Tuesday 19 April 2011
Rip Elizabeth sladen
In past half hour or so we have learnt that Dr who and sja actress Elizabeth sladen has died.She was 63 and has played Sarah Jane smith in Dr who and sarah jane adventures since 1973 with her first story being The time worrior
Here is a tribute to her
Thanks to red for the video
It is surely a sad day across the who universe and she will be sadly missed
DOCTOR WHO’S Elisabeth Sladen has died!
Elisabeth Sladen has passed away.
The Doctor Who star, who is best known as Sarah Jane Smith and also stars in the spin off CBBC show The Sarah Jane Adventures, is said to have passed away earlier today.
Sources say the 63 year old star died because of complications arising from a battle with cancer.
The news was first revealed by actress Nicola Bryant, an English star best known for her role as Perpugilliam “Peri” Brown, a companion of the Doctor from 1984 to 1986. She wrote on Twitter:
“I’m so sorry to have to say I’ve just had a call to say Liz Sladen has died. It’s too much to take in, but it’s true. How tragically young.”
Doctor Who Magazine later tweeted: “With great sadness, DWM must report the loss of our beloved Sarah Jane, actress Elisabeth Sladen. The best of best friends. Too, too sad.”
Doctor Who writer Paul Cornell said: “Very sorry to hear about Elisabeth Sladen, a great actor, special to everyone of my generation and a whole new one.”
The actress was a regular on BBC’s Doctor Who with both Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, and has reprised her role many times. She first joined the sci-fi show in 1973 and stayed on for three and a half seasons, before leaving in 1976.
After numerous appearances through the 80s and 90s, Elisabeth returned in 2006, acting opposite the then Doctor David Tennant in an episode titled “School Reunion”.
Following her successful appearance in the series, Sladen was then asked to front The Sarah Jane Adventures, written by Russell. T Davies for CBBC. The show ran for four series, with a fifth scheduled to air later in 2011.
Sladen was amazing on screen and a real fan favourite, she was welcomed back for two episodes of Doctor Who’s 2008 series finale “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End” and was credited in the title sequence of both episodes. She also had a cameo in the concluding part of The End of Time, Tennant’s last episode as the Doctor. This was her last appearance on the show.
Matt Smith previews the new season of 'Doctor Who': 'We learn so much about the characters'
This Saturday, the new season of cult British sci-fi show Doctor Who debuts on BBC America. The premiere is the first half of a two-part story in which the titular time lord (Matt Smith) travels back to 1969 America and battles an alien menace known as The Silence, with help from Richard Nixon.
As a self-confessed Whovian, I have of course marked this momentous occasion by placing a four foot tall inflatable Dalek outside my office door. Also, over the next few days I will be posting interviews with cast members Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, and Alex Kingston. But first up, it’s Mr. Gallifrey himself: Matt Smith.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How would you compare the new season with the previous one, which was your first as the Doctor?
MATT SMITH: I think Steven [Moffat, Doctor Who head writer and executive producer] is really pushing the form in terms of writing the show. He’s tailoring his writing more specifically than ever for me and Karen and Arthur, so that’s quite exciting. What’s great about this season is that we learn so much narratively about the characters we’ve invested in — River Song and the Doctor and Amy Pond. And that’s always good TV, isn’t it?
Would you say it is a darker season?
I think Steven’s writing is always quite dark. You look at “Blink.” You look at “The Empty Child.”I think we’ve got a great monster in The Silence.
You and the rest of the cast received a genuinely Beatlemania-esque reception at the recent New York screening of the first two episodes.
I know. It’s so overwhelming. There’s something wonderful about the way Americans communicate their enthusiasm for the show. It’s overpoweringly wonderful.
One woman who asked a question was actually moved to tears.
It’s mad isn’t it? But I guess that’s the power of the show. It has nothing to do with me or Karen or Arthur or anyone. It’s the Doctor. It’s that character who is the star.
Why do think Doctor Who connects so well with Americans?
It seems like there’s a real appetite for science fiction in the States. The storytelling in Doctor Who is quite universal. I think there will always be stories that are interesting about this mad man who turns up and saves the universe with a cricket bat and piece of string and a toaster. There’s something interestingly ridiculous about it. It’s a wonderful televisual conceit. One of the greatest. But we really want to push it in the States and we want it to reach a wider audience.
Is that why you shot parts of the opening episodes in America?
