Following tonight's airing of Mark Gatiss' fantastic Doctor Who docudrama, 'An Adventure In Space And Time', DWO are thrilled to present a short video interview with David Bradley (William Hartnell), in which we ask him the all important question;

Would you be up for a return as The 1st Doctor in the main series?

"Well that’s a big question, and it was put to Mark Gatiss the other night at the BFI screening and he was hedging his bets over it.

In a way we feel like we’ve honoured the Doctor Who history and honoured William Hartnell’s memory in a way, so, if that was it, then we’d all be perfectly happy because it feels like the writing and the direction and the performances have all gone down very well with the audience.

If we left it at that I’d be perfectly happy, but if someone came up with the notion of doing it, of course, you know, it’s such an honour to be in Doctor Who anyway and to have played such a great iconic actor in such an iconic part of TV history.

We’ll have to wait and see but if someone put the bright idea then I’d have to think about it, yeh. But so far it hasn’t been put to me."

Watch DWO's short Interview with David Bradley, below:

[youtube:7JeKXN8FzGA]

+  Follow @MarkGatiss on Twitter.
+  Follow @DrWhoOnline on Twitter.

+  Rate / Discuss 'An Adventure In Space And Time' in the DWO Forums.

[Source: DWO]

To coincide with tonight's airing of Mark Gatiss' Doctor Who docudrama, 'An Adventure In Space And Time', DWO caught up with its star, David Bradley (William Hartnell), who introduces the programme for DWO visitors.

Watch David Bradley's DWO Episode Intro, below:
[youtube:N2mB7SS7P7M]

Fans can also expect another exclusive video right here on DWO after the episode has aired, in which we ask David a very important question.

+  Follow @MarkGatiss on Twitter.
+  Follow @DrWhoOnline on Twitter.

+  An Adventure In Space And Time will broadcast Tonight at 9:00pm on BBC Two.

(With thanks to the Showmasters team)

[Source: DWO]

The BBC have released a preview clip for An Adventure In Space And Time, featuring Sydney Newman (Brian Cox) and Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine).

You can watch the clip below:

[youtube:pUtOs0lUvXU]

Watch the official trailer for An Adventure In Space And Time, below:

[youtube:dEwikIhEZrE]

+  An Adventure In Space And Time will broadcast on BBC Two on 21st November at 9:00pm.

+  Follow @DrWhoOnline on Twitter!

[Source: BBC Worldwide]

Following todays (official) announcement of the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary programming schedule, DWO have put together an easy to use guide to the programmes and channels that will be providing Doctor Who content.

Channel	Programme Name	Description	Date / Dur.
	7.14: The Day Of The Doctor	TV Episode.	23/11 75mins
	The Culture Show	A look at the cultural significance of Who.	TBC 60mins
	An Adventure In Space And Time	Mark Gatiss' drama on the genesis of Doctor Who.	TBC 90mins
	The Science Of Doctor Who	Professor Brian Cox looks at the Science behind Who.	TBC 60mins
	Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide	A guide to all things Who.	TBC TBC
	[Untitled]	A further "exciting" commission.	TBC TBC
	An Unearthly Child	TV Episode (restored format)	TBC 1hr40mins
	Blue Peter	Two Live Blue Peter Doctor Who Specials.	TBC TBC
	12 Again	Doctor Who stars share their childhood memories.	TBC 30mins
	TROCK	Documentary on TROCK (Time Lord Rock).	TBC 60mins
	Who Is The Doctor?	Documentary with interviews and archive material.	TBC 90mins
	The Blaggers Guide To Doctor Who	David Quantick gathers facts to Blag being a Who fan.	TBC TBC
	The Graham Norton Show Doctor Who Special	3-Hour show celebrating Doctor Who.	23/11 From 10am
	Who Made Who?	Documentary on the world that inspired Who.	TBC 3hrs

**This guide will be updated over the coming weeks to reflect confirmations in airdates and airtimes.

[Sources: BBC Press Office, DWO]

The title of the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special has now been confirmed by the BBC as 'The Day Of The Doctor'.

