First episode in new series sees Time Lord battling WI-FI monsters in modern-day thriller set in London
He might be more likely to order a Jammie Dodger than a vodka martini, but that won't stop the Doctor following in James Bond's footsteps this Easter as the Time Lord returns to screens in a modern-day, London-set thriller.
With London's skyline as a backdrop, the first episode in this new series of Doctor Who, sees him battle with WI-FI monsters, meet new companion Clara (again) and race through the city's streets on a motorbike.
All this and Celia Imrie still comes close to stealing the show as a brilliant, sharp baddie.
"We thought let's do it as a proper London thriller, as close as you can get – given that Doctor Who is mad – to James Bond," said showrunner Steven Moffat at a special screening of the episode, The Bells of Saint John. "The Doctor can never be Bond or Bourne – but if he tried it might look a bit like this."
Like the Bond franchise, Doctor Who is planning a special adventure to mark its half-centenary, set to broadcast in November this year, about which the head writer remains tight-lipped. But these eight episodes will first see the Doctor's greatest secret revealed, Moffat promised.
Fans also have a journey to the centre of the Tardis to look forward to – "you'll see more of The Tardis, more properly than ever before"– another to an alien planet and a trip to a haunted house.
"We've got a submarine, we've got the ice warriors, we've got the Cybermen back in new guise," explained Matt Smith, who plays The Doctor. "We've got Neil Gaiman writing a script, and we've got Diana Rigg playing an old hag – but brilliantly, with great charm and sexiness and grace."
In fact Rigg will appear on screen with her daughter Rachael Stirling for the first time.
Also making her first official journey with the doctor is Clara, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman, although fans have met the doctor's new companion – or versions of her – in previous episodes.
"I suppose this is take three and this is the Clara that we'll be with for the next episodes," said Coleman. "But with all of the Claras there's kind of an essence that's the same throughout."
And the Doctor is more than ready to welcome her back, said Smith, referring to the Christmas episode in which an increasingly grumpy Time Lord seemed unable to get over the loss of previous companions Amy and Rory.
"Having got his grieving … out of the way, I think [Clara] has re-ignited his curiosity in the universe and given him his mojo back."
The on-screen chemistry between the pair certainly sparks – and has done since her audition, according to Coleman. "I kind of felt like I'd been knocked off my feet a bit actually, like it was a bit of a hurricane."
But the Doctor is not the only much-loved, clever, charismatic leading man to leap from the pen of Moffat, who along with writer and performer Mark Gatiss has also been extraordinarily successful with BBC1's Sherlock.
A new series of the show will begin shooting this month – at the same time as the Doctor Who anniversary special. But Moffat said the two characters did not compete for the best lines, or threaten to pop up in each others' stories.
"They just live in different parts of your head," he said. "The workload can be difficult to cope with, but aesthetically I don't find it all difficult as they feel very, very different."
The writer is keen to leave viewers guessing about both the much-discussed question of how Sherlock faked his own death and the rumours surrounding the anniversary special featuring the Doctor in all his incarnations.
But Smith, who Moffat said would be featuring "very strongly" in the episode, gave his reaction to the script. "I read it and I clapped at the end," the actor said. "I think it's hilarious and I think it's epic and I think it's vast and I won't tell you any more."
*• Doctor Who returns on Saturday 30 March. * Reported by guardian.co.uk 20 hours ago.
He might be more likely to order a Jammie Dodger than a vodka martini, but that won't stop the Doctor following in James Bond's footsteps this Easter as the Time Lord returns to screens in a modern-day, London-set thriller.
With London's skyline as a backdrop, the first episode in this new series of Doctor Who, sees him battle with WI-FI monsters, meet new companion Clara (again) and race through the city's streets on a motorbike.
All this and Celia Imrie still comes close to stealing the show as a brilliant, sharp baddie.
"We thought let's do it as a proper London thriller, as close as you can get – given that Doctor Who is mad – to James Bond," said showrunner Steven Moffat at a special screening of the episode, The Bells of Saint John. "The Doctor can never be Bond or Bourne – but if he tried it might look a bit like this."
Like the Bond franchise, Doctor Who is planning a special adventure to mark its half-centenary, set to broadcast in November this year, about which the head writer remains tight-lipped. But these eight episodes will first see the Doctor's greatest secret revealed, Moffat promised.
Fans also have a journey to the centre of the Tardis to look forward to – "you'll see more of The Tardis, more properly than ever before"– another to an alien planet and a trip to a haunted house.
"We've got a submarine, we've got the ice warriors, we've got the Cybermen back in new guise," explained Matt Smith, who plays The Doctor. "We've got Neil Gaiman writing a script, and we've got Diana Rigg playing an old hag – but brilliantly, with great charm and sexiness and grace."
In fact Rigg will appear on screen with her daughter Rachael Stirling for the first time.
Also making her first official journey with the doctor is Clara, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman, although fans have met the doctor's new companion – or versions of her – in previous episodes.
"I suppose this is take three and this is the Clara that we'll be with for the next episodes," said Coleman. "But with all of the Claras there's kind of an essence that's the same throughout."
And the Doctor is more than ready to welcome her back, said Smith, referring to the Christmas episode in which an increasingly grumpy Time Lord seemed unable to get over the loss of previous companions Amy and Rory.
"Having got his grieving … out of the way, I think [Clara] has re-ignited his curiosity in the universe and given him his mojo back."
The on-screen chemistry between the pair certainly sparks – and has done since her audition, according to Coleman. "I kind of felt like I'd been knocked off my feet a bit actually, like it was a bit of a hurricane."
But the Doctor is not the only much-loved, clever, charismatic leading man to leap from the pen of Moffat, who along with writer and performer Mark Gatiss has also been extraordinarily successful with BBC1's Sherlock.
