Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
The BBC has released new Q&As with Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman ahead of their return to our screens.
They’ll be back in their rightful place on BBC One on Saturday 23rd August in Series 8’s feature-length premiere Deep Breath and they’ve given fans an insight into what they can expect from their new adventures.
In Peter’s interview, he discusses first day jitters and the perks of being a Time Lord, while Jenna spills the beans on what lies ahead for the impossible girl.
Read their full interviews below. Is any information revealed that particularly interests you?
Question: Can you describe your emotions on the first day when you stepped on set as the Doctor?
Peter Capaldi: I was frightened and excited. My first proper day was stepping out of the TARDIS into a brand new world, which was exactly what was happening to me. Of course being inside the TARDIS you’re just inside a big box really. It’s not bigger on the inside, it’s just a prop and you’re in there with Jenna and a prop man who you’ve never met before. It was all a bit cosy. But it is frightening because you have to take on the challenge of this role, but at the same time it’s exhilarating because you are getting to step out the TARDIS as Doctor Who, and that’s an iconic role and a great position to be in.
Q: How are you feeling ahead of the new series starting?
PC: Apprehensive, excited, and keen.
Q: What have fans got to look forward to this series?
PC: They can look forward to some scary episodes, and some funny ones, and a Doctor who is difficult to keep up with, and who is more alien than perhaps we’ve seen for a while.
Q: Since the show returned in 2005 have you always hoped the role would come your way?
PC: I was always interested but I never thought they’d come to me. So I was always interested because I liked the show very much, and I loved Chris (Eccleston), David (Tennant) and Matt (Smith). All of them I think have been fabulous. But I was always interested in being in it. I was always hoping someone would call me and say ‘What do you think of coming and being in an episode? – but I never thought they would think of me as Doctor Who.
Q: Have you received any advice from any of the other Doctors?
PC: Yes Matt and David. We are often in touch, they have been very good. David did take me for a coffee before it had been announced, and he just pointed out to me that I would become more visible and that my life would change in some way.
Q: You are a big Doctor Who fan. Is that an added pressure or an advantage?
PC: Both. It does add to the pressure because you’re hugely aware of how well the role has been played by previous incumbents, but at the same time you have a sort of relationship with it that that doesn’t have to be acted. It’s a knowledge and a closeness to it that takes you a long way down the road. You almost instinctively know what it is. You can recognise what it is and what it should be, because it’s in your DNA.
Q: Have you tried to take any mementos from on set yet?
PC: No I haven’t, I don’t need any mementos – I’m Doctor Who!
Q: What has been the best thing so far about being the Doctor?
PC: It’s working with all of these gifted people, because the crew, the designers and the cast are all so good at what they do. To be working with people who are so great at their jobs is a wonderful thing, and it’s a highly imaginative place to be in the studio when this is all going on. It’s fabulous from the point of view that you’re doing things you would never have done in other television shows. There isn’t another television show like it, where the central character can be blown up, or materialised underneath the sea or be in outer space. So to turn up every time you start a new episode and be submerged in a totally new world is certainly one of the best things about it. To be able to have the privilege of looking after this character for a while is the best thing about it for me. It’s that you’ve been given this very precious thing, and it’s your responsibility to try and keep him aflame until the next person comes along. You’re looking after the character and it looks after you too.
Q: Has there been a sequence you’ve particularly enjoyed filming?
PC: I’ve just been filming a sequence in which I have to be suspended on wires, 20 feet in the air for a whole day, and people kept worrying about me and saying ‘Are you OK? Are you alright?’ But it was fantastic! It was like being nine years old. To be carted up into the air on wires to pretend to fly, I was Doctor Who and Superman. It was absolutely brilliant. You know you’re safe and everyone is there looking after you. Where else is a man of my age going to be attached to wires and flung around a room? I think being on the wires is great fun.
Q: How do you feel about being the joint oldest Doctor?
