Rivers, ponds, police boxes and screwdrivers!

July 21st, 2009

matt_karen_tardis_southerndown_20th_julyFilming for the fifth series of Doctor Who commenced yesterday, and within minutes of the cast and crew arriving on location, pictures of Matt and Karen materialised online as the world held its breath in anticipation to see the first batch of photos of the 11th Doctor and his new companion. And we weren’t disappointed!

The first day of filming brought with it another surprise twist, in the form of actress Alex Kingston!

Recognised for her portrayal of River Song in the Series 4 two-parter Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, the BBC have said that viewers will have to wait and see to find out who Kingston will be playing in the new series.

matt_filming_tardis_southerndown_20thjulyMeanwhile, fans were treated to the first glimpse of the tweaked TARDIS exterior, too, which has been given a slight redesign with extra detail for the High-Definition cameras to pick up. There’s also something of the William Hartnell era about the prop, especially with the window frames and the St. John’s Ambulance insignia on the door. And if all of that wasn’t enough, Matt Smith was spotted showing off his new sonic screwdriver, which has also been given a makeover to mark the beginning of the show’s new era.

In a nutshell, it was an eventful and historic day for fans, and now we can sit back and wait to see what other surprises are in store for us as filming for the brand new series kicks into full swing…

The fifth series of Doctor Who will air on BBC One and BBC HD from Spring 2010. You can discuss the Eleventh Doctor’s costume over at the previous post.

20 comments on this article
  1. TE
    July 21st, 2009 at 2.40pm | #1

    Also, some may have noticed the return of the St. John’s Ambulance logo, which (IMHO) seems a little out of place after nearly 50 years. But, Doctor Who’s going back to the classics with the young’uns.

  2. Sam
    July 21st, 2009 at 4.04pm | #2

    This is shaping up to be a really good series. Not to keen on the TARDIS exeterior though,2010 feels like a long wait. But before you know it,we’ll be sitting down to watch Matt burst onto our screens at long last. :D

  3. Katie
    July 21st, 2009 at 4.43pm | #3

    Maybe its just me hating change, or not wanting Ten to leave, but I really dont like what they have done to the TARDIS, I really dislike River Song so thats not good and now they have done up the screwdriver!
    :(
    I am looking forward to seeing the new companion though, she looks like shes going to be good!

  4. Mass
    July 21st, 2009 at 5.33pm | #4

    Well lets not forget, the doctor gave his (spruced up) Sonic Screwdriver to River Song before she went to the Library… would make sense he’d design a new one.

    Although i had hoped MS would go “hands free”

  5. pirko
    July 21st, 2009 at 7.18pm | #5

    So amongst all this change (new doctor, new companion, new writer, new tardis- which looks like a piggy bank if you ask me- probably new titles etc) will there be ANY continuity from the past era? Im all for change but I think they could be doing too much, too soon. Be good to see river song again though

  6. Mass
    July 21st, 2009 at 7.28pm | #6

    River song isnt continuity for you???

    Or the character of the Doctor, the TARDIS, a sonic screwdriver?

    Just cos its a new production team doesnt mean its not the same show its been for 46 years

  7. cynet
    July 21st, 2009 at 7.43pm | #7

    The new design tardis not a new design but is from the 60’s version of doctor who and seems to be going back from the start which is going to be exciting.

  8. pirko
    July 21st, 2009 at 9.46pm | #8

    meh I’ll reserve judgement until spring next year

  9. TSG
    July 22nd, 2009 at 11.09am | #9

    I have a new idea for the comment a companion could make when they first see the TARDIS. We’ve had “It’s bigger on the outside” and “It’s made of wood” and “What’s a Police Public Call Box?” so how about this:

    “It’s very blue.”

    It is quite bright, isn’t it? I bet it’ll look great in HD.

  10. ToadyX
    July 22nd, 2009 at 1.49pm | #10

    Matt Smith, that new TARDIS, and no doubt the untastefully designed new Sonic Screwdriver are going to completely ruin Doctor Who.

    It’s all gone wrong.

  11. timmins92
    July 22nd, 2009 at 1.52pm | #11

    I have to say that I agree entirely with ToadyX – David Tennant brought class and style to the revamped and new series of Doctor Who – This Matt Smith person we will have to wait and see how he acts. Also, the TARDIS looks awfully bright, almost like LEGO – Bad more there I think :/

  12. TE
    July 22nd, 2009 at 4.09pm | #12

    @ToadyX
    Change never ruins Doctor Who. RTD completely changed aspects of Doctor Who, even bringing in new ideas and did that ruin the programme: no, it did not.

  13. Banjowho
    July 22nd, 2009 at 6.37pm | #13

    Matt Smith is one ugly guy! Tardis looking good though.

  14. Grozz
    July 22nd, 2009 at 6.48pm | #14

    I remember when there was no who after 1989 why dont we wait before judging the actor in the role let alone voicing grumbles before the next series has even been transmitted Steven Moffat has the series best interests at heart lets just see what developes & await transmission of the next series before we comment I think sometimes as fans we think we know best unfortunately this is not the case.

  15. TSG
    July 22nd, 2009 at 10.34pm | #15

    @Grozz
    In total agreement. We don’t even know what this will all be like onscreen! Let’s give them a chance, eh?

  16. Robin
    August 3rd, 2009 at 9.32pm | #16

    I am excited. I hate to see ten go just yet, but it can’t be helped. We’ve had more of him than anyone since four. I’m much more interested now that I’ve seen eleven in constume. It really fits his appearance. He looks like at 1950’s newbie professor and I feel a little tie to doctor two. I’m all for revamp. Some of the past ones have been excellent and they have rarely been bad changes. As companions go, this one is going to have it tough after the last three (some of the strongest ever in my oppinion). I was hoping Riversong would be back before David left, but I’m just happy she’s back. I’m looking forward to MS first full story. Regeneration in more than one way.

  17. timmins92
    August 15th, 2009 at 3.30pm | #17

    I do just want to clarify that in my post, I did write the following:

    “This Matt Smith person we will have to wait and see how he acts”…

    … which supports what everyone else is saying XD

  18. Robert Casey
    August 23rd, 2009 at 6.35pm | #18

    I love it, but i also love coral, but i think that after David i will be ready to change. I love the TARDIS, Karen as Amy looks great and so does Matt. I don’t think that we are having to mutch change. Does anybody know is serise 5 will be called serise one again? Cos i heared it on a spoiler page. I hope they dont!

  19. TSG
    August 23rd, 2009 at 7.37pm | #19

    @Robert Casey
    I don’t think that they feasibly CAN call this series one. RTD and all the others who’ve been interviewed have always called it series five, including Steven Moffat. Furthermore, it’s like when Christopher Eccleston was cast, he was called the Ninth Doctor “because we knew that’s what everyone would call him”. So no, I reckon it’ll stay as our beloved fifth series, a continuation of New Who, and paying tribute to the four series that have brought it to where it is today!

  20. Robert Casey
    August 30th, 2009 at 6.50pm | #20

    Yeah i suppose. I can’t wait it will be brilliant. Matt and Karen will be fantastic.

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