the fourth time in Doctor Who history, Coal Hill School is coming to the aid of the TARDIS. In 1963 teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright accompanied the First Doctor. These days it's the turn of Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. And very soon now, Sam Anderson as Danny Pink will be entering the world of the Doctor. But how and why? Answers are coming later this year in Peter Capaldi's first series of Doctor Who!". 

Filming recently began on episode 4 of the new series, which will co-star Robert Goodman (Gangs of New York, Game of Thrones) and episode 5, co-starring Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, Groove High), and Pippa Bennett-Warner (The Smoke, Death in Paradise).

If one of the guest stars for episode 5 - Jonathan Bailey - sounds familiar then you may well have seen him in "American Psycho - The Musical" with Matt Smith.  Jonathan Bailey played Tim Price.

Video - "The Musketeers" - Peter Capaldi's Catwalk

Pure comedy gold here as Peter Capaldi talks about his Cardinal Richelieu costume - and has a catwalk moment or two:

Matt Smith Interview - Q Magazine - Out Tuesday 25 February 2014

The new issue of Q Magazine - which is out in the shops on Tuesday 25 February 2014 - will feature an interview with Matt Smith:

Matt Smith – the former Doctor Who actor talks us through the songs that soundtracked key times in his life – as a hip-hop homeboy, a trance trailblazer and a rock’n’roll roughneck.

So, if you're interested in Matt's musical choices then you can pick it up on Tuesday for £3.99.

A print copy can be ordered online (worldwide shipping) from:

GreatMagazines.co.uk

Arthur Darvill to Join West End Production of "Once"

According to a tweet from WhatsOnStage and a news item on LondonTheatre1.com, Arthur Darvill is to reprise his Broadway role as "Guy" in "Once" at the Phoenix Theatre, London.  The theatre recently released over 400,000 tickets and are taking bookings for the musical to 4 July 2015.

Arthur Darvill will join the musical on 17 March 2014 (a limited run until 10 May 2014) at a special Gala night to celebrate the show's first anniversary.  Money will be raised for Oxfam's Mother Appeal:

Join us for a very special evening as Once teams up with Oxfam for a Gala Night on St Patrick's Day, 17 March. This exclusive event will raise invaluable funds for Oxfam's Mother Appeal, and you could be there to enjoy complimentary drinks, become part of the event in the onstage bar, or even celebrate with celebrity guests at the VIP party afterwards! 

Tickets for the Gala range from £30.00 to £200.00 and proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Oxfam's Mother Appeal that aims to help mothers worldwide lift themselves and their families out of poverty for good. 

The Charity Gala will also mark the first performance of Arthur Darvill who joins the West End cast of Once from Broadway in the leading role of Guy for a limited run until 10 May.

Tickets for the Gala can be bought from ATG Tickets - Gala Night.  Tickets for other performances can be bought from ATG Tickets - Once.

Matt Smith sends Video Message to ill Fan

Matt Smith recently took time out of his US schedule to record and send a video message to a four year old Doctor Who fan with an inoperable brain tumour.

The Portsmouth News reported that Jack Robinson is a massive Doctor Who fan and his father,Terry, said "Jack was over the moon.  Jack had gone to sleep, but we woke him up to show him the message.  His eyes just lit up and he was so delighted.  It has made his day."

In the video, Matt says he will send him some goodies and try to visit him when he's back in England:

Karen Gillan - "Guardians of the Galaxy" Teaser Trailer

Marvel have released a 15 second teaser trailer for "Guardians of the Galaxy" and you get a brief glimpse of a practically unrecognisable Karen Gillan.  Check out the trailer and a screencap of Karen Gillan below in case you didn't spot her:



Here she is:

Screencaps - Matt Smith - Short Motion Piece

Screencaps from the "Short Motion Piece" video by Matt Holyoak (you can watch the video here) have been added to the Coppermine Gallery.  Samples below - right click and open in new tab/window for larger versions - please feel free to take and use:

Review - The Minister of Chance - Prologue Film

In a previous post (which you can find here), I talked about the Minister of Chance and how you can download the free audio series and buy perks to help fund the film.  Well, the prologue for the film has now been released -and is available to watch if you've previously purchased a perk.  If you haven't, then you can buy a cinema ticket (or a perk) from their online shop and you'll be sent a link and password to view it.

Of all the things I expected when I first went to view the film online...this wasn't it.  When you hear something has been crowdfunded, you tend to think it's going to be a bit dodgy...a bit shaky...a bit ...well, "amateur-ish".  Trust me, "The Minister of Chance Prologue Film" definitely isn't.  It's very professional, very slick and very impressive.  In fact, being a Minister of Chance mogul and having purchased the odd perk or two to help fund the film, I can quite happily say that this really is the best few quid I've spent in an awfully long time.

I'm not going to give away the plot - it really would be very unfair of me to do so.  What I CAN say is that the main part of the prologue - the conversation/face-off between Paul McGann's Durian, the Ambassador for Sezuan and Tim McInnery's King of Tanto - is just sublime.  Just watch the upper hand shift between them - it's delicious.  When you have two consummate actors like Paul McGann and Tim McInnery - and an excellent, tightly woven script - then you know you're going to get something special.  They really do play off each other beautifully.

