Christian Cawley's Blog, page 308

BBC Radiophonic Workshop: Legends Of Electronica Go Live!

Meredith Burdett 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.

As bands go, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop is probably not one that you might list when searching through your Spotify account.

But whilst the name may not be too familiar to the general public, this group of musicians have created a legacy through their unique musical creations at the BBC for various television and radio shows from the 1950’s up to the 1990’s.

In fact, many of you may not realise this but before Murray Gold and all the wonderful people that help to create Doctor Who’s rich and beautiful music that is used for the show today, Doctor Who wasn’t big on orchestral scores and choirs singing about Dalek invasions.

Doctor Who’s theme tune, the TARDIS dematerialisation effect, the sound of the Sonic Screwdriver as well as pages and pages of incidental music where, for the initial run of the series from 1963 until the late 1980’s, created by the Radiophonic wonders, working hard on basic equipment and tiny budgets.

And what a glorious thing they achieved, their hard work and dedication paid off to give a legacy of sound effects and music that are still used on Doctor Who to this very day.

So it’s especially heart-warming to read the recent article from The Observer that pays homage to the group and looks at the new mix’s of their work that they are creating with today’s well-known artists.

As well as working on an album of new music, with contributions from members of well known bands such as Hot Chip, The Prodigy and Roxy Music, the surviving members of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop have remixed the Doctor Who theme tune in honour of the show’s fiftieth anniversary this year. Taking the original music written by Ron Grainer, Delia Derbyshire’s 1960s arrangement and Peter Howell’s 1980s arrangement (which, with the addition of a full drum beat, has never sounded more dramatic), the piece is a must-listen for all fans of Doctor Who and the Radiophonic Workshop alike.

It’s not just the legacy that the RWS have created but also the inspiration it has given today’s musicians as well, as Hot Chip’s Al Doyle confirmed regarding a letter he sent to the BBC as a teenager regarding the closure of the Workshop:

Hazily remember asking them to reinstate it and put me in charge…I wanted to be in the workshop, just like I wanted to be in the Velvet Underground or the Manic Street Preachers.

It seems that Peter Capaldi wasn’t the only one writing fan letters before he hit the big time! Even The Prodigy’s Kieron Pepper was excited to be working on new material with the RWS. Despite working with some of the biggest names in modern music, the drummer stated:

Being involved with these gentlemen has redefined the meaning of cool for me!

As well it should, because the RWS has helped to shape many of the modern-day sounds that we listen to today.

You can read the full article, which covers the band’s history as well as the good times and the bad time on The Observer pages on The Guardian website (The Observer being the weekend version of The Guardian, for those uninitiated in the ways of newspaper titling in the UK).

The re-mastered BBC Radiophonic Music and BBC Radiophonic Workshop vinyl albums are out now and the group are playing a live in-store launch at Rough Trade East, London E1 at 7pm.

The album of new RWS material is due for release in the summer of 2014.

The post BBC Radiophonic Workshop: Legends Of Electronica Go Live! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

What Time Is The Time Of The Doctor On?

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.

BBC One has confirmed its Christmas Day schedule, with Doctor Who end-of-an-era The Time of the Doctor scheduled for 7.30pm!

Matt Smith’s final appearance has all the hallmarks of an epic adventure, and with direction from Jamie Payne and a title from Steven Moffat that suggests the end of a loose trilogy, the introduction of Peter Capaldi should prove to be one of the series’ most memorable moments.

At the moment it is only the BBC One screening that is confirmed, although it would seem likely that BBC One HD will follow the same schedule.

We’ll have some fresh new images from the episode later this week.

The post What Time Is The Time Of The Doctor On? appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

BBC Norfolk Profiles Radiophonic Workshop’s Brian Hodgson

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.

We all know the noise, I have it as the message tone on my phone and seeing others recognise it in public is priceless.

Yes, I’m talking about the TARDIS sound effect. Regularly described in the target novels as a wheezing, groaning sound it is one of the most iconic pieces of audio in not just Doctor Who, but in pop culture in general.

So it seems only fitting that in the biggest year of the shows history that special tribute should be paid to the man who gave us that noise, Brian Hodgson.  In a new interview with the BBC Norfolk website, Brian describes the process of creating the sound.

