Cardiff > The big Christmas switch-on... by sonic screwdriver!

Quite surreal to be in Cardiff on Nov 10th to encounter a Xmas choir, Bob the Builder and Doctor Who and his able assistants, all introduced by BBC Cymru/Wales' Jason Mohammed. 

Warming to hear that classic theme tune booming across Cardiff as the Xmas lights come on, and fireworks ignite the sky. 

Pure class!

New posts coming!

New posts are on the way.... I've been concentrating on other publications!

RIP The 10th Doctor. A loss to BBC Cymru, Wales & maybe to Tennant.

Seen the new BBC Cymru/Wales Xmas logo ID?

The Doctor returns to the Tardis, to find it almost completely covered in snow. He looks around and spots reindeer. He raises an eyebrow & looks knowingly to camera.

In the next shot, the reindeer are harnessed to the Tardis, and David's leading them into the heavens as the Tardis is freed. David, the reindeer & the free Tardis then ride round & circle the BBC Cymru/Wales logo, as the next program is introduced whilst Xmas music plays. It's very impressive.

Still very sad to be losing the Tenth Doctor. I love David, and think he'll not be beaten> I'd not like to be in Matt's shoes, though I have seen him wearing Converse in-role, and at least that's sexy. David should have stuck it out for a couple more seasons, after all - Doctor Who & BBC Cymru/Wales have made him, and shaped his career forever.

RIP David Tennant's 10th Doctor. The End of time - part 1 - Christmas Eve, 6pm on BBC Cymru/Wales, BBC 1 and in hi def on BBC HD. Watch... and cry.

xxx

Doctor Who: The end of time. Christmas eve, 6pm, BBC1W & BBC HD.

The TARDIS will be completely destroyed during this Christmas's Doctor Who two-part special. 

David Tennant's Doctor dies in mortal combat with The Master, played by the marvelous John Simm, now with blond hair. A new TARDIS regenerates, looks the same outside, but is new - and massive on the inside. It takes up all of the set previously occupied the Torchwood Hub in Upper Boat.

But where does it get its regeneration energy from? Could it be provided by Captain Jack, originally made immortal by vortex plasma from the TARDIS? 

Does Jack sacrifice himself to save the Universe? 

John Barrowman has said Jack's back in the new Torchwood Series 4, said to be filming from January, but could this be a bluff? Has Russell T. Davies decided to finish Jack off, to make way for a brand new Torchwood cast

Jack's death, though unpalatable, makes sense - after all, he was made immortal when Rose Tyler brought him back to life after he was exterminated by a Dalek. She used energy from the Tardis's time vortex to resurrect him. This would be the perfect form of energy to restore a 'dying' Tardis... but would it cost Jack his immortality - and his life?

Watch... see... weep!

Series 4! Torchwood!

BBC Cymru / Wales has given the go ahead for a new, full-series of Torchwood, to be filmed during 2010, though no schedule as yet exists.

The series will consist of 13 episodes, and will be broadcast on BBC1 & BBC HD and will star John Barrowman, who has also confirmed he's looking forward to reprising his role as immortal, bi-sexual time traveler, Captain Jack Harkness.

Details are very sketchy at this stage, but it's suspected there'll be a new base for Torchwood, possibly not in Cardiff, though filming will actually take place in the city. Eve Myles is said to be 'ready to return' as Gwen Cooper, though other casting & availabilities of actors is said to be at a very early stage.

Russell T. Davies had earlier said that Series 4 was 'pretty well written and ready to go', and that he was waiting for the green light from Cardiff before production planning was started.

More details later!

AWOL!

But no fear... more updates to follow soon!

Torchwood - Children of Earth... it's all over!

So here's a bit of a look-back & review...

Episode 1...

 

Absolutely f*****g EXCELLENT... AWESOME BEYOND BELIEF!!! 

We do know how to make great TV here in Wales!!! Torchwood - 

the BEST EVER EPISODE BY FAR... I just can't wait until tomorrow

for Episode 2!!!

Already totally excited about Torchwood tonight, but worried 

sick about Jack, who I don't want to end up as some living

head on a machine or worse. Seems a bit grim.

I'm assured that Captain Jack does not end up as a living head

in a bowl of chemicals - and that he does appear in the rest 

of the series. UPDATE: Chris Chibnall & the BBC 'delighted' with

Monday's viewing figures - 5.9 million, excluding repeats this week

on BBC2 & 3. Awesome news, addding significantly to the argument

for more TW beyond the current mini-series!

