BBC America announced in a press release yesterday the acquisition of the fifth season of the BBC's revival of classic British sci-fi serial Doctor Who. This move comes as good news to fans eagerly awaiting the latest adventures of the Doctor and his companion as he hurtles through time and space battling terrifying monsters and exploring fascinating new worlds. The press release states:
“BBC AMERICA has announced the acquisition of the new season of Doctor Who starring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor. Shot in HD, the U.S. premiere season of 13 episodes, will air Q2, 2010 following soon after its UK premiere.”
Season Five, due to air in the UK in early 2010 (airdate as yet not confirmed), will see the first adventures of the Eleventh Doctor, to be played by relative newcomer Matt Smith, who is taking over from David Tennant. The Eleventh Doctor will be accompanied by Amy Pond, portrayed by Karen Gillan, who follows Billie Piper (The Secret Diary of a Call Girl), Freema Agyeman (Law and Order: UK, Survivors) and Catherine Tate (The Catherine Tate Show) as the Doctor’s latest female companion in the TARDIS.
There will also be changes behind-the-scenes, with Stephen Moffat (Jekyll, Coupling) taking over the reins of show-runner from Russell T. Davies. Moffat is a long-time writer on Who, and was responsible for the Hugo Award-winning The Girl in the Fireplace, as well as the chilling war-torn Britain of The Empty Child and the frankly terrifying statues in Blink.
This announcement is not particularly surprising, however, given the reception afforded to the production team at San Diego Comic-Con two weeks ago. Tennant, Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and Torchwood star John Barrowman received an outstanding response from fans at panels for both Who and Torchwood. The fact that Who even made an appearance at San Diego speaks volumes for the success of the show, and the clamoring for new episodes from its American audience.
The last sentence will be of particular interest to US fans, who have a long history of waiting for new episodes. Planet of the Dead, the first of five Doctor Who specials, was shown at the end of July despite airing in early April in the UK. There has been no clarification as to the length of the delay between the UK and US premières.
I think that this is a good move by BBC America that highlights its commitment to Doctor Who. I have never understood the reason for such a long delay between UK and US airings of shows – it works both ways, with some American shows taking months or even years to transmit in the UK. Hopefully this announcement will set a precedent for other networks to follow in the coming months.
How are you feeling about Doctor Who season five? What are your thoughts on Smith and Gillan – can they possibly live up to the sheer hype and expectation?
Source: Televisionary
Oops, my bad. Will correct it now. Thanks. :)
Oops, my bad. Will correct it now. Thanks. :)
Just a note…iPlanet of the Dead/i bdid not/b first air on Christmas Day 2008. That special was the Christmas special iThe Next Doctor/i. iPlanet of the Dead /iorigninally aired in the UK on April 11, 2009, Easter Sunday. In fact the good Doctor references the fact that it is Easter in the episode. :)
Glad the Doc is coming home to BBCAmerica!
Just a note…iPlanet of the Dead/i bdid not/b first air on Christmas Day 2008. That special was the Christmas special iThe Next Doctor/i. iPlanet of the Dead /iorigninally aired in the UK on April 11, 2009, Easter Sunday. In fact the good Doctor references the fact that it is Easter in the episode. :)
Glad the Doc is coming home to BBCAmerica!
Edit: Pardon, April 11, 2009 was Saturday, day before Easter. :)
Edit: Pardon, April 11, 2009 was Saturday, day before Easter. :)
quick note,
the law and order show in which Freema Agyeman plays one of the Crown Prosecutors is titled Law and Order: UK , a simple mistake but I figured I'd let you know.
quick note,
the law and order show in which Freema Agyeman plays one of the Crown Prosecutors is titled Law and Order: UK , a simple mistake but I figured I’d let you know.
Corrected, thank you.
Corrected, thank you.
Hello,
I am a rabid Dr Who fan, My friends and I all love David Tennant we are so very sad to see him go we just watched planet of the dead it was great but there is such a long delay and we can't even view it on the website. Hopefully since the BBC now has aquired the show this will speed up the process of getting the show to us fans here in America. I will cry when David leaves He's the reason I started watching the show. thank you Michael for posting your information on Doctor who it's very much appreciated!
Hello,
I am a rabid Dr Who fan, My friends and I all love David Tennant we are so very sad to see him go we just watched planet of the dead it was great but there is such a long delay and we can’t even view it on the website. Hopefully since the BBC now has aquired the show this will speed up the process of getting the show to us fans here in America. I will cry when David leaves He’s the reason I started watching the show. thank you Michael for posting your information on Doctor who it’s very much appreciated!
Hi Michael – Wonderful and informative article. Have you heard anything more about the hopefully impending renewal for a season four for Torchwood? It seems the Beeb is taking their sweet time ini announcing this one as well, even though Torchwood: Children of Earth had tremendous ratings in both the UK and US. Even BBC America thanked it's viewers with a 30 sec "thank-a-mercial" for having the highest viewership ever during the week that Torchwood:CoE was broadcast.
Thank you very much. No, I've heard nothing at all. But that's not particularly unusual – the five-parter has only just aired, and the BBC tend to take their time in releasing information about all their shows. For example, we still don't have an airdate for the second Who special, 'Waters of Mars', even though it's apparently only two months away. I wouldn't count on a TW announcement till the new year.
Hi Michael – Wonderful and informative article. Have you heard anything more about the hopefully impending renewal for a season four for Torchwood? It seems the Beeb is taking their sweet time ini announcing this one as well, even though Torchwood: Children of Earth had tremendous ratings in both the UK and US. Even BBC America thanked it’s viewers with a 30 sec “thank-a-mercial” for having the highest viewership ever during the week that Torchwood:CoE was broadcast.
Thank you very much. No, I’ve heard nothing at all. But that’s not particularly unusual – the five-parter has only just aired, and the BBC tend to take their time in releasing information about all their shows. For example, we still don’t have an airdate for the second Who special, ‘Waters of Mars’, even though it’s apparently only two months away. I wouldn’t count on a TW announcement till the new year.
That's really unfortunate. I'd hoped SyFy would have renewed instead. BBC America is a pricey upgrade package for some of us.
That’s really unfortunate. I’d hoped SyFy would have renewed instead. BBC America is a pricey upgrade package for some of us.