Christian Cawley's Blog, page 371

PodKast LIVE Commentates Twelfth Doctor Unveiling

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.

At 7pm (UK time) Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor will kick-off, a half hour of TV that will herald the announcement of the identity of the twelfth actor to play the character on the box.

But what if you can’t make it?

You could be, for instance, stranded in a shopping centre, or in a pub with no TV. You might be one of the millions of Americans who doesn’t have access to BBC America, or you could be in bed in Australia.

If you have difficulty watching the show, but can get online, Kasterborous is here for you! We’re live podKasting the event as it happens YouTube, Google Hangouts and right here from 7pm tonight, with Christian Cawley and James McLean. Sadly we don’t think the house band or Brian Terranova can make it, but there’s always next time.

If you miss the live podKast – in which we’ll be reacting to the casting announcement as it happens – don’t worry, as you’ll still be able to catch the podKast on iTunes, RSS, Stitcher, Audioboo and right here on Kasterborous, just as usual. Only it’ll be without the video.

Which might be a blessing.

The post PodKast LIVE Commentates Twelfth Doctor Unveiling appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Did Twelfth Doctor Photographer Just Tweet Gender?

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.

Could this be the tweet that puts an end (until next time) to the chatter among a noisy minority for a female incarnation of the Doctor?

Although there are still a few hours to go before we get to see the unveiling of Matt Smith’s replacement in the international simulcast of Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor, a major clue has been released – perhaps intentionally.

Apparently shooting publicity snaps of the actor set to be unveiled as the Twelfth Doctor later today, photographer Rankin tweeted this:

Just photographed the next Dr Who for tonight's announcement. Let me know what you think of the photo? He's going to be an ace Dr.

— Rankin (@rankinphoto) August 4, 2013

“He’s”?

But who is “he”? We’ll find out later today – and don’t forget you can catch us live podKasting the big reveal through Google Hangouts and here on the site – check back at 6.30pm GMT for full details!

The post Did Twelfth Doctor Photographer Just Tweet Gender? appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Is Sam Troughton The Twelfth Star 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.

With the unveiling of the Twelfth Doctor just hours away, the rumours just won’t stop!

A few days ago, Peter Capaldi seemed such a dead cert for the role that bookmakers closed betting on who will replace Matt Smith. But a new name has entered the fray…

Sam Troughton is the 36 year old grandson of Second Doctor Patrick Troughton. You may recognise him from a range of television and movie roles, but he is perhaps best know to viewers of Saturday night TV as Much from the BBC One series Robin Hood, which ran from 2006 to 2010.

Now, while a good actor, Troughton isn’t our first choice of Time Lord offspring to take the role. But as Sean Pertwee has recently signed up to a US series it seems likely that the role isn’t his…

However, don’t take this well-sourced rumour as gospel. We’ve also heard that Daniel Rigby has cancelled his show in Edinburgh tonight…

(with thanks to Gareth)

The post Is Sam Troughton The Twelfth Star of Doctor Who? appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Canada and Australia Join 12th Doctor Simulcast!

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 seems that it isn’t only the UK and USA who will get to see the unveiling of the Twelfth Doctor live tonight!

Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor is broadcast tonight in the UK at 7pm on BBC One, and a few hours earlier in the USA on BBC America – and now we know that Australian viewers on ABC1 and Canadian viewers with SPACE will also be joining in the fun! Check your local EPG and listings for full details as this will of course change depending on your timezone. However, Australian viewers should be aware that an early start or late finish might be required…

In addition the BBC has confirmed that Fifth Doctor Peter Davison and a host of guests will also appear on the show, with Matt Smith and Sixth Doctor Colin Baker also making appearances. Joining Davison will be Bernard Cribbins (Wilfred Mott) while former companions including Anneke Wills (Polly), Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Janet Fielding (Tegan) and Bonnie Langford (Mel) will also be appearing in video clips. Meanwhile writer and actor Mark Gatiss is also making an appearance in video form.

Celebrity fans will also be in the studio. These include Rufus Hound, Liza Tarbuck and young Daniel Roche from Outnumbered. Look out also for video segments from Professor Robert Winston, Jo Whiley, Strictly Come Dancing’s Bruno Tonioli and Professor Brian Cox. And remember, after all that lot, that things can only get better.

