Official news released this morning reveals that Jenna-Louise Coleman will be the next Doctor Who companion...
As Doctor Who fans we are all familiar with the regular and often heart wrenching departure of the Doctor's companions but this is often accompanied with anticipation and excitement at what may lie ahead.
We've known about the Ponds departure since it was announced by lead writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat following a screening of this year's Christmas Special, The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe at London's Television Centre. At the time he didn't give much away on how Amy and Rory would make their departure but did reveal the Doctor Would be getting a new 'friend' and now, after months of rumours and speculation the news we've all been waiting for was finally released this morning in the following press statement...
Jenna-Louise Coleman has beaten hundreds of hopefuls to become the new companion to Doctor Who, it was announced today by Steven Moffat.
Twenty-five year old Jenna from Blackpool will star alongside the 11th Time Lord, Matt Smith, to mark the biggest year in the show's history.
Best known for her roles in Emmerdale (Jasmine Thomas) and Waterloo Road (Lindsay James), Jenna will replace Karen Gillan when she and Arthur Darvill bow out of the show in a heartbreaking departure after one final series of rollercoaster voyages later this year on BBC One.
Jenna says: "I'm beyond excited, I can't wait to get cracking; working alongside Matt I know is going to be enormous fun and a huge adventure."
The Doctor will meet his new friend in a dramatic turn of events as the show builds towards its enormous, climactic 50th anniversary year - full of thrills, adventures and big surprises. Series seven is currently filming and comprises 14 big, blockbuster-movie episodes - each a brand new epic adventure featuring new monsters and some familiar foes as you've never seen them before.
Lead writer and Executive Producer, Steven Moffat, says: "It always seems impossible when you start casting these parts, but when we saw Matt and Jenna together, we knew we had our girl. She's funny and clever and exactly mad enough to step on board the TARDIS.
"It's not often the Doctor meets someone who can talk even faster than he does, but it's about to happen. Jenna is going to lead him his merriest dance yet. And that's all you're getting for now. Who she's playing, how the Doctor meets her, and even where he finds her, are all part of one of the biggest mysteries the Time Lord ever encounters. Even by the Doctor's standards, this isn't your usual boy meets girl."
Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC One, adds "As we approach Doctor Who's 50th anniversary it's great to welcome a new companion to the TARDIS. I feel confident the Doctor will look after her in his own very unique style."
In 2011 Jenna made her big screen debut in Captain America: The First Avenger and is soon to star as Annie Desmond in ITV1's Titanic. She has just finished filming on Stephen Poliakoff's Dancing On The Edge for BBC Two.
Personally, I'm just a bit annoyed that it isn't a male companion. Or that there isn't a male companion too. I would've loved Canton Everet Delaware III to return. He was actually pretty awesome. Plus, it would appeal to the american audiences too!
I hope that these are at least the send-you-back-in-time Angels, rather than the kill-you Angels. If they're going to keep reusing the Angels they should at least bring back the elements that made them unique.
Looks a bit like him, but I'm guessing no. For someone that important in a trailer like this they'd either give him a grand entrance or avoid showing him entirely.
The dude who yells "Face me!" looks like something out of Trigun. Which is fine by me.
I'm distinctly reminded of that time Christopher Eccleston didn't appear in series 3.
But yeah, it does look a lot like it. Except he's dead so can't exactly pop back to shoot a few scenes. I guess there could be a connection with the western episodes he did, but I doubt it.
I just reached a (extremely nerdy) milestone with a friend of mine: we've watched every single episode of the first three doctors in order of transmission (including recons of all the missing episodes). Yes, we're crazy. It took us quite a long time - we're not exactly sure when we began, but it should be close to three years ago. This includes quite long periods where we didn't watch anything though. My appreciation of this show keeps growing the more I see of it.
We're actually really looking forward to Tom Baker (I've already seen Genesis of the Daleks and the two Douglas Adams-episodes years ago, but nothing else), but I'm leaving to live and work abroad for a couple of months very soon, so we won't be able to start that within the next 6 months.
I realize I don't post in this topic (or any Doctor Who forum) often, but we like to live completely spoiler-free lives where Doctor Who is concerned. Our enjoyment of the programme happens completely offline. Still, I had to brag about this little achievement.
