Series 5 (Doctor Who 2005)

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The logo for Series 5.


Series 5 of Doctor Who, also known as Season 31 for clarity over Season 5, will begin airing in the Spring of 2010. For the first time since 2008 a full 13-episode season will be broadcast; filming began in July 2009. The season is the first to feature Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and will also introduce Karen Gillan as companion Amy Pond, along with substantial changes to the programme's production team.

According to the official BBC cinema trailer issued on 20th February, the season is scheduled to start on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010.

Overview

In the spring of 2008, it was announced that Steven Moffat, who has written Hugo Award-winning or nominated scripts for the revived series in each of its first four seasons and whose association with Doctor Who dates back to his writing of the Comic Relief parody The Curse of Fatal Death in the early 1990s, would succeed Russell T Davies as head writer and producer of the series.[1] Davies officially retired from involvement with the series after the 2009 specials and at present has no plans to retain any direct connection to the series now Moffat's tenure has begun. [2] However, Davies has announced that he plans to remain involved with production of Torchwood for the foreseeable future, and hopes to see further crossovers with Doctor Who, indicating he may not completely sever his ties with the parent show.[3]

According to Issue 410 of Doctor Who Magazine, the BBC intends to begin the numbering of seasons over again to reflect the change of production team; thus, as far as the BBC is concerned, the 2010 season will not be known as Series 5, but rather, once again, Series 1.[4] What this may mean for marketing and availability of the 2005 to 2008 seasons (particularly the previous "Series 1" starring Christopher Eccleston) remains to be seen. A December 2009 announcement by the BBC regarding the show filming in Croatia also refers to the upcoming season as Series 1.[5] Both statements have now been confirmed to be false now that Steven Moffat confirmed in Issue 418 of Doctor Who Magazine that this season will be referred to as Season 31. In his column in Issue 417, Moffat addressed the issue in a humourous fashion, suggesting the season be called "Series Fnarg" - "It's a whole new number," he wrote.

Co-executive producer Julie Gardner also departed at the end of 2009, and was replaced by Piers Wenger. Beth Willis replaces Phil Collinson as the third executive producer.

During his acceptance speech for the award for Best Drama Performance at the National Television Awards on 29th October 2008, David Tennant announced that he would not return for the 5th series. On 3rd January 2009, during a special episode of Doctor Who Confidential entitled "The Eleventh Doctor", the BBC announced that Matt Smith would be playing the Eleventh Doctor.[6] Smith succeeded Tennant in the last scene of The End of Time and Smith's Doctor was last seen crashing towards the Earth in a flaming, badly damaged TARDIS.

Karen Gillan and Matt Smith in a promotional picture for Series 5

Cast

Primary Cast

Secondary Cast

Confirmed Guest Stars

Notes

  • Christopher Ryan is listed as playing Commander Strak on an agency website, Ryan also played the similarly named General Staal in Series 4, however there is no official confirmation the Sontarans will reappear.
  • River Song will appear in episodes 4 and 5. [6] It has been rumored that she will also star in the two-part series finale. Alex Kingston appeared on set at the time of filming these episodes but her appearance has not been officially confirmed.

Aliens and Enemies

Steven Moffat indicated in the January 2010 edition of the Doctor Who Magazine that there would be no "classic monsters" returning, though it has since been confirmed that the Daleks will appear and although the BBC has yet to confirm, some media have suggested the Silurians may appear. However, he did list several new species of monsters that are set to debut in the new series:

  • The Timoreen
  • The Skraskish
  • The Ha'rik

Unconfirmed

Production

Writers

Aside from Steven Moffat, who is writing six episodes of the season (Episodes 1, 2, 4, 5, 12 and 13): all other writers have been confirmed for Season 31 in DWM 417:

Notes
  • Moffat has confirmed that he is writing the Christmas special for 2010.[source needed]
  • After Moffat was announced as new show-runner, speculation began to appear in the media about possible writers for Season 31. The most frequently published rumor was that Moffat had discussed the matter with noted fantasy author and graphic novelist Neil Gaiman. However, the list of writers confirmed by Doctor Who Magazine shows that Gaiman will not be writing an episode this series. On 6 February 2010 Gaiman announced, via his blog, that he has been hired to write an episode of Series 6.[9]

