Master John Simm

Up until recently everyones been very tight-lipped about the finale. Not any more though! Here's an Interview from the BBC with John Simm who will be returning to play the Master.

Dr Who end a 'brilliant send-off'

The final scenes in Doctor Who are a "brilliant send-off" for David Tennant, his co-star has said... He says he had loads of fun working on David Tennant's last episode, which are now complete.

"It's all done," he said. "I've just spoken to David (Tennant) and he hasn't seen it either. We're doing some dubbing... Hopefully we'll see a bit of it then. I'm looking forward to seeing it. It was a great script and we had such fun doing it.

"It'll be a brilliant send-off for Mr Tennant. Last time I did it it was such fun to do. It was wonderful to be asked back and to be in the very, very last one.

"To go head-to-head with him was a really honour. It was lovely to be asked. It was a great, great experience. We had such fun doing it. Hopefully it'll come across."

You can also listen to an interview John Simm did on the Jonathan Ross show over at BlogtorWho. I'm not sure, but I think it might be similar to the interview above :)

Burger Eater

Its well known that we have very little idea about what goes on in the filming for Tredegar House. But now we've been given a little tip off thanks to Mikew:

Stay through the boring bit , it is worth it.

My father is involved in the special constabulary here in South Wales. That's the voluntary Police force here in the UK for those that don't know. He regularly attends meetings and during one recently, one of the volunteer coppers chatted to him about myself being a DW fan. This lady works for one of the catering agencies used by the production team. She informed Dad that she had been at Tredegar House recently , at the same time as those wonderful set reporters on this site had snapped away. Part of her role that day was to cook and check the temperature of a lot of hamburgers which John Simm had to eat as part of his scenes. She met JS and said he was a top guy.

All the above is true as far as it's been told to me second hand. My Father , although approaching 70 and likely senility , knows not to fib to me in asny aspect of the Whoniverse!

Fantastic picture courtesy of Kate Orman.

So now we know that the Master eats at least one burger.

Excitement!

Doctor Who Filming, 14.04.09

Well there was some filming yesterday, but it was on the docks in an area which was very hidden. I think quite a few set reporters ventured out but didn't really see anything at all...

Hmmm, tricksy BBC

But this is a report from Martinc:

Got back a while ago - there was still filming going on in the docks at about 5. They were round the back of the docks, filming on some piles of rubble.

No idea what they were actually filming, but I did notice all the crew were wearing high-viz jackets for health and safety, and the cast weren't - which made them a bit easier to spot. I *think* I saw DT walking towards the crew (long brown coat - probably him), and I also saw someone with bleached hair in a hoody stood on top of one of the piles of rubble. I'm not certain it was john simm, but it looked like him.

So thats another vague sighting of John Simm - they're being very careful with him aren't they?!

A huge thanks to martinc and any other set reporter who took a chance to see what was going on :)

Episode 18

The End of Time

Episode Location:  Earth?
Aliens/Enemies:  Unknown, the Master
New Characters:  Wilf, Sylvia, Donna, Verity, Joshua,
Gadgets Used:  TARDIS,
Episode Objective:  Unknown

Some words that appear in the final special are: "The Gate and Naismith", "Partisan", "Carnival", "Beijing", and the phrase "something is coming"

Euros Lyn said he showed the regeneration scene to composer Murray Gold, who bawled like a baby!

John Simm really is coming back, and Timothy Dalton is also guest-starring.

Filming

Apart from the scenes which are given a number, I really have no idea which ones fit into episode 17 or 18... or what order they appear in. I'm just guessing :)

Scene 130

The Filming in Tredegar House seems to be some sort of formal occasion (I've heard wedding quite a few times). Black clad guards in camo gear wander around patrolling the building.

Scene ??

Since there was quite a bit of filming inside the house, we can assume there are some extensive scenes going on there!

The only thing we know about it is that apparently someone inside was "tied to a chair", and that John Simm was seen leaving the set. So some Master trickery going on?

Scene ??

