The Doctor's granddaughter

The travelling Time Lord known as The Doctor (first incarnation) had a granddaughter called Susan Foreman (an alias).  In The Dalek Invasion of Earth, set in 2164, The Doctor left Susan on Earth, somewhere in Bedford, so she could lead a 'normal' life.



Strangely, The Doctor in his future incarnations returned to Earth many times, with the third Doctor in exile there for sometime, but never made the effort to return post-2164 to check on her.

Was she actually Gallifreyan?

The first journey of the TARDIS (from Earth, with passengers)

The TARDIS has been journeying since 1963.

Fearing that his time machine will be discovered if he lets school teachers Barbara and Ian go, the Doctor sets the TARDIS on its first journey. When the TARDIS finally materialises, it is on a barren, rocky landscape, with an ominous shadow falling across it. Classic clip from the 1963 four-part story 'An Unearthly Child', the very first Doctor Who story starring William Hartnell as the Doctor. Watch more videos on the new Classic Doctor Who YouTube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/bbcclassicdoctorwho and get the latest Classic Doctor Who news at http://www.twitter.com/classicdw

Shown on Top Gear, the way the TARDIS now travels is a little more colourful

Elisabeth Sladen 1948-2011

Elisabeth Sladen (1 February 1948 - 19 April 2011)

(with K9 - photo from BBC/Radio Times)

Elisabeth Sladen portrayed Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and was probably considered to be one of the most favourite of the Doctor's companions.

She first became The Doctor's companion in 1973 in The Time Warrior, which also introduced a Sontaran warrior Linx (Jon Pertwee as the Doctor)


When Doctor Who was revived by the BBC, Sarah Jane Smith would be reunited with the Doctor (David Tennant) on a number of 'adventures' as well has her own spin-off show.

See obituaries in BBC, NPR, The Telegraph, The Guardian and The First Post.

BBC News


ITN report


The io9 website features an excellent article by Charlie Jane Anders, which analyses how the Sarah Jane Smith character developed over the years.

EDIT (Added 24 April 2011). A tribute by CBBC broadcast in UK on 23 April

Why Daleks are feared

(photo from BBC)

Cambridge University researcher Dr Robin Bunce has examined why Daleks scare people. From Cambridge University Research News published on 19 April 2011

It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Ever since Doctor Who first aired in 1963, the series has been internationally recognisable thanks to one of the most ridiculous space-creatures ever conceived; a master race of intergalactic pepperpots, armed with a sink plunger and an egg whisk, who (according to popular mythology), are hell-bent on conquering anywhere, provided it doesn’t involve stairs.

But don’t let that fool you. For more than 45 years, the Doctor’s arch-enemies, the Daleks, have been striking fear into young viewers with their chilling war-cry of “Exterminate!”. Like the Doctor himself, they have become an icon of British culture. For many, hiding behind the sofa when they appear is virtually a rite of passage.

Now, with the new season of Doctor Who nearly upon us, a Cambridge University academic has turned his mind to what makes the Daleks so terrifying. Writing in a new paper, Dr Robin Bunce – normally a researcher in intellectual history – explores why these unlikeliest of sci-fi foes bettered the rest, and became the most menacing alien ever to invade the small screen.

His answer has nothing to do with their often-cited, non-human appearance, nor their weird, electronic voices. In fact, Dr Bunce believes that the Daleks succeed because they offer us a moral lesson in what it means to be human in the first place. They terrify us because the evil they represent is a more precise definition than that of philosophers stretching from Socrates to Kant. They are chilling, he argues, because they are a vision of what we ourselves might become.

“The reason the Daleks are evil is because we recognise that they were once better,” Dr Bunce explained. “They are the nightmare future we dread.”

“According to their back-story, once they were capable of genuine emotion and real moral good. Now they are sexless, heartless brains, shut up in machines incapable of intimacy, who have forgotten what it means to laugh and no longer think of themselves as individuals. We recognise the Daleks as evil because they have lost all that we hold most dear.”

Read more.

Actually, Daleks are scary because they want to ex-ter-min-ate humans. Should a 'fictitious' Dalek approach you, it has only one purpose in mind. Surely no potential fatal victim of a Dalek is going to be thinking about what Daleks once were but instead flee for their lives. Now that is scary.

Dr Robin Bunce's paper is actually a chapter in the book, Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside, which has been out for sometime (this year) in the United States.

