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July 2006

HELLO! Magazine Vote!
31/07/2006, 21:23pm BST
 
You can vote for David as the most attractive man that was featured in Hello! Magazine in July on their website now!
Voting ends soon so you haven't got much time! Do your fangirl/boy duty and vote here!
 
 
The Ultimate West Wing Challenge!
29/07/2006, 17:25pm BST
 
  
 
More 4 screened The Ultimate West Wing Challenge last night.
See screen caps of it here.
 

Time Lord Handed Permanent Home!
28/07/2006, 14:00pm BST
 
David Tennant and Welsh assembly minister, Andrew Davies
 
After centuries of travelling through space and time, Doctor Who has put down some roots...in Wales.
The Time Lord has been given a place to park his Tardis full time while his next round of adventures are created. BBC Wales has opened new studios in south Wales so it can accommodate both the sci-fi show and its spin-off series, Torchwood, due this autumn. David Tennant, who plays the Doctor, was even on hand with his trusty sonic screwdriver to help with the opening. The television studio complex is more Pontypridd than Pinewood, situated in Upper Boat, three miles from the town that is better know as the birthplace of Tom Jones. It is the new and permanent home of the BBC's Doctor Who operation, with 80 production staff and up to 400 people involved at the busiest times of the filming schedule. Many of the interiors for the previous two series of Doctor Who were filmed in relatively cramped conditions at a warehouse in Newport, with some scenes shot at ITV Wales' studios in Cardiff.
The new 86,000 square feet (7,400 sq m) site is more than 10 times larger that BBC Wales' facilities in Cardiff, and includes workshops, video editing suites, six sound stages and a props store that is...out of this world. It is big enough to allow Doctor Who sets, such as that for the Time Lord's ageing and erratic spaceship, the Tardis, to go up and stay up between production runs. Welsh Enterprise Minister, Andrew Davies, was given a whistle-stop tour of the complex during the official opening of the site. David Tennant interrupted his filming as the galactic Time Lord to give the minister a few tips on the sonic screwdriver's features.
"It's got a light on the end," he said proudly, pointing out the business end of piece. The Tardis famously looks like a 1950s police box from the outside, but is gigantic on the inside. But apart from a corner of a wardrobe room, Doctor Who fans have seen little else recently of the Tardis interior, which is said to contain a gym, a library and bedrooms and an engine room. Designer Ed Thomas suggested things might be different in upcoming episodes. He said: "We have only called on them as we have used them. This is likely to change and we could see more of the ship." The studio's opening came days after shoppers in Cardiff city centre were treated to the sight of comic actress Catherine Tate filming her guest appearance on the show. She wore a full white bridal gown in 30C temperatures for filming of the Doctor Who Christmas special, The Runaway Bride. The filming continued this week, with a 65-ton tank the latest prop to turn the heads of passers-by. By the time that episode is screened, the new spin-off drama series Torchwood will have aired. The show, about a Cardiff-based squad of secret agents facing human and alien enemies, also has a permanent set at the Upper Boat studio complex. But while producers revealed some of the Time Lord's technology to those at Thursday's launch, visitors to the Torchwood sets were sworn to secrecy.
Source: BBC Wales.
 

It's David Tenner!
26/07/2006, 14:47pm BST
 
 
Click a pic to enlarge!
 
The above photos are from The Daily Star which continues the coverage of filming in Cardiff.
They say:
Doctor Who Star David Tennant is really in the money...his head is set to replace the Queen on our banknotes.
But the special tenners won't be finding their way into our wallets. They've been printed for the show.In the Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride - co starring Catherine Tate - a hole in the wall machine goes berserk and spews notes all over the street.
Beeb bosses couldn't use real money, for fear of losing the loot, So they printed their own featuring the face of David and the inscription: "I promise to pay the bearer the sum of ten satsumas. No second chances - I'm that sort of a man."
Fans managed to nab some of the notes as souvenirs after the scenes were shot in Cardiff.
  • You can read some set reports from fans on the Doctor Who section of our forum here.

