Christian Cawley's Blog, page 109

The PodKast Hears about Mac Hulke at An Afternoon with Terrance Dicks (Part 1)

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

This week’s podKast is a two-part affair. First, we’ve got Michael Herbert offering you a summary of classic Doctor Who writer Mac Hulke’s early career, a great introduction to Michaels pamphlet, “Doctor Who and the Communist” from Five Leaves Bookshop.

Watch out over the weekend for part 2, in which Terrance Dicks recalls Mac Hulke, his one time landlord and friend.

(Now, you’ll notice this is a shorter podKast than usual. Put simply, we had to split it in two for timing purposes!)

Kasterborous PodKast Series 5 Episode 13 Shownotes

Doctor Who and the Communist
An Afternoon with Terrance Dicks
Michael Herbert talks to the podKast

The podKast theme tune is by Russell Hugo.

Listen to the PodKast

There are several ways to listen. In addition to the usual player above, we’re pleased to announce that you can also stream the podKast using Stitcher, an award-winning, free mobile app available for Android and iPhone/iPad. This pretty much means that you can listen to us anywhere without downloading – pretty neat, we think you’ll agree! (Note that it can take a few hours after a new podKast is published to “catch up”.)

Stitcher

Audioboom

What’s more, you can now listen and subscribe to the podKast via our Audioboom channel (formerly Audioboo)! Head to https://audioboom.com/channel/doctorwhopodkast and click play to start listening. You can also comment and record your own boos in response to our discussions! Meanwhile you can use the player below to listen through Audioboom:

You haven’t clicked play yet?! What are you waiting for? As well as our new Stitcher and Audioboo presence you can also use one of these amazingly convenient ways to download and enjoy this week’s podKast.

Use the player in the top right of the Kasterborous home page, or visit the podKast menu link.
Listen with the “pop out” player above, which also allows you to download the podKast to your computer.
You can also take advantage of the RSS feed to subscribe to the podKast for your media player, and even find us on iTunes, where your reviews will help the show considerably.

The post The PodKast Hears about Mac Hulke at An Afternoon with Terrance Dicks (Part 1) appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Richard E Grant as Lothario Duke of Wellington

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

One-time Doctor Who star (The Scream of the Shalka was given official status by the BBC at the time of its announcement) and guest star in The Snowmen and The Name of the Doctor, Richard E. Grant is to star in a new 60 minute drama this weekend telling the story of the Duke of Wellington’s private life.

Grant – who of course played one of the Doctors in Curse of the Fatal Death – plays the legendary military commander as part of the BBC’s plans to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Described as “a revealing biographical drama documentary”, Wellington: The Iron Duke Unmasked will air on Sunday. Says Richard E Grant: “This is a part of European history that I’ve always wanted to know more about. It’s been an honour to be able to play the Duke of Wellington in this dramatic retelling of his personal accounts. I’m thrilled the BBC is commemorating this important part of our history and that I could be a part of it.”

Here’s the synposis:

The Duke of Wellington was the most famous Briton of the first half of the 19th century. His victory over Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 altered the course of history. The hero of Waterloo became a towering figure in British history for both his achievements and for embodying our notions of Britishness – the stiff upper lip, unfussy straightforwardness, incorruptibility in office – he was the Iron Duke.

This new documentary drama will look behind the iron mask and focus on the intriguing complexities of the Duke of Wellington – the man – his character, personality and relationships, told through his own words, and the words of those who knew him best. General, politician, lover, outsider – the programme discovers that the hero of Waterloo was far more complex than his public image.

Drawing on his own vast, private correspondence, as well as the diaries and memoirs of those around him, this biographical film will use dramatic reconstruction to create an intimate portrait of the Duke of Wellington.

Those interested in this pivotal moment of British history might be interested in some other programming highlights marking the anniversary, such as a three-part series about Napoleon presented by historian Andrew Roberts for BBC Two; a new play by Mike Walker for BBC Radio 4 set in the two days running up to the battle, an iWonder guide with a blow-by-blow account of the battle as it happened and Max Cotton presenting Vive l’Empereur! for BBC Radio 4 – a look inside the world of Napoleonic re-enactment, as thousands of men and horses gear up to recreate the Battle of Waterloo this June.

You can catch the hour-long Wellington: The Iron Duke Unmasked on Sunday 10 May, 9pm.

The post Richard E Grant as Lothario Duke of Wellington appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Louise Jameson: Doctor Who Has Made Geekdom Fashionable

Nick Kitchen is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

While we know her best as the savage warrior that came to travel with Tom Baker’s Doctor for a time, Louise Jameson has had a long and varied career that has spanned both the stage and the screen.

