Christian Cawley's Blog, page 234

Tennant “Not Sexy”, Barrowman’s Face Off & TARDIS Recap

Andrew Reynolds 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.

Go on my child, peer into the eye of harmony and absorb…the latest Doctor Who news! Yes, that’s right! Get ready for another Kasterborous News Blast which, amongst its superabundance of fact and nonsense, includes geek crushes, powerless Lords, a bit of TARDIS stroking and the perks of being Captain Jack Harkness.

David Tennant: “Not Sexy” Said BBC

Not sexy?  Not sexy!?!

Okay, it’s not going to top ‘It’s unsinkable’ but it’s hard to imagine BBC executives of today making a similar worried proclamations regarding everyone’s favourite geek crush David Tennant. Hindsight is a beautiful thing…

Speaking at the Hay Festival, Steven Moffat said that the BBC was initially wary of stars David Tennant and Benedict Cumberbatch:

They said of casting David Tennant as Casanova, ‘Damn, you should have cast someone sexier. With Benedict Cumberbatch, we were told the same thing. ‘You promised us a sexy Sherlock, not him.’

It follows on from comments made earlier this month about the Doctor’s looks, saying he preferred actors who were ‘utterly compelling, attractive in a very odd way.’

He added:

I always thought Matt [Smith], while a very young man, had something of the demeanour of a much older man, whereas Peter [Capaldi] is a man in his 50s but is terribly boyish and young at times … I like the doctors to have mixed messages about what age they are – you can’t really pin them down.

Can A Time Lord Help An Actual Lord? A Lord of Drama!

Hoping to follow in Doctor Who’s footsteps, Lord Fellowes has rung the chamber bell and requested that the powers that be come and simultaneously broadcast the period drama, Downton Abbey around the world, less they feel the back of his cane!

Speaking to The Mandrake, Julian Fellowes said he had been inspired by the innovations made by Doctor Who:

The BBC have shown it can be done because they did it with Doctor Who so all this talk that it’s impossible is wrong. I don’t mean exactly the same time so people have to stay up all night but instead the same day in order for everyone to have a chance to watch it.

Still, even Lord Fellowes doubts he has enough ‘sway’ to bring about the changes:

I don’t have enough sway to choose my own clothes. It’s what I’d like but who cares what I think.

Last Time In The TARDIS…

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if those ‘next time’ trailers summarised forthcoming events by giving you a little guide into the history of Doctor Who – imagine the next time the Daleks loom on the horizon, the trailer cut across space and time, showing you every battle, every close escape and every moment of heartbreak from all the Doctors?

That’s quite the gauntlet to cast hastily to the floor but imagine the goose bumps!

With that in mind, how about a little potted history of the Doctor and his most important companion of all, the TARDIS, in this, a stirring, fan made ‘coming soon’ trailer designed to be aired just before last year’s Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS.

Pretty impressive, right?

John Barrowman’s Face Off

There are many perks to being Captain Jack Harkness; not only do you get to be a polysexual, military coat wearing force for good, but you also occasional get sweet hosting gigs on shows with horrifying sounding names.

That’s right, John Barrowman will be taking on hosting duties on ABC’s Sing Your Face Off – a show that comes loaded with the promise of contestants literally shearing their own faces off with the power of their ballads – a promise it spectacularly fails to deliver.

No, rather its host of celebrity singers trade faces; performing as some of the world’s most recognisable icons through the alchemy of make-up and mimicry – so it’s kind of like John Carpenter’s Stars in Their Eyes.

The UK version was called Your Face Sounds Familiar which as a title works a thousand times more if you imagine it being said by Colombo.

Speaking about his legacy as a defender of the galaxy, Barrowman said he has no problem with being known as Captain Jack:

Some people only know me as Captain Jack from Doctor Who and I have absolutely no problem with that. Getting the role of Captain Jack a dozen years ago was a dream come true. As an actor, a role like Captain Jack can change your life.

Jack has opened up so many other doors for me.

The talent lined up for this series includes Jon Lovitz as Elton John and Luciano Pavarotti; Sebastian Bach as Adam Levine and Lady Gaga and Lisa Rinna as Dolly Parton and Britney Spears.

Sing Your Face Off airs 9 p.m. May 31 on ABC. Miss it.

