Friday, June 29, 2007
Changing Faces
EP 1 (Untitled) - Written by Chris Chibnall; Directed by Ashley Way
EP 2 (Untitled) - Written by James Moran; Directed by Colin Teague
EP4 (Untitled) - Written by Catherine Tregenna; Directed by Colin Teague
EP 6 (Untitled) - Written by JC Wilsher; Directed by Ashley Way
There's also episodes by Helen Raynor and another by Catherine Tregenna that form part of production Block One (directed by Andy Goddard). It's not known where they feature in the episode run. No news on Russell T Davies supposed script for the series - but it's possible that it's been postponed indefinately. We'll update when more news comes in.
Elsewhere, and Britain's tabloid newspaper "The Mirror" has run a story about the future of Doctor Who, and Torchwood too. If true it could *possibly* spoil elements of tomorrow's Doctor Who finale - so only click on this link if you're willing to be spoiled (in which case, shame on you!)
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Could be an interesting prospect for Torchwood, don't you think?
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
What's on the Tube?
If you couldn't make it to see John Barrowman open up the Eridge Fete on Sunday, thanks to somebody's camera you can see his smile from the comfort of your computer screen here. There are also plenty of angles on his autograph signing session at the same event. Here he is chatting with a youngster who has a few questions about the Captain's fancy watch.
If you are interested in seeing what the Australian promotional campaign for Torchwood looks like there are a few new spots up, seriously!
Finally, if you are in the Southern California area you just might have a chance to meet some of the Torchwood cast and crew and pickup the Torchwood S1 DVD box early. According to Variety, BBC Video will be promoting the show and boxset at the San Diego Comic-Con at the end of July. The article says there will be a Torchwood panel discussion at the event, no hint yet as to who is on the panel, and JB's webmaster says the star will not be attending, but this is roughly about the time that many of the crew will be in California doing promotions for BBC America.
Nothing else to report, keep sending in your scoops.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Introducing Mister Saxon...
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Whatever you do tonight you can't afford to miss "The Sound of Drums". It airs on BBC One at 7:15pm, and is repeated tomorrow at 8pm on sister channel (and former Torchwood home) BBC Three. Why not discuss the episode here and tell us how you think the third season of Doctor Who will end next week?
Afterwards there's a chance to see John Barrowman on Doctor Who Confidential - which this week is a special focusing on 35 years of the Doctor's arch nemesis, the Master! And don't forget that John Barrowman is also a guest on the new BBC One panel show "Would I Lie To You?" at 10pm. Set those VCRs now!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Jack and Gwen?!
“Well, there’s a palpable love there. I think it’s not so much physical sex in the first series because there’s other characters in there that we have affairs with... yes, naughty Gwen, but I think it’s the extremity of her job with all the tensions of work and not being able to share her world with anybody. But with Jack and Gwen, it’s the real thing and they’re going to make you wait for that.”Elsewhere and details have been released about the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (number 384) which is set to be released next Thursday. It'll contain a preview of "Last of the Time Lords" and interviews with both Derek Jacobi and John Simm. What's more it looks like next month we'll have a full on interview with John Barrowman to look forward to...
In addition to that, the official BBCi Doctor Who site has been updated to cover this week's "The Sound of Drums". There's the usual highlights - including a picture gallery with new images of John Barrowman as Captain Jack. Clicky here to visit the episode guide, and explore the mad and crazy world of Harry Saxon - everybody's favourite Prime Minister.
Everybody, including Sharon Osbourne and boyband McFly, clearly loves the man...
Under Overnights
Lastly, Afterelton.com is asking their Gay male readers to help them come up with a list of the hottest 100 guys on the planet. For those who want to take part, drop by their site and join the many others who have already submitted John Barrowman's name for the honor. They allow you up to 10 choices, so you can also submit Burn Gorman, Gareth David-Lloyd and even a Weevil if that's your kink.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Welsh Spike
Spike appeared on both "Buffy" and "Angel", so Marsters is no stranger to cult series. He's also appeared regularly in the pre-Superman series "Smallville". Now it seems that Marsters is heading on over to Britain (or more precisely Cardiff) to film an appearence in a second season episode of, you guessed it... Torchwood! James Marsters is appearing in Torchwood!!! (So says this site)
JAMES MARSTERS IN TORCHWOOD!!!
