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The New Companion Announced
It can finally be revealed. After months of speculation.
The New companion has been announced.
The show is going to one of it’s old roots and rebooting a character that wasn’t well served back in the day because of the technology involved.
Kamelion.
As you may recall Kamelion was a shape changing robot in the late Davison stories but because of the technology at the time he made his first appearance in “King’s Demon’s” and then largely got chucked in the bin until his last story, and death, “Planet of Fire”.
But with CGI now it can be so much better in 2016 plus you can have a guest actor in every week to play the part and you don’t have to have a permanent companion.
“We can do so much more with the concept now than 30 years ago.” said Doctor Who’s Special Effects Supervisor, Danny Hargreaves.
Plus it would also add the first non-human companion in the new era of the show.
Seeing as Peter may or may not stay on after the Chibnall change it could be used as a nice bridge companion that Chibnall could dump or not, and if Peter Capaldi leaves with Steven then you can have a new Doctor and a New Companion without any carryover. Or you can just fix Kamelion in one guise and you have a new Companion for the new Doctor while having some continuity.
Steven Moffatt was quoted as saying it was another bold way to make a statement about the companion’s role and to do something innovative to keep the audience watching it brings something fresh to the show.
Co-star Peter Capaldi said: “I can’t wait to start working with the new Kamelion . It was vital to see someone very different in the role and Steven has just the ticket.”
“This way we can have good actors rotating in to play Kamelion and we don’t have to stick with just one actor or actress and we can have a variety. Kamelion can be programmed to be different and have different things happen to it each week so it keeps it fresh and interesting for an audience.” said showrunner Steven Moffat.
In my opinion, kind of like have K-9 without all the rights issues and Frobisher without the CGI costs.It has a lot of potential, especially in this vastly different technological age.
Good for you Steven. You made a good choice.
Companion
Finally, it appears the new Doctor Who companion has been cast – and Jenna Coleman’s replacement could be someone Peter Capaldi has worked with before…
“We will have a new companion, and I’m excited because obviously I know who this person is,” Capaldi told Brazilian website Omelete, reportedly adding that the actor joining him in the TARDIS is someone he has worked with in the past.
However, Capaldi said it was likely to be a very different relationship to that between the Twelfth Doctor and Coleman’s Clara Oswald and that the new arrival will know “very little about the Doctor”.
“Clara had prior knowledge of the Doctor,” said Capaldi. “It was conceived as a human connected to your timeline, and so had access to the cosmic nature of the Doctor. She understood a little about how he was. And as she was already with [Eleventh Doctor] Matt [Smith], she knew the Daleks and the TARDIS. Now we have someone who knows very little about the Doctor.”
Bite The Hand
‘It’s not been looked after’ Peter Capaldi criticises BBC bosses over Doctor Who
PETER CAPALDI has risked biting the hand that feeds him as he criticises the BBC’s inconsistent scheduling of Doctor Who.
At the time, he called for the corporation to go back to airing the sci-fi series in one regular slot, and has now re-enforced those claims once again.
“I think maybe their eye was taken off the ball, or the show was seen as a thing they could just push around. It’s not. It’s a special thing.”
The actor continued: “I have to pay attention to ratings – I’d rather not – but it’s the way the business is. I think overnight ratings are a thing of the past.
“You can’t really measure the success of the show by its overnight ratings, which is what the papers do. But there’s still a place for families to sit down and watch the show – that’s still a great, fun thing to do.”
He added: “That’s what the show’s success has been based on. That has to be protected.” (The Express).
Peter’s not wrong. The whacked scheduling of last series was bad. Very bad. I mean most episodes were on AFTER the “target” audience had gone to bed or don’t do “family time” after 8pm, which is why you had such high numbers of recordings and replays.
But the Network clearly values the mass appeal of Strictly Come Dancing more than WHO, and old franchise even by modern day standards with 9 series in 11 years under it’s belt.
The No New WHO in 2016 doesn’t help either.
If you got the feeling that WHO was kind of just dump after Strictly and it was left flapping int he winds I wouldn’t disagree.