A trans-dimensional paradox loop

In this two-part clip for 2011 BBC Comic Relief (Red Nose Day), the TARDIS materalises inside itself. While a comedic piece, the trans-dimensional paradox loop is a fascinating concept.





See previously - an explanation of the chameleon circuit and an explanation of trans-dimensional engineering.

Dalek Week

It's Dalek Week at the BBC.

Viewers voted for their favourite Dalek scenes. This one is from Victory of the Daleks


How Daleks came to exist was explained in the 1975 episodes of Genesis of the Daleks. This is a clip of Sarah Jane Smith seeing Davros, the Dalek's creator, for the first time.


See more - BBC Doctor Who Celebrating the Daleks

Doctor Who Experience

Whovians the world over will be flocking to London, and then Cardiff, for the ultimate Doctor Who fix.

See press release from BBC Worldwide via Taylor Herring (lifted completely and unashamedly in full, which is the intent of press releases)

LONDON, Thursday 25th November 2010: BBC Worldwide invite you on a journey of a lifetime. Step inside the TARDIS this spring to take a starring role in your very own Doctor Who adventure at the Doctor Who Experience.

Opening in London on Sunday 20th February 2011 at London’s Olympia Two venue, the Doctor Who Experience promises to be an unmissable adventure featuring an exhilarating and unique walk-through experience and an awe-inspiring exhibition.

Visitors will be invited to step through a crack in time to become the Doctor’s companion on an adventure. Their challenge will be to reunite the Doctor with the TARDIS whilst fending off threats from a Dalek spaceship and Weeping Angels along the way, before exploring the wonders of Doctor Who at an out of this world exhibition.

The Doctor Who Experience allows visitors to join the Doctor on a journey through time and space, encountering some of the best-loved and scariest monsters from the hit international television series. Special scenes filmed with current Doctor Matt Smith combine with amazing special effects and the chance to enter a recreation of the modern TARDIS interior topped off by a breathtaking 3-D finale. The walk through experience is a fully contained interactive Doctor Who adventure, which puts the public at the heart of the action.

The exhibition element of the Doctor Who Experience will chart the success of the show from the first series in 1963 to the most recent episodes starring Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. Displays will include items never seen before including original costumes, the Tom Baker TARDIS police box and two authentic TARDIS sets from the eras of David Tennant and Peter Davison. The public will also be able to get up close and personal with iconic sets from recent series, including the Pandorica Box and Chair and confront numerous monsters including several generations of the Daleks and Cybermen as well as Silurians an Ice Warrior and a Zygon.

Steven Moffat, Executive Producer and show runner for the hit television series comments: “The Doctor Who Experience is a fan’s dream come true – a fully interactive adventure that will allow viewers of the show to get as close as possible to some of the scariest monsters from the series. It will also be the first time that Doctor Who artefacts from all the show’s 47 year history – classic and new – will be on display together, many of them being seen for the first time. And never mind that, this is the day the Doctor teaches you how to fly the TARDIS through time and space, and takes you into battle with all his deadliest enemies in a brand new adventure. So steady your nerves and bring your own sofa – the Doctor needs you!”

Doctor Who star, Matt Smith, who has recorded a series of special, new scenes exclusive to the Doctor Who Experience comments:
“The whole concept of the Doctor Who Experience, which will give fans a chance to star in their very own Doctor Who adventure, is massively exciting! I hope as many people as possible enjoy boarding the TARDIS next year to embark upon an exhilarating and sometimes terrifying adventure through time and space.”

BBC Worldwide is pleased to announce that it is planning to relocate the Doctor Who Experience to a long term home in Cardiff in 2012.

The Doctor Who Experience promises to be an unmissable adventure for the whole family to enjoy. The Doctor needs your help – are you brave enough to step in to the TARDIS and join the adventure?

Tickets on sale from  www.doctorwhoexperience.com

For press enquiries, please contact Taylor Herring on 0208 206 5151

Oh yes, but a "walk through" experience?  I'd like a ride though the time vortex.

An explanation of the chameleon circuit

or why the TARDIS has the appearance of a 1960s police phone box.



Following The Eleventh Hour, just before The Beast Below.

See previously - an explanation of transdimensional engineering.

An explanation of trans-dimensional engineering

or why the inside of the TARDIS is bigger than the outside.



From The Robots of Death, the Doctor explains to Leela, who had just joined him as a companion following The Face of Evil.

The Doctor Who Radiophon-A-Tron

Nearly six years old on their website, but still hours of fun. From BBC

Create your own version of the Doctor Who theme tune.