As she begins a new run in Noises Off at the Mercury Theatre, journalist Morgan Jeffery caught up with her and captured a lovely snapshot of where the Leela actress currently is in life and career. Here are some of the best parts, especially the bits that have to do with a certain television programme we love and write about.

On modern Doctor Who‘s recognizability:

“I think in its essence, it is [the same show]. It’s almost an anti-hero in the lead, isn’t it? It’s not somebody with great big muscles that’s shagging around, which most heroes are! It’s a sort of geeky, rather eccentric person. Doctor Who has almost single-handedly been able to make geekdom fashionable. Back in my day you had to whisper that you were a Doctor Who fan because it was a kiddies’ series and embarrassing that you found it fascinating, but now with the likes of Mark Gatiss and [Steven] Moffat and all those guys singing its praises…

Evil never wins and it’s very moral and they stand up for the oppressed and it has a sort of left-wing leaning, which of course I love. I think it’s an extraordinary program and it attracts some very challenged brains but it also attracts the most brilliant brains in the land. It’s an eccentric fandom, no question, but I find that fascinating and very engaging – I’m really proud that it’s part of my CV.”

On reprising Leela for Big Finish:

“It’s a joy – because I didn’t get on well with Tom [Baker] back in the day but now we get on brilliantly. It’s been an absolute opportunity to come full circle on that – and I don’t think Leela had finished her run [on the original show] really. Of course, I can’t do it on camera now – but to do it on audio has been incredibly satisfying.”

On her love for the stage:

“I certainly prefer it once it’s up and running. If you asked me on a first night, I’d be saying, ‘No! I want to be doing telly!’ – but once the first night is over… it’s wonderful. But you know… the bank balance doesn’t like it as much! So I’ve always mixed and matched.”

On her brush with plastic surgery:

“I went off for the plastic surgery talk with the consultant and got prodded and pocked and patted – and I paid for what thought was a free consultation. I even set the date for the face-lift – did the whole thing… and then I got a job and another job and then I thought, ‘You know what? I don’t want a facelift anymore, I’m fine.'”

That experience also led to her one lady show that she toured extensively for and did a recorded release of with Big Finish. It’s also of great interest to this writer to know that Big Finish is harnessing her gifts as a writer as well and a Doctor Who audio that she has penned is set for release later this year. She’s also composing a script for an upcoming Survivors audio.

The whole interview, including details on the role in Noises Off can be seen over at Digital Spy.

What do you think, dear readers? Are you digging her continued take on the role of Leela? Have you seen and enjoyed Jameson in a stage production? We want to hear from you!

The post Louise Jameson: Doctor Who Has Made Geekdom Fashionable appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Osgood: Not Dead, Back in Doctor Who Series 9!

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

The BBC has confirmed that dead UNIT scientist Osgood, played by Ingrid Oliver, will return in Doctor Who Series 9, despite having been killed by Missy (Michelle Gomez) in Death in Heaven.

So, what is Steven Moffat’s justification for yet another revival in a universe where death has become meaningless? “Osgood is back, fresh from her recent murder at the end of last series. We recently confirmed that Osgood was definitely dead and not returning – but in a show about time travel, anything can happen. The brilliant Ingrid Oliver is back in action. This time though, can the Doctor trust his number one fan?”

Could it be that the return of Osgood means a second revival of the Zygons? Apparently, yes.

Speaking on set, Ingrid Oliver commented on her return: “As every actor who’s worked on Doctor Who will tell you, there’s always the secret hope you’ll get the call asking you to come back. To actually receive that call is both unexpected and brilliant. The word ‘honour’ gets banded about a lot, but it really is, it’s an honour. Especially because I was so sure Osgood was a gonner after the last series!”

Osgood’s return is currently being filmed in Cardiff, Wales, and is written by Peter Harness (you’ll remember him as the genius behind Kill the Moon, not to mention Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, and episodes of Wallander), produced by Peter Bennett and directed by Daniel Nettheim (Line of Duty, Glue).

Yey. Osgood is back. Someone wake me up when it starts, mmmkay?

The post Osgood: Not Dead, Back in Doctor Who Series 9! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Short Trips: The King of the Dead Out Now!

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Big Finish’s latest Short Trips release, The King of the Dead is out now.

The download-only series continues with the fifth title in the fifth series, appropriately headed by the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison! The story is told by Sarah Sutton aka Nysaa, and is written by Ian Atkins. It pairs the Doctor with Nyssa and Tegan. Here’s its synopsis:

When the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan arrive in 1980s London, they find the current hot ticket is The King of the Dead, an interactive theatre experience they’ve inadvertently become part of. The Doctor settles into his usual role – trying to save the day after discovering an alien presence – but it’s Nyssa who finds herself dealing with someone who is working from a different script entirely…

Directed by Lisa Bowerman, The King of the Dead can be downloaded for £2.99 from Big Finish. And we’ll have a review pretty soon!