The only thing precious to a Network, is Money. Ratings, at least for now (with technology changing the paradigms) are still King.
Strictly is a “mass appeal”. Broad “demographics” and above all “cheap”.
The “Reality” program is not what it used to be because of over-satuation, but it is still cheaper than a Legendary Science Fiction Show that has some mass appeal but not as much as Dancing.
Remember, the cardinal rule of TV (IMHO) that I learned as a young kid:
THE PROGRAM IS ONLY THERE TO TAKE UP THE SPACE BETWEEN THE COMMERCIALS.It’s like Legos, they can be reshaped at anytime to make a new “something”.
It’s a business first. Entertainment, 3rd or 4th.
Admittedly, in England, you don’t have the commercial breaks like you do here but it still applies because the BBC is charged with making money off it’s programming just like everyone else and they’ll do it like everyone else, as cheaply and and as profitably as possible.
Fandom aside.
So WHO came up on the short end of the scheduling in 2015, and none at all in 2016.
That’s Show BIZ!
Will I Stay or Will I Go
This broke a couple of days ago, which in the internet age might as well have been Prehistoric times considering how fact things flame in and flame out.
But I would not be unhappy about it in the least.
Peter Capaldi: ‘I’ve been asked to stay on in Doctor Who after Steven Moffat leaves’
When Steven Moffat announced his departure as Doctor Who showrunner earlier this year, there was only one question on everyone’s minds – would current Doctor Peter Capaldi stay on with new boss Chris Chibnall, or hand over the Tardis keys like former Time Lord David Tennant did when Russell T Davies left the series?
Now, RadioTimes.com can reveal that the BBC has asked Capaldi to stay on as the Doctor after Moffat’s departure – but the actor himself isn’t sure whether he’ll take up their offer.
“I’ve been asked to stay on,” Capaldi told RadioTimes.com, “but it’s such a long time before I have to make that decision.
“Steven’s been absolutely wonderful, so I love working with him. Chris is fantastic, and I think he’s a hugely talented guy.
“I don’t know where the show’s gonna go then. I don’t know. I have to make up my mind, and I haven’t yet.”
He concluded: “As Steven will tell you, it’s very difficult to say goodbye.”
In summary, you shouldn’t be surprised to see a very familiar Time Lord at the Tardis controls for a few years yet…
14 in 10
So, this confirms that – after the 2016 Christmas special – Doctor Who series 10 will consist of the standard-issue 13 episodes.
The Radio Times is reporting exclusively that Doctor Who series 10 will begin filming this May. Using some fag-packet maths then, a typical nine-month run should take it all the way to early 2017.
It’s currently understood that outgoing showrunner Steven Moffat will remain in place for a further fourteen episodes, including twelve episodes of season ten and the 2016 and 2017 Christmas Specials, before new head honcho Chris Chibnall steps in in 2018.
Additionally, “senior show sources” are reportedly yet to select who will be travelling with Peter Capaldi in the TARDIS as the Doctor’s Companion. “It is understood auditions for Jenna Coleman’s replacement have still not begun”, says the RT.
Doctor Who Magazine has asked Steven Moffat if he’ll present a plethora of two-parters again this time around, as served him pretty well in season 9. “Something else will happen [in series 10],” he said in response.
The Moff explained that “each year, we try to do something different – almost out of perversity, to make things more difficult for ourselves – so that we’re not getting into a groove, we’re not becomingly boringly expert at it, because there’s nothing so boring as when you get slick.”
“I was very happy to get rid of two-parters when I did, and [in series 9 I was] very happy to bring them back,” he added, leaving us to wonder what he’ll change this year.
And now, Peter Capaldi has discussed his own wishes for his new co-lead. Specifically, he isn’t particularly keen on having a male companion.
“With the best will in the world, I don’t want a bloke,” he told Radio Times, “because I’m frightened that they’ll give him all the action and I’ll be standing around spouting scientific gobbledygook… ‘Oh, Peter’s not up to chasing those Zygons down the corridor, let the chap do it.’ And that would be awful. I want to chase the Zygons!”