Ever wanted to mix a bit of Delia's Diddley-Dum with Howell's Wee-Wah-Woo? Well, now you can. We've combined all those basses, bleeps and whooshes into a fun Flash application for you to play with.

Enjoy the Radiophon-A-Tron, but spare a thought for your neighbours too!

Link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/news/radiophonatron.shtml

enemies of The Doctor including the Daleks

Simon Rogers at The Guardian compiled a list of every Doctor Who villain. He writes

If you really want to wind people up, don't write about budget cuts or school buildings or the world economy. Ask readers to help you compile a list of every Doctor Who villain. Ever. I know because that's what the Guardian's Datablog and Datastore website did last week – with dramatic results.

Doctor Who is made for data. It's the longest-running sci-fi show in Britain, possibly the world. The good doctor has battled monsters and aliens in 769 episodes since William Hartnell's first appearance in 1963. Our project was inspired by a user on the "data visualisation website" Many Eyes. xxnapoleansolo had compiled a list of every Doctor Who villain since the programme was relaunched in 2005. But that wasn't completist enough for us. So we tried asking the BBC for a list. "Good God," a spokeswoman replied. Another press officer came back with the suggestion that, if you really want to get this done, you need to ask the fans. So we did.

I'm not sure the Guardian Datablog has ever had an article re-tweeted on Twitter more than 200 times in 10 minutes before.It spread around the Doctor Who web faster than a Cyber battle fleet; the comments on the article now read like the ultimate distillation of Doctor Who knowledge.

The list in spreadsheet form can be found here.

Needless to say, the Daleks featured in the most stories at 32, followed by the Cybermen and The Master at 22 each. Each story had multiple episodes.


from Genesis of the Daleks (1975) featuring Davros, their creator (BBC)

From BBC

The Daleks were created by the Kaled scientist, Davros as travel machines. He had deduced that the years of radiation and chemical poisoning from an ongoing war would lead his race to mutate into immobile organisms.

The Dalek travel machines would house these creatures and allow the Kaleds to survive. However, in the course of his experiments, Davros deliberately removed what he considered to be debilitating emotions from the mutants and a force of evil was spawned!

The Daleks were born without any ability to feel compassion or pity and were motivated only by hate, fear and an implacable belief that they were the superior creatures in the Universe.

They have battled the Doctor many times throughout the centuries, with confrontations on Earth, Skaro and planets right across the universe from Exxilon to Spiridon. Powerful, pitiless and with a genius for warfare they have proven fearsome opponents for the Doctor but he has always managed to protect humanity from their attacks. They return in the new series... let's hope the Doctor can maintain his record against his most enduring enemies.

Definitely the scariest.

TARDIS renovation

A sneak peak from the Radio Times



I hope the new series shows more of other parts of the interior of the TARDIS. Apparently, there used to be a swimming pool.

Doctor Who - goodbye and hello

The BBC screened the final special episodes (in two parts) of the tenth Doctor Who on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. It was also a farewell to the tenth Doctor (David Tennant) as he regenerated into the eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith).











... and he's still not ginger (haired).

A recent poll of 2000 people voted David Tennant as the most popular Doctor Who of all time.

I'm not sure how the new one will go. His catch cry appears to be "Geronimo".



More from
- The Guardian
- Daily Mail
- BBC

new Doctor Who logo revealed

Today, the BBC revealed the new logo for Doctor Who for the 2010 season



I still like the old one from 1973 to 1980, which was for Sarah Jane Smith's first episode and continued for most of the fourth Doctor's run (Tom Baker)



In other news, the (UK) Daily Telegraph has revealed another photo from the set

Karen Gillan: Smith and Gillan began filming the new series in July, which will be broadcast on BBC One next spring. Photo: HUW JOHN

Just like The Guardian, the Daily Telegraph also has an entire Doctor Who section in its online edition under television and radio. Woohoo!

the new Doctor is sighted

From the BBC media release of 20 July 2009

The time has come... filming has begun on Doctor Who

Date: 20.07.2009

Category: TV Drama; BBC One; Wales

A new Doctor, a new companion, a new era

Production started today on the new series of Doctor Who, in which BBC One viewers will meet the 11th Doctor and his companion for the very first time.

The latest incarnation of the iconic character is played by Matt Smith (Party Animals).

Upon arriving on set in Cardiff, for his first day of filming, Smith commented: "I feel very privileged and proud to be part of this iconic show.