More Alternative Doctor Who Titan Comic Covers

Finally, Jetpack Comics are one of several retailers dedicated to the Phantom Variant Project – a shadowy cabal of retailer working together to produce limited edition exclusive comics designed to create a buzz between retailers and fans alike – and what’s more, they have a set of fabulous Doctor Who Tenth and Eleventh Doctor variant sets available for pre-order now.

Limited to a thousand copies each, both sets come with the regular cover, a sub cover, the variant and a blank cover for sketching your own Doctor Who comic cover!

Head over to Jetpack Comics now for a full breakdown of each set.

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Doctor Who Magazine 474 Reveals Biggest Poll Ever Results!

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.

Doctor Who Magazine readers have voted in their thousands, giving their votes for all 241 Doctor Who television stories, and now, at last, the results can be revealed…

Which classic twentieth-century story hits the Top Five for the first time ever?
Which adventure shoots up the list to become the top story of the Second Doctor’s era?
Which two recurring monsters see their every appearance land inside the Top 75?
Which two Doctors find an incredible 50% of their stories inside the top third of the poll?
Which adventure will be voted the greatest Doctor Who story of all time?

The answers to these questions and much, more, as DWM celebrates the Top 10 stories of each decade, from the 1960s to the 2010s – and gives the ultimate chart placing of each and every one of the Doctor’s 241 adventures to date!

Also in this issue:

Showrunner Steven Moffat writes his exclusive column for the magazine.
The thrilling conclusion to the final Eleventh Doctor comic strip, The Blood of Azrael.
The Time Team watch 2008′s The Doctor’s Daughter.
Jacqueline Rayner reveals how Doctor Who can cause family tension in Relative Dimensions.
The Watcher looks back at Doctor Who polls of the past in Wotcha!
Previews of all the latest merchandise.
Reviews of the latest CDs, and books.
Prize-winning competitions, the DWM crossword and more!

The bumper-sized, 100-page Doctor Who Magazine 474 – with 16 extra pages and a souvenir gatefold cover! – is on sale from Thursday 29 May, at the usual price of £4.99.

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Pertwee-Esque Location Shots, Female Doctors & Lego Departures

Drew Boynton 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.

Quicker than a speeding TARDIS… it’s the Kasterborous News Blast, covering all of the Doctor Who news from all over the globe…and beyond! Today’s plethora of informational excitement includes Steven Moffat riffing on the “female Doctor” debate, Mark Gatiss’s happiness for Frank Skinner, two more Series 8 filming pics, and a heartfelt fundraiser involving the late Paul Spragg.

Pertwee-Esque Capaldi In Doctor Who Location Shooting

Dan Davidson Photography has posted on their Twitter page two photos of the Doctor Who crew filming on Aberthaw Beach in Wales.  The two photos, one of just the TARDIS on the beach and the other of a very-distant-but-very-Pertwee-esque Peter Capaldi, were posted by Davidson just the other day.  It’s unclear if the rocky, white-stoned beach will actually be Welsh beach in the story… or a mysterious alien one, perhaps?

Peter Capaldi reading his lines on location at Aberthaw Beach today #doctorwho #series8 #dwsr pic.twitter.com/JhsNm2mqee

— Dan Davidson (@DanDavidson82) May 26, 2014

The Tardis spotted at Aberthaw Beach this morning #doctorwho #series8 #dwsr pic.twitter.com/EFWUMu56mi

— Dan Davidson (@DanDavidson82) May 26, 2014

Steven Moffat: Female Doctor Not A “Political Decision”

The showrunner extraordinaire was at the Hay Festival and took questions from the audience.  It was only a matter of time before the “female Doctor” question was asked (as it always seems to be) and Moffat answered the question in a refreshingly direct manner, as recounted in The Telegraph.

“When that person [the perfect candidate to be the next Doctor] is a woman, that’s the day it will happen.”

He also said that it will rely on the mix of a showrunner and casting, but shouldn’t just be a political or ratings-based decision.

Mark Gatiss Loves Frank Skinner

Writer/actor/man-of-all-Who-ness Mark Gatiss recently told The Sun (via Yahoo News) that he is very happy to have actor and comedian Frank Skinner in an episode of the upcoming eighth series.

“I’m delighted he’ll be in the show.  He’s a very good actor and a huge fan.”