Ready for Day 2...

NEWS: I asked Chris Chibnall (TW writer) if he was happy with last 

night's viewing figures: "It's a *great* number, (5.9m) esp in summer & "genre". Other new BBC1 dramas getting c. 4-5m. I bet the team are

ecstatic!" Will there be any more Torchwood? "I'd *guess*: too early

to say. Takes 'em a long time to decide, once whole week's figures are in. Need lots of patience..."

Day 2...

I was told by a Torchwood insider that tonight's show 

would be 'even better' than Monday's masterpiece. I didn't believe 

him - as Monday was indescribably awesome. 

Tonight - F****NG EXCELLENT!! What a show - unbelievable... 

I don't have the language to convey my thoughts adequately!! 

Amazing!

Torchwood **UPDATE** Last night's explosive episode was 

watched by 5.6 million people, making it the most watched

program on Tuesday evening - an amazing success for the 

TW team. Tonight's show promises to be even more exciting

still, with high-octane action and the arrival of 'them'! 

Can't wait - it's gonna be AWESOME!... 

Bloody fantastic... the dog's b*****ks! Phew!

Going into exile mode... hot choc made & ready to drink... 

lights low... HDTV on... Surround sound switched on & bass 

boosted... phones off... door locked! Must be time for 

TORCHWOOD! Watch out for a THRILLING show - and a 

SPECTACULAR, high-thrills, cliff-hanging ending!! Enjoy! 

(TW-CF OUT!!)

Day 3...

Yet another AWESOME episode of Torchwood tonight - not 

as explosive as Monday & Tuesday's offering, but terrifyingly

cold, tense and shockingly unexpected! Turns out that Jack 

may be the key to all of this - and those creatured look pretty

bloody hideous too. Hate the projectile

vomit!!

**UPDATE: 5.9m watched TW this shlow!!** Penultimate

TW tonite: can't wait - it's gonna be AWESOME!!

QUOTE from a TW writer / producer: "I think tonight's is

my favorite episode of Torchwood Children of Earth - 

one scene in particular I've watched over & over again!" 

Well, what more can I add to that!!! So much looking

forward to the show - but feeling a bit ropey with a fever...

Day 4...

Terrible, terrible show. Ianto is dead - the future of the 

world is totally bleak & I'm crying like a baboon after 

Torchwood tonight. So deep, dark & depressing. Totally 

chilling and very frightening. The air of menace was palpable - 

and I can't see a way out. The look on Jack's face when 

Ianto died just set me off. 10/10 for the show - the best

I've ever seen, but so, so bleak.. ... Tissues!

Now I've stopped howling... TW tonight was, without bias,

the BEST TV show I've ever, ever seen. The depth, the 

quality of writing & production really was at the pinnacle 

of excellence, & far ahead of what many of us expected

from our favorite TV show. The mood was black - and bleak,

hopeless perhaps, and evil without precedent, and I was left

genuinely gutted and shocked by the outcome. Great, but sad

TV from Wales.

Spoke to TW: My usual sources are totally tight lipped - 

not even air is escaping. Can't believe CF Bay is destroyed

& Ianto dead: convinced there'll be a major turnaround 

somehow. The Doctor comes back? The Rift has some

'hiccup' & the past is restored? Jack pulls a flanker? 

Another species of aliens help? We'll find out tonight - 

but what suspense!

Torchwood's over. Awesome TV and an absolutely

fantastic show, but very, very depressing - what Jack

did to his grandson & daughter beggars belief, and the

cold finality of the last scenes were not what I wanted

- or expected. I don't expect to see it back - that was

too final, and it looks as though ratings of 6M plus 

stand for nothing.

Still cooling down & crawling out of my depressive 

pit after the end of Day 5. A total masterpiece, 

genuine 9.5/10 quality TV, with fantastic action, 

story and overall plot. Menace was massive and 

tension & stress was present thru'out. Only the 

lack of cheer lost it a 10: I was left genuinely 

numb as the credits rolled. As for the future - 

I'm not sure if RTD will do it again. Time will tell!

Am I right? Am I just too depressive & too emo?? 

Is Torchwood genuinely dead in the water - or will it

be back?

Well, time will tell... I'll post if I hear anything!