Greetings greetings fellow stargazers,
Filming for Torchwood and Series Sic of Doctor Who are still going on but it has been a quiet week. Most of the action this week is coming from Los Angeles as fans gather for the Gallifrey One convention.
Things remain pretty tight on the Torchwood: Miracle Day sets. Some videos and set pictures have emerged but not much in the rumor mill is getting leaked out. As filming on the second block of Torchwood: Miracle Day shifts back to Los Angeles the first block of stories is beginning the process of post production and editing is underway in Cardiff.
Audio Go is releasing two new Torchwood titles, Ghost Train and Department X. Both stories are read by Kai Owen. An 11th Doctor Who story, The Gemini contagion is also being released.
I think next year’s Jeopardy IBM Challenge should feature K-9 in competitive competition.
Speaking of which, everyone’s favorite computer dog, K-9, has been green lighted for a second full series.
Louise Jamieson has joined Jago & Litefoot, reprising her role as Leela for series three of the Big Finish audio drama based on the characters from 1977’s Talons of Weng-Chiang.
The first Doctor adventure, The Ark, will be released on DVD in North America on March 8th.
Renown British character actor TP McKenna has died. Doctor Who fans will remember him as Captain Cook in The Greatest Show In The Galaxy. He also appeared as Colin Fowler in The Chief and as Sarkoss in the Blake’s 7 episode Bounty. His films included Red Scorpion, Valmont and Straw Dogs.
Billie Piper recently told Buzz magazine in the UK that the final series of her series, Secret Diary Of A Call Girl would be “insane”.
Frances Barber has been cast as a guest star in Demons Run. Barber has appeared in such films as appeared in Prick Up Your Ears, Sammy and Rosie Get Laid and White City. Barber also appeared in the Pet Shop Boys Musical Closer To Heaven and also sang Friendly Fire with the group on their Concrete album.
On April 12, David Tennant is getting the Royal treatment. The 10th Doctor is one of actors featured by the Royal Mail in a collection of six stamps featuring iconic images from the Royal Shakespeare Company who are celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the company’s charter. Each of the stamps features a scene from a RSC production. Of the 6 stamps in the set, one features Tennant from his production of Hamlet.
Tennant is also hosting a segment, Come In Number 5 for the new Revisitations 2 six-disc collection. Come In Number 5, a documentary about the Davison era of Doctor Who, is being screened this weekend at the Gallifery One convention in Los Angeles.
Doctor Who Conventions in the USA in 2011
This brings me to conventions. I’ve been a lot in the last few weeks about where some are in the USA and what exactly they do. Well each one is different. Each one has its own unique stamp and personality. But each one inspires to bring people together for a good time. While nowhere as frequent as many DW events in the UK we are lucky to have some great DW themed conventions. So as most of North American fandom convenes in LA for the massive good time that is Gallifrey One (the largest Who con in the USA), I thought I’d take some time to point out some of the other upcoming Doctor Who Conventions in the country. For brevity, I am only mentioning the ones that are mainly focused on Doctor Who and Torchwood. If I have omitted anyone I apologize in advance.
Timegate 2011 (May 27-29,2011) is a Star Gate/Doctor Who convention held in Atlanta, Georgia. The guest for 2011 includes Sophie Aldred, Ben Aaronivich (7th Doctor Writer) and Andrew Cartmel (7th Doctor Script Editor). They feature gust and fan panels, video, autographs and more. Information can be found at www.timegatecon.org
Hurricane Who (Nov. 4-6, 2011) Get away from winter with this DW con based out of Orlando, Florida. Besides the con, the folks at Hurricane Who run fun and great events all year long. http://www.hurricanewho.com. Guests TBA.
Chicago TARDIS (November 25-27) in Lombard, Illinois (just outside of Chicago) is the premiere Doctor Who event in the Midwest. They always get great guests and go out of their way to make fans feel welcome. They also offer solid fan programming. Ben Aaronovitch is confirmed with more guests to be announced. www.chicagotardis.com
Finally, Craig Ferguson’s devotion to the Doctor Who continues. He still has a TARDIS on his desk and he has dispatched Chris Hardwick (The Nerdist) to Gallifrey One to report and record the happenings. Undoubtedly this will end up on The Late LateLate Show sometime in the next few weeks.
Here’s a clip of Christ Hardwick geeking out about Doctor Who recently on Craig Ferguson:
Next time: some books about Doctor Who!
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