“It was quite difficult as everybody knew rockets went ‘bang, whoosh’ – but what does a time machine do?”

“It doesn’t go up, it doesn’t go down, it goes everywhere at once. The thing I had in my mind was that it should be coming and going, and very vague.”

The interview also touches on Brians work in the creation of the voice of the Daleks, which it seems came from a past job.

“I’d done a voice treatment for a rather posh robot in a radio play called Sword From The Stars… So when the Dalek thing came up I thought the modulation thing will probably work as it will grate, but we needed an actor to do the voice, so we got Peter Hawkins in.”

The full article has some fascinating insights into the work done by Brian, and the rest of the Radiophonic Workshop and is definatly worth a read, just remember to come back here when your done and give us your thoughts. Do you think people like Brian get enough credit for the part they played in the genesis of the show? Should there have been more attention paid to the Radiophonic Workshop during the 50th celebrations?

You know where that comment box is – make use of it!

The post BBC Norfolk Profiles Radiophonic Workshop’s Brian Hodgson appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Doctor Who and Politics: Lords Bask In Reflected Glory

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.

The Doctor has had a few issues with politicians – I’m looking at you, Third Doctor – but it’s nice to see that they haven’t taken it personally: Doctor Who has been debated in the House of Lords to recognise the considerable achievement of reaching its 50th anniversary.

Before we get to that, thanks to regular reader Ian we know that an “Early Day Motion has been tabled by Jim Shannon MP noting the celebration,” according to an email reply he received from Stretford & Urmston MP Kate Green. Everyone wants to bask in Doctor Who’s reflected anniversary glory!

Put forward by Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury, a Liberal Democrat who has previously worked for the BBC who wanted to note “the contribution of broadcast media to the United Kingdom economy.” Certainly, BBC Worldwide has brought in hordes of cash internationally, and, in her maiden speech, Baroness Grender said:

My noble friend Lady Bonham-Carter’s timing for this debate is perfect, following the amazing weekend marking the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. Simulcast in 94 countries, setting a Guinness world record, with record-breaking figures in America, it was event TV drama at its best, delivered around the globe. That thrill of seeing all the Doctors saving Gallifrey is something my eight year-old son will remember until the 100th anniversary.

Lord John Birt, former Director-General of the BBC also said:

Our comic, eccentric and very British superhero, Doctor Who, who rightly has been much mentioned today, reached 50 last Saturday with a near-simultaneous broadcast in 94 different countries, as the noble Baroness, Lady Grender, mentioned. Nothing like that has ever happened before.

‘Near-simultaneous,’ anyone?

Praise for Doctor Who isn’t a new thing, of course, but it’s nonetheless nice to see the dreaded MPs give it some acknowledgment. One thing has to taint the occasion: the ‘noble’ Lord (I don’t know why he’s a Lord either) Michael Grade, who, you might’ve noticed, isn’t the biggest fan of the biggest and best show in the world. Baroness Bonham-Carter asked:

Finally, as Doctor Who has dominated the debate and I see my noble friend Lord Grade in his seat, I cannot resist wondering whether, had he known that Sylvester McCoy could regenerate into John Hurt, he would still have cancelled the programme?

… To which Grade nodded, (presumably) smugly. (Smug is his default setting.)

But let’s conclude on a positive note, with Baroness Humphreys, President of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, noting:

Programmes such as Doctor Who, Merlin and Sherlock and many others have been produced in Cardiff over a number of years but they are now produced in the BBC’s new drama facility in the recently built drama village at Roath Lock in the Porth Teigr, or Tiger Bay, area of Cardiff Bay. The drama studios there are the length of three football pitches, and more than 600 actors, camera operators and technicians are employed there—all, of course, contributing to the local economy.

And that’s without even mentioning the Doctor Who Experience!

The post Doctor Who and Politics: Lords Bask In Reflected Glory appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Gatiss’ Rhubarb Approach to Rachael Stirling

Rebecca Crockett 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 is so beloved that most actors would go to great lengths to get a role, even a just as an extra, on the show. Those same actors would love to quiz anyone that has been in an episode on just how they went about getting that role in the hopes that the method might work for them, too.

