BBC AMERICA HOSTS DOCTOR WHO 50th
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN NOVEMBER
Premieres and marathons including the first-ever
global simulcast celebrating the iconic series
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
An Adventure in Space and Time
The Science of Doctor Who with Brian Cox
Matt Smith and David Tennant guests on The Graham
Norton Show
Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS
Doctor Who Explained
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited - The Eleventh
Doctor
New York – November 8, 2013 – BBC AMERICA
is the #1 destination in the U.S. for a year-long celebration of the 50th
anniversary of global phenomenon Doctor Who. On November
23, 1963, a Time Lord known as the Doctor landed on the BBC’s airwaves, forever
changing storytelling on television and how the world viewed the inside of a
British police box. In honoring the legacy of the longest-running and most
successful sci-fi series in history, BBC AMERICA presents new programming
dedicated to the iconic series, culminating in a groundbreaking television
event – the global simulcast to more than 75 countries of Doctor Who’s
50th anniversary special, Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
on November 23. Written by lead writer and executive producer Steven
Moffat (Sherlock), the special stars the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith (How to Catch a
Monster), the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant (Broadchurch),
companion Jenna Coleman (Dancing on the Edge), with Billie
Piper (Secret Diary of a Call Girl) and John Hurt (Tinker
Tailor Soldier Spy, Alien). The global simulcast will air Saturday,
November 23 at 2:50pm ET. BBC AMERICA will encore the special in primetime at
7:00pm ET with exclusive Inside Look interviews with Matt Smith and
David Tennant.
Announced today, BBC AMERICA will present a week-long Doctor
Who Takeover starting Monday, November 18, at 9:00am ET with marathons
of favorite Doctors leading into new specials including a look into the science
behind the iconic series with rock star-turned-physicist Professor Brian Cox
(Wonders of the Universe, Wonders of the Solar System). The
primetime specials will roll out throughout the week with Doctor Who:
Tales from the TARDIS premiering Monday, November 18, 9:00pm
ET followed by The Science of Doctor Who with Brian Cox at
10:00pm ET, Doctor Who Explained on Friday,
November 22, 8:00pm ET, and a look back at Matt Smith’s time on the iconic
series, Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited –The Eleventh Doctor on
Sunday, November 24, 8:00pm ET.
In addition, BBC AMERICA will premiere the new film An
Adventure in Space and Time on Friday, November 22, 9:00pm ET. From Sherlock
co-creator Mark Gatiss and directed by Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad),
the film starring David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Broadchurch),
Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Sacha Dhawan (After
Earth) and Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity, X2: X-Men
United) tells the story of the genesis of Doctor Who and the
unlikely production team behind the series.
About Doctor Who:
Doctor Who follows the Doctor, an alien from the
planet Gallifrey, the last of the powerful Time Lords, on his adventures
through all of space and time. Traveling in the TARDIS, the time machine
resembling a vintage British blue police box that is bigger on the inside, the
Doctor almost always side-steps danger armed only with his incredible
intelligence and fix-anything sonic screwdriver. The Doctor routinely cheats
death by regenerating – changing into a new, fresh body. Eleven actors have
starred in the iconic role. First played by William Hartnell, the Doctor was
portrayed by seven actors before the series went off the air in 1989, including
Tom Baker, who held the role the longest, from 1974-1981. After being off the
air for seven years, the Doctor regenerated again in a 1996 TV movie.
When Doctor Who returned to television with a new
lead writer and executive producer, Russell T Davies, in 2005, the title
character once again had a new face. The series was resurrected with
Christopher Eccleston (Thor: The Dark World, Heroes) as the
Doctor, and Billie Piper as his companion Rose. David Tennant took on the role in
2006. In 2010, Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Coupling) became lead
writer and executive producer while Matt Smith, made his first appearance as
the Doctor – the youngest actor ever to play the character. He is the first
actor to be nominated for a BAFTA Award in the role. Last season Clara Oswald
(Jenna Coleman) became his companion, the impossible girl who routinely appears
when he needs the most help. The thrilling season finale ended on a cliffhanger
with the closing shot saying “Introducing John Hurt as The Doctor.”