Doctor Who Has Christmas In July!
25/07/2006, 14:00pm BST
 
Catherine Tate and David Tennant filming in Cardiff Catherine Tate during filming
 
Shoppers in sunglasses were baffled to see Christmas trees and giant snowmen on sun-baked streets in Cardiff. The seasonal time-trick of a frosty festive scene was created by the Doctor Who team to film the BBC show's Christmas special. Guest star Catherine Tate braved 30C temperatures in full white bridal gown. When fans asked David Tennant, who plays the Doctor, how he was coping he shouted back: "It's blinking boiling." Scenes for the special, entitled The Runaway Bride, were shot in Cardiff city centre, which will be transformed into a shopping street in London's West End for the show.  
Comedy star Tate, known for her catchphrase "Am I bovvered?" in her hit sketch show, might have been a little perturbed as she coped with her role as bride Donna in soaring temperatures. She had to jump out of a black cab and run down the Cardiff street. A Doctor Who insider revealed that audiences will see her morph into a giant bride before exploding across the screen. 'Bumpy ride' She said: "I'm honoured and delighted to be joining David Tennant aboard the Tardis.
"As a summer job, this'll do." The show's writer Russell T Davies, has joked that the Tardis would be in for a "bumpy ride" with Catherine Tate on board. An onlooker said: "It's surreal seeing all the Christmas decorations - but it's quite nice to look at them on a hot day like this. "It feels like the Timelord has put us in the Tardis and whisked it off for Christmas." It has also been revealed that Torchwood, a sci-fi spin-off of Doctor Who, will launch on BBC Three in late autumn. The series will focus on a squad of secret agents facing human and alien enemies, with actor John Barrowman reprising his role as time traveller Captain Jack.
Source: BBC News.
 

Doctor Who used his Timelord tricks yesterday to turn a sun-baked shopping street into Christmas. David Tennant and co-star Catherine Tate got hot and "bovvered" by pretending the sweltering city centre street was a chilly Christmas scene. And shoppers in shorts and sunglasses were baffled to see giant snowmen, Christmas trees and January sales signs.

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Fans asked how he was coping and Tennant shouted back, "It's blinking boiling." The Doctor Who team converted a shopping street in Cardiff city centre into the festive scene for the Christmas special called The Runaway Bride. Temperatures were close to 30C as comedienne Tate ran around in her full white bridal gown, and Tennant in his trademark suit.

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An onlooker said, "It's surreal seeing all the Christmas decorations but it's quite nice to look at them on a hot day like this. "It feels like the Timelord has put us in the Tardis and whisked it off to Christmas." Wharton Street in the Welsh capital is standing in for a West End shopping street. Model Santa Clauses were in the shop windows for the special due to be shown on Christmas Day. Tate even had to jump out of a London black cab to run down the street in the sweltering heat. Tate is the latest comedy star to star in the sci-fi series and plays a runaway bride called Donna. And a Doctor Who insider revealed that in the Christmas show Tate morphs into a giant bride who explodes across the screen. The show's writer Russell T Davies joked that the Tardis would be in for a "bumpy ride" with Catherine Tate on board. Tate, whose characters include stroppy teenager Lauren with the catchphrase "Am I bovvered?" is thrilled with her role. She said, "I'm honoured and delighted to be joining David Tennant aboard the Tardis. "As a summer job, this'll do." Source: ic Wales.

 

 
Recovery Update!
21/07/2006, 17:41pm BST
 
  
 
A few weeks ago David Tennant took time out from filming his new BBC drama, Recovery, to do an interview with BBC Breakfast presenter Sussanna Reid.
She met him on set and chatted abot his new role and got his thoughts on playing Doctor Who!
David said his role in Recovery had meant quite a bit of research. He had read about and met people who had suffered from brain injury.
"Each instance of brain injury is very unique, but you can get a general sense of what it might be through talking to people. You can't really imagine what it must be like to be married to somebody who becomes a different human being," said David.
"Our brain is our personality, is our thoughts, is our world and if that gets knocked, even a couple of degrees sideways, you become something fundamentally different."
David confirmed he would be doing a second series of Doctor Who next year. He said: "We had some great people in this last series. It seems to attract people from all spectrums of the acting world. We've got Peter Kay and we've got Pauline Collins and everything in between.
"I had a very good time last year and hope I have a very good time next year and after that, we'll see what happens."

