The Doctor Who panel at the San Diego Comic-Con took place on Sunday July 26th.  It was a very interesting panel although there were no special announcements and neither was a great deal revealed in terms of spoilers (there are a couple minor ones though).

Before the panel were introduced a previously available clip from the one-hour special ‘Planet of the Dead’ was aired.

Panel attendees were then introduced: showrunner Russell T Davies, David Tennant, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn.

David Tennant arguably drew more of an enthusiastic roar from the crowd than anyone else at Comic-Con.  If ever the actor had wondered how much he’s loved as The Doctor, his answer was right there in true rock-star defeaning glory.

Whilst standing in ovation fans screamed: “We love you!” and in reference to his looming final episodes: “Don’t go!”

Tennant humorously replied:

“I love you too, each one of you, but in a slightly different, individual way.”

The audience were treated to clips from David Tennant’s final episode.

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David Tennant as the Doctor in 'Doctor Who'

Doctor Who has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most successful sci-fi series of all time, reports Variety.

The award was granted after Guiness examined statistics for longevity, broadcast ratings, DVD sales, book sales, iTunes traffic and, somehow, even “illegal downloads.”

“It is too good a show to have just one record,” said Guinness editor in chief Craig Glenday.

Showrunner Russell T. Davies accepted the award on behalf of Doctor Who creator Verity Lambert.

“I can hear a Comic-Con war breaking out there,” Davies said in reference to the longevity aspect of the award, since Stargate SG-1 is actually the longest ‘consecutive’ running sci-fi series.

Doctor Who premiered November 23, 1963.

In the UK, the next one hour special Doctor Who ‘The Waters of Mars’ will air in November 2009.

The US premiere date for ‘Waters of Mars’ has not yet been confirmed.

Image from the set of Matt Smith's first 'Doctor Who' adventure

There’s now a flood of images surfacing from the filming of Matt Smith’s first episode of Doctor Who.

The website to thank is Whoismattsmith, a site where dozens upon dozens of images from the set are being posted.  Here’s six of them:

Matt Smith’s first season will consist of thirteen 45 minute episodes and will air in 2010.

Karen Gillan as Amy Pond and Matt Smith as the Doctor

SFX have posted a number of images from the second day of shooting the new season of Doctor Who starring Matt Smith as the Timelord and Karen Gillan as his companion Amy Pond.

In these pics we get our first glimpse of the newly designed TARDIS.  I’ve also included a larger, clearer version of the image posted yesterday (these are the first four images from the set with Matt Smith as the Doctor ever released).  Note (and laugh at) the surprised sunbathers who will now find themselves immortalized on Doctor Who fan sites world wide.  Click the thumbnails to enlarge.

I like the jacket.  The TARDIS I can deal with (mainly because it pays homage to the classic era) although I admit I was hoping it would be a little modernized.  But the bow-tie, pink striped shirt and braces are already bugging me.  What do you think?

Matt Smith in costume as the new Doctor in 'Doctor Who'

Production started today on the new series of Doctor Who in which Matt Smith will play the 11th Doctor.  To kick it off the above image has been released showing Matt Smith in costume as the Doctor alongside his new companion Amy Pond (played by Karen Gillan).

Upon arriving on set in Cardiff, for his first day of filming, Smith commented: “I feel very privileged and proud to be part of this iconic show.  The scripts are brilliant and working alongside Karen, Steven and the rest of the crew is an inspiration because their work ethic and passion for the show is so admirable.  I’m excited about the future and all the brilliant adventures I get to go on as the Doctor.”

Karen Gillan is a Scottish actress known for The Kevin Bishop Show. Her character Amy will meet the Doctor in episode one of the new series.

New show-runner and long-running Doctor Who fan Steven Moffat has developed this series and, as Lead Writer and Executive Producer, will be responsible for the overall creative direction of the show, as well as plot and character arcs.

Moffat’s previous episodes of Doctor Who, including the BAFTA-winning episode Blink, have garnered widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike.

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The popular UK BBC3 series Being Human will premiere for the first time in the US this Saturday.

Being Human follows the story of a Vampire (Aidan Turner), a Werewolf (Russell Tovey) and a Ghost (Lenora Crichlow) who all share a flat in Bristol and who battle their dark natures – and those of their enemies.  It is part drama, part comedy and part supernatural thriller.

US viewers can tune into the first episode of Being Human on BBC America at 9pm (ET/PT) on July 25, 2009.  The season contains only 6 episodes and will end August 29th.

Cast and crew members from Being Human will also be appearing at the San Diego Comic-Con. Toby Whithouse (series creator) and actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner will each talk about the show from the BBC America booth on Sunday July 26, 2:15-3:45pm PT.  All four will attend an exclusive signing at the BBC America booth on Saturday July 25 from 3-4pm PT.

