Companions: Susan Foreman

Susan (played by Carole Ann Ford).was the first ever on screen companion of the Doctor and she stayed on Earth after the Dalek Invasion in the 22nd century. Susan is the granddaughter and a companion of the Time Lord known as the Doctor. Her last name of Foreman is an alias taken from the junkyard, owned by an "I. M. Foreman" at 76 Totter's Lane, where she and the Doctor lived (in the TARDIS) during their time in London in 1963. The original outline for the series did not intend the pair to be related, but writer Anthony Coburn created the family tie as he was disturbed by the possible sexual connotations of an old man travelling alone with a teenage girl.

The Doctor explains in "An Unearthly Child" (the very first episode of Doctor Who and a title often used for the first four-part serial) that he and Susan are exiles from their own people. Susan adds, "I was born in another time, another world" (presumably Gallifrey). Susan claims to have coined the name for the TARDIS, the Doctor's time machine, though later episodes seemed to indicate that it was a widely used term among Time Lords. (The non-broadcast pilot version of "An Unearthly Child" contained different dialogue, including a statement that Susan was born in the 49th century.) It is not known if Susan is the character's real name or an alias to make her appear more human. The series' treatment of Time Lords' names is slightly inconsistent, with some Time Lords using "titles" such as The Doctor, The Master, The Inquisitor and so on, and some Time Lords using more "normal" names such as Borusa, Flavia, Spandrel or Damon.

Susan's age is given as 15. In The Sensorites (1964), the Doctor, when encountering an unconscious young human woman, remarks that "she's only a few years older than Susan," suggesting that Susan is the age of a normal secondary school student.

Susan continues to travel with the Doctor and her two teachers until the 1964 serial, The Dalek Invasion of Earth. During the events of that story, Susan falls in love with David Campbell, a young freedom fighter in the 22nd century. However, Susan feels that she has to stay with and take care of her grandfather. The Doctor, realizing that Susan is now a grown woman and deserves a future away from him, locks her out of the TARDIS and leaves after a tearful farewell.

Carole Ann Ford had expressed a desire to leave the series as she felt the character of Susan was too limiting. Ford reprised the role of Susan on television in the 20th anniversary special The Five Doctors (1983), but no mention of David, or what became of him, was made.

source: wikipedia

Guest Stars of Doctor Who: Christopher Benjamin

Christopher Benjamin is a British actor, born 27 December, 1934 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England.

He is well known for his roles in some of the UK's biggest cult television programmes. This included playing the same character in two Patrick McGoohan dramas, Danger Man and The Prisoner, fueling speculation that they are possibly linked.

Predominantly a theatre actor, he has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is appearing at Shakespeare's Globe from 17 June to 5 October 2008 as Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor.

He has appeared in three Doctor Who Stories: Sir Keith Gold in Inferno (1970); Henry Gordon Jago in The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1977); and Colonel Hugh in The Unicorn and the Wasp (2008)

It's Easy Being the Doctor

Tom Baker has confessed it was easy to get back into character as Doctor Who's Time Lord - because he just plays himself.
The 75-year-old actor is returning to the role of the Doctor after 28 years in a series of five audio adventures from BBC Audiobooks Doctor Who: Hornets' Nest.
Baker said: "It was never a question for how do I feel about being back in character - I was just back being me."

