#whoBts

[mizgnomer]

David Tennant having the time of his life on the set of the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials

[vypridae]

ONE OF MY MOOTS GAVE ME SOENBODY WHOBT TRANSLATED IT A BIR

SCREAMING SCREAMING SVREAMING LOOK AG THEMMMMMM🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂

HOM OASGJSDHKHSGHAJDF I LOVE THEM LOE THEM THEYRE SO SILYL . I AM OBSESSED WITH THEM DID U KNOW

[mizgnomer]

David Tennant dancing on the set of The Giggle - Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials

The Doctor doesn't even dance in the UNIT scene - this is all pure, joyous David Tennant

also featuring Neil Patrick Harris, Ncuti Gatwa, and Ruth Madeley (who are all glorious)

[mizgnomer]

David Tennant and Catherine Tate having fun on the set of Wild Blue Yonder / Doctor Who 60th Anniversary

(and Bernard Cribbins too)

[mizgnomer]

The gymnastics of playing ball Doctor Who style Behind the Scenes of The Giggle with David Tennant as the fourteenth Doctor

Bonus: Ncuti's impressive one-handed cartwheel:

[mizgnomer]

David Tennant - the Fourteenth Doctor Photoshoot

source [ youtube ]

Pam Downe [ Costume Designer ] - It's a fabric that David chose, actually. He's probably got four or five sets of the trousers and the jacket, and maybe four coats.

Russell T. Davies [ Showrunner/writer ] - David's whole look is a nod to the old.

David Tennant: That was important, to find something that very much had the same flavor and the same feel, but also marked a sense that this is not quite the same story that we're telling

Russell T. Davies: The look of him is very precise, it's very Doctor-y but new. It's not the old look reproduced. It's a suit. It's a tight suit, but it's a different pattern. He insisted on doing that top button up and I don't know why he did that. I don't know what he was thinking but I love it. Moments like that you trust your lead actor. We all had input into it, we all have a say, but at the same time, we actually kind of sat back and went, "You're the man"

[mizgnomer]

Doctor Who - Wild Blue Yonder - Visual Effects

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of Wild Blue Yonder - Part Three

Excerpt from Benjamin Cook's article on Bernard Cribbins in DWM #598

It’s a crisp Monday morning in Camden Market, and all is OK with the world. Because it’s 16 May 2022 and, just for one day, Bernard Cribbins is back on Doctor Who. “Wilfred Mott! Now I feel better,” declares the Doctor, stepping out of the blue police box parked up on the cobbles. “Now nothing is wrong. Nothing in the whole wide world. Hello, my old soldier.” A pause. “Shall I give you a hug,” asks David Tennant, “before I say, ‘Hello, my old soldier’?” “Yeah, why not,” replies Bernard, sat in his wheelchair, centre stage, framed against the iconic TARDIS. “Give us a cuddle!” Clad in Wilf’s cozy brown coat and flat cap, Bernard is rehearsing the final, climactic scene of Wild Blue Yonder, the second of Doctor Who’s three 60th Anniversary Specials, alongside David Tennant and Catherine Tate. None of them knows it, but this will be Bernard’s last working day in a TV, film and theatre career that spans almost 80 years (he started work aged 14, at Oldham Rep in January 1943). It’ll also be Wilf’s final bow. “I never thought I’d see you again,” he tells the Doctor, welling up. “After all these years. Oh, Doctor, that lovely face.” A chuckle. “It’s like springtime… Is it David’s face I’m looking at?” queries Bernard. “Yes, you haven’t seen him in years,” the director, Tom Kingsley, jumps in, “and you could not be happier. You’re playing it just right, Bernard.” “Well,” says Bernard, “no acting required.” He’s genuinely delighted to be reunited with his Doctor Who co-stars, for the first time, on screen, in 13 years. “And that is just materialising, is it? – that thing?” he asks of the TARDIS. “Wilf’s been here, waiting?” “That’s right,” says Tom.

For other posts in this set, please see the #whoBtsWBY tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

Thank you to everyone who shared filming photos!

