Disney and the BBC really don’t want any spoilers revealed for today’s debut of the latest season of Doctor Who. Fair enough, but I’m here to tell you that you will hear some of the worst music ever in these opening episodes of Ncuti Gatwa’s hopefully long run as the famed Time Lord.
Crossing timelines and absent granddaughters aside, that’s the point.
Since Rwandan-born Gatwa’s debut in December last year, his Doctor Who has already flipped a lot of scripts on what the Tardis travelling Doctor is and should be. Yes, the Fifteenth Doctor is the first Black and the first openly Queer incarnation of the Gallifreyan since the iconic British series debuted in 1963, as well as the first person not born in the UK to play the Time Lord Both those representations are long overdue and wonderful, but the real thing about this...
Crossing timelines and absent granddaughters aside, that’s the point.
Since Rwandan-born Gatwa’s debut in December last year, his Doctor Who has already flipped a lot of scripts on what the Tardis travelling Doctor is and should be. Yes, the Fifteenth Doctor is the first Black and the first openly Queer incarnation of the Gallifreyan since the iconic British series debuted in 1963, as well as the first person not born in the UK to play the Time Lord Both those representations are long overdue and wonderful, but the real thing about this...
- 5/10/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The Guinness World Records once listed the BBC’s Doctor Who as the “most successful Science Fiction television series in the world,” and, in November 2023, the show turned an impressive 60 years old. Doctor Who originally ran from 1963 to 1989 and was relaunched in 2005.
Despite its grand age, it’s not demonstrating any signs of slowing down.
Former showrunner Russell T Davies (fresh from his success with It’s A Sin) returns to the franchise following last year’s Christmas specials with fan-favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate. With the 14th season — which, for the first time ever, will premiere simultaneously worldwide thanks to Disney+ (on Friday at 7 p.m.) — Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education and Barbie) officially becomes the newest incarnation of the errant Time Lord.
But, what about those who have already played the role of The Doctor (a.k.a. Doctor Who) over the past seven decades? Below is your 101 to all of the lead actors.
Despite its grand age, it’s not demonstrating any signs of slowing down.
Former showrunner Russell T Davies (fresh from his success with It’s A Sin) returns to the franchise following last year’s Christmas specials with fan-favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate. With the 14th season — which, for the first time ever, will premiere simultaneously worldwide thanks to Disney+ (on Friday at 7 p.m.) — Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education and Barbie) officially becomes the newest incarnation of the errant Time Lord.
But, what about those who have already played the role of The Doctor (a.k.a. Doctor Who) over the past seven decades? Below is your 101 to all of the lead actors.
- 5/9/2024
- by Cameron K McEwan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson have been shooting Doctor Who since 2022 – and they’ve been talking about launching their first full series.
The return of Doctor Who to our screens this coming May bring with it – amongst other things – the first full season for Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor and Millie Gibson’s Ruby. The pair came together in the 2023 Christmas special for the first time, The Church On Ruby Road, but we now get eight episodes of them travelling through time and space. Eight episodes that began shooting at the end of 2022.
At the UK premiere in London for the new series of Doctor Who, the pair were asked how they’re feeling about properly introducing their characters to the world.
“Crazy”, said Gibson. “Nerve-wracking”, added Gatwa. “It’ll be a lot of people’s first impressions of the show”, Millie Gibson added, “so I think that’s so honourable and wild.
The return of Doctor Who to our screens this coming May bring with it – amongst other things – the first full season for Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor and Millie Gibson’s Ruby. The pair came together in the 2023 Christmas special for the first time, The Church On Ruby Road, but we now get eight episodes of them travelling through time and space. Eight episodes that began shooting at the end of 2022.
At the UK premiere in London for the new series of Doctor Who, the pair were asked how they’re feeling about properly introducing their characters to the world.
“Crazy”, said Gibson. “Nerve-wracking”, added Gatwa. “It’ll be a lot of people’s first impressions of the show”, Millie Gibson added, “so I think that’s so honourable and wild.
- 4/30/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Goodbye, upside-down dustbins with toilet plungers glued on the front, hello, CGI dinosaurs! Okay, so "Doctor Who" has had CGI dinosaurs before (plus some fun old-school puppet dinos in the Jon Pertwee-era adventure "Invasion of the Dinosaurs"), but it's clear from this new trailer for the upcoming season of "Doctor Who" that returning showrunner Russell T. Davies is playing with a much bigger budget than he had during his original "Doctor Who" revival.
That's thanks to a co-production deal that makes Disney+ the new home of the long-running sci-fi series. The Disney deal means that "Doctor Who" now has vastly bigger budgets to play with, though the trade-off is that Disney gets a vote in the show's creative decisions.
Leading us into the Disney NuWho era is a new Doctor played by Ncuti Gatwa, whose maxed-out charisma stats made him the breakout star of Netflix's "Sex Education." Somewhat confusingly,...
That's thanks to a co-production deal that makes Disney+ the new home of the long-running sci-fi series. The Disney deal means that "Doctor Who" now has vastly bigger budgets to play with, though the trade-off is that Disney gets a vote in the show's creative decisions.
Leading us into the Disney NuWho era is a new Doctor played by Ncuti Gatwa, whose maxed-out charisma stats made him the breakout star of Netflix's "Sex Education." Somewhat confusingly,...
- 3/22/2024
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
As you may have seen, Steven Moffat is writing for Doctor Who again (and I bet Tumblr are glad Cloud servers exist now). According to showrunner Russell T. Davies’ Instagram, he contacted both his successors/predecessors in the role and Chris Chibnall turned the offer down in favour of writing a novel, whereas Moffat agreed and, Davies teases, wrote a series 14 episode in which “a perfectly ordinary word [is] turned into something Terrifying and it’s all in outer space and there’s a woman and Oh My God”.
As we saw during lockdown, Davies and Moffat never really stopped having ideas for Doctor Who stories. While it may seem unprecedented to have a former showrunner return to write an episode, it was fairly common during Doctor Who’s original run. If we take the Script Editor role of the original run as comparable to that of the contemporary showrunner (it...
As we saw during lockdown, Davies and Moffat never really stopped having ideas for Doctor Who stories. While it may seem unprecedented to have a former showrunner return to write an episode, it was fairly common during Doctor Who’s original run. If we take the Script Editor role of the original run as comparable to that of the contemporary showrunner (it...
- 3/21/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
This Doctor Who article contains spoilers.
“He’s saying you need to stop,” companion Donna Noble tells the Fourteenth Doctor after the Fifteenth Doctor lists off a litany of adventures from the first Doctor on. A pained expression covers Fourteen as he admits, “I don’t know how.”
That confession rings true for viewers, and not just because it comes from David Tennant, who is both a great actor and a frequent returnee to Doctor Who, most recently for the three 60th Anniversary Specials. And it’s not just because we know the Doctor as a person on the move. Ever since the character’s introduction in 1963, the Doctor has been defined by restlessness. Even when grounded on Earth, as was the case for the Third Doctor, or stuck defending a base under siege, the Doctor does not sit still. They search for answers, save the day, and then off...
“He’s saying you need to stop,” companion Donna Noble tells the Fourteenth Doctor after the Fifteenth Doctor lists off a litany of adventures from the first Doctor on. A pained expression covers Fourteen as he admits, “I don’t know how.”
That confession rings true for viewers, and not just because it comes from David Tennant, who is both a great actor and a frequent returnee to Doctor Who, most recently for the three 60th Anniversary Specials. And it’s not just because we know the Doctor as a person on the move. Ever since the character’s introduction in 1963, the Doctor has been defined by restlessness. Even when grounded on Earth, as was the case for the Third Doctor, or stuck defending a base under siege, the Doctor does not sit still. They search for answers, save the day, and then off...
- 1/30/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Richard Franklin, better known for his portrayal of Captain Mike Yates during Jon Pertwee’s run of Doctor Who, has died at 87.