The post Short Trips: The King of the Dead Out Now! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Fiction & Non-Fiction Collide in The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Coming soon from BBC Books is The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who “the first official guide to the science of Doctor Who” written by novelist Simon Guerrier and Dr Marek Kukula, the Public Astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

But what’s it all about? And just how are fiction and non-fiction colliding?

Doctor Who stories are many things: thrilling adventures, historical dramas, and science fiction tales. But how much of the science is real? And how much is fiction?

Weaving together authoratitive scientific discussion with a series of new adventures by acclaimed Doctor Who writers including Jenny T Colgan, George Mann and Jacqueline Rayner, Simon Guerrier and Dr Marek Kukula explore the possibilities of time travel, life on other planets, artificial intelligence, parallel universes and more. From the dawn of astronomy and the discovery of gravity to the moon landings and string theory, the authors show how science has inspired Doctor Who, and how, on occasion, life has mirrored art, such as the 1989 discovery of ‘ice-canoes’ on Triton which were featured in the 1973 episode The Planet of the Daleks.

Intense #doctorwho

A photo posted by Kasterborous (@kasterborousdw) on May 2, 2015 at 9:52am PDT

For example, did you know…

The creation of the Cybermen in The Tenth Planet in 1966 was prompted by two American neuroscientists who argued that astronauts’ bodies should be adapted to suit the conditions of space.

The failure of Beagle 2 to land on Mars on Christmas Day 2003 influenced the loss of Guinevere One at the start of The Christmas Invasion.

The many parallel universes that feature in Doctor Who, from Inferno to Rise of the Cybermen are inspired by a reaction to the Schrodinger’s Cat theory: that a new universe is created for each different outcome.

The startling resemblance between Amelia Pond and the Twelfth Doctor and two characters from The Fires of Pompeii isn’t simply due to the actors returning to the series: it might be grounded in science as well.

Time Lords aren’t the only beings able to regenerate – when the turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish gets ill, old, or faces danger, it can return to its childhood state as a polyp.

The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who is released on June 4th and costs just £13.99 from Amazon. We’ll have a review for you soon!

The post Fiction & Non-Fiction Collide in The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Series 8 Soundtrack Preview: An Idiot With A Box!

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

We’ve given you the full track listing for the Series 8 soundtrack, and today, thanks to Silva Screen, here’s a great track as a preview of the triple-CD album!

Called (The Majestic Tale of) An Idiot With A Box, elements of the track accompanied the Twelfth Doctor’s speech at the end of Flatline, but it most prominently appeared in the Series 8 finale, Death in Heaven. But mostly, it’s a more rock ‘n’ roll version of A Good Man? (Twelve’s Theme). And thanks to YouTuber, Vanessa Mostafa, we can hear that track, performed at the Symphonic Spectacular in Sydney, Australia, earlier this year. In fact, it features that aforementioned speech to the Boneless!

It’s an extraordinarily catchy composition, and – dare I say it? – one of the best things about Series 8.

And don’t forget to pre-order the full soundtrack for £12.99 from sites like BBC Shop.

The post Series 8 Soundtrack Preview: An Idiot With A Box! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Peter Davison on Doctor Who Movie Failings and Peter Capaldi’s Club Membership

Jonathan Appleton is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Peter Davison has come down in favour of Steven Moffat’s argument that any Doctor Who movie would have to feature the current Doctor in the lead.

“Yes, undoubtedly it could work, if you could match the special effects,” the Fifth Doctor told Radio Times. If you can sense a ‘but…’ coming you’d be right. “It seems to me that the movie has got to be made with the current Doctor in it, but the difficulty is the movie process is so long.”

“If they were to plan a movie now, then [Peter Capaldi] would have to commit to being in it in two years’ time when it finally came out. A movie with a previous Doctor in it would just be a bit odd, I think.”

Peter goes on to voice scepticism as to whether having a different Doctor could work, and seems to feel that the show’s heavy production schedule would make the logistics of making a movie impossible:

“There was a movie mooted when David was doing it,” says Davison. “It didn’t happen in the end because by the time they had even started to sit down about it David had left.”

Davison is gearing up for presentational duties on the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular, set for a short UK tour this month. Speaking to Xpose he says those lucky enough to have tickets can expect a fun evening:

”We will have a bit of fun with the Daleks and a bit of interaction with Ben Foster who is the wildly enthusiastic conductor of proceedings. I give him a bit of a hard time and insult him a little bit, but we have a lot of fun and the audience join in the spirit of it. It’s not a tough job, it’s a very enjoyable job and I’m very happy to be doing it.”