PC: I think you learn to pace yourself and you recognise the dangers. Everybody counselled me about how physical the role is, but that’s great! It’s like exercise, you don’t have to go to the gym. You just come and play Doctor Who and run up and down corridors being chased by monsters, and run away from explosions. It keeps you fit, but obviously when you’ve been around the block a little bit like I have, you can actually say ‘I’m not running over that thing over there, that looks too dangerous.’ You can pace yourself more, and that’s what I’ve done. So touch wood we’re nearly there, and I’m surrounded by a great team who look after me. I think too much is made of my age, who cares? Doctor Who is over 2000 years old…
Q: What sort of response have you had from Doctor Who fans so far?
PC: My relationship with fans, either when I’ve met them or when they’ve written to me, that’s all been wonderful and kind and positive. It’s a delightful thing when people are pleased to meet Doctor Who, because Doctor Who is far more interesting than I am. So I get his smiles. The welcome look on people’s faces is because they’re meeting Doctor Who, not me. The fans have been wonderful, those that I’ve met. I’m not a creature of the internet, so I’m not out there finding out what people are saying, but I hope we will meet a lot more people. Especially with the world tour I’m going to meet lots of people. But genuinely the fans I have met have been very positive and a great support to me. That’s lovely. I know what Doctor Who fans are like because I am a Doctor Who fan myself. They’re good people.
Q: Are you looking forward to the audience reaction?
PC: It depends what it is. That’s the truth. It depends if they like me or not. The thing I do know because I’m a fan of Doctor Who is that if there are a lot of people who don’t like me, there will also be some people who really like me, and that’s quite a nice feeling. That’s the nature of the show. People will take sides.
Q: How has it been having Jenna on set to share the experience with?
PC: She’s great. Jenna has been absolutely brilliant. I think she’s wonderful in the show, and she’s my favourite companion. She’s been so welcoming to me and so warm. I couldn’t have wished for anyone better to welcome me to the show. She’s just been delightful to work with, so I hope we can carry on doing that.
Question: How is Clara feeling about having a new Doctor?
Jenna Coleman: For Clara it unbalances her and throws everything up in the air. She has gone from feeling safe – in moments of danger the Doctor would catch her – and thinking she had it all sussed, then suddenly this new guy has come along who she can’t quite access in the same way. He’s removed, he’s not as patient, and he’s much more alien and enigmatic. It’s really hard for her. Her best friend is a changed person, and it is a very difficult for her to accept that and move forward.
Q: What is Clara’s relationship like with the Doctor?
JC: It’s interesting because it’s a really changed dynamic. It’s very funny, there’s a lot of bickering. There’s no one that can wind her up as much as this Doctor can, because he’s just a loose cannon. He has this mad curiosity. It puts Clara out of her comfort zone and totally out of control, so we see the control freak in her really ramp up. What I think is really good about it is it’s an unlikely friendship. Even if she wanted to leave she can’t, because she’s bonded to him. He absolutely infuriates her. He annoys her. No one else can wind her up quite like it – but she just loves him. The friendship is strange and charming.
Q: Would you say the tone of the show has changed this year?
JC: It feels different. The pace is different, and the tone. It’s definitely darker, but again I think it’s because the Doctor is much more removed and not as accessible to humans. The show feels complex, and the Doctor is complicated. He’s this heroic figure but he can’t quite accept he’s a hero. It’s also the Doctor getting to know himself again as well as the audience, and Clara, getting to know him. There’s definitely this element of beginning again as there always is with a regeneration. He’s much more of a tough cookie, and there’s fierceness to it now I think. Peter is just so dynamic as well, he’s a firecracker. That is really interesting for Clara, because when they go on these adventures – yes it’s fun and it is full of adventure – but actually it is dangerous as well. The risk-taking is heightened.
Q: What is in store for Clara this series? Do we learn anything new about her?
