Re: Doctor Who
 

Maybe a push for the father of the Brigadier with some tweaks but I think that's unlikely. The uniform fits the period of the WW1 setting. The period of which Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart wasn't alive. That made me consider his father which upon digging a little revealed that back story only led to his father being a WW2 pilot but offered no other information. The captain looks in his 40's, he didnt then father a kid in the late 1920's, he's more likely to have kids at the present time. Noting the echo hint that surely leaves it at the grandfather.

I eliminated time travel via the uniform of course. Unless he dressed for the occasion before randomly appearing in the middle of a world war.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Bill is back then :( they had to get our hopes up, didn’t they :dozey:

Booked another tour for the Doctor Who Experience a few days before it finally closes for good in September. Kind of feels like a very Cardiff thing, not renewing the lease on such a popular attraction that is genuinely value for money and has people visiting it from all over the world.....

If you get the chance to see it before they pull down the shutters I really recommend it :to:

Re: Doctor Who
 

I wish I could get to Cardiff to see it, but it won't be possible. too much on over next 2 months.

I was hyped to see the original console room and also Polly in the trailer.

I think this could be the best christmas episode!

Seems that when Moffat just has fun his episodes end up really good.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Bradley Walsh companion rumour

http://news.sky.com/story/bradley-wa...snt-sf-twitter

Re: Doctor Who
 

Dear god no.

Don't take the interesting, and serious, casting of Whittaker and accompany with Bradley Walsh. That's a major red flag as to the direction of the series if they do that.

Re: Doctor Who
 

I'd be more likely to tune in to watch him in the show than because there is a woman doctor tbh

Re: Doctor Who
 

The series already raised a big red flag as far as many are concerned, this could potentially ruin it even more.

(On the other hand, Catherine Tate turned out ok, so who knows).

Re: Doctor Who
 

I think Bradley Walsh can actually be a good actor. While the thought they might have cast him because he is famous rather than a good actor (thus bringing back memories of Bonnie Langford), it’s worth remembering that when they’ve done this, it’s actually turned out well more than it hasn’t. Yes Bonnie was bad, and David Thewlis wasn’t that great, but I think most of Bonnie Langford’s stories were badly written (she is actually a good actress) and while David Thewlis’s story wasn’t badly written, it was a bit dull. David played his part well, it’s just the character was dull.

Of the other famous companions, Kylie was actually quite good (although, again, she didn’t have a great story) and Catherine Tate was brilliant, after a shaky start.

I think with good writing, Bradley Walsh could play the part well.

I’d recommend watching the new series for a few episodes. If I hadn’t have done this when Chris Ecclestone was playing the doctor, I would have not got past “Aliens Of London”

Re: Doctor Who
 

Bonnie Langford's opening story was actually quite good (the "Terror of the Vervoids" segment of Trial of a Time Lord). The problem was, when they came to make season 24, Sly McCoy had been cast so late that no work had been done to establish what kind of a Doctor he would be. That had a knock on effect for the entire production, although to be fair the crew had even less to go on than usual because Mel was introduced in Terror as already being a companion. She never got an "introducing" story.

The upshot was that Mel, who was at first adventurous and enquiring (as well as a screamer) just became ... well, a screamer. A plot device there only to create peril* and give the Doctor something to do.

* Paradise Towers. She just happened to be wearing her swimmers, so she could get in the pool and then get chased by a malevolent robot crab (although in that case it was the equally useless Pex that rescued her).

Re: Doctor Who
 

Paradise Towers was on the whole a decent story.

I think Bradley Walsh could make a good companion although he is pretty old.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Very few of McCoy's stories suffered from a poor original idea. Paradise Towers was a great idea. Sadly it was poorly realised.

Re: Doctor Who
 

The budget was in tatters by the time McCoy took over and when it got to the final series you barely saw the inside of the TARDIS as the set was in a state of disrepair they couldn't use it.

I can't remember the episode but there was one late on where they managed to get the console and hung up a curtain quite close behind decorated like the walls of the console room. It looked terrible and was dimly lit to try and hide it.