The Doctor Uncut

From Scifiwire.com Garth Ancier, president of BBC America, announced Wednesday that BBC America will air unedited versions of Doctor Who and other series. The shows will still have commercials: They'll just exceed an hour all told. That's only for the premiere airing, of course.
"In order to keep the storylines intact on most of these shows now, on the premiere airing we don't do any cutting at all," Ancier said in a press conference in Pasadena, Calif., as part of the Television Critics Association's summer press tour. "We just take the entire show, and we run over off the clock. That's what we've been doing, and that's what we're going to do for Doctor Who going forward. The audience seems to be following it, and that way we're not screwing up someone's vision, what they're trying to do, or screwing up story points."
Doctor Who producer Russell T Davies thanked Ancier for respecting the BBC run times, adding that David Tennant's final episode, "The End of Time," will push the schedule even further. "Actually, our very last episode, coming at Christmas, David's very last episode, is one hour and 15 minutes long," Davies revealed in the press conference.
That means with commercials, "Time" will require at least a 90-minute block. "At least an hour and a half, maybe [two]," Ancier replied. "It's great. We run off the clock. It's what the audience wants to see. We actually get complaints if we don't. They know the U.K. episodes somehow, and they don't like it when we take any of it out." (What, is Ancier suggesting that avid U.S. fans aren't waiting for the BBC America to air the show, but rather are bittorrenting the British episodes right off the Internet immediately after they air in the U.K.? Who would do such a thing?)
Expect BBC America airings to debut closer to BBC U.K. airings, too. Contractually, BBC America has to run after the U.K., but with schedules locked in in advance, they are able to schedule close enough to get the Christmas special around Christmas or New Year's Day.
"Doctor Who Christmas and New Year specials are such iconic things, they're locked on the schedule very early," Ancier said. "That allows us to put it on pretty quickly."

Another Place in Guinness

Variety.com: On Sunday, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized "Doctor Who" as the most successful sci-fi series. "It is too good a show to have just one record," said Guinness editor in chief Craig Glenday.
Guinness granted the award on the basis of broadcast ratings, DVD sales, book sales and iTunes traffic. "It's hard to quantify illegal downloads, but we included those as well," Glenday said.
Longevity was another factor, since "Doctor Who" also holds the Guinness record for longest-running sci-fi TV series. A controversy broke out over that record in 2006, and "Stargate SG-1" later received the record for longest-running consecutive sci-fi series after completing a 10-year run.
"I can hear Comic-Con war breaking out there," said showrunner Russell T. Davies, who accepted the honor on behalf of �Dr Who� creator Verity Lambert.
"Doctor Who" premiered November 23, 1963. The one-hour �Dr. Who� special, "Planet of the Dead," premieres July 26 on BBC America.

Source: Louis Trapani

The Return SPOILER!!

SPOILER!!--------From the BBC Doctor Who Site: John Simm will return as the Master in the two special episodes which bring David Tennant's era as the Doctor to a stunning conclusion. There's been speculation about Simm's involvement with the show but we can confirm he'll be back later this year, once again playing the Doctor's deadly nemesis.

Simm first appeared as the Master in Utopia, The Sound of Drums and The Last of the Time Lords. All three episodes were written by Executive Producer and Head Writer Russell T Davies who also wrote his upcoming adventure.

The character debuted in 1971 and on-screen has faced all but the Second and Ninth Doctors. Davies' version of the Master saw him retain his wit and cunning but since Utopia he's been callous and charismatic, sick, psychotic and enormously likeable. In short, everyone's favourite megalomaniac.

At the close of Series Three we saw the Master gunned down by his wife and whilst lying in his enemy's arms, he refused to regenerate. The world believed he had died and the Doctor accepted he was the last of the Time Lords. But this is Doctor Who and you can't keep a good bad guy down!

We've yet to find out how he survived but we can promise we'll be bringing you an exclusive interview with John Simm and some brand new Master material later this year. Stay tuned!

Waters of Mars New Trailer

New Trailer for Waters of Mars. Don't know how long it will be on youtube. Enjoy.

Comic Con Today!!

TODAY @ COMIC CON
10:00-11:00 Dr. Who— Actor David Tennant, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, director Euros Lyn, and executive producer Julie Gardner discuss their creative process and experiences working on BBC America's Doctor Who—television's longest-running sci-fi series—with exclusive clips and a Q&A session. Ballroom 20.

I'll be looking for news and you tube vides for all of us who cannot be there.

Torchwood Series 4?

BBC America told ComicMix's Mike Raub that Torchwood has been picked up for a fourth season. No word on when it will air or the number of episodes. This follows the highly succesful UK broadcast of Children Of Earth.