“I just think that combo of the slightly strange and alien Time Lord with the intelligent, enthusiastic and inquisitive girl is a good combo. I don’t know why – but it just seems to work,” he added.
Whether Capaldi gets his wish or not, we’ll keep you up to date as we hear more on Doctor Who series 10, and the incoming new companion.
Additionally Doctor Who Magazine #496 is now on sale. I know I just got mine in the mail yesterday.
Sir John Hurt is appearing at Gallifrey One in LA this weekend.
SQUEE!
Netflix & Hulu
Let me chime in with my two cents on the whole Netflix/Hulu dropping of WHO thing.
First off, I have them all on DVD or Blu-Ray so I wasn’t watching them on these services to begin with.
But my feeling is, and it’s VERY cynical, is that this the beginning of the end of TV as we know it. Or at least as anyone from my generation backwards knows it.
The proliferation of streaming media doesn’t get to me because I don’t really use it. I check on Netflix maybe once or twice a month. I don’t watch videos on my tablet or phone. So I’m not that into it.
But, the younger generations, Millenials and going forward, are.
That’s the future of TV most likely. Meaning that at some point in the near future, a generation or less, we’ll likely have to buy our networks.
You want CBS content, you have to have CBS All Access. You certainly will in 2017 if you want to watch the New Trek series.
Netflix itself is heading in the direction of a “network”.
The BBC certainly is, at least for us Americans. That’s why they moved the content off of the “competition” in prep for their own pay service.
And I think that’s why TV is headed. Pay for Network service.
You want the latest, pay for it. You want it now, pay for it.
After all, I discovered a very long time ago that the program you are watching is merely the space between the commercials paying for it. This is just another expression of that.
I could be wrong. I also won’t say I’m in favor of it. But I think this is where it’s headed.
Isn’t technology grand? 🙂
Moffat OBE
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-33113409
It seems pulling double duty on two hit TV shows has paid off for Steven Moffat. The “Doctor Who” and “Sherlock” executive producer received an award from British royalty for his work. He was honored with an OBE, which stands for Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. (the 2nd of 4 levels of awards by The Queen)
Moffat received his award on Thursday in London. “I’ve got not one, but two dream jobs,” he explained to the Belfast Telegraph. “So to get this lovely thing for already indulging myself in public, seems like an excess of good fortune.”
OBEs are given to those who provide “distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the civil service and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds,” according to the official website of the British monarchy.
Moffatt has worked on the long-running sci-fi hit “Doctor Who” since it relaunched in 2005. He took over as showrunner in 2010. Simultaneous, he started working on “Sherlock” in 2009. Both have attained success not only in the U.K. but worldwide.
Prince Charles gave the award to the 54-year-old during an investiture ceremony. Moffat commented that the formalities made him feel like a student. “It was very thrilling and formal and slightly, slightly, just very slightly, like being back at school,” he explained. “But nicer because everyone got a prize.”
Unlike other awards for television, Moffat knew he would receive his OBE well before the ceremony. He was revealed as an honoree last year. “I’m astonished and more thrilled than I ever thought someone like me would be,” he told Radio Times in June. “I’m not the least bit cynical, or the least bit trying to be cool about it.”
Moffat isn’t the only member of the “Doctor Who” and “Sherlock” families with a royal honor. John Barrowman, who played Jack Harkness on “Who,” was honored with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 2014. “Sherlock” lead Benedict Cumberbatch was given an honor one step above an OBE, a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), in November. (IBT)
Verity Lambert, Doctor Who’s first Producer got an OBE many, many years ago also. She passed away in 2007.
The Story That Never Was
Storyboards from the 50th Anniversary show of Doctor Who reveal the Ninth Doctor’s role if he had made it into the episode as originally planned.
Bleeding Cool’s Rich Johnston obtained storyboards from comic and storyboard creator Andrew Wildman at a comic convention, showing the Ninth Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston, in three scenes.
Wildman attributed the changes to the scenes to Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat.