Note: although simulcast, there is every chance that conversations via Twitter, Skype or Facebook Messenger (or whatever messaging software you use) will be transmitted far quicker than Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor. You only have to compare the differences between two TVs running the same show through different means (terrestrial, satellite and cable) to see that there may be discrepancies. So if you’re online while the show is broadcast, chat with care!

The show is hosted by Zoe Ball, and as well as being simulcast around the world we’ll be discussing it on this week’s live podKast!

(Via Doctor Who News)

The post Canada and Australia Join 12th Doctor Simulcast! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Join the PodKast LIVE!

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.

A special announcement calls for extraordinary steps, so on this week’s Kasterborous podKast (with a “K”) Christian Cawley and James McLean will be broadcasting at 7pm from Google Hangouts – that’s right, we’re podKasting our commentary and discussion of the unveiling of the new Doctor LIVE on the web.

Christian and James will be observing the events of Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor, possibly with some irreverence, and you’ll be able to witness first hand our reaction as the Twelfth Doctor is unveiled.

Whether you’re free to join us or catch up after the show, you’ll still be able to download the podKast and listen via iTunes, Stitcher, Audioboo and RSS so there’s no change there – but for such a big event, we thought it would be pretty cool to throw our faces onto the web and go live…

We’ll be updating you with the link here, on Facebook and on Twitter closer to broadcast, but until then, get ready for another memorable night of Doctor Who!

The post Join the PodKast LIVE! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Daleks’ Master Plan 10: Escape Switch

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 Doctor and his friends are still in Ancient Egypt in the tenth installment of The Daleks’ Master Plan, expertly adapted to comic strip form by Rick Lundeen!

Can the travellers escape the Daleks and the threat of betrayal by the Meddling Monk? Start reading below to find out!

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The free PDF version is now available for download from the Kasterborous Store.

The post Daleks’ Master Plan 10: Escape Switch appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Is One of These Men the Twelfth Doctor? [POLL]

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 time is almost upon us; the rumours have been circulating for months. Is the Twelfth Doctor one of these men?

In advance of Sunday evening’s Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor, a gimmicky Time Lord extravaganza in which the identify of Matt Smith’s identity will be revealed, we’re running a poll to see who you would prefer as Doctor number twelve.

Bu before you vote, let’s take a look at the candidates…

Anthony Head

59 year old Anthony Stewart Head is well known on both sides of the Atlantic for his role as Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but arguably more recognised in the UK for a series of Gold Blend coffee commercials opposite Sharon Maugham in the 1980s. Latter, he headlined in BBC One’s Merlin as Uther Pendragon and has already appeared in Doctor Who as Mr. Finch in School Reunion (2006) and as the evil Baltazar, Scourge of the Universe in the first animated adventure The Infinite Quest in 2007.

Interestingly, Head auditioned for the Eighth Doctor in late 1995/early 1996.

Ben Miller

A comparatively youthful 47 year old, Bennet Evan Miller is recognisable both as the comedy partner of Alexander Armstrong (The Sarah Jane Adventures, The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe) and as the star of the first two series of the BBC’s Death in Paradise. He also appeared as James Lester in ITV’s Primeval.

The fact that Miller quit working in the tropical climes of Guadeloupe for half a year on Death in Paradise has long raised eyebrows with many Doctor Who fans fancying him as an interesting replacement for Matt Smith.

Daniel Rigby

You may know him as the studenty mop top in the BT Internet adverts, but Ben Rugby is far more talented than that. In 2011 he won a BAFTA for Best Actor BAFTA for his outstanding performance as the legendary comic Eric Morecambe. His portrayal in Eric and Ernie was remarkable, so much so that in winning the award he beat both Matt Smith and Sherlock‘s Benedict Cumberbatch.

The downside of all this is that Rigby is a young actor, just 30. Fans long calling for an older Doctor may be unhappy with this choice.

Ben Daniels

Another more mature option is Ben Daniels, well known for his roles in Cutting It and more recently Law & Order UK. Aged 49, the actor has worked extensively on stage and screen over the past 25 years, although his name is perhaps not one you would usually know – or indeed associate with Doctor Who.

Although a fascinating choice – and according the Bleeding Cool’s Rich Johnston, the most likely, having been offered the job some months ago – Ben Daniels would be the show’s first openly gay lead actor. One’s sexuality obviously has nothing to do with suitability for a job, but it seems difficult imagining an out gay actor in the role after having grown up with Doctor Who as an uncool stick with which to be beaten in the school yard. As long as attitudes among the young have changed, this should be excellent casting.

