Doctor Who - The Snowmen Review (Snowy Spoilers)

Doctor Who - The Snowmen
By Steven Moffat

"It's Smaller On The Outside."

So here we are.  Months since the Ponds have left and all the promo’s and sneak peeks we finally arrive at Christmas and the annual Christmas Special. This year’s special is titled The Snowmen and boasts to having killer snowmen roaming around as the main creature of the story.   The Doctor Who Christmas Specials have now become a Christmas tradition that you expect something special to compliment the day of gift giving and enjoying the family dinner.  So was this edition of the Doctor Who Christmas Special top notch or was it, as a certain Christmas fixture would say, Humbug.

Behind The Scenes: Clara's First Christmas

Matt Smith & Jenna - Louise Coleman On Doctor Who "The Snowmen"

At Your Service! Another Doctor Who "The Snowmen" Preview Clip

BBCA Sneak Peak For Doctor Who "The Snowmen"

Preview Clip For Doctor Who "The Snowmen"

The New TARDIS Interior Revealed!!!!

The BBC have released another picture of the new TARDIS interior and this one shows quite a bit of it.  So what do we all think then?

New BBCA Doctor Who "The Snowmen" Trailer

Madame Vastra Investigates - A Prequel To The Doctor Who Christmas Special

Here is the mini episode which will also be on the Red Button channel.

New BBC Red Button Special For Doctor Who and Madame Vastra

The BBC announced that there will be a special red button adventure for Doctor Who starring Madame Vastra. It will be available from Thursday December 20 to Saturday December 22 2012.  So a nice little mini adventure to get you primed for the Christmas Special. Details below.

"The Doctor returns to BBC One on Christmas Day - and Red Button viewers can get ready for this year's festive adventure by watching a mini-episode.

 Madame Vastra, accompanied by her loyal companions Jenny and Strax, is called upon to investigate a Victorian murder mystery. But where is the Doctor?

Available on Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media/Freeview:
Thur 20 Dec, 7.30pm-8.55pm, 10.30pm-6am
Fri 21 Dec, 9pm-6am
Sat 22 Dec, 6pm-6.30pm, 7.55pm-8.50pm, 10.05pm-1.25am"

Source: Life Doctor Who Combom

Doctor Who Christmas Special To Premiere New Title Sequence and Revamped Theme Tune

The BBC announced that there will be a new title sequence and new arrangement of the theme song.  They promise the tune will be true to the original written by Ron Gainer. So things are looking quite special this Christmas with a new adventure, new TARDIS interior, and now a new opening sequence and theme tune.  Can't wait to check it out next week. Plus you can check out the article here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogdrwho/articles/Revamped-Theme-Tune-and-Opening-Title-Sequence

Source: Official BBC Doctor Who Web Site 

TV Guide Has A Chat With Matt Smith and Jenna - Louise Coleman

BBC America Trailer For Doctor Who "The Snowmen"

BBC Books Ebook - Doctor Who: Devil In The Smoke - An Adventure For The Great Detective

In the same vein as The Melody Malone ebook that was released in conjuction with The Angels Take Manhattan now comes an ebook to tie in with The Snowmen.  The Devil in the Smoke An Adventure
For The Great Detective is written by Justin Richards and will be released on December 18th. Here is the synopsis:

Madame Vastra, the fabled Lizard Woman of Paternoter Row, knew death in many shapes and forms. But perhaps one of the most bizarre of these was death by snow…

On a cold day in December, two young boys, tired of sweeping snow from the workhouse yard, decide to build a snowman – and are confronted with a strange and grisly mystery. In horrified fascination, they watch as their snowman begins to bleed…

The search for answers to this impossible event will plunge Harry into the most hazardous – and exhilarating – adventure of his life. He will encounter a hideous troll. He will dine with a mysterious parlour maid. And he will help The Great Detective, Madame Vastra, save the world from the terrifying Devil in the Smoke.

Source: BBC Books, Doctor Who News

Matt Smith On What You Can Expect In The Snowmen

The last of the interviews from BBC Media Centre and we saved the best for last.  The Doctor himself Matt Smith talks about what you can expect in this years Doctor Who Christmas " The Snowmen"


Returning to screens on Christmas Day, it’s all change for Matt Smith’s Doctor with a new costume, a new hat and minus Amy Pond. Here he talks about what fans can expect from this festive treat and family tradition.

"Lots of snow and a rather good villain." Matt is chatting enthusiastically about this year’s Christmas special, The Snowmen. Set in a Victorian snow-covered England, the episode opens with the Doctor feeling more ‘bah humbug’ than festive, as he struggles to get over the loss of his companions the Ponds.

"He is slightly removed and not at his best," explains Matt.  But after the Doctor meets a feisty young governess, Clara, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman, do we see a change in the Doctor? "You get to see a different side to him," Matt explains. "She is a very different to Amy Pond. That is the great thing about this show," he continues, "reinvention - it keeps me as an actor on my toes!"