That’s probably a producer question. I think Steven’s quite interested in that period, in the ‘60s, and probably just wanted to write about a president. I don’t know if there was any other motive other than it was a good story. There’s something great about having Nixon in it, isn’t there? It’s just cool to see a lot of American actors in Doctor Who. I find it totally intriguing. And then to come to Utah and film in those locations that have such filmic history. Those locations are vast and sprawling and epic and that’s everything that you want Doctor Who to be.
Would you like to film more in America?
Oh, yeah. I would love to come back next year. I’d love to film one in New York. That would be great.
One of the episodes in the new season was written by comics legend Neil Gaiman. What can you tell us about that?
Well, um, not a great deal, as always. Sorry to be a pain! But we were thrilled to get a writer of his sci-fi stature and magnitude on board. And he’s applied his rather brilliant and mad brain to a brilliant and mad idea. All I can say is that the Doctor spends a lot of time with the Tardis.
Michael Sheen is in that episode. What was it like acting with him?
I didn’t, actually. Because he came in and did a voice for it. So I didn’t get any actual scenes with him. Which is a shame. But, god, it’s a real coup to get an actor of his quality.
You’ve said that there’s a cliffhanger at the end of episode 6 that is going to flip people’s wigs.
Yeah. Totally. And seven as well. But it all starts kicking off in six. This year, there’s some really great cliffhangers. It’s quite a dramatic season and, as I said, big and sprawling and quite cinematic.
Is it strange playing a role that you know one day you’ll hand off to somebody else?
No, because I think [it’s the same] if you play Hamlet or Macbeth or Lear or any of these character. But it’s certainly a role that’s the greatest challenge of my career to date. He’s the most exciting and brilliant character that I’ve ever played, absolutely.
Do you know how long you will be playing him for? Or is that information which resides solely in the mind of Steven Moffat?
That kind of is, I’m afraid. As are most things that are Doctor-related. But it’s a job I love and not one that I want to give up any time soon.
Recite one line of your dialogue from this season.
“I wear a Stetson now. Stetsons are cool.”
Doctor Who: Matt Smith's US diary
Wednesday 16 November 2010, Valley of the Gods, Utah
I arrive later than Karen and Arthur [Darvill], because I had to go on Craig Ferguson's Late Late Show in LA. He's such a huge fan. He was so welcoming. I think it's the most fun I've ever had on a chat show.
Everyone in LA tells me there's nothing here in Utah. It's pitch black, so I can't see. I just feel the long road lull as we wind through endless American desert. Utah has to wait till morning.
And boom - from my motel, I look out and see the red-coloured desert, and I'm in awe. It's majestic. I go get pancakes. Karen is on the make-up wagon. "Oh my God, oh my God, it's amaaazzzing," she buzzes. I agree.
As the day winds on and we bemoan our jetlag, I'm excited about this afternoon. Karen is being chased by a helicopter, and we have big black stately cars kicking up the dusty desert in a chase. This is where Forrest Gump stopped running, where Indiana Jones found the Temple of Doom, and now where the Doctor faces his darkest hour.
But for now - I'm sprawled on the bonnet of the coolest car [a bright red 1959 Edsel Villager Station Wagon], wearing a Stetson. Yeah, the Doctor wears a Stetson now. Stetsons are totally cool.
It was my idea to lie on the car, by the way. The script said the Doctor was leaning against it, but the Doctor is always leaning, it's such a Doctor thing to do, so I thought, "A car this cool? I have to lie on it!" To my surprise, they didn't say no.
Doctor Who Insider - Issue 2
The second edition of Doctor Who Insider will be available in North America from May 5th.
In an exclusive interview, Karen Gillan reveals her thoughts on filming in America, Amy’s on-screen marriage, and what her hopes are for future episodes.
Everyone was nervous when I got a sword in my hand. I would like to take up sword fighting as a hobby. I really, really loved it.
The magazine also talks to one of Gillan's predecessors, Katy Manning, who played Jo Grant opposite Third Doctor Jon Pertwee in the Seventies.
Also in the issue
AMERICAN ADVENTURES
The opening episodes of the new season are set in the USA and although this is the first time major filming for the series has actually taken place in America, this isn’t the Doctor’s first visit by any means.
I WAS… COLONEL HUGH CURBISHLY
Christopher Benjamin reminisces about working with Jon Pertwee in the 1970 story, Inferno, playing Colonel Curbishly in The Unicorn and Wasp in 2008, and creating the much loved character of Henry Gordon Jago in 1977’s The Talons of Weng-Chiang – a role he has recently returned to on audio.