A new series of the show will begin shooting this month – at the same time as the Doctor Who anniversary special. But Moffat said the two characters did not compete for the best lines, or threaten to pop up in each others' stories.
"They just live in different parts of your head," he said. "The workload can be difficult to cope with, but aesthetically I don't find it all difficult as they feel very, very different."
The writer is keen to leave viewers guessing about both the much-discussed question of how Sherlock faked his own death and the rumours surrounding the anniversary special featuring the Doctor in all his incarnations.
But Smith, who Moffat said would be featuring "very strongly" in the episode, gave his reaction to the script. "I read it and I clapped at the end," the actor said. "I think it's hilarious and I think it's epic and I think it's vast and I won't tell you any more."
*• Doctor Who returns on Saturday 30 March. * Reported by guardian.co.uk 20 hours ago.
This is Hull and East Riding -- JAMES Bond star Daniel Craig has been spotted househunting in Beverley. It is understood Craig is looking for a country retreat with his actress wife Rachel Weisz and has been viewing properties since Christmas. He has just signed a £31m deal to play 007 in two more films and the Skyfall star is already believed to own luxury homes in London, New York and Follifoot near Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. Michael Quick from Quick and Clarke estate agents in Beverley's North Bar Within said: "He'd be more than welcome and his wife is very nice as well. "I've got plenty of houses for him, if I had his number I'd give him a ring. "I know Beverley is one of the most sought after places in the north. We've got other people in the town in the same business, people like the actor Vincent Regan, who seem to love it." Beverley is a desirable destination, having just been named in the top 100 places to live in the UK by The Sunday Times. The East Riding county capital came in at number 68. The town already boasts Hollywood stars in actor Vincent Regan and actress Eleanor Tomlinson. Regan is best-known for his roles in historical epics 300 and Troy. He is opening a new theatre in Beverley called 'Ert', or the East Riding Theatre. Up-and-coming actress Tomlinson, 20, appeared in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and stars in the new blockbuster Jack The Giant Killer. She celebrated landing the plum role by nipping to the town's Tesco supermarket for a bottle of bubbly. • Have you spotted Bond in Beverley? Email j.townend@mailnewsmedia.co.uk
Reported by This is 14 hours ago.
This is Hull and East Riding -- AH MR Bond, we've been expecting you, welcome to the East Riding. If reports of his house hunting turn out to be true, 007 star Daniel Craig can be assured of a warm welcome to Beverley. It is rumoured Craig may be looking for a country retreat with his actress wife Rachel Weisz. The suggestion has been dismissed by Craig's agent but the couple were said to have been viewing properties in the Beverley area. The market town has a reputation for guarding its celebrities' privacy and allowing them to enjoy hassle-free lives. Seasoned Beverley estate agent Michael Quick said: "We've got other people in the town in the same business who seem to love it. "In a town like this, people are allowed to get on and enjoy their lives, no matter who they are. "Even our local MP, we don't give him a hard time. People are just doing their job." Having just signed a £31m deal to play 007 in two more films, Skyfall star Craig is a genuine A-lister. And Weisz is no slouch, with a stellar career that includes The Bourne Legacy and The Mummy. Any properties they look at, no matter where they are, will probably be at the upper end of the market. Beverley and the surrounding area has no shortage of plush homes. On the outskirts, between Beverley and Walkington, there is available the £2.2m Bentley Hall, boasting fishing, clay pigeon shooting, tennis courts and a swimming pool. There's even a triple garage for the Aston Martins. Closer to the town, in North Bar Without, stands Oak House, built in 1881 and on the market with Quick and Clarke for £1,150,000. The imposing town house was built for James Elwell, father of the famous painter, Fred Elwell. Craig and Weisz are already understood to own luxury homes in London, New York and Follifoot near Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. But Beverley would provide everything they could want, at least in terms of location. The town has just been named in the top 101 places to live in the UK by The Sunday Times, coming in at number 68. Mr Quick said: "Beverley is one of the most sought-after areas in the north. "It's a lovely market town with so much to do so close by. "Then there's the walking country, it's absolutely fabulous." The town is already home to Hollywood stars Vincent Regan and Eleanor Tomlinson. Regan is best-known for his roles in historical epics 300 and Troy. He is opening a new theatre in Beverley called Ert, East Riding Theatre. Up-and-coming actress Tomlinson, 20, stars in the new blockbuster Jack The Giant Killer. Shops in Beverley are well used to welcoming celebrities and millionaires and treating them just as they would anyone else. The town has a range of independent outfitters offering choice for people who want to dress to impress. One of the oldest, Strefford's, in Saturday Market, does made to measure, ideal for someone like Craig who is well-known for his six-pack. Manager Don Jackling, 72, has been there 35 years and is unfazed by celebrity. He said: "We've had film stars in and we've had people in from Emmerdale. They seem to enjoy the personal service." The one thing Craig could not get in Strefford's is a dinner jacket for those trips to the casino. For that he will have to be around the corner at Leonard Silver where an Armani suit costs £795 or a less expensive one can be hired for £35. Manager Mark Barker said: "Most of the celebrities we get coming in are footballers. It's all about one-to-one attention and personal service." After all that personal service and outfit trying on, the current James Bond may well be ready for his favourite tipple. The nearest option would be the Dog And Duck in Ladygate, which can serve up a vodka martini, shaken not stirred, for £5.10.
This just in: The next James Bond film will be in theaters within three years, according to MGM. MGM, the movie studio that owns the rights to the lucrative James Bond franchise, said Tuesday that it expects to release the next Bond film (known popularly as Bond 24 right now) within three years. The studio [...]
This is Hull and East Riding --