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20 Years of New Who Celebrated by Radio Times

20 Years of New Who Celebrated by Radio Times

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Radio Times cover featuring David Tennant in character as Doctor Who from 2005-2010.

On 26th March this year, it will have been exactly 20 years since the first episode of Doctor Who’s modern reboot aired on BBC One, starting a whole new era for the sci-fi show.

While the reboot started with Christopher Eccleston in the lead role as the Doctor, he only played the character for one season, with David Tennant taking the reins at the end of that season’s finale.

Now, speaking with Radio Times magazine for the anniversary, Tennant has revealed that when he first signed up to play the character, the team weren’t sure the 2005 Christmas special, or season 2, would even happen.
 

“When I signed on, the first series of the new version hadn’t even transmitted,” he said. “I sort of signed up to be in a second series that nobody could really be certain would ever arrive.

“I could have appeared in a regeneration scene at the end of series 1, and that could have been it. I would have been not even the George Lazenby of Doctor Who; if I can make a slightly obscure Casino Royale reference, I’d have been the David Niven of Doctor Who!”

Of course, in actuality, Tennant ended up as one of the most iconic and beloved stars of the show. He not only played the Doctor in three seasons and a host of specials between 2005 and 2010, but he later went on to re-appear as the Tenth Doctor in 50th anniversary special Day of the Doctor, and star as the Fourteenth Doctor for three 60th anniversary specials in 2023.

Tennant recently recalled the moment showrunner Russell T Davies and executive producer Julie Gardner gaged his interest with regards to taking on the role, when speaking with Davies on his own podcast, David Tennant Does a Podcast With….

He revealed he was invited to Davies’s house to watch early cuts of season 1 episodes Rose and Dalek, before Gardner asked him that all important question.

He revealed Tennant’s response, saying:

“There was a pause, and you went, ‘I want a coat down to there.’ And you pointed at your ankle. And I was like, ‘We got him!'”

After leaving the show in 2010 alongside Tennant, Davies is now back at the helm of Doctor Who, with the second season of his new era starting in April, with returning star Ncuti Gatwa playing the 15th Doctor.

The latest issue of Radio Times is out now.

Ncuti Gatwa is this week’s Radio Times cover star

Ncuti Gatwa is this week’s Radio Times cover star

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Radio Times looks ahead to the thrilling Doctor Who finale in the latest issue.

There has been a great deal written in response to the new series of Doctor Who in recent weeks, some of which you will have read in our Feedback pages. But whether you’re an avid fan or a casual viewer, how the show is received is very important to its future, and to the future of the BBC.

This latest incarnation of Doctor Who is “a canary down the coal mine”. As much as I might wish that the TV world was stuck back in the time when I was hiding behind the sofa, watching on our 19-inch black-and-white Pye TV as Patrick Troughton battled the Ice Warriors, things have moved on.

The BBC brought back Russell T Davies to take the Whoniverse to a new global audience – and also handed over the streaming rights of the show to the Walt Disney Company. This seems to be leading the way for the BBC to create and fund shows that have worldwide appeal, and that keep up with the streaming companies and their megamillion-dollar budgets. While, in the case of Doctor Who, it’s keeping the values and principles of a show that has been part of British culture since 1963.

It’s a gamble, but in terms of the viewing figures and critical response, it’s one that appears to be paying off. Russell T Davies is to be commended for once again making Who more accessible to younger viewers, the people who were always awed and inspired by it from day one.

We talk to Davies in this week’s issue of Radio Times magazine about the two-part finale to a series that has been full of energy and vigour, thanks in no small part to the new Doctor, played by the immensely talented Ncuti Gatwa.

(With thanks to Radio Times)

Doctor Who Makes The Cut in Nation’s Favourite Theme Tunes

Doctor Who Makes The Cut in Nation’s Favourite Theme Tunes

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Delia Derbyshire who realised Ron Grainer’s original manuscript for the Doctor Who Signature Tune.

Distinctive theme music can make a TV series (Succession springs to mind) and can often be more popular than the show itself, or just as beloved.