It is still unknown what part Skinner will be playing, although it’s said to be suited to his talents.  Skinner is widely known to be a die-hard Whovian, and even appeared in last year’s The Five-ish Doctors Reboot in a small cameo as a Dalek operator.

Big Finish: Make Charity Donations To Remember Paul Spragg

Many, many people were shocked by the sudden recent passing (on 8 May) of Big Finish stalwart Paul Spragg.  On the Big Finish News page, the audio adventures company has said that anyone wishing to make a charitable donation in memory of Spragg may now do so, as they have set up a Just Giving page.  The Spragg family has chosen the British Heart Foundation as recipient for the donations.

Campbell-Jones Welcomes A McGann Spin-Off

Emma Campbell-Jones, seen briefly in the opening scenes of 2013′s Night of the Doctor as Cass, told Flicks & The City that she would love to see Paul McGann return to the role of the Eighth Doctor.  And she would like to come back as Cass, as well… but didn’t that spunky space heroine get blown up?

“I know that Cass has died but with time travel [anything is possible] and also they don’t actually definitively say that she’s definitely dead. So there’s a tiny window of opportunity. You never know. Ultimately Cass just needs to see he’s the good Doctor. She’s only just met him and has come from a world that has been torn apart by the Time Lords and their nefarious antics.”

The First Doctor And Susan Part Ways… In Lego!

A well-made YouTube video by JakeAnimation Studios features the glorious two minutes from 1964′s Dalek Invasion of Earth wherein the Doctor says goodbye to his granddaughter Susan.  Well, the clip uses the actual dialogue heard in the episode, but subs in animated Lego characters for the actors.  The clip runs just a bit shy of two minutes, is in brilliant black and white, and finally lets us see the famous “One day I shall come back…” speech in all it’s Lego glory!

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Revealed At Last: Doctor Who Could Have Ended In 2008

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.

Could Doctor Who have ended in 2008? It sounds unlikely but that’s the intriguing alternate reality floated by showrunner Steven Moffat, who says there was a very real possibility that the programme could have been canned with the departure of David Tennant.

Speaking at the Hay Festival he said:

“David owned that role in a spectacular way, gave it an all-new cheeky sexy performance and became a national treasure. And he didn’t do it instantly, he did it over time. So the idea that Doctor Who could go on at all in the absence of David was a huge question.”

“I didn’t realise how many people thought it wouldn’t succeed at all. That was quite terrifying when I found out about it later. I think there were plans maybe to consider ending it. It was Russell T Davies saying, you are not allowed to end it.”

On the face of it, the notion that Doctor Who could have ended in 2008 or 2009 seems fanciful. The first three series of the revived show had been a storming success, rounded out with 2007′s Christmas special Voyage of the Damned achieving an audience figure of 13.3million. Russell T Davies The Writer’s Tale confirms that the BBC were ‘desperate for a Series 5 as soon as possible’ when the idea was floated to have a year of special episodes in 2009, and he writes of some bafflement high up in the organisation at the thought of any production hiatus when they had such a hit on their hands.

Against that, before the news broke that there wouldn’t be a full series in 2009 there were rumours online that the programme would be coming to an end. Perhaps Moffat’s comments reflect the uncertainty and gossip that people connected to the programme were encountering? We’ll probably have to wait for a Moffat-authored Writer’s Tale to find out more. And it’s important to note that his remarks are very much from his point of view and qualified with a fair amount of caution.

The more interesting question is surely this: if Doctor Who had bowed out at the close of the Tenth Doctor’s era, how would it have ended? There are different possibilities depending on when the axe had fallen… If we take the close of Series 4 as our imaginary endpoint that means Journey’s End, with its roll-call of companions from Series 1-4, would have been a particularly apt title. Not such a bad note to end on, really – the Doctor’s friends all do their bit to save the world from Davros and the Daleks, and Rose pairing up with the other Doctor would have left a whole new universe of possibilities for fan fiction….

Or if we’re to take it that The End of Time would also have been The End of the Series, that means the Doctor would have bowed out due to… well, maybe that massive dose of radiation in the Gate’s isolation chamber? Or would he have been forced to sacrifice himself to ensure he sent Rassilon ‘back into hell’? Or perhaps he would have just died of old age on that very extensive farewell tour, saying goodbye to his old pals?

