Matt Smith - River Shouldn't be a Permanent Companion

Speaking to BANG Showbiz, Matt Smith said that he wouldn't want River to become a full companion. But he also says that River appears in an episode excluding the eighth and thirteenth...

The Adventure Games Series Two News

Hello. The next series of the popular Adventure Games, starring Matt Smith as the Doctor and Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, were announced in December last year. Since then, we have had no news on them, due to the business of series Six, but at last we have some news. Three Twitter updates were the first pieces of news we received on them:

Just back from day in studio with Matt Smith recording the next Doctor Who Adventure Game. His lines include words 'Imperial' & 'duck'.

Matt's performance is alive with energy. Hook him up to national grid and he could power the UK for a fortnight. Will be best Ad Game yet.

A report on today's Doctor Who Adventure Game recording (plus some v special exclusives!) will materialise next week on [the official Doctor Who website].

Then, the BBC posted an article on Matt recording the lines for the fifth Game in the complete series. You can find it here, but the main elements of the article are below:

 >  The Adventure Game will be the biggest and most ambitious yet

>  The costumes and sets are 'beautiful' according to the Doctor himself

>  Matt Smith thinks one of the lines is: "Brilliant!" And that you could only get a line like that in Doctor Who

>  The trailers are unique and try to do something that has never been done in the history of Doctor Who

>  Toby Robinson, the recording engineer thinks the trailers are 'magical'

>  Matt says: "If you think [AGMGTW] was good, just wait for Episode 8... you're in for a treat!"

>  The Adventure Game is written by Phil Ford (the writer of City of the Daleks, Blood of the Cybermen and Shadows of the Vashta Nerada)

As mentioned earlier, the Game should be coming out very soon. All trailers, clips and interviews will be posted here. Plus, as an extra bonus, you can expect five Who Reviews:

• Who Review - City of the Daleks
• Who Review - Blood of the Cybermen
• Who Review - TARDIS
• Who Review - Shadows of the Vashta Nerada
• Who Review - (Fifth Adventure Game)

Also, even though they weren't there, we are supposing that Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill will be in it (hopefully) but will be recording on another day.

Series Seven and Matt Smith Confirmed

Hello. Steven Moffat, the head writer and executive producer of Doctor Who has announced that Matt Smith will appear in Series Seven and that the series will have 14 episodes. Will this enable a two-parter-finale? I hope so. You can look at the whole comment below:

"14 eps + Matt DEFINITELY. I've got a plan and I'm NOT TELLING YOU WHAT IT IS. Now hush or River shoots you with her Spoiler Gun."

At least Matt Smith will be back but will Amy and Rory return for another series? Only time will tell.

The Time Lord Eleven Doctor Who Awards 2011 - Best Doctor Award

Hello. Welcome to the first award of the Time Lord Eleven Doctor Who Awards 2011. This first award is for the Best Doctor. In each award there are three options. The winner will be one of the three nominated for the award. So let's get started! The nominees for Best Doctor Award are:

TOM BAKER - 1974 - 1981

DAVID TENNANT - 2006 - 2010

MATT SMITH - 2010 - Present Day

And the winner is...

MATT SMITH!

Congratulations Matt and comiserations to the other nominees. Join us tomorrow for the Best Companion Award.

Fisher-Becker 'Dorium' Interview

Hello. Simon Fisher-Becker plays the blue-skinned alien Dorium Maldovar who sold the time manipulator to River Song in The Pandorica Opens. CultBox interviewed Fisher-Becker about his roles in A Good Man Goes to War and Episode Thirteen of Series Six. He also mentions a guest star in the entire series finale. You can check out the whole interview here and the main interests are posted below.

When asked about if he knew about coming back in Series Six:

"No idea at all! I was very happy to have my six lines and to be sat opposite Alex Kingston. I mean, people were saying things like ‘we must have you back’, but to be honest that’s said all the time - so, as much as I hoped, I didn’t hold my breath. What’s happened subsequently is far beyond any expectations."

