SPOILERS, before you go any further. So if you want to avoid them, don't read on...
...
...
We good to go?
Right.
The latest issue of SFX Magazine hit my doormat on Saturday morning, and inside SJA producer Nikki Smith discusses the third series of the show, and confirms the return of both the Trickster - as well as the Slitheen (well, their cousins, actually, the Blathereen).
"We've got another Trickster story. We've also got the return of the Slitheen for the end of the series, and this time we meet their 'interesting' cousins, the Blathereen." She states.
Also lined up for the new series are another familiar race from recent Doctor Who - "The Judoon are joining us in our series opener, alongside a brand new monster, a reptilian character called Androvax, a Veil. He's under arrest when one of the Judoon's life carriers crashes on Earth, so a Judoon's hunting down his prisoner who's escaped."
Nikki also discusses David Tennant's guest spot, the appearence of Nigel Havers, who the new series features its own "classic ghost story", as well as how the series will cope post-third series with regards to Russell T Davies departing from Doctor Who (all crossovers will be run through new executive producer Piers Wenger).
You can read about this all in the September edition of SFX Magazine, out this Wednesday.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
In The Can
After almost four months of shooting, filming for the third series of The Sarah Jane Adventures concluded last week with the cast and crew's annual wrap party! Work will now progress onto the post-production stage, where FX shots will be added to the show and SJA composer Sam Watts can start preparing the scores for each episode.
"None of us can believe how fast it's gone this year!" exclaims Nikki Wilson in a recent DWM article. "I think this series is better and stronger than ever."
And to think, the third series almost became the series that never was, having been considered for cancellation several times whilst it was being reviewed for recommissioning! It's unlikely that the decision to cancel the show would've been taken on ratings alone. It's mainly a matter of budget.
Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, recently claimed that the Beeb are increasing their spending on imported entertainment at the expense of homegrown and children's content. The cost of imported programming from countries like the US has risen by £11m in the past year. The money has to come from somewhere, and it's assumed that children's shows like SJA are the ones getting the short end of the stick. However, the BBC responded by saying that they've merely concentrated their children's investment on producing "fewer but higher quality original programmes", citing none other than The Sarah Jane Adventures as an example!
"Our quality scores for children's channels have increased since we introduced this 'fewer, bigger, better' strategy and, overall, we are spending £125m a year on children's content."
A BBC Trust spokesman said it had recently reviewed children's programming and was awaiting a response from management on the issues raised, including the budget. They were able to state that "the BBC should remain the cornerstone of high quality UK-produced children's content."
Here, here! With Children's BBC getting a new controller earlier this week - here's hoping changes are brought into place that keep shows like The Sarah Jane Adventures on our screens for a very very long time. :)
"None of us can believe how fast it's gone this year!" exclaims Nikki Wilson in a recent DWM article. "I think this series is better and stronger than ever."
And to think, the third series almost became the series that never was, having been considered for cancellation several times whilst it was being reviewed for recommissioning! It's unlikely that the decision to cancel the show would've been taken on ratings alone. It's mainly a matter of budget.
Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, recently claimed that the Beeb are increasing their spending on imported entertainment at the expense of homegrown and children's content. The cost of imported programming from countries like the US has risen by £11m in the past year. The money has to come from somewhere, and it's assumed that children's shows like SJA are the ones getting the short end of the stick. However, the BBC responded by saying that they've merely concentrated their children's investment on producing "fewer but higher quality original programmes", citing none other than The Sarah Jane Adventures as an example!
"Our quality scores for children's channels have increased since we introduced this 'fewer, bigger, better' strategy and, overall, we are spending £125m a year on children's content."
A BBC Trust spokesman said it had recently reviewed children's programming and was awaiting a response from management on the issues raised, including the budget. They were able to state that "the BBC should remain the cornerstone of high quality UK-produced children's content."
Here, here! With Children's BBC getting a new controller earlier this week - here's hoping changes are brought into place that keep shows like The Sarah Jane Adventures on our screens for a very very long time. :)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Newsround
Hooray! Actual news again, for the first time in an age. For even though filming continues on the third series, there's very little set reports or photographs to report on. A massive thank you to Doctor Who Magazine then for a massive update on casting....
Episode 3 & 4 feature Souad Faress, Gregg Sulkin, Eleanor Tomlinson, Toby Parkes, Rai Rajani and Kate Fleetwood.
Meanwhile episodes 5 & 6 stars David Tennant as the Doctor, with Nigel Havers, Zienia Merton (who appeared in Doctor Who way back in 1964 during Marco Polo - playing Ping-Cho).
Floella Benjamin returns to the role of Professor Celeste Rivers for the third time in episodes 7 & 8 - and it's far from a cameo! "At last, she's going into action with Sarah Jane!" Producer Nikki Wilson reveals. Starring alongside her will be Adam Gillen (as the Professor's assistant Toby Silverman), Donald Sumpter (as Erasmus Darkening - "one of the greatest and most chilling villains we've ever seen"), Tony Boncza and Amelia Clarkson.
Also in 7 & 8 is Callum Blue - star of Dead Like Me, and boyfriend of Billie Piper's Hannah character in Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
The fifth story, made up of episodes 9 & 10, features former Coronation Street star Suranne Jones, with Jeff Rawle and Liza Sadovy.
Best of all, the same story has a cameo appearence from Lizo Mzimba - the BBC's Entertainment Corrospondent.
***
There's also confirmation that John Leeson will return to voice K9 in the new Jetix series, due to air next year in Australia.
For more hints and teases about the new run of the SJA and K9 pick up Doctor Who Magazine issue 411 now, for £3.99.
Episode 3 & 4 feature Souad Faress, Gregg Sulkin, Eleanor Tomlinson, Toby Parkes, Rai Rajani and Kate Fleetwood.
Meanwhile episodes 5 & 6 stars David Tennant as the Doctor, with Nigel Havers, Zienia Merton (who appeared in Doctor Who way back in 1964 during Marco Polo - playing Ping-Cho).
Floella Benjamin returns to the role of Professor Celeste Rivers for the third time in episodes 7 & 8 - and it's far from a cameo! "At last, she's going into action with Sarah Jane!" Producer Nikki Wilson reveals. Starring alongside her will be Adam Gillen (as the Professor's assistant Toby Silverman), Donald Sumpter (as Erasmus Darkening - "one of the greatest and most chilling villains we've ever seen"), Tony Boncza and Amelia Clarkson.
Also in 7 & 8 is Callum Blue - star of Dead Like Me, and boyfriend of Billie Piper's Hannah character in Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
The fifth story, made up of episodes 9 & 10, features former Coronation Street star Suranne Jones, with Jeff Rawle and Liza Sadovy.
Best of all, the same story has a cameo appearence from Lizo Mzimba - the BBC's Entertainment Corrospondent.
***
There's also confirmation that John Leeson will return to voice K9 in the new Jetix series, due to air next year in Australia.
For more hints and teases about the new run of the SJA and K9 pick up Doctor Who Magazine issue 411 now, for £3.99.
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