The actor’s death Monday morning was confirmed by Liam Rudden, a friend of Franklin’s who ran his social media. Rudden shared in a family statement that the late actor had “died in his sleep after fighting long term illness.”
“We are deeply saddened by his loss, we will fondly remember him for his generosity, creative spirit and fantastic story telling,” the statement continues. “He is also well remembered outside the family for his long running career in TV and Theatre where he delighted audiences of all ages. This gave him great joy and we know his legacy will last.”
Rudden continued to share tributes on Franklin’s X page, sharing that Franklin would “have loved that he is trending” and writing, “One thing I loved about...
The actor’s death Monday morning was confirmed by Liam Rudden, a friend of Franklin’s who ran his social media. Rudden shared in a family statement that the late actor had “died in his sleep after fighting long term illness.”
“We are deeply saddened by his loss, we will fondly remember him for his generosity, creative spirit and fantastic story telling,” the statement continues. “He is also well remembered outside the family for his long running career in TV and Theatre where he delighted audiences of all ages. This gave him great joy and we know his legacy will last.”
Rudden continued to share tributes on Franklin’s X page, sharing that Franklin would “have loved that he is trending” and writing, “One thing I loved about...
- 12/26/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Richard Franklin, who is best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Emmerdale, died on early Christmas morning at the age of 87.
The news was confirmed by longtime friend Líam Rudden, who shared the news via social media on Monday on behalf of the family.
“It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard,” Rudden’s post reads.
It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard. #Rip
– Líam Rudden pic.twitter.com/TgsSADbQYt
— Richard Franklin (@PlanetFranklin) December 25, 2023
Franklins’ breakout TV...
The news was confirmed by longtime friend Líam Rudden, who shared the news via social media on Monday on behalf of the family.
“It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard,” Rudden’s post reads.
It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard. #Rip
– Líam Rudden pic.twitter.com/TgsSADbQYt
— Richard Franklin (@PlanetFranklin) December 25, 2023
Franklins’ breakout TV...
- 12/25/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
The Doctor we viewers meet as hero of the latest “Doctor Who” Christmas special is unlike any other we’ve met in the 60-year history of the character.
He’s suave in a non-geeky way. He can command a dance floor. He can actually sing. And he’s a Black man.
After watching Ncuti Gatwa’s impressive debut as the first Black, male incarnation of the Time Lord hero at the center of the BBC’s venerated science fiction franchise, this Black male TV critic is fascinated and hopeful at the possibilities that lie ahead.
But I’ve also got a few other fervent hopes — deep wishes that have been rolling around my mind ever since I first stumbled on The Doctor as a fan in my childhood, watching Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, ambling about like a shock-haired, spacefaring, time traveling version of Gene Wilder, in reruns which...
He’s suave in a non-geeky way. He can command a dance floor. He can actually sing. And he’s a Black man.
After watching Ncuti Gatwa’s impressive debut as the first Black, male incarnation of the Time Lord hero at the center of the BBC’s venerated science fiction franchise, this Black male TV critic is fascinated and hopeful at the possibilities that lie ahead.
But I’ve also got a few other fervent hopes — deep wishes that have been rolling around my mind ever since I first stumbled on The Doctor as a fan in my childhood, watching Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, ambling about like a shock-haired, spacefaring, time traveling version of Gene Wilder, in reruns which...
- 12/25/2023
- by Eric Deggans
- Indiewire
For the better part of 60 years, “Doctor Who” has been typified by an ongoing cycle of death and rebirth. The death of one Doctor brought the birth of the next. Viewers of the long-running BBC series instinctively knew from the moment a new actor was announced as the titular Time Lord that an emotional farewell awaited in the not-too-distant future.
That all changed this year, fundamentally — perhaps irrevocably — altering the franchise with it.
Regeneration — one of the most brilliant storytelling devices in TV history — was a gambit born of necessity by the “Doctor Who” brain trust in 1966 when star William Hartnell, suffering from ill health and memory problems, decided to bow out of the successful series after three years. Of course, that the series was successful meant creatives and executives alike wanted to keep the train running. And if audiences were Ok with an impossibly long-lived time-traveling alien, surely the...
That all changed this year, fundamentally — perhaps irrevocably — altering the franchise with it.
Regeneration — one of the most brilliant storytelling devices in TV history — was a gambit born of necessity by the “Doctor Who” brain trust in 1966 when star William Hartnell, suffering from ill health and memory problems, decided to bow out of the successful series after three years. Of course, that the series was successful meant creatives and executives alike wanted to keep the train running. And if audiences were Ok with an impossibly long-lived time-traveling alien, surely the...
- 12/25/2023
- by Zaki Hasan
- The Wrap
The wonderful thing about ‘The Church on Ruby Road’, the first full episode of Doctor Who with Ncuti Gatwa as the title character, is how it manages to be both brilliantly new and brilliantly familiar all at the same time. Every face on screen is new to us: Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, who we’d previously glimpsed for just ten minutes or so at the end of the recent 60th anniversary specials. Millie Gibson’s companion, Ruby Sunday, and her family. The goblin baddies. Anita Dobson’s nosey neighbour. Davina McCall. This is all new to us.
And yet? It’s a handsome, dashing man in a long coat, running around being far cleverer than everyone else. He’s thwarting monsters with his dazzling brain and quipping away, and he’s also warm and emotional and funny, and he’s making friends with a plucky young girl who he can explain things to,...
And yet? It’s a handsome, dashing man in a long coat, running around being far cleverer than everyone else. He’s thwarting monsters with his dazzling brain and quipping away, and he’s also warm and emotional and funny, and he’s making friends with a plucky young girl who he can explain things to,...
- 12/20/2023
- by Marc Burrows
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
To celebrate the release of Worzel Gummidge: The Combined Harvest Edition on DVD and Blu-ray from 13th November, we’re giving away a Blu-Ray copy!
Revisit Jon Pertwee in his favourite role as Worzel Gummidge. Worzel Gummidge: The
Combined Harvest Edition includes the original 4 seasons of Worzel Gummidge, as well as the two-season series of Worzel Gummidge Down Under. Together for the first time fully restored from the original negatives and packed full with 312 mins (approx.) of incredible bonus material, both old and new….plus a bonus CD containing the soundtrack from the Original Series and the
later Down Under Series.
Walking, talking scarecrow Worzel Gummidge (Jon Pertwee) lives on Scatterbrook Farm, where he stands in Ten Acre field. When children John and Sue move to the countryside, they learn that life is never dull with Worzel around. The restless scarecrow dreams of a life away from his post in...
Revisit Jon Pertwee in his favourite role as Worzel Gummidge. Worzel Gummidge: The
Combined Harvest Edition includes the original 4 seasons of Worzel Gummidge, as well as the two-season series of Worzel Gummidge Down Under. Together for the first time fully restored from the original negatives and packed full with 312 mins (approx.) of incredible bonus material, both old and new….plus a bonus CD containing the soundtrack from the Original Series and the
later Down Under Series.
Walking, talking scarecrow Worzel Gummidge (Jon Pertwee) lives on Scatterbrook Farm, where he stands in Ten Acre field. When children John and Sue move to the countryside, they learn that life is never dull with Worzel around. The restless scarecrow dreams of a life away from his post in...
- 11/5/2023
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
If you haven’t yet read Alison Rumfitt’s entertaining and insightful interview with Ncuti Gatwa for Rolling Stone UK, here’s where to head. If any fans needed reassurance that the right actor with the right energy had been picked to play the next Doctor, that’s where they’ll find it – in a free-wheeling conversation about Barbie, Sex Education, theatre, Magic Mike Live! astrology, religion, fashion, and of course Doctor Who.
In the course of Gatwa and Rumfitt’s conversation about his work on stage, the next Doctor said that he’d like to return to roles in the theatre: “I’m planning on getting back to it next year, after I finish season two of Doctor Who.”