When asked about his role in A Good Man Goes to War:

"It’s a major part in the storyline, Dorium becomes a bit of a hero!"

When asked about whether Dorium was a good guy or a bad guy:

"Dorium is at heart a good guy, but he lives in the murky depths. Think of him as Arthur Daley. Oh, you’re probably too young to remember Arthur Daley! He works in the murky world of black marketing, so that’s why River Song went to him to get the vortex manipulator [in 'The Pandorica Opens']."

When asked about Dorium's background:

"You see, because everyone always talks in code - and I’m very bad at picking up code - everything is kept quite secret, so any development of the character I have to find from the page and in-between the lines."

When asked about working with Matt Smith and the other regulars:

"Yes, although not Alex Kingston this time, which was a shame as I wanted to say thankyou - the way these things work, you don’t always get the chance to say goodbye properly. So I didn’t get to work with her this time, but you never know!
"Matt Smith was delightful - he talks a lot about football! He helps keep me at ease because I’m a visitor. As visiting artists, we’re a bit edgy and on our toes as we’re very grateful to be there, but at the same time you don’t want to mess things up! I have to say, the experience has been delightful. The whole team was lovely, it was a dream job; to be working on a programme I’ve followed since William Hartnell.
"I wouldn’t call myself a fan, but I’m definitely a follower. I was born in 1961 so I was very young when William Hartnell became Patrick Troughton but I do remember it. I was delighted when Christopher Eccleston came on and rebooted it."

When asked about the episode cliffhanger:

"When filming the episode, for example Episode 7, because of the secrecy we weren’t really told what has happened before. We only know what’s in the episode we’re doing. So now, having seen Episode 6, I’m saying ‘ahhh, yes, okay!’ - I had to chuckle, I was with some friends and the expression on their faces was a picture!"

When asked about the complete scripts for A Good Man Goes to War:

"Well, because my character is in it throughout, I did have a complete script. Our very first scene that we filmed, we were all together, but it was all out of context, it was all in the wrong order, so it was all very confusing. We had no idea what was going on, but it was an absolute hoot!
"What I will say is that a lot of questions will be answered, but then a whole bucket load of new questions will come forward. And the cliffhanger is very good, as you would expect!"

When asked about performing any stunts:

"No, being a roly-poly - because I’m a big chap - I think they were very wise in not encouraging me to do anything too exciting. There is a surprise and I can tell you, because it is out in the domain, when you see Episode 7 just remember that I do come back in Episode 13."

When asked about his role in Episode Thirteen:

"Yes, it’s already been filmed. It’s the last episode of the series and, what I will tell you, is that in Episode 7 Dorium is a hero and in Episode 13 he’s more of a tormenting mentor. Again, lots of answers - everything will be answered in Episode 13, but then something else will be asked, so you’ve got the cliffhanger to the new series."

When asked about the Prequel for Episode Seven:

"Again, that was something that came out of the blue too! I was right in the middle of filming Episode 7 and one of the producers came over and said that Steven had asked if I’d like to do an extra scene with three other characters. So I thought ‘right, three other characters, excellent’ and Steven was writing it at the time we were speaking.
"By 11 o’clock, when I got into the trailer, I found that there were three other characters, but they were mute! So I had to learn this monologue by the following morning, so that was fun. I’m very pleased with the result. And to be the main shot on the official website at the moment, that’s extraordinary, I’m very chuffed!"

When asked about the make-up he wore:

"They allow two hours, but it doesn’t usually take that long. My head is shaved, so then it’s just a case of applying the blue."

When asked about his favourite moment filming Doctor Who:

"There’s so many! I think, because I do follow Doctor Who, the fact that I actually got to be on the set of the TARDIS..."