"The scripts are brilliant and working alongside Karen, Steven and the rest of the crew is an inspiration because their work ethic and passion for the show is so admirable.

"I'm excited about the future and all the brilliant adventures I get to go on as the Doctor."

Accompanying The Doctor on his further adventures in time is a new companion Amy Pond, played by Scottish actress Karen Gillan (The Kevin Bishop Show), who will first meet The Doctor in episode one of the new series.

New show-runner and long-running Doctor Who fan Steven Moffat has developed this series and, as Lead Writer and Executive Producer, will be responsible for the overall creative direction of the show, as well as plot and character arcs.

Moffat's previous episodes of Doctor Who, including the Bafta-winning episode Blink, have garnered widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike.

He commented: "And here it is, the big moment – the new Doctor, and his new best friend.

"And here's me, with the job I wanted since I was seven – 40 years to here! If I could go back in time and tell that little boy that one day all this would happen, he'd scream, call for his mum and I'd be talking to you now from a prison cell in 1969. So probably best not then.

"Matt and Karen are going to be incredible, and Doctor Who is going to come alive on Saturday nights in a whole new way – and, best of all, somewhere out there a seven-year-old is going to see them, fall in love and start making a 40-year plan..."

Piers Wenger, Executive Producer and Head of Drama, BBC Wales, added: "The scripts for the new series are every bit as funny, thrilling, scary and imaginative as you'd expect from the man who brought us The Empty Child and Blink.

"There's a strange and perfect alchemy between Steven and Matt Smith and the next few months are going to be riveting as that relationship starts to emerge on screen.

"Steven always says he's been waiting to do this job since he was seven. But it's actually the Doctor who has been waiting for him."

The new series follows three Doctor Who specials starring David Tennant which will transmit later this year.

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, says: "I am thrilled that a whole new generation of children will forever say that their Doctor was the wonderful Matt Smith."

The series was co-commissioned by Ben Stephenson and Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, and will be produced by Tracie Simpson (Doctor Who) and Peter Bennett (Torchwood).

Steven Moffat is Lead Writer and Executive Producer (Jekyll) with Piers Wenger and Beth Willis (Ashes To Ashes) also Executive Producing.

Filming is taking place in Cardiff until March 2010. Thirteen x 45-minute drama produced by BBC Wales for BBC One.

PPR

The next day, the BBC comments on the new Doctor's fashion sense - Doctor Who jacket choice praised; and The fashion police on Doctor Who's new outfit. As did The Guardian on the same day as the release - Take a bow: It's Doctor Who's new look - and new companion; and two days later, a criticism - Matt Smith's Doctor Who proves a fashion flop. It's the Daily Mail with the photo scoops the next day.







Of course, the Doctor is 900 years old, so is unlikely to wear jeans and a t-shirt.

the new Doctor is in

As announced by the BBC in a media release on 3 January 2009

Matt Smith is the new Doctor

Date: 03.01.2009

Category: TV Drama; BBC One; Wales

The BBC today announced that Matt Smith has been cast in the role of the Doctor in the iconic BBC series Doctor Who.

Smith will be the 11th Time Lord and will take over from David Tennant who leaves the show at the end of 2009. He will be seen in the forthcoming fifth series that will be broadcast in 2010.

The fifth series will also have a new lead writer and Executive Producer in the form of the BAFTA award-winning writer Steven Moffat, who is taking over from Russell T Davies.

Moffat will be joined by Piers Wenger, who will be the new Executive Producer for BBC Wales making the show.

Following David Tennant's decision to step down at the end of 2009, the team behind the new series set about casting the new Doctor so that new adventures could be created and scripts written with Matt in mind.

The identity of the new Doctor was revealed on a special edition of Doctor Who Confidential that was broadcast on BBC One today (3 January) at 5.35pm (17.35 GMT).

In it Smith revealed his initial reaction at taking on such a legendary role and his thoughts on what direction the Doctor might now be going with him playing the part.

Matt Smith said of his new role: "I'm just so excited about the journey that is in front of me. It's a wonderful privilege and challenge that I hope I will thrive on.

"I feel proud and honoured to have been given this opportunity to join a team of people that has worked so tirelessly to make the show so thrilling.

"David Tennant has made the role his own, brilliantly, with grace, talent and persistent dedication. I hope to learn from the standards set by him.

"The challenge for me is to do justice to the show's illustrious past, my predecessors, and most importantly, to those who watch it. I really cannot wait."