So how do you get a role on Doctor Who?

Try being in a stage production with Who writer Mark Gatiss.

Rachel Stirling, daughter of the lovely Dame Diana Rigg, was in a production early last year of George Farquhar’s The Recruiting Officer with Gatiss. During one scene, the two were supposed to be in conversation in the background. But instead of the more typical nonsensical noise made to mimic conversation, Gatiss asked if Stirling had ever appeared on Who.

It was hilarious. We had to sit at the back and he had an enormous ginger wig and these painted Aunt Sally cheeks, as did I with this huge canary dress and I had a fan. But he said to me [putting on a posh voice] ‘Have you ever been in Doctor Who?’ and I said ‘No!’ And he said ‘If I wrote one for you would you be interested?’ And I said I would and it started from there.

Later that year both Stirling and her mother Dame Rigg were cast in Gatiss’ The Crimson Horror episode of the show as mother and daughter!

Guess the old saying ‘It’s not who you know…’ really was true in this case!

(via Radio Times)

The post Gatiss’ Rhubarb Approach to Rachael Stirling appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Doctor Who: The Ultimate Limited Edition Collector’s Box

James Whittington 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.

Silva Screen Records will soon be releasing Doctor Who: The Ultimate Limited Edition Collector’s Box, an 11 CD set, one for each Doctor, all presented in a specially created wooden TARDIS.

This highly-collectible box set is completely unique, includes previously unreleased music spanning 50 years, has comprehensive notes and information and is strictly limited to 1,000.

Not seen it in the flesh, as it were, but I’m sure this is one of the true collectables from this 50th anniversary.

Those wanting more information can log onto their website here or you can register your interest by emailing info@silvascreen.co.uk with “TARDIS box” in the subject line.

The post Doctor Who: The Ultimate Limited Edition Collector’s Box appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

The Day of the Doctor Reaction: Worldwide Box Office Smash! [UPDATED]

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 probably didn’t escape your attention that Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary was broadcast in nearly 100 countries last Saturday/Sunday, simultaneously, and screened in cinemas in several time slots across the weekend.

Yes, it truly was The Day of the Doctor. Press reaction – save a rogue Daily Mail article which we won’t grace with any direct hits – was largely in favour of the Matt Smith/David Tennant/John Hurt mashup, and the show itself was the most watched episode of the series on TV (we’ll come to cinema later) sinc Christmas 2010′s wonderful A Christmas Carol episode with Michael Gambon guesting. This time around, Doctor Who peaked at  10.61m/41.2%.

Update: 12.8 million is the final, official viewing figure taking into account delayed viewing, but not iPlayer repeat/catchup viewings, which could add another 2 million onto the total. We’re looking at a scenario in which  Doctor Who basically doubled its viewing figures on some episodes from the 2013 run!

That, however, is the tip of the iceberg of popular success for Doctor Who‘s anniversary special. Not only did its average audience (an overnight figure, so not the final numbers) beat ITV’s cynical The X Factor with 10.18m/37.4% to 7.67m/28.6%, the at-times-uncomfortable Doctor Who Live on BBC Three was a success for that channel, averaging 1.37m/5.5% making it one of the most-viewed shows on the channel behind football and Family Guy. Did someone say Doctor Who Confidential?

Domestic 3D figures are disappointing, however, with just 21,000 (0.1%) watching the BBC’s final 3D broadcast for the foreseeable future. To put this into context, in 2012 there were supposedly 1.3 million 3D TV sets in the UK. Don’t place the blame on 3D, however…

In the UK alone, the 3D screenings of The Day of the Doctor made an astonishing £1.8 million placing it third behind Hunger Games: Catching Fire and new 3D space survival movie Gravity. The anniversary episode also struck the top of iTunes in the US and Amazon’s TV chart.

 The $4.77 million taken at the US box office, resulted in Doctor Who being the no. 2 movie in the USA on Monday night.

Perhaps most impressive, however, is the $4.77 million taken at the US box office, resulting in Doctor Who being the no. 2 movie in the USA on Monday night, second only to the new Hunger Games.

We’ll pause a moment while you re-read that last sentence.

Shown in RealD 3D in over 660 select movie theatres across the country, over 320,000 tickets were sold.