We also have confirmation of the running time which will be 75 minutes approximately, as well as some of the other planned programming to surround the anniversary. 

Professor Brian Cox will be presenting a lecture on BBC Two on the science behind the hit show. This will be in addition to the drama 'An Adventure In Space and Time', written by Mark Gatiss. The one-off programme stars David Bradley, of the Harry Potter films, as William Hartnell.

BBC Four will introduce new audiences to Hartnell, with a re-run of the first ever story. The four episodes are being shown in a restored format, not previously broadcast in the UK.

BBC Two's flagship arts programme The Culture Show is to present Me, You and Doctor Who, with lifelong fan Matthew Sweet exploring the cultural significance of the BBC's longest running TV drama.

A 90-minute documentary on BBC Radio 2 will ask "Who Is The Doctor?" - using newly-recorded interviews and exclusive archive material to find an answer - while BBC Three will be home to several commissions.

Danny Cohen, Director BBC Television said:

"It's an astonishing achievement for a drama to reach its 50th anniversary. I'd like to thank every person - on both sides of the camera - who has been involved with its creative journey over so many years."

Smith has already started filming his final scenes as the Doctor, which are due to air in this year's Christmas episode. His replacement, Scottish actor Peter Capaldi, was announced in August.

Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer on Doctor Who said:

"50 years has turned Doctor Who from a television show into a cultural landmark. Personally I can't wait to see what it becomes after a hundred."

[Sources: BBC News]

Louise Jameson is set to star in Mark Gatiss' upcoming directional debut of 'The Tractate Middoth'.

This new half-hour drama is a chilling adaptation of M.R. James's short story and will see a return of the cherished ghost story to BBC Two at Christmas.

She will be joined in the cast by Sacha Dhawan (Last Tango In Halifax, Being Human; The History Boys), John Castle (I, Claudius), Louise Jameson (Doctor Who, Doc Martin), Una Stubbs (Sherlock, Til Death Do Us Part), David Ryall (The Village); Eleanor Bron (Bedazzled, Women In Love, Absolutely Fabulous); Nick Burns (Nathan Barley) and Roy Barraclough (Coronation Street).

In a quiet academic library, John Eldred (Castle) seeks out the help of young Mr Garrett (Dhawan) in his search for a seemingly obscure Hebrew text. But there is something unusual about this book and something not entirely scholarly about Eldred’s intentions. Soon, Garrett's hunt for the Tractate Middoth provokes terrifying apparitions in the library and a vengeful menace from beyond the grave.

Mark Gatiss says:

"The wonderful adaptations of MR James's tales that I saw on TV as a child have been a lasting inspiration to me. I'm delighted to restore the tradition of a BBC 'Ghost Story for Christmas' and bring to life a personal favourite - The Tractate Middoth - one of James's most atmospheric, thrilling, and downright scary tales."

Mark Bell, Commissioning Editor for Arts, says:

“In his ghost stories MR James displays a beguiling mixture of dry wit, singular erudition and a joyful enthusiasm for the macabre. Mark Gatiss shares the same attributes and it is tremendously exciting to be working on both a new drama and a documentary investigation of what made this great British eccentric tick."

The drama will be complemented by a documentary, M.R. James: Ghost Writer (w/t) in which Mark Gatiss steps into the mind of M.R. James, the enigmatic English master of the supernatural story. A long-time admirer of James, Mark will explore how this donnish Victorian bachelor, conservative by nature and a devout Anglican, created tales that continue to chill readers more than a century on.

Viewers will join Mark on an atmospheric journey from James's childhood home in Suffolk to Eton College and on to King’s College, Cambridge, the two institutions where James spent most of his life, venturing into ancient churches, dark cloisters and echoing libraries along the way. By following in James’s footsteps, Mark will attempt to uncover the secrets of his inspiration.

