This Week On Doctor Who – 06 – 12 – 10

What lurks beneath the surface? Photo copyright of the BBC

SPOILER ALERT!! – The Doctor (Matt Smith) sets out to take Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) to Rio, but the TARDIS has other plans and materializes in 2020 Wales, where our heroes stumble upon an operation to drill down into the Earth’s crust. In doing so, however, humankind gets more than it bargains for, and the Time Lord comes face to face once again with an old acquaintance, the Silurians. The Hungry Earth airs Saturday, June 12th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America. 

The Doctor (Matt Smith), Nasreen Chaudhry (Meera Syall), Amy (Karen Gillan) and Tony Mack (Robert Pugh). Photo copyright of the BBC

Silurian Alaya (Neve McIntosh). Photo copyright of the BBC

Alaya (Neve McIntosh) and The Doctor (Matt Smith). Photo copyright of the BBC

As noted above, all photos copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Doctor Who – 06 – 05 – 10

Karen Gillan (as Amy Pond) and Matt Smith (as The Doctor) in Doctor Who. Photo copyright of the BBC

SPOILER ALERT!! It’s been five years since Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) last travelled with the Doctor (Matt Smith), and when he lands in her garden again, on the eve of the birth of her first child, she finds herself facing a heartbreaking choice – one that will change her life forever. Amy’s Choice airs Saturday, June 5th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America. 

Rory (Arthur Darvill) and Amy (Karen Gillan) share a kiss. Photo copyright of the BBC

What nefarious plans does the Dream Lord (Toby Jones) have in store for our heroes? Photo copyright of the BBC

Seems that the Dream Lord's plans include the local villagers! Photo copyright of the BBC

As noted above, all photos copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

The Week On Doctor Who – 05 – 23 – 10

The Doctor (Matt Smith) finds all is not well when he and his companions travel back to 16th century Venice. Photo copyright of the BBC

SPOILER ALERT!! – Desiccated corpses, terror in the canals and a visit to the sinister House of Calvierri – not things you would see on your typical Top Ten List of Things To Do When Visiting Venice, but they are what await Amy (Karen Gillan) and her husband-to-be Rory (Arthur Darvill) when the Doctor (Matt Smith) whisks them off in the TARDIS to 16th century Italy for a romantic mini-break. They discover that the city of Venice has been sealed to protect it from the plague, although Rosanna Calvierri (Helen McCrory) has other plans. The Vampires of Venice airs Saturday, May 23rd @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

The streets of Venice appear to be filled with some not-so-friendly locals. Photo copyright of the BBC

Rory (Arthur Darvill) and Amy (Karen Gillan) stumble into danger! Photo copyright of the BBC

Vampires...or something far worse? Photo copyright of the BBC

The Doctor must once again hope that Amy will put her trust in him. Photo copyright of the BBC

As noted above, all photos copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Doctor Who – 05 – 15 -10

The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Amy (Karen Gillan) try to figure out how to deal with the Weeping Angels. Photo copyright of the BBC

SPOILER ALERT!! – Surrounded by the Weeping Angels, the Doctor (Matt Smith), Amy (Karen Gillan), River Song (Alex Kingston) and their military colleagues are forced to make their way through the twisted maze of the crashed space liner in an effort to escape. Meanwhile, in the forest vault, Amy faces an horrific danger that could abruptly cut short her time as the Doctor’s new companion…or worse. Flesh and Stone airs Saturday, May 15th @ 9:oo p.m. EST/PST on BBC America. 

River Song (Alex Kingston), The Doctor and Amy manage to locate the control room of the crashed star liner. Photo copyright of the BBC

Father Octavian (Iain Glen) and his remaining troops do their best to provide some protection for the Doctor and River as they try to help Amy. Photo copyright of the BBC

As noted above, all photos copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Doctor Who – 05 – 08 – 10

The mysterious River Song (Alex Kingston) returns this week on Doctor Who. Photo copyright of the BBC

SPOILER ALERT!! – If you thought the Weeping Angels were gone forever, then be afraid, very afraid, and make sure not to blink, because they’re back! The Doctor (Matt Smith) is recruited by Father Octavian (Iain Glen) to track down the last of the Weeping Angels, but in order to do this, the Time Lord must traverse the Maze of the Dead. Also making a return appearance is River Song (Alex Kingston), a woman from the Doctor’s future who audiences first met in the season four episode Silence in the Library. Back then she risked her life to help save his, but can she be trusted now? The Time of Angels airs Saturday, May 8th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Amy (Karen Gillan) and The Doctor (Matt Smith) inside the TARDIS. Photo copyright of the BBC

A somber arrival for The Doctor. Photo copyright of the BBC

Amy, The Doctor and River Song. Photo copyright of the BBC

Is there something lurking in the shadows and waiting for The Doctor? Photo copyright of the BBC