NEXUS POINT
A look back at the moment that the Ninth Doctor confronted the Emperor Dalek in 2005’s dramatic season finale, The Parting of the Ways.
DATA FILE
All the Doctor’s greatest foes gathered to entrap him in The Pandorica Opens. The guide shows you who exactly was there for this momentous moment.
TIME SCOOP
The Time Scoop has collected the Silurians and the Sea Devils this issue. There is a closer look at the Earth’s original inhabitants and their encounters with the Doctor.
MERCHANDISE
Previews of the latest Doctor Who merchandise, including Terror of the Autons and Planet of the Spiders on DVD featuring mini interviews with Richard Franklin who plays Mike Yates in both adventures; the Seventh Doctor gains a new companion in the audio adaptation of Lost Story, Crime of the Century from Big Finish Productions; and author Paul Finch tells how – and why – he gives the Doctor a rough time in his new novel Hunter’s Moon.
FAN ZONE
A selection of photographs of fans and their incredible creations inspired by Doctor Who, including two lady Doctors and a tiki Dalek!
Source - Doctor who news page
David Tennant in "United"
On Sunday 24th of this month David tennant will be staring as coach Jimmy Murphy in The film United. The film draws on first-hand interviews with the survivors and their families to tell the inspirational story of a team and community overcoming terrible tragedy.
Source - Stetstorwho (Blogtorwho)
Academic uncovers Dalek fear factor
An academic claims to have solved one of television's most enduring questions - just why are the Daleks so scary?Dr Robin Bunce said the fear inspired by the creatures, who have sent generations of children scurrying behind sofas, is nothing to do with their robotic cries of "exterminate" or their relentless attempts to conquer the world, but because we are worried we might become like them.
The Cambridge University academic said: "The reason the Daleks are evil is because we recognise that they were once better. They are the nightmare future we dread."
Thanks to Rob/Eternal for the link!
Torchwood: Miracle Day - John de Lancie to guest star
John de Lancie who is known for playing Q in the Star Trek franchise has been CONFIRMED as a guest star in Torchwood: Miracle DaySeries writer Jane Epsenson revealed the news on twitter
@JaneEspenson I just this minute got permission to tell about the Torchwood guest star I was tweeting about. Two great Sci Fi fandoms collide...
@JaneEspenson Jane Espenson He's de licious. He's de lightful. He's de lovely...
@JaneEspenson Jane Espenson WOW, @olmosperfect got that FAST! Yes. Our friend Q from Star Trek: TNG, John De Lancie, is part of the #Torchwood family!
@JaneEspenson He's not playing Q!!! Let's be clear!
Revamp!
As you can tell by now last night the site went under a change. I have spent weeks finding the right template for Tardis-Console-News and yesterday I felt as though I found the right one (well 5 really good ones) it was hard to choose.
So me and Emzie (designer) (thanks btw) agreed on which ones were best (and also thanks to Alwynash aswel!
I was gonna change the template in 2 months when the site was 1 year old but I just couldn't wait so i decided yesterday was the right time to change it.
Please comment
Revamp!
As you can tell by now last night the site went under a change. I have spent weeks finding the right template for Tardis-Console-News and yesterday I felt as though I found the right one (well 5 really good ones) it was hard to choose.
So me and Emzie (designer) (thanks btw) agreed on which ones were best (and also thanks to Alwynash aswel!
I was gonna change the template in 2 months when the site was 1 year old but I just couldn't wait so i decided yesterday was the right time to change it.
Please comment
Revamp!
As you can tell by now last night the site went under a change. I have spent weeks finding the right template for Tardis-Console-News and yesterday I felt as though I found the right one (well 5 really good ones) it was hard to choose.
So me and Emzie (designer) (thanks btw) agreed on which ones were best (and also thanks to Alwynash aswel!
I was gonna change the template in 2 months when the site was 1 year old but I just couldn't wait so i decided yesterday was the right time to change it.
Please comment
Revamp!
As you can tell by now last night the site went under a change. I have spent weeks finding the right template for Tardis-Console-News and yesterday I felt as though I found the right one (well 5 really good ones) it was hard to choose.
So me and Emzie (designer) (thanks btw) agreed on which ones were best (and also thanks to Alwynash aswel!
I was gonna change the template in 2 months when the site was 1 year old but I just couldn't wait so i decided yesterday was the right time to change it.
Please comment
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