Lead writer and Executive Producer Steven Moffat said: "The Doctor is a very special part, and it takes a very special actor to play him. You need to be old and young at the same time, a boffin and an action hero, a cheeky schoolboy and the wise old man of the universe.

"As soon as Matt walked through the door, and blew us away with a bold and brand new take on the Time Lord, we knew we had our man.

"2010 is a long time away but rest assured the 11th Doctor is coming – and the universe has never been so safe."

Piers Wenger, Head Of Drama, BBC Wales, added: "With two hearts, a ferocious mind and over 900 years of experience behind him, it's not every 26 year old actor who can take on a role like the Doctor but within moments of meeting Matt he showed the skill and imagination needed to create a Doctor all of his own.

"It's just the beginning of the journey for Matt but with Steven Moffat's scripts and the expertise of the production team in Cardiff behind him, there is no one more perfect than him to be taking the TARDIS to exciting new futures when the series returns in 2010."

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama, added: "I am delighted to see Matt take on this iconic role. It will see him continuing his relationship with the BBC following his performances in Ruby In The Smoke and Party Animals, and his upcoming role in Moses Jones.

"The combination of Matt, Steven and Piers will, I know, take Doctor Who onto new and even dizzier heights."

Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, said: "Matt Smith will be a mesmerising 11th Time Lord, true to the spirit of the show.

"He is a worthy successor to David Tennant who has been utterly remarkable in the role and promises to continue to be in next year's four special episodes."

Doctor Who Confidential – The Eleventh Doctor can be seen on BBC iPlayer until 10 January 2009.

There will be four Doctor Who specials featuring David Tennant that will run in 2009 into New Year 2010 (dates to be confirmed).

An extended interview with Matt Smith can be seen at bbc.co.uk/doctorwho.

Matt Smith pictures are available from www.bbcpictures.com.

Biography

Matt Smith, 26, grew up with his family including one sister in Northampton. He was head boy at Northampton School For Boys where he excelled at sports, music and drama.

Initially, Matt wanted to be a professional footballer and played for Northampton Town Under-11 & 12s, Nottingham Forest Under 12, 13 & 14s and Leicester City Under 15 & 16s before a back injury forced him out of the game.

Following his injury, and with the encouragement of one of his teachers, Jerry Hardingham, Matt decided to join the National Youth Theatre.

It was during this time that Matt first gained attention at the Royal Court Theatre when he was cast in the play Fresh Kills, directed by Wilson Milam, whilst still at the University Of East Anglia where he was studying Drama and Creative Writing.

Already a stalwart of the National Youth Theatre, his performance at the Court led to a variety of theatrical experiences at the National Theatre: in the award-winning History Boys (directed by Nick Hytner), On The Shore Of The Wide World (directed by Sarah Frankcom) and also in the acclaimed trio of plays Burn / Citizenship / Chatroom (directed by Anna Mackmin).

These roles led to Matt's first outings on the small screen, alongside Billie Piper in Phillip Pullman's period detective stories, The Ruby In The Smoke and The Shadow In The North (both BBC One), where he played Jim, right-hand man to Billie's detective heroine Sally Lockhart.

These pieces were followed by the lead role of Danny in the BBC Two series Party Animals, the brilliantly observed drama set in the world of young politicians.

In a dazzling return to the Royal Court in 2007, Matt played Henry in Polly Stenham's award-winning first play That Face, opposite Lindsay Duncan. His performance gained Matt an Evening Standard Best Newcomer nomination and a year later the play had a second life in the West End at the Duke of York's Theatre.

In between the two runs, Matt played Guy opposite Christian Slater's Buddy in Swimming With Sharks, Mike Leslie's searing West End adaptation of the 1994 Hollywood film.

In this time he also played a lead role in the BAFTA winning BBC One series The Street, opposite Gina McKee and Lorraine Ashbourne.

Matt has recently completed work on Moses Jones for BBC Two, directed by Michael Offer, in which he plays the lead role of Dan Twentyman, alongside Shaun Parkes in the title role.

JP3

Big shoes to fill.

*****************
Back to work today. It was okay.

the doctor will leave the house... err Tardis

The BBC has reported that David Tennant will be quitting the role of Doctor Who in 2010.

Oh.

*************
Happy Thursday.

Doctor Who in the Guardian

The Guardian online has a huge Doctor Who section under its media heading.

www.guardian.co.uk/media/doctorwho

Awesome!

******************
Happy Thursday!

Is Russell Tovey the next Doctor?