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of Wild Blue Yonder - Part One

Excerpt from DWM #598

What could be better than a Doctor-Donna two-hander? A Doctor-Donna two-hander with two Doctors, two Donnas, and very big hands, of course. Emily Cook goes behind the scenes to discover the visual trickery of Wild Blue Yonder. “Russell always talked about wanting to do a two-hander,” says David Tennant. “So we knew it was probably coming, but until you get the script you don’t really know what’s in his head. There was this, and another script which didn’t materialise, which is still in his head.” “And we won’t say what the other one is,” teases Catherine Tate. “Just in case he does sit down and write it one day,” adds David. The script that did materialise is Wild Blue Yonder – a VFX-heavy technical puzzle of an episode. “Puzzle is a good word,” says director Tom Kingsley. “The first time I read it, I thought, this is really cool but whoever directs it is going to have an absolute nightmare. It’s very ambitious. There’s lots of visual trickery.”

I’ll post additional parts in the coming months with the  #whoBtsWBY tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of The Giggle - Part Three

From Entertainment Weekly (Dec 2023 by Clark Collis):

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies tells EW that the American actor was completely unfamiliar with the beloved science fiction series when the executive producer approached Harris about playing a villain called The Toymaker on this Saturday's final 60th anniversary special episode, "The Giggle." "He’d never heard of it in his life, bless him," Davies says with a laugh. "I was lucky enough to work with the great man on a show called It’s a Sin, about the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, and working with him was such a joy. The Toymaker, he's kind of the god of games, so he shuffles cards, he does magic tricks, and all of that fits Neil Patrick Harris. If you go through agents, they often tell you to go away. I was able to send just a text saying, 'Do you fancy reading this?' He read it and literally phoned me up going, 'Let me get this right, so the Doctor’s an alien, right?' I was like, 'Oh my god, you really have never heard of Doctor Who!' But he couldn’t resist it, and he came to Cardiff, and we had the most spectacular time." Davies explains that, "it's very hard to find the villain who can match David Tennant and Catherine Tate. To have a character who can be in danger of defeating those two is very hard to find. Sometimes on Doctor Who, you need armies of a thousand robots who could do that. This is just one person, so casting them was absolutely crucial and this becomes a pivotal event in the Doctor’s life. We needed that man, and, god, we had a glorious time. It’s so lovely working with Neil. When I text him now, [we ask], what’s our third project together? We’ve got to keep going!"

With huge thanks to all who shared set photos (including @TomWrenPhoto on Twitter)

For other posts in this set, please see the #whoBtsGiggle tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of The Giggle - Part Two

Excerpt from Benjamin Cook's article in DWM 599:

On a studio backlot somewhere in Cardiff, Ncuti Gatwa is stepping on to the Doctor Who set for the very first time. He’s arm in arm with Catherine Tate, and they’re laughing about something. There’s a round of applause from Ncuti’s co-stars as he arrives. David Tennant – whose shoes Ncuti is, literally, about to fill – wraps the new Doctor in a warm embrace. “A hug from David? Now we’re in the Whoniverse,” says Ncuti, rejoicing. “THE WHONIVERSE!” cheers Bonnie Langford, who’s hugging Ncuti herself now. It’s hugs all round. They’re lining up. A hug from Jemma Redgrave. A hug from Ruth Madeley. A hug from Neil Patrick Harris, who also gives a theatrical: “Hello, hello! Willkommen!” They’re all here. All the stars. “It’s like Celebrity Squares,” quips the showrunner, Russell T Davies, who’s hugging the new Doctor too. “How exciting.”

For other posts in this set, please see the #whoBtsGiggle tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of The Giggle - Part One

Excerpt from DWM 599 - Benjamin Cook's interview with David Tennant and Ncuti Gatwa:

