Doctor Who: Classic or Dud?

C'mon, we both know I'm the regenerated version of you. The timeline just hasn't caught up yet.

Doctor Who spin-off 'cancelled'
Billie Piper in Doctor Who
The show would have starred Bille Piper's character, Rose Tyler
Plans for a Doctor Who spin-off show starring Billie Piper were scrapped at the last minute, series producer Russell T Davies has revealed.

"It was actually commissioned by the controller of BBC One and budgeted," the writer told Doctor Who Magazine.

Davies later decided the programme, Rose Tyler: Earth Defence, was "a spin-off too far" and called it off.

Piper, 23, left Doctor Who earlier this year. She will be replaced by Freema Agyeman, 27, in the next series.

"We hadn't formally approached Billie," said Davies, "although we'd mentioned it to her."

Cold feet

"It was going to be fantastic. We'd have had a lovely budget and done brilliant things with it, maybe one Bank Holiday special a year."

However, the writer said he got cold feet while filming Piper's final appearance as Rose Tyler earlier this year.

Captain Jack meets the Doctor
A separate spin-off, Torchwood, stars John Barrowman as Captain Jack
"It spoils Doctor Who if we can see Rose... if we see as a concrete fact that her life continues to be as exciting without the Doctor," he said.

Davies added that the decision to abandon the programme cost him "a fortune".

A separate spin-off from the science fiction series is still going ahead, and will be shown on BBC Three this autumn.

Called Torchwood, it focuses on a squad of secret agents facing human and alien enemies, with actor John Barrowman reprising his role as time traveller Captain Jack.

The 13-part series will also be written by Davies, who acts as executive producer for the Doctor Who programmes.

Meanwhile, the third series of Doctor Who is currently being filmed in Wales.

Monkey Girl: Earth Defence would've been a better title.

Apropos, does anyone know if Bella And The Boys (starring B Piper) will be released on DVD? Torrents hard to come by I've found.

Seriously, had anyone heard anything about this thing before it got "cancelled"?

"Mawdryn Undead"!
"Mawdryn Undead"!
"Mawdryn Undead"!

also, "Warriors of the Deep"! Davison just nails the tragic finish!

Hello ILE. I have decided to educate myself in the way of old-skool Who and am watching as much of it as I can, over the internet, in order.

I have got as far as the second episode, but that lengthy scene with the cavemen arguing about who gets to be the leader is interminable. Talking to someone who'd never heard of Doctor Who, you'd never be able to convince them that it would survive, on and off, for over forty years.

Things get better with "The Daleks".

i have never attempted to watch dr who in any kind of order

well obv except for these latest seasons and i guess when it was on tv when i was younger

i commend you

Dan is right, "The Daleks" is quite brilliant.

Matt, when you say "over the internet", do you mean some streaming thing? Or torrence?

I've been doing exactly the same thing Matt, I'm a few months ahead of you. I'm at the start of T Baker now. I haven't been watching them all, that would be far too much of a mission - what I suggest doing is going to the very comprehensive episode guides on the BBC site and skim reading the review bit at the bottom of each to determine if the serial is worth watching.

"The Daleks" is quite brilliant.

Absolutely, for the first three or so episodes. It does drag rather towards the end. If you don't mind skipping ahead a bit and want an example of how great the Hartnell stories could be, I recommend 'The Ark'.

Oh, are you planning to listen to the audio of the incomplete ones? I didn't bother.

also, "Warriors of the Deep"! Davison just nails the tragic finish!

all I remember of this is the pantomime horse monster.

what's brought this on?

Well it was mostly discovering this really, but also I just wanted to watch them.

It's a real pity about the drop in quality between the first-ever episode and the rest of "An Unearthly Child."

I watched "Ghost Light" for the first time recently. Similar to "Warrior's Gate," in that I spent much of the episode wondering what the powers that be were smoking when they approved the script. "Warrior's Gate" made slightly more sense, though. The first couple episode are marvelously creepy and insane (why the hell does the moth collection come alive?), though the conclusion is kind of a letdown.

dud

The scene with Rose, Martha and Donna all in the same room is going to be dreadful.

Like the threesome in Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

and then they all lez up

xpost

You only see it through the Dalek eye.

Oooer missus long stalk with a single eye at the end, nudge nudge DIE RTD DIE YOU CUNT

billie piper is the only reason ever to watch this trash.

darra out

would watch if jol was shexy companion.

i think it could be amazing

I've been watching the repeats of Tennant's first season and I have to say she is pretty good.

Q: In her first-ever episode, who's the mixed-race dude that Rose kisses goodbye on the lips before jumping into the Tardis? And he looks ruefully after her, then walks towards the flats behind TV Centre a tower block? Is he ever referred to again?

You mean Mickey? He's in most of the first two series.

what is the point of bringing her back? just so they can do rub emo "I love y..." 15 minute send off again.

I'm assuming there is a ratings fluctuation (i.e. drop) between Bille and No-Billie episodes.

the point is lesbian spank inferno massive conflagration for great finale when RTD goes so they can clear the boards for the specials and someone else (MOFFAT) to take over when it comes back in 2009 or whever the HELL it is

i have to admit, i'd watch dr who if martin jol was the bungling dalek leader.

steve staunton for next dr who

"waaael, wayal just hofta seaa wha happens"

(MOFFAT) to take over
http://www.resonancestore.com/aidanmoffat/items/13172.jpg

All episodes to take place off camera, repeated on camera as monolgues.

Matt - OK! The only other Rose-era Who I've seen besides that first Tennant episode is the awesome one with Madame Bouffant and the weird spaceship that leads to an extra-dimensional fireplace.

Can I make a guess based on what I know of nu-Who that Rose is "torn" between the trad pleasures of Mickey and the exciting yet dangerous Doctor?

On a more serious note, the finale has been rumoured for some considerable time to be Doctor+Donna+Martha+Jack+Sarah Jane+Rose vs Master +/vs Davros. (This came from the same source as a perfect description of the last series finale, down to Jack hanging off the TARDIS, The Master return, the first time the name 'Toclafane' was heard...)

This was bolstered considerably by some off the cuff remarks by RTD about how each finale had to be bigger than the year before, and how the next finale would be UTTER FANWANK OF THE WORST KIND.

Before this confirmation the least likely part of it to be true was assumed to be the return of Rose. Now I fear the worst...

Well Belle de Jour's not exactly setting the world on fire.