New information about Episode 1 of Doctor Who Series 13 was revealed by John Bishop in a Zoom interview with Liverpool Media Academy students.
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Bishop, a native of Liverpool, told the students that Episode 1 of the series has scenes in Liverpool and that is how and where new companion and Liverpool resident Dan is introduced.
“Chris Chibnall, who is the showrunner and the main writer of Doctor Who and the Broadchurch showrunner, has got a fantastic pedigree. He wants to base it in Liverpool because the series always begins from somewhere, the last one from Sheffield. And so he wanted it to be based in Liverpool and that’s where the Doctor is going to get the new companion.”
Bishop also spoke of two Liverpool actors playing Dan’s Parents in Episode 1
“I did one thing with two Liverpool actors, Paul Broughton and Sue Murphy. They were playing my mom and dad and I swear to God, it was like a masterclass because the was a little bit where there’s these aliens that have come down. They took over the world. My mom has found a way to knock them out with a wok.”
This is a reference to Sontarans, a cloned warrior race with a weak spot – the probic vents on the backs of their necks. Actors playing Sontarans were spotted filming Doctor Who in November of 2020. Broughton and Murphy are seen in the video from Doctor Who filming in Cardiff in the tweet below.
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Bishop had nothing but praise for his fellow Scousers who play Dan’s mother and father.
“There’s a scene where we’re in the car with me mom and dad, and what was fantastic for me is they were – watching them play off each other, watching them acting while the other one was speaking – because they work so well together anyway, and honestly I’ve just learned loads from that!”
A photo from the filming of this scene in Cardiff was taken by an onlooker.
Thought I disguised myself perfectly as a Dr Who extra as they filmed on my street. Apparently when you pull a bottle of stella out of your pocket for a cheeky sip it gives your game away 💔 pic.twitter.com/UkWlYtxYDl
— Mitch (@Mitchyea) November 26, 2020
Nothing much is known about actress Susan Murphy but we suspect that the link to her IMDB page is this one.
As for Paul Broughton, It appears Dan’s father’s name is Neville.
Paul Broughton plays Neville in Episode 1 of Doctor Who Series 13. (The information that he’s in Episode 1 came from John Bishop.) pic.twitter.com/rzarmnR1P8
— Doctor Who Production News (@DoctorWhoPN) January 16, 2021
One of the students who participated in the Zoom call said that Bishop gave the impression that Dan’s native city of Liverpool will be revisited often in Doctor Who Series 13.
Eight episodes are planned for Doctor Who Series 13. The introduction clip for companion Dan revealed the series is scheduled to air sometime in 2021, likely late autumn.