Secret Smile Sold To France!
20/07/2006, 16:26pm BST
 
The ITV drama Secret Smile starring David Tennant, Kate Ashfield and Claire Goose is part of a number of dramas that Granada have sold to be shown in France.
Toby Melling, VP International Sales France at Granada International, commented: “I am delighted that the high production qualities and writing of these contemporary drama mini-series has caught the eye of the main French broadcasters.” 
 

Filming Photos
20/07/2006, 16:21pm BST
 
 
Click a pic to enlarge!
 
The Daily Star and The Daily Mirror printed the above photos from the filming of this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride today.
The current heatwave isn't exactly festive though!
 
 
Merchandise Update!
19/07/2006, 17:32pm BST
 
  
Click on a pic to enlarge!
 
BBC Books have revealed the covers of the new Doctor and Rose novels.
The Art Of Destruction, The Nightmare Of Black Island and The Price Of Paradise will all be released on 21st September 2006.
Synopisises below:
 
The Art Of Destruction
The TARDIS lands in 22nd century Africa in the shadow of a dormant volcano. Agri-teams are growing new foodstuffs in the baking soil to help feed the world's starving millions - but the Doctor and Rose have detected an alien signal somewhere close by. When a nightmare force starts surging along the dark volcanic tunnels, the Doctor realises an ancient trap has been sprung. But who was it meant for? And what is the secret of the eerie statues that stand at the heart of the volcano? Dragged into a centuries-old conflict, Rose and the Doctor are soon elevating survival to an art form - as ancient, alien hands practice arts of destruction all around them...This work features the Doctor and Rose as played by David Tennant and Billie Piper in the hit series from BBC Television.
 
The Nightmare Of Black Island
On a lonely stretch of Welsh coastline a fisherman is killed by a hideous creature from beneath the waves. When the Doctor and Rose arrive, they discover a village where the children are plagued by nightmares, and the nights are ruled by monsters. The villagers suspect that ancient industrialist Nathanial Morton is to blame, but the Doctor has suspicions of his own. Who are the ancient figures that sleep in the old priory? What are the monsters that prowl the woods after sunset? What is the light that glows in the disused lighthouse on Black Island? As the children's nightmares get worse, The Doctor and Rose discover an alien plot to resurrect an ancient evil...This work features the Doctor and Rose as played by David Tennant and Billie Piper in the hit series from BBC Television.
 
The Price Of Paradise
Laylora - the Paradise Planet. A world of breath-taking beauty, where peace-loving aboriginals live in harmony with their environment. Or do they? The Doctor and Rose arrive to find that the once-perfect eco-system is showing signs of failing. The paradise planet has become a death trap as terrifying creatures from ancient legends appear and stalk the land...Is there a connection between the human explorers who have crash-landed and the savage monsters? What secret lies at the heart of the natives' ancient ceremonies? And what price might one human have to pay to save the only home he has ever known? When a planet itself becomes sick, can there be a cure? The Doctor and Rose find themselves in a race against time to find out...This title features the Doctor and Rose as played by David Tennant and Billie Piper in the hit series from BBC Television.
 

 
Recovery Press Release!
18/07/2006, 20:44pm BST
 
 
The BBC have today released their Autumn schedule and it includes a press release about David's forthcoming drama, Recovery.
They say:

Alan and Tricia Hamilton (David Tennant and Sarah Parish) are very happy. He's the head of a building firm and on top of his game. She's a part-time beautician and mother to their two sons.

One day their perfect, if unremarkable, life is torn apart when a last-minute decision to pop out for a quick drink with a colleague sees Alan step out in front of a passing car.