When asked about whether he was in character at that point:

"Oh yes, in character, I did feel like a 12 year old! Also, the actual idea of being part of the Doctor Who family and being asked back, not once but twice. The camaraderie of the team was lovely, the script read-through around the table, getting into the frock! The other thing was getting to meet lots of other actors: Neve McIntosh was lovely to work with… Mark Gatiss..."

Finally, when asked about when Mark Gatiss was returning:

"That’s Episode 13."

21 More Hints For A Good Man Goes to War

Hello. The Gallifrey Times has released another batch of hints for A Good Man Goes to War. They're very interesting and worth a look. Here we go:

1. It is amazing – a true five-star episode

2. There are lots of spaceships – and that’s just in the teaser

3. There is a very Star Wars feel (The Empire Strikes Back especially) even down to the shape of the windows and the music

4. It’s action-packed and feels so much more epic than a usual single parter

5. There are lots of suprise guests stars (and some will be a surprise) but unlike in “The Pandorica Opens” none of them feels wasted – they all have a chance to shine…

6. …Apart from one maybe

7. It cracks along at a hell of a pace

8. There are some revelations that really will make your jaw drop

9. There is a terrific battle scene at the end (which more than makes up for a slightly underwhelming and confusingly directed one in the first half)

10. Although there’s lots of time travelling, it’s not a timey-whimey-reliant plot.

11. The Doctor produces something very revealing from the TARDIS

12. Rory says something very funny to an old enemy that you can’t believe has never been said before

13. It’s a great episode for both Rory and Amy (and Matt Smith is as brilliant as ever, especially in a sudden, unexpected emotional moment)

14. A throwaway line from last season becomes a major plot device

15. Somebody is asked to make a donation

16. Somebody very unexpected is playing doctors and nurses

17. We get to see somebody’s muff

18. Rory is definitely cool

19. Look carefully at the monitor screens…

20. …And the corridors

21. And please, please, please, if anyone has leaked the title for the next episode onto the internet, avoid the temptation to check it out. When the caption comes up at the end, “The Doctor Will Be Back In…” it was so unexpected and made us grin so much, we’d hate you to miss having the same experience…

So what do you think? Post your views in the comment box below.

Matthew Graham: Fear Her, the Rebel Flesh/the Almost People and Future Writing

Hello again. Matthew Graham, the writer of the Rebel Flesh and the Almost People, was interviewed recently by Den of Geek about his next few episodes, Fear Her and some other subjects. The link to read the whole interview is at the bottom of the page.

When asked about how he came to write for Doctor Who Series Six:

Well, I was hoping to do the last series, the first Matt Smith series. I had a very nice lunch with Piers [Wenger, executive producer] and Steven [Moffat] and we talked about ideas and had this storyline for a single. And we were quite excited about it, but I was whizzing backwards and forward to America a lot at that time, and I was also gearing up on the last series of Ashes To Ashes, which I knew needed all hands to the pumps.

So, I just panicked and thought I wouldn't have enough time. So, I contacted Steven and said I've got to bow out, regretfully. And then after the series went out, I got an e-mail from Steven, a typical Steven e-mail in capital letters, that read "thanks for abandoning me to do the series on my own. So what about series 2?" I couldn't say no, really!

When asked about the connection between Fear Her and The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People:

It's brand new. It's totally brand new. I've just watched them, actually, and I think they are absolutely fab. I think they're some of the best writing that I've ever done. And it's brilliantly directed, and brilliantly made. And I just hope everyone likes it.

I really hope that those who maybe thought that Fear Her was too childish and too silly, I'm hoping that that will silence them. This is my response!

When asked about Fear Her:

I'm actually thrilled with it. It's not what I'd have chosen if I'd come to Doctor Who, obviously. When you come to Doctor Who, you want to tell a story with monsters. You want spaceships. You want the Tardis in mortal peril. You want big, epic science fiction adventure. Of course, you do. That's why you write it.

But I was just so thrilled to be asked to write it, even when Russell [T Davies] said, "Look, it's going to be a more inexpensive episode, and it has to take place on a housing estate," I still said, "Fine."