[Source: BBC Press Office]

As part of the BBC’s blockbuster celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, David Bradley (Harry Potter) is set to play the first ever Doctor, the iconic William Hartnell in the BBC Two drama ‘An Adventure in Space and Time’.

‘An Adventure in Space and Time' will tell the story of the genesis of Doctor Who - first aired on 23 November 1963 - and the many personalities involved. The BBC’s Head of Drama Sydney Newman, credited with the creation of the show, will be portrayed by Brian Cox (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Identity) and the producer, Verity Lambert, by ‘Call the Midwife’ star Jessica Raine. The director of the first ever episode, ‘An Unearthly Child’, Waris Hussein, will be played by Sacha Dhawan (History Boys, Last Tango In Halifax).

Commenting on his upcoming role, David Bradley, said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled. I first heard about this role from Mark [Gatiss] while watching the Diamond Jubilee flotilla from the roof of the National Theatre. When he asked if I would be interested, I almost bit his hand off! Mark has written such a wonderful script not only about the birth of a cultural phenomenon, but a moment in television’s history. William Hartnell was one of the finest character actors of our time and as a fan I want to make sure that I do him justice. I’m so looking forward to getting started.”    

The one-off 90-minute BBC Cymru Wales produced drama is written by Mark Gatiss who will also act as executive producer alongside Steven Moffat and Caroline Skinner.

Mark Gatiss, executive producer and writer, said:

“What a cast! I'm utterly delighted that everyone's favourite Time Lord will be in such brilliant and stellar company. We have a terrific team who can't wait to tell the fascinating and surprising story of how the Doctor began his journey through Space and Time.”

Filming begins at the beginning of February at Television Centre before moving to Wimbledon Studios. It is produced by Matt Strevens (Misfits, Skins) and directed by Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, The Street).

Cast List:

William Hartnell - David Bradley
William Russell - Jamie Glover (confirmed 8th February 2013)
Carole Ann Ford - Claudia Grant (confirmed 6th February 2013)
Jacqueline Hill - TBA
Sydney Newman - Brian Cox
Verity Lambert - Jessica Raine
Waris Hussein - Sacha Dhawan

DWO have learned from several sources that Jamie Glover (son of Julian Glover) *may* have been cast as William Russell. We will report on further casting confirmations as we get them.

[Source: BBC]

The BBC today announced that a special BBC TWO drama has been commissioned to mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who next year.

An Adventure In Space And Time will tell the story of the genesis of Doctor Who since its first broadcast on 23rd November 1963. Exploring all aspects of the longest running science fiction series to date, the special one-off 90-minute drama will also look at the many personalities involved in bringing the series to life.

Written by Mark Gatiss, it is executive produced by current Doctor Who showrunner, Steven Moffat, and Caroline Skinner. The single drama was commissioned by Ben Stephenson Controller, Drama, and Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two.

Mark Gatiss said: "This is the story of how an unlikely set of brilliant people created a true television original. And how an actor - William Hartnell - stereotyped in hard-man roles became a hero to millions of children. I've wanted to tell this story for more years than I can remember! To make it happen for Doctor Who's 50th birthday is quite simply a dream come true."

Steven Moffat, Executive Producer, said: “The story of Doctor Who is the story of television - so it's fitting in the anniversary year that we make our most important journey back in time to see how the TARDIS was launched.”

The production and transmission schedule will be confirmed next year, along with casting.

[Source: BBC Media Centre]

A forthcoming episode of the popular BBC quiz show, Eggheads, will feature a Doctor Who celebrity team.

The team, which will consist of Colin Baker (The 6th Doctor), Frazer Hines (Jamie), Louise Jameson (Leela), Katy Manning (Jo) and John Leeson (Voice of K9), will battle against the Eggheads to win a sum of money for charity.

The episode, which was recorded in the Summer, will air on BBC Two, on Monday 20th December at 6:00pm.

[Source: Colin Baker]