All of this is fun and frippery, of course. Doctor Who didn’t end in 2008, just as it didn’t end in 1989. The people who love the programme saw to that. The one thing we can be sure of is that, even if the series had been cancelled or suspended with the departure of David Tennant, the fans would have kept it going in some form, whether that be comics, magazines, audios, online episodes… That’s the most important lesson to take from any of the attempts to cancel Doctor Who – the fans just won’t go along with it.

What do you think? Say Moffat is correct that the show might have ended – what would have been the impact? Demonstrations in the streets? Tenth Doctor stories from Big Finish? A re-release of Doctor in Distress? Let us know!

dreamhost reviews

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PodKast Time: Doctor Who Teasers, Gallifrey Dreams & eBay

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.

It’s the full podKast team this week as Christian Cawley, James McLean and Brian Terranova look at the recent news and discussions in the world of Doctor Who. We’ve got chat and speculation about Series 8 and the role of the volcanic island of Lanzarote, a return to the podKast for The Horns of Nimon, speculation on Colin Baker’s possible casting in the new Star Wars movie and the curious film reel of The Wheel In Space episode 3 that appeared on eBay this week.

If all of that wasn’t enough, we also get sidetracked on several occasions, not least by the difference in names of toys and TV shows between the UK and USA, and in what may become a weekly thing, Christian manages to squeeze a mention of his favourite group Led Zeppelin into the podKast.

Hit play to get started!

Kasterborous PodKast Series 4 Episode 16 Shownotes

James McLean guests on We Came From The Basement podcast
Action Man helicopter backpack, Bionic Man toy, Boss Cat/Top Cat
Doctor Who Series 8 teaser trailer

Horns of Nimon TARDIS SFX


Doctor Who returns to Lanzarote announcement
EBay Film Reel of The Wheel In Space
eBay Public Service Announcement: CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD
Colin Baker in Star Wars?

Doctor Who links with Star Wars
David Tennant’s accent in Gracepoint
Star Wars anime on YouTube
Harvest of Time by Alistair Reynolds, The Wheel of Ice by Stephen Baxter, The Coming of the Terraphiles by Michael Moorcock Doctor Who books.
Doctor Who: Dead London by Pat Mills


Changes to Kasterborous news pages
Kasterborous Magazine #2
Dominic Glynn Gallifrey Mixes
“I Will Find You (Gallifrey Dreams)” by Space Elevator free download
“Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin
Recommendations:

Brian: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Amazing Spider-Man 2
James: Life on Mars Series 2
Christian: The Shakespeare Notebooks, Fifty Years in Time and Space by Frank Danes

The Kasterborous PodKast theme tune is arranged by Russell Hugo. He’s pretty talented, wouldn’t you say?

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”.)

What’s more, you can now listen and subscribe to the podKast via our Audioboo channel! Head to http://audioboo.fm/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 Audioboo:

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!

 

The post PodKast Time: Doctor Who Teasers, Gallifrey Dreams & eBay appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Enjoy “I Will Find You (Gallifrey Dreams)” By Space Elevator Free!

Danny_Weasel 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.

You may never have heard the name ‘Space Elevator’ before, but I think that you will be hearing a lot more about them in the future, and we have an exclusive gift from the band for our wonderful readers!

Made up from some pretty big names from the music world including legendary bassist Neil Murray (who has worked with Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Brian May, Gary Moore and many more besides), along with artists who have not only worked with acts like The Who and George Benson but also have worked together on London’s West End  production of We Will Rock You.

Their lead singer, the Duchess, is a big fan of the show and believes that the creatures still stand up against any of the CGI beasties that Hollywood has to offer and adores Matt Smith stating that  “[he] was really cool… how else could he pull off wearing a bow tie, a fez, being James Cordon’s lodger and attacking Daleks with Jammie Dodgers? She also seems not to be the only one in the music business who is a big time whovian.

“You will find a lot of music artists are fans, like Brian May of Queen, Noel Gallagher, Toyah Wilcox, Meatloaf, Marc Almond, Bruce Dickinson and bet you didn’t know that the Tardis appears on a couple of Iron Maiden sleeves…Pink Floyd used the Dr Who theme on [the track] “One Of These Days””

Clearly a subject close to her heart, the Duchess has had a crush on the Time Lord for a long time and that lead to the writing of the special track ‘I will find you (Gallifrey Dreams)’

“The song was written during the 50th anniversary and it speaks to anyone who has that one special person in their life who they have lost but can’t ever forget.”

