Much like ourselves, Doctor Who is expected to overindulge and go a bit crazy on December 25th. Time Lord and Christmas time match perfectly. They’re both mad events which people love and which many take seriously, no matter how absurd they get. So our TVs are decorated with flying sharks dragging sleighs, presents containing portals … >
In 1984, the BBC produced one of the most memorable and ambitious children’s television programmes of all time. Based on the novel by John Masefield, The Box of Delights was a tick-all-the-boxes psychedelic alchemy that combined captivating story, superb ensemble performance and special effects that transcended the clunky, pre-digital technology of the age to create … >
As we prepare for Peter Capaldi’s first festive Doctor Who outing, we decided to take a look back at 2013’s Christmas special, ‘The Time of the Doctor’. Matt Smith’s swan song received some mixed reactions on its first airing – probably not helped by most fans trying to hear it over jabbering family members, collapsed … >
If you’re of a certain age, you’ll remember with great fondness the books about a peculiarly British nutty professor by Norman Hunter, starting with The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm. You’ll also no doubt be somewhat dismayed that you’re now old enough to be referred to in online reviews as being ‘of a certain age’. … >
George Clooney and Joanna Lumley appeared in a Downton Abbey sketch for tonight’s Text Santa on ITV. The annual charity appeal returned earlier this evening with a three-hour fundraising show. It’s Christmas at Downton and Lord Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) seems to be facing financial ruin once again. He’s beginning to wonder if his family … >
A crowded room. Friends with tired eyes. It could only be the press launch for the Doctor Who Christmas special where BBC top brass, Doctor Who production staff and assorted hacks and ne’er do wells join in the annual celebration of that most seasonal of figures: the Doctor. We know the drill by now – … >
In 1984, the BBC produced one of the most memorable and ambitious children’s television programmes of all time. Based on the novel by John Masefield, The Box of Delights was a tick-all-the-boxes psychedelic alchemy that combined captivating story, superb ensemble performance and special effects that transcended the clunky, pre-digital technology of the age to create … >
This Christmas special of Charlie Brooker’s techno-horror show manages to compact the show’s usual three-part run into one, feature-length, portmanteau episode. Rafe Spall’s Potter wakes up in a shelter in the middle of a featureless snowy tundra, and finds Jon Hamm’s relentlessly upbeat Matt making a Christmas meal for them. Anyone who has seen Prometheus … >
Earlier this week, very sympathetic to the fact that everyone is probably suffering from festive fatigue, Channel 4 held a preview event in London for Charlie Brooker’s upcoming Black Mirror Christmas special, ‘White Christmas’. In various states of recovery from our respective office Christmas parties – aided by multiple mince pies and several glasses of … >
A new trailer and another clip have been released ahead of this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special. Written by showrunner Steven Moffat, ‘Last Christmas’ guest stars Spaced actor Nick Frost as Father Christmas, alongside Misfits actor Nathan McMullen and Michael Troughton, the son of actor Patrick Troughton, who played the Second Doctor. Watch the clip… The … >