Source

David Tennant & John Barrowman @ Comic Con

War Games/Black Guardian Trilogy DVD

tvshowsondvd.com is reporting that The War games Staring Patrick Troughton and the Black Guardian Trilogy staring Peter Davison will arrive on DVD November 3rd 2009.

Doctor Who - Story #050: The War Games
The TARDIS arrives on a planet where a race known only as the Aliens have gathered soldiers from a number of different wars in history, brainwashed them and put them to battle. Their aim is to form an invincible army from the survivors and use this to take over the galaxy.
$49.98 SRP;

Bonus Material includes Cast/Crew Commentary, "Warzone" Featurette, "Shades of Grey" Featurette, "Now and Then" Featurette, "The Doctor's Composer" Featurette, "Sylvia James - In Conversation" Interview, "Talking About Regeneration" Featurette", "Time Zones" Featurette, "Stripped For Action: The Second Doctor" Comic Strip Adventures, "On Target: Malcolm Hulke" Featurette, "Devious" fan-produced film with Jon Pertwee (with commentary track), Photo Gallery, Subtitle Production Notes, DVD-ROM PDF Material, Coming Soon Trailer and Easter Eggs.

Doctor Who - Story #126, 127, 128: The Black Guardian Trilogy
MAWDRYN UNDEAD The Black Guardian recruits a young man named Turlough to assassinate the Doctor. Although outwardly an ordinary pupil at a boys' private boarding school, Turlough is in fact an alien who believesthat the Guardian will return him home if he succeeds. TERMINUS The TARDIS attaches itself to a space liner after Turlough, still under the Black Guardian's influence, damages its controls. The liner docks with what appears to be a hulk floating in space. This is Terminus, which claims to offer a cure for lazar disease. ENLIGHTENMENT The White Guardian warns of impending danger and directthe TARDIS to what appears to be an Edwardian sailing yacht, the SS Shadow, but is actually one of a number of spaceships taking part in a race through the solar system, the prize being Enlightenment.
$59.98 SRP;

Bonus Material includes Cast/Crew Commentaries on all three stories (including Peter Davison), "Who Wants to Live Forever?" Featurette, "Liberty Hall" drama, Deleted and Extended Scenes, Film Trims (clap-boards, set-ups, etc.), Outtakes/Bloopers, Continuity Announcements/Trailers, Photo Gallery, Isolated Score for all three stories, "Breaking Point" Featurette, "Origins of the Universe" Featurette, Original Storyboards for "Terminus" and "Enlightenment", Unused Model Shots, Option for New CGI Effects for "Terminus", "Winner Takes All" Featurette, "Casting Off!" Featurette, "Single Write Female" Interview, "The Story of the Guardians" Featurette, optional 75 min movie-format edit of "Enlightenment" in widescreen video and 5.1 audio (and with optional introduction by the director), "Re-Enlightenment" Featurette, Original Edit Comparison, "Finding Mark Strickson" Featurette, "Finding Sarah Sutton" Featurette, Clips from the Russell Harty 1982 Christmas Party (with Peter Davison and then-wife Sandra Dickinson singing and dancing), Radio Times Listing DVD-ROM PDFs, Coming Soon Trailer, Program Subtitles and Subtitle Production Notes.

Jon Pertwee The Action Figure

Via The Gallifreyan Embassy:Forbidden Planet (UK) has announced the availability of two versions of the 3rd Doctor (as played by Jon Pertwee) collectable action figure expected to arrive in their warehouse on the 30th of October 2009. It is going to be available in two sets. A uniquely dressed 3rd Doctor figure appears in each. One with a Dalek and one with a Sea Devil.

It is still not certain at this time whether these will be exclusive to the UK as was the case with the 1st and 2nd Doctor figures by Character Options via Forbidden Planet. These are now available currently in the US as exclusives at the San Diego Comic Con running now from Underground Toys.

More Set Pics of 11th Doctor

Den of Geek has published more 11th Doctor Pics, a few below. Plus one spoiler picture that you might or might not want to check out. Follow the link to those wonderful geeks at the den.