Everything just works - from the delicious costumes (personally I love McGann's cloak and helmet) to the really quite superb effects and design.  I will give a shout-out to whoever it was who designed the ships - I love them.  They look utterly gorgeous - and I would love to have an action figure type replica of one of them!

Watching the prologue has inspired me to go and listen to the audio series again - and to purchase another perk.  Well...when you believe in something, you support it, right?

So, I would urge you all to go and download the free audio series.  Really - go and do it.  Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Links:

The Minister of Chance Website
The Minister of Chance - Audio Series - Free Download
The Minister of Chance - Online Shop

Video - Matt Smith "Short Motion Piece" by Matt Holyoak

Photographer Matt Holyoak has uploaded the following "short motion piece" to vimeo.  I gather it was shot during the photoshoot in 2012 (which produced the fantastic shot above):

Matt Smith by Matt Holyoak from Matt Holyoak on Vimeo.

The Minister of Chance - Prologue Film Released Tonight

I'm sure most "Doctor Who" fans will at least have heard of "The Minister of Chance" - a rather brilliant free audio series starring Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy, Paul Darrow, Jenny Agutter and Philip Glenister amongst others.  And yes...I did say "free".  This series is one of the reasons that crowdfunding can work so well.  The audio drama - and the prologue film - have been made possible by giving fans the chance to contribute financially to the production and, in return, you get all sorts of lovely little items and perks such as signed scripts, hats, posters etc (you do not need to contribute to listen to the audio drama - that is free to anyone). Check out the shop, choose your perk and you immediately help to fund the film.  You'll also get access to some cool behind the scenes photos and videos.

If you haven't done it already, then I suggest you go and download the audio drama because at 7pm UK time tonight, the short film of the prologue will be released - here's the trailer:



If you've already contributed via one of the perks in the shop then you'll be sent a link to view the film for free.  If not, then you'll need to purchase an £8 cinema ticket in the shop.  If you can though, it's really worth buying one of the perks.

To hell with Valentine's Day - this is WAY more important....

Photos - Matt Smith - More from New Orleans Comic Con

A lovely set of photos of Matt during New Orleans Comic Con have been uploaded to the Coppermine Gallery.  Samples below - right click and open in new tab/window for larger versions.  Thanks to TheAustinGuy for his kind permission to use the photos - please credit him when reposting the photos.

Alex Kingston and Noel Clarke Join ITV's New "Chasing Shadows" Drama

ITV have announced the cast for it's new drama "Chasing Shadows" and it features more than one "Doctor Who" luminary.

Alex Kingston will play Ruth Hattersley - partner of Reece Shearsmith's DS Sean Stone.  Noel Clarke will play DI Prior.

The synopsis reads:

On the face of it Sean (Reece Shearsmith) is intense, socially awkward and a misfit.  Get to know him and you realise he’s a man on a mission even if it leads him to self destruction and his eccentric manner frequently lands him in hot water. He’s obsessed with deciphering codes and uncovering patterns of behaviour particularly in relation to those most at risk, vulnerable missing persons. 

Ruth (Alex Kingston), on the other hand, is a stabilising influence. Maternal, but not mumsy, she’s an analyst from the Missing Persons Bureau tasked to work alongside Sean. In effect his bosses have sidelined him and she is his lifeline. Sean refuses to be tethered to Ruth, but eventually learns that he and Ruth make an awesome team. She has the ability to connect with people and has the expertise to trace missing persons. He is socially awkward and struggles to communicate; yet their strengths strike the perfect balance. On paper. In reality, it is a rocky partnership.

The drama is expected to start filming in South East England very soon.

Duncan Sheik Interview - "American Psycho" West End Transfer "In The Fall"

Duncan Sheik spoke to the KFOG Morning Show and seemed to confirm a West End transfer for "American Psycho".  He said "it looks like we're doing a West End transfer in the Fall - and, if that goes well, we'll bring it to America."  He also says that Matt is a "sweetheart" and did an "amazing job".  Obviously, no word on whether it'll be the same cast so that's a "wait and see" but Duncan DID say that he's "really excited to get back there and work with Matt again".  

You can listen to the full interview here:

Soundcloud - Duncan Sheik - KFOG

Photos - Matt Smith - New Orleans Comic Con

Wizard World have uploaded a few photos of Matt at their New Orleans Comic Con this weekend.  Right click and open in new tab/window for larger versions:

Photos - Matt Smith - Excel 50th Anniversary Convention

Well, going through my camera, I discovered more photos from the Eleventh Hour Panel at the Excel 50th Anniversary Convention.  They've been uploaded to the Coppermine Gallery - and there are a few samples below.  As usual, right click and open in new tab/window for larger versions - and please feel free to take and use:

Promo Images - "Arrow" - Alex Kingston

Well, Alex Kingston is back and guest starring as Dinah Lance in the current season of "Arrow".  Apologies for not posting these before but below are the promo images featuring Alex Kingston from both seasons 1 and 2 of "Arrow".  They're also in the Coppermine Gallery.  Right click and open in new tab/window for larger versions and please feel free to take and use:

Season 2 (episode 13):

Season 1 (episodes 16, 17 & 18):

Promo Images - "The Musketeers" - Peter Capaldi

The BBC have released more promo images for "The Musketeers" and below you will find promos featuring Peter Capaldi from episodes 4, 5 and 6.  As usual, right click and open in new tab/window for larger versions: