The RTS digital team headed to London's South Bank, where the tardis had landed to ask Doctor Who fans about their best moments from the sci-fi series, who their favourite Doctor has been and who they would like to see in the role.
John Simm will be returning as The Doctor’s nemesis The Master in the upcoming series of Doctor Who.
The Master was last seen on New Year’s Day 2010 when The Doctor foiled his plans for world domination before sending him back to the Timelords’ home planet of Gallifrey.
John Simm (Mad Dogs, Life on Mars) said, “thanks to the power of time travel I’m back. It’s always a pleasure to work with this great team of people and I can’t wait for you all to see what The Master gets up to in the next series.”
Played by Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock has been named the favourite BBC TV character by a third of TV viewers surveyed.
The research was conducted in the lead up to BBC Worldwide Showcase. Over 7000 people aged 18 to 64 from Australia, France, USA, Germany, India, Japan and Mexico were asked to take part in the survey, which identified the most popular BBC TV character and most memorable scene from BBC television.
A panel of experts discussed the use of visual effects in TV – both real and CGI – and argued that, used responsibly, they aid creativity.
Visual effects have moved on apace over the past two decades. Graeme Harper first directed Doctor Who in 1984, although as a floor assistant at the BBC in the 1960s he worked on the series when Patrick Troughton was the Time Lord.
“The Doctor Who [series] of the 1980s were great because the stories were great – we all forgave them that the sets creaked,” said Harper.
The upcoming series will be Capaldi’s last as the irascible Twelfth Doctor. He said “From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity, generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead. I can’t thank everyone enough. It's been cosmic."
The upcoming series will also be the last for showrunner Steven Moffatt who is giving up the mantle to Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall.
Before 2005 and the production of Doctor Who in Cardiff, Wales was always seen by the BBC – including me – as the “problem child”. But, just as with a “problem child” in a classroom, alarmingly, the problem is more often with the teacher/adult than the child; invariably, “problem children” are the most interesting in class and mature into the best of adults.
The show launches with a double episode, released simultaneously on the channel.
Class is set in Coal Hill School, a regular time-travelling hotspot since the Doctor first arrived there in 1963.
Years of time travel have caused the barrier between space and time to wear dangerously thin, and something frightening has been waiting on the other side…
The series is darker than previous Doctor Who spin off The Sarah Jane Smith Adventures, and is suggested to be more in line with adult sci-fi hit Torchwood.
At its most basic casting involves finding actors to play roles in TV and film, however there is far more to it as it is one of the few television roles that seems to bridge the creative and the technical sides of television.
“It’s very much a taste-based role” Andy says. “What people don't see is the enormous amount of work that you put into casting a show – in terms of researching and trying to pull the whole thing together, getting the right people seen, managing expectations and then negotiating the artists contracts.”
The RTS sat down with Doctor Who casting director Andy Pryor who has worked on the show since it was resurrected in 2005. He gave us the low-down on the new face in the TARDIS.
Since the departure of Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman, at the end of the last series, the Doctor has been flying alone. Coleman has gone on to play Queen Victoria in the forthcoming ITV drama Victoria, hitting screens later this year.
The reveal will be made during half-time of the FA Cup semi-final Match of the Day Live: Everton vs Manchester United at around 18.00GMT.
The new companion will star alongside current Doctor, Peter Capaldi, who plays the 12th iteration of the character.
The new companion replaces outgoing character Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman, who was written out of the series in the Christmas 2015 special.