New Tom Baker Audio Stories

From Den of Geek: Yes, apparently Tom Baker is putting his scarf back on and will be playing the Doctor in a new BBC Radio monthly series with the umbrella title of “Hornet’s Nest” on from September 3rd.

Alongside Tom will be Richard Franklin as Captain Mike Yates.

Another addition to the cast will be his housekeeper, “Mrs. Wibbsey” voiced by Susan Jameson.

A housekeeper? Oh yes, apparently the Doctor will be shacked up in a Sussex cottage in a gap in his time stream between Leela and Romana.

The latest information on these new additions to the Fourth Doctor canon is that there will be five of them;
1. The Stuff of Nightmares (September 3rd 2009)The Doctor recruits Mike Yates to help him defeat an enemy of enormous power.
2. The Dead Shoes (October 8th 2009)The Doctor travels to Cromer’s Palace of Curios in 1932 and discovers the horrific truth behind…a pair of ballet shoes!
3. The Circus of Doom (November 5th 2009)One hundred years earlier, the Doctor encounters a sinister circus that exerts a strange influence over the population of the town of Blandford.
4. A Sting in the Tale (December 3rd 2009)A sinister Mother Superior is running awry in the Wintertime. It’s up to the Doctor to find out quite what’s going on.
5. Hive of Horror (December 3rd 2009)The Doctor and Mike Yates and an unwilling accomplice must do battle with their fearsome enemy.

Read it all at Den of Geek

More Matt Smith Pictures.

More Set photos from Matt Smiths First day on the set. He so reminds me of Parick Troughton in his new costume. What do you think?

The 11th Doctor in Costume

Sporting a 1950's look, the 11th Doctor, with his new companion on set and filming the 5th series of Doctor who. While his costume is not modern, it reflects back to a more flamboyant side of the Time-Lord. The bow tie is just top notch. What do you think?

David tennant in the Hobbit?

Den of Geek is reporting: With filming starting early next year for Guillermo del Toro's two-film take on The Hobbit, news on casting decisions for the new movies is, it's fair to say, quite eagerly awaited. Much of the speculation at the moment surrounds the central role of Bilbo Baggins, which has been linked with the likes of Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy thus far.

Yet at the end of last week, another name got chucked into the proverbial ring. And it was the name of the outgoing Doctor Who, David Tennant. Tennant, who is heading to Comic-Con for the first time in a few weeks' time, was being tipped for the role.

Waters of Mars Video

A New Waters of Mars Video has arrived on youtube. The new Doctor Who special is due to air later this year. Enjoy:

The Waters of Mars Pics

Some pictures from the Waters of Mars, the next Doctor Who special to air later this year, have made their way onto the net. Check them out.

Guest Stars of Doctor Who: Julian Glover

Glover was born in Hampstead, the son of Honor (née Wyatt), a close friend of the novelist Barbara Pym, and C. Gordon Glover, a BBC radio producer.[1] His half brother is the musician Robert Wyatt. He attended Bristol Grammar School in Bristol, England, where he was in the same class as actors Timothy West and "Darth Vader" actor David Prowse, and also Alleyn's School in Dulwich.

Glover trained at the National Youth Theatre and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In the early 1950s he appeared in several shows at Unity Theatre, London During the 1960s and 1970s, Glover frequently appeared in British television shows, including The Avengers, Doctor Who, (The Crusade with William Hartnell and City of Death with Tom Baker)The Saint and Blake's 7.

Julian Glover also appeared in 1967's Quatermass and the Pit, a Hammer Studios adaptation of Nigel Kneale's 1950s BBC television original, in which he portrayed Quatermass' nemesis, Colonel Breen, a military man, initially skeptical of the ancient origin of an archaeologically excavated extraterrestrial spacecraft who is later ironically in thrall to the murderous energy released from the craft. In 1979, he appeared as the villain, Scaroth, in the Doctor Who episode, "City of Death," one of the most acclaimed and popular episodes of the series.

Glover also appeared opposite Roger Moore in the episode of The Saint titled "Invitation to Danger."