The beeb were really trying to kill the show off and succeeded

Re: Doctor Who
 

"What are you doing, Doctor?"
"Working!"
"Is that why it's so dark in here?"

Curse of Fenric, if memory serves.

Re: Doctor Who
 

new doctor costume

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2017/11/6.jpg

Re: Doctor Who
 

mmm, I preferred Colin Baker's garb

Re: Doctor Who
 

Reminds me a bit of Sarah Jane's outfits from the 3rd and 4th Doctor's era.

Re: Doctor Who
 

I noticed an article the other day confirming Bradley Walsh as one of the new "team" (i.e. companions).

Re: Doctor Who
 

Indeed, there are 3 companions,
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2017/11/1.jpeg
Meet the new 'Doctor Who' cast: Mandip Gill (Yasmin), Bradley Walsh (Graham), Jodie Whittaker (the Doctor), Tosin Cole (Ryan) (via BBC)

Re: Doctor Who
 

Doctor Who Series 11 is not coming until Autumn 2018.

It will kick off with an hour-long episode, followed by nine 50 minute episodes.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Always was best in the Autumn, put it on during spring/summer was daft.

I'll give it and her a chance, but the signs aren't good. It can only redeem itself by being shit scary again and giving kiddies nightmares ;)

Re: Doctor Who
 

I knew it would be on till autumn. Summer is a bad time as viewing figures were always lower due to people on holidays.

Last season was better not starting till later in the year.

I love the new logo

A possible sample of the new theme too perhaps.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Not as good as this one:-
https://goo.gl/images/z3rfbC

Re: Doctor Who
 

I see the red arrows?

Re: Doctor Who
 

Mmm, me too, strange. Anyway I meant the 1970s diamond logo, I used to have a pair of underpants with that on. Wish I'd kept them, probably be valuable now ! (washed of course :) )
https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2018/02/16.jpg

Re: Doctor Who
 

I do like that one but also loved the Davison and McCoy era logos.

Re: Doctor Who
 

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Classic #DoctorWho will be streaming on @Twitch starting Tuesday 29th May! All info here > https://bbc.in/2s4qnZL

Re: Doctor Who
 

Here is our first look. A proper teaser.

Looks great and can't wait.


Of course whingers online moaning as the teaser didn't show clips or Give anything away. Am sure they would all moan if it did as well.

Re: Doctor Who
 

just hope we get a start date for series 11 soon

Re: Doctor Who
 

Got a feeling we will get a further trailer and an air date at SDCC next week.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Oh dear since when did the Dr, wear lippy? Really want to give this a chance, but I fear the worst. If they'd cast some grumpy old woman, I could accept that.

Re: Doctor Who
 

I don't see any issues with her or her age. Davison and Matt Smith were not grumpy or old and were great.

Give it a chance then, but by your post it sounds like you have already decided you ardent going to enjoy it.

Personally I think it's going to be fresh and different especially with the new show runner, new composer, new TARDIS crew and new Doctor.. the teaser did get me more interested. Let's see what comes out of SDCC next week. Doctor Who panel is on the Thursday.

Re: Doctor Who
 

So basically just Doctor Who in name only. ;)

Btw, what is SDCC ?

Re: Doctor Who
 

San Diego Comic Con.

The biggest convention there is. All the movies and tv for the next 12 month's always show up and there are panels and exclusive events.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Like 2005. ;)

Re: Doctor Who
 

Doctor Who is like James Bond. It has to keep reverting itself to survive. I stopped watch the last few seasons because it all become a bit of the same thing. I will watch this one given it's effectively a reboot but I don't hold out much hope it will lose the pedestrian, paint by numbers, feel that last few years had.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Yes, exactly like 2005. ;)

I gave it shot in 2005, and decided it was ok.
I'll be giving it the same chance again this time.

