Doctor Who Season Four - Rumors/Spoilers

[Geekyfanboy]

Doctor Who Series 4 Changes

Written by: Michael Hickerson (SoSF Staff Journalist)

http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2007/06/30/doctor-who-series-4-changes/

As series three of “Doctor Who” winds up this evening in the UK (it hits US airwaves next Friday on SCI FI), yesterday’s Daily Mirror has details about casting for series four.

This information is SPOILERish in nature for series four. It won’t (necessarily) ruin any of the last episodes of series three, but if you don’t want to know anything, set your TARDIS coordinates elsewhere on the Slice of SciFi web site….

The big news is that the TARDIS crew will be growing next year. A new companion will enter the scene, but it won’t be as a replacement for Martha Jones. Martha will still be a part of the series, as well as appearing in series two of “Torchwood.” But her role will be changing in the coming season.

A show insider reveals: “Martha will still be in Doctor Who, but her relationship with the Doctor will have changed. The truth is that she loves him but he doesn’t feel the same way. She is going to have to share him because he’ll be getting a different sidekick. And this is a major addition to the cast.”

Martha will not be appearing in the upcoming Christmas special. Rumors and speculation have it that pop-singer Kylie Minogue will be appearing in the role of a companion for that story. (This has not been confirmed and there are lots of rumors, sightings and various reports that indicate this could be a strong possibility. If we find out something definite, we will let you know).
It’s not yet been revealed if the new companion is male or female.

Series four will be a time of transition for the show. Executive producer Russell T. Davies is due to step-down at the end of the series and the contract for David Tennant as the Doctor is up at the end of series four. Tennant has not confirmed that he’s staying or leaving the role of the famous Time Lord.

Despite all the transitions (which the show has survived many such transitions in its long run) the future for the show on the BBC looks good.

Jane Tranter, the head of drama at the BBC said, “One thing is certain, Doctor Who will be around on BBC1 for years to come.”

[Geekyfanboy]

Agyeman Re-Ups For Who

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=42234

The BBC confirmed that Freema Agyeman, who plays companion Martha Jones on the hit Doctor Who series, will return for a fourth season and will also appear in the spinoff series Torchwood. But a second companion is slated to join Doctor Who for the first half of the fourth season.

The season-three finale aired on June 30 in the United Kingdom; season three begins airing in the United States on SCI FI Channel on July 6.

Agyeman is also set to join the cast of Torchwood, where she will play Martha Jones in three new episodes before returning to Doctor Who in the middle of the fourth season.

"[Season] three has gained outstanding reviews, and Freema has been a huge part of that success, gaining rave notices for her portrayal of Martha," executive producer and head writer Russell T. Davies told the BBC. "Now we are taking the character of Martha into brand-new territory with a starring role in Torchwood."

The new announcement leaves a vacant space in the TARDIS. A new companion for the Doctor, who will join the new season for the entire 13-week run, will be announced shortly.

[Geekyfanboy]

Kylie Minogue on board for Titanic festive special.

We're all feeling lucky, lucky, lucky that Kylie Minogue is to take a major lead role in the hour-long Doctor Who Christmas special, to be broadcast in December 2007.

Especially for you, Kylie will be travelling light years to join David Tennant for the episode, Voyage Of The Damned, which starts filming in July in Cardiff.

"We are delighted and excited to announce that Kylie Minogue will be joining the Doctor," revealed Executive Producer and lead writer Russell T Davies.

"Doctor Who Xmas specials are always a joy and we feel very confident that this will be the most ambitious and best Christmas episode yet."

"It is an incredible thrill to be joining David and the entire Doctor Who production for this year's Christmas special," added Kylie. "Doctor Who enjoys a unique history and it is going to be very exciting to be a part of that."

The production team has also confirmed that the story, written by Russell, will follow on directly from the ending of series three where viewers witnessed The Titanic crash through the Tardis wallså

Full details are currently under wraps, with more information to be announced shortly. We'll confide in you as soon as we can. The fourth series of Doctor Who will be back in the Spring of 2008.

[Geekyfanboy]

The New Full-time Doctor Who Companion Named

http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2007/07/04/the-new-full-time-doctor-who-companion-named/

Catherine Tate accepts proposal to star in fourth series

This bit of news comes hot of the press direct from the BBC. Here is what they had to say â€"

Catherine Tate is set to return to the TARDIS for the complete 13 week run of Series Four of Doctor Who.

Award winning comedian Tate will reprise her role as Donna, the runaway bride from last year’s Christmas special, despite turning down the Doctor’s invitation to travel with him at the end of that adventure.

When Catherine was asked if she would like to become The Doctor’s new companion at the press screening of The Runaway Bride, she replied, “I would love to, but no one has asked!” Well, now they have.

Freema Agyeman who has played Martha Jones, The Doctor’s companion throughout the critically acclaimed third series, will return to the show to join The Doctor and Donna mid series.

[Geoff G.o.B]

I have to say that the majority of the UK fan base (well those who have written on forums) are very unhappy about this. The Xmas special with Catherine Tate in was considered very weak and her character was widely disliked. I don't know how many of you have seen season 3 yet, but the consensus seems to be that a lot of the episodes were quite weak (exceptions being those not written by Russel T Davis), and expectations for season 4 are quite low with the news that Freema would only feature in half of the episodes.

On a positive note the Xmas special with Kylie in has potential to be interesting.

