Doctor Who - Scream of the Shalka DVD Review

Doctor Who: 

Scream of the Shalka 

By Paul Cornell 

Starring Richard E. Grant, Sophie Okendo and 

Derek Jacobi

Way back in 2003 there were two Doctor Who things going on.  Firstly and the one most people remember is the news that Doctor Who will be returning to television being helmed by Russell T. Davies in a 13 episode series.  What a way to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Doctor Who with the news that the show was returning and would begin filming sometime in 2004.  The other was the BBCi planned Doctor Who series of webisodes featuring a Ninth Doctor.  Scream of the Shalka was supposed to be the beginning of a new series and was all set to go but well a certain piece of news derailed it and Scream of Shalka would end up being a one shot and well it was new Doctor Who for the 40^th but just not what we really wanted but that would come in a few years.

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!"

Doctor Who Christmas Special "The Snowmen" Promo Pics

The BBC have released a ton of promotional pictures for this years Christmas Special which airs on Christmas Day at 5:15PM UK and 9:00PM USA on BBC and BBCA.

Tom Ward Joins Richard E. Grant In The Doctor Who Christmas Special

Well more info has come down the pike since yesterdays announcement. It appears that Richard E. Grant will be in the Christmas Special along with Tom Ward.  Here is the official BBC press release.

Date: 06.08.2012

Last updated: 06.08.2012 at 09.24

Category: BBC One; Drama

Filming of 2012's Doctor Who Christmas episode starts this week with two big film and television stars joining the show.

Richard E Grant, actor, author and director, has starred in over 80 film and television hits including Withnail And I, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jack & Sarah, Gosford Park and The Iron Lady.

On joining the show, Richard says: "I played Doctor Who in the digital animated Scream Of The Shalka and I'm honoured to be in the Christmas Special."

Tom Ward, who has starred in BBC One's in Silent Witness as Harry Cunningham since 2002 also joins the Doctor, played by Matt Smith, and his new companion played by Jenna-Louise Coleman.

It is written by Steven Moffat and directed by Saul Metzstein. It will be shot in Cardiff at BBC Wales' studios.

Doctor Who is coming soon to BBC One and the Christmas Special will be followed by a further eight episodes next year.

Doctor Who is a BBC Cymru Wales Production for BBC One.

Richard E. Grant to Guest Star In Doctor Who

Doctor Who fans wait till midnight GMT time for the announcement of Richard E. Grant to be named as a guest star in Doctor Who.  No details have been released except that he was named a guest star.  Doctor Who fans will remember him from being one of The Doctors in Steven Moffat's The Curse of the Fatal Death and he also voiced at the time the 9th Doctor on the BBC Websites animated adventure The Scream of the Shalka.  More info to come when we get it.

Here is his bio on IMBD

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001290/