Matt Smith will hang up his bow tie at the end of this
year after starring in the 50th Anniversary special and regenerating
in the Christmas special. Having starred alongside companions, Amy Pond (Karen
Gillan, Guardians of the Galaxy), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill, Broadchurch),
River Song (Alex Kingston, NCIS, ER) and most recently Clara
Oswald, Matt's Doctor has fought Daleks (mutated beings encased in a metal
shell and bent on destruction) and Cybermen (humans who have been upgraded to
soulless metal robots) as well as Weeping Angels (frightening creatures that
are erased from memory the moment someone looks away) in New York. Regularly
heard shouting 'run' and 'Geronimo', through Matt's Doctor fans have been
introduced to a new culinary combination – fish fingers and custard.
Earlier this year, Doctor Who won an Institutional
Peabody Award. The series is BBC AMERICA’s highest-rated series and is one of
the most talked about shows in social media.
Doctor Who Takeover Schedule:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited Marathon – 9:00am –
9:00pm ET
The First through Tenth Doctor
U.S. Premiere
Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS – 9:00 –10:00pm ET
An all-new special, Doctor Who: Tales from the
TARDIS, features the series’ actors and producers sharing their
experiences and memories of the world’s longest-running sci-fi show. The
special features exclusive interviews with principal cast members from the
show’s 50-year history, including actors who have played the Doctor: Matt
Smith, David Tennant, Tom Baker, and Peter Davison,
actors who have played companions: Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan, Freema
Agyeman, and William Russell, as well as the current lead writer and
executive producer Steven Moffat. The discussion includes how the actors
got cast, how the roles changed their lives, how a ‘regeneration’ is recorded,
and how filming the show in the 60's compares to today.
U.S. Premiere
The Science of Doctor Who with Brian Cox –
10:00–11:00pm ET
A former rock star and Britain’s popular TV physicist,
Professor Brian Cox explores the universe of the world’s favorite Time Lord
when he takes the audience on a journey into the wonderful universe of Doctor
Who, with the help of celebrity guests. In this exclusively recorded
special from the lecture theatre of the Royal Institution of Great Britain,
Brian reveals the science behind the spectacle and explains the physics that
allows Doctor Who to travel through space and time. Fun, but filled with
real science, it’s a special night for Who fans and anyone with a thirst
for understanding.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Marathon – 10:00am –11:00pm
ET
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Doctor Who – The Tenth Doctor Marathon – 2:00am
–11:00pm ET
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21
Doctor Who – The Eleventh Doctor Marathon Part I –
9:00am – 11:00pm ET
The Eleventh Doctor – Matt Smith
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Doctor Who – The Eleventh Doctor Marathon Part 2 –
9:00am – 8:00pm ET
The Eleventh Doctor – Matt Smith
U.S. Premiere
Doctor Who Explained – 8:00pm – 9:00pm ET
An all-new special, Doctor Who Explained,
explores the mysterious and two-hearted alien who is the Doctor. Through
exclusive interviews with principal cast members from the show’s 50-year
history, including actors who have played the Doctor: Matt Smith,
David Tennant, Peter Davison, and Tom Baker as well as actors
who have played companions: Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan, and Freema
Agyeman, viewers get an insight to what happens behind-the-scenes of the
award-winning sci-fi show.
U.S. Premiere
An Adventure in Space and Time – 9:00pm ET
What do you get when you mix C.S. Lewis with H.G. Wells,
and sprinkle in a bit of Father Christmas? An alien Time Lord exploring space
and time in a Police Box spaceship called the “TARDIS” (Time And Relative
Dimension in Space). Written by Mark Gatiss, the BBC AMERICA co-production, the
film stars David Bradley (the First Doctor, William Hartnell), Brian
Cox (BBC Head of Drama, Sydney Newman), Jessica Raine (Producer,
Verity Lambert) and Sacha Dhawan (Director, Waris Hussein). An unlikely
trio of misfits set out to create a genre series that all ages would love.
