Doctor Who trailer delights Comic-Con fans

Is Peter Jackson directing an episode of Doctor Who?

1 December 2015

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has hinted at the possibility he might direct an episode of Doctor Who with a spoof video filmed in his New Zealand home.

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The video, posted on his Facebook page, shows him polishing his Oscars while his daughter Katie tells him that Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat is trying to email him.

"He wants you to direct an episode of Doctor Who, but you're not replying to his emails," she says.

Jackson responds that he replies to the ones he can understand but that some are "a bit incoherent, like his scripts".

His daughter says Moffat wants him to come to Cardiff for a 12-day shoot rather than Jackson's plan to spend six months filming one episode in New Zealand.

Peter Capaldi appears in full Time Lord costume and says he is looking for a director. "I'm the doctor," says Capaldi. "Who?" asks Jackson. "Correct," says Capaldi before he is chased out of the room by a Dalek.

Jackson has previously revealed that he is a "huge Doctor Who fan" and, during the Matt Smith era, he said: "Just name a time and place, and I'll be there."

Moffat has since spoken to Jackson face-to-face and told Games Radar it will "probably happen at some point". He added that the director "accepts that there's no money and that there's no time".

Other eagle-eyed fans spotted that there was a copy of JRR Tolkien's book, The Silmarillion, sitting on the table, with pink post-it notes poking out of the pages.

Vanity Fair points out that the film rights to The Silmarillion are hard to come by - so the book most probably featured in the spoof video just to tease fans.

Doctor Who: what do we know about the new spin-off?

1 December

The BBC has thrilled Doctor Who fans by announcing a spin-off series for 2016. So what do we know about the new shows, and will they be enough to shore-up interest in a reportedly wobbling franchise?

What are the details?

The spin-off, entitled Class, will be aimed at a young-adult audience. It will reportedly be comprised of eight, 45-minute episodes – each set in contemporary London. The narrative will centre around Coal Hill High School, where previous Doctor Who side-kicks Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright and Clara Oswald have all worked. It is already being compared in tone to the hits Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Hunger Games.

When will it be on?

The spin-off, which will be produced by young-adult author Patrick Ness and Doctor Who duo Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin, should be out on BBC3 in autumn next year, with production expected to begin next spring.

What are people saying about it?

"No one has documented the dark and exhilarating world of the teenager like Patrick Ness," said Moffat. "This is growing up in modern Britain – but with monsters!" As for Ness himself, he wrote on Twitter that he is looking forward to "pushing boundaries and shaking things up". BBC3 controller Damian Kavanagh said: "Patrick understands young audiences and I'm delighted he will use his incredible skills as a storyteller to delight audiences on BBC3."

Is the Doctor Who franchise in trouble?

Possibly. Digital Spy reports that overnight audience figures are in decline – just 4.6 million tuned in to watch the series nine premiere, compared with 6.8 million for series eight. The number might increase with more fans choosing to watch the show on iPlayer. Still, it is widely suggested that the show is becoming increasingly insular: catering only to the whims of hardcore Doctor Who fans, rather than appealing to a broader audience. Digital Spy concludes that maybe it's time to hit the pause button. "Resting the show certainly couldn't hurt," it says.

Doctor Who returns to rave reviews but fewer viewers

21 September

Peter Capaldi's second series as the Doctor began with two million fewer viewers than his debut last year.

Around 4.6 million people watched The Magician's Apprentice, compared with 6.8 million for the opening episode last year.

This meant it was still the most watched programme on BBC One, but it came second in its ratings battle with ITV's X Factor. Viewing figures for Doctor Who are expected to rise once iPlayer and Video on Demand numbers are taken into account.

Despite the lower ratings, critics were generally impressed by the series opener. The Radio Times gave it five stars, praising the appearance of a young Davros as "a brilliant idea – just waiting for someone to have it".

Digital Spy lauded the programme's drive. "Mad, funny, creepy, original and dramatic, 'The Magician's Apprentice' is a bold, mostly successful attempt to be all of Doctor Who, all at once, in just 46 short minutes. Its execution isn't faultless, but you certainly can't fault its massive ambition," it said.

Den of Geek applauded Peter Capaldi in its review, saying: "He's just fascinating. He feels, 14 full episodes into his tenure, an unpredictable force, and its enormous fun watching him."

The Magician's Apprentice also saw the return of Michelle Gomez as Missy – the latest incarnation of The Master – and her oddball performance was a definite highlight, according to the Daily Telegraph's Catherine Gee.

