SciFiAndTvTalk

Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead on BBC America

[caption id="attachment_1338" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="David Tennant (The Doctor) and Michelle Ryan (Lady Christina de Souza) in Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead. Photo courtesy of and copyright of the BBC"][/caption] SPOILER ALERT!! - Following last month's premiere of Doctor Who: The Next Doctor on BBC America comes our hero's next adventure, Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead. In it, the Doctor (David Tennant) is trapped on a desert alien world with a red double-decker bus, but no TARDIS. He soon discovers the mysterious planet holds terrifying secrets hidden in the sand and is forced to team up with an enigmatic, aristocratic thief, Lady Christina de Souza (Eastenders, Bionic Woman, Merlin) to get back to Earth. But time is running out as the deadly Swarm gets closer. Will the Doctor defeat the Swarm and return to Earth safely with his gorgeous companion or will they face a life doomed on this strange planet? [caption id="attachment_1341" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="David Tennant as the Doctor in Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead. Photo courtesy of and copyright of the BBC"][/caption] Mini Q & A with David Tennant on Planet Of The Dead Has filming the specials been different from filming the regular series? "I think we get slightly more time to film the specials. I don't know if that's even true - we get four weeks to film an hour-long special whereas we get about two-and-a-half weeks to film a normal 45-minute episode. So we've got a little bit more time to play with, but then they tend to be a bit more ambitious. Certainly this one was, and you know the fact that we wanted to film in an actual desert and there aren't a lot of those in South Wales. So we had to find somewhere in the world that we could achieve that and had an infrastructure that we could use to film in and that would have us, you know? Tell us about the desert vistas. "We went to the desert and got some incredible shots. I mean, I think you'll notice it onscreen that we went a long way and that the director as well as the camera particularly made it count. I think it'll look like an alien planet in a way that nothing we've ever done before has ever quite managed, just because it is an extraordinary sight, with the sun beating down on miles of sand and blue skies. It really is like being in another world, so it was quite useful for us!" What is this episode about? "Well, it's about a bus that ends up on an alien planet and an international jewel thief who meets the Doctor and is quite intrigued by him. And it's about two alien races, once of which is just doing what comes naturally, while the other is trying to get home. All of those elements kind of combine into a story that is a bit bonkers, extremely fast moving and sort of on a scope that is bigger than we've managed before. It's very exciting having done a show for four years and still be able to find new stories to tell and new ways of telling them. It's great, and it's what makes it such a terrific show to work on." [caption id="attachment_1344" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Things get a little hot under the collar for the Doctor (David Tennant) and Lady Christina (Michelle Ryan) in Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead. Photo courtesy of and copyright of the BBC"][/caption] Mini Q & A With Michelle Ryan on Planet Of The Dead Tell us about your character of Lady Christina de Souza. "Christina is a mysterious, adventure-seeking aristocrat and is very much a loner who's off in her own little world. She's very daring, exciting, smart, sassy and a cool character." When did you first hear about the part, and why did it appeal to you? "I first heard about the part just before Christmas and it appealed to me. I was reading lots of different scripts at the time and then I read this one and I was so engaged with the character as well as her journey. It was just a really interesting, dynamic script and few of those come along for young actresses, so I was kind of like, 'Yeah, I'd like to be a part of this.'" What's it like working with David Tennant? "It's amazing. He is genuinely one of the most professional, lovely brilliant actors I've ever worked with. David has such a good vibe and he gives great energy to everyone. He's really cool. It's quite family-like and fun [on the set] and it's been such a laugh to work on. The rest of the cast, including the supporting cast, have been been brilliant." How did you find working with the Tritovores? "That was a bit of a shock, but they're very good. It was cool doing all the special effects stuff where you've got these big creatures coming at you. I loved doing the harness and wire work; I was hung upside-down, dropped and bounced up and down, all of which was fun!" What was it like on-set working with Lee Evans (Dr. Malcolm Taylor)? Filming with Lee Evans is great. He's actually really quiet, but then all of a sudden he'll start being really funny. He's just naturally funny and lovely." Is there a romantic spark between your character and The Doctor? "There is a little bit of a romantic spark between the Doctor and Christina. I think she feels like she's met her equal, and the Doctor feels like he's met his match with Christina. She doesn't come across many men that intrigue and inspire her the way the Doctor does. He manages to show her that she can actually use her skills to help other people, and that it's more fun when you're part of a team rather than being a loner. She goes on a journey with him and I think she'd like it to be more, but the Doctor is quite closed off to that because he's been hurt in the past. He's off doing his thing and she's like, 'Well, OK,' and off on her next adventure!" [caption id="attachment_1349" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sparks fly between the Doctor (David Tennant) and Lady Christina (Michelle Ryan) in Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead. Photo courtesy of and copyright of the BBC"][/caption] Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead premieres Sunday, July 26th @ 8 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America. Stay tuned to BBC America for more adventures with our favorite Time Lord. Doctor Who: The Waters Of Mars is the third special and along with two additional as yet untitled specials will premiere later in 2009 and early 201o. As noted above, all photos are courtesy of and copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any form. Thanks!