The nation’s favourite television music has been revealed from a poll conducted by Classic FM’s TV Music Countdown, featuring tens of thousands of votes by the station’s listeners, visitors to ClassicFM.com, readers of Radio Times magazine and RadioTimes.com.

The dark and gothic theme tune to Inspector Morse, composed by Australian-born Barrington Pheloung, has been voted the nation’s favourite TV theme, 34 years after its debut on screen.  

The ITV crime drama which starred the late, great John Thaw as the world-weary, classical music-loving detective, aired between 1987 and 2000, and is still repeated on TV and is a popular box set on streaming services. The music for the Inspector Morse spin-off Lewis, also composed by Pheloung, is the 20th most popular TV theme.

Composer Barrington Pheloung died in 2019. Heather Pheloung, his widow, said:

“Thank you to everyone who voted for the Inspector Morse theme and Lewis theme. I am sure Barry would have been overjoyed and honoured that the Inspector Morse theme has been chosen as the UK’s number one favourite TV theme of all time. It is such incredible news. I know he would have been quite humbled to be receiving this accolade given the many great, iconic TV themes that have been written for UK television.

“For Barry, writing music was a way he could bring joy and love to people, his music came from the heart, and composing music and bringing it to life with his colleagues and friends was his passion. The huge success of Inspector Morse, followed by Lewis and then Endeavour, allowed him to do what he loved in life, which he was always very grateful for. Barry regularly listened to Classic FM, and for him to receive the support and love from the Classic FM listeners is very special, and it makes me think of Barry with a lovely, beaming smile on his face. Barry’s children and I are so very proud of him.” 

The nation’s second most popular choice is Aram Khachaturian’s Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia from the ballet Spartacus, famously used as the theme for BBC TV drama The Onedin Line, which was broadcast from 1971 to 1980. Downton Abbey (John Lunn), Game of Thrones (Ramin Djawadi), and Wolf Hall (Debbie Wiseman) all made the top five. 

The top 1o also included Poldark (Anne Dudley), while the top 20 featured Blue Planet II (Hans Zimmer), Doctor Who (Ron Grainer), and Peaky Blinders (Nick Cave).

The top 20:

  1. Inspector Morse
  2. The Onedin Line (Adagio of Spartacus and Phyrgia
  3. Downton Abbey
  4. Game of Thrones
  5. Wolf Hall
  6. Band of Brothers
  7. Van der Valk (Eye Level)
  8. Brideshead Revisited
  9. Pride and Prejudice
  10. Poldark
  11. Blue Planet II
  12. Harry’s Game
  13. Doctor Who
  14. The Lone Ranger (William Tell Overture
  15. Poirot
  16. Peaky Blinders
  17. The Vicar of Dibley
  18. Miss Marple
  19. Thunderbirds
  20. Lewis
THE DALEKS ARE BACK!

THE DALEKS ARE BACK!

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Revolution of the Daleks

Doctor Who: First full look at the all-new Dalek design in this week’s Radio Times.

Jodie Whittaker, Chris Chibnall and the Doctor Who team reveal exclusive behind-the-scenes details from Revolution of the Daleks in our latest issue.

In this year’s Doctor Who festive special the Daleks are back with a fresh look – and now you can see that all-new revamp in full in this week’s Radio Times, featuring exclusive interviews with the Doctor Who cast and crew alongside details and pictures of the intriguing design changes.

“This new special is the Daleks taking on the universe,” Bradley Walsh, who plays Graham in the series, tells the new issue. “For Whovians and the show, it’s massive.”

Alongside a guide to the changes made to the Dalek from series showrunner Chris Chibnall and executive producer Matt Strevens, the issue features the series bosses and the cast reflecting on the Daleks’ history and their place within Doctor Who history.

“No question, they’re a part of British culture – they’re like the Mini of Doctor Who. You can keep updating them but the brilliant design endures,” Chibnall says.

“Even if you don’t know much about Doctor Who, everyone knows the Daleks,” agrees Strevens.

Adds series star Jodie Whittaker, aka the Thirteenth Doctor: “To be honest, they always seemed like Christmassy imagery to me — appropriate for this time of year!”