“My run on the show spanned three Christmas Specials and most of Matt’s final season include his ‘regeneration’. That was me pretty much done other than the huge privilege of being asked to work – albeit in a small way – on the 50th Anniversary special,” Wildman said.
“There were going to be three Doctors in this one. The current, 11th Doctor and the previous two. Ok, so it didn’t quite work out that way in the end as we all know. Contracts are an odd thing and in the end show runner and writer supreme, Steven Moffat, had to come up with something… slightly different. At my time of working on the show however it was three ‘modern age’ Doctors and the current assistant, Clara.”
Andrew Wildman, comic creator, animator, TV producer and storyboard creator was one of the people who worked on the show, and has released a collection of storyboards that he sells at shows, for The Day Of The Doctor and Nightmare In Silver. I picked up a copy at the Geek Comic Con.
In introduction to the former tells us
My run on the show spanned three Christmas Specials and most of Matt ‘s final season including his ‘regeneration’. That was me pretty much done other than the huge privilege of being asked to work – albeit in a small way – on the 50th Anniversary special. There were going to be three Doctors in this one. The current, 11th Doctor and the previous two. Ok, so it didn’t quite work out that way in the end as we all know. Contracts are an odd thing and in the end show runner and writer supreme, Steven Moffat, had to come up with something… slightly different. At my time of working on the show however it was the three ‘modern age’ Doctors and the current assistant, Clara.
Nip in and take a peek behind the curtain. You may be a little surprised at what you see.
And I was, as well as scenes we do remember, we also get aspects we don’t.
Like Clara popping a wheelie on her runup to the TARDIS.
Then we see the barn on Gallifrey, but instead of the War Doctor played by John Hurt, we get The Ninth Doctor played by Christopher Eccleston. And instead of The Moment played by Billie Piper, we get a young girl…
And from that point onwards, the Tenth Doctor seems to take the narrative role of the Eleventh…
…after a trip through the time portal…
…and bumping into the Tenth Doctor played by David Tennant…
And two Queen Elizabeth The Firsts…
This is just a smattering of the boards. You can find the rest at any convention that Andrew Wildman attends…
Andrew Wildman will be appearing at Worcester Comic Con 2016(August). Worcester, UK.
No Surprises
BBC bosses expect Peter Capaldi to leave Doctor Who after the next series – when writer Steven Moffat also steps down.
The 57-year-old’s tenure as the 12th Doctor is likely to end in 2017.
When new chief Chris Chibnall, who created Broadchurch, begins a new era in series 11, it is thought he will also get to choose his own Time Lord.
A source on the BBC show said: “Bosses are already discussing a fresh start when Steven leaves.
“They’ve been happy with what Peter has brought to the role but some think it might make sense to give Chris his own choice of actor to play the Doctor.
“They hope he will be able to find someone who can have the same impact as Matt Smith did when Steven Moffat kicked off his run as executive producer.”
The move would mirror what happened when Russell T. Davies – who brought the sci-fi series back in 2005 after 26 years – departed at the same time David Tennant left as the 10th Doctor.
A BBC spokesman said Capaldi was signed up for the 2017 series but beyond that said: “We don’t discuss contracts.”
“There will come a time when this is over. But I knew that when I started.
“I was thinking about my regeneration scene from the outset. That’s my terrible melancholic nature.
“When you accept the job you know there’ll come a day, inevitably, when you’ll be saying goodbye.”
(The Mirror)
Showrunner 3: A Fan Boy
He hasn’t even started as showrunner yet but Chris Chibnall is already a prize-winning Doctor Who writer…
Back in 1985, the man who is set to succeed Steven Moffat was not only a paid up member of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society but also won a competition in Doctor Who Magazine (issue 106 in case you’re interested) asking readers to write the lyrics to their own theme song for the show.
Before you try singing it to yourself, I’m told the words were not supposed to fit with the Doctor Who theme tune, so don’t worry that it doesn’t scan. And while it’s a decent effort for a teenager, it’s probably unfair to draw too many conclusions about what we can expect from Chibnall’s future Doctor Who writing…
Altogether now…
1986 Open Air Chris Chibnall
MY Doctor Who 