As well as seeing Matt Smith’s Doctor for the first time without his old companions, Matt will be sporting a new costume, complete with top hat. "It is a bit like the Doctor meets the Artful Dodger," says Matt.

So can we expect to see a period of grieving following the loss of the Ponds? "Grieving has its place," says Matt, "but it is important to show that and then propel back into adventure!"

And that is exactly what this Christmas special does. Matt reveals that this Christmas the Doctor will embark on a dangerous adventure – a quest that leads him to Darkover House, where something sinister is lurking.

As well as guest starring Tom Ward (Silent Witness), Richard E Grant features as this year’s villain, Doctor Simeon. "He was a delight and brilliant at being villainous. Some actors are just made for the show and he was one of them. And he looked wonderful in Victorian garb," says Matt.

Now a family tradition, Matt is chuffed to be part of the Christmas special. "I love being part of them. Family TV on Christmas day is a great tradition and Doctor Who is at the heart of that."  

So will Matt be making an appointment to watch on Christmas day? "Absolutely, I can’t wait."

Jenna - Louise Coleman Talks About Being Clara

The last two interviews to support the Doctor Who Christmas Special consists of the new TARDIS crew. First up is Jenna - Louise Coleman talking about being the companion.
Source BBC Media Centre


Having made a surprise appearance in the series opener Asylum of the Daleks in September, fans have already met the new companion... or have they? Here, Jenna-Louise gives a little bit of insight in to the character she plays in the festive episode and what we can expect from Clara.

"She is from the Victorian era and a mysterious one," explains Jenna. "Very down to earth, but feisty and curious too with numerous jobs," she continues, revealing more about new girl Clara.

Set in Victorian England, we first catch a glimpse of Clara as a barmaid in the ‘Rose and Crown’ pub, but after meeting the intriguing Doctor, she soon sets about following him, because as Jenna explains, "He has the answers to her questions." With his self-imposed solitude, the Doctor appears uninterested, but eventually gets drawn in as an army of evil snowmen cover London and it becomes apparent that Christmas and the world are at risk.

With Matt Smith revealing that she is a very different to Amy Pond, how does Jenna explain the dynamic of the relationship between the Doctor and Clara, following the loss of the Ponds in the epic mid-series finale The Angels Take Manhattan? "She isn’t intimidated by the Doctor," says Jenna. "Instead, she finds him amazing and ridiculous. But she is on her own mission and lives by her own means. She is very resourceful."

As well as a barmaid, Clara adopts the role of governess to two children in Darkover House, where something sinister is lurking in their garden and whose last governess hasn’t yet left the premises...

After being selected for the coveted role of companion, Jenna started filming in BBC Cymru Wales’ Roath Lock studios earlier this year and made her first appearance in series seven opener Asylum Of The Daleks. So how has she found the job so far? "Everyday is really surprising," she explains. "For the last two years, I have mainly been doing period dramas, so to be thrown into this world with loads of CGI is very different. Whole new sets are built in the space of a couple of weeks. For this episode, we had snow machines and it does make you feel like a big kid!"

Stepping into Karen Gillan’s shoes, who played Amy Pond, did Jenna receive any advice? "Karen has been great," explains Jenna. "She has texted me advice on Cardiff, like where to eat. And Matt always has an ear out for me."

Unlike the Doctor in this festive episode, Jenna isn’t a Christmas grump: "I love Christmas and will probably be sitting down with the family to watch this adventure on Christmas day! It is one of the shows that can do Christmas properly and this is a proper Christmas treat."

Doctor Who "The Snowmen" Villain Richard E. Grant on Doctor Simeon

Here is another interview for the Christmas Special this time it's Richard E. Grant talking about being the villain.

Having previously played the Doctor in the 2003 online animated series Scream Of The Shalka and during a Comic Relief spoof some years ago, Richard E Grant returns to Doctor Who, but this time as the villainous Doctor Simeon.

"I have been told that on pain of death I am not allowed to reveal anything about my role in the Christmas Special," explains Richard, "other than that this character has never been in Doctor Who before..."

Returning to Doctor Who for the third time, Richard explains, "I have had two 'brushes' with the Who phenomenon before, playing the Doctor in the cartoon digital version and the Comic Relief spoof some years ago, before the franchise was re-booted with Christopher Eccleston."

Richard is tasked with playing this year’s villain, the mysterious Doctor Simeon, who, with a vendetta to settle from childhood, recruits an army of evil and hungry snowmen to bring together his plan.

So how did Richard enjoy playing the villain? "When you're born with a 10-foot-long face, you don't get hero roles, but I'm not complaining, as I have hugely enjoyed the wide variety of parts I've got to play."