Just give us the time, place and box-office link, and we’ll be there, Ncuti. More importantly though for Who fans, is confirmation that, barring accidents, Gatwa’s Doctor won...
In the course of Gatwa and Rumfitt’s conversation about his work on stage, the next Doctor said that he’d like to return to roles in the theatre: “I’m planning on getting back to it next year, after I finish season two of Doctor Who.”
Just give us the time, place and box-office link, and we’ll be there, Ncuti. More importantly though for Who fans, is confirmation that, barring accidents, Gatwa’s Doctor won...
- 7/11/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Looks aren’t everything (or so our mums tell us) but when there’s a brand new Doctor in the Tardis, they become pretty important. Tradition tells us that each Doctor has their own signature style – from Tom Baker’s iconic stripey scarf to Peter Davison’s cricket-and-celery combo, and Matt Smith’s “cool” bowtie – giving us clues about what kind of Doctor they’ll be.
So what will Ncuti Gatwa’s fifteenth Doctor be like? Details are scarce so far, but his fashion-forward costumes give us plenty of interesting hints…
No More Unchanging Doctor Costume
Finally, it looks like the Doctor is going to take the occasional shower.
Past Doctors have either stuck rigidly to a single costume – like William Hartnell’s suave, Victorian-era get-up or Colin Baker’s coat of many colours – or gone for a consistent look, like David Tennant wearing the same geek-chic suit in different colours,...
So what will Ncuti Gatwa’s fifteenth Doctor be like? Details are scarce so far, but his fashion-forward costumes give us plenty of interesting hints…
No More Unchanging Doctor Costume
Finally, it looks like the Doctor is going to take the occasional shower.
Past Doctors have either stuck rigidly to a single costume – like William Hartnell’s suave, Victorian-era get-up or Colin Baker’s coat of many colours – or gone for a consistent look, like David Tennant wearing the same geek-chic suit in different colours,...
- 5/3/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
The music of Doctor Who has brought chills, caused tears and inspired original works – not to mention raised a few eyebrows over the years. From the on-screen work of the show’s composers to novelty pop singles, trance epics, live proms, a surprising Glastonbury cameo, and the Master’s recent taste for dance-floor fillers, we track the music moments it’s hard to forget.
Across the Universe
There’s no denying that The Beatles’ Doctor Who cameo is a strange and somewhat gratuitous moment – but one that came very close to being so much more than that. The First Doctor has just acquired a “Time-Space Visualiser”, meaning that he can view what’s going on anywhere in all of time and space as if they’re watching the telly.
As far as the Doctor’s gadgets go, this is just a teensy bit overpowered, but anyway: after channel-hopping and spying...
Across the Universe
There’s no denying that The Beatles’ Doctor Who cameo is a strange and somewhat gratuitous moment – but one that came very close to being so much more than that. The First Doctor has just acquired a “Time-Space Visualiser”, meaning that he can view what’s going on anywhere in all of time and space as if they’re watching the telly.
As far as the Doctor’s gadgets go, this is just a teensy bit overpowered, but anyway: after channel-hopping and spying...
- 3/15/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
This week, the BBC announced the latest Blue Peter presenter – wheelchair racer Abby Cook – making her the 42nd presenter in the 65-year history of this wholesome children’s entertainment show.
Blue Peter is famous for being the longest-running children’s TV programme in the world, as well as for its iconic badge, and its notoriously disastrous time capsules.
But in amongst the strange craft projects, ‘fun’ facts and sometimes controversial competitions, Blue Peter had some real geek gems:
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill Met a Tortoise and Ate Star Wars Stew (1980)
Through a 2023 lens, this seems like a fever dream, but against the odds it all actually happened. To celebrate the release of The Empire Strikes Back, the Blue Peter team treated us to an appearance from R2D2, a strangely silent C3P0, ‘hairy old Chewbacca’ and Darth Vader.
Then the real fun happens: Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill...
Blue Peter is famous for being the longest-running children’s TV programme in the world, as well as for its iconic badge, and its notoriously disastrous time capsules.
But in amongst the strange craft projects, ‘fun’ facts and sometimes controversial competitions, Blue Peter had some real geek gems:
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill Met a Tortoise and Ate Star Wars Stew (1980)
Through a 2023 lens, this seems like a fever dream, but against the odds it all actually happened. To celebrate the release of The Empire Strikes Back, the Blue Peter team treated us to an appearance from R2D2, a strangely silent C3P0, ‘hairy old Chewbacca’ and Darth Vader.
Then the real fun happens: Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill...
- 3/8/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
In terms of baseline quality, the Seventies is probably the most consistent Doctor Who has been until the 21st Century. There’s a classic story in nearly every season, and fondly-thought-of stories throughout. The long-list for this one was very long, the certainty of not including someone’s favourite even more certain than usual.
Producer Barry Letts and Script Editor Terrance Dicks took a show with the potential for cancellation and moved it from Quatermass homage to the cosiest of nightmare fuel: a family show on and off-screen with the reassuringly haughty Jon Pertwee ruffling hearts and minds at the head of a regular ensemble cast.
After five seasons the family was breaking up, and the show was revitalised by incoming Producer Philip Hinchcliffe and Script Editor Robert Holmes. Aiming at an older audience (Holmes in The Daily Express in 1977: ‘I wouldn’t let any child under ten see...
Producer Barry Letts and Script Editor Terrance Dicks took a show with the potential for cancellation and moved it from Quatermass homage to the cosiest of nightmare fuel: a family show on and off-screen with the reassuringly haughty Jon Pertwee ruffling hearts and minds at the head of a regular ensemble cast.
After five seasons the family was breaking up, and the show was revitalised by incoming Producer Philip Hinchcliffe and Script Editor Robert Holmes. Aiming at an older audience (Holmes in The Daily Express in 1977: ‘I wouldn’t let any child under ten see...
- 11/27/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
BBC Books has released a new edition of ‘Doctor Who and the Daleks’, David Whitaker’s adaptation of the first Dalek story that was originally published in 1964 (under the title ‘Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks’) and the first Doctor Who novel ever published. The difference with this re-release (there was an earlier one in 2011) is it’s in hardback with illustrations by American artist Robert Hack (who started working on the Idw Comic range in 2008). You may have seen his art in the comics and TV title sequence of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Hack’s approach to the art, which is the really distinctive element here, is a successful fusion of the monochrome TV original, Whitaker’s prose, and the Peter Cushing colourful movie version from 1965. There are some of the same bold colours from Cushing’s movie but usually one colour dominates each painting,...
Hack’s approach to the art, which is the really distinctive element here, is a successful fusion of the monochrome TV original, Whitaker’s prose, and the Peter Cushing colourful movie version from 1965. There are some of the same bold colours from Cushing’s movie but usually one colour dominates each painting,...
- 11/22/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Leslie Phillips, the British actor in the “Harry Potter” and “Carry On” films, has died following a long illness, according to the BBC. He was 98.
Phillips, who was the voice of the Sorting Hat in the “Harry Potter” films, starred in over 200 movies, TV and radio series during a career that spanned more than 80 years.
Phillips is survived by his wife Zara, who told British tabloid The Sun that he was a “national treasure.” “I’ve lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman….People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went,” Zara said to the Sun, according to the BBC.
The beloved comic actor starred in four of the “Carry On” films, starting in 1959 with “Carry On Nurse.” He went on star in “Carry On Teacher” and “Carry On Constable” in the 1960s.
Phillips is also best known for his role as a...
Phillips, who was the voice of the Sorting Hat in the “Harry Potter” films, starred in over 200 movies, TV and radio series during a career that spanned more than 80 years.
Phillips is survived by his wife Zara, who told British tabloid The Sun that he was a “national treasure.” “I’ve lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman….People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went,” Zara said to the Sun, according to the BBC.
The beloved comic actor starred in four of the “Carry On” films, starting in 1959 with “Carry On Nurse.” He went on star in “Carry On Teacher” and “Carry On Constable” in the 1960s.