She has convinced the band to allow the song to be exclusively downloaded free by four of her favourite fan sites, which includes Kasterborous. This is a huge deal for the band because although their album is readily available in record stores, the band do not allow their music to be downloaded!  She added, “I had to fight tooth and nail

for this within the band but I believe it’s worth it!”

Download Your Free Copy Of “I Will Find You (Gallifrey Dreams)”

To get the exclusive track all you need do is go to the link here www.spaceelevatorband.com/mp3-download and input the password ‘Gallifrey’ and your e-mail address and the song can be instantly downloaded.

The accompanying video, which was created using some of the most tear jerking clips from the Tennant and Piper era of the show fits so well with the track even I found myself getting a little emotional, and I’m not a big fan of Rose (I always preferred Martha… and cue the hate mail).

As always the final word goes to you, dear reader. What do you make of this track? Will Space Elevator be jumping onto your wishlists, has the video made lead you to set up an all day series two marathon (yeah, me too) leave us your comments as always and enjoy your exclusive freebie.

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Review: Doctor Who Humble Bundle Collection

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.

This is one impressive bundle.

Over 80 digital Doctor Who comics are available via Humble Bundle; that’s from the beginning of IDW’s 2008- 13 run, right up until the end, concluding with their 50th anniversary celebration, The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who. And you can access them via your PC, tablet or mobile. Furthermore, you pay what you want, and that money goes to charity.

Six years of storytelling, right at your fingertips.

Frankly, I’m a bit blown away.

You get a URL, save it to your email for forever and a day, and that takes you to your own page. Once there, you can access each volume as a PDF, High-Def PDF, e-Pub, or Mobile version. But with so many (assuming you’ve paid at least $15 and unlocked the whole package), where do you start?  With your favourite Doctor, or your favourite companion; with the 50th anniversary celebrations or with the one-shots? You could always read them in the order in which they were released:

Agent Provoateur;

The Forgotten;

Through Time and Space;

Vol. 1: Fugitive;

Vol. 2: Tesseract;

Vol. 3: Final Sacrifice;

Series 2, Vol. 1, 2, 3 & 4;

A Fairytale Life;

Series 3, Vol. 1, 2, 3 & 4;

Prisoners of Time Vol. 1, 2 & 3;

The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who.

Of course, downloading speeds depend on… a lot. You can get it all through the internet, whether you’re on Kindle Fire, iDevice or simple computer. Viewing the normal PDF editions on an iPad took a long time; viewing the HD PDFs on my PC was, naturally, simple and a bit quicker – presuming you’re not going to suddenly skip 50 pages or something. (If you want to get them on a tablet or iDevice, it can be a bit of a kerfuffle: you need to load in an app – Comic Flow, for example – and transfer the files when you connect your device to your computer. It’s worth it in the end though.)

The HD really is cool, especially if you’re a fan of beautiful art. Take Mark Buckingham or Tommy Lee Edwards’ covers: they’re stunning things. If people weren’t oddly conceited, comic art would be widely recognised as masterpieces.

Elsewhere, the artwork varies. I won’t highlight particular artists whose work I don’t regard that highly, but Matthew Dow Smith and Kelly Yates’ art is wonderful; very stylised, admittedly, but it just works. And that’s what you want from a comic.

The stories come from a great range of writers too – Tony Lee most notably, but also Paul Cornell (Father’s Day; Human Nature/ The Family of Blood) and Andy Diggle (The Losers; Daredevil) – but the tone is consistent with both the comic run and the TV series, a great achievement considering the differences between Who in, say, 2009 and 2010.

The highlight, perhaps, is Prisoners of Time, IDW’s full-on celebratory series featuring Eleven Doctors. I previously reviewed #1 and the series continues in the same manner; reading brand new comics for all the Doctors is a joy. Some surprising enemies rear their heads and, just like the rest of the comic company’s run, references to TV adventures and in-jokes abound. In that way, it risks going into fanfic territory – exploring threads that arguably didn’t need further exploration – but that depends on the reader.