From the Guardian's TV&RadioBlog by Daniel Martin (16 September 2008)

Is this the future face of Doctor Who?

The 11th Doctor? ... Russell Tovey as Tintin. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

The big revelation everyone's going to jump on from Russell T Davies' new book is his choice for 11th Doctor; the Doctor he's not allowed to choose.

The big man is about to publish The Writer's Tale, a new book of email exchanges with Doctor Who Magazine scribbler Benjamin Cook. An in-depth mind probe into the regeneration of the Who phenomenon, an extract of which is published today in the Times.

And in it he appears to answer the question that the whole world's been asking since David Tennant started in the part. Tennant's going nowhere anytime soon of course, but deep among the casting news for Voyage of the Damned is the name Russell Tovey. "He's going to be huge, I would make him the next Doctor."

Tovey, the coolest History Boy (sorry, James Corden) was last seen as a domesticated werewolf geek in BBC Three's Being Human, and last seen in Who as the nice-but-dim-but-eventually-brave Midshipman Frame.

After all the talk of Rhys Ifans and James Nesbitt, it seems a more realistic kind of actor might get the part. Davies and Stephen Moffatt, whose decision it will eventually be, have also both suggested Harry Lloyd as the next incumbent, after his electrifying turn as Son of Mine in The Family of Blood, aka The One With The Scarecrows. Now, I find the two suggestions a bit disconcerting since they're both younger than me, which the Doctor should never be, goddamit. But like Tennant, it has to be someone with a massive future who's never had their one defining part. Christopher Eccleston was wrong, wasn't he, thinking back?

Still, that conversation remains a year or so in the future. The Writer's Tale is still a fairly startling memoir. What other high-powered executive producers would be so candid with a journalist about stuff that he could leak at any moment, circle of trust or not?

Who could have imagined that first on Davies' wishlist for this year's Christmas special before the Cybermen was another Shakespeare Code type of story where JK Rowling battles evil wizards of her own creation? Or that Tennant would have the power to veto the idea before it reached the drawing board? What other writer would be so blunt about the BBC's negotiations to try and get him to do series five? (And, oof, wouldn't the stop-RTD internet brigade have hated that!)

Perhaps most reassuring of all to wannabe Who-scribes everywhere is Russell's admission that from his mid-20s to mid-30s he spent his time in Manchester, "out every night - really, every night, even Sundays - dancing, drinking and off my head on God knows what. I'd be out till five in the morning, get into work at Granada at nine, throw up in the toilets, then go and be brilliant at my job."

Russell T Davies is a tall man with a big personality and no small ego. And he didn't do everything right on Doctor Who by any means. But he got it righter than anyone else, in that he made it happen. And how.

And the original email excerpted in the The Times

Doctor New?

Note: Kylie has agreed to star alongside David Tennant in the 2007 Christmas special, Voyage of the Damned, and Davies and his team are finalising the casting.

From: Russell T .Davies To: Benjamin Cook

Tuesday June 26, 2007 23:13:50 GMT

A read-through with Kylie Minogue! Marvellous, isn't it? She's going to watch Last of the Time Lords on Saturday with David. Madder and madder! And we've cast Clive Swift as Mr Copper. That's brilliant! (Dennis Hopper, it turned out, isn't available for that many days.) And Geoffrey Palmer is Captain Hardaker, which is glorious. Also, Russell Tovey as Midshipman Frame, which is my favourite casting of the lot, because he's going to be huge, that man. He's amazing. I think I'd make him the Eleventh Doctor.

We shall see! Although I liked some of the earlier Doctors who were much older, these days, the Doctor seems to do a lot of running so a younger body would be better.

***************
I stayed home today, spending most of the morning waiting for the oven repairer (those companies never give a time). It now works and I didn't even know there was an element in the back where the fan is.

Finished watching all the episodes of Rome. Brilliant show.

more about Doctor Who theme music

Earlier this year, I wrote about the Doctor Who theme music.

Delia Derbyshire created the first Doctor Who theme music composed by Ron Grainer. Here, Daniel Walmsley from Planet Nerd (broadcast on a community television station in Melbourne, Australia) talks to David Shea about the origin of electronic music and the history of the Doctor Who theme music.



How Delia Derbyshire recorded the original was using a series of tape players similar to this


There is also an interesting article in the BBC News magazine about the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. A green lampshade has gained legendary status.

A remake of the theme music was composed by Peter Howell and demonstrated here


***************
After having a blech week at work, I stayed home today instead of being unproductive in the office.