Phillips is also best known for his role as a...
- 11/8/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
If you listen closely, every year around October 1st you’ll start to hear things go bump in the night… but don’t worry, instead of g-g-g-ghoooosts it’s mostly just the sound of props department interns who have been made to stay late and dig out boxes of bat bunting, dry ice machines and facepaint ready for another round of Halloween TV specials.
Halloween episodes are now a spooky season staple on both sides of the pond, but while the US has been producing Halloween hits like It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and The Flintstones’ ‘A Haunted House is Not A Home’ since the early 1960s, the American tradition didn’t properly catch on in the UK until the 1970s.
Dig through the archives, and – while a couple of spooky stories were read out on Jackanory in the late 1960s, including Doctor Who’s own Jon Pertwee’s memorable reading of Ghoulies,...
Halloween episodes are now a spooky season staple on both sides of the pond, but while the US has been producing Halloween hits like It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and The Flintstones’ ‘A Haunted House is Not A Home’ since the early 1960s, the American tradition didn’t properly catch on in the UK until the 1970s.
Dig through the archives, and – while a couple of spooky stories were read out on Jackanory in the late 1960s, including Doctor Who’s own Jon Pertwee’s memorable reading of Ghoulies,...
- 10/18/2022
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
In House of the Dragon, Matt Smith practically walks away with every scene he’s in. Only Milly Alcock really gives him a run for his money, but even then, they elevate each other’s performances rather than distracting from them.
But even so, there is something familiar about Daemon Targaryen. The mirthless laughter. The smile that only reaches just below the eyes. The way he seems mildly amused at being threatened, and enjoys nothing more than a really good nemesis. Viewers who have seen Smith as Doctor Who’s Eleventh Doctor will recognize a lot of the old notes.
This isn’t the first time he’s done this. We won’t speculate as to whether Jared Leto slept upside down, drank only human blood or tried to navigate by echolocation to prepare for his role in Morbius, but throughout the film he’s consistently outperformed by Matt Smith...
But even so, there is something familiar about Daemon Targaryen. The mirthless laughter. The smile that only reaches just below the eyes. The way he seems mildly amused at being threatened, and enjoys nothing more than a really good nemesis. Viewers who have seen Smith as Doctor Who’s Eleventh Doctor will recognize a lot of the old notes.
This isn’t the first time he’s done this. We won’t speculate as to whether Jared Leto slept upside down, drank only human blood or tried to navigate by echolocation to prepare for his role in Morbius, but throughout the film he’s consistently outperformed by Matt Smith...
- 9/13/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
The expansive universe of BBC's "Doctor Who" predates even some of pop culture's most beloved sci-fi franchises, including "Star Trek" and "Star Wars." Since it first aired in 1963, the series has proved that its lasting relevance is fueled by its knack for reinvention. All thirteen eras of the show so far have had their own regenerated Doctors, quirks, and loveable supporting cast of companions, weaving a rich lore from decades upon decades of TV episodes, spin-offs, comics, and audio dramas.
In a series designed to be ever-changing, one constant is the Doctor's transportation method, a time- and space-traveling ship called the Tardis, disguised as a British police box. But have you ever heard of Bessie, the third Doctor's bright yellow Edwardian roadster?
The Doctor Modified Bessie With Advanced Technology
In the 1970 story arc "Doctor Who and the Silurians," Jon Pertwee's Doctor is put on trial by the Time...
In a series designed to be ever-changing, one constant is the Doctor's transportation method, a time- and space-traveling ship called the Tardis, disguised as a British police box. But have you ever heard of Bessie, the third Doctor's bright yellow Edwardian roadster?
The Doctor Modified Bessie With Advanced Technology
In the 1970 story arc "Doctor Who and the Silurians," Jon Pertwee's Doctor is put on trial by the Time...
- 8/29/2022
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
Sarah Jane Smith, played by the late, great Elisabeth Sladen, was the most important companion in Doctor Who’s history. She played the companion character alongside Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker’s Doctors from 1973 to 1976 and was so successful in the part that she single-handedly made a case for equal billing for the companion character 30 years before it actually happened in the 2005 season.
Looking back, she had such a profound impact on the show and became such a popular character that there was virtually a rejection of other characters in favor of Sarah, leading to the creation of her own spin-off series. But who was Sarah Jane Smith, and how has she evolved in Doctor Who?
Who Is Sarah Jane Smith?
Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter
Sarah Jane Smith is a dogged investigative journalist and a companion of Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor, as well as Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor,...
Looking back, she had such a profound impact on the show and became such a popular character that there was virtually a rejection of other characters in favor of Sarah, leading to the creation of her own spin-off series. But who was Sarah Jane Smith, and how has she evolved in Doctor Who?
Who Is Sarah Jane Smith?
Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter
Sarah Jane Smith is a dogged investigative journalist and a companion of Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor, as well as Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor,...
- 5/11/2022
- by Jason Collins
- buddytv.com
BBC is tossing Ncuti Gatwa the keys to the Tardis.
Gatwa (whose first name is pronounced Shoo-tee) has landed Doctor Who‘s iconic role of the Doctor, making him the successor to Jodie Whittaker and the series’ 14th lead overall.
More from TVLineDoctor Who: Russell T Davies, Original Revival Showrunner, to Return in 2023Killing Eve: Sandra Oh Reacts to the Divisive Series Finale -- and Reveals It Was Almost Much DifferentKilling Eve Book Author Slams Series Finale for 'Punishing' Eve and Villanelle
The show confirmed the news on Twitter Sunday, writing: “The future is here! Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor.
Gatwa (whose first name is pronounced Shoo-tee) has landed Doctor Who‘s iconic role of the Doctor, making him the successor to Jodie Whittaker and the series’ 14th lead overall.
More from TVLineDoctor Who: Russell T Davies, Original Revival Showrunner, to Return in 2023Killing Eve: Sandra Oh Reacts to the Divisive Series Finale -- and Reveals It Was Almost Much DifferentKilling Eve Book Author Slams Series Finale for 'Punishing' Eve and Villanelle
The show confirmed the news on Twitter Sunday, writing: “The future is here! Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor.
- 5/8/2022
- by Rebecca Iannucci
- TVLine.com
The next Doctor Who special is rapidly approaching – the penultimate adventure of Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor, who proved that not only do a lot of planets have a North, at least a couple also have a Yorkshire.
To mark this adventure, the Doctor is facing off against one of her few headlining alien nemeses that haven’t been given another go-round since the new series started in 2005 (We may have to find a name other than “new” for that soon). Yes, the Doctor is dealing with the Sea Devils, on a pirate ship, alongside the legendary pirate Zheng Yi Sao, inching the series ever closer to the Doctor Who/Our Flag Means Death crossover the people are crying out for.
Now, this is Doctor Who, so we can be pretty sure that any necessary background exposition will be delivered by the Doctor as soon as a Sea Devil shows up on screen.
To mark this adventure, the Doctor is facing off against one of her few headlining alien nemeses that haven’t been given another go-round since the new series started in 2005 (We may have to find a name other than “new” for that soon). Yes, the Doctor is dealing with the Sea Devils, on a pirate ship, alongside the legendary pirate Zheng Yi Sao, inching the series ever closer to the Doctor Who/Our Flag Means Death crossover the people are crying out for.
Now, this is Doctor Who, so we can be pretty sure that any necessary background exposition will be delivered by the Doctor as soon as a Sea Devil shows up on screen.
- 4/11/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Lovers of vintage English crime thrillers will have a lot to chew over with this pair of escapist gangster pix, one pre-war and one post-. In each an innocent young couple suffers a run-in with a criminal gang. John Mills and Richard Attenborough are the ‘fresh’ new talent on display. The leading lady of Dancing with Crime is Sheila Sim, playing opposite her husband Attenborough. The co-feature The Green Cockatoo sports credits for William Cameron Menzies and Miklós Rózsa.