Soumya Sriraman is EVP Home Entertainment and Licensing, BBC Worldwide North America, who managed distribution and promotion with Fathom Events.

It’s incredible that Doctor Who has made history once again, setting record numbers across the board on BBC America, in social media, and now in theaters. It’s a testament to the fans and their dedication for Doctor Who. We wanted to fulfill the fans desire to be part of the global celebration and they rewarded BBC Americaand NCM Fathom Events with their enthusiasm and support.

Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of Fathom Events:

Doctor Who fans have proven their loyalty and devotion to this series, making it the most successful sci-fi series ever and now the biggest Fathom, one-night event, ever .In association with BBC America, we are thrilled to have given fans the opportunity to watch the Doctor in a whole new way – in 3D on the big screen.

Forget Harry Potter directors and former BBC One controllers trying to launch Doctor Who in Hollywood – Steven Moffat and Nick Hurran managed to conquer US cinemas from an office in Wales.

An amazing 96 countries including Russia and Venezuela screened The Day of the Doctor. In Australia, 1.3 million tuned in (424,000 at 6.50 am on Sunday morning for the international simulcast, and another 922,000 viewers for the 7.30pm repeat) making Doctor Who the ninth most watched show in the country that day.

As you can see – and brace yourself – around the world Doctor Who was a big deal on November 23rd, its 50th anniversary, and rightly so. If you’re still not convinced, to give you an idea of the buzz and reaction, this graphic demonstrates how Twitter chatter peaked at 7.45pm, dropped off and then picked up as the broadcast ended. You’ll also notice the ratio of female fans to male…

Last night's #DrWho as it played out on Twitter @bbcdoctorwho pic.twitter.com/RVJapOmD51

— SecondSync (@SecondSync) November 24, 2013

Regular readers will know that we’re not prone to hyperbole. Given the ratings, worldwide reaction and favourable reviews, it would seem unfair not to call The Day of the Doctor the greatest episode of Doctor Who ever. It seems everything just went right.

As for you lot… well, the comments we’ve seen on the various posts about The Day of the Doctor have been largely positive. Probably the best idea of how well received the episode was among our readers can be found in our flash poll, launched as the end titles rolled. An amazing 1165 votes were cast, with over 84% of respondents voting enthusiastically in favour. What follows are the highlights….

An amazing 1165 votes were cast in our poll with over 84% voting in favour of The Day of the Doctor:  ”A fitting tribute to 50 years of time travel” 

“A fitting tribute to 50 years of time travel” said 53.73%  (626 votes), while 19.91%  (232 votes) considered it “The greatest episode of Doctor Who ever!” A further 10.39%  (121 votes) sedately classified The Day of the Doctor as a “Great episode.”

Naturally not everyone enjoyed the episode. At the other end of the scale, “I enjoyed An Adventure in Space and Time more than this” received 29 votes (2.49%  share) of the share and “I hate you Steven Moffat, Doctor Who is dead to me, etc.” attracting 12 votes (1.03%). Given the figures you’ve seen above, we don’t think Steven Moffat has lost any sleep over The Day of the Doctor.

Except when partying on it.

Usually when we bring you these reaction articles, we spend a bit of time on what the press thinks. This time around, we’re more interested in you – after all, it’s the 50th anniversary and Doctor Who isn’t fighting for critical approval any more, is it?

Reader Jonathan O’Sullivan watched The Day of the Doctor at the cinema:

Watched The Day of the Doctor at the cinema in 3D with my kids. Loved it. Great to be in a cinema when people are cheering, laughing, applauding and silent in all the right places. Loved it loved it loved it. And my doctor at the end as well. Superb. I am a happy man.

Also watching on the silver screen was Andrew G Dick.

A fitting tribute to 50 years of time travel. Watched it at the cinema in Glasgow and it was great atmosphere. You can keep your Star Wars and Star Trek movies, that had way more wit and charm than they could ever get. Loved it, and would easily place that very highly, probably a top 10.

Geoff later commented that Steven Moffat rose to the challenge that he’d set himself.

