Thursday 9 November 2017

NEW DOCTOR'S COSTUME REVEALED


A new look TARDIS exterior and the long-awaited costume for its 
occupant's next incarnation were both revealed today. 
Jodie Whittaker's Doctor sports the traditional long coat over a 
stunning, modern ensemble, incorporating braces and boots again
- courtesy of designer Ray Holman.
A new sonic screwdriver is promised too.

Sunday 5 November 2017

Doctor Who Vs. Gunpowder

1603: Elizabeth I is dead. Scottish monarch 
James Stuart becomes James I of England. 
His Protestant kingdom has been at war 
with Catholic Spain for a generation. 
English Catholics are persecuted. 
Mass is forbidden. Attempts have already 
been made on the new King's life. So far 
they have all been thwarted.

This graphic historical thriller examined the background behind the infamous Gunpowder Plot, masterminded by Robert Catesby (1572-1605) - portrayed here by his descendant, Kit Harrington.
The plan was to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament on November 5th 1605, as the prelude to a popular revolt in the Midlands. The assassinated King was then to be replaced by his daughter, Princess Elizabeth as
the Catholic head of state.
The conspirators fled London when the plot failed. Those who survived the ensuing battle at Holbeche House (including Guy Fawkes and Thomas Wintour, played here by Tom
Cullen and Edward Holcroft) were tried and executed.
The three-part drama concluded on BBC One last night - it featured Mark Gatiss as Lord Robert Cecil (1563-1612), and nine Doctor Who cast and
crew connections:

  • Derek Riddell (King James, 1566-1625) was Sir Robert MacLeish in Tooth and Claw, and voiced Lt. Commander Sandy McNish for Big Finish's The Churchill Years (2016)
  • David Bamber (Earl of Northumberland) was Captain Quell in Mummy on the Orient Express, and voiced Emperor Constantine for The Council of Nicaea (BF, 2005), and both Colonel Ulrik and Whitmore for The Four Doctors (BF, 2010)
  • Kevin Eldon (Hawksworth) voiced Antimony for Death Comes to Time
  • Steve Robinson was also first assistant director on The Beast Below and Victory of the Daleks
  • ADR mixer Sam Biggs was an ADR recordist on The Time of the Doctor and Flatline
  • Gareth King was also publicist on fourteen episodes (from The Return of Doctor Mysterio to Twice Upon a Time)
  • Geraint L Williams (digital artist) and Sam Stefan (stuntman) both worked on Class too
  • Robert Schofield was also stunt rigger on The Shakespeare Code and the 2016 Christmas special
Also shown last night on BBC Four, Gunpowder 5/11: The Greatest Terror Plot used the words of the plotters themselves. This drama documentary from BBC Wales was based on the confessions of Guy Fawkes and Thomas Wintour. Another five Doctor Who cast and crew connections were included here:
  • Joseph Kennedy (Catesby) was Will Scarlett in Robot of Sherwood
  • Adam James (Inquisitor) was DI Macmillan in Planet of the Dead
  • first assistant director Sarah Davies began her career as production runner on The Christmas Invasion, The Girl in the Fireplace, The Idiot's Lantern and Doomsday, then was third/first assistant on thirty-six stories (from Love & Monsters to World Enough and Time) and The Sarah Jane Adventures
  • Sean Millar was sound recordist on Doctor Who Confidential too
  • Geoff Holloway was also an electrician on The Christmas Invasion, Closing Time and The Day of the Doctor