Typical. You wait ages for a Doctor to come along, then two turn up at once. It’s 22 June 2022 – so many twos! – and I’m seeing double. I’m in the captivating company of not one, but two Time Lords: Ncuti Gatwa and David Tennant. (It’s really, really them! Completely them.) We’re sat in the shadow of the enormous UNIT helipad set at Wolf Studios, on which the Doctors have been busy bi-generating. I’ve nabbed them during a recording break – on The Giggle, the third and most extravagant of Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary Specials. But reports of a bigger budget might have been exaggerated. Money must be tight, because David and Ncuti appear to be… sharing a costume?! It’s a twist worthy of one of the Toymaker’s games. Who got the better deal, do you think? Ncuti got the shirt and tie, socks and Converse, and underpants, but no trousers. (DWM has never interviewed a Doctor in his pants before. Wish us luck.) David is wearing the trousers and – who knew? – the Doctor’s under-shirt. He also got the waistcoat, but he’s shoeless. (DWM has never interviewed a barefooted Doctor before either. WikiFeet will lose its mind.) Before we know it, the two Doctors will be called back to the helipad. So let’s ask them some questions – quick! – before they finish bi-generating. Right now, they’re still cooking. They’re fizzing with residual bi-generation energy. (Try saying that when you’re drunk.) DWM has got ’em while they’re hot. Well, relaxing on canvas chairs in the Cardiff sunshine. Now, someone tell me what the hell is going on here… DWM: Hi Ncuti, hi David. You’re members of a very exclusive club – only 14 actors have played the lead in this show. But a surprising number of you are Scottish. What makes Scots such great Doctors? Ncuti: “The madness.” David: “The chippiness.” Ncuti: “Chippiness, ha. And we’re always up for an adventure. Heh heh. Why is it, though? It’s true, there’s been a lot of Scottish Doctors.” David: “What is the ratio?” Ncuti: “Four. There’s four. Mm. Four out of fourteen. Fifteen?” David: “Yeah, how many Doctors are we now saying there are, ’cos some extra ones have joined the gang. John Hurt. Jo [Martin].” Ncuti: “Which are the Scottish ones? Sylvester McCoy. Peter Capaldi. David and me. Lots of Scots. Yeah, we’re doing pretty well.” David: “We’re punching above our weight.” Ncuti: “We’re just trying to hold down the fort, for the Scots.”

I'll post additional parts in the coming months with the  #whoBtsGiggle tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of Army of Ghosts/Doomsday (Part 20)  

Excerpt from SFX (Sept 2014 when “The Doctor and Rose say farewell at Bad Wolf Bay in Doomsday” won 1st place in their 250 Greatest Moments in Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy poll to celebrate their 250th issue):

SFX:  Revisionists would have you believe that Who was always a show with emotional impact, but barring a couple of companion departures that didn’t really become true until Russell T Davies.  His most heart-destroying contribution was this scene, in which a holographic projection of the Doctor talks to a tearful Rose on a Norwegian beach (actually Southerndown, South Wales), with the signal cutting out just before the slow-coach can declare, “I love you”.  It’s a moment everyone can identify with because, as Davies put it, “There’s an echo of every loss you’ve ever had.” We’ve all had to bid farewell to someone we care about even if it wasn’t forced upon us by the threat of universal destruction and this moment perfectly encapulates the agony of break-up.

Russell T Davies:  Thank you!  I’m not often speechless, but that’s quite astonishing. All I can remember about that day is everyone rushing like mad to get it finished because the tide was coming in.  Camille Coduri had to stand on wooden planks in case she sank.  But what a cast - David and Billie are simply magnificent.  All directed with joy, energy, and madness by Graeme Harper. I’m genuinely surprised that it means that much to people, after all this time, and thank you to everyone who voted.

David Tennant:  I remember worrying on the day we shot this that as I was actually a projection from inside the TARDIS my hair shouldn’t be blowing in the wind.  That seemed terribly important at the time and although we didn’t find a solution to it, it bothered me for weeks.  Then I saw the finished scene and of course all that matters is the end of the Doctor and Rose’s story.  Russell had weaved some glorious magic for two seasons and it all came together so perfectly in this scene that people still talk to me about it with misty eyes all these years later (and I suspect they always will.)  Murray Gold created some heart-stopping music that accentuates the misery and Billie is just breathtakingly good.  I feel very lucky to be standing on that beach, with my hair flying around, in amongst all these brilliant elements.  Whatever else I do and wherever else I end up, this will be a moment I will forever be proud to look back on.  Thanks for having us at number one.

Link to [ part one ] of the Army of Ghosts/Doomsday Behind-the-scenes posts or click the #whoBtsDoom tag, or the full episode list [ here ]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of The Star Beast - Part Three

Excerpt from Benjamin Cook’s Star Beast Set Visit in DWM 597:

Meanwhile on set, Catherine Tate is struggling to carry a stack of cardboard boxes through the market. To be fair, it’s a lofty stack. Her vision is impaired. She cannot see. “I think this is the reason I don’t drive,” she says. “I’ve got no brain for spacial awareness. How do I look?” “Amazing,” says Yasmin Finney (known as Yaz), who plays Donna’s daughter, Rose. “This is certainly a moment,” she adds. “Yes, it is, thank you,” says Catherine, dropping the boxes. None of this is in the script. “How can I make it look like I know what I’m doing?” Here’s what’s scripted: “Hold on. Hold on! Let me help,” says the Doctor, running over. He takes the top box and sees who it is – oh no! “Thank you very much,” says Donna. Very calmly, the Doctor puts the box back. “Oi! Do you mind?!” she says. “If you’re finished playing games, mister.”