JC: You see a lot more of her home life. We see how she lives her life, and how she lives a double life. Spending time at home, being a teacher and living a normal life, and then very separately sneaking off and having these mad, wonderful, magical adventures with the Doctor. Actually, it is quite exhausting for her. She’s trying to keep a lid on it, and she arrives back at school soaking wet with seaweed on her shoulder for example, and she has to explain that. It’s a theme throughout the series, lying and why we lie, lying to protect someone you love. It’s this web of lies that she gets herself tangled in.
Q: How have you found working with Peter?
JC: It’s been a joy. He’s so funny and so generous. That’s one of the things from day one on the shoot. He was looking after me on his first day, which I just think is testament to the type of man he is. He is the epitome of grace. He is that kind of man that takes care of all of those around him. Despite all of that, he’s just so skilled and so brave and bold in the choices that he makes, and really clever and dynamic. What I love about him is that he’s so prepped and immersed in the job, but then at a moment’s notice he’s not afraid to abandon any plan and try something else. He’s a really fearless actor that’s very generous to those around him. We just have such a laugh as well. We’ve laughed the whole way through the series together.
Q: Did you find yourself showing Peter the ropes?
JC: There’s silly basic things you can do like “there’s the canteen”. Silly things like that. What I really wanted to do was be as open as possible to change from the start, and also just make him feel supported and that he could try anything. I’d be up for trying anything. It was about being totally open with each other and trying to get that relationship as soon as possible so that we could get the best out of it. Also to allow him to really be able to explore, because that’s the kind of actor he is. He’s very explorative on set as well, so just being as responsive as I could to that so he could explore and find his Doctor. It’s been amazing to watch actually, especially watching episode one, and to see where he’s got to now having just finished the series. It’s a massive growth.
Q: What can you tell us about Clara’s relationship with Danny?
JC: She meets a man called Danny Pink – a teacher – who’s charming and lovely. He’s that perfect boyfriend really and is very supportive, but he doesn’t know anything about this double life she lives. She tries to hide it from him whilst at the same time falling in love. She becomes very torn between the two. It’s almost as if she’s having an affair, without having an affair, but the lying becomes more and more. Basically she’s trying to manage the two, and have these two men in her life. It becomes quite a hurtful thing and quite a hard thing for her because she’s totally torn between the two, and trying to have both at once without being able to do it successfully.
Q: What’s it been like working with Sam Anderson?
JC: It’s been great. He’s a dream. I think he’s going to be really popular in the show. He’s very laid back, very cool and collected, and he plays the trumpet in-between takes as well on set! He’s lovely. I do feel sorry for his character though, as he’s got this girlfriend who is completely stressed every time she appears after coming back from being with the Doctor.
The show will soon be touring Australia as it takes fans on a journey to discover all the scientific facts that lie behind the timey-wimey fiction of the Doctor’s adventures.
We recently caught up with its presenter Rob Lloyd who told us about the inspiration behind the show, what its attendees can expect and why he can’t wait to get it on the road…
Thanks to Rob for answering our Q&As! Be sure to follow him on Twitter @futurerobby, and check out his official site HERE. Tickets for the events can now be purchased HERE.
Q. Hey, Rob! So how did your involvement with The Science of Doctor Who come about?
A. I had worked with RiAus, the company who is working in association with BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand, on a project called Mind Matters in 2010 and 2011. The show toured around remote areas of country Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. I hosted the free event where neuroscientist Anthony Hannan presented a talk on the latest advancements in neuroscience. I was basically the comic relief before the heavy, yet fascinating, lecture. So I must’ve made a good impression because the next time I heard from RiAus they were asking me about getting involved in The Science of Doctor Who.
Q. What can you tell us about the show?
A. Basically, I host with three scientists. We rotate between Dr Martin White, Dr Allie Ford, Dr Alan Duffy and David Jennens to explore the scientific theories and ideas presented in Doctor Who over the last fifty years. I introduce these theories in the context to the Doctor Who universe with a corresponding clip from the show and then the scientists discuss these theories in the context of the ‘real world’ and just how possible they really are.