What has surprised River Song? Photo copyright of the BBC

Have The Doctor and Father Octavian (Iain Glen) discovered something? Photo copyright of the BBC

As noted above, all photos copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Doctor Who – 05 – 01 – 10

Guess who's back this week on Doctor Who? Photo copyright of the BBC

SPOILER ALERT!! – The Doctor (Matt Smith) receives an urgent call from an old friend, Winston Churchill (Ian McNeice), but when he materializes the TARDIS inside the Cabinet War Rooms during the London Blitz, the Time Lord and his companion Amy (Karen Gillan) find his oldest adversary waiting in the shadows as well. Victory of the Daleks airs Saturday, May 1st @ 9:00 p.m. EST on BBC America. 

Amy (Karen Gillan) and The Doctor (Matt Smith) deep below the streets of London in the Cabinet War Rooms. Photo copyright of the BBC

Ian McNeice as Winston Churchill. Photo copyright of the BBC

Amy, Dr. Bracewell (Bill Paterson), The Doctor and...a Dalek! Photo copyright of the BBC

A Dalek, Dr. Bracewell and The Doctor. Photo copyright of the BBC

Churchill stares down a Dalek. Photo copyright of the BBC

As noted above, all photos copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Doctor Who – Behind The Scenes

Amy (Karen Gillan) and The Doctor inside the TARDIS. Photo copyright of the BBC

BBC America has released some behind-the-scenes photos taken during the shooting of Matt Smith’s debut as The Doctor. Photos follow – enjoy! 

Shooting a scene inside young Amelia's house. Photo copyright of the BBC

Leading up to the "infamous" fish fingers and custard scene. Photo copyright of the BBC

The final showdown at the hospital. Photo copyright of the BBC

The revamped TARDIS interior; but which door leads to the swimming pool? Photo copyright of the BBC

As noted above, all photos copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Doctor Who’s Matt Smith, Elisabeth Sladen And Katy Manning Team Up On The Sarah Jane Adventures

Doctor Who companions Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and Jo Grant (Katy Manning) are back! Photo copyright of the BBC

THE BBC have announced that former Doctor Who series regular Katy Manning will reprise her role of companion Jo Grant in upcoming episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures. Manning, who appeared with the Third Doctor ( Jon Pertwee) in the original Doctor Who series, will guest-star opposite the current reigning Time Lord, Matt Smith (the Eleventh Doctor) and Sarah Jane’s leading lady, Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith) in a brand-new adventure of the hit BBC series written by executive producer Russell T Davies and scheduled to air in the UK this autumn.   

Click on the following link to go to the BBC Press Office and then click on the Sarah Jane news headline (released on April 19th, 2010) under “Top Stories” to read the official press release – http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/  

As noted above, photo copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Piers Wenger And Beth Willis Talk About Doctor Who

No rest for the weary Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) in his first adventure, The Eleventh Hour. Photo copyright of the BBC

This is the last of four BBC America press interviews with Doctor Who cast and crew, counting down to the premiere of the show’s new season on BBC America, April 17th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST. Enjoy!  

Piers Wenger and Beth Willis have taken on executive producer duties, alongside Steven Moffat, from the outgoing Doctor Who team of Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner. Here they reveal the challenges they have faced with taking on such a hugely successful series and why it’s so important for Doctor Who to evolve. 

“It has definitely been a big challenge taking on this show because we love it so much and why tinker with something that has been as popular, successful and brilliant as it has been?” says executive producer Beth Willis. “But at the same time we are terribly aware we have to look forward and work out how the show is going to survive in the future. In 2005, the team looked at what was fresh and new then and we have to do a bit of that ourselves. Looking at the episodes we’ve filmed so far, we’re starting to see the impact of those changes; what the team has managed to achieve is pretty thrilling.” 

Fellow executive producer and Head of Drama for BBC Wales, Piers Wenger, agrees and adds: “The thing which is most important to us is telling a good story at the end of the day; that’s always the thing the audience is going to be most demanding about. Beyond that, any changes we have made have been motivated by giving the show the best production values money can buy. It’s the nation’s favorite, and that means it deserves the best.” 

The advances in technology over the past five years have inevitably enabled the program makers to use more sophisticated techniques and create awe-inspiring visual effects. However, a new lead writer and Doctor are undoubtedly what viewers will feel mark the dawn of a new era for the hit series. 

“The fact that we have Steven Moffat [executive producer] writing it and Matt Smith [The Doctor] starring in it gives the show an inevitable element of change,” explains Willis. “However, the one thing that hasn’t made us scared about this change was reading Steven’s scripts. I feel deeply honored and excited to be in a position to be working with such great scripts. It doesn’t really matter what color you use, where the camera is or how you position a light; Steven and Matt are brilliant, which has made mine and Piers’ jobs much easier.” 