Wait one moment; I'm just picking my jaw up off of the floor...
I've no other information on what form this cameo appearence will take, or what episodes he'll be appearing in. Hell, there isn't even official confirmation of his guest star role as of yet - but any fellow Buffyverse fans will agree with me that the prospect of Marsters in Torchwood is exciting indeed. Personally, I think he'd nail the role of a young Bilis Manger...
"No you don't; but thanks for saying it"
Hitting the Reset Button
The episode is called "Reset" and is written by JC Wilsher. Alongside the regular Torchwood cast is guest star Simon Fisher, who plays the role of 'Billy'. The episode, which forms part of production block three, is to be directed by Ashley Way - and filming begins early July. More news on the episode as it comes in.
Meanwhile, over in Doctor Who, in this week's "The Sound of Drums" we're given an explanation as to where the Torchwood team have disappeared to. Apparently Mister Saxon has sent them all on a wild goose chase up to the highlands of Scotlands, to get them out of his way so he's free to conquer the world. What Saxon doesn't bet on though is the return of the Doctor, Jack and Martha from the far flung future. Oh dear...
Here Comes The Master
We also, generally, share the same tastes when it comes to Doctor Who. Every week I agree with pretty much everything that Lizo says in his Newsround reviews of the upcoming episode - and though I wouldn't give "Utopia" a full five out of five, I would say Lizo was spot on with his review. Which makes me all the more excited following his review/preview of this week's forthcoming episode, "The Sound of Drums"...
So says Lizo himself:
This episode is powered along by a brilliant performance from John Simm as The Master. He's a fantastic villain because he's like The Doctor in so many ways - he's hyper-intelligent, and bounds around the screen with just as much energy as his Time Lord rival.Looks like Lizo likes. And it looks like we're in for a right royal treat this coming Saturday night - so book your seats behind the sofa now, because the Master is back; and he's coming to get you. Each and every one of you. Oh yes, even you.
And what makes him so scary as an enemy is that he's the first person we've met who you can really imagine being able to defeat The Doctor, because he's easily the Time Lord's equal.
The story provides lots of answers that have come up throughout the series - how The Master ended up trillions of years in the future, the origins of Mr Saxon, even what The Doctor's home planet actually looks like. But it also ends up asking even more questions - what does the mysterious drumming mean, and what's The Master really up to?
What The Sound of Drums does beautifully is to draw together so many unexpected threads from earlier in the series. And it shows how cleverly chief writer Russell T. Davies has woven together the different strands to reward viewers who've followed the series faithfully.
Not Lizo though... He likes his Harry Potter scoops.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Remember Ianto?
As previously noted GDL will also be appearing at the Bad Wolf Convention in Birmingham which is now scheduled for the weekend of July 21st. Joining him from Torchwood at the huge event will be Murray Melvin who played Billis and Owen Teale the baddy in Countrycide.
Many of you were lucky enough to see and hear him at an event in Telford a few months ago. He granted an interview to The Sci-Fi Guys at that convention and they have now included it in their latest podcast, available here. Zip forward to about the one hour mark in the MP3 to hear Ianto speak about Torchwood and the infamous stopwatch.
With all the coverage of the Australian launch of Torchwood in the press there, we are getting a new surge in Woodie visitors from down under. Welcome to the site, sorry we had to start without you, but it shouldn't take you too long to get caught up.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
The Year 100 Trillion
According to over night figures, "Utopia" was watched by an average of 7.3 million, with an audience share of 36.9%. This was enough to ensure that Doctor Who was the second most watched show of the night behind ITV's "Britain's Got Talent which achieved an impressive 8.9 million. In the fifteen minutes the two shows went head to head, Doctor Who came out champion with an average of 7.7 million over ITV's 6.3 million.
Anybody who caught the Doctor Who Confidential episode afterwards would have heard John Barrowman talk about his role as Captain Jack - who he is, and what's changed for him since leaving Doctor Who stranded in the year 200,100. Like the main show itself there were no direct references to Torchwood the series; but keep watching, because over the next couple of episodes the Doctor's going to find out a lot more about what Jack's been up to - and he ain't a happy bunny!
If you head on over to the official BBCi Doctor Who site right now there's some "Utopia" updates. Of particular importance are the expanded photo gallery, which features some neat Captain Jack piccies, and an audio commentary on "Utopia" featuring producer Phil Collinson, costume designer Louise Page and Arwel Wyn-Jones. Head on over here for the full scoop.