Q. Have you always been a fan of Doctor Who?
A. I came quite late into Doctor Who, when I was 17, but don’t worry because I am now most definitely a full-fledged, hand-on-my-hearts, card-carrying Doctor Who fan! It was 1996, my first year of University, and it was actually a huge year for Doctor Who with the Paul McGann TV movie coming out and the passing away of Third Doctor Jon Pertwee. One of my closest friends at Uni, Alexander Jones, was dealing with quite a messy break-up so I thought the best way to take his mind off things was to get him to tell me the entire history of his favourite show, Doctor Who. After that five-hour late night chat I knew everything about Doctor Who and I was hooked, and I’ve been hooked ever since!
Q. How much were you involved with the writing and producing of the show?
A. I was lucky enough to be co-devisor and co-writer. When we were first developing the show, I wrote a list of as many of the science-type ideas in Doctor Who. This list was then presented to our scientists who chose the ones they’d like to talk about In the show. While the scientists started working out what they wanted to say, I had the ‘hard’ task of finding what particular episodes these theories were in and then pick an appropriate clip with one of our producers and co-devisors, Ben Lewis, from RiAus. So The Science of Doctor Who is really a group effort. Everyone connected with the show has some significant involvement in the development and writing of ours. The most enjoyable part of the preparation/’research’ for the show was having all of the scientists around at my house having a Doctor Who marathon. During every episode the scientists would be asking me specific continuity and ‘canon’ questions and at the end of each story they would sit around and discuss whether the ideas shown in that story were possible.
Q. What do you think makes the scientific aspects of Doctor Who so appealing?
A. You can’t help but get caught up in the endless possibilities presented in Doctor Who. The show has had so many talented, intelligent people connected to the writing and overall shaping of the show, who were basically allowed to let their imaginations run wild and free. So anything is possible. Star Trek is kind of limited by it’s rigid moral and scientific code. Star Wars sadly lost a lot of its magic when George Lucas attempted to introduce quasi-scientist reasoning behind the force. Doctor Who, however, is always changing the rules, breaking the rules, re-writing the rules, or even creating entirely new ones. That’s what’s appealing, from a science point of view, when watching Doctor Who. It may not make sense or be plausible or even be taken completely seriously, but it may actually be possible.
Q. What can fans attending The Science of Doctor Who expect from the show?
A. Fans can expect to be educated as well as entertained. That’s a difficult balance to get right but I think we’ve managed it perfectly with The Science of Doctor Who. Let’s not forget that originally Doctor Who was meant to be an educational program as well as an entertaining one, teaching kids and their families about history, different cultures and even the odd scientific theory in a very basic form. The Science of Doctor will also be dedicating equal time to both the classic and modern era of the show so no fan will be left out. The show is also appropriate for the entire family and people of all ages.
Q. Will there be any interactive aspects to the show?
A. There will most definitely be interactive aspects to the show. As Peter Capaldi said, “Doctor Who belongs to all of us”, so who are we to deny the audience getting involved? The most exciting interactive aspect of The Science of Doctor Who is that, at the start of the show, audience members will be invited to use their smart phones to visit a specially set-up webpage on which they can vote in real time on certain polls and activities that we’ll be running throughout the show.
Q. What are you most looking forward to about taking the show on the road to venues across Australia?
A. I can’t wait to meet all the Australian fans of Doctor Who to share our mutual love of the greatest show in the galaxy. The most exciting part of touring this show is that this type of show has never been done in Australia before. It’s going to be entertaining and a heck of a lot of fun, but the most important thing is that the audience will walk away with a little bit of extra knowledge that they didn’t have before. That is by far the best part of being involved in The Science of Doctor Who.