The resulting accident leaves him in a deep coma but with remarkably few physical injuries. Desperately worried about him, Tricia is delighted when he comes round – only to discover that the man she loved has disappeared.

His behaviour's changed, he's lost all of his inhibitions and he veers from angry and frustrated to vulnerable and childlike.

Simple tasks like making toast and getting dressed are beyond him, he's unable to hold down the job he loves and he plays and laughs with his sons as if he's a child.

Alan's behaviour puts his relationship with Tricia under intolerable pressure. She longs to find the husband she loves in there somewhere – but fears she may have lost him forever.

Recovery is written by Tony Marchant (Kid In The Corner, Holding On) and partly inspired by research he undertook with the charity Headway, Essex.

 
School Fair Raises £7,000!
18/07/2006, 20:39pm BST
 
  
 
On Sunday David opened The Ashmount Primary School Summer Fair.
Pupils and their parents as well as hoards of Doctor Who fans turned up to help raise money for the school.
Eager fans snapped up signed memrobilia from the show and a staggering £7,000 was raised on the day!
 
 
 
The Ultimate West Wing Challenge!
18/07/2006, 20:34pm BST
 
The Ultimate West Wing Challenge will be shown on More 4 on 28th July at 21:00pm.
Rory Bremner hosts a celebrity quiz show to mark the broadcast of the last ever episode if The West Wing. Closet fans of the series take on challenges and trade knowledge of the greatest president America never had. Featuring current Doctor Who David Tennant, Mark Oaten MP, columnist and comedian Arabella Weir and Newsweek editor Stryker McGuire.
For repeat viewing times and more details plese visit The Diary!
 

 
Awards Results!
16/07/2006, 20:44pm BST
 
The results are now up from our Doctor Who Awards. Click here to see who you all voted for.

Our Awards!
12/07/2006, 17:00pm BST 
 
If you haven't voted in the david-tennant.net forum awards, The Sparklies, yet then what are you waiting for?
You can vote for all your fave bits of the latest series of Doctor Who, including Best Episode and Best Guest Star...and other really deep and meaningful catergories such as What was your favourite Tie the Doctor wore?!
We now have over 4,000 members so make sure you join up to take part in the voting and to chat to fans about the series and David's other projects.
 
Vote here.
Closing date is Saturday 15th July at 19:00pm.
All winners will be listed on here after votes have been counted.
 
 
HELLO! Awards!
12/07/2006, 16:48pm BST
 
David is being pitted against the likes of Hugh Grant and Paul Bettany in this weeks Hello! Magazine 'Most Attractive Man' vote.
Click here to do your fangirl/boy duty!
 
 
 
TV Choice Awards!
11/07/2006, 17:48pm BST
 
David Tennant has been nominated for yet another Best Actor Award, this time at the TV Choice Awards. The fabulous Billie Piper is also up for Best Actress and the whole Doctor Who team have been shortlisted for Best Loved Drama Series And you can help themwin by following these instructions:
 
To phone vote dial 0905 648 0748. After each category is read out, enter the number of your chosen nomination as listed using your telephone keypad. Enter one nomination only in each category.
(Calls cost 20p per minute from BT landlines [average call costs 50p]. Calls from mobiles and other networks may be higher. If you are not the bill payer please ask before calling.)
 
To text vote text TVCVOTE followed by a space then the category and your vote options, plus your name, door number and postcode to 87080. E.g TVCVOTE A1 B2 C3 Jane Smith 19 AB1 2CD
(Texts cost 50p. Network costs may vary)
To vote David text D4. To vote Billie text E2 and to vote for Doctor Who text A3.

Closing date for votes is Tuesday 18th July 2006.

Doomsday Repeat!
11/07/2006, 17:18pm BST
 
Just in case anyone missed the end of series finale, Doomsday, or just wants to relive the adventure and angst again then make sure you tune in to BBC Three at 20:30pm on Friday 14th July. A cut down of Doctor Who Confidential will follow.
Check out the diary for more info.

