Channel Four's “The Friday Night Project” on Friday, March 28, 2008, had David Tennant as the guest presenter. The show had Tennant in a “Carry On” sketch where the show's usual hosts poked fun at his lack of medical knowledge. There was an appearance by a cyberman and an alien nurse with three breasts. He also did an impression of “The Proclaimers”, the pair of Scottish singing brothers who had a few hits in the eighties. Oh dear! Is this the sort of publicity the BBC wants for one of its flagship shows?
Talking of “Oh dear!” moments, Russell T Davies is in a bit of a strop! The BBC have shunted the good Doctor and Donna back to a broadcast time of 6.20 pm. This is an hour or so less than it is accustomed to. Davies was reported in the internal BBC magazine, “Ariel” as being “unhappy” with this. He is predicting that Series Four will lose more than a million viewers as a result of its new timing.
One thing it will certainly mean - a sudden surge in text messages around the UK at around 6pm on Saturday 5 April as people begin to take in the new time slot. After all for three series now it has been on between 7 and 7.15 - and this is what the average viewer (not the diehard fan who will know already!) will expect!
This writer finds himself on the side of the Welshman! After all, isn't this just like trusting your child to a babysitter, telling them what time the said infant must be put to bed and then hearing that they had deliberately put them down early. Wouldn't you be mad?
Below, an “artist's” impression of Davies' reaction.
Meanwhile, the BBC Press Office is hard at work being as reticent as possible about the new series as it can be! It is something akin to cigarette manufacturer's asking retail outlets to hide their product. Some news about the second episode has now been released. It is called “The Fires of Pompeii” and will be broadcast at… time to be confirmed! Perhaps they have listened to Mr Davies' complaint and are rejigging the schedules?
The two time travelers will encounter people with psychic powers on this adventure. Also they must face the “beasts of stone”. Anything to do with a certain volcano, one wonders? This will be one of those history changing episodes, where the Doctor had to either let everyone die or change the course of history. A cynical writer might suggest that this had been done before by any number of shows, let alone “Who” but is keeping an open mind.
Certainly the cast list may allay fears that the show is stepping towards the comedic rather than the dramatic. The line up includes three of Britain's finest character actors. Peter Capaldi (best known for his breakout role in “Local Hero”) is perhaps the most instantly recognizable face. He is for soon to direct a film starring Ewan McGregor (the only person who may have been able to out-act John Sim as The Master?) provisionally entitled “The Great Pretender”.
Also in the line up in Phil Davis who has adorned British TV screens for three decades or more. His first film appearance was alongside Sting in “Quadrophenia”. Viewers outside the UK will know him best for his sympathetic portrayal as the husband in “Vera Drake”.
Finally there is Tracey Childs. She is best known for her long running appearances in the 1980s drama - the nautical “soap with rope” - Howard's Way. She has also been in the teen soap Hollyoaks recently.