Humble Bundle presents all issues in graphic novel form, meaning you also get all the lovely layouts as well as bonus content like artists galleries. That’s extra bang for your buck, but on the negative side, the digital comics struggle to compensate for double-page spreads: at best, you have to figure out which page the story continues on; at worst, it cuts up glorious pieces of art.

Still, that’s a minor fault considering the wealth of content on offer. It really is an impressive sight and should entertain any Whovian until Series 8 airs.

Humble Bundle’s Doctor Who pay-what-you-like offer runs until May 28, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. PDT.

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Gillan’s Experience, Fourth Doctor Series Complete & Capaldi Meets Capaldi?

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.

Welcome to the very first edition of the Kasterborous News Blast, where you’ll find one concise place to see all of the interesting things happening in and around the world of Doctor Who. Today’s roundup will find some news on former companion Karen Gillan, a couple interesting tidbits on new Doctor Peter Capaldi, and much more. Let’s get started, shall we?

Karen Gillan: Doctor Who Experience A Plus In Hollywood

Speaking with What’s On TV, former Doctor Who star Karen Gillan chats up her post Who strategy and it’s different from many former actors/actresses. Instead of trying to distance her self from the role of Amy Pond, Gillan has embraced the opportunities the role has granted her:

“I didn’t really want to distance myself from Doctor Who, because it’s never hindered me, it’s helped me. I know for a fact that I’ve got offered roles because the directors are Doctor Who fans, so it’s not something I’m keen to shed.”

One such role was her first major American movie, Oculus, where the director was drinking out of a TARDIS mug during his initial Skype call with Gillan!

Peter Capaldi To Meet Peter Capaldi In Series 8?

This one should probably be taken with a grain of salt, but the Radio Times is suggesting the newly christened Twelfth Doctor may revisit Lobus Caecilius, who was also played to perfection by Capaldi. We recently ran that the Series 8 episode in question will return to Lanzarote and revisit an “old adventure.” Now we wait and see if it’s a revisit to Mars, the Planet of Fire or a return to trip to Pompeii. The latter may yield the rumored reason we’ve seen Capaldi’s face twice in the Whoniverse prior to the Twelfth Doctor…

Meanwhile, a new promotional image of Peter Capaldi (right) has surfaced from the Doctor Who Figurine Collection magazine, while The Fires of Pompeii‘s writer James Moran recently chatted to BBC Radio’s Mark Kermode about the role of writers in TV and Film:

Incredible Fan Trailer For Series 8

We’re big fans here at Kasterborous of these fan made trailers and creations that pop up on YouTube here and there; this one may very well be one of the best we’ve seen yet. Created by YouTube user John Smith VFX, this trailer is so convincing I actually thought I missed a new official trailer drop. Well done, indeed!

Baker & Jameson Complete New Big Finish Recordings

A Big Finish has confirmed that Tom Baker and Louise Jameson have completed their work on the soon coming Phillip Hinchcliffe Presents Box Set, as well as their vocal work for the remainder of Series 4 of the Fourth Doctor Adventure. If you’ve enjoyed the series thus far, you’ll be pleased to know that in addition to Series 4 and the Phillip Hinchcliffe Presents set, preorders are also now available for Series 5.

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The Case For: The American Doctor

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.

Welcome to a new, ongoing feature series that will present some thought provoking arguments for ideas or topics that may be on the fringe or occasionally flirt with Whovian blasphemy. This first installment may fall into the latter category.

When it was announced that Matt Smith was leaving the TARDIS last summer, it seems that nearly every actor in the business was rumored to be taking his place. From the bizarre (Paris Jackson) to the children of former Doctors (Sean Pertwee), there was a new name rumored to be taking the key to the TARDIS practically every day. In the end, we got the best possible actor in the person of the fabulous Peter Capaldi and the debate was settled. It seems that the most controversial conversation that took place at the time was the idea that a woman may play the role of the famous Time Lord. Today, I want to suggest that perhaps there was an even more controversial debate to be had; that perhaps there is great case to made in the favor of an American actor taking the role of the Doctor. We’ll explore four reasons the casting makes sense and then four of the best American choices for the role.