He made some of his most notable appearances during the 1980s as the Imperial General Maximilian Veers in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the ruthless Aris Kristatos in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981), and the deceptive American Nazi Walter Donovan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). During the 1980s he played the leading role in the BBC television drama series, By the Sword Divided.

He also appeared in the 2002 film version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as the voice of the giant spider Aragog.

He is currently playing the role of Mr. Brownlow in the West End revival of the musical Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

He is an Associate Member of Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Tom Jones (1963) - Lt. Northerton
Girl with Green Eyes (1964) - Malachi Sullivan
Time Lost and Time Remembered (1965) - Dr. Matthew Langdon
The Alphabet Murders (1965) - Don Fortune
Doctor Who - The Crusade (1965) - Richard the Lionheart
Blood Fiend (1966) - Charles Marquis
Quatermass and the Pit (1967) - Col. Breen
The Magus (1968) - Anton
Alfred the Great (1969) - Shrdlu
The Adding Machine (1969) - Shrdlu
The Last Grenade (1970) - Andy Royal
Wuthering Heights (1970) - Hindley Earnshaw
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970) - Col. Moffat
Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) - Gapon
Antony and Cleopatra (1972) - Proculeius
Luther (1973) - The Knight
Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973) - Fegelein
Dead Cert (1974) - Lodge
Terror on the Britannic (1974) - Commander Marder
The Internecine Project (1974) - Arnold Pryce-Jones
Space 1999 - Alpha Child (1975) - Jarak
Gulliver's Travels (1977) - (voice)
The Brute (1977) - Teddy
Doctor Who - City of Death (1979) - Scaroth/Count Scarlioni
Invasion (1980) - Alexander Dubcek
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - General Veers
For Your Eyes Only (1981) - Aristotle Kristatos
Ivanhoe (1982) - King Richard
Dombey and Son - Mr. Dombey
Heat and Dust (1983) - Crawford, the District Collector
Hearts of Fire (1987) - Alfred
The Fourth Protocol (1987) - Brian Harcourt-Smith
Cry Freedom (1987) - Don Card
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - Walter Donovan
Tusks (1990) - Ian Taylor
Treasure Island (1990) - Dr. Livesey
Letters, Riddles and Writs - Joseph Haydn
King Ralph (1991) - King Gustav
Power and Lovers (1994) - Matthew
The House of Angelo (1997) - Sir Robert Willoughby
Vatel (2000) - Prince de Condé
The Book of Eve (2002) - Burt Smallwood
Two Men Went to War (2002) - Col. Hatchard
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - Aragog (voice)
Troy (2004) - Triopas
Strings (2004) - Kahro (English version voice)
Scoop (2006) – Lord Lyman
Mirrors (2008) - Robert Esseker
The Young Victoria (2009) - Duke of Wellington

source: wikipedia

Torchwood Ratings

Torchwood: Children Of Earth had a strong start for BBC One Monday night, according to early ratings figures.
The first episode of the five-part third series of the Doctor Who spinoff - starring John Barrowman and Eve Myles - pulled in 5.94m (25.8%) during the 9pm hour, coming first place in its timeslot.
Previously, series one opened to 2.4m (12.7%) on BBC Three on October 22, 2006, while 3.72m (14.8%) tuned in for the series two premiere on BBC Two on January 16, 2008.
Torchwood's nearest rival last night was an episode of ITV1's Real Crimelooking at the murder of teenager Hannah Foster. It managed 4.15m (18%) in the 9pm hour, while BBC Two's The Supersizers Eat... The French Revolution had 1.55m (6.7%).

Source: Digital Spy

Director for Who Movie?

Over at io9.com I found they are reporting a story from BleedingCool.com that suggests that Euros Lyn director of Torchwood: Children of Earth has been approached for the Doctor Who Movie - confirmed as in development by the BBC and expected to be announced at this year's San Diego Comic-Con - and that it will be headed up by departing showrunner Russell T Davies and starring outgoing Doctor David Tennant, allowing the incoming team of Steven Moffatt and Matt Smith to concentrate on the television series.
It has been reported that, Lyn, Tennant and Davies have all been confirmed to appear at Comic-Con later this month.