Re: Doctor Who
 

The problem I have is that although the good Dr. can change body, you have to believe it's the same person. It's a big ask for any actor, but they've mostly pulled it off. A change of sex might be stretching it . Can she convince us she's an older version of William Hartnell ?? Maybe he she can in which case it'll be worth a Bafta at least !
However hope I'm totally wrong ;)

Re: Doctor Who
 

Really changing gender is more believable than regenerating into an entire new person. I mean he/she is a alien that travels the universe in a box which breaks the laws of physics. Being a woman is probably one of the less out there changes.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Well no, the different doctors have been acted very differently with different personalities. They are almost completely different people, perhaps different people with the same memories.

It's difficult to conceive, since you know... it isn't real.

Re: Doctor Who
 

One of the doctors (Peter Davison IIRC) said that as long as he (and the writers) included core values including a love for the human race, curiosity, humour and heroism (all of which all of the doctors have shown) in the character, they were actually quite free to develop the characters as they saw fit. Look at the first three doctors. William Hartnell was quite a serious, grandfatherly figure, who seems to prefer to think his way through problems. Patrick Troughton was a clown, and often nervous. John Pertwee was a bit of a dandy, capable of a lot of humour and would frequently fight his way out of a problem.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Davison also thinks having a woman Dr. is a naff idea. He got hounded out of social media for having that opinion.

Re: Doctor Who
 

They may have brought something new to the role but every actor thus far has managed to make you believe it the same person.

Re: Doctor Who
 

They really should have brought Colin Baker back. He's 'available' according to his agent ;)

Re: Doctor Who
 

Which is irrelevant. The fact he has an opinion on whether the doctor should be a woman or not has no bearing on what he was apparently told about the doctor having certain core characteristics. Women can have those characteristics just as well as Men.

Re: Doctor Who
 

I still say the Doctor is not a woman.

Yes there is a woman playing the part of the Doctor and there for looks female for this regeneration.

However, I feel he is still the same gender as he was during his first incarnation.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Has gender really ever been part of the Doctor's identity?

Re: Doctor Who
 

Up until recent series it was always inferred that Gallifrey consisted of males and females.

There are Time Lord's and Time Ladies. It was only recently the show runner decided that gender was not a thing by having the Master turn into a female.

Re: Doctor Who
 

trailer

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06f6j8s

Re: Doctor Who
 

Re: Doctor Who
 

Well yes, clearly it has been, because the show originated in the early 1960s when there was no mainstream acceptance of the idea that gender could be different from biological sex. If you present someone as a grandfather in that context then you are tapping into a deep, commonly-held understanding of what that meant. Much is now made of how the classic doctor was “sexless” because he didn’t carry on with any of the classic companions, but if you understand the show in its correct historical context, the very first thing we knew about him was that he was a grandfather. Not being interested in relationships is then not so surprising.

The idea that the doctor is male was reinforced by the publicity stunt performed by John Nathan Turner and Tom Baker in wishing the new doctor well, “whoever he or she is” - she being a joke, not a suggestion to be taken seriously. The idea that a time lord can change biological sex in regeneration wasn’t taken seriously in any canonical material until after the revival of 2005.

All that said, there never was a showrunner’s bible for Doctor Who and much of what we think we know about Time Lords and Gallifrey was only ever invented when a story came along that required it. The Doctor’s universe is still being invented to this day. That’s probably a major reason it has survived so long. It’s always fresh and can always be adapted to fit stories that appeal to its current audience. I have no doubt that over the coming seasons the show will explore the psychological effect of a time lord sex change, and as all good sci fi does, will most likely generate a discussion about contemporary issues at the same time.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Re: Doctor Who
 

It seems that the BBC have moved Season 11 from its prime time Saturday spot to Sundays (time unconfirmed atm).

Episode 1 is on Sunday 7th October.

Re: Doctor Who
 

I have read in the past that if you watch enough Doctor Who episodes, it actually contradicts itself in a lot of areas, which may be as a result of the writer making changes to canon to fit in with the story, it can also be a result of bad writing. Changing canon to fit the story, if done well, can improve things. Take Genesis of the Daleks. It did make changes to the back story of the Daleks, but concentrated on areas that had been largely left alone by other stories, and was well written, so felt like an extension of the Dalek backstory rather than a rewrite. Even though the special effects look cheap (even by 70s standards), it's still probably my favourite Doctor Who story.