Filming

  • The BBC has confirmed that at least one episode will be filmed in Croatia.[21]
  • A number of websites have reported a rumor that the BBC is considering splitting Season 31 into two halves, the first half to air in the spring of 2010, and the second half to air later in the year.[22]
  • According to the online resume of one of the show's crewpeople, part of one episode has been filmed in Croatia.[23]
  • Soon after production began on Season 31, images of the new cast on location began to appear in the British media, revealing the Eleventh Doctor's costume, and apparent exterior changes to the TARDIS (most notably the reinstatement of a St. John Ambulance logo which once adorned the TARDIS during the First Doctor era. The media also revealed in July 2009 that Alex Kingston will again portray River Song. It was later said that she will appear in two episodes. [24] It was announced in DWM Issue 417 that she'll appear in episodes four and five.
  • As of January 2009, five out of the series' seven filming blocks have been completed.
  • Adam Smith will direct one of the episodes block, Ashley Way will direct Chris Chibnall's two episodes (8 & 9)[25] and Jonny Campbell will direct one episode (episode 10).[source needed]

Other Production Notes

  • Richard Curtis has stated that Series 5 (Series 1) will be broadcast in February but it has since been revealed that the series will be broadcast in April 2010.[26]
  • Murray Gold confirmed in an interview that he would be staying on for Series 5, and that he would be composing a new theme.[27]
  • On 17th February 2010, Matt Smith appeared on Blue Peter to choose the winner of a contest that asked viewers to design a TARDIS control console. The winning design is expected to be featured in some way in one of the final Series 5 episodes which is to be filmed in the spring of 2010.[28]

Episodes

  • Episode 4: TBA (Part 1 of 2) - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Adam Smith
  • Episode 5: TBA (Part 2 of 2) - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Adam Smith
  • Episode 9: TBA (Part 2 of 2) - Writer Chris Chibnall and Directed by Ashley Way [31]
  • Episode 12: TBA (Part 1 of 2) - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Euros Lyn
  • Episode 13: TBA (Part 2 of 2) - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Euros Lyn

Broadcast Dates

"The Eleventh Hour" will premiere as an hour-long Easter special on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010. [10] Presumably, it will continue to air on Saturdays throughout April, May, and June. Recently, it was announced on BBC America's website that "The Eleventh Hour" will be broadcast on Saturday, April 17th, 2010 in the US. [35]

Series Changes

  • On 6th October 2009, the BBC unveiled a new series logo which will be launched with Season 31.
  • British tabloid media have reported rumours that Moffat plans a "radical redesign" of the TARDIS interior, both to mark the new era and also because of the show's switch to high-definition production.[32]
  • The most recent promotional picture shows a different special effect for the Time Vortex, similar to swirling water.

Trailers

The first trailer (a series preview) was released on 1st January 2010[33] It featured several scenes from the upcoming series with several new and old enemies present throughout the trailer.[34]

A 3D trailer promoting the series was released in trailers prior to Alice in Wonderland. [35]. It featured the Doctor and Amy Pond lying on grass, gazing at the stars. Suddenly, the ground opens up and they fall into a blue twisting tunnel whilst within the tunnel they are confronted by; Weeping Angels and Daleks before they return atop the grass. A large snake-like head bursts through the screen at the end of the trailer. The effects and grading of the trailer were completed by The Mill.[36]

Rumours

  • In an interview with the Perthshire Advertiser, actress Neve McIntosh stated that she is playing Silurian twins in episodes eight and nine, which are rumored to be titled "The Ground Beneath Their Feet" and "Cold Blood".[11]
  • Neil Gaiman would be writing an episode of Series 5. Although this turned out not to be the case, Gaiman subsequently announced that he would be writing an episode of Series 6.[12]
  • In DWM Issue 397, Steven Moffat wrote the "Production Notes" feature. This consisted mainly of an anecdote about how he became the head writer but he also touched upon his plans for Season 31. In particular he wrote "Piers Wenger and I are hard at work on Season 31. I can tell you nothing of our plans (except, obviously, THEY'RE BACK!)". Some have interpreted "they" to refer to the Time Lords, who had been "killed off" as a race during the Davies era. However, others have interpreted this as simply referring to the Daleks, who have become notorious for returning at least once a series since the revival. In a radio interview on 15th December 2009, Steven Moffat confirmed the return of the Weeping Angel; whether these are the species in question that are back is unknown.
    • It is unlikely that this means the Time Lords as they were brought back in DW: The End of Time and dealt with. In his book REF: Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter, Russell T. Davies indicated that he checked with Moffat before writing his script to see if Moffat had plans to return the Time Lords. Moffat's response "take them" would suggest the Time Lords are not returning in the near future.
    • The official BBC trailer for Series 5 includes footage of a Dalek, plus an episode entitled Victory of the Daleks has now been announced.
    • Despite the above, the speculation as to whether "They're back" refers to the Time Lords may intensify with the announcement in September 2009 of a Blue Peter contest in which entrants are being asked to design "a TARDIS console" to be used within the series, which could be interpreted as referring to a TARDIS other than the Doctor's.[37] At the time of the contest's launch in early October, however, the contest description suggested that the console should look like "something the Doctor put together" suggesting a different storyline possibility.[38]
  • "Liz Ten" will be Queen Elizabeth the 10th of a far future United Kingdom.[13]
  • The Weeping Angels will feature in episodes four and five, which are rumored to be called "Time of Angels" and "Flesh and Stone".
  • Episode 12 of the series is rumoured to be titled "The Pandorica Opens" and is rumoured to feature the Daleks, Cybermen and Sontarans and various old and new enemies. [14]