Very impressive, Tjibbe. Currently trying to do the same thing myself, in anticipation of the 50th next year. Only up to season 5, so far. Ideally hoping to reach Tom Baker's era by the end of the year, if not sooner. And agreed with Marsden about how brilliant Baker was. A great Doctor. (Though I may prefer what I've seen of Troughton myself. Such a shame so many of his eps are missing.)
Very impressive, Tjibbe. Currently trying to do the same thing myself, in anticipation of the 50th next year. Only up to season 5, so far. Ideally hoping to reach Tom Baker's era by the end of the year, if not sooner. And agreed with Marsden about how brilliant Baker was. A great Doctor. (Though I may prefer what I've seen of Troughton myself. Such a shame so many of his eps are missing.)
Troughton really is terrific. Easily my favorite of the first three doctors. He goes out with a bang too, his last serial is great. I would love to see him next to Matt Smith during the 50th anniversary - although I have no idea who could play him. Someone I know suggested Craig Ferguson. I can sort of see where he's coming from, but I don't know if he's a good enough actor to pull it off.
Y'know what? They should just make the 50th Anniversary Special animated. Then they could have everyone! I hear David Troughton does a mean impression of his father, we could get him, and then we'd just have to worry about guys impersonating 1 and 3, 'cause all the others could play themselves.
I hear David Troughton does a mean impression of his father
I've not yet heard the BBC's "Serpent Crest" audio series, where the fourth Doctor encounters David Troughton's Doctor (!), but if you search through the Big Finish website for trailers for second Doctor Companion Chronicles, you can hear Frazer Hines's fantastic impersonation of his late colleague.
I just reached a (extremely nerdy) milestone with a friend of mine: we've watched every single episode of the first three doctors in order of transmission (including recons of all the missing episodes). Yes, we're crazy. It took us quite a long time - we're not exactly sure when we began, but it should be close to three years ago. This includes quite long periods where we didn't watch anything though. My appreciation of this show keeps growing the more I see of it.
We're actually really looking forward to Tom Baker (I've already seen Genesis of the Daleks and the two Douglas Adams-episodes years ago, but nothing else), but I'm leaving to live and work abroad for a couple of months very soon, so we won't be able to start that within the next 6 months.
I realize I don't post in this topic (or any Doctor Who forum) often, but we like to live completely spoiler-free lives where Doctor Who is concerned. Our enjoyment of the programme happens completely offline. Still, I had to brag about this little achievement.
Completely Jealous.
My mini-milestone I reached this year: I've seen every Peter Davison episode. I've also seen every McGann episode (:p). And I completed my EDA collection, so the way I see it, they're the equivalent of an Eighth doctor TV series, so I'm complete with him. The main range ones are just extra fillers.
Next Plan of action: Buy a tablet PC and convert it into a dedicated Doctor who media device.
Got my CD for winning a Big Finish competition a bit ago just now, and it came with a index card signed by Nick Briggs, which was completely unexpected and makes me happy.
Not quite as big an achievement as you guys, but I've got all of the nu-who episodes on my PS3, from Rose through to The Wedding of... (I haven't got round to getting Doc, Witch and Wardrobe yet).
Is... is she looking at it? Does she know what it is?
Of course she does. Years and years ago the Queen and Prince Philip were given seperate tours of the BBC. When each of them was shown the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, both said "Oh, yes, 'Doctor Who'."
My mini-milestone I reached this year: I've seen every Peter Davison episode. I've also seen every McGann episode (:p). And I completed my EDA collection, so the way I see it, they're the equivalent of an Eighth doctor TV series, so I'm complete with him. The main range ones are just extra fillers.
Next Plan of action: Buy a tablet PC and convert it into a dedicated Doctor who media device.
Congrats on seeing every McGann ep! Also, congrats on getting every EDA. I'm exactly the same, I do love the other Doctor stories and think they're of excellent quality (generally, I think I prefer the Big Finish stuff to their tv eps a lot more, especially 6's), but 8's got a lot more room to explore his character. That's why, last year, I finished collecting all his audio stories as well. To The Death was amazing. Can't wait to see how they continue his story.
And guys: of course the queen knows what a Dalek is. She is the queen of the united kingdom, isn't she? It'd be worrying if she didn't know one of the biggest icons in this country!