Agreed. It was just enjoyable, hugely enjoyable. Yes the Rassilion stuff is dodgy, as was the unresolved Zygon plot line but I got to see Peter Capaldi, Tom Baker acting with Matt Smith and such a load of other treats I really don’t care. The good stuff far outweighed the bad which is why I went for Great story. Bearing in mind the difficult task he had I thought Mr Moffat rose to the occasion.

We shouldn’t overlook the fact that The Day of the Doctor twists the show into a whole new direction, enabling Doctor Who to finally emerge from the long shadow of the Last Great Time War. DonnaM noticed.

A fitting tribute and a smashing ride. Laugh-out-loud moments, shocks and surprises, and a chance to move away from the guilt-ridden “murderer of his own race” line. Interesting as it’s been, getting rid of that war-guilt does give the chance to move the character in a new way.

There are many more wonderful observations from our regular commenters (and one or two dissenting voices that should also be heard but let’s finish with David F, noticing how the Time War is present in a much-loved episode of classic Doctor Who:

A line from Terror of the Zygons:

“When our planet was destroyed in a recent catastrophe . . . ”

Moffat must have access to a real time machine. Time War references planted in 1975 episodes. So at least it proves he ties up story arcs eventually, even if it does take a lifetime. (Literally. I was born on the day that line was broadcast.)

Day of the Doctor. Seriously classy. The nostalgia card was played lightly, but with great precision. Best of all, they didn’t rush the closing title, which meant we got to hear the middle-eight of the theme tune again, at last, and that was my greatest wish for the episode. Doctor Who always seems more epic and emotional when it’s included.

Could have lived without the tease of seeing Hurt begin his regeneration. Baker’s face and delivery regained the sprightly intensity of his TARDIS days.

Love it or hate it, The Day of the Doctor was an international hit with fans and the general viewing public alike! For Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary, who could have asked for more?

The post The Day of the Doctor Reaction: Worldwide Box Office Smash! [UPDATED] appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

The Day of the Doctor Reaction: Worldwide Box Office Smash!

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 probably didn’t escape your attention that Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary was broadcast in nearly 100 countries last Saturday/Sunday, simultaneously, and screened in cinemas in several time slots across the weekend.

Yes, it truly was The Day of the Doctor. Press reaction – save a rogue Daily Mail article which we won’t grace with any direct hits – was largely in favour of the Matt Smith/David Tennant/John Hurt mashup, and the show itself was the most watched episode of the series on TV (we’ll come to cinema later) sinc Christmas 2010′s wonderful A Christmas Carol episode with Michael Gambon guesting. This time around, Doctor Who peaked at  10.61m/41.2%.

That, however, is the tip of the iceberg of popular success for Doctor Who‘s anniversary special. Not only did its average audience (an overnight figure, so not the final numbers) beat ITV’s cynical The X Factor with 10.18m/37.4% to 7.67m/28.6%, the at-times-uncomfortable Doctor Who Live on BBC Three was a success for that channel, averaging 1.37m/5.5% making it one of the most-viewed shows on the channel behind football and Family Guy. Did someone say Doctor Who Confidential?

Domestic 3D figures are disappointing, however, with just 21,000 (0.1%) watching the BBC’s final 3D broadcast for the foreseeable future. To put this into context, in 2012 there were supposedly 1.3 million 3D TV sets in the UK. Don’t place the blame on 3D, however…

In the UK alone, the 3D screenings of The Day of the Doctor made an astonishing £1.8 million placing it third behind Hunger Games: Catching Fire and new 3D space survival movie Gravity. The anniversary episode also struck the top of iTunes in the US and Amazon’s TV chart.

 The $4.77 million taken at the US box office, resulted in Doctor Who being the no. 2 movie in the USA on Monday night.

Perhaps most impressive, however, is the $4.77 million taken at the US box office, resulting in Doctor Who being the no. 2 movie in the USA on Monday night, second only to the new Hunger Games.

We’ll pause a moment while you re-read that last sentence.

Shown in RealD 3D in over 660 select movie theatres across the country, over 320,000 tickets were sold.

Soumya Sriraman is EVP Home Entertainment and Licensing, BBC Worldwide North America, who managed distribution and promotion with Fathom Events.

