Doctor Who: An Adventure in Space and Time

A drama about the creation of Doctor Who......wow!

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2012/08/dwn090812113008-adventure-in-space-and.html

Looks awesome! I hope there's gonna be more documentaries and dramas about Doctor Who like this!

Can't wait to see who they cast in certain roles for this!

Blogtor Who had some interesting thoughts:

http://blogtorwho.blogspot.com/2012/08/who-should-star-in-adventure-in-time.html

Interesting choices. They need to remember they are not recasting the roles. They are casting for real people.

I think this is great, for the newer fans, to see how it all began. The struggles to produce the show and how it was done on such a small budget!

Ronpur wrote:

Interesting choices. They need to remember they are not recasting the roles. They are casting for real people.

Exactly. Should be interesting for whomever signs on for this, since they will be portraying not only the actual actors/actresses, but also that particular person playing their respective WHO roles (however brief the WHO scenes will be).

Ronpur wrote:

I think this is great, for the newer fans, to see how it all began.

My daughter became a huge Who fan with the New Series. She doesn't enjoy any Classic episodes (despite my best attempts) but seemed quite interested in this when I mentioned it.

Hopefully it sparks some interest in fans like that to try some older episodes. They've no idea what they're missing!

The cast currently consists of David Bradley (William Hartnell), Jessica Raine (Verity Lambert), Brian Cox (Sydney Newman) and Sacha Dhawan (Waris Hussein).

More details: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/01/bbc-america-to-premiere-adventure-in-space-and-time-for-doctor-who-50th/

Interesting casting news! Funny that the villain in Dinosaurs on a spaceship is now the First Doctor!

Oddly enough, I'm okay with Solomon being the First Doctor.

Now get him in the 50th Anniversary as the First Doctor and make the entire Biopic a meta experience.

I think Soloman is a great casting call. I see a lot of Hartnell in him.

I think they have picked a great cast. I am hoping the script is up to their abilities.

I only break out this word when I can't help myself (goes back to when I was a kid): NEATO!!

The BBC has announced that actor David Bradley will play William Hartnell in the upcoming docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time, detailing events leading to the creation of Doctor Who fifty years ago.

Bradley is best known for playing Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter film series. He is also an established theatre actor with a career that includes a Laurence Olivier Award for a supporting role in a production of King Lear.

This won't be Bradley's first involvement with the worlds of Doctor Who. He played Solomon in last year's episode Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and provided a Shansheeth voice in the 2010 Sarah Jane Adventures story Death of the Doctor.

An Adventure in Space and Time will tell the story behind the creation of Doctor Who and the many personalities involved. The BBC’s Head of Drama Sydney Newman, credited with the creation of the show, will be portrayed by Shakespearean actor Brian Cox, who voiced the elder Ood in the 2009 Doctor Who episode The End of Time.

Doctor Who's first producer, Verity Lambert, will be played by Call the Midwife star Jessica Raine (shortly to appear in one of this year's episodes), while the director of the first serial, Waris Hussein, will be played by Sacha Dhawan, best known for his appearances in The History Boys and Last Tango In Halifax. (Some photos of Waris and Sacha together can be seen courtesy of the Radio Times.)

Commenting on his upcoming role, 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 Two drama has been written by Doctor Who writer and actor Mark Gatiss, who will also act as executive producer alongside Steven Moffat and Caroline Skinner.

Principal Photography for the Mark Gatiss drama exploring the creation of Doctor Who, An Adventure in Space and Time, kicked off on Sunday 3rd February, with the writer proclaiming: It begins!, executive producer Caroline Skinner exclaiming: "I am on set - in 1963!!! An Adventure in Space and Time begins..........", and producer Matt Strevens commenting: "Standing on the set, day 1. Very exciting.".

