New Doctor Who Companion Announced

The BBC announced on Thursday that the identity of the actress cast to replace 

 Jenna Coleman when Doctor Who returns to BBC One at Christmas would be revealed today. A photo teaser was issued online yesterday, which showed the
new character's Vans shoes left outside the TARDIS. Then this evening, at half-
time during the Match of the Day coverage of the FA Cup semi-final match at 
Wembley (between Everton and Manchester United), Pearl Mackie was 
unveiled as Peter Capaldi's newest travelling companion, Bill.
The Brixton-born actress, 28, graduated from Bristol Old Vic in 2010, and
appeared in the film Svengali (2013), and an episode of Doctors (2014).
She is currently performing in the National Theatre's West End production
of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Mackie commented on the BBC News site: "I'm incredibly excited to be joining
 the Doctor Who family. It's such an extraordinary British institution, I couldn't
 be prouder to call  the Tardis my home. Peter is such a brilliant actor, and his Doctor is such a wacky and wonderful character, I can't wait to see what adventures are in store for him and Bill." She described the new companion as "wicked, cool, strong, sharp, a bit vulnerable with a bit of geekiness thrown in."
Her co-star said "It is a genuine delight to welcome Pearl" to the programme,
and added that she was "a fine actress with a wonderful zest and charm."

'Radio Times' TV Review of 2015

That venerable publishing colossus,
Christmas perennial, and loyal Doctor 
Who supporter, the Radio Times, has
revealed the results of their annual,
multi-channel survey. Their top forty
shows of the year (headed by BBC2's
historical drama Wolf Hall) have again
been selected by the magazine's critics,
and Peter Capaldi's second season has
been placed at a very respectable number seven (up from nine last year). RT writer Patrick Mulkern comments:

DOCTOR WHO BBC1 

"This autumn, the TARDIS landed in
its latest ever timeslot, which seemed 
suited to a darker tone of storytelling 
but was quickly denounced as the
reason for a ratings plunge of around one million. No decline in 
quality was visible [though, in fact] there was an upswing, with provocative themes, bold experiments, intelligent writing and
performances. Steven Moffat and Peter Capaldi remoulded 
the Doctor into a "raddled old rocker" more lovable than last 
year and painfully aware that his glory days with Clara were 
ending. Jenna Coleman shone but her job was done, while 
Capaldi proved [with] his solo jaunt, Heaven Sent (an
instant classic) [that] he's a one-man constellation".

Britain defined by 'Doctor Who' (and some other stuff!)

The Radio Times recently published an article by Dominic Sandbrook that
celebrates Britain's television heritage. The historian mourns the loss of the
nation's status as the greatest superpower in history, but rallies with the
claim that Britainnia now commands a new Empire, that of Imagination.

Sandbrook explains that in the last 70 years, no other medium, "not fiction,
pop music, video games, even film" has rivalled "the sheer power on the box".
Britain is a major TV exporter, and since 2011, we have sold six times more
programming than Germany, a larger economic power. "Our cultural success is based partly on our penetration of the [all important] American market, where [hits] like The Avengers and Downton Abbey have come to define not just Britain's global brand but Britishness itself".

The author then lists his own most influential television shows, were Doctor 
Who is only beaten to the top spot by that other iconic veteran of British TV,
Coronation Street. Of the former, Sandbrook writes: "When I was growing up,
most people regarded Doctor Who with contempt. I never imagined that one
day [it] would become a colossal international brand. That's testament to the brilliance of the basic idea, as well as the skill with which it's been updated. The Doctor has become one of the great fictional embodiments of Britishness, rivalled only by Sherlock Holmes and James Bond. The show itself - sentimental, spine-chilling, silly, earnest, clever, populist - could surely only have been made in Britain". The complete top ten is:

• The X Factor (ITV, 2004-present)
• Cathy Come Home (BBC, 1966)
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (BBC, 1969-74)
• That Was The Week That Was (BBC, 1962/3)
• The Avengers (ITV, 1961-69)
• Dixon of Dock Green (BBC, 1955-76)
• Brideshead Revisited (ITV, 1981)
• Dad's Army (BBC, 1968-77)
• Doctor Who (BBC, 1963-present)
• Coronation Street (ITV, 1960-present)

Tartan Noir = Scottish Gore!

Wikipedia describes ‘Tartan Noir’ as a form of crime fiction particular to Scotland and Scottish writers. It has its roots in Scottish literature (notably Robert Louis Stevenson), and the term was coined by American novelist James Ellroy in the 1990’s.

The genre is typified by its “hard-boiled” and dark-humoured style. The first landmark TN title was Laidlaw by William McIlvanney (1977), which in turn inspired the “king of Tartan Noir” Ian Rankin.

Other noted genre authors include Lin Anderson, Tony Black, Gordon Ferris, Alex Gray, Allan Guthrie, Quintin Jardine, Val McDermid, Stuart MacBride, Peter May, Denise Mina, James Oswald, Craig Robertson, and Craig Russell.

Date With History: 1914

May 29th, 2.00 am: The Canadian Pacific steamship RMS Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad in heavy fog on the St. Lawrence River near Quebec, and sank in just 14 minutes.

Of the 1,477 passengers and crew on board, only 465 survived.

Radio Times TV Review of 2014

That venerable publishing colossus, Christmas perennial, and loyal Doctor Who supporter, the Radio Times, has revealed the results of their annual survey. Their top forty shows of the year (headed by Happy Valley) have again been selected by the magazine's critics, and Peter Capaldi's first season has been placed at a respectable number nine (up from twenty-two last year). RT writer Huw Fullerton comments:

9) Doctor Who BBC1 

"After eight years of young, romantic Doctors, Capaldi’s more hostile, older Time Lord was a hard sell. Twelve (mostly) great episodes later, it’s hard to imagine anyone else at the helm of the Tardis. Bank heists, Cybermen attacks and creepy monsters were no match for Capaldi and his attack eyebrows, and it feels like we’re still learning the true nature of this newly mysterious Doctor. But Capaldi wasn't the only draw this year. Jenna Coleman’s Clara has finally been allowed the personality she was denied in previous series and showed new depths to the role of companion. Here’s hoping she stays past Christmas".

Great Doctor Who Quotes #9

The Doctor: "If someone who knew the future, pointed out a child to you and told you that that child would grow up totally evil, to be a ruthless dictator who would destroy millions of lives... could you then kill that child?"

Sarah Jane: "We're talking about the Daleks. The most evil creatures ever invented. You must destroy them. You must complete your mission for the Time Lords!"

The Doctor : "Do I have the right? Simply touch one wire against the other and that's it. The Daleks cease to exist. Hundreds of millions of people, thousands of generations can live without fear... in peace, and never even know the word 'Dalek'."

Sarah Jane: "Then why wait? If it was a disease or some sort of bacteria you were destroying, you wouldn't hesitate."

The Doctor : "But if I...wipe out a whole intelligent life form, then I become like them. I'd be no better than the Daleks."

Genesis of the Daleks, Part 6 

(April 12th 1975)

Written by Terry Nation