Q. Will there be any surprises in store for audiences?
A. Spoilers! All I can say is that we will be exploring time travel, parallel dimensions, regeneration and life on other planets, plus many other things. We will also be giving the audience the opportunity to decide once and for all which Doctor Who monster should rule the universe.
Q. Finally, if you could pick one fictional scientific aspect from Doctor Who to bring into reality, what would it be and why?
A. Ooh, that’s a hard one! Off the top of my head, it would have to be time travel. I mean who wouldn’t want to be able to travel back to the Middle Ages or forward to the 35th century and be back just in time for tea? However, if I really think about it, I would love to be able to regenerate. I mean, I know if was created merely as a plot device to explain changing the lead actor back in the 60’s, but it has evolved into this myth and legend. It’s such a fascinating concept too. Same person only a different appearance and a different personality. It’s kind of like immortality. I love it. So I’d love to be able to regenerate!
Have you got your tickets for The Science of Doctor Who? Let us know in the comments!
As March flies by our Third Doctor celebrations continue with an interview with an actor who starred in the show alongside the man himself.
Richard Franklin made his first appearance in Doctor Who in the 1971 serial Terror of the Autons as Mike Yates.
Assisting the Brigadier at UNIT, Mike would go on to help the Doctor and his companions defend Earth from alien threats such as the Master and mutated maggots.
Richard gave us an insight into his role and his fond memories of being a UNIT Captain…
“I got the role through serendipity really,” Richard reflected. “A chance conversation in a theatre between Barry Letts and my then agent before the curtain rose in the West End.”
It wasn’t all down to fate though, as Richard told us he then “had to work for the job”. “I had 3 interviews at the BBC. They involved reading scenes with my future ‘love interest’ Katy Manning who played Jo Grant.” And it was the swaggering ladies-man aspect of the character that appealed to Richard: “Well, who wouldn’t want to be an heroic lover-boy?”
But when Mike wasn’t charming the ladies, he was helping the Doctor defend Earth from alien excursions, and Richard had the chance to work with more than one incarnation of the Time Lord throughout his time in the show – notably Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker. He has fond memories of both, who were equally “a delight and fascinating” to be around. “They were both very different,” he explained, “as Jon was the star – a leading man with huge charisma and wonderful raconteur. Tom was charismatic, an eccentric intellectual.”
Mike’s last appearance came in the 1980’s but the character lives on in the audio series, in adventures such as The Blue Tooth and The Rings of Ikiria. Richard spoke very highly of the audio adventures as he noted “the wonderful thing is that age is no barrier”. “Mike Yates on audio remains forever young,” he finished. “Luckily, it is how I feel in real life!”
We’d like to say a huge thanks to Richard for taking time out to answer our questions – you can find out more about his career and current projects at his official website, here.
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
It’s been a long time coming, but the BBC have today at last unveiled a brand new trailer for Series 7 of Doctor Who.
In the first teaser (released way back in March – how time flies!), we saw initial glimpses of the Doctor & Co’s autumn adventures. In the latest preview, premiered on the web in the early hours of this morning, there is plenty more where that came from. It’s now time to check out the 90 seconds of sheer epicness, and as River Song once said, you might want to find something to hang on to…
Scenes of note include Daleks, Daleks and more Daleks, dinosaurs, dinosaurs and more dinosaurs (on a spaceship…) and New York – the final moments of the trailer tie in with the intriguing promo pic that’s just been released at midnight. Lots to mull over below!
Note: The trailer will have its televisual debut at approximately 8pm tonight on BBC One
…and when you’re travelling in the TARDIS! Today marks the third anniversary of our news website, so we’d just like to say a massive thanks to our visitors for getting us here!
Although WhovianNet.co.uk’s been online since 2007, this news website you’re on right now didn’t open until 20th February 2009. Since then, we’ve posted over 2,700 news articles and recieved over 17,700 of your comments. We know for sure that we wouldn’t be where we are today without your ongoing support, so thank you one and all!
