Photos - Peter Capaldi & Pearl Mackie at the BFI & Radio Times TV Festival

Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie attended the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival today.  The photos below are courtesy of zimbio.com and are also in the Who-Natic Gallery.

BAFTA - Radio Times Audience Award Winner Announced

It'll be on BBC1 in about an hour but I doubt anyone will be able to avoid spoilers till then...so, the winner of the Radio Times Audience Award is:

"The Day of the Doctor" managed to beat "Breaking Bad", "Broadchurch", "Educating Yorkshire", "Gogglebox" and "The Great British Bake-Off".

Unfortunately, "An Adventure in Space and Time" was beaten by "Complicit" in the Best Single Drama Award.

Congratulations, however, to Steven Moffat and the team on a very well-deserved award.

New Radio Times Features Peter Capaldi Cover and Steven Moffat Interview

The new Radio Times - on sale from today - not only features a Peter Capaldi cover but also and interview with the Moff who recalls writing "The Day of the Doctor" and casting Peter Capaldi:

“When you choose a Doctor, you want somebody who is utterly compelling, attractive in a very odd way,” writes Moffat. “None of the Doctors are conventionally attractive, but they’re all arresting. Handsome men don’t quite suit. Matt Smith’s a young, good-looking bloke from one angle but is actually the strangest looking man from another. You need that oddity; you need somebody who is carved out of solid star, really."

The new Radio Times also features:

Your own 16-page guide to the Bafta TV Awards 2014 featuring David Attenborough, Dominic West, Rory Kinnear, Helen George, Laura Carmichael, Natalie Dormer and much, MUCH more... 

Hollywood's latest star Oscar Isaac on his role in the new Star Wars movie – and staying under the celebrity radar 

Alan Titchmarsh on why he's happy to say no to the BBC 

We pay a visit to the set of Mr Sloane with Nick Frost and Olivia Colman 

EastEnders' Danny Dyer on why he loves Countryfile – but can't watch Corrie!  

A tribute to the doyen of sports commentators David Coleman 

Actor Bernard Hill on his new drama throwing light on the IRA's bombing of Manchester city centre in 1996 

Griff Rhys Jones marvels at the hard-living, egotistical, reckless poet Dylan Thomas 

BBC Young Musician 2014: world-renowned trumpeter Alison Balsom wants to bring the joy of music into every classroom 

In the grip of polio – a personal view, by Peter Preston

Screencaps - Matt Smith - "Behind the Scenes - Radio Times Cover Shoot"

A batch of Matt Smith screencaps from the "Behind the Scenes of the Radio Times Cover Shoot" video (you can watch it here) have been uploaded to the Coppermine Gallery.  Samples below - right click and open in new tab/window for larger versions - please feel free to take and use:

Video - Behind the Scenes of the Radio Times Matt Smith Cover Shoot

Radio Times photographer, Mark Harrison, has uploaded the behind the scenes video of Matt Smith's final Radio Times cover shoot.  This was previously only available on ipad.  You can watch it below:


Behind The Scenes of Mark Harrison Radio Times Doctor Who Christmas Cover Shoot 2013 from Mark Harrison on Vimeo.

Time to Believe? Missing Episodes Found and Being Released?

Hardly a month goes by in Doctor Who fandom without more rumours surfacing regarding missing episodes being recovered.  We've all been bitten - we've all believed only to be dropped back down to Earth with a thud when nothing actually happens.  In the Anniversary year, it was only to be expected that the rumour mill would go into overdrive...however...maybe THIS time we have something to get excited about.

Rumours have abounded for months about a large haul of episodes from Africa - we've had everything from "three stories" to "106 episodes" being bandied about.  I've mainly ignored them - I didn't want to be let down again.  This weekend though...maybe things are changing.