We've had disagreements on here in the past about female Doctors, but I think the Doctor Who is good as long as it has well written, well acted stories, and I suspect you actually think the same. It will also hopefully provoke some interesting discussions, both on and off line. I look forward to it.

Re: Doctor Who
 

They are hoping for a ratings spike l reckon.

Re: Doctor Who
 

I think this will be a good move.

The Sunday evening schedule is a lot more stable because there isn’t generally much live or one-off stuff to compete with. The autumn schedule on a Saturday is a nightmare for a drama series trying to build or retain audience because of Strictly, whose show length including start and finish time changes almost every week.

I predict they will pick a time and stick with it, but it’s not obvious to me what they’ll pick. Countryfile has the plum 7pm slot and AFAIK is on year-round. Who is either going to get the slightly-before-6pm slot presently occupied by gameshow repeats, or the 8pm slot occupied by some poor relation of Antiques Roadshow. Those are too early and too late for my taste but we’ll just have to see how it pans out. It’s worth remembering that this season they have ditched the 40 minute, advert friendly format for full hour-long episodes of the kind people using streaming services expect to see. Who has always been in the vanguard of the BBC’s iPlayer strategy and it looks like that’s set to continue, perhaps with BBC Worldwide focusing on streaming sales for international distribution rather than traditional ad-funded broadcast channels.

Re: Doctor Who
 

The explanation given was that they could not get the early evening timeslot they wanted on Saturday, and showing it later caused ratings to fall, so they opted for Sunday instead. It remains to be seen how well that goes.

(of course, if ratings are bad, it also gives them an excuse other than the new female doctor ;))

Re: Doctor Who
 

If they think being on too late is the enemy, then they’re going to have to go for the teatime slot before the news, which to be fair is where the classic series started out, albeit on a Saturday.

Doctor Who is far less vulnerable to lower broadcast ratings now than it used to be. Its catch-up ratings have always been ahead of the curve and it makes the BBC a mint in merchandising and overseas sales. I think the 60 minute format is aimed squarely at streaming service providers overseas, and I suspect the series will have a well-defined arc and something close to a cliffhanger every week, which makes it more bingeable -although, once again, if you go right back to the show’s origins, William Hartnell’s Saturday teatime adventures almost always ended on a cliffhanger, even between stories.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Yeah I doubt the BBC are too concerned about the viewing figures for the actual broadcast. It's a show whose audience is more likely than most to stream it.

Re: Doctor Who
 

And always watched from behind the sofa at my Grandparents house.
i'm still terrified of bubble wrap and toilet plungers ;)

Re: Doctor Who
 

That was the case for most of the pre "new" series.
All the episodes I used to watch ended on a cliff hanger each week (3rd/4th/5th etc Doctors), and every story was generally 4 or 6 episodes as well.

Autons ! :cool:

Re: Doctor Who
 

The difference between Hartnell and all the rest of the classic era was that there was still a cliffhanger between the stories. In fact the stories themselves weren’t given overall titles until years later. The first ‘story’, which spanned the original show’s first 4 episodes, is now known as ‘An Unearthly Child’, because that happens to be the title of the first episode. However the second, six-part story, now commonly called ‘The Daleks’, doesn’t have an episode title by that name. Part one of that story is called ‘The Dead Planet’, and it is set up by the cliffhanger at the end of an episode called ‘The Firemakers’, which is An Unearthly Child part 4. At the end of this episode, the Tardis travels from prehistoric earth to Skaro, and the closing shot is the TARDIS’ radiation detector beginning to register the dangerous environment outside.

I suspect that they really are now setting the show up to exist as a bingeable streaming series, internationally at least, and if they start going for cliffhangers in between stories, or anything remotely like that, then I think that would suggest I’m right. However we will just have to wait and see. Not long now!

Re: Doctor Who
 

As I recall, this happened in at least one of the Jon Pertwee stories as well.

Frontier in Space, which led onto Planet of the Daleks.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Each regeneration episode in the classic era (as well as the modern) was also a cliffhanger. There were also story arcs in the classic series, which didn’t always have overt cliffhangers between stories but would pick up where the previous one left off.