National TV Awards Nominees Announced!
10/07/2006, 09:09am BST
 
The 2006 National TV Awards Nominations have been revealed and David has been nominated for Best Actor for his role as The Doctor!
Doctor Who is up for Best Drama and his co star Billie Piper is up for Best Actress for her part as Rose Tyler!
Anyone who saw Doomsday on Saturday night must realise that they all thoroughly deserve to win their awards so to vote for them head over to  http://nta.itv.com
The awards will take place in November 2006.
 
Closing date for votes in 4th August 2006.
 
 
Doomsday Update!
09/07/2006, 20:15pm BST
 
  
 
All the usual updates from Doctor Who today, with Screencaps, wallpapers, articles etc..

And don't forget to visit the Official BBC Who site which has, amongst lots of other goodies, a fabulous comentry of the episode!

Goodbye Rose Tyler..We Loved You Too!
09/07/2006, 20:00pm BST
 
Click pic to enlarge!
 
So it's all over...for now at least.
The Rose and the Doctor partnership is no more, last night's end of series finale was a real tear jerker! Oh how we'll miss Rose (Billie Piper), Jackie (Camille Coduri)  and Mickey (Noel Clarke)!
But we have lots to look forward to with series three of Doctor Who.
David will be returning as The Doctor and will be joined by Freema Agyeman as his new assistant, Martha Jones.
Rumours in the press are already abounding that the pair will battle The Ice Warriors and aliens from Mars! As well as that they will be travelling back in time and meeting amongst others William Shakespeare!
But before that we have the Chistmas Special, The Runaway Bride, with Catherine Tate to look forward to!
Filming has already begun on that and our tears aren't even dry yet!
If you want to look back at some of the Tenth Doctor and Rose's best bits visit our Doctor Who section.
And to keep up to date on what Billie is doing in life after Who visit www.billie-piper.net
Also if you head over to our forums at www.david-tennant.net then you can vote in our Sparklies Awards and let us know what your fave bits of series two were!
So all that's left to say is:
Goodbye Billie, Camille and Noel you were all fantastic!
 

 
Doctor And Rose Wallpaper Competition!
09/07/2006, 19:58pm BST
 
Thank you to everyone who entered our competition to design a wallpaper featuring The Doctor and Rose.
Every single one deserved to win, they were all absolutley fabulous!
But in the end we chose this fabulous one by forum member Disco Biscuit!
 
800x600 |  1024x768   
 
It's now available for you to all use! And if you would like to see the other entries please visit the Get Creative section of the forum!
Meanwhile we have some exclusive Doomsday papers for you in our Download section.
 
 
 
Who's On The Box!
09/07/2006, 19:56pm BST
 
Doctor Who may have finished here in the UK but Series Two is continuing in New Zeland, with Tooth and Claw this Thursday and in  Australia, with Tooth and Claw this Saturday!
Visit our Diary for transmission details and check out the Tooth and Claw section, but be warned there are spoilers!
 
 
New Releases!
09/07/2006, 19:52pm BST
 
  
Click on a pic to enlarge!
 
DVD Volume 4
2Entertain have released the cover image to the fourth vanilla DVD release of the 2006 series of Doctor Who.
The DVD will include the truly terrifying two-part adventure The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit as well as the quirky adventure Love & Monsters, starring Peter Kay as the evil Absorbaloff.
This DVD is scheduled to be released on 7 August 2006 (although release dates are subject to change).
 
Doctor Who The Inside Story
Doctor Who viewers might believe they've seen every photograph, read every interview, know every fact about the latest incarnation of BBC TV's science fantasy series Doctor Who, but this book will set out to show them just how much they've missed. With pre-production drawings and paintings, countless behind-the-scenes candid shots, comments and opinions from everyone involved in the making of this exciting, award-winning programme, The Inside Story is exactly that - an insider's scoop on the how, why, who and where of all things Doctor Who.
The book will be released on 25th October in the UK and the USA.
 

