A Conversation for The h2g2 Doctor Who Group

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Post 1

Munchkin

You're a bit slow off the mark here chaps. Look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/drwho/2003/09/26/7012.shtml


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Post 2

Smij - Formerly Jimster

Believe it, folks - this is the first time since the TV Movie that the series has seriously been on the way. Russell Davies first pitched his vision a number of years ago, but the film proposal was blocking all others. He has a team of people assembled who can make this work, and for the first time, they're getting the positive and enthusiastic backing of the head of BBC 1 (who, if nothing else, is just sick of people asking her about it smiley - smiley ).

Not necessarily time to celebrate just yet, but a time to be optimistic at least.


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Post 3

Primord

hi guys!

I'm so happy for all the peeps that longed for Who to return. While not raining on anyone's parade, I myself was happy to leave Who in the past-but hey! I can learn to live with new stuff.


This time I'll give the new Who a proper hearing-rather than hate it on sight! smiley - winkeye


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Post 4

Terran

Wow these guys really are slow!

Come on! We have a new series smiley - bubbly

Jeez where is everyone... Oh I know they're all on the Doctor Who message board's where I've been most of the day smiley - biggrin

Either that or they've been celebrating a bit too heavily smiley - drunk


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Post 5

Terran

"Shee, you guys are so unhip, it's a wonder your bums don't fall off"

smiley - biggrin


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Post 6

Awix

Hmmm.

Yes, I remember all the excitement when the TV movie went into production. And also the utter bemusement and creeping disappointment when I actually saw the thing.

Also the way that other classic, much-loved TV series and films have been comprehensively slimed by ill-conceived updates/sequels. The Avengers movie, Star Trek: Voyager, Carry On Columbus...

I mean, yeah, it *could* be great, but there's a massive amount of stuff could go wrong. I'd feel more comfortable if this was the Gatiss/Roberts/Hickman project (no offence to Russell Davies, but his work seems less classically Whoish than that of those three).

Sorry to be so cautious, but that's the way I feel...

(Bill Nighy for the Doctor!)


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Post 7

spook

there's nothing wrong with Star Trek: Voyager!smiley - grr


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Post 8

Awix

No, it's okay, but the original Trek was fantastic, iconic, much-loved, zeitgeisty stuff, *everyone* knows all the characters and gags and remembers a few episodes. Voyager is just sort of like cult rice pudding.

Sense we're drifting off topic. Never mind... smiley - smiley


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Post 9

Terran

"there's nothing wrong with Star Trek: Voyager"

... smiley - whistle


I am strangely optimistic about this. I think given over a year to make it, it should be good.

I'll just be glad to see something on the television, hopefully something good smiley - ok


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Post 10

Munchkin

Personally I'm just glad to see someone is trying to make some British SF TV. I think there is a long way to go yet before we will have a chance to form any opinions of the quality. So I am just going to sit back, grin like an idiot and no doubt spend half the weekend watching videos.


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Post 11

Bluebottle

This happening shortly after I read in SFX that a new Blake's 7 project is in development? As much as I'd love both to happen they sound too good to be true, I fear.

<BB<


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Post 12

Terran

Read this :

<./>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3140786.stm</.>


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Post 13

Smij - Formerly Jimster

Awix wrote:

>> I'd feel more comfortable if this was the Gatiss/Roberts/Hickman project (no offence to Russell Davies, but his work seems less classically Whoish than that of those three). <<


I'm guessing you never saw Russell's 'Dark Seasons' or 'Century Falls', two of the best CBBC dramas ever which were SO in Doctor Who's ballpark, or Springhill, the Sky One soap where the forces of good and evil battled it out on a housing estate in Liverpool (a soap that both Paul Cornell and Gareth Roberts worked on too). Even Revelations (melodramatic soap set in a notrh-western vicarage where people got killed off by embolisms) had many Who-like elements. I for one would love to see Judy Lowe as a villainess in Doctor Who.

Believe me - this is the single best possible chance the show's had in years.

Going on a few comments in the Telegraph recently, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Gareth, Mark and Clay's pitch had some impact on Russell's version though. They all know each other, after all. That's assuming Russell doesn't go the whole hog and write it all himself though...

And I'm slowly coming round to the idea of Bill Nighy. He looks great in the photos of him in various BBC productions referenced on the BBC Drama site.


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Post 14

Awix

Yes, I did actually see Darkness Falls, Jim (wasn't *that* good), and while I don't think RTD is the worst man for the job (he was getting namechecked, kinda, in DWM editorials back in the early 90s), a lot of his stuff has a sort of doctrinaire quality that I'm not comfortable with.

I'm thinking of parts of Damaged Goods - Chris' exploratory interlude leaps to mind, mainly there because, well, he could put it there. And come to think of it all the stuff with someone bleeding from the uterus wasn't *especially* Who-ey...

And I seem to recall a DWM article where he proposed a new series could have as a subplot sexual tension between the Doctor and the companion. No thanks.

The best possible chance for a new series would be to put a writer in charge with a track record of writing DW, rather than just a single novel. Like Gatiss & Roberts, or - why not, he's still breathing - Terrance Dicks. RTD has landed this gig through being trendy rather than being a fan.

Just my opinion. Now, this is the point at which you usually tell me exactly why my *opinion* is wrong...smiley - smiley


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Post 15

Awix

Bother. Dark Season + Century Falls = naff X files episode in the brain of Awix... smiley - smiley


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Post 16

[...]


If you go by Alan Davies' reaction and reply on Friday Night with Johnation Ross then it seems he's going to be the new Who. (No I don't want to be a member!)


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Post 17

Awix

Oh, God, please, no.

I can't think, off the top of my head, of anyone I'd less like to see in the part.

Besides, speculation is rife (which seems a bit odd as RTD won't even start writing scripts until the new year). The Guardian is backing Eddie Izzard or Chris Eccleston (both reasonable choices, if a bit young) and trying to start a 'Stop Davies!' campaign. Which I will happily sign up for, of course...


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Post 18

[...]

Seems Alan is the choice then!

Look on the bright side, the sets won't look as cheap!


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Post 19

Smij - Formerly Jimster

Have you seen the leaked photos of Christopher Ecclestone from the next Star Wars film?

If they're genuine (and I won't say which character he's playing in case it's a spoiler for some people), then he looks amazing!!


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Post 20

[...]

Tell me on my PS!


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