First off, a couple of friends I trust absolutely in these things, have been telling me for a while that episodes HAVE been returned.  Then we get the Mirror Online report - which has picked up on the 106 episodes rumour and the "evidence" they have to back it up is...a fan was told by a friend.  Um...right.  They also claim the episodes come from Ethiopia - fair enough...there's the Africa connection - but how many episodes were sold to Ethiopia in the first place?

The key however, is the article on the Radio Times website today which says:

In what looks set to be the best 50th birthday present fans could imagine, two missing episodes of Doctor Who will be made available for sale to the public this week. 

BBC Worldwide will put two previously lost episodes from different stories – both believed to be from the Patrick Troughton era – for sale on digital platforms such as iTunes from Wednesday, RadioTimes.com understands. 

They are believed to originate from a haul discovered in Africa and have been digitally remastered for sale, although exact details remain sketchy. 

A BBC Worldwide spokesman refused to officially confirm the discovery or the "speculation" around further missing episodes. 

It is understood that other episodes have also been found, although it is not yet known whether these will be made available.

Now, the Radio Times has much more credibility than the Mirror but the Mirror themselves have followed up their claims with more details about the Radio Times article:

The 1960s programmes – featuring the first two Doctors William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton – vanished after the Beeb flogged off a load of old footage and wiped copies or lost them. 

But the corporation’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has now called a press conference and screening on Tuesday in a London hotel. 

The invitation sent out had the event details written inside the screen of a old-fashioned sixties style television set, complete with a dial to tune in the channels, seeming to hint at the type of news to come. 

Journalists will be told exactly which old footage has been recovered, with some of it then broadcast on screen to watch. 

A senior BBC source said: "There will be big news this Tuesday regarding lost Doctor Who episodes. 

"It is great that in the show’s 50th year, fans will now be able to look back with classic episodes as well as looking to the future with the new film-length episode in November.“For some fans watching their lost episodes will be like going back in time.”

Now THIS is more like it!  So, Tuesday the news should break about what has been found...and Wednesday 2 Patrick Troughton episodes should be available to download.  Excellent!

About time the BBC actually make a statement now but for the time being, I'm breaking my self-imposed rule.  I believe.

EDIT - The Radio Times have now dropped the reference to "two" episodes.  They now just state that episodes will be released.  Interesting....

"Doctor Who" tops Radio Times Poll

The Radio Times recently conducted a poll to find people's "ultimate TV schedule" for it's 90th birthday and, following almost 30,000 votes, "Doctor Who" was chosen as "top drama".

"Doctor Who" beat "Downton Abbey", "Sherlock" and "Coronation Street" amongst others and TV Critic, Boyd Hilton, commented:

"Doctor Who is absolutely unique. It's an incredible achievement that it's lasted for 50 years and been entertaining families for that long."

The full voted schedule is:

• Children's: Blue Peter
• Entertainment: The Morecambe & Wise Show
• Comedy: Only Fools And Horses
• Drama: Doctor Who
• Documentary: Around the World in 80 Days
• News: Sir Trevor McDonald

The voting in the Drama category was:

1 Doctor Who

2 Sherlock

3 Downton Abbey

4 Coronation Street

5 Pride and Prejudice

Radio Times - Interviews and Episode Guide

The new issue of the Radio Times - available from today - has a rather nice 4 page spread about "Doctor Who".  Both Matt and Jenna are interviewed and, of course, we get the ubiquitous episode guide by the Moff.

Matt talks about "bulking" up and admits he goes to the gym about three times a week.  As ever, he's asked about his future on the show and has this to say:

"Forever!  I came back and put the costume on for the photoshoot today.  At the risk of sounding self-indulgent and cheesy, it really does make you want to go back and start shooting.  I'm attached to the show for the next year and I take it year by year.  I think that's the only way you can take it."

The interesting thing, for me, was Matt's response to claims we're getting short shrift as far as episodes etc in this Anniversary year:

"But I think there's only so much you CAN shoot.  There's a Christmas special and eight episodes, there's the 50th anniversary and on top of that you've got Mark Gatiss writing a script, plus you've got live events, things taking place around the world simultaneously.  There's only so much you can make without compromising the quality.  It will be everything it needs to be, the anniversary.  And in November there will be a right old party."