Dancing with Crime + The Green Cockatoo
Blu-ray
Cohen Film Collection / Kino Lorber
1937 & 1947 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 82 + 64 min. / Street Date January 25, 2022 / Available from Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Richard Attenborough, Sheila Sim, Barry Jones; John Mills, René Ray, Robert Newton.
Original Music: Benjamin Frankel, Miklós Rózsa
Directed by John Paddy Carstairs; William Cameron Menzies
The Blu-ray era has given home video devotees great opportunities to catch up with ‘exotic’ genre films from abroad. American TV...
Dancing with Crime + The Green Cockatoo
Blu-ray
Cohen Film Collection / Kino Lorber
1937 & 1947 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 82 + 64 min. / Street Date January 25, 2022 / Available from Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Richard Attenborough, Sheila Sim, Barry Jones; John Mills, René Ray, Robert Newton.
Original Music: Benjamin Frankel, Miklós Rózsa
Directed by John Paddy Carstairs; William Cameron Menzies
The Blu-ray era has given home video devotees great opportunities to catch up with ‘exotic’ genre films from abroad. American TV...
- 1/11/2022
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
“… hideous, machine-like creatures. They are legless, moving on a round base. They have no human features. A lens on a flexible shaft acts as an eye, arms with mechanical grips for hands.” Terry Nation’s script for ‘The Survivors’ (aka ‘The Daleks’ Part Two)
The Daleks, along with Judge Dredd, are fictional fascists beloved by a wide audience. At their heart is a combination of terrifying concept – Nazis who always return (imagine) – with a triumph of design. The greatest Dalek stories tap into this uneasy alliance.
A quick summary of the thinking behind this article:
A. We thought people would enjoy it.
B. If a story features the Daleks in a small cameo role, I’ve not included it. I’ve removed ‘The Day of the Doctor’ and ‘The Time of the Doctor’: it seems silly to rate them based on their Dalek content.
The rankings are not based...
The Daleks, along with Judge Dredd, are fictional fascists beloved by a wide audience. At their heart is a combination of terrifying concept – Nazis who always return (imagine) – with a triumph of design. The greatest Dalek stories tap into this uneasy alliance.
A quick summary of the thinking behind this article:
A. We thought people would enjoy it.
B. If a story features the Daleks in a small cameo role, I’ve not included it. I’ve removed ‘The Day of the Doctor’ and ‘The Time of the Doctor’: it seems silly to rate them based on their Dalek content.
The rankings are not based...
- 1/10/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Regeneration stories are a tricky one in that they aren’t entirely consistent. The first time the process was even called regeneration was eleven years into the show’s first run. That story, ‘Planet of the Spiders’, felt like a summing up of the Pertwee era, a celebration of what had made it work and an indication that it was time to move on. This feeling crops up several times across the show’s history. Sometimes there’s a suggestion of the show addressing its own flaws, other times there’s just a bunch of strange decisions being made in the midst of chaotic productions. The only consistent is one actor leaves, another arrives, and change is afoot.
As we anticipate the Doctor’s next change, due this autumn in 2022’s third special, here are the past regeneration stories ranked from least to most successful.
12. Time and the Rani (1987) Colin Baker...
As we anticipate the Doctor’s next change, due this autumn in 2022’s third special, here are the past regeneration stories ranked from least to most successful.
12. Time and the Rani (1987) Colin Baker...
- 1/9/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
In March 1993, Doctor Who had been off-air for over three years. Paul McGann wouldn’t become the Doctor for another three, and it would be a further nine until Christopher Eccleston’s first appearance in the Tardis. The fans though, were keeping the show alive – fans such as Gavin Fuller, who chose it as his specialist subject in BBC One quiz Mastermind.
Fuller scored an impressive 16 points in his two minutes on Doctor Who, and increased that to a total of 29 after the General Knowledge round. He won the episode and went on to become the 1993 series champion, answering questions on the Crusades and the Medieval Castle in the British Isles as his two other specialist subjects.
When the BBC recruited four Doctor Who trivia fans for a special Mastermind episode in 2005 to coincide with the show’s revival, Fuller – who had since become head of The Telegraph’s reference...
Fuller scored an impressive 16 points in his two minutes on Doctor Who, and increased that to a total of 29 after the General Knowledge round. He won the episode and went on to become the 1993 series champion, answering questions on the Crusades and the Medieval Castle in the British Isles as his two other specialist subjects.
When the BBC recruited four Doctor Who trivia fans for a special Mastermind episode in 2005 to coincide with the show’s revival, Fuller – who had since become head of The Telegraph’s reference...
- 8/10/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Written by Jody Houser | Art by Roberta Ingranata | Published by Titan Comics
All good things must come to an end, even for Time Lords. Even for Time Lords pretending to be other Time Lords while partnering with a previous incarnation of themselves and encountering two versions of the Time Lord who they themselves are claiming to be. Yep, it’s Jody Houser, and yep, it’s Missy. I’m not sure there’ll ever be another version of The Master that quite captures the mystique that Missy has. Is she good playing at being bad, or is she bad pretending to be good? Is she neither? Both? It’s that slippery quality that you love about her, and that makes you understand just how difficult it is for The Doctor to work her out.
So, the Key to Time has been located, which is good, but it is back in Unit’S 1970’s heyday,...
All good things must come to an end, even for Time Lords. Even for Time Lords pretending to be other Time Lords while partnering with a previous incarnation of themselves and encountering two versions of the Time Lord who they themselves are claiming to be. Yep, it’s Jody Houser, and yep, it’s Missy. I’m not sure there’ll ever be another version of The Master that quite captures the mystique that Missy has. Is she good playing at being bad, or is she bad pretending to be good? Is she neither? Both? It’s that slippery quality that you love about her, and that makes you understand just how difficult it is for The Doctor to work her out.
So, the Key to Time has been located, which is good, but it is back in Unit’S 1970’s heyday,...
- 7/16/2021
- by Dean Fuller
- Nerdly
I mean, it’s not like absolutely everything is terrible right now, but certainly a lot of things are and we could all do with a break. As a result, here’s a list of Doctor Who stories – one chosen per Doctor – that I put on for comfort. Sometimes you need something familiar and well-worn to unwind with.
This list is very much subjective, some of it is down to which Doctor Who videos I could afford when I was 10. These stories work for me and it’s unlikely they will work completely for someone else. Also worth mentioning is that this list is incomplete; these are not the only stories I watch for comfort, and indeed sometimes that’s not the reason I watch these stories.
First Doctor: ‘The Aztecs’
‘The Aztecs’ is a great example of Doctor Who that can be both familiar, endearing and brutal. In this...
This list is very much subjective, some of it is down to which Doctor Who videos I could afford when I was 10. These stories work for me and it’s unlikely they will work completely for someone else. Also worth mentioning is that this list is incomplete; these are not the only stories I watch for comfort, and indeed sometimes that’s not the reason I watch these stories.
First Doctor: ‘The Aztecs’
‘The Aztecs’ is a great example of Doctor Who that can be both familiar, endearing and brutal. In this...
- 7/1/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Spoilers: contains reference to unofficial series 13 filming photography
Doctor Who began life as a time-travelling sci-fi show with a historical bias and an educational bent. One thing – or, rather, one race – changed all of that: The Daleks. Those oppressive pepper pots gave the public a taste for the fearsome, the far-off and the fantastic, and the following five decades would be stacked with all sorts of aliens and monsters, from the sub-slime to the Drashig-ulous, and everything in between.
A new showrunner always wants to put their stamp on the series, but if novelty is vital to Doctor Who, then so is nostalgia. The allure of bringing back an old foe to put face-to-face with a Doctor’s new face is too strong to resist. At first, Chris Chibnall let Jodie Whittaker settle into her performance unburdened by the baggage of monsters past, but it wasn’t long before the Daleks,...