The whole of Tom Baker’s first series (season 12), with the exception of Robot (his very first story) is an arc that starts and finishes on the same space station at two different points in time, interrupted by the Time Lords kidnapping the Doctor and sending him to Skaro to prevent the Genesis of the Daleks.

Season 16 was the Key to Time story arc which ran for the whole season; season 18 has the E-space trilogy, then the return of the Master who gets a trilogy that continues into season 19 and Peter Davison’s first outing. Actually that trilogy has a genuine cliffhanger linking each story - the Master is revealed in his new body at the end of the Keeper of Traken, plus of course there’s the small matter of the Doctor being thrown from a radio telescope by the Master at the end of Logopolis.

I have to stop here, missus’ eye rolling is getting unbearable...

Re: Doctor Who
 

:rofl:

Re: Doctor Who
 

I think the Sunday will work better if on before strictly.

I do remember the McCoy (7th doctor)era and possibly Colin Baker(6th), was for a while, on a Wednesday evening after Wogan. It was eventually on a Saturday between big break and Noel's house party.

I can't wait for its return.

Re: Doctor Who
 

The whole Davison era was broadcast midweek, Mondays and Wednesdays IIRC. Early Colin was also, but then it reverted to Saturday in a new double length format. McCoy’s episodes were always midweek, one episode a week.

Also ... the Trial of a Time Lord was a single story for the whole season, with a cliffhanger at the end of every episode. The different segments of the trial were only given their own names later, for novelisation and VHS release. As originally broadcast the title card was Trial of a Time Lord, part 1-12.

Re: Doctor Who
 

As much as I love old Who stories, many of them with 4 or more parts were so full of filler that they did drag on a bit. I do miss the 2 part stories they had in previous recent series.

Some great episodes felt rushed trying to cram it all in to 40+ minutes.

Re: Doctor Who
 

RTD always used to boast that there was as much story in a 40-minute nu-Who episode as there had been in a typical 4-part, 80-85 minutes in the classic era. He may well have been right, but my only consistent complaint about the show since its revival has been that the pace is a little too fast at times.

Re: Doctor Who
 

new official trailer

https://youtu.be/XCt6f1Ttmy4

Re: Doctor Who
 

What a brilliant trailer.

I am actually rather excited now. It looks fantastic.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Weird aspect ratio on that, seems like almost 2.4:1

Re: Doctor Who
 

I think a lot of high-End productions are being made in anamorphic theatrical aspect ratio now. You will often see a hint of letterboxing at the top and bottom of BBC dramas.

Re: Doctor Who
 

It may have been done just for the trailer and will be 16:9 on broadcast.

Either way it looks stunning and the shots used and special effects look almost movie like.

Re: Doctor Who
 

No question it will be broadcast in 16:9, however it may well have been future-proofed by being shot in 2.39:1. An increasing number of the BBC’s prime dramas are showing a greater or lesser degree of letterboxing at the top and bottom of the screen, suggesting that they are being made in theatrical anamorphic and cropped for broadcast. It is of course entirely possible that they have cropped a 16:9 source to make the trailer look theatrical and impressive but given that the BBC seems to think theatrical aspect ratio for home viewing quality drama is where the industry will eventually go, its by no means certain.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Samsung did release such a cinema ratio TV a number of years ago but it never took off.

Still no confirmed broadcast time though. That may come next week.

Re: Doctor Who
 

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More
The adventure begins Sunday 7th October.
UK: 18:45 on @BBCOne
US: 13:45 (EST) on @BBCAmerica.
Check local listings in other countries.

Re: Doctor Who
 

The time has been available on Digiguide since Monday, when the listings updated. :)

Re: Doctor Who
 

Why do they put it offset against the hour? Why not '7pm every sunday'?

Re: Doctor Who
 

tbh she looks like a children's TV presenter, not the Dr. ...
Have a feeling it might well be ok/good but won't be or have the feel of Dr Who any longer. More the Sarah Jane adventures. However, we'll see...