Next week sees "The Sound of Drums" hit our screens, and hopefully it should answer a few of our questions. Just how do the TARDIS trio get back down to contemporary Earth? What are The Master's grand plans? And just how many people can Captain Jack flirt with in the space of 45 minutes? Epic stuff. And you can catch it at 7:10pm next Saturday night on BBC One.
And don't forget that "Utopia" is repeated on BBC Three tonight at 8pm.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
The site also confirms that an episode of BBC One's new comedy panel show, "Would I Lie To You?", in which John appeared on will broadcast on Saturday 23rd June @ 10pm. That's a mere two hours after "The Sound of Drums" and the subsequent Doctor Who Confidential - so it looks like we'll be in for a John packed Saturday that weekend!
A week later, on the 30th June, the final episode of Doctor Who's third season airs on BBC One. It stars David Tennant, Freema Agyeman and John Barrowman - and the BBC Press Office has today issued a synopsis for the episode. But it contains huge fandom shattering spoilers that could cause some to self destruct - so don't read if you don't want to be spoiled!
Earth has been conquered and the Master rules supreme, with the Doctor a helpless prisoner, in the final episode of Russell T Davies's Doctor Who.The entire human race has been reduced to slavery, as the mighty warships of a new Time Lord Empire rise from the ashes. Only Martha Jones can save the world...That yellow stain on my pants is where I just wet myself with anticipation...
"Last of the Time Lords" airs on BBC One on June 30th, at 7:10pm.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Here's One I Made Earlier...
John Barrowman's appearence on last night's Blue Peter (or Who Peter as it nicknamed itself) went well, even if the star was stuck inside a garden shed (!) with Gethin Jones (!!) making a TARDIS playset out of old junk (!!!). John did divulge a few nuggets of information regarding his return to Doctor Who though; primarily that Captain Jack gets himself a TARDIS key and as Kurly observes in an earlier post "frequent fliers" privledges.
THE TARDIS TRIO - SATURDAY, BBC ONE @ 7:20PM
Talking of John Barrowman, the star will be co-hosting this year's London Gay Pride festivities in Trafalgar Square along with Maria/Joseph alumni Graham Norton. The festival kicks off the weekend that "Last of the Time Lords" hits our screens; but gay Whovians should worry not! OutpostGallifrey reports that organisers of the Gay Pride event have arranged for a giant plasma screen to be placed at the side of the stage - so gay fans need not miss out!
John will be taking to members of the audience, and answering questions about his time on both Doctor Who and Torchwood. Wonder if anybody will plauck up the courage to ask Graham Norton about his own Doctor Who 'cameo' role in "Rose"...?Elsewhere, and it's hotting up down under. Perhaps I should rephrase that? Ah, what the hell, this is Torchwood - it can handle the innuendo! Australian Woodies are being exposed to a good number of Torchwood related newspaper articles right now. None are more high profile than this, from the Sunday Telegraph, which comments on how Torchwood will air not on ABC (the traditional home of Australian 'Who) but on Ten instead. Australia; are you wooded up yet?
Of course as all this is going on the build up to Jack's return in "Utopia" continues apace here in the UK. Yesterday lunch time the official Doctor Who BBCi site was updated with all sorts of "Utopia" related stuff; including some Jack wallpaper! You can see the full content of the episode guide by clicking here.
Lizo, the resident Harry Potter fan over at Newsround - CBBC's children news - has seen "Utopia" already (lucky him) and can't rave enough about it! He gives the episode a full five out of five; which is great considering Lizo hasn't give any episode this year full marks. Is he feeling generous, or has he really missed Captain Jack that much?!
After the fabulously enjoyable terror of last week's episode Blink, it's hard to imagine how this year's series could get much better.Shame the Radio Times review isn't as great. The reviewer calls Utopia a really 'clunker' and comments that aside from Derek Jacobi's performance, it's only worth its salt because a magnificent ending. Wonder what that could be... *awkward side glance*
That is until you watch Utopia - an outstanding story even by Doctor Who standards, with the surprising arrival of someone from The Doctor's past...
I started the episode in my usual position - sitting in front of the TV, notebook and pen in hand. By the last few minutes I was up and hopping from foot to foot with sheer excitement.