Paul McGann's final moments in that ep must be one of his greatest performances in the role. Hell, it's probably one of the greatest performances by any Doctor ever. Just amazing. In fact, season 4 of the Eighth Doctor and Lucie adventures just might be one of my favourite seasons in the history of the show. When I think of how brilliant it is, it almost makes me afraid to listen to the new box set in November: fact is, it'll probably be good, it'll probably be very good, but...after the awesomeness of season 4, will I be able to judge it fairly? We'll see, anyway.
Agreed. Even though I hadn't heard the audio it was based on, it was still very enjoyable. And depressing. I'm really looking forward to hearing what they do with his character now. It would be the perfect time to send him off to the timewar, but I doubt that'll be the case.
I neither know nor care. Chances are it'll be delayed so long it'll be cancelled. Eh.
Also: The Eternity Clock was delayed until sometime in April. Surprised no-one mentioned this earlier when it wouldn't have been quite so obvious, but there you go.
Comments
Either way - hot!
Personally, I'm just a bit annoyed that it isn't a male companion. Or that there isn't a male companion too. I would've loved Canton Everet Delaware III to return. He was actually pretty awesome. Plus, it would appeal to the american audiences too!
This too:
All they need do is work in a Star Wars reference and this will be the nerdiest and most awesome thing ever.
Also, Paul McGann's in NY next week for i-Con. Coincedence?
The actual proper watchable version is available in 11 hours from the time of posting. Ish.
Still, hopefully the episodes will be much better this time round! It seems the BBC have been throwing a lot of money at it, which is nice.
The dude who yells "Face me!" looks like something out of Trigun. Which is fine by me.
But yeah, it does look a lot like it. Except he's dead so can't exactly pop back to shoot a few scenes.
In other news, Moffat shows off his thinking cap.
OK, so - has your account been hacked, or have you just suffered a blow to the head?
Also, with regards to the first doctor in the trailer, the HD trailer shows that the guy looks more like Mr Filch.
no david teenate is better then all of them especially the old ones who dont even exist anymore1
(That is Mr. Filch, by the way)
We're actually really looking forward to Tom Baker (I've already seen Genesis of the Daleks and the two Douglas Adams-episodes years ago, but nothing else), but I'm leaving to live and work abroad for a couple of months very soon, so we won't be able to start that within the next 6 months.
I realize I don't post in this topic (or any Doctor Who forum) often, but we like to live completely spoiler-free lives where Doctor Who is concerned. Our enjoyment of the programme happens completely offline. Still, I had to brag about this little achievement.
Troughton really is terrific. Easily my favorite of the first three doctors. He goes out with a bang too, his last serial is great. I would love to see him next to Matt Smith during the 50th anniversary - although I have no idea who could play him. Someone I know suggested Craig Ferguson. I can sort of see where he's coming from, but I don't know if he's a good enough actor to pull it off.
It'd be awesome. Make it happen, Beeb!
I've not yet heard the BBC's "Serpent Crest" audio series, where the fourth Doctor encounters David Troughton's Doctor (!), but if you search through the Big Finish website for trailers for second Doctor Companion Chronicles, you can hear Frazer Hines's fantastic impersonation of his late colleague.
My mini-milestone I reached this year: I've seen every Peter Davison episode. I've also seen every McGann episode (:p). And I completed my EDA collection, so the way I see it, they're the equivalent of an Eighth doctor TV series, so I'm complete with him. The main range ones are just extra fillers.
Next Plan of action: Buy a tablet PC and convert it into a dedicated Doctor who media device.
There was a video of it a few weeks ago. Her aide seemingly explains it to her as they walk by.
Of course she does. Years and years ago the Queen and Prince Philip were given seperate tours of the BBC. When each of them was shown the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, both said "Oh, yes, 'Doctor Who'."
Congrats on seeing every McGann ep!
And guys: of course the queen knows what a Dalek is. She is the queen of the united kingdom, isn't she? It'd be worrying if she didn't know one of the biggest icons in this country!
And I'm sure the queen knows who the doctor is. Afterall, he saved her from the titanic.
http://www.combom.co.uk/2012/03/david-yates-doctor-who-movie-for-201516.html
There is DEFINITELY going to be a movie.
http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2012/03/dwn300312182008-movie-update.html
Who cares whether there's going to be a movie? All I want to know is, what the hell is going on at the BBC?!
Also: The Eternity Clock was delayed until sometime in April. Surprised no-one mentioned this earlier when it wouldn't have been quite so obvious, but there you go.