Doctor Who began life as a time-travelling sci-fi show with a historical bias and an educational bent. One thing – or, rather, one race – changed all of that: The Daleks. Those oppressive pepper pots gave the public a taste for the fearsome, the far-off and the fantastic, and the following five decades would be stacked with all sorts of aliens and monsters, from the sub-slime to the Drashig-ulous, and everything in between.
A new showrunner always wants to put their stamp on the series, but if novelty is vital to Doctor Who, then so is nostalgia. The allure of bringing back an old foe to put face-to-face with a Doctor’s new face is too strong to resist. At first, Chris Chibnall let Jodie Whittaker settle into her performance unburdened by the baggage of monsters past, but it wasn’t long before the Daleks,...
- 5/18/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Without the acerbic wit of the Ninth Doctor in 2005, the 21st-century geek landscape would look a whole lot different. If we were to borrow the Tardis from Doctor Who, and pop back to the debut of “Rose” on March 26, 2005, we’d know we were standing on the edge of a moment when everything changed. Before Doctor Who, Christopher Eccleston had been known for hard-edged, gritty roles like the game-changing horror flick 28 Days Later or Danny Boyle’s Shallow Grave. After Doctor Who, Eccleston was known for…well…even more hard-edged roles; from the baddie Malekith in Thor: The Dark World or priest Matt Jamison in The Leftovers.
But, for Doctor Who fans, he’ll always be the edgy Ninth Doctor: impatient, dismissive, but ultimately heroic. Without Eccleston, it’s difficult to imagine the Who renaissance. There’s no Tennant and Smith without him, to say nothing of Capaldi and Whittaker.
But, for Doctor Who fans, he’ll always be the edgy Ninth Doctor: impatient, dismissive, but ultimately heroic. Without Eccleston, it’s difficult to imagine the Who renaissance. There’s no Tennant and Smith without him, to say nothing of Capaldi and Whittaker.
- 4/2/2021
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
Boba Fett’s green, T-visored helmet is a menacing visage that’s nearly evocative of Star Wars as Darth Vader’s; one first embodied on film by actor Jeremy Bulloch, who, sadly, passed away on December 17 at the age of 75. However, the legacy that Bulloch leaves behind has proven far greater than a character with minimal screentime and dubbed lines seemingly had any right to possess. It’s a legacy to which hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian owes a great deal of thanks.
Bulloch, born in Leicestershire, England on February 16, 1945, wasted little time getting himself onscreen with uncredited roles—while still an adolescent—in 1958 films Violent Playground and Titanic tragedy movie A Night to Remember, continuing to work steadily for years in U.K.-aimed films and television shows. He fielded a notable four-episode 1974 run as Hal the Archer on Doctor Who (opposite Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor); his second run on the series,...
Bulloch, born in Leicestershire, England on February 16, 1945, wasted little time getting himself onscreen with uncredited roles—while still an adolescent—in 1958 films Violent Playground and Titanic tragedy movie A Night to Remember, continuing to work steadily for years in U.K.-aimed films and television shows. He fielded a notable four-episode 1974 run as Hal the Archer on Doctor Who (opposite Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor); his second run on the series,...
- 12/18/2020
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Sometimes you’ve just got to look at the general vibe of 2020 (the furnace bit in Toy Story 3 but half the toys are drinking lighter fluid) and decide to write something positive. On my way to nursery, another dad was telling me how he found Sacha Dhawan’s performance as the Master in Doctor Who a high point of the last series, so inspired by that, let’s celebrate what was good about each actor to play the role on television. If nothing else, it’ll probably be good for my mental health and give someone a chance to type ‘Of course Roger Delgado was the original and best’ in context, so hopefully that’ll make them happy too.
Roger Delgado (or to give him his full name ‘Roger Caesar Marius Bernard de Delgado Torres Castillo Roberto’ – which is Spanish for ‘Of course Roger Delgado was the original and best’) originated the role,...
Roger Delgado (or to give him his full name ‘Roger Caesar Marius Bernard de Delgado Torres Castillo Roberto’ – which is Spanish for ‘Of course Roger Delgado was the original and best’) originated the role,...
- 11/3/2020
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Fans of the new seasons of Doctor Who will be familiar with the Doctor’s use of “timey-wimey,” first thrown out by David Tennant in the episode “Blink” to explain the not-always-consistent rules of time travel. Matt Smith’s Doctor also employed it in “The Day of the Doctor,” while the phrase has become a kind of sci-fi shorthand for situations where clear information isn’t present. However, it seems that the expression has its origins back in classic Who. Well, sort of, anyway.
According to ScreenRant, a 2017 Titan Comic miniseries focused on the Third Doctor places “timey-wimey” in that era of the Time Lord’s adventures. More specifically, writer Paul Cornell has it being coined by companion Jo Grant, who begins to use it to try to get her head around “The Three Doctors” and its use of multiple versions of the Doctor. At this point, Jon Pertwee’s...
According to ScreenRant, a 2017 Titan Comic miniseries focused on the Third Doctor places “timey-wimey” in that era of the Time Lord’s adventures. More specifically, writer Paul Cornell has it being coined by companion Jo Grant, who begins to use it to try to get her head around “The Three Doctors” and its use of multiple versions of the Doctor. At this point, Jon Pertwee’s...
- 9/28/2020
- by Jessica James
- We Got This Covered
A new Doctor Who poll that set to find out who the most popular Doctor ever is has returned both some expected and unexpected results. RadioTimes.com ran the poll, which reportedly brought in around 50,000 votes, and now the final figures are back and Whovians everywhere have declared that David Tennant is the greatest incarnation of the Time Lord.
This isn’t much of a surprise, as the Scottish actor has managed to hold on to his widely popular status over the last ten years since he bowed out of the role on New Year’s Day 2010, nearly always coming out on top in polls of this type. Second place, however, is much more of a shock. Current Doctor Jodie Whittaker – whose era has been hugely divisive – was hot on Tennant’s heels, as he gained 10,518 votes while Whittaker brought in 10,423.
The Doctors who came in between Tennant and Whittaker...
This isn’t much of a surprise, as the Scottish actor has managed to hold on to his widely popular status over the last ten years since he bowed out of the role on New Year’s Day 2010, nearly always coming out on top in polls of this type. Second place, however, is much more of a shock. Current Doctor Jodie Whittaker – whose era has been hugely divisive – was hot on Tennant’s heels, as he gained 10,518 votes while Whittaker brought in 10,423.
The Doctors who came in between Tennant and Whittaker...
- 9/21/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Dr. Who and the Daleks/Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.
Blu ray
Kino Lorber
1965, 1966 / 82, 84 min.
Starring Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbens
Cinematography by John Wilcox
Directed by Gordon Flemyng
The story of Doctor Who turns on a distinctly British conceit; our hero, a grandfatherly type usually found puttering in the garden, is in fact an alien in human form who does his puttering in a time-traveling laboratory disguised as a police box—a notion Roald Dahl might have dreamed up during one of his rare good moods.
It premiered on BBC One, November 23, 1963, the day after the Kennedy assassination (the start of the show was delayed by news updating the tragedy). British character actor William Hartnell portrayed the first Doctor to man the controls of the cosmic phone booth, followed by Patrick Troughton in 1966 and Jon Pertwee in 1970 and on and on—Jodie Whittaker currently carries the mantle and made history...
Blu ray
Kino Lorber
1965, 1966 / 82, 84 min.
Starring Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbens
Cinematography by John Wilcox
Directed by Gordon Flemyng
The story of Doctor Who turns on a distinctly British conceit; our hero, a grandfatherly type usually found puttering in the garden, is in fact an alien in human form who does his puttering in a time-traveling laboratory disguised as a police box—a notion Roald Dahl might have dreamed up during one of his rare good moods.
It premiered on BBC One, November 23, 1963, the day after the Kennedy assassination (the start of the show was delayed by news updating the tragedy). British character actor William Hartnell portrayed the first Doctor to man the controls of the cosmic phone booth, followed by Patrick Troughton in 1966 and Jon Pertwee in 1970 and on and on—Jodie Whittaker currently carries the mantle and made history...
