The TARDIS has been spotted multiple times during recent filming of the upcoming spin-off series, Class.
It’s safe to assume this means Peter Capaldi will be making an appearance as the Twelfth Doctor. Now that they are clearly willing to show characters from Doctor Who (and include references to Barbara Wright as also spotted during recent filming), what do you guys think on the chances of Ian Chesterton coming back?
Given all the excitement around the new Doctor Who companion, it’s easy to forget that there is a brand new Doctor Who spin-off coming this year.
Thankfully, star Katherine Kelly is here to remind us that what we really should be looking forward to in 2016 is Class.
The BBC3 show written by YA author Patrick Ness is currently filming, so Kelly is hard at working learning her lines. Which makes this Instagram post showing her Class script very interesting indeed…
Can you make that out? Class series one, episode one is called The Prom, and Kelly’s character is called Miss Quill.
We already know that Kelly is playing a teacher working in Coal Hill School, but this being Who, it’s not that simple. She is described as a “powerful new presence at the school”.
Class has already been filming for over a month, and author Ness sounds like he’s still got plenty of stamina for it.
The stars gathered for the opening of an exhibition of artwork from the classic Doctor Who novels at the Cartoon Museum in London.
A stone’s throw from the British Museum more than 30 ancient holy relics went on display on Thursday night – “ancient and holy” as far as Doctor Who fans are concerned anyway.
I’m talking about the original cover artwork that appeared on the Doctor Who novels published by Target Books in the 1970s and 80s. These rare pieces are now available to view at the Cartoon Museum in central London, in a small but perfectly formed exhibition curated by Doctor Who brand manager Edward Russell.
He’s succeeded in tracking down many original pieces, now in the hands of private collectors – some very lucky Doctor Who fans – who kindly allowed them to be transported and put on display. Apart from the pleasure of examining the originals in close-up detail, what’s most remarkable is how pristine all of the artworks still are, the earliest being from 1973.
For many fans, before the ages of VHS, then DVD and now the internet, the Target Books were the only way we could relive our favourite TV adventures – and in many cases read about them for the first time. And the covers were always in a class of their own.
Such is their allure that current Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi and showrunner Steven Moffat attended the launch party held on Thursday night. The gallery space at the Cartoon Museum was packed to the rafters. Among the guests was the granddaddy of Doctor Who: Terrance Dicks, the programme’s script editor (1968–74) who also wrote the lion’s share of the Target adaptations.
Most importantly, the talented illustrators were there in person too, including Jeff Cummins, Andrew Skilleter (who also designed the famous Radio Times Five Doctors cover in 1983) and the legendary Chris Achilleos. He painted the earliest Target covers in the 1970s and has been asked back by BBC Books to produce new covers in his inimitable style for reissues of some of the later books.
It was a fun night – with many attendees admitting little else would have torn them away from the finale of Line of Duty!
The exhibition runs at the Cartoon Museum until Sunday 15th May
Cartoon Museum, 35 Little Russell Street, London WC1A 2HH
Doctor Who’s casting director Andy Pryor is already praising the “fresh” chemistry between Peter Capaldi and new companion Pearl Mackie.
The actress was unveiled as The Doctor’s latest time-travelling companion Bill last week in a short film that had the two dodging Daleks.
“There was a chemistry that felt fresh and new and different to Peter’s relationship with Jenna [Coleman],” Pryor said.
“You could see Peter [Capaldi] fizzing with ideas in that audition reading and in the clip that was ultimately produced with the announcement.”
Pryor continued: “What people saw in the announcement [short film] was one of the audition scenes originally.
“I think Pearl grabbed those scenes and did something really exciting with them.”
While Pearl is a veteran stage performer, Doctor Who will actually be her first major television role.
“She’s a great example of somebody who proves that you don’t always have to have experience to be good,” Andy explained. “She’s a very experienced theatre actor and has done quite a variety of theatre work. She’s not naïve and she’s not a pushover.
“She’s one of those people that has a natural ability on camera.”
Doctor Who series ten debuts next year following a standalone Christmas special and will also be the last with Steven Moffat as showrunner – he hands over the controls of the TARDIS to Broadchurch’s Chris Chibnall in 2018.
ACTRESS PEARL MACKIE was given a top-secret code name to stop news of her new role as Doctor Who’s latest companion leaking out.
BBC bosses were desperate to keep the signing under wraps so the star was referred to only as “Meantown”.
I can reveal Pearl was chosen after casting director Andy Pryor auditioned more than 50 candidates for the role, which has previously been filled by BILLIE PIPER, KAREN GILLAN and most recently JENNA COLEMAN.
She won him over instantly and was sent to a hush-hush location to read for the part of Bill alongside the Doctor, PETER CAPALDI, in front of producers Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin.