I realize that many of you may have groaned at the sight of the title of this entry, but stay with us for a bit. You might find yourself surprised by the end. An American Doctor makes sense for many reasons, but here are the four best reasons why…

1) A New Audience

BBC America and Matt Smith have certainly brought a new awareness to American pop culture. From subtle mentions in popular television shows like NCIS and Big Bang Theory to permanent DVD slots at mega retailer, Walmart, Doctor Who has certainly carved a niche out for itself. While American Whovians (this writer included) are vocal and rowdy (see the mass numbers that showed up for The Day of the Doctor screenings), we are still relatively small. An established American actor brings with him/her all of the fans of his/her previous work. That has been the case for the established actors that have played the Doctor as well, but the numbers game (depending upon the candidate) would definitely bolster the American fandom.

2) A Chance for Redemption

The last time BBC and a US network  tried played with the Doctor, we ended up with a failed relaunch pilot/TV movie (here’s looking at you, Fox!). Since then, the main networks have shown that they can handle quality intellectual properties, including those steeped in a British base. While not every American has access to BBC America, they do have free access over the air to NBC/CBS/Fox. With a popular American actor in the lead role of Doctor Who, the interest of the main networks will be ignited and perhaps the opportunity to either take over broadcasting from BBC America or simulcasting the BBC feed. Both options will help to increase the audience tuning in every week.

3) More Diverse Writers, Directors and Actors

This one is really self explanatory; with the addition of an American actor as the Doctor, more of American talent will be attracted to the show. How about an episode or arc written and directed by Joss Whedon? The world and internet would implode from just the suggestion (in which case, you may be struggling to read this!). Without naming names, a-list talent is also known to do small cameos and roles for their friends. All of these things are a boon for Doctor Who.

4) A New Wallet

We’ve all heard and read about the BBC budget woes over the years: Doctor Who being affected multiple times; most recently there wasn’t enough funds left in The Day of the Doctor budget to obtain rights to the Peter Cushing Dalek movie posters. While the show hasn’t technically suffered much for the lack of money (at least in recent years), special FX and CGI costs are only going to rise as technology evolves. The best way to bolster the coffers is sweet, sweet, American Ad sales. Companies will pay big bucks to be part of event television. Just look at the Super Bowl or big shows like Lost or The Walking Dead. A big name in the lead role will cause buzz in the US and can quickly lead to event level status, and in turn lots of ad sales.

The Doctor doesn’t have to lose all of his British-ness because an American plays him either. It would be a whole new avenue for him to play off of: new accents, new signature phrases, new shooting locales. After 50 years, sometimes a little strange is a good thing.

Who Could Play The Doctor?

Now, as promised, here are four very worthy candidates for the role. You may not have connected these actors to the Doctor before, but I genuinely think it could work. Without any further ado and in no particular order, allons-y:

Jim Parsons

Mostly known for playing the intelligent and stubborn Dr. Sheldon Cooper on CBS sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, you might wonder if Parsons has the drama piece of the Doctor down, as he does have the eccentric and mad man part on lock. Wonder no more, dear reader! If you want to gauge Parson as a serious actor, you’ll have the opportunity this summer as he plays the character of Tommy Boatwright in the HBO movie, The Normal Heart. Based solely on looks and mannerisms, Parsons would probably be more Tom Baker than Matt Smith. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Johnny Depp

I’ve either excited you or angered you with this suggestion, but of any non-British actor in the business, is there anyone that isn’t more the Doctor than Depp? Look at the roles he’s played: serious, mad (literally… Mad Hatter, anyone?), adventurer, pirate. With the right direction and writing, Depp could not only be a fantastic Doctor but perhaps even the best Doctor to date.

Scott Bakula

Probably caught you off guard with this one.

Bakula, having mastered time travel via his time with Quantum Leap, has only increased his stock with age. An older choice, and probably more of a Peter Davison type, Bakula brings subtle humor and charisma to the role. Plus, we can always hope for Dean Stockwell cameo!

Nathan Fillion

Joss Whedon association, check. Major geek credibility, undeniably yes. Perfect fit for the Doctor? Maybe. Fillion already has a cult following from his work on Firefly/Serenity and Castle, plus there is always room for some Whedon contributions.

All of the cards are on the table now; what say you? Is there room for an American Doctor? Who would be your pick? Sound off below!

The post The Case For: The American Doctor appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Let’s Do The Time Warp: 9 Great Doctor Who Parody Songs!

