Time Lords, Daleks, The Master, Oh My!
SPOILERS: Season 3 should get quite interesting for 'Doctor Who'
By MICHAEL HINMAN
Jan-29-2007
The following story contains POSSIBLE MODERATE SPOILERS for the third season of "Doctor Who."
The Doctor may not be alone after all. Not only could he possibly be meeting up with some people of his own kind, but Britain's iconic hero may be coming face-to-face with his iconic foe: The Master.
John Simm, whose television career dates back 15 years including his most recent stint on the British series "Life on Mars," apparently is in final talks to reprise the role of The Master, a character that will make a grand appearance in the third season finale of David Tennant's "Doctor Who." That will top off a season already including the Daleks in New York City as well as a character played by stage great Derek Jacobi that will appear to be someone to help the doctor, but actually will be the regenerating The Professor.
British tabloid The Sun had the scoop, with an apparent insider on the show saying that Simm, 36, is "brilliant, and we would love to get him on board."
If The Master does return, it's unclear how much of his original elements will remain, however, "Doctor Who" producers have had a knack in the past to turn something campy into something that works. Just look at the use of the Daleks and the Cybermen in past episodes.
Fans of classic "Doctor Who" knows The Master to be someone who, using a hypnotizing stare, declares, "I am The Master, and you will obey me."
The Master himself has a Tardis, and to do one step better than The Doctor's sonic screwdriver, The Master has the Tissue Compression Eliminator, which can shrink people to about the size of a doll, The Sun reported.
If Simm were to take on the role, he would be the seventh actor to play The Master. Other actors to portray The Master includes Robert Delgado, Peter Pratt, Geoffrey Beevers, Anthony Ainley, Gordon Tripple and Eric Roberts (in the "Doctor Who" telemovie).
Of course, this should be treated as any rumor would as none of this has been confirmed by "Doctor Who" producers or BBC. In fact, the rumor that the Master will return actually dates back to "Doctor Who's" second season which marked the departure of Billie Piper instead.
http://www.syfyportal.com/news423198.html
'Doctor Who' Costumes To Be Auctioned
Expected to raise nearly $2 million
By MICHAEL HINMAN
Jan-29-2007
It's been said that Time Lords would give the coat off their back to help someone, but if you are just looking to own a piece of history, you're going to have to pay for it.
Bonhams of London is expected to auction off costumes March 6 used by six different actors who have portrayed The Doctor on "Doctor Who," including the leather jacket worn by Christopher Eccleston in the 2005 revival. In all, Bonhams expects to make £1 million, or just under $2 million, according to Outpost Gallifrey.
Most of the outfits are expected to fetch between £15,000 and £20,000, or between $29,400 and $39,250. That includes a special surprise for the person that ends up owning the jacket used by Jon Pertwee -- the third Doctor -- in the series, as auctioneers found a sonic screwdriver in the pocket. Even though the prop is nothing more than a pen with a toothpaste tube cap on it, the sonic screwdriver may make the Pertwee lot a popular attraction.
Other outfits on the selling block include the second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, which is a full-length fur coat, tailcoat, checked trousers, shirt, tie, handkerchief and bandana.
Tom Baker, the fourth and arguably the most popular Doctor, has a lot that includes a maroon wool top coat, three pairs of trousers -- tweed, grey wool and dark grey cotton -- striped waistcoat, three felt hats and his famous striped scarf. Also included is a wine-colored, three-quarters-length coat complete with two large added pockets "for the Doctor's jelly beans and sonic screwdriver) which by itself, is expected to get between £8,000 and £10,000 on the auction block, or between $15,700 and $19,625.
Peter Davison's beige and orange-edged single breasted top coat, striped trousers, cricket jumper and white shirt and straw hat, is expected to also get between £8,000 and £10,000.
Sylvester McCoy, the seventh Doctor who also appeared in the "Doctor Who" movie, will have his cream linen jacket, grey pinstripe trousers, shirt, tie, pullover, scarf, shoes, cravat and hat sold for what auctioneers hope to get between £5,000 and £7,000, or $9,812 to $13,737.
Finally, Eccleston is not going to be left out of the mix as his black "leatherette" jacket is looking to fetch between £3,000 and £4,000, or $5,887 to $7,850.
The costumes come from Angels, which has provided costumes for movies and television shows -- especially those shot in the United Kingdom -- for decades. Also on the block is a brown hooded cloak worn by Alec Guinness in "Star Wars: A New Hope," a piece that was thought to be lost until found in an inventory check at Angels in 2005.
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Tennant: Tough Saying Good-bye To Rose
'Doctor Who' actor talks about departure of Billie Piper and addition of Freema Agyeman
By ALAN STANLEY BLAIR
Source: Sci Fi Wire
Jan-24-2007
When it returns to BBC in the spring, “Doctor Who” will not only be introducing new companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), but the show will also be dealing with the repercussions of Rose Tyler’s (Billie Piper) departure. And according to SciFi Wire, that was something that David Tennant, the actor, struggled with.
"Of course that scene meant that Billie was leaving the show (although it wasn't the final scene she shot), and that was very sad," Tennant said. "She is a great actor and had become a great friend. It's also a beautifully written scene, and even when we ran through the lines together on the makeup bus that morning, we started sniffling. In fact, in the video diaries on the DVD you can see us both have a good old weep about the whole thing."
Although The Doctor adopted a temporary companion of sorts in “The Runaway Bride” which aired in the U.K. on Christmas Day, the real follow-up to Rose will be Martha, who will make her debut in the Season 3 opener “Smith and Jones.”
"The Doctor and Martha have a very different relationship to the Doctor and Rose," Tennant said. "The Doctor doesn't really think he needs a new traveling companion at the moment, but Martha makes herself indispensable."
Tennant himself also said that he understands the position Agyeman is now in, as only a year earlier he took over from the popular Doctor played by Christopher Eccleston. However he said Agyeman coped with the pressure.
"Oh, she doesn't need any advice, and I wouldn't be pompous enough to offer it," he said. "Freema hit the ground running and has inhabited Martha Jones from day one without a hint of trepidation or nervousness. I found myself quite envious of her confidence. She is going to be brilliant.
"As with any big relationship, it takes time for the scars to heal," Tennant continued. "Perhaps The Doctor feels like he's dealt with it, but Martha might disagree."
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