Season ' s Greetings

[caption id="attachment_1324" align="aligncenter" width="257" caption="Miss Hartigan (Dervla Kirwan) and her Cybernetic allies cross paths with The Doctor (David Morrissey) AND The Doctor (David Tennant) in Doctor Who: The Next Doctor. Photo courtesy of and copyright of the BBC"][/caption] THERE is no denying that two Time Lords are better than one, especially where the Cybermen are concerned. In Doctor Who: The Next Doctor, the first of five Doctor Who specials to air on BBC America throughout 2009 and into early 2010, The Doctor (David Tennant) arrives in a snow-covered Victorian London on Christmas Eve, 1851. It is no ordinary holiday, however, as the Cybermen, one of The Doctor's oldest and deadliest enemies are also in town. [caption id="attachment_1325" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Doctor (David Tennant) gets into the holiday spirit when the TARDIS arrives back on Earth just in time for Christmas in Merry Ole England, 1851. Photo courtesy of and copyright of the BBC"][/caption] When The Doctor begins to investigate a spate of mysterious deaths, he is surprised to meet another Doctor (David Morrissey), complete with his own sonic screwdriver and companion, Rosita (Velile Tshabalala). How could this be possible? Could this Doctor be a future regeneration? If so, where are his memories? [caption id="attachment_1328" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Doctor (David Morrissey), Rosita (Velile Tshabalala) and The Doctor (David Tennant) discuss their next move. Photo courtesy of and copyright of the BBC"][/caption] The two must combine forces to defeat the ruthless Miss Hartigan (Dervla Kirwan), who is the Cyberman's human ally, but are two Doctors enough to stop the rise of the CyberKing? [caption id="attachment_1329" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Walking in a Winter Wonderland! Photo courtesy of and copyright of the BBC"][/caption] Doctor Who: The Next Doctor  makes its BBC America premiere on Saturday, June 27th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST. As noted above, all photos courtesy of and copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any form. Thanks!