New Who Companion Revealed!
05/07/2006, 00:05am BST
 
 
 
Actress Freema Agyeman has been announced as the new Doctor's companion! She has already been seen in the episode Army Of Ghosts as Adeola, but she will be playing a new character called Martha.
She will join the series to be shown next year. Filming will start later this summer.
Executive producer/writer Russell T Davies says: "The search for a new companion had been underway for some time when I first saw Freema Agyeman, she had come in to audition for the part of Adeola in series two."Watching her during filming confirmed what an exciting new talent she was, so under cover of darkness we called her back in to audition with David for the role of the new companion. 
"It was an immediate and sensational combination, and her range, presence and charm blew us all away. "David and Freema are terrific together, and we're delighted to have chosen her to join the Doctor for more adventures in time and space.  "The first scripts have been written, and Martha's a brilliant addition to the Tardis crew, the perfect foil for the Doctor. 
"Martha won't be featured in this year's Christmas special; we've got another surprise in store for that."
Freema Agyeman says: "I've been keeping this secret from my friends for months - it's been driving me mad! 
"Auditioning with David in secret down in Cardiff was unbelievable, but I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd actually become the new companion.
"Billie rightfully built up an amazing fan base and she will be missed, but I hope the fans are willing to go on new adventures with me.  "It still hasn't quite sunk in, I'm sure it will slam home first day on set when I'm stood gazing at David Tennant!"
David Tennant adds: "Freema was a joy to work with in episode 12 of the current series. She is not only very talented and very beautiful, she's great fun and I'm delighted she's coming on board the TARDIS full time.
"I can't wait to welcome her into the Who family."
 
 
Doomsday!
04/07/2006, 17:44pm BST
 
 
 
A quick Doomsday update today with a couple of new articles and some behind the scenes pics!
 

 
Daleks Vs Cybermen!
03/07/2006, 17:28pm BST
 
 
 
Most shows only get one Radio Times cover - but Doctor Who's clocked up five this year. To celebrate the World Cup, and the return of the Daleks and Cybermen, viewers have a choice of covers, featuring the two teams squaring off on a football pitch. Which side will you choose?

Army Of Ghosts!
02/07/06, 20:19pm BST
 
  
 
The usual Doctor Who updates today, with new screen caps and articles etc from Saturday's episode Army Of Ghosts!

Below are some exclusive Army Of Ghosts wallpapers for your PC...

 
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And don't forget to visit the Official BBC Who site which has, amongst lots of other goodies, a commentry of the episode by Russell T Davies!

 
Merchandise Update!
01/07/2006, 17:17pm BST
 
  
 
Lots of new merchandise from Doctor Who has been announced. The 2007 Doctor Who annual which will feature character profiles, quizzes and games will be released in August and the eagerly awaited 12" Doctor and Cyberman dolls will be released on 5th July.
You can pre order all of these items in our shop by clicking here.

The Sport Relief Mile!
01/07/2006, 17:05pm BST
 
Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile events are taking place all over the country, but if you live in the Cardiff region and would like to go running with a Dalek then listen up!
Sport Relief Milers in Cardiff have got a very special bonus as one of the waves will have a Doctor Who theme. It'll feature stars from the current series and the show's glorious past, as well as a very special guest appearance from a life size Dalek. Camille Coduri - who plays Rose's mum Jackie Tyler in the hit BBC TV series - will be among those pounding the streets around Cardiff City Hall on July 15. You can sign up to join them by registering for the Cardiff Mile and joining up with The Doctor Who team. Sport Relief want as many people as possible to sign up and come down dressed as their favourite characters from the show, but don't worry if you don't want to dress up as there is plenty of room for everyone on the day.
Click here to sign up.

West Wing Quiz!
01/07/2006, 17:00pm BST
 
David will soon be appearing on the West Wing Quiz:
The enormously popular E4 US import 'The West Wing' is coming to an end soon and the channel are bidding it a fond farewell with a special 'West Wing Quiz'. Rory Bremner will be hosting as two panels of celebrity fans of the show (including Dr Who's David Tennant) pitting their knowledge of the show against each other, for a night of light-hearted competition and fun.
The show will be filmed on 4th July. Tickets are no longer available.