It’s incredible that Doctor Who has made history once again, setting record numbers across the board on BBC America, in social media, and now in theaters. It’s a testament to the fans and their dedication for Doctor Who. We wanted to fulfill the fans desire to be part of the global celebration and they rewarded BBC Americaand NCM Fathom Events with their enthusiasm and support.

Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of Fathom Events:

Doctor Who fans have proven their loyalty and devotion to this series, making it the most successful sci-fi series ever and now the biggest Fathom, one-night event, ever .In association with BBC America, we are thrilled to have given fans the opportunity to watch the Doctor in a whole new way – in 3D on the big screen.

Forget Harry Potter directors and former BBC One controllers trying to launch Doctor Who in Hollywood – Steven Moffat and Nick Hurran managed to conquer US cinemas from an office in Wales.

An amazing 96 countries including Russia and Venezuela screened The Day of the Doctor. In Australia, 1.3 million tuned in (424,000 at 6.50 am on Sunday morning for the international simulcast, and another 922,000 viewers for the 7.30pm repeat) making Doctor Who the ninth most watched show in the country that day.

As you can see – and brace yourself – around the world Doctor Who was a big deal on November 23rd, its 50th anniversary, and rightly so. If you’re still not convinced, to give you an idea of the buzz and reaction, this graphic demonstrates how Twitter chatter peaked at 7.45pm, dropped off and then picked up as the broadcast ended. You’ll also notice the ratio of female fans to male…

Last night's #DrWho as it played out on Twitter @bbcdoctorwho pic.twitter.com/RVJapOmD51

— SecondSync (@SecondSync) November 24, 2013

Regular readers will know that we’re not prone to hyperbole. Given the ratings, worldwide reaction and favourable reviews, it would seem unfair not to call The Day of the Doctor the greatest episode of Doctor Who ever. It seems everything just went right.

As for you lot… well, the comments we’ve seen on the various posts about The Day of the Doctor have been largely positive. Probably the best idea of how well received the episode was among our readers can be found in our flash poll, launched as the end titles rolled. An amazing 1165 votes were cast, with over 84% of respondents voting enthusiastically in favour. What follows are the highlights….

An amazing 1165 votes were cast in our poll with over 84% voting in favour of The Day of the Doctor:  ”A fitting tribute to 50 years of time travel” 

“A fitting tribute to 50 years of time travel” said 53.73%  (626 votes), while 19.91%  (232 votes) considered it “The greatest episode of Doctor Who ever!” A further 10.39%  (121 votes) sedately classified The Day of the Doctor as a “Great episode.”

Naturally not everyone enjoyed the episode. At the other end of the scale, “I enjoyed An Adventure in Space and Time more than this” received 29 votes (2.49%  share) of the share and “I hate you Steven Moffat, Doctor Who is dead to me, etc.” attracting 12 votes (1.03%). Given the figures you’ve seen above, we don’t think Steven Moffat has lost any sleep over The Day of the Doctor.

Except when partying on it.

Usually when we bring you these reaction articles, we spend a bit of time on what the press thinks. This time around, we’re more interested in you – after all, it’s the 50th anniversary and Doctor Who isn’t fighting for critical approval any more, is it?

Reader Jonathan O’Sullivan watched The Day of the Doctor at the cinema:

Watched The Day of the Doctor at the cinema in 3D with my kids. Loved it. Great to be in a cinema when people are cheering, laughing, applauding and silent in all the right places. Loved it loved it loved it. And my doctor at the end as well. Superb. I am a happy man.

Also watching on the silver screen was Andrew G Dick.

A fitting tribute to 50 years of time travel. Watched it at the cinema in Glasgow and it was great atmosphere. You can keep your Star Wars and Star Trek movies, that had way more wit and charm than they could ever get. Loved it, and would easily place that very highly, probably a top 10.

Geoff later commented that Steven Moffat rose to the challenge that he’d set himself.

Agreed. It was just enjoyable, hugely enjoyable. Yes the Rassilion stuff is dodgy, as was the unresolved Zygon plot line but I got to see Peter Capaldi, Tom Baker acting with Matt Smith and such a load of other treats I really don’t care. The good stuff far outweighed the bad which is why I went for Great story. Bearing in mind the difficult task he had I thought Mr Moffat rose to the occasion.