Quite right - give me quality over quantity any day of the week.  Jenna's interview is rather brief and she confirms again that she's in "next year's Doctor Who" and that "The Rings of Akhaten" is her favourite.

The Moff's episode guide is as teasing as ever.  He states that for "Cold War", Mark Gatiss had "one more idea that made my hair stand on end";  "Hide" is a ghost story - a "haunted house and in this show we're delivering one of the best.";   "The Crimson Horror" is "insane, terrifying and Victorian" and, as for "the finale", Mr Moffat had this to say:

"Oh, I think I'll hold on to the title of this one just a little longer.  There's going to be a revelation.  I'm not teasing.  I'm not wrong-footing you - you're about to learn something about the Doctor that you never knew before.  And I think you're in for a shock..."

The Radio Times is available from all good newsagents priced £1.60.

The Moff Talks Series 7B and 50th Anniversary

"The Doctor's greatest secret is in jeopardy..."

The Radio Times managed to nail the Moff down at last night's Radio Times covers party and get a quote or two regarding the upcoming series 7B together with the 50th Anniversary:

Doctor Who executive producer Steven Moffat has been talking about what viewers can expect from the new series, which is set to resume on Saturday 30 March on BBC1.  

Speaking at the Radio Times covers’ party, Moffat teased: “We’ll be up in the air, we’re under the water, we’re on a fantastic alien planet, we’re back in time, we’re forward in time, and the Doctor’s greatest secret is in jeopardy.”  

The upcoming eight episodes - which see Matt Smith teaming up with new companion Jenna-Louise Coleman - will include instalments written by Moffat, as well as Luther creator Neil Cross, Neil Gaiman and Mark Gatiss.  

In November, Doctor Who will, of course, celebrate its 50th birthday and Moffat was also asked about whether he was apprehensive as regards the forthcoming anniversary: “You can’t do this job if you’re nervous all the time. So, seriously, I’m mostly excited, a little bit nervous and aware of trying not to let people down.”  

When probed about how big the event would end up being, the writer replied: "Pretty big. But, you know, I don’t want people to get bored just yet. So let’s just wait and get our next eight episodes out of the way before we start talking about it.”

It makes sense, doesn't it?  Let's get the next eight eps over and done with before focussing on the 50th Anniversary.  After all, we don't want the Anniversary to "overshadow" what promise to be eight absolutely cracking episodes.  Who's to say that these episodes don't lead into the November celebrations anyway?

Matt Smith on the 50th: "I doubt there'll be a regeneration..."

Music to our ears from Matt Smith in this week's "Radio Times" as, discussing the 50th Anniversary of the show, he says:

"We want to make it as big and bold and as brilliant as we can because, we hope, it can be one of the monumental bits of TV history. But I doubt there'll be a regeneration...

This is a good bit of confirmation following the slight confusion after the BFI screening when Matt said he didn't know where the stories that he'd signed for 2014 had come from because he hadn't signed anything new. Obviously, the news late last year was that Matt had signed for 13 more episodes plus the Christmas Special - which are the episodes we'll start to see on Saturday. The fact that he's talking like this means that, although he probably hasn't signed anything new, he's fully intending to see out the Anniversary year.

Matt, Karen and Arthur are interviewed in the new Radio Times about the Daleks, the Fall of the Ponds, how their lives changed when they joined "Doctor Who", how the new companion is getting on plus Matt briefly discusses his Sherlock audition experience.

The Radio Times is on sale now priced £1.40. If you live outside the UK, then "Life, Doctor Who and Combom have full page scans of the interviews, Steven Moffat's episode guide and the cover page.

New Radio Times Suggests 1 September Airdate

As you can see above, the new Radio Times - which has schedules from 25 -31 August - appears to suggest that 1 September is the likely airdate.

It's going to be interesting to see when the BBC finally say something...