Renowned as the most dedicated and passionate fans in the world, it seems Whovians certainly have a lot to look forward to. But would Wenger and Willis consider themselves part of the loyal following? 

“Steven, myself and Piers were some of the most excited people in the country when we found out Doctor Who was coming back in 2005. Well, in truth, Steven was probably the most excited, but Piers and I weren’t that far behind him!” laughs Willis. 

“I’ve always been a fan and I was even accused at the age of eight of shoplifting a copy of Doctor Who Magazine from my local newsagents – completely wrongly I hasten to add,” confesses Wenger. “I was accused of it probably because I was in there all the time reading them!” 

As noted above, photo is copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Karen Gillan Talks About Doctor Who

Karen Gillan As Doctor Who's Amy Pond. Photo copyright of the BBC

This is the third of four BBC America press interviews with Doctor Who cast and crew, counting down to the premiere of the show’s new season on BBC America, April 17th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST. Enjoy!  

The regenerations of the Doctor are a staple part of the mythology of Doctor Who, but across the past five decades there has been another constant in the series; the changing faces of the companion. Now Karen Gillan, born in Inverness, Scotland, becomes the latest actress to join the Doctor in the TARDIS. Here she discusses landing the enviable role, the production team’s continued use of secret anagrams (Torchwood was an anagram used for labeling Doctor Who tapes on older seasons) and making her mother cry…  

“It was one of the strangest experiences ever; it was a really weird feeling,” exclaims Karen Gillan about her casting as Amy Pond. “I found out on the day of my second audition with Matt Smith (the Doctor), so at least I didn’t have a really long wait. It just didn’t feel real, and I couldn’t believe it!”  

But auditioning for Doctor Who is unlike any other audition for the excitable, down-to-earth actress. “I knew that the audition was for the part of the Companion, but I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about it. They even had a code name for the role because it was so top-secret. The code name was ‘Panic Moon;’ an anagram of Companion, which I thought was really clever.” 

Even after Gillan discovered she had been cast as Amy Pond, the veil of secrecy was not lifted.  

“I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone that I got the part, but my boyfriend was with me when I found out, so there was rather a lot of screaming! I decided not to tell my parents as I didn’t want to spoil the surprise, but when I finally did tell them, I made a special day of it and my mom took a day off work. She just couldn’t believe it when I told her. She was doing the dishes and she literally stopped in her tracks and cried. She’s a huge fan of the show and has been for years. She even has Dalek bubble bath at home!”  

Part of the interest in Gillan was due to her being a relative newcomer to the industry, so how would she explain her life so far to the public?  

“I’m from Inverness in Scotland, right up in the Highlands. When I was 16 I moved to Edinburgh to study acting and stayed there for a year, then at 17 I decided to move to London to continue my acting career,” she reveals. “I also did a little bit of modeling for two years, which I enjoyed. I met some great people and it was a really fantastic experience.”  

Amy comes face-to-face with a less-than friendly extraterrestrial. Photo copyright of the BBC

Since Doctor Who‘s return in 2005, there have been a number of memorable Companions for the Doctor. How does Gillan feel Amy compares to those who have gone before?  

“Well, for a start, Steven Moffat [executive producer] has written a brilliant character. I do think Amy is different from previous Companions because she’s very equal to the Doctor. She doesn’t take his word as gospel and she’s always happy to challenge him. If he tells her to do something, she won’t necessarily do it. Amy might go off and do her own thing, which can sometimes create a rift between the two of them! They are best pals, though, and it’s a very up and down relationship because they are both very passionate people.”  

So is it fair to say that we will see some conflict between Amy and the Doctor?  

“The Doctor is definitely an Alpha make and Amy is an Alpha female, so when they meet, they combust. They have quite a turbulent relationship, but it’s also really passionate and they care about each other. Amy can really hold her own against him and Steven’s written some great one-liners. It’s a great relationship.”  

And Gillian feels that Matt Smith as the youngest actor to play the Doctor, has risen admirably to the challenge.  

“I think Steven said it perfectly; Matt manages to be old and young at the same time,” explains Gillan. “That’s the great thing about the Doctor; he has the energy and mischief of a young child as well as the wisdom, age and intelligence of someone a lot older. Also, with Matt’s performance in particular, he’s so believable that he isn’t human. He has all these things that he does that make you really believe he’s an alien or a Time Lord, and you’re drawn in by that.”  

The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Amy (Karen Gillan) - a combustible twosome and a perfectly matched team. Photo copyright of the BBC

As noted above, all photos copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!