Novels

External Links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Official website's bulletin about Steven Moffat's accession
  2. ↑ BBC News Q&A session with RTD. 4 July 2008.
  3. ↑ Den of Geek: Torchwood Series 4 'Ready to Go', accessed 26th July 2009.
  4. ↑ "New Companion Confirmed!", Doctor Who Magazine #410 (22nd July 2009), p.5
  5. ↑ "Series One in Croatia", The Doctor Who News Page, 1 December 2009
  6. ↑ BBC: New Doctor actor is youngest ever
  7. ↑ http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/02/casting-update-james-corden.html
  8. ↑ http://home.btconnect.com/barrylangford1/page6.html
  9. ↑ [1] accessed 17th February 2010
  10. ↑ http://www.fisherbecker.info/actor/credits.html
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 IMDB "Doctor Who" Episode #5.2 (2010) accessed 4th February 2010
  12. ↑ IMDB "Doctor Who" Episode #5.3 (2010) accessed 4th February 2010
  13. ↑ The Doctor Who News Page - Bill Nighy in Doctor Who (Monday, February 01, 2010) - Posted by Anthony Weight accessed 4th February 2010
  14. ↑ http://unitedagents.co.uk/meera-syal
  15. ↑ http://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/1/f14728
  16. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s7/doctorwho/news/a203001/wadia-lands-role-as-dr-who-adversary.html
  17. ↑ http://www.doctorwholocations.net/album/brangwynhall-filming-100120/asti-23-007
  18. ↑ Elisabeth Croft - Sainou, The Talent You're Born With accessed 4th February 2010
  19. ↑ Spotlight: GABRIELLA WILDE accessed 4th February 2010
  20. ↑ Spotlight: CLAIRE DARCY-BOWEN accessed 4th February 2010
  21. ↑ "Series One in Croatia", The Doctor Who News Page, 1 December 2009
  22. ↑ SciFiPulse.net: Will the Beeb Split Season 5 of Doctor Who in Two?, 7 June 2009, accessed 2 August 2009.
  23. ↑ John Bennett CV (PDF file)
  24. ↑ Alex Kingston returns to 'Doctor Who' accessed 4th February 2010
  25. ↑ PDF - United Agents - Ashley Way accessed 4th February 2010
  26. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s7/doctorwho/news/a181313/curtis-reveals-who-episode-details.html
  27. ↑ Music from the Movies interview with Murray Gold
  28. ↑ Doctor Who News Page: Blue Peter Competition Winner Announced, accessed 17 February 2010
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Digital Spy - First Smith 'Doctor Who' titles confirmed accessed 4th February 2010
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 United Agents - Tony Slater-Ling accessed 4th February 2010
  31. ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/silurians-return-2137.htm accessed 10th February 2010. Although not yet confirmed by the BBC, it is rumoured that the two episodes are to be called The Ground Beneath Their Feet and Cold Blood.
  32. ↑ Dr Who Tardis to get makeover
  33. ↑ YouTube - Doctor Who: Series 5 Preview - BBC One (BBC channel) accessed 28th February 2010
  34. ↑ io9 - Breaking Down The New Doctor Who Trailer Shot By Shot accessed 28th February 2010
  35. ↑ 3D 'Doctor Who' trailer to screen in cinemas accessed 28th February 2010
  36. ↑ Kasterborous - 3D Doctor Who Trailer for Cinemas <accessed 28th February 2010
  37. ↑ BBC Press Announcement
  38. ↑ Doctor Who News Page: More Details of Blue Peter Contest

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