"[Missy] is back at her battily brilliant best here – be it seductively tickling one of the balls on the front of a Dalek or trying to assure Clara that her and the Doctor trying to kill each other is pretty much as casual as texting."

The first of a two-parter saw the Doctor's companion Clara left in peril in a cliff-hanger ending.

Jenna Coleman, who plays Clara, has finally confirmed she will be leaving the show during this series. Speaking about her departure to the BBC, she said: "It's been in the works for a very long time.

"[Writer] Steven [Moffat] and I sat down a year and a half ago and tried to work out the best place to do it and tell a really good story.

"We're not going to give any details but it will happen at some point this season... We worked out a really good story arc so hopefully people will love it."

Doctor Who: who will replace Jenna Coleman in the Tardis?

17 September

The upcoming series of Doctor Who will be the last to feature Jenna Coleman, the Doctor's companion since 2012, and the internet is already swirling with rumours about her replacement.

The Daily Mirror first reported that Coleman, who has played the role of Clara Osgood for three years, had decided to leave Doctor Who after being cast as Queen Victoria in a new ITV drama.

The BBC is yet to confirm the claim, but the actress told Radio Times earlier this month: "You're in Doctor Who knowing it will never last, it's constantly regenerating, so you want to make your time count and enjoy the adventure for the fleeting time you're here."

With production on series nine almost complete, it's thought that Coleman has finished filming her final scenes opposite Time Lord Peter Capaldi.

News of Coleman's departure has prompted speculation about the 28-year-old's replacement. Emmerdale actress Verity Rushworth, who worked with Coleman on the ITV soap, has already thrown her hat into the ring saying: "I'm quite kooky so I think I could be quite kooky on the show and I could keep the Doctor on his toes. I'd also bring a bit of banter to the Tardis which would be fun."

If the BBC decides to look beyond Emmerdale, the bookies favourite remains Game of Thrones actress Rose Leslie. She was thought to be the preferred choice before Coleman was persuaded back to the show in 2014, and appears to have the support of Entertainment Weekly.

"She can pull off all the aspects required of a successful Doctor Who companion," it says. "She's courageous, defiant, confident, vulnerable... all things that would help make for an interesting character."

There definitely seems to be a Westeros theme in the companion stakes, as EW also suggests Maisie Williams as a potential sidekick for the Doctor. Williams, who plays Arya Stark in the hit HBO TV show, has already filmed an as yet unknown part in Doctor Who series nine.

Stephen Moffat, the show's producer, has remained tight-lipped on the role, but he did explain to the Radio Times that Williams had brought an "interesting young/old quality" to the show. However, it remains to be seen whether the 18-year-old actress could juggle two major television series in her hectic schedule.

Doctor Who will return to BBC One on Saturday 19 September, followed by a Christmas special on Friday 25 December.

Doctor Who series nine: has the Thirteenth Doctor been cast?

07 September

The internet is awash with rumours that the Peter Capaldi's successor as Doctor Who has already been cast, after claims that this year's Christmas Special will see the Doctor come face to face with his next regeneration.

According to sources cited by entertainment website MoviePilot.com, the 2015 Christmas special is set to follow the much-used formula of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, with the Doctor encountering visions of his past, present and future selves.

Most interesting to fans will be the promise of a 'future' incarnation of the Time Lord. Rather than an older version of current Doctor Peter Capaldi, it is rumoured that the 'Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come' will give viewers a sneak peek of the next regeneration of the immortal time traveller.

The future Doctor is said to be about 20 years old, and will be depicted in a blue suit and sunglasses.

Capaldi fans needn't prepare to say farewell to the 12th Doctor just yet, however. The former Thick of It star will apparently remain in the role until 2017, before passing the baton to his successor in a New Year's Day special.

However, Whovians may not have as much of Capaldi as they like – Private Eye has claimed that there will be no new series in 2016, only three hour-long specials, due to production delays on the fourth series of showrunner Stephen Moffat's other BBC project, Sherlock. MoviePilot's sources have suggested that model and actress Cara Delevingne is lined up to replace Jenna Coleman as the Doctor's companion in the specials.

Whether or not the latest rumours turn out to be true, viewers can expect an eventful Christmas. Showrunner Stephen Moffat has confirmed that Alex Kingston will be returning for the hour-long special as River Song, described in The Guardian as "more divisive than almost any other character in Doctor Who history".

Doctor Who will return for series nine on Saturday 19 September, with a debut episode entitled The Magician's Apprentice.