In other related news, Being Human star Sinead Keenan (Nina) will appear in the final two Doctor Who specials starring David Tennant.

“Russell T Davies would email me after every single episode, going, ‘I’m loving it!’. He absolutely fell in love with Sinead who plays Nina,” Toby Whithouse said, “so he’s given her a part in David Tennant’s last two parter.”

The 8 episode second season of Being Human is expected to air sometime in January 2010 in the UK.

Visit the BBC America Official Being Human website.

Source (s): Ultimate Doctor Who / ENI

Tom Baker (Doctor Who) and Richard Franklin (Captain Yates)

If you’re a Doctor Who fan then you’re going to find this story to be very cool.

Tom Baker, the flamboyant actor who played the long scarf wearing curly headed Doctor in 173 episodes of Doctor Who, has reprised his role as the Doctor in five new soon to be released BBC audio dramas.

Baker, who is now 75 years old, is the longest serving Doctor Who having played the fourth Doctor for seven consecutive seasons from 1974 to 1981. Since then he has only appeared in a handful of Doctor Who related specials.

Now fans will get to hear him again as the Doctor and not only that but he’ll have a new companion – Captain Mike Yates (Richard Franklin).  Like Baker Franklin is also a Doctor Who veteran having appeared in 42 episodes from 1971 to 1983.  This will be the first time he will appear as the Doctor’s companion.

The five stories will follow the doctor soon after he leaves previous companions Leela and K-9 on his home planet Gallifrey.  The Doctor tries to relax in an old English cottage in Sussex sometime during 2009 but, as is the case for the Doctor, he always finds himself in trouble.

An additional companion will come in the form of Mrs Wibbsey, the Doctor’s bad-tempered housekeeper in Sussex, played by Susan Jameson (New Tricks / When the Boat Comes in).

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There are three more Doctor Who specials left with David Tennant starring in the lead role as the Doctor.

The next one to air is titled ‘The Waters of Mars’ and looks to feature a new kind of water based (and scary looking) zombie type monster.  Check out the following preview clip to see for yourself:

You can also watch the full ‘The Waters of Mars’ trailer here.

Doctor Who ‘The Waters of Mars’ will air in November (actual date to be confirmed).

In an interview with UGO Russell T. Davies has confirmed that recent stories about the development of a Doctor Who movie are false.

From UGO:

UGO: And what of this talk of a Doctor Who movie?

Russell: Oh yes. No, sadly it’s the internet running out of control. It ran so out of control that my agent’s assistant thought that I was writing a film and put it on the website and I was like, trust me I’ve got plenty of other work to do! But I think it will happen one day, just because people keep talking about it, and the fact that they keep talking about it means there must some interest, somewhere. So not right now, but I think it could exist because back in the nineteen sixties, they made two films that were spin-offs from the television series and they’re still repeated on British television to this day. I think one day, the public good will will simply summon a film into existence!

During the interview he also comments on how well Torchwood: Children of Earth is doing, confirms he loves Battlestar Galactica, True Blood, states that he thinks Caprica is stunning and admits he is looking forward to Stargate: Universe.

Full interview here.

David Tennant as the Doctor in 'Planet of the Dead'

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune David Tennant has confirmed that after some emotional but exciting moments his final Doctor Who scenes are in the can.  He also confirms that he’s heard nothing about the rumored special The 11 Doctors and reinforces our suspicions that such a special would be an unlikely way to introduce Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Where are you in the filming of the “Doctor Who” specials?

David Tennant: I’m all finished. Three or four weeks ago, I filmed my last scene. So it’s over. Still a long time to go before they’re all broadcast, though, so I’m still clinging on for a bit. But yeah, it’s done. It was very emotional, very exciting. We managed to go out with some of the best scripts I had in four years. So it was a real treat.

Is the general plan for the last specials to be broadcast around Christmastime?

David Tennant: I believe so. I mean, these things can always change. But that’s the plan at the moment. “Planet of the Dead” has already [aired] here, “Water of Mars” will be toward the end of the year, as it leads into the final two-parter [that concludes Tennant's run.]. The plan for those is Christmas-New Year’s time, but they’ll be very secretive about what their plans are until the last minute.

They like to keep us guessing, don’t they?

David Tennant: They keep us all guessing.

Oh, I just thought it was us in the press that they wanted to keep in the dark.

David Tennant: No, it’s exactly the same for us. We usually find out [when the holiday special is on] when the Christmas edition of the Radio Times [the UK's TV Guide] comes out. Then we finally learn what the scheduling is.

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