Growing up in Swaziland, Richard has had to devote time to catching up on the British institution, he explains: "Having grown up in a country without TV, I missed seeing Doctor Who through my childhood, but I have made up for lost time since with box sets."

As the Doctor battles to defeat Doctor Simeon and his army, Richard shared many scenes with Matt Smith - so what did he make of working Matt? "I have really admired Matt from when I first saw him in a play called That Face at the Royal Court Theatre some years ago," says Richard, "and have keenly followed his career progress. He is the perfect fit for Doctor Who. His interpretation is very kinetic and fast-talking." 

So will Richard be watching this Christmas? "I love Christmas and everything about it. I will be at home and watching TV after lunch, hoping I can stay awake after the feast!"

Tom Ward on Captain Latimer From Doctor Who "The Snowmen"

Here is another interview from BBC Media Centre for the Doctor Who Christmas special.





Tom has been star of Silent Witness for over 10 years, so that Doctor Who presents a departure for him - from the modern day to the world of sci-fi. Here he explains what we can expect from his character and whether he will be watching on Christmas Day.

"He hasn’t been used to dealing with his children," explains Tom, as he reveals a small insight into his character, Captain Latimer. "He wants to love them, but he is an old naval captain that has struggled to build a relationship."

Tom plays an archetypal Victorian gent, complete with a rather good beard. "Yes it is," laughs Tom, as he confirms the beard is real. "You often get the obligatory moustache in a Victorian drama, but I wanted to go further and the beard seemed appropriate."

Having spent 10 years in a drama not necessarily accessible to his children, Tom reveals he is excited to have done something they can watch. "My children are very excited that I am in Doctor Who and I am glad they have something that they can finally watch! My oldest child is 10, so this will give him bragging rights at school and hopefully me a little bit of school gate currency."

So what drew Tom to the role? "It was one of the best scripts I had read in a long time, and the thought of doing a period sci-fi was really fun."

With Tom admitting that his Doctor is Tom Baker, he expresses admiration for current Doctor, Matt Smith. "He is brilliant. He kept the set feeling happy and is full of energy," says Tom. "He has a great relationship with the crew." As well as co-starring Tom, the Christmas episode will also feature Richard E Grant. "I had one scene with him," explains Tom, "and he was a legend. An absolute delight."

In this episode we also meet Clara, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman for the first time. "She is a brilliant actress," says Tom, "full of life and energy, so funny and has a great rapport with Matt."

With Tom confirming that his children are fans, will he be watching on Christmas day? "We have just moved into the country, so it will be the family round and the fire blazing. I don’t normally like to watch myself on TV, but this time I think I will make an exception..."

The New Look TARDIS Materializes At Christmas

Here is the press release for the new look TARDIS interior which will be making it's debut at Christmas during The Snowmen. I guess The Doctor has been keeping busy while he was mopping around the 1800's.


Our first glimpse of the new look TARDIS...

Doctor Who’s lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat has revealed that we’ll see a new look TARDIS when the Time Lord returns in The Snowmen on Christmas Day at 5.15pm.

You can read the full article here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogdrwho/articles/New-Look-TARDIS-Materialises-at-Christmas

Source Official BBC Doctor Who Website

Steven Moffat Introduces The Snowmen

BBC Media Center has released a ton of promotional interviews for this years Doctor Who Christmas Special.  We will be posting them through out the week and here is the first of them.



Lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat gives us an insight into the monsters and adventures that we can expect from the Christmas special.

What can we expect from the Christmas special?

The Christmas episode is Doctor Who, only more so, and this year we're going for more epic. The Doctor, when we meet him, isn't in a good place. A bit like when we first encountered William Hartnell as the Doctor in 1963 - or indeed Christopher Eccleston in 2005 - this a cold and withdrawn Time Lord, wanting no part of the world around him. It's going to take a lot of Christmas spirit to get him back out those TARDIS doors.

Are there any new monsters?

Well there are Snowmen. You've probably guessed that from the title. But that's not all. Dear me, no! But monsters should always be a bit surprising, so that's all I'm saying.

How do you find writing the Christmas special as opposed to a regular episode? Does it differ at all?

You're very aware of the time of year, and the noisy, sugared-up, slightly tipsy household. Sometimes we play along with something a bit frothier. Though this year, we might just give them a fright!

Last time we saw the Doctor he said goodbye to the Ponds. Will we see a different side to the Doctor in this episode?

The Doctor is almost defined by his friendships. When they end, and the TARDIS is silent again, he's a very different man. He's lost a lot of people in the time we've known him, and this Christmas he's decided he's finally had enough...

This episode welcomes Jenna-Louise Coleman. What can you tell us about her character?

It's going to quite a journey of discovery with Jenna and her character - and it doesn't start here, it starts on Christmas day. For now, enough to say, that the Doctor in his darkest hour, long ago in a Victorian winter meets the exactly the right person. Or does he?

Source BBC Media Centre