Coincidentally, filming for the next series of Doctor Who begins today, and we’ll be here to report on the very latest develpments on what looks set to be the biggest series yet, as well as bringing you the latest on everything else relating to our favourite Time Lord! So, thank you again, and we hope you enjoy visiting as much as we love updating!
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
The Region 1 release date for last year’s 10 part series of Torchwood, Miracle Day, on DVD and Blu-ray has been confirmed by BBC Video today.
US fans will be able to take home and relive Jack and Gwen’s latest adventure from 3rd April 2012, at $49.98 for the DVD, and $59.99 for the Blu-ray edition. Special features on the 4-disc set include audio commentaries, character profiles, a special effects feature, a behind the scenes special, intros and the Web of Lies motion comic.
Check out the updated artwork for the DVD and Blu-ray below… What do you think of it?
With the future of the series unclear for the time being, Eve Myles has recently said that she’d like to “draw a line under it” with a movie next year. Gwen’s journey continues in a new and exclusive post-Miracle audiobook, Army of One, which is out next month.
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
Starz have today released two teaser trailers and an official synopsis for Web of Lies, the new Torchwood app-based web spin off which will run parallel to the new TV series.
You can get hold of the first part of the motion comic series, which is written by Jane Espenson and Ryan Scott, for free from the iTunes App Store, while subsequent instalments will be available to purchase in packs of 3 for 59p, or in a special bundle for £1.79. Instalments will be released weekly after each new episode of Miracle Day.
Just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean they are not out to get you. Conspiracy theorist Miles Mokri is shot on the very best day to be shot: Miracle Day. He doesn’t die, but he is silenced, and his survivors are left only with the cryptic clues he left behind…
His sister Holly and friend Nick team up to decipher the clues and to find out what Miles knew about a mysterious “Key,” one of the secrets of Miracle Day. During the frantic search for the Key, Holly, a cancer survivor, is faced with new enemies, betrayals, and mysterious references to something called “Torchwood.” By the time she uncovers the Key, she’s learned something about it that may just change her mind about everything.
In a parallel story, back in 2007, Gwen and Captain Jack live out a harrowing “missing day” that fills in a missing chapter in the history of the Miracle that changed humanity…
As revealed last month, the “interactive digital companion” will be made up of 10 three-minute motion comic episodes, plus games, which will be released on iTunes weekly after the transmission of the latest Miracle Day episode. The first instalment will be released for free prior to the new series premiere, and after that they can be purchased in packs of 3 for 59p each, or in a special complete bundle for £1.79.
Written by Jane Espenson and Ryan Scott, the story reveals a past day which neither Jack Harkness or Gwen Cooper can remember. The events of that day fuelled a modern day conspiracy-laced treasure hunt led by Holly Mokr, who is voiced by Eliza Dushku.
Each episode unlocks another piece of the unfolding narrative as well as a new game.
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
More details about the previously confirmed Torchwood online series, Web of Lies, have been revealed today.
According to Entertainment Weekly, it will be made up of ten three-minute videos and will play out in the form of an animated “motion comic”. It’s written by Jane Espenson and Ryan Scott, and will star Eliza Dushku as its protagonist, with appearances from John Barrowman and Eve Myles as Jack and Gwen. It’s thought that new instalments will be released online after each episode of Miracle Day.
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
Miracle Day writer Jane Espenson has confirmed on her Twitter that there’s new Torchwood web content on its way!
From her tweet, we know that it’ll be called Torchwood: Web of Lies, however nothing else has been revealed yet. We can assume that it’ll be released online to coincide with the transmission of the new television series. Espenson has also given us a couple of teasers about one of its cast (here and here), which suggest that actress Eliza Dushku is to be involved. We’ll bring you more details as and when!
WhovianNet is an unofficial Doctor Who fansite. We are not endorsed by or affiliated with the BBC or any other companies connected with Doctor Who and its spin-offs. The official site can be found at bbc.co.uk/doctorwho.
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