All the guests of the house run outside, screaming in a panic. One of them (who we know is called Joshua) falls to his knees on the grass and looks up at the sky in shock.

The woman who is with him (called Abigail) stands with him for a moment, but when he doesn't respond she also runs away.

These scenes were also caught on film:

More exciting, a giant wind machine was being used to create a flurry of dust and leaves which is apparently simulating a spaceship landing on the lawn.

As you can see in one of the videos, some of the people running out of the house are wearing what looks like white scientist coats - so I wonder whats going on in there!

Scene ??

As well as this there was a short scene filmed inside the stables. People were seen moving hay into the stables but the actual scene was inside. At the end of it the Doctor and Wilf run outside looking anxious.

Scene ??

Back at the Nobles house, Wilf and the Doctor stand outside the TARDIS in the rain. Just before leaving, the Doctor says to Wilf something like "This is not the end, we will meet again."

Wilf asks the Doctor where he's going, but the reply was very quiet, so theres no garuntee of its accuracy. But apparently it sounded like: "I'm off to have my revenge".

The Doctor then leaves in the TARDIS.

Scene 139

A scene was filmed with the neighbors running around in panic, screaming, while Sylvia looks up into the sky.

Here's a video of it courtesy of Ahremsee

The direction from the walkie talkie was "Look into the sky, theres a red ball of flame. Your scared, more scared! Its all gone grey." During this someone shouts "Donna!".

Scene ??

I'm really not sure where this fits into anything, but set reporters heard Donna shouting from inside her house, "Im scared, Im scared!" and screaming.

Scene 147

Once again in the street, there's a big close up on Sylvia. The camera pans down and she's looking half-happy, half-tearful. The extras in the background are now hugging and rejoicing. Whatever the danger was, its obviously been stopped.

Scene 153

Luke is walking along talking on his phone, not looking when he crosses the road. Because of this he almost gets run over but the Doctor appears, grabs him and pushes him back onto the pavement.

In shock, Luke realizes who he is. The Doctor says a few words to Luke and then starts to walk away.

"It's you...!"

Luke runs across the road shouting "Mum! Mum!". Sarah Jane runs out the driveway.

Luke says "Mum, it's him. It's the Doctor" and they both stand and watch the Doctor walk back to the TARDIS.

As he gets to the TARDIS, he turns around and waves at her. In turn she starts crying.

Ahremsee has captured a beautiful video of this moment:

Scene 155

Set in a bookstore, present day earth and an author called Verity Newman is signing her book: A Journal of Impossible Things.

A customer steps up to have his book signed, and its the Doctor. He has a short conversation with Verity, with a sad but stern expression on his face. Then he turns and walks away.

Oh, and guess who's playing Verity?

Jessica Hynes who played Joan Redfern!

We've seen the Journal of Impossible things before as John Smith's diary in Human Nature/Family of Blood. And seeing as how Jessica Heins as the book, we can maybe guess that the book was passed down her family...?

Other scenes

There are some scenes that I simply had no idea where they could belong (ep 17 or 18) so I made a new section for them here.

And remember, I've completely guessed the order of these scenes, except the ones that are numbered, so I could be very very wrong!

You can see many brilliant photos here:

Douggies Picasa account

Alun.vega's Flickr account

Scootys photobucket account
Brigade Leaders photobucket account

Dorkslayer's Photobucket - Here and Here

A huge thanks to Alun.vega, Ahremsee, Scooty, Brigade Leader, Simon, Dougggie, Kazters, Emma, FanaticalWhovian, Prot, mosthauntedjp & Beth

I salute you! And anyone else who reported this!

Doctor Who Filming, 10.04.09

Filming has finished for today and yay for the excitement!

The setting was Sarah Jane's house, 13 Bannerman Road, and the scene was 153 of episode 18 (2 scenes before Verity and the bookstore scene) so very near the end of it all.

Scene 1
Reported by purplepixie!

Luke is walking along talking on his phone, not looking when he crosses the road. Because of this he almost gets run over but the Doctor appears, grabs him and pushes him back onto the pavement. 