Who Is The New Host

[caption id="attachment_1513" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="David Tennant takes over the reins this fall as the new host of the PBS series Masterpiece Contemporary. Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] ONE of Britian's most popular actors has been named the new host of Masterpiece Contemporary on PBS. David Tennant, well-known to fans of British television for his acclaimed star turns as Doctor Who and Casanova, will make his hosting debut when Masterpiece Contemporary returns in October 2009 with Endgame, a drama about the last days of apartheid. "How many actors can nail the characters of Casanova and the Doctor?" says Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton. "David's talent, versatility and unique appeal make him the perfect match for Masterpiece Contemporary. "I'm honored to be hosting the series that introduced American audiences to programming such as Casanova and He Knew He Was Right," says Tennant. "And it's a thrill to join the Masterpiece family of hosts: Masterpiece Mystery!'s Alan Cumming and Masterpiece Classic's Laura Linney." Tennant's award-winning run [2005-present] in the classic British Sci-Fi series Doctor Who has gained him worldwide recognition. His other iconic television roles include the flirtatious vicar Reverand Gibson in Masterpiece's He Knew He Was Right; the infamous 18th-century lothario Casanova in Masterpiece's rollicking miniseries, playing the youthful counterpart to Peter O'Toole; and the down-at-the-heel Inspector Peter Carlisle in the cult hit Blackpool. His career, launched in his native Scotland, extends to film and stage. Millions of moviegoers know him as Barty Crouch Junior in the blockbuster Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Ginger Littlejohn in Stephen Fry's Bright Young Things. He recently worked with Bill Nighy, Romola Garai and Julie Christie in the Stephen Poliakoff film 1939, which will be released later this year. A graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD), Tennant developed his stage career at the Royal Shakespeare Company. He recently completed a successful run as Hamlet with the RSC. Masterpiece Contemporary will return in October 2009 with Endgame, a gripping new drama about the final days of apartheid in South Africa. Starring William Hurt (Damages), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things, American Gangster, Serenity) and Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone, Trainspotting), Endgame premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival. As noted above, photo of David Tennant is the copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any form. Thanks!

The British Are Coming!

[caption id="attachment_1491" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Guess who's coming to San Diego??? David Tennant as The Doctor in Doctor Who. Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] IN support of BBC America's U.S. premiere of four Doctor Who specials, The Doctor himself, David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T. Davies at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego. They will take part in a Doctor Who panel along with executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn on Sunday, July 26th from 10 a.m - 11 a.m. PST in Ballroom 20. David will travel to Comic-Con fresh from the Doctor Who set, having shot his final scenes at the 10th Time Lord. He and fellow panelists will discuss the latest incarnation of television's longest running Science Fiction series and take questions from the floor. There will also be exclusive sneak peeks from the upcoming specials. Fans can visit the BBC America booth (#3629) to capture their own photograph alongside part of the Doctor Who set, as well as purchase exclusive merchandise including David Tennant figures. Fans of BBC America's highest rated show ever, Torchwood, which will have just completed the five-part special Children of Earth, will get to chat first-hand with the stars and makers of the show. Just 48 hours after the last episode, the series makes a return visit to Comic-Con with a panel featuring star John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), writer/executive producer Russell T. Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn on Sunday, July 26th from 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. PST in Room 6BCF. As part of the Torchwood panel, catch the talent from BBC America's most buzzed about new Science Fiction drama, Being Human. Creator and writer Toby Whithouse, plus lead actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aiden Turner, talk about the inspiration for the show and what it's like to play three twenty-somethings with secret double-lives - as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. All four panelists will be signing exclusively at the BBC America booth on Saturday, July 25th from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. PST. Cult comedy favorite and BAFTA-nominated The Mighty Boosh comes to Comic-Con for the first time to celebrate the airing of all three seasons on Adult Swim and the BBC's DVD release, just two days before the convention begins. Inspired by the Perrier Comedy Award-winning live comedy show, creators/stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown will be onstage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh on Friday, July 24th from 4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m PST in Room 6A. The hit UK comedy series follows crazy zookeepers Howard Moon and Vince Noir and was described by The San Jose Mercury News as "an acid trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny."  This panel will be preceeded by a Mighty Boosh signing in the Autograph Area from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m PST. Fans can also catch exclusive BBC America screenings during the convention with back-to-back episodes of Doctor Who and Torchwood. On Saturday, July 25th from 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. PST in Room 6A, key talent from Torchwood and Doctor Who introduce the last episode of the five-part series Torchwood: Children of Earth, and an advance viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant. Underground Toys (Booth #3949) will be selling its entire Doctor Who and Torchwood lines of toys and novelty items as well as once again introduce new limited-edition Comic-Con action figures that have never been seen before. As noted above, the photo of David Tennant is copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any form. Thanks!