Featuring exclusive first-look images and interviews with Chibnall, Strevens, Whittaker, Walsh, Mandip Gill and John Barrowman, the Radio Times Doctor Who preview issue is on sale from Saturday 28th November.

And any fans hoping for hints at what’s next for the TARDIS team may even get a few clues about the currently-shooting season 13, which recently began production on a slightly shorter series of eight episodes…

With thanks to Radio Times.

Join Radio Times with John Barrowman & The Torchwood Cast TONIGHT!

Join Radio Times with John Barrowman & The Torchwood Cast TONIGHT!

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The cast of Torchwood: Gareth David-Lloyd, John Barrowman, Naoko Mori and Burn Gorman (BBC)

The next RT Watchalong of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood (on Friday 17th April starting at 8:00pm BST), GNR can reveal that they will be reuniting even more of the Cardiff alien-hunters, with series stars Naoko Mori, Burn Gorman and Gareth David-Lloyd joining series lead John Barrowman for our livestreamed aftershow.

Yes, that’s right – they’ll have four of Torchwood Three streaming live over the internet following a virtual screening of series two’s Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, with the Q&A beginning shortly after the episode viewing at around 8:50pm BST and featuring a mix of chat, reminisces and fan questions.

You can watch the livestreamed Q&A via the Radio Times Facebook account – but first, we need you to submit some questions for all three actors using the #askTorchwood hashtag on Twitter.

Always longed to get more info about Captain Jack Harkness, Owen Harper, Ianto Jones or Toshiko Sato? Want some behind-the-scenes secrets from Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang? Put your question to the team. Unusual or guest-specific questions are particularly welcome, and make sure to get them in sooner rather than later.

After you’ve posted your questions, join RadioTimes.com and the cast to rewatch Torchwood series 2, episode 1 on Friday 17th April, pressing “play” on Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang at 8:00pm BST (12:00pm PT and 3:00pm ET) on either BBC iPlayer, a DVD or an On-Demand service (more details here) and following along with the chat on Twitter via the hashtag #TorchwoodIsReady.

Then, when the episode is concluded join in on Facebook to watch the live aftershow with the cast as they answer your questions, look back on the episode and more.

Torchwood is ready – but are you?

Russell T Davies won’t return to Doctor Who – even for an anniversary special

Russell T Davies won’t return to Doctor Who – even for an anniversary special

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Russell T Davies

It’s now been over 14 years since Doctor Who made its big 21st-century comeback when showrunner Russell T Davies successfully established a new era for the Time Lord.

However, despite earning God/Doctor-like status among Whovians after his five years helming the BBC show, Davies has vowed not to write another episode.

Speaking about a possible return to Who at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, Davies told us a comeback will never be on the cards – even if he had the opportunity to write a special Who 60th anniversary episode.

“It’ll be like coming back to a job I did 10 years ago, wouldn’t it? Who would do that?”

Seems like Davies’ views haven’t shifted since he penned the novelisation of episode Rose. Speaking then, he said:

“Really, think about it. Go back to the job you had 13 years ago. Or go back to your old school. Walk in, say hello, take your old seat. And start giving instructions! Watch everyone’s faces. Shortly before they call the police.

“Move on! And besides. Why look back? The future is golden.”

Although he won’t be returning to Who, Davies’ upcoming TV project Years and Years will be another time-jumping drama – but won’t include a TARDIS. Instead, the six-part series starring Emma Thompson will follow one family, the Lyons from Manchester, through events of a near and dangerous future.

“It jumps five years ahead in the first episode and then every week it goes forward another year more or less. But in the end, it will be set 15 years in the future,” Davies explained.

“The world has got madder over the past few years,” he added. “I thought of this series before the 2008 recession – before Trump, before Brexit. I sat back as the world got madder and madder and truly the night of Trump’s election, I emailed the head of drama at the BBC saying if Trump gets in I was going to write it now!”

Of course, there’s one big question many fans need to know about Years and Years: will Doctor Who still exist in this mad version of 2035?

“Of course it will!” Davies told us with a laugh. “Doctor Who is forever! It’s the one unchanging thing in the world!”