The Radio Times redeems itself though by having a John Barrowman / Russell T Davies interview at the front of the magazine. The pair talk about Jack's return and how he deals with a number of his ';issues' now that he's back with the Doctor. To round off the pair inform us that Jack will be a happier bunny in Torchwood season two.
Utopia's coming folks. Two days to go...
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Love the Glove
They should know better than to just leave that thing out with minimal security! Let's hope it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. The exhibit is located in the Arts Explorer section of the WMC.
Also be sure to check out the calendar in the left column of this page for a complete run down of John Barrowman's appearances in person and on TV over the next few weeks.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Blink (I Dare You)
"Utopia" aires next Saturday night at the slightly later time of 7:15pm on BBC One. You can catch a short trailer for the episode on the "Blink" episode guide on BBCi's Doctor Who site. Just go down to the corner of the screen and click on "coming soon". I never thought I'd smile so much seeing John Barrowman running down a corridor!
Don't forget! Straight after the episode itself is over you can catch "Doctor Who Confidential" on BBC Three, which promises to look behind the scenes on John Barrowman's return, and will interview next week's other guest star, Sir Derek Jacobi. You never know, there might even be some sneaky Torchwood season two gossip... I wouldn't put it past them!
In other news, the latest issue of TV Zone magazine has just been released - and looks behind the scenes on "Utopia" with an interview with the episode's director, Graeme Harper. He spills the beans on what it's like working for the show in the 21st Century, and just how much Jack's return shakes the Doctor. Not literally of course - we'll save that for the fanfic...
You can pick up TV Zone issue 216 at all good newsagents now priced £3.99. A short extract from the magazine interview can be read online here. Special thanks to Joe Nazzaro for writing the piece and posting it on the good old inter of net for us to read.
NEXT WEEK: Clinging onto the TARDIS mid-flight; happy reunions?; the end of the universe; oh, and some uber-cool Futurekind punks. It's gonna be a long week...
Thursday, June 07, 2007
The Scottish Invasion!
"John Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack, kept thinking it was his name being called by the director when they were calling for me! So he nicknamed me Little John. David Tennant and I are both Scottish and John Barrowman was born in Scotland, so it was a bit of a Scottish invasion! John kept slipping into a Scottish accent and would ask if I'd like a 'Wee cup of tea?'"
DWA issue 31 is released across the UK today. It features previews of "Blink" and "Utopia", as well as a look behind the scenes on Paul Cornell's "Human Nature" adaptation. You can pick it up for a very reasonable £1.99. Hardly a dent in your pocket money, is it?
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
He can rub my lamp
My what big hands you have!
Source:http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com
Also mentioned on his site, JB will be making an appearance at the Eridge Summer Fair on Sunday June 24th. The fair runs from 2pm - 5pm at Eridge Park, which is on the A26 just south of Tunbridge Wells. The following weekend on Saturday June 30th our Captain will take the mainstage in Trafalgar Square at the Pride London parade and show as reported in Pink News.
John will be part of a special Blue Peter Doctor Who Special next Wednesday the 13th. He will reportedly help Gethin Jones to make the inside of a Tardis, and some home made monsters on BBC1 at 4:35pm.
Finally, This is Swindon and The Birmingham Mail covered the press launch of the Royal International Air Tattoo show yesterday which featured John Barrowman and Maria-winner Connie Fisher flying in the back of an RAF Hawk. There was no room in the cockpit for the Joseph-wannabes from the current reality show he is judging, the winner of the finale this Saturday will just have to wait until next year for a bigger and better photo op.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
The Mad Queen Raynor
The woman, who scripted Torchwood's "Ghost Machine" last year, and this year's "Daleks in Manhatten" two parter, will not only write a two part adventure for Doctor Who's fourth year - but she'll be scripting another episode of Torchwood too. Okay, admitedly that we already knew; but thanks to one eagle eyed reader it looks like Helen may well be scripting a second episode for 2008 as well.
Take a look at her CV here (you'll have to scroll down to page 53; by which point your fingers will ache) and you'll see that she is indeed listed as writing two episodes of Torchwood 2.0 - a mistake surely? Or is the mad (yet strikingly sexy) Helen Raynor getting a bigger slice of the Torchwood pie than we originally thought?