Despite “the incredible scope” – Rachel’s words [Rachel Talalay, director] – of this Camden shoot, it’s characterful moments like this one, the Doctor and Donna meeting again after all these years, that make The Star Beast’s hearts beat. “Actors of this calibre don’t lose sight of that,” says Rachel, “and neither must I. Russell has written it so brilliantly – I adore Russell – so I have to make sure these moments work. They’re the emotional core of this episode, and this is the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the Doctor and Donna, back together! Setting eyes on each other again…” “Would I keep hold of the box?” wonders David. “I suppose I’ve got to be polite somehow.” “I think it’s that or he runs away,” agrees Rachel. “Yeah, sure. No, absolutely.” “Still looking good,” Yaz whispers to Catherine, encouragingly, as the boxes are re-stacked. “I know,” Catherine whispers back, “I’m feeling damn fine. I think it’s the shoes.” She has a question for Rachel: “When I say, ‘This stuff’s not mine, it’s hers. Oh, where’s she gone? Rose! ROSE!’, am I looking at him” – this is David – “or at the boxes, or looking around for Yaz?” “Well…” replies Rachel (this is the director’s lot: fielding dozens of question every minute), “I think you’d be looking at David, but what feels more natural? And when you do the very loud ‘ROSE!’, is that working for you both?” “It’s working for me,” says David. “It’s quite weird, she’s shouting it in my face –” “Donna’s in her own world, isn’t she?” says Catherine. “I like that.” “I like that too,” says David. So does Rachel. “I totally trust you guys’ instincts.” “Oh, I wouldn’t do that,” says Catherine, with a chortle.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who posted set photos

I’ll post additional parts in the coming months with the  #whoBtsBeast tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of The Star Beast - Part Four

Excerpt from Digital Spy's interview with Ruth Madeley:

This past weekend saw the return of Doctor Who, with the first of its 60th anniversary specials 'The Star Beast'. In the episode, we were introduced to UNIT Scientific Advisor Number 56, Shirley Anne Bingham. Like Ruth Madeley, Shirley is a disabled woman who uses a wheelchair, however, as Ruth told Digital Spy in our exclusive interview: "Her being in a wheelchair is the least interesting thing about her – and that's what you want." Shirley is straight-talking, no-nonsense and not afraid to put the doctor in his place. "She knows exactly who she is, she's ballsy, she's northern and she's not frightened to take the lead. And I think she's a great addition to the whoniverse," Ruth said. She also laughed here, at her use of the word "whoniverse", and explained that she wasn't a huge fan before appearing on the show, despite "having a great respect" for it. However, this didn't stop her from being in awe of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, who she said, it was incredible to watch working. "I love that Shirley isn't a gusher when she meets The Doctor because I'm so not like that," she laughed. "I found myself sat next to David at the read through, and realised I was just staring at him. I'm really uncool!" Very early on in 'The Star Beast', a fellow UNIT officer started to act awkwardly when he realised that Shirley can't get up the stairs to access the rocket, to which she cut him down with: "Don't make me the problem." It's a sentiment many disabled people have felt in an inaccessible world, and Ruth points out that "it was so important to show that the problem isn't us, it's actually all the stuff around us". "I'm having 'Don't make me the problem' put on t-shirts," she joked.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who posted set photos!

I’ll post additional parts in the coming months with the  #whoBtsBeast tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of The Giggle - Part Four

Excerpt from the In-Vision commentary with David Tennant, Russell T. Davies, and Phil Collinson

[ discussing UNIT's new headquarters ] Russell: How much do you love this set? David: Oh, I love it Phil: Well I don't love it. It's the most expensive set in the world [ David & RTD laugh ] Russell: How much use are we getting out of it? Phil: ...and operate. The bills we get for footage and screen hire. Oh my word. David: Oh, right. Russell: I'm sorry, faithful viewer Phil: But it's amazing. I'm joking. I love it Russell: We are getting our use out of it. "Should we go to UNIT HQ?" they say. At the drop of a hat. David: Shall we do 30 pages in UNIT HQ? Phil: Literally. It is literally. 30 pages a series, please. Pay for itself.

With a huge "Thank you!" to everyone who shared set photos!

For other posts in this set, please see the #whoBtsGiggle tag. The full episode list is [ here ]