In shock, Luke realizes who he is, and they have a short conversation.

"It's you...!"

The Doctor begins to walk away as Luke runs across the road shouting "Mum! Mum!" and Sarah Jane runs out the driveway.

Luke says "Mum, it's him. It's the Doctor" and they both stand and watch the Doctor walk back to the TARDIS.

As he gets to the TARDIS, he turns around and waves at her. In turn she starts crying.

Ahremsee has captured a beautiful video of this moment:

Scene 2

Filmed in the alley behind the house, this scene was between Donna and the Master - and this is a definite, people are 100% certain that it was John Simm and Catherine Tate!

Although the scene wasn't witnessed, the alley was dressed with red bin bags with christmas decorations spilling out (tinsel, wrapping paper etc) and a plastic santa face on one gateway. There were also 3 big crashmats.

According to Scooty, these two men (Bow tie & white hair) were were filming with Tate and Simm in the alleyway

Simm was also reported to be carrying a mask - a human face, with some grey hair.

More photos & videos here:
Alun.vega's Photobucket
Scooty's Photobucket

Ahremsee's Photobucket

HUGE thanks to ahremsee, Simon, emmag892, drwhofilming, Scooty & purplepixie

Doctor Who Filming, Tredegar House 2

Ooooh... things are getting ridiculously exciting now...

Right, filming was once again at Tredegar today (which has now been confirmed as being ep18) and though Tennant and Cribbins were filming inside, there was exciting stuff happening outside!

First off, more scenes of the black-clad guard patrolling:
Infront of the house there was a fancy Jag:

And this woman was seen peering out the window:

More exciting, a giant wind machine was being used to create a flurry of dust and leaves which is simulating a spaceship landing on the lawn.

At the end of filming when people were leaving, there were 'two women who exited the front of the house with coats over their heads: they were medium height, slim, and appeared to be wearing matching white lab coats, black trousers, shoes with medium heels.'

But perhaps the most exciting thing is this:

Theres already loads of arguments about it all... but reckon thats John Simm there? I think it might be... We all knew the Master was never really dead, didn't we!

Report and photos are courtesy of the fantastic alun.vega
Check out his Flickr account for more pictures!

Episode 17

Episode Location:  Earth
Aliens/Enemies:  Unknown, the Master
New Characters:  Wilf, Sylvia, Donna, Verity, Joshua,
Gadgets Used:  TARDIS,
Episode Objective:  Unknown

Apart from the scenes which are given a number, I really have no idea which ones fit into episode 17 or 18... or what order they appear in. I'm just guessing :)

Scene 7

A young, naive Rose walks with Jackie through the Powell Estate. Its decorated with Christmas lights, graffiti, and the ground is covered in snow. From their expressions, it almost looks as if they're having a bit of a tiff...

Whether this is the case or not, they seem to make up as they hug and wish each other a 'happy new year', this is followed by Rose telling Jackie not to stay out all night, to which she replies'you try and stop me!'

While this is happening, the Doctor is standing around the corner. The TARDIS is further down the street but not near him at this time. He leans against the wall and seems momentarily convulsed with pain, staggering just as Rose walks past.

Rose: Are you alright, mate?
Doctor: What year is it?
Rose: 2005
Doctor: You know what? I bet your going to have a really great year.

This was taken between takes

Scene ???

If you look at the background of the photo, you can see its the same place that Rose and Jackie were walking down. This kinda makes me assume that this scene follows on from the last....

A very evil looking Ood Sigma...

There was speculation that this scene was merely a pick up shot from the end of Waters of Mars, however, since the Doctor is wearing his brown suit rather than his blue I'm going to assume that this is a second encounter with Sigma.

Unfortunately we don't really know anything about this second scene since the set reporters were asked to not take any photos or divulge spoilers. The only reason we have the Ood picture at all is because newspapers are apparently less honest :P

Scene 47

This scene was largely set on a minibus claiming "Sparrow Lane day outs for the over 50's".

Wilf (in his christmas antlers) hails down the minibus, does a little dance as it stops and then jumps on board.