Doctor Who Series 9: what we know so far, plus new trailer

10 July

Shooting has not yet wrapped on series nine of Doctor Who, but already the new episodes are subject of much speculation. Be warned, there may be spoilers ahead…

When will Doctor Who series nine be broadcast?

The BBC has announced that the first episode, entitled The Magician's Apprentice, will be broadcast on 19 September.

What do we know about the cast?

Once again, Peter Capaldi will be at the helm of the Tardis as the twelfth incarnation of adventuring alien Doctor Who. Clara (Jenna Coleman) is by his side once more, making her the longest serving companion of the modern era (which might suggest that she had better watch her step). Joining them is fan favourite Michelle Gomez, who will be reprising her memorable turn as delightfully deranged villainess Missy. Also returning is Jemma Redgrave, as top scientist Kate Lethbridge-Stewart.

Capaldi will be reunited with one of his old colleagues, The Thick of It co-star Rebecca Front, who played struggling MP Nicola Murray to Capaldi's foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker. Fan news site Blogtor Who reports that the Bafta-winning actress will be joining the Doctor in a two-part adventure that will feature the return of the Zygons, a race of shape-shifting aliens.

One of the top draws of Doctor Who has been its impressive roster of guest stars, and this series looks to be no exception. Veteran screen actor David Schofield has been cast as a character called 'Odin' in a two-part episode. Could the Doctor be visiting the Vikings? One thing is certain – all the stops are being pulled out for the double bill, which is also set to feature comedian Rufus Hound and rising star Maisie Williams, better known to Game of Thrones fans as Arya Stark.

What are the fans saying?

Peter Capaldi has largely been embraced by the show's devotees, who have praised his intense and witty performance. His first series was acclaimed as one of the best to date by critics, with Alasdair Wilkins at the AV Club proclaiming it "a return to form". However, a small drop in viewing figures suggests that audiences have given series eight a slightly cooler reception.

Nevertheless, anticipation for the new series is high. The promise of Michelle Gomez's return has proven particularly popular. While not everyone was initially thrilled to see long-standing baddie The Master becoming The Mistress, Gomez's sparky performance quickly won many over, with Moffat calling her 'an instant hit'.

Elsewhere, fans were pleased to note that Mark Gatiss has written one of the new episodes, having previously penned memorable Who outings The Unquiet Dead and 'Robot of Sherwood'. Den of Geek calls the news "expected and very welcome".

Any surprises in store?

Brace yourselves, as one episode will feature a musical number. While appearing on fan podcast DWO Whocast, the show's composer, Murray Gold, let slip that he has written a song to appear in a forthcoming episode. Combining the Doctor's interstellar antics with a catchy tune is nothing new, of course – Doctorin' the Tardis was a UK No 1 in 1988.

Apart from that, viewers needn't fear any radical shake-ups to the show. "Doctor Who is a combination of complete daft silliness and loads of people getting slaughtered in the early evening," Moffat explained to Entertainment Weekly. "Tonally, [series nine is] very much the same."

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly last week, Capaldi was in a sharing mood, giving away some hints about the opening episode of series nine. So what can fans expect from episode one? According to the show's star, it "places the Doctor in a conflict that is central to his being , as well as containing some subtle tributes to the '60s, and truly wonderful guest performances". Everyone's favourite Time Lord is "about to make a mistake that has cataclysmic repercussions", he said.

On Thursday 9 July, show-runner Steven Moffat joins Capaldi, Coleman and Gomez for a much-anticipated panel session at the San Diego Comic-Con. The annual sci-fi and fantasy convention has long been a source of juicy scoops about upcoming features, so it would come as no surprise to hear some big announcements about what's in store for series nine.

What did we learn at Comic-Con 2015?

On Thursday 9 July, showrunner Moffat joined Capaldi, Coleman and Gomez for a panel session at Comic-Con International 2015 in San Diego, California. Over 7,000 fans crammed into Hall H to hear what Moffat and co had to say about the new series, and they were not disappointed.

First off, fans finally learnt the date of the premiere – Doctor Who will return to screens on 19 September. Previously, the BBC had offered only a tentative broadcast date of 'autumn 2015'.

The big reveal of the session turned out to be exclusive new footage from series nine. The crowd went wild for the 90-second trailer, which promises the return of the Judoon mercenaries, more daleks than you can shake a stick at, and the Doctor playing the electric guitar for as yet unknown reasons.

When it came to the question-and-answer session, however, the panel remained relatively tight-lipped, often deflecting fan queries with humour. To a moderator who asked "Why is the Doctor so enamoured with humans?", Capaldi apparently responded: "Budgetary reasons."