I wanted to write for David Tennant, for Billie Piper, and be part of TV history. So, I said, "Absolutely." I was thrilled with it.

What we had set out to do right from the start with Fear Her was tell a story that was aimed very much at children. For children, not really for adults, not really for the older Doctor Who fans.

It was aimed at the kids, because Army Of Ghosts and Doomsday were coming up, and they were going to be very big, very dark and very traumatic. And Russell wanted a playground adventure. He said, "How old is your son?" At the time he was seven. So, he said, "Write this one for your son." That's what I did. I did something that was in primary colours, that had a scary voice in the cupboard. I always say that other people got cybermen, I got two blokes with a red lamp rattling a wardrobe!

But, to be honest with you, I didn't go online particularly and read the responses. From my side of it, the response was brilliant. I had loads of kids write to me and say how much they enjoyed it. And it was only later I realised that the older fans had reacted badly to it. So, I went, "Well, it's a shame that they have, but it wasn't meant for them."

The Rebel Flesh and The Almost People are different. As far as I'm concerned, this is proper, across the board Who. Adults, kids- if they can watch it, because it is scary. I showed it to my wife the other night, and there were a couple of images in it where she went, "Actually, that's quite scary. That's not very pleasant." And I notice that it's going out a bit later. I wouldn't be surprised if they put a warning out beforehand.

I was happy with Fear Her, but when I came back I did say, rather selfishly, "I want epic, I want monsters! And science fiction, and gadgets, and lots of stuff happening." And they gave it to me!

When asked about the Flesh:

The Flesh? Well, all the stories in Doctor Who start with a basic idea from Steven. And I went and spent a day with him in his kitchen, and he said, "I want to do something about avatars." And I said, "Oh, Steven, are you sure?" I mean, the film was still playing at the time in cinemas. And he said, "No, no, no, this will be good. This will be like The Thing."

So, it's workers that create copies of themselves to do jobs that are too dangerous, too unpleasant. And he said, "I don't know how, but somehow, these things take on a life of their own." And I thought, "Okay, that's better," and then we started talking.

He planned to set it in a factory and I had it in my head that I wanted to do something in a monastery with a The Name Of The Rose feel to it.

When asked about any ongoing narrative bits:

Yes, yes I have. But I've got two cliffhangers, which is not bad for a two-parter. I've got my part one cliffhanger, and I've got a part two cliffhanger that leads into Steven's A Good Man Goes To War.

I can say this because the premise of this final scene was given to me. I wrote [the cliffhanger scene] and I put my own dialogue in. [Steven] said, "This is what's got to happen," and it was just great. Just whoa! People are not going to be able to wait until next Saturday!

When asked about the episode cliffhangers:

I wrote the script, I said, "I'm finished," and then Steven said, "Now I know exactly what I'm doing with episode seven. I need you to do something like this." And he explained what he wanted it to include and I loved it.

I've said it before, I think, that it's like being the writer and the viewer at the same time. And you're also going, "Wow, what's going to happen next?"

What I find about cliffhangers is that there's the easy cliffhanger, which is to put the Doctor in jeopardy. And everyone knows that the next week he's not going to be dead. They used to do that in the old days as well. I tried to make my cliffhanger something that is just a ratcheting up of the story. So, at the end of The Rebel Flesh, you're not thinking, "Is the Doctor going to die?" You're thinking, "Oh, my God. What's going to happen now?"

Finally, when asked about writing future episodes:

I haven't, no. I said to Beth at the read through that if I can do any more I'd love to, and she said, "Oh, yeah. That'd be great."

But I didn't push it then, because I know they've still got their heads still full of this series. But I floated it out there, that I'd happily come back.

They seem very, very pleased with the episode, so I hope that they'd consider asking me back.

To read the whole interview, follow the link below:
http://www.denofgeek.com/television/891987/matthew_graham_interview_on_writing_doctor_who.html