Peter Capaldi

Ten days ago the star of The Thick of It and its movie version In the Loop was beyond most people’s thoughts as the Twelfth Doctor – yesterday betting closed at one major bookie with the Scots actor (born Peter Dougan Capaldi) as the most likely choice. With a career built from a strong appearance in the 1983 film Local Hero, Capaldi is of course well-known to Doctor Who fans as Caecilius in 2008′s marvellous episode The Fires of Pompeii.

It’s fair to mention, however, that Peter Capaldi holds a particularly important place within Doctor Who fandom, however. The 55 year old actor is in fact a life long fan of the series and in the 1970s ran a fan club in competition with Keith Miller. While the latter was awarded the “official” title by the BBC, the young Capaldi was apparently a bit of a schemer, attempting to grab that all-important title for his own efforts!

Rory Kinnear

A surprise choice when mentioned back in JUne, 35 year old Kinnear is the son of late actor Roy Kinnear and is best known for playing Bill Tanner in the Daniel Craig Bond movies Quantum of Solace and Skyfall, in addition to voice work in video games from the franchise.

What is most notable about this particular rumour is that according to Kinnear himself he has no interest in taking over from Matt Smith, noting recently:

If I was an actor who was really longing to play Doctor Who, then this would be torturous, but it’s a programme I’ve never watched, so I don’t even really know what it is.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Apparently among the contenders for the first non-white Doctor last time around, the 36 year old actor born in London to Nigerian parents is perhaps in the wrong place in his career at the moment for Doctor Who. Probably better for his roles in movies such as Amistad, Love Actually and Children of Men, Ejiofor is also an accomplished stage actor with the lead roles in Romeo & Juliet and Othello under his belt, the latter gaining him the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. He’s also played in The Seagull.

Perhaps the most accomplished black actor in Britain, Ejiofor would also be a marvellous choice. However back in 2009 following the reveal of Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, a BBC source was quoted in The Star as saying:

The key phrase is ‘programme-makers’ – some executives were desperate for a black actor to take the role.

Paterson [Joseph] and Chiwetel were both at the top of the list, though both ended up ruling themselves out once they found out what would be expected of them.

There’s no doubt that one or other of them would have walked into the role had they not done so. Once they were out of the running the producers went to Plan B – a young unknown who would happily commit to the part long term.

Although we’re usually suspicious of the unnamed “BBC source” this does seem likely, especially given what we heard in the run up to that particular piece of casting.

David Harewood

David Harewood is another actor with some connection to the previous regeneration, having appeared as Joshua Naismith in The End of Time. Although British viewers may recognise Harewood from the BBC One series Robin Hood or Fat Friends, The 47 year old is perhaps best known as David Estes, Deputy Director of CIA Counterterrorism in the popular Homeland.

His connection to the popular US action series is such that he recently played down his chances, noting

It’s only rumours but it’s amazing to be attached to such an iconic role. It would be extraordinary if the BBC were to make me the first black Doctor Who, it would be extraordinary. But I’m almost scared to make any comment whatsoever.

Richard Ayoade

Finally we have The IT Crowd‘s Richard Ayoade, the casting of whom might be described as both “brilliant” and “stunt” depending upon what you know of the actor and his work. The 36 year old actor, comedian, writer and director was born to a Norwegian mother and a Nigerian father and has strong connections with The Mighty Boosh, having appeared in the radio version and had guest appearances in the TV incarnation; he also acted as script editor for the third series.

He is of course best known for his idiosyncratic performances as Moss in Graham Linehan’s The IT Crowd, but also works as a director, having helmed videos for popular groups such as The Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Like Ejiofor, Doctor Who might be the wrong move at this stage of his career.

Damien Molony

On the other hand, 29 year old Damien Molony might be at just the right stage of his fledgling career to take the plunge into Doctor Who, following the natural end of Being Human. Having only two key TV roles to his credit alongside stage work, the actor is a popular choice among fans.

He’s so far refused to rule himself out, too, so if he has been involved with casting the Twelfth Doctor, Molony might be the surprise package, a Matt Smith-style dark horse…

Stephen Mangan

Following his brilliant Dirk Gently (cancelled way too soon by BBC Four), Mangan ha long been one of the Kasterborous editorial team’s big favourites to take over from Matt Smith. Mangan is perhaps a fan himself, admitting in 2012 that

I’d love to be Doctor Who – who wouldn’t, it’s a great part, it’s very exciting.