As previously reported, the show's first Doctor is being played by David Bradley (with producer Matt Strevens describing him as "what a lovely man he is. Being very gentle. He's going to blow people's socks off in this.") Another of the original cast, Carole Ann Ford as Susan, has now been confirmed to be played by newcomer Claudia Grant - as reported by the agency run by William Hartnell's real-life granddaughter Jessica Carney! The actors to play the roles of William Russell and Jacqueline Hill have yet to be announced.

The set in question mentioned by Strevens was the lobby of BBC Television Centre itself, which had been made up to resemble the BBC Club as seen in the iconic photograph of producer Verity Lambert alongside the original season cast.

Day One's filming was successfully completed, with the producer concluding: "That's day 1 of An Adventure' in the bag. A very good day, lovely vibe on set. Outdoors all day tomorrow. Winter draws on." Outdoors Monday turned out to be on Wimbledon Common, where a police box prop was spotted during the day.

Filming for Tuesday was reported as taking place on a residential street, Wilton Road in Merton, with further filming to take place inside a house made up to resemble a residence suitable for the 1960s.


Talking about the casting of David Bradley, Mark Gatiss told the Radio Times:
I’ve had David in my head for years. I’ve been trying to do this [project] for years – I tried to do it for the 40th anniversary! And before that, really – it’s taken about 12 years.

Though details of the scope of the drama have yet to be formally announced, actor Peter Purves suggested at last weekend's William Hartnell Years convention that the drama would focus on Verity Lambert's time as producer (which would also encompass the start of his time on the show). Talking about the drama itself, Mark Gatiss also told the Radio Times:
It’s mostly the personal journey of William Hartnell and his relationship with [Doctor Who producer] Verity Lambert. Eventually he had to leave, and none of us like to find that we are replaceable.

I wonder how they will recreate the classic TARDIS console in the episode? I imagine we'll see a glimpse at least at some point. I wonder if they'll build it or try to do it with special effects.

jonwes wrote:

I wonder how they will recreate the classic TARDIS console in the episode? I imagine we'll see a glimpse at least at some point. I wonder if they'll build it or try to do it with special effects.

Perhaps a fan has a replica they'd be willing to loan? I'd imagine they'd try to have an actual set, because the BBC doesn't have budget to CGI in everything.

jonwes wrote:

I wonder how they will recreate the classic TARDIS console in the episode? I imagine we'll see a glimpse at least at some point. I wonder if they'll build it or try to do it with special effects.

Follow this link for pictures.

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2013/02/aaisat-060213010008.html

Looks like they rebuilt the original prop. See thru windows and all.







oh, you meant console. Well, if they rebuilt this, let's hope they rebuild that as well. And then it could be used in the regular show.

It's cool to see the outside, but did it really look that beat up to start with? I'm sure they are being as accurate as possible. I'm hoping they build an actual set too. I don't know how much they are going to show "filming" so I when I said CGI I meant maybe a simple model that just appears in the background with limited interaction. Hopefully there's more!

And this is Susan:

jonwes wrote:

It's cool to see the outside, but did it really look that beat up to start with? I'm sure they are being as accurate as possible. I'm hoping they build an actual set too. I don't know how much they are going to show "filming" so I when I said CGI I meant maybe a simple model that just appears in the background with limited interaction. Hopefully there's more!

It sure looked very beat up when I watch the first episodes. I would think they would build a console room set, if they even need it. I have read this is a story of the relationship between Hartnell and Verity. I hope it is based on fact,and does not become a soap opera.

Well, all drama is about relationships so I doubt that means it'll be a soap opera.

Since Gatiss has been, basically, working on this (in his head if nowhere else) for over a decade I'm hoping it's going to be something special.

I guess I am hoping for more of a Docu-drama type presentation. I think of something like Pearl Harbor compared to Tora,Tora,Tora. I would rather watch TTT any day.

Its is drama....

It’s mostly the personal journey of William Hartnell and his relationship with [Doctor Who producer] Verity Lambert. Eventually he had to leave, and none of us like to find that we are replaceable.

so looking forward to this- about time they paid a tribute to the tv trail blazers that made the show that we love...