- 9/15/2020
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
“It’s a classic ghost story with one of the best filmed jumps ever,” sums up Andy Nyman of Herbert Wise’s 1989 TV movie of The Woman in Black, “It properly delivers, and it properly delivers in a fantastically old fashioned way. It’s a proper ghost story at Christmas.” He’s not wrong. Now restored and released on Blu-ray with a load of new extras, the movie is still incredibly effective. Nyman has recorded a new commentary for the film along with fellow horror experts Kim Newman and Mark Gatiss. Nyman has a personal connection to the film too – it was his very first TV role, playing legal clerk Jackie, opposite Stephen Mackintosh as his sidekick. 30 years on and coming back to do the commentary was a joy, he explains.
“Oh, look, I honestly love it all so much,” he beams. “I never take anything for granted.” Nyman and...
“Oh, look, I honestly love it all so much,” he beams. “I never take anything for granted.” Nyman and...
- 9/8/2020
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
This article contains spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks episode 5.
This episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks pays tribute to the oldest Trek monster of them all, slips in a few overt references to Enterprise, and even gives us a Geordi La Forge teddy bear.
Although Star Trek Day isn’t until next week, on September 8, Star Trek: Lower Decks is paying tribute to the first aired Trek episode of all time by stuffing its latest episode with more references to the franchise than its ever done before. Yes, somehow, “Cupid’s Errant Arrow,” seems to have more shout-outs and callbacks than all the other episodes of Lower Decks combined. We’re not sure if this is true, or whether some clever spacetime compression is at work, but this episode seemed a lot like a Captain Kirk sundae, with Trip Tucker sprinkles, and a side helping of a Will Riker burger.
This episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks pays tribute to the oldest Trek monster of them all, slips in a few overt references to Enterprise, and even gives us a Geordi La Forge teddy bear.
Although Star Trek Day isn’t until next week, on September 8, Star Trek: Lower Decks is paying tribute to the first aired Trek episode of all time by stuffing its latest episode with more references to the franchise than its ever done before. Yes, somehow, “Cupid’s Errant Arrow,” seems to have more shout-outs and callbacks than all the other episodes of Lower Decks combined. We’re not sure if this is true, or whether some clever spacetime compression is at work, but this episode seemed a lot like a Captain Kirk sundae, with Trip Tucker sprinkles, and a side helping of a Will Riker burger.
- 9/3/2020
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
It’s February and I’m at Capital Sci Fi Con in Edinburgh, sitting next to Colin Baker. The day before, I’d brought my young sons to his table for an autograph, where he’d entertained them with all the bluster, bombast and larger-than-life loquaciousness we’d all come to expect from the Sixth Doctor, even if the man in whose gaze they were held transfixed was wearing a slightly older face, and a significantly less colourful jacket than they were accustomed to seeing.
For today’s interview, Baker is thoroughly shorn of his Sixth-ness, and seems more like the lawyer he once trained to be. He’s engaging, generous and attentive, and clearly has a mind like a steel trap. I wouldn’t have liked to have found myself opposite him in court.
We find ourselves reflecting on Baker’s deep connection to Doctor Who, and the legacy of the show itself.
For today’s interview, Baker is thoroughly shorn of his Sixth-ness, and seems more like the lawyer he once trained to be. He’s engaging, generous and attentive, and clearly has a mind like a steel trap. I wouldn’t have liked to have found myself opposite him in court.
We find ourselves reflecting on Baker’s deep connection to Doctor Who, and the legacy of the show itself.
- 7/28/2020
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Chris Farnell Jan 28, 2020
Did the latest Doctor Who series 12 episode finally prove a 35-year-old fan theory right? With major spoilers, Chris investigates
This Doctor Who article contains spoilers.
The words “Big Twist” are in the headline, so obviously if you’ve not seen Sunday night’s Doctor Who, well, probably turn off your computer and try not to speak to anyone until you’ve watched the episode because we have got spoilers aplenty right here!
Ready?
Right, Wow! Did you see? And then the bit where Captain Jack was all… and Ruth was like, and you knew it had to be a Chameleon Arch didn’t you? And then her name began with an R so I was all “Wait, are they going to bring back the Rani?” and then Boom.
I had to rewatch it with breakfast to just to reassure myself I wasn’t making it up. Yes,...
Did the latest Doctor Who series 12 episode finally prove a 35-year-old fan theory right? With major spoilers, Chris investigates
This Doctor Who article contains spoilers.
The words “Big Twist” are in the headline, so obviously if you’ve not seen Sunday night’s Doctor Who, well, probably turn off your computer and try not to speak to anyone until you’ve watched the episode because we have got spoilers aplenty right here!
Ready?
Right, Wow! Did you see? And then the bit where Captain Jack was all… and Ruth was like, and you knew it had to be a Chameleon Arch didn’t you? And then her name began with an R so I was all “Wait, are they going to bring back the Rani?” and then Boom.
I had to rewatch it with breakfast to just to reassure myself I wasn’t making it up. Yes,...
- 1/27/2020
- Den of Geek
Last night’s episode of Doctor Who turned out to be a truly mind-blowing hour. Not only did it feature the return of John Barrowman’s Captain Jack for the first time in a decade, but it also dropped the bombshell that there’s a secret regeneration from the Doctor’s past that she somehow doesn’t remember. This mystery Doctor was played by Jo Martin, making her the first ever person of color to play the Time Lord in the series’ long history.
This is an enormous rewrite of the show’s lore, to say the least. The biggest, in fact, since John Hurt was introduced as the War Doctor back in 2013’s 50th anniversary special “The Day of the Doctor.” Hurt’s incarnation slotted in between Paul McGann’s Eighth and Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctors. If you had to invent a new Doctor, this was a natural...
This is an enormous rewrite of the show’s lore, to say the least. The biggest, in fact, since John Hurt was introduced as the War Doctor back in 2013’s 50th anniversary special “The Day of the Doctor.” Hurt’s incarnation slotted in between Paul McGann’s Eighth and Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctors. If you had to invent a new Doctor, this was a natural...
- 1/27/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
After way too long a wait, Doctor Who finally returns on New Year’s Day for its twelfth season premiere with a James Bond-inspired two-parter called “Spyfall.” This will feature Stephen Fry as the head of MI6 and show Whittaker’s Doctor and her companions investigating a sinister alien threat to Britain’s secret agents. What we’ve seen so far indicates that the series is returning in style, too, but what else could the future hold for the thirteenth Doctor?
Well, Whittaker has some ideas. One of the most beloved aspects of Doctor Who are the ‘multi-Doctor’ episodes. These began way back in 1972 with “The Three Doctors,” which brought together William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee. The most recent was the 50th anniversary special “The Day of the Doctor,” which showed David Tennant and Matt Smith’s Doctors teaming up, cameo appearances from all previous Doctors...
Well, Whittaker has some ideas. One of the most beloved aspects of Doctor Who are the ‘multi-Doctor’ episodes. These began way back in 1972 with “The Three Doctors,” which brought together William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee. The most recent was the 50th anniversary special “The Day of the Doctor,” which showed David Tennant and Matt Smith’s Doctors teaming up, cameo appearances from all previous Doctors...
- 12/23/2019
- by David James
- We Got This Covered
A Golden Globe nomination for Rocketman for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy caps off a banner year for actor-turned-director Dexter Fletcher, whose fourth feature at the helm—or “four and a half”, quips Fletcher, after he stepped in uncredited to salvage Bohemian Rhapsody last year—was also his highest grosser to date. Fletcher, who has worked as an actor since he was a young boy in films like Bugsy Malone, had long harbored dreams to direct when he made his indie debut with Wild Bill in 2011. A few years later, he landed high on Hollywood’s watchlist after his Elton John biopic, starring Taron Egerton as the musical legend, premiered at Cannes in May. But what makes him tick?