More recently the actor – who stars in Epiodes with Tamsin Greig and Matt Le Blanc – tweeted this pic:

Who are you? pic.twitter.com/QrQegn71JH

— Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) June 1, 2013

We’ll leave the decision up to you…

Samuel West

Finally, we have the accomplished actor and self-confessed fan Samuel West, who previously appeared in the Doctor Who thirtieth anniversary charity um, thing, Dimensions in Time.

At 47 he is another older choice but the son of actors Prunella Scales and Timothy West is an intriguing possibility, with many varied roles under his belt in a career spanning more than 35 years.

So who is your choice? It’s time to vote…

Take Our Poll

Remember, if your preferred choice doesn’t appear in the list, vote “Other” and share your thongs in the comments section. We’ll discuss the results when the poll closes tomorrow.

The post Is One of These Men the Twelfth Doctor? [POLL] appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Ask the Twelfth Doctor!

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’s official Doctor Who page has invited questions from fans that will be put to the actor unveiled as the twelfth incarnation of the Time Lord in Sunday’s special.

As you should know, Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor, airs on BBC One at 7pm on Sunday, and the highlight of the show (alongside appearances from Matt Smith and Steven Moffat) will be the introduction to fans of the next actor to step into the TARDIS.

To underline the occasion, the as-yet unnamed actor will then be interviewed – and one of the questions might be yours!

As the Doctor Who team puts it:

What would you like to ask the next Doctor? Email us your questions and we’ll send a selection of them to the team making the show and some of them will be put to the next Doctor.

We obviously can’t guarantee that every question you give us will be asked so try to think of the most original question, or the funniest or something that you feel might interest people but may not have been asked before. We want great questions from you, so have a think about what you want to know and we’ll make sure the next Doctor answers some of them live on air during Sunday’s show.

Email your questions to us here at thedoctor@bbc.co.uk and please make sure the header of your email reads Next Doctor Questions.

We’ll need to know your first name, your age and where you’re from. Please note, we don’t require your full address, just your city, town or village

What are you waiting for? Get emailing!

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Watch the Doctor Who Big Reveal at York Maze!

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.

Our friends at York Maze have been in touch to tell us that the Big Reveal on Sunday evening – the unveiling of the Twelfth Doctor Who – will be screened at the Dalek-shaped maze in a special late opening!

The identity of the next Doctor Who will be revealed in a live one-off television special, Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor to be broadcast on BBC1 at 7pm on Sunday 4th August. And York Maze have announced they will stay open late so that fans visiting this year’s Doctor Who 50th Anniversary inspired maize maze won’t miss the big reveal.

Says Tom Pearcy from York Maze:

We have already had visitors contacting us to ask if there will be anywhere they can watch the BBC special on Sunday, for fear of missing it on their drive home.

We normally close at 6.30pm, but we have decided to keep the café open an hour later on Sunday 4th August so visitors enjoying their day at York Maze don’t have to rush home. They can stay here and join with other fans in watching the half hour show live on the big screen TV in our cafe. I’m sure our Dalek will be watching the show too to see who will be the next incarnation of their greatest enemy.

York Maze is open to the public from Saturday 13 July to Monday 2 September. See www.yorkmaze.co.uk for details.

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Jack Lothian’s Series 7 Script Pushed to 2014 Run?

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.

Too expensive! Too impractical! Too unwritten! Whatever the reason, there sadly wasn’t to be an episode of Doctor Who Series 7 with the words ‘written by Jack Lothian’ hovering somewhere in the time vortex.

Well, it appears that episode wasn’t killed by its trip through the metaphorical vortex and, like Captain Jack, it breathes again!

Shameless writer Jack Lothian is penning an episode for Series 8 of Doctor Who,I according to his online CV at literary and talent agency Curtis Brown where the script is currently listed as being ‘in development’.

Needless to say Jack’s CV is mightily impressive; Teachers, No Angels, Death in Paradise, Beaver Falls, Doc Martin, Skins, Outcasts and Ashes to Ashes have all benefitted from his penmanship and now it appears as though he’ll be entering that very exclusive, much coveted school of writers charged with bringing the Doctor to life.

Series 8 is expected to begin airing on BBC One in August 2014.

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