William ‘Bill’ Hartnell, displeased with his career, was presented with a
chance to break out of the hard-man roles he’d become known for. And with the
instincts of first time producer, Verity Lambert and first time director, Waris
Hussein, the Doctor was born. As the success of the show grew, William went
from unhappy curmudgeon to beloved television star who relished his career
resurgence and found a new lease on life. But all good things come to an end. How
will Bill face leaving behind the part that has made him a hero to millions of
children? And can the show survive without him? Journey back fifty years
through space and time to witness the exciting beginning and untimely end of
the First Doctor in this touching drama.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23
Doctor Who – The Eleventh Doctor Marathon Part 3 –
1:00am – 2:00pm ET
The Eleventh Doctor – Matt Smith
World Premiere
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor – Global Simulcast –
2:50pm ET
The
centerpiece of BBC AMERICA’s celebrations is the global simulcast of Doctor
Who’s 50th Anniversary special, Doctor Who: The Day of
the Doctor, written by Steven Moffat. The Doctors (Matt Smith and David
Tennant) embark on their greatest adventure across space and time. In 2013,
something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a
murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient
battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the
Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him. Starring Matt Smith, David
Tennant, Jenna Coleman, with Billie Piper and John Hurt. Last seen as the Doctor on January 1,
2010, this will be the first time David Tennant has reprised his role as the
Tenth Doctor. During his reign as the Time Lord, Tennant appeared in three
seasons as well as several specials. He was first revealed as the Doctor in the
2005 season finale, The Parting of the Ways. Meanwhile Billie Piper, who
played companion Rose Tyler for two seasons following the reboot in 2005, will
appear in the show for the first time since featuring in David Tennant’s last
episode, The End of Time in 2010. The special is directed by Nick
Hurran, executive produced by Steven Moffat, Faith Penhale and produced by
Marcus Wilson.
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor encore
primetime broadcast – 7:00pm ET. BBC AMERICA will premiere exclusive
Inside Look interviews with Matt Smith and David Tennant during the
broadcast. The special will be followed by the premiere of new
fantasy-adventure series Atlantis at 9:00pm ET.
U.S. Premiere
The Graham Norton Show with guests Matt Smith and
David Tennant – 10:00pm ET
Doctor Who stars Matt Smith and David
Tennant make their first appearance together on BBC AMERICA’s hit talk show
The Graham Norton Show. Emma Thompson, singer Robbie Williams and
comedian Jimmy Carr will also be guests.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Doctor Who – Matt Smith Countdown – 9:00am – 8:00pm ET
BBC AMERICA counts down the top 11 episodes from the
Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, as voted on by fans.
U.S. Premiere
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited –The Eleventh Doctor
– 8:00pm –10:30pm ET
BBC
AMERICA celebrates the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, in a new special of Doctor
Who: The Doctors Revisited. Matt Smith first stepped into the TARDIS in 2010
and, after starring in the 50th Anniversary Special on November 23, will
regenerate in the Christmas special. The Doctors Revisited begins with
Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman (companion Clara Oswald), Karen Gillan (companion Amy
Pond), Arthur Darvill (companion Rory Williams), lead writer and executive
producer Steven Moffat, among others, examining the human side of this Doctor
and taking a look at how his extraordinarily long life has affected him. The
special is followed by the Eleventh Doctor two-part story, The Impossible
Astronaut and Day of the Moon, in which a strange summons reunites
the Doctor, Amy (Karen Gillan), Rory (Arthur Darvill) and River (Alex Kingston)
in the middle of the Utah desert and unveils a terrible secret the Doctor's
friends must never reveal to him. These were the first Doctor Who
episodes to be filmed in the U.S.
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