Her identity was kept hidden and she was referred to throughout the later stages of the process as Meantown, an anagram of Ten Woman — a nod to the upcoming tenth series.
A TV insider told me: “Pearl was only in the room for 20 minutes but it was clear she was The One.
“Her warmth and humour instantly won everybody over.”
Pearl’s audition was so secret her tape was only seen by one other person — controller of BBC One Charlotte Moore. She came up with the idea of revealing Pearl’s new role during half-time in Saturday’s live BBC One Match Of The Day broadcast of the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Everton.
Pearl, who has previously appeared in BBC One soap Doctors, is currently starring in West End play The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time.
Her new co-star Peter Capaldi recently watched the production, but confirmation of Pearl’s role was a done deal by then.
As well as acting, she is also an aspiring singer and featured in a video for pop band YEARS & YEARS.
Clearly the Brixton-born beauty was born to time-travel.
Hi-DE-HI! actor Barry Howard has died aged 78, it has been confirmed.
The star – best known for playing Barry Stuart-Hargreaves in the first seven series of the BBC sitcom – lost his battle with cancer this week.
Barry Howard played Oliver Barnes, a member of the Sliver Cloak gang, in the 2010 story The End of Time.
His agent, Sharry Clark, confirmed the sad news to the BBC and called him “very talented”, adding that she would “miss him more than she could say”.
A statement read: “The much-loved actor Barry Howard, best known for his exquisitely supercilious Barry Stuart-Hargreaves, the champion ballroom dancer in BBC’s hugely popular Hi-de-Hi, passed away today aged 78.”
Barry had been suffering from blood cancer and had been ill for some time.
PETER CAPALDI was forced to hide the fact he knew his new Doctor Who co-star Pearl Mackie recently, in order to keep her casting a secret.
The actor, who plays the Time Lord himself, went to see The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time earlier this month, which stars the actress and his soon-to-be on-screen companion.
After being invited behind-the-scenes to meet the cast, the 58-year-old had to pretend he and Pearl, 28, had never met before.
Speaking at a Doctor Who event at London’s Cartoon Museum, Peter commented: “I wanted to see the show but I didn’t expect to be asked backstage to meet everyone.”
The TV star continued: “I knew Pearl had the job, but I couldn’t tell anyone and she couldn’t tell anyone.
“It was only because I had worked in that theatre previously and all the front of house staff knew me, so they said ‘Peter, you must go backstage’.”
Peter went on to remark that his night out turned into a test of his acting abilities, the BBC reported.
“So, that was a great performance of mine pretending that I didn’t know Pearl,” Peter added.
His comments come just days after Pearl was announced as Doctor Who’s latest companion during the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
She replaces Jenna Coleman, whose character Clara Oswald left the show last year.
The 10th series of Doctor Who will air in 2017.
She was unveiled as the Time Lord’s new companion on Saturday.
Pearl Mackie was met by a crowd of excited fans as she emerged from the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End following her star turn in The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time.
It will be months before the 28-year-old star makes her first appearance in Doctor Who, but she was offered a taste of the heightened fame her new role will give her on Monday night.
Pearl looked thrilled by the positive reception she received from fans, beaming as she signed autographs outside the theatre.
The West End star was casually clad in a satin bomber jacket and skinny jeans as she headed home following the stage show.
The Bristol Old Vic graduate dressed her look down with a pair of trainer and a simple black T-shirt, accessorising with a pendant necklace.
It was confirmed over the weekend that Pearl would be joining Peter Capaldi in the TARDIS, jumping on board as the Doctor’s brand new companion for the upcoming series of the sci-fi show.
The actress’ new role was announced on BBC One during half time of the FA Cup semi-final match between Everton and Manchester United on Saturday.
Pearl is currently lighting up the London stage in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.
Pearl, who described her character Bill as ‘wicked’, replaces Jenna’s sidekick Clara Oswald, a regular on the show for the past three years.
Filming for the next series of the long-running programme will start this year, but is scheduled to air in 2017.
Pearl graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2010, and her past roles have included playing Anne-Marie Frasier in medical soap Doctors in 2014.
‘I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Doctor Who family,’ she said. ‘It’s such an extraordinary British institution, I couldn’t be prouder to call the TARDIS my home.’
She added: ‘Peter Capaldi 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 throughout time and space.’
Mackie said her new character ‘Bill’ was ‘wicked’, describing her as ‘cool, strong, sharp, a little bit vulnerable with a bit of geekiness thrown in’.
And Peter praised his new co-star, who he says will be a ‘refreshing addition to the TARDIS’.