We shouldn’t overlook the fact that The Day of the Doctor twists the show into a whole new direction, enabling Doctor Who to finally emerge from the long shadow of the Last Great Time War. DonnaM noticed.

A fitting tribute and a smashing ride. Laugh-out-loud moments, shocks and surprises, and a chance to move away from the guilt-ridden “murderer of his own race” line. Interesting as it’s been, getting rid of that war-guilt does give the chance to move the character in a new way.

There are many more wonderful observations from our regular commenters (and one or two dissenting voices that should also be heard but let’s finish with David F, noticing how the Time War is present in a much-loved episode of classic Doctor Who:

A line from Terror of the Zygons:

“When our planet was destroyed in a recent catastrophe . . . ”

Moffat must have access to a real time machine. Time War references planted in 1975 episodes. So at least it proves he ties up story arcs eventually, even if it does take a lifetime. (Literally. I was born on the day that line was broadcast.)

Day of the Doctor. Seriously classy. The nostalgia card was played lightly, but with great precision. Best of all, they didn’t rush the closing title, which meant we got to hear the middle-eight of the theme tune again, at last, and that was my greatest wish for the episode. Doctor Who always seems more epic and emotional when it’s included.

Could have lived without the tease of seeing Hurt begin his regeneration. Baker’s face and delivery regained the sprightly intensity of his TARDIS days.

Love it or hate it, The Day of the Doctor was an international hit with fans and the general viewing public alike! For Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary, who could have asked for more?

The post The Day of the Doctor Reaction: Worldwide Box Office Smash! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

At 55, Peter Capaldi Is Not Old – Deal With It, Kids!

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.

Ageism. It’s a nasty word, with a nasty attitude. Twenty is ancient when you’re five, but you’re still going there in 15 years’ time. As for 55, well, once you’re forty – when life begins, of course – you’re staring that big number in the eye.

Time flies in the blink of an eye as we mature. Some older people seem to be more able than others; looking around a regular town centre, however, you’ll spot people of your own age group who may or may not be as able as you. Age, ultimately, is immaterial.

So comments about Peter Capaldi’s age – 55, and not particularly old if he lives to be 90 – leave a particularly bad taste in the mouth, especially when Doctor Who showrunner observes:

People keep talking about this ‘elderly’ Doctor that we’ve cast… he leaps around the place probably more than any other Doctor in that first scene.

Some ridiculously immature types have even taken to commenting on Capaldi’s age here on Kasterborous, suggesting that an older Doctor will in some way “ruin” the show. Presumably in the same way 55-year-old William Hartnell and 50-year-old Jon Pertwee did back in the day.

Moffat has more to add on the matter of Capaldi’s youth. Speaking at last week’s Doctor Who Celebration, he said:

We’ve got used to two brilliant iterations of the younger, more popular Doctor and they have both been superlative. But now it’s time for the old beast to snarl at you for a bit!

Sometimes you see that a bit in Matt Smith’s Doctor – he will remind the people around him, ‘I’m not really like this’ – but I think Peter’s Doctor will make that even clearer.

So, a great actor cast in a great role. Many felt in 2010 that Matt Smith was too young at 26; they thought the same in 1981 when Peter Davison was cast. Neither failed to convince as the Doctor – so why should Peter Capaldi?

 

The post At 55, Peter Capaldi Is Not Old – Deal With It, Kids! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Kasterborous Defies You Not To Get Teary

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 fair to say that as I watched The Day of the Doctor at the Middlesbrough Cineworld in 3D last Saturday evening, I got somewhat over-excited.

For one, being surrounded by several hundred Doctor Who fans – most of who were kitted out in fezzes and scarves and other cosplay wonderment – was superb. The popcorn was good too.

Although I nearly did Mrs Kasterborous an injury when the Doctors appeared plotting their ingenious salvation of Gallifrey (I held her hand too tight) and got a smack around the head when the CapaldiDoc glared at the universe (I gripped tighter) nothing prepared me for the floods of tears that followed when this chap turned up.

If you click play, dear Kasterborite, expect to get emotional.

And then tell me… has anyone written any fanfic starring the Curator yet?

The post Kasterborous Defies You Not To Get Teary appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.