I didn't enjoy the 3rd season as much although David Tennant continues to impress and the depth of his character has been expanded as he continues to swing between wild enthusiasm, dark menace and desperate loneliness.

[Geekyfanboy]

Well I don't want to go off topic to much about season three.. but I enjoyed it, not as much as previous seasons but it had some good stories... now back on topic Fourth Season...I like the idea of bringing Catherine back. There is no way there can be any sexual tension between those two. The last two, Rose who fell in love with the doctor and I think the doctor really loved her then we get Martha who falls for the doctor but he is still in love with Rose. I was hoping for a guy companion as they have done in the past but I guess will have to wait and see if Catherine turns out to be a good companion or not. I am bummed that Martha who really grew on me this past season is only going to be back for half a season.

[Trekkygeek]

Catherine Tate?   >:(
Please say it isn't so. I dislike this character intensely and do not really like her in general. She is very popular over here but I don't see it and the thought of seeing her as a regular worries me.
  Kylie though, ahhhh the lovely Kylie  :love One of my favourite women and any screen time with her is just fine  :metallica:

[Trekkygeek]

News hot off the press from the BBC this morning. This is how it appeared on their site:


BBC reveals Doctor Who 'gap year'



David Tennant's appearance in the fifth series of Doctor Who looks uncertain after it was revealed there will be no new series in 2009.

The fourth series, starring Tennant, is due to hit TV screens next year, but the fifth will not be seen until 2010.

Instead, Tennant, will star in three Doctor Who specials, written by Russell T Davies, on BBC One in 2009.

A spokeswoman for Doctor Who said she was unable to comment whether Tennant would return for the 2010 series.

Tennant, 36, will reportedly play Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company from July to November next year, but this has not been confirmed by the RSC.

'Best loved'

Series four, which went into production in July, will hit UK screens in spring 2008 with a special episode scheduled for Christmas 2008.

Comedian Catherine Tate is set to return to the Tardis for the complete 13-week run, reprising her role as Donna from the 2006 Christmas special.

Actress Freema Agyeman, who won praise for her portrayal of assistant Martha Jones, is also set to return during series four.

BBC Fiction controller Jane Tranter said: "Doctor Who is one of the BBC's best loved and most successful dramas.

"Its journey over the past three series has been one of the most ambitious and exciting that we have had, and I'm delighted to be able to confirm not only three exciting specials for 2009, but a fifth series in 2010. "

Menna Richards, controller of BBC Wales, said: "This announcement is marvellous news for all involved, and more importantly for the programme's amazing fan base and audience."

[Trekkygeek]

This ones for you Kenny.

From the BBC website


Billie Piper to return to Dr Who
   


Actress Billie Piper is to return to Doctor Who, the BBC has confirmed.

She will star in three episodes of the sci-fi drama, reprising her role as the Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler.

Rose's return will mean the Doctor has three assistants in next year's series - Donna, played by Catherine Tate, and Freema Agyeman as Martha.

The new series begins in March and will run for 13 episodes. There will be three special editions in 2009 before the show takes a break until 2010.

Piper left Doctor Who last year, when Rose was transported into a parallel universe.

Awards

The character had been a hit and Piper won a number of awards for her performances. She was named most popular actress at the National Television Awards in 2005 and 2006.

A separate show based on Rose had been planned by writer and series producer Russell T Davies, but was scrapped when Davies decided the programme was "a spin-off too far".

Filming is currently under way in Cardiff for the new series of Doctor Who, which sees the Doctor meeting an old group of enemies - the Sontarans - 35 years after first encountering them.

Before that, the programme will return to television screens at Christmas with a special episode set on the Titanic, which will co-star singer and actress Kylie Minogue.

[Geekyfanboy]

Thanks for the news Tim... I love Rose and can't wait for Season four to start.

[Geekyfanboy]

Here's the trailer for the upcoming season.

[Trekkygeek]

Bring it on. Saturday nights will be cool for the Brit. geek once more

[Geekyfanboy]

A Doctor Who without the Doctor... three companions.. sounds cool to me.

[Meds]

Hello all, well the new series of Doctor Who is well into filming and 2 new guests have been announced. Alex Kingston who starred in ER and Colin Salmon a regular on) the Pierce Brosnan Bond films are set to join the good Doctor. Rumour reports that Sarah Jane Smith and Captain Jack will return in the series finale apparently rescuing the Doctor who is injured during a explosion. I'm a bit apprehensive about this new series, i thought the last was pretty good and i preferred the companion of Martha than that of Rose. The choice to bring Donna (Catherine Tate) in my opinion is a bad move. I don't know about you good people around the world but she is a bit like marmite you either love her or hate her and i simply don't like her. Still will watch it and she could well bowl me over, i will give her a go it's only fair. My other reservation is the Doctor free episode in which Rose Tyler comes back (please can we just get rid of her) and there they are all the companions together with no Doctor. so far the past Doctor less episodes have been awful, i wont go into Love and Monsters (awful, awful) as i will be here moaning away. I'm a big fan of Doctor Who and the recent return of Peter Davison for the BBC's Children in Need special was amazing, and fair play to David Tennant he blew me away in that 7 minutes. Here's to series 4 and if i hear any more news I'll write soon.

[Geekyfanboy]

Well there were three different threads all talking about Season four of Doctor Who.. so I merged them all.

I can't wait for the fourth season of Who.