And heres a video of it courtesy of Skarofighter2


The rest was filmed on board the minibus as it did laps around the street. But in good news June Whitfield was seen! Perhaps a little love interest for Wilf?!

Scene ???

Filming inside the bank, which was re-dressed as the "London Credit Bank"

David Tennant and Bernard Cribbins were seen, along with the Sparrow Lane OAP bus. It looks like they're investigating the bank.

But whats the bus got to do with it? A fun day out for the OAPs with the Doctor turning up, or maybe the Doctor went off to do something and Wilf decided to follow him?

Scene ???
A street which was dressed with Christmas decorations. Donna is walking about, looks like she's just been shopping.

A traffic warden tries to give Donna's car a ticket and she says something along the lines of"don't you touch that car!"

Now theres a photo of Wilf leaning into what looks like Donna's car... but that might have been between takes... so maybe Wilf is actually with Donna, rather than on the OAP bus, when he catches sight of the Doctor?

Either way an actor called Karl Collins was there and it almost looked as though he was Donna's new partner... perhaps the one shes getting married to?

Scene ???

Wilf is sitting dejected on his doorstep. The Doctor appears from the TARDIS, throws a stone at him to get his attention, and he comes over.

Wilf sees the TARDIS and says "You can't park that there, Donna will see it!"

The Doctor says something like "I lost him." 

He asks if Wilf has seen anything unusual, something to do with his life.
Wilf replies that Donna had a bit of a funny turn when she saw the Book.

Now this book they're talking about is called Fighting the Future by Joshua Naismith

And get this: The advert on the side of the bus in Planet of the Dead claims "Neon by Naismith"... so a connection there? Perhaps similar to the ATMOS advertising that cropped up in Partners in Crime?

Scene ??

I'm not sure if this is a different scene or a continuation of the last one.

The Doctor, Wilf and Sylvia leave out of the back of the house. Presumably just before they get into the TARDIS.

Here's a video of it courtesy of Ahremsee

The Doctor doesn't want Wilf to go but Wilf says "I'm not staying here with her!" indicating towards Sylvia.

As they get into the TARDIS, Sylvia follows the Doctor into the middle of the road, shouting at him to 'bring him back! Bring my father back!'

After shouting at the TARDIS until it disappears in a flurry of leaves, Sylvia turns to look back at the house just as Donna appears in the driveway. 

She doesn't appear to have seen the TARDIS or the Doctor and all she says is "Are you shouting at thin air again Mother?"

And heres a fantastic video of this scene captured by Prot

Scene ???

Not really sure where this fits but I put it after the others cause its night time :P

Filming was in the surrounding streets of the Hayes. As well as extras, there was a Salvation Army band which played God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

And heres an utterly brilliant report from Eeeyun:

1st Shot
They began close up on the Christmas star at the top of the tree, tilting down to take in the Salvation Army band, and then pulling out wider and panning round to see a small girl with her mummy and daddy meeting Santa Claus and other shoppers mingling and passing by… 

The shot steadily moved down towards the street, eventually picking out Wilf who was dawdling through the busy street with some Christmas shopping – he seemed very much lost in thought.

As he approached the Salvation Army band his attention seemed to be drawn to them (or something in that direction) where more thoughts seemed to fill his head, then he muttered to himself for a moment, coming to some kind of conclusion, before walking off out the right side of frame.

Other scenes

There are some scenes that I simply had no idea where they could belong (ep 17 or 18) so I made a new section for them here.

And remember, I've completely guessed the order of these scenes, except the ones that are numbered, so I could be very very wrong!

You can see many brilliant photos here:

Douggies Picasa account

Alun.vega's Flickr account

Scootys photobucket account
Brigade Leaders photobucket account

Dorkslayer's Photobucket - Here and Here

A huge thanks to Alun.vega, Ahremsee, Scooty, Brigade Leader, Simon, Dougggie, Kazters, Emma, FanaticalWhovian, Prot, mosthauntedjp & Beth

I salute you! And anyone else who reported this!