Elsewhere Peter recounts how he has welcomed current incumbent Peter Capaldi to the exclusive club of actors who’ve played this most coveted of television roles:

”I did get to interview Peter when he was in the middle of making (his first series) which was very interesting. We, the Doctors, do meet each other at fan events and other things – I obviously meet up with some Doctors more than others. It is a very exclusive club that we’re all in.”

”I love him because he’s a big fan of the series. I enjoy his take on it which is, ‘Is the human race actually worth bothering with?’ For the humans it’s like, ‘What have we done to deserve him paying us any attention at all?’ It’s an interesting take on it.”

Read more from Peter Davison at Radio Times and Xpose.

The post Peter Davison on Doctor Who Movie Failings and Peter Capaldi’s Club Membership appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Reviewed: Jago & Litefoot Series 9

Tony Jones is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Those infamous investigators of infernal incidents, Jago & Litefoot, are back for their ninth boxset. Yes ninth! Not bad for a spin-off from a single fourth Doctor story, The Talons of Weng-Chiang, all those decades ago. Trevor Baxter and Christopher Benjamin are in their usual fine form as this time they go on a much needed cruise holiday.

If you don’t know, the Jago & Litefoot series each comprises four CDs plus a fifth packed full of behind the scenes interviews. This series kicks off with The Flying Frenchmen by Jonathan Morris and the good ship Fata Morgana encounters a mysterious fog then a sequence of ever more mysterious ships caught with them in the same worrying weather formation. All very jolly, and also introducing the various passengers and crew while setting up the rest of the series.

Justin Richards (the script editor) wrote two episodes in this series, and the first of these is the next story The Devil’s Dicemen where the Fara Morgana finds itself in Monte Carlo, where Jago takes to the casino. Professor Litefoot makes the acquaintance of Dr Betterman (David Warner) and this is a strong story of dastardly deeds, glamorous women (such as Miranda Raison’s Madam Diabolique) and murder!

The third story is by bafflegab’s Simon Barnard and Paul Morris. Called Island of Death it has shades of Chthulu and Dr Moreau along with more than a few twists and another Frenchman, Victor Bataille (Anthony Howell). In the middle of some very grim circumstances this manages to brim over with humour and is a joy to listen to. The ever versatile Dan Starkey is good value of mild-mannered Neville Tibbs and this story is over too soon.

Finally matters get resolved, mysteries explained and events take the key players back to London and the Red Tavern where barmaid Ellie Higson (played by director Lisa Bowerman) gets a few scenes along with Inspector Quick (Conrad Asquith) as evil is faced, wrongdoers punished and there is still time for a pint.

Fans of this spin-off series need not worry about any lack of momentum, the writing and performances are all spot on and October’s next instalment can’t come too soon!

More so than most, this series would make a good jumping on point for new listeners and we are promised at least two more (plus a few other appearances in specials). Corks!

Jago & Litefoot Series 9 is available to purchase on CD or download now from Big Finish.

The post Reviewed: Jago & Litefoot Series 9 appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Minchin: Missy Not “as you expect” In Doctor Who Series 9

Connor Farley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Doctor Who producer Brian Minchin recently spoke to SFX Magazine (issue 261) on the upcoming Series 9, which is to air in autumn this year.

Of particular interest are Minchin’s observations on how the ‘evil Mary Poppins’ herself, Missy, will be different and not quite as we might expected in the upcoming series…

“Steven had the perfect story. It’s not going to be Missy as you expect her to be. Steven likes to surprise everyone and he’s going to do that with this opening. Missy has an awful lot of sides to her and we’re going to see some new ones in this series. We also learn a bit more about her relationship with the Doctor…”

 

Doctor Who Series 9 Missy Spoiler

It is rumoured that the ‘perfect story’ that Minchin is referring to is to involve the Twelfth Doctor landing on Skaro in the middle of a battlefield, where he is to confront a younger, child-like Davros, the creator of the Doctor’s biggest villains the Daleks. Davros is then to take the Twelfth Doctor hostage and it is the job of Missy and Clara to save him from the impossible nightmare he is in.

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Beyond this spoiler, speculation has been rife this year about exactly what Missy’s role in Doctor Who Series 9 will be; there have even been claims that she could be the next companion, although opinion is split among fans as to how this might work out… You may also have heard speculation of her simply being there to help the Doctor find Gallifrey, which is what he wants the most. Then there is probably the most grounded and likely speculation of her simply being the main villain to the Twelfth Doctor again.

After all, even Steven Moffat said himself earlier this year that Missy would be as evil as she was before.

It is not yet known how many episodes the new female Master will feature in. However, we can apparently expect to see Michelle Gomez reprise her role as Missy in the two part series finale, alongside her appearance in The Magician’s Apprentice and The Witch’s Familiar.

How would you like Missy to be represented in Doctor Who Series 9? Comment down below…

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