Re: Doctor Who
 

Guess you don't remember just how young Matt Smith looked when he was announced as the Doctor:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...y/03/who.shtml

Re: Doctor Who
 

Not really age that's the problem. Peter Davison was young and that worked. Matt Smith never did quite work for me, good actor that he is. Got to be convinced that it's the same person , which for this Dr is going to be extra difficult. Will she convince us she's an older version of Hartnell? Will she be threatening to give her companion a 'smacked bottom' like he did once ? (although tbf the old duffer probably went off script ;) )

I tell ya Paul,I really miss the original Dr. Who!!!

Re: Doctor Who
 

First reviews are positive: http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/doctor-...iews-round-up/

Re: Doctor Who
 

What does The Doctor look like?

Every Doctor has looked different. The second Doctor looked a lot different to Hartnell and am sure at the time people thought, who is this guy. He is a bit of a clown and doesn't seem like the same person.

It is a lighthearted family show after all. Its not a grown up adult SciFi show. It was created for families and children. Originally I am sure the premise was it was to be a historical show so people could learn stuff.

Re: Doctor Who
 

She looks to me like she could be David tennants sister around the face.

Re: Doctor Who
 

A brief spoiler-free review in Empire suggests that they have indeed shot and will broadcast Who in 2.39:1, or something close to it.

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/...-spoiler-free/

Re: Doctor Who
 

Personally, I'm waiting until I've seen it before I decide if it has the feel of Dr Who . It could be anywhere from absolutely awful to absolutely excellent. I won't know what I think of it until I've seen it. Even if it does turn out to be awful, I like to give new or rebooted shows a while to settle down, so I'll watch a few episodes, possibly the entire series.

It has an excellent writer for a showrunner though, who also did an excellent job with running Broadchurch, both of which give me high hopes. Jodie Whitaker is also, IMO, an excellent actress, although I've yet to see how she handles comedy (which is actually harder than drama to get right).

Re: Doctor Who
 

Well so far amost of the early previews have been very positive.

I am looking forward to it.

Rumour is that the new theme.credits won't be shown until the second episode and will be missing from the first one.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Is it common for the BBC to give Who previews this far in advancing of airing? If it's anything like movies and computer games the earlier the embargo for the reviews the more confident the studios are....

Re: Doctor Who
 

The launch seems to be about the same distance as Peter Capaldi's debut:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28690462

Launch event was on 7th August 2014, and broadcast on 23rd.

Websites were reviewing immediately after the launch event:
http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-w...er-free-review

Re: Doctor Who
 

The premier was in a Sheffield cinema on Monday there.

All previews are very spoiler free as BBC asked all press to leave any story hints out of early reviews.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Re: Doctor Who
 

Having watched that clip a few times now I think Jodie is going to be fantastic.

"Half an hour ago I was a white haired Scotsman!"

She is the Doctor!

Re: Doctor Who
 

Yep ... I saw it on Graham Norton last night. Within about 10 seconds it was obviously the Doctor. Whatever else she does with the part she obviously ‘gets’ what always makes the Doctor, the Doctor, regardless of regeneration.

Re: Doctor Who
 

Exactly. She has the post regeneration crazy and memory too a tee. While clearly I do still get vibes of capaldi off her.

Re: Doctor Who
 

I never pay too much attention to reviews, I'll watch and judge for myself.

I'm curious about this ;

According to the TV listings, it only has a 1 hour slot :erm:

Re: Doctor Who
 

I like that they kept the accent rather than go with a Southern one. I know it was always likely but you never know...

Re: Doctor Who
 

The Americans will need subtitles ;)

Re: Doctor Who
 

They've probably said it has a lot to introduce as while it is an established show, it has 4 main characters to introduce. In the classic series, that would have been relatively easy, as apart from Tegan, Ace, Sarah Jane and Nyssa, the companions didn't really have much of a back story. Since the new series has appeared, the companions have all had a back story, although Steven Moffatt backed off on that, with Amy, Rory and Clara having less of a back story than Rose, Martha or Donna.

Re: Doctor Who
 

I'm not if sure you got the point - how do you fit a 65 minute episode into a 1 hour slot ?