He said: ‘It is a genuine delight to welcome Pearl Mackie to Doctor Who. A fine, fine actress with a wonderful zest and charm, she’s a refreshing addition to the TARDIS and will bring a universe of exciting new possibilities to The Doctor’s adventures.’
Meanwhile, the programme is set for a huge shake-up next year when current producer Steven Moffat hands over the production reins to the new show runner Chris Chibnall.
However, Steven welcomed Pearl to the show and can’t wait to begin the ‘new voyage’ with her on board.
He commented: ‘A new face in the TARDIS, a new voyage about to begin: welcome aboard the amazing Pearl Mackie! This is where the story really starts.’
Doctor Who will return later this year with a Christmas Special and the new series will start on BBC One in 2017.
The series, which was introduced in 1963, is heading into its tenth season since it was reintroduced in 2005 after a 16-year gap.
The coveted role of the Doctor’s companion has been played by Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman, Catherine Tate, Karen Gillan and Jenna since the reboot.
Coleman appeared alongside two Doctors; the twelfth incarnation of the Time Lord, Capaldi, and his predecessor, Matt Smith.
She asked to be written out of the show in order to play a young Queen Victoria in an upcoming ITV drama.
NEW Doctor Who companion Pearl Mackie brought out the best in Peter Capaldi during her audition for the role of Bill, it would seem.
The rising star, who was unveiled on Saturday as the official replacement for Jenna Coleman on the sci-fi programme, was one of around 50 actresses who were tried out for the job, casting director Andy Pryor has explained.
“There was a chemistry that felt fresh and new and different to Peter’s relationship with Jenna,” he told the Royal Television Society.
“You could see Peter [Capaldi] fizzing with ideas in that audition reading and in the clip that was ultimately produced with the announcement.”
The scene which accompanied the announcement showed Bill and the Doctor running away from Daleks, and it seems that scene may have been specifically written by Steven Moffat for the auditions.
“What people saw in the announcement [on BBC One] was one of the audition scenes originally,” Andy revealed.
“I think Pearl grabbed those scenes and did something really exciting with them. In those intensive auditions what you’re looking for is something startling and new and somebody who going to bring idea to the part.
“She just stood out and did a fantastic job.”
Pearl herself said in a statement when the news was announced: “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 Capaldi 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 throughout time and space.”
Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year for a Christmas special.
Sir Lenny Henry, (who starred as “The Doctor” in a 1985 spoof sketch in his award winning programme “The Lenny Henry Show) is to receive a special BAFTA at this year’s TV awards ceremony in May.
The Alan Clarke award, named in honour of the late TV director, was last presented in 2015 to screenwriter Jeff Pope. Actor and comedian Sir Lenny will receive his award on 8 May for his outstanding contribution to TV.
Krishnendu Majumdar, chairman of Bafta’s Television Committee, said there was “no-one more deserving”.
“This is fantastic,” Sir Lenny said.
“I am truly humbled and truly hopeful that this award is a pan-industry acknowledgement that diversity must be at the heart of our industry if we are to reflect British society now and, most importantly, in the future.”
Known predominantly for being a comedian, Sir Lenny first appeared on the ITV talent show New Faces in 1975 and then became a household name in the popular Saturday morning children’s show Tiswas.
He went on to star alongside Tracey Ullman and David Copperfield in the hit sketch show Three of the Kind before earning his own Bafta-nominated series The Lenny Henry Show.
Mr Majumdar said that Sir Lenny’s appeal “spans all generations and genres”.
He also applauded him for his efforts to ignite debate and spur change with regard to the lack of diversity in the TV and wider acting industry, most notably when making the issue the subject of a Bafta lecture in 2014.
Sir Lenny’s 40-year TV career also includes the BBC comedy drama Bernard & The Genie in 1991, White Goods on ITV in 1994 and the drama series Chef! on BBC One in the mid-1990s.
He also starred in BBC One dramas Hope and Glory (1999-2000) and The Syndicate (2015) and his comedy series Lenny Henry in Pieces won the Golden Rose at the Montreux Television Festival. He has also made several documentaries about diversity.
He was also one of the founding members of the charity, Comic Relief, along with Richard Curtis.
In February 2009 Sir Lenny made a splash in the theatre winning huge praise and a best newcomer award for his stage debut as the star of Shakespeare’s Othello at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.
He returned to Shakespeare in The Comedy of Errors at the National Theatre in 2011.
The Lenny Henry show won two Bafta nominations in light entertainment performance and light entertainment programme categories in 1985 and 1989.
His other awards include a lifetime achievement honour at the British Comedy Awards, a best actor Critics Circle Theatre award and a Royal Television Society Fellowship in March.
He was knighted in the Queen’s birthday honours in 2015.