Radio Times - Asylum of the Daleks Photos

The Radio Times have a gallery of images from last night's BFI screening of "Asylum of the Daleks". There is a selection below but please head over to the Radio Times for the rest:

"Bert and Dickie" - Matt Smith interviewed in the Radio Times

This week's Radio Times has an interview with Matt Smith ahead of the transmission of "Bert and Dickie" on BBC1 on Wednesday 25 July 2012.

Matt talks about the character of Bert Bushnell together with Bert's prickly relationship with Dickie Burnell.

"Our story explores their relationship and the fact that they didn't get on. But in rowing terms they formed quite a formidable partnership. That's one of the interesting things about the film, with the context of the war and the aftermath. The fact that these games went on at all was a bit of a miracle. There was this sort of cameraderie then - couldn't we do with a bit of that now."

The film climaxes with the pair's race against the Danish favourites for the double sculls. Without giving the game away, you'd best be armed with a box of tissues as they row for 'Chariots of Fire'-style glory. "Even reading the script, I found myself cheering them on," smiles Smith.

Matt also explains that he didn't strive for an impersonation of Bushnell:

"I've had to use more artistic licence," says Smith. He sees Bushnell as someone with an axe to grind, a working class hero with an oar in his hand. "Without causing offence to people who are close to him, the story goes that Bert was chippy. But my grandad, my dad's dad, was a bit like that. He'd been in the war and he was a bit chippy too. I think there was a sort of toughness to people in England at that time but I think that was because you had to be. There was no nonsense," he says.

Matt says that the effort of training and huge amount of food the Olympic Rowers eat was the biggest shock to his system. He also admits to concerns about his back injury:

"The thing that worried me was my back. I had a very bad injury playing football as a kid so I was quite concerned," he says. "But in a weird way rowing actually was good for my back. You are using your arms and legs as a pulley, not your back."

His spine may have stood up to the test, but he admits the rest of his body took a beating. "Look at my hands, look at my legs," he says, displaying his war wounds. "I've got blisters on the hand, cuts and bruises everywhere. Calluses. Your bum is the worst thing because those old wooden seats are pretty grim," he smiles. "It is like everything, it is the tiny details. I loved it, although it's taken it's toll physically."

It really is the best of the many TV Magazine "Bert and Dickie" articles that's around at the moment and I do highly recommend you pick up a copy. It's the Radio Times Pick of the Day for Wednesday and Alison Graham, the Radio Times reviewer admits that the drama "made me cry". The Radio Times is on sale now priced £1.40 from all good newsagents.

Radio Times Cover and Preview

Next week's Radio Times features Matt Smith on the cover (a textless version of the picture is below) and the UK Press Association have released the following short article:

Doctor Who star Matt Smith said he wants to see "more action" in the next series of the Timelord's adventures.

The actor, who is reported to have recently split up with girlfriend Daisy Lowe, said the sci-fi show's Christmas special had a "Narnia-esque shape and feel" to it.

He told the Radio Times: "Whereas last year felt more like a Christmas romp, there's a slow-burning, ethereal magic to this.

"We've covered a whole forest in snow. The scale is vast and there's just something wonderfully magical about it because it's never that snowy in this country, except maybe in Scotland ... and on the telly. It does it for you: all the snow and the lovely smell of the pine trees. I'm really, really looking forward to Christmas now."

Matt also revealed he'd been doing his stunts for the show - one of which involved him dodging a giant fireball.

He said: "Believe me, the fireball does so much of the acting for you. It was only afterwards that I realised I could have been seriously charred.

"I've been really enjoying it. Hopefully we'll see more action/adventure-y Doctor next season."

The Christmas special also includes appearances from familiar faces including comic Alexander Armstrong, Arabella Weir and Bill Bailey.

Bill, who is a devoted fan of the long-running BBC show, said appearing on it was "the equivalent of a knighthood".

Copyright © 2011 The Press Association. All rights reserved.