Alex Skerratt 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.

Ever wished you could watch the Tenth Doctor, Rose, Martha, Donna, an Ood, a Judoon and a Sister of Plenitude groove to “Let’s Do The Time Warp”? Against a TARDIS backdrop? Under an array of pulsing disco lights??

Well now you can, thanks to the sterling efforts of Hilly and Hannah Hindy of The Hillywood Show! The two sisters, who have become well-known in the webosphere for parodying various film franchises, (including Pirates of the Caribbean, The Twilight Saga and Harry Potter), have recently given their favourite Time Lord the spoof treatment, with a music and dance routine based on the David Tennant era and, of course, The Rocky Horror Show.

The first thing you’ll notice about this YouTube number is the production quality, which is excellent. Hilly and Hannah may not have Steven Moffat’s current Doctor Who budget, but they’ve really gone to town with a very impressive TARDIS console, some great costumes, actual Daleks(!) and a David Tennant impression to end them all, so deftly provided by voice artist Elliot Crossley.

Plus, it’s just great fun!

The video has already achieved over 40,000 hits, helped in no small way by a share from the official David Tennant fan page, so here’s hoping the numbers will rise over the next few weeks. And if it’s got you in the mood for more Gallifreyan parodies, take a look at these other fan tributes…

This one’s set to the tune of “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke, and features a fez-wearing Doctor, Captain Jack Harkness and a gas mask zombie, (what an episode that would make!) They’ve also spoofed Thicke’s original video, so expect lots of people running backwards and forwards against a plain backdrop, with some unusual hashtag captions!

Next we have “Time Travel Maybe”, based on a similarly-named song by Carly Rae Jepson! I must admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of her “Call Me Maybe” number when it first came out, but this YouTube parody contains sonic screwdrivers and sand shoes-uh, I mean, Converse, (with a rather good ‘Tenth Doctor’ inside them!), so it’s definitely worth a watch.

I love the opening line to this next one: “Wake up in the morning feeling like Stormaggedon…!” I’m sure we can all identify with that! This is a Series 6 parody based on “Tik Tok” by Kesha, and although it’s more of a montage than a bespoke video, there are some great lyrics. However, if by some cruel twist of fate you have yet to see Doctor Who Series 6, you may want to wait before watching this video! (Spoilers, sweetie…)

This is a catchy one! A fitting tribute to the faithful Sonic, set to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “Telephone”. Again, this is another montage, so it’s the lyrics we’re interested in. Who would have thought there were so many different uses for a Sonic Screwdriver? You can find most of them in this video!

Lady Gaga fans rejoice – she’s back again! This video uses her “Born This Way” track, and contains one of the best choruses we’ve heard so far: “I will not die right away, I will just regenerate, I am a Time Lord baby, I’m from Gallifrey!” I will definitely be shortlisting this song for my wedding. All I need now is an understanding bride…

I’m not sure what Katy Perry would make of this next video, set to the music of her “Dark Horse” track! Still, this one’s worth watching for the impressive imagery, which uses visual effects and stills taken from various places in the Whoniverse, along with a rather good recreation of Matt Smith’s costume! Also, for one glorious moment, I thought that Vislor Turlough himself had come to join in with the spoof shenanigans, but I think it was meant to be the Tenth Doctor. Possibly.

This next video is titled “All I Want for Christmas is Who”, and I’ll leave you to guess which similarly-named song it’s based on…! I agree entirely with the sentiments in this one; Doctor Who has been one of my Christmas highlights ever since I was old enough to work the video player, and a festive season without the Time Lord scarcely bares thinking about! Watch this for the tent TARDIS…

Finally, we have the “Regeneration Carol”, based on “Baby it’s Cold Outside”. These guys have gone to a great deal of effort to recreate the costumes of the Eleventh Doctor, River Song, Amy Pond and Clara Oswald, plus there’s an actual TARDIS! Incredible. Also, the stand-in for the Doctor looks scarily like the real Matt Smith, as in, terrifyingly similar. Is the actor now moonlighting on the parody video scene? We can but hope!

Which is your favourite? And isn’t the “Let’s Do The Time Warp” parody glorious?!

The post Let’s Do The Time Warp: 9 Great Doctor Who Parody Songs! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.