Good news for me, cos I loved "Ghost Machine". It was the first episode of Torchwood to really tick all of the boxes on what a gothic, sexy spin-off should be about. And I still think that Ed Morgan under that bridge is one of television's most dangerous characters ever. Yep, even ahead of Patrick Moore. Have you seen that man's monacle?!
There's no official word on any potential Raynor related return - but fingers crossed it come soon. Just so I can use the onomatopoeic phrase "Raynor related return" all over again, and still get away with it. Oh yes - the power of a Torchwood.tv writer. Given half a brain we'd be dangerous. Well, Kurly mostly. When he's not plotting world domination from his bedroom.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Another Level of Coolness
"Blimey. It's been a long, but massively fun few days. Torchwood readthrough was amazing, such good fun. Went up the Thursday night, and they put me up in a fancy schmancy hotel. A few of us went for drinks that night - me, another writer, two actors, and script editors. Many drinks were had, many stories were told, none of which I could repeat here, especially .....
Anyway. Readthrough started at half 10 Friday morning, everyone sat around a big square set of tables (you've probably seen it on the TW Declassified and DW Confidential shows), and basically read through the script. Captain RTD did the stage directions, half reading them, half summarising if there was a big block of them, and very funny he was too.
The actors were fantastic, got loads of laughs, and for a brief glorious moment I was sitting next to Eve Myles. But then they needed all the actors sitting together, and my section got shunted down. Just as well really, as my animal magnetism would have rendered her speechless and unable to continue.
We did the readthrough, much laughter was, er, laughed, there were several creepy silences as scary moments played out really well, and it all went swimmingly. I got applause, compliments, and two actors touched me. On purpose. In a friendly, "hi how are you" way, too, not the usual "security, please get him away from me" way.
A while later, I sat in a room with the big cheeses as they gave me my final notes from the readthrough (I'd also made a few notes, lines that just didn't sound right out loud). Lots of little tweaks, here and there, some of which I needed to do on the spot at someone's computer, because they needed to print the pages there and then for filming on Sunday.
There were sandwiches. There was lots of cake. Seriously, tons of it, they were forcing it on people by the end, and we were all rolling around, crying, icing and crumbs smeared all over our faces. It was hell.
Got the train back from Cardiff at 5.25pm, which meant I didn't get home until 9pm - but the rest of the script notes for TW had to be done that very night, as they were needed the next day for printing and distribution. I think I finally got it done around 1am, and sent it off. More final tweaks needed doing during the day on Saturday, last minute changes on the changes, just making sure everything worked perfectly. They should have been filming today (Sunday), the first day of shooting on mine and another episode, so actual STUFF is probably in the can as we speak."
You can read James' blog here, and his film "Severance" is available to buy via play.com here.
Landing June 18th
As Outpost Gallifrey confirms, it's a busy June for Australian Doctor Who fans, as the month also sees the debut of Doctor Who's third season. On Thursday 28th June, the Catherine Tate starring "Runaway Bride" broadcasts on ABC - with further new episodes airing every Saturday night at 7:30pm. If all goes well, then the final episode of Torchwood should air just days before its counterpart "Utopia" airs on ABC.
The full story can be read here.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Coming To Your Screens (Soon)
Says the Press Office: "Jack's back! As Captain Jack storms back into the Doctor's life, the Tardis is thrown out of control, to the end of the universe, in tonight's episode of Russell T Davies's Doctor Who. There, they find the savage Futurekind ruling the wilderness, while a lonely Professor tries in vain to save the last of the human race." Rene Zagger and Sir Derek Jacobi guest star - as does the Blue Peter competition winner!
Earlier on, a mix up at the Press Office meant that the synopsis for episode twelve, "The Sound of Drums", was released a week early. Once the BBC had realised their mistake, they rectified the problem and took down twelve's synopsis, and replaced it for the once covering "Utopia" - but Torchwood.tv was sneaky enough to save the original! Here in full is the BBC's official episode synopsis for "The Sound of Drums":
"Harry Saxon becomes Prime Minister and his reign of terror begins – but that's only the start of his ambitions, as he announces mankind's first contact with an alien race, the Toclafane. An audacious plan spanning the whole of time and space begins to close around the Earth, in the penultimate episode of Russell T Davies's Doctor Who."
Exciting stuff, I think you'll agree!