My First Film Lesson
You’re going back so far; I started acting when I was a kid. It seems trite to say, “you’ve got to know your lines,” but you do.
My First Film Lesson
You’re going back so far; I started acting when I was a kid. It seems trite to say, “you’ve got to know your lines,” but you do.
- 12/20/2019
- by Joe Utichi
- Deadline Film + TV
To mark the release of Worzel Gummidge: The Complete Collection on 25th November, we’ve been given 2 copies to give away on DVD.
Revisit Jon Pertwee in his favourite role as Worzel Gummidge in this 9 Disc Complete Collection of the classic TV series. It includes Worzel Gummidge Seasons 1-4, A cup o’ tea an’ a slice o’ cake and Worzel Gummidge Down Under Seasons 1-2.
Walking, talking scarecrow Worzel Gummidge lives on Scatterbrook Farm, where he stands in Ten Acre field. Made by The Crowman, Worzel (who can come to life and pass as human) is able to change his head to reflect his mood. Worzel has befriended children John and Susan Peters who come to stay during the holidays on the Braithwaites farm. Worzel lands John and Susan in trouble especially when he is mischievous, as he goes into a sulk and once again becomes a lifeless scarecrow...
Revisit Jon Pertwee in his favourite role as Worzel Gummidge in this 9 Disc Complete Collection of the classic TV series. It includes Worzel Gummidge Seasons 1-4, A cup o’ tea an’ a slice o’ cake and Worzel Gummidge Down Under Seasons 1-2.
Walking, talking scarecrow Worzel Gummidge lives on Scatterbrook Farm, where he stands in Ten Acre field. Made by The Crowman, Worzel (who can come to life and pass as human) is able to change his head to reflect his mood. Worzel has befriended children John and Susan Peters who come to stay during the holidays on the Braithwaites farm. Worzel lands John and Susan in trouble especially when he is mischievous, as he goes into a sulk and once again becomes a lifeless scarecrow...
- 11/18/2019
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Andrew Blair Oct 15, 2019
From fanzines to forums, Doctor Who fan opinion has evolved over the years
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Whenever an episode of Doctor Who is broadcast now it’s quite easy to get a sense of how it’s been received within online communities. Websites review the episodes and people comment on those, folk post on social media and forums, and podcasts offer dissection and discussion in the aftermath.
Prior to the internet, the main outlet for review and opinion pieces were the printed fanzines that sprang up in the late seventies and eighties. Prior to that the main source we have for viewers’ responses were the BBC Audience Research reports, which weren’t carried out for every story and mostly only looked at one episode per story. What’s interesting to see is how contemporary opinion doesn’t always match up with current...
From fanzines to forums, Doctor Who fan opinion has evolved over the years
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Whenever an episode of Doctor Who is broadcast now it’s quite easy to get a sense of how it’s been received within online communities. Websites review the episodes and people comment on those, folk post on social media and forums, and podcasts offer dissection and discussion in the aftermath.
Prior to the internet, the main outlet for review and opinion pieces were the printed fanzines that sprang up in the late seventies and eighties. Prior to that the main source we have for viewers’ responses were the BBC Audience Research reports, which weren’t carried out for every story and mostly only looked at one episode per story. What’s interesting to see is how contemporary opinion doesn’t always match up with current...
- 10/15/2019
- Den of Geek
Alex Westthorp Oct 1, 2019
Witches, demons and ancient pagan rituals: Alex explores the use of folk horror in the Doctor's adventures...
This article originally ran on Den of Geek UK.
Thought to be a relatively recent term, coined by director Piers Haggard and popularised by Doctor Who's own Mark Gatiss, "folk horror" is essentially horror based on old countryside folklore. It is a sub-genre of occult fiction, which encompasses paganism, witchcraft, superstition, legends and the traditions of the countryside. Often texts will refer to "Green man" rituals, stone circles, Devil worship, disfigurement and the "memories" of the earth.
In the cinema, folk horror is at the fore in films like the 1967 Hammer classic The Devil Rides Out, Terence Fisher's vision of the 1934 novel by Denis Wheatley, Piers Haggard's own 1974 film Blood On Satan's Claw (which incidentally features a terrific cast including a pre-Who Anthony Ainley and a post-Who Wendy Padbury...
Witches, demons and ancient pagan rituals: Alex explores the use of folk horror in the Doctor's adventures...
This article originally ran on Den of Geek UK.
Thought to be a relatively recent term, coined by director Piers Haggard and popularised by Doctor Who's own Mark Gatiss, "folk horror" is essentially horror based on old countryside folklore. It is a sub-genre of occult fiction, which encompasses paganism, witchcraft, superstition, legends and the traditions of the countryside. Often texts will refer to "Green man" rituals, stone circles, Devil worship, disfigurement and the "memories" of the earth.
In the cinema, folk horror is at the fore in films like the 1967 Hammer classic The Devil Rides Out, Terence Fisher's vision of the 1934 novel by Denis Wheatley, Piers Haggard's own 1974 film Blood On Satan's Claw (which incidentally features a terrific cast including a pre-Who Anthony Ainley and a post-Who Wendy Padbury...
- 10/1/2019
- Den of Geek
Michael Palin will be The Green Man, creator of the scarecrows, in the Mackenzie Crook adaptation of “Worzel Gummidge.” The specials will be a modern retelling of the classic stories of the eponymous walking, talking scarecrow. Kew Media has landed the distribution rights and will sell the series internationally.
“The Office” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Crook is writing, directing, and taking the title role in the drama, which will play on BBC One later this year in two one-hour installments. “It’s a lovely part for me, but the whole script is very memorable and touching, and very funny,” Palin said. “It quite skillfully weaves in something for everybody all the time.”
Barbara Euphan Todd wrote the Worzel Gummidge books, which were the basis for a classic British series starring Jon Pertwee in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Leopard Pictures has partnered with Treasure Trove Productions and...
“The Office” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Crook is writing, directing, and taking the title role in the drama, which will play on BBC One later this year in two one-hour installments. “It’s a lovely part for me, but the whole script is very memorable and touching, and very funny,” Palin said. “It quite skillfully weaves in something for everybody all the time.”
Barbara Euphan Todd wrote the Worzel Gummidge books, which were the basis for a classic British series starring Jon Pertwee in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Leopard Pictures has partnered with Treasure Trove Productions and...
- 9/26/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Andrew Blair Sep 5, 2019
Andrew attempts to put his finger on those moments that make the Doctor incontrovertibly the Doctor...
This article contains spoilers for Doctor Who, including books and audioplays. It originally ran on Den of Geek UK.
You know the description "Doctor-ish," pertaining to the title character in the long-running BBC TV series Doctor Who? It feels slightly nebulous, defined circularly by virtue of literally anything they do potentially matching this description. Yet, I bet we all carry a vague notion of it, a gut feeling that certain acts and ways are Doctor-ish.
Rather than try to define this then find examples to support the definition, I’m going to list examples of behavior from each incarnation that I regard as Doctor-ish then leave everyone to come up with their own conclusions/reiterate their existing opinions. And so…
The First Doctor - The Aztecs - “Yes, I made some cocoa and got engaged.
Andrew attempts to put his finger on those moments that make the Doctor incontrovertibly the Doctor...
This article contains spoilers for Doctor Who, including books and audioplays. It originally ran on Den of Geek UK.
You know the description "Doctor-ish," pertaining to the title character in the long-running BBC TV series Doctor Who? It feels slightly nebulous, defined circularly by virtue of literally anything they do potentially matching this description. Yet, I bet we all carry a vague notion of it, a gut feeling that certain acts and ways are Doctor-ish.
Rather than try to define this then find examples to support the definition, I’m going to list examples of behavior from each incarnation that I regard as Doctor-ish then leave everyone to come up with their own conclusions/reiterate their existing opinions. And so…
The First Doctor - The Aztecs - “Yes, I made some cocoa and got engaged.
- 9/5/2019
- Den of Geek
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