News Analysis India

Tag: Doctor Who

  • Steven Moffat opens up on future of ‘Sherlock’

    By Express News Service

    British writer/producer Steven Moffat, best known as the showrunner of hit shows like Doctor Who and BBC’s Sherlock. He is currently the showrunner for the Netflix thriller series Inside Man which premiered its first season in September 2022.

    While promoting his recent play The Unfriend, the screenwriter revealed that he had just started discussing the second season of Inside Man. The former Doctor Who showrunner also revealed, “We’re looking at the enthusiastically-nodded-about graphs and apparently (Inside Man) performed quite well.”

    The BBC crime drama series Sherlock, based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s popular character, was created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. The series premiered its first season in 2010 and went on to become a worldwide phenomenon, relaunching the careers of stars like Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. 

    While the fourth season was released in 2014, the show did not receive a definite ending, nor was it cancelled. Even though the plans for a fifth season have been completed, due to the conflicting schedules of Cumberbatch and Freeman, the future of the series remained uncertain. 

    And now, Moffat has revealed that he would start writing Sherlock tomorrow if stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman agreed to return. 

    British writer/producer Steven Moffat, best known as the showrunner of hit shows like Doctor Who and BBC’s Sherlock. He is currently the showrunner for the Netflix thriller series Inside Man which premiered its first season in September 2022.

    While promoting his recent play The Unfriend, the screenwriter revealed that he had just started discussing the second season of Inside Man. The former Doctor Who showrunner also revealed, “We’re looking at the enthusiastically-nodded-about graphs and apparently (Inside Man) performed quite well.”

    The BBC crime drama series Sherlock, based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s popular character, was created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. The series premiered its first season in 2010 and went on to become a worldwide phenomenon, relaunching the careers of stars like Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. 

    While the fourth season was released in 2014, the show did not receive a definite ending, nor was it cancelled. Even though the plans for a fifth season have been completed, due to the conflicting schedules of Cumberbatch and Freeman, the future of the series remained uncertain. 

    And now, Moffat has revealed that he would start writing Sherlock tomorrow if stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman agreed to return.
     

  • Rwandan refugee child who became ‘Sex Education’ star is the new ‘Doctor Who’

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: The new ‘Doctor Who’ has been unveiled, and it’s ‘Sex Education’ star Ncuti Gatwa. Gatwa takes over from Jodie Whittaker, who has played the iconic role since 2017, reports ‘Variety’.The actor’s departure was revealed in July 2021 and there’s been widespread speculation ever since around who will be replacing her, with rumoured names including ‘It’s a Sin’ stars Olly Alexander and Lydia West, and even Michaela Coel.The BBC confirmed Gatwa’s casting on Sunday afternoon, local time, just hours before the taping of the BAFTA TV Awards, suggesting there could be some reference to ‘Doctor Who’ during the ceremony.Gatwa is expected to be in attendance, according to a list of expected guests provided by BAFTA last week. The 29-year-old Scottish actor was born in Rwanda and broke out in Netflix comedy “Sex Education,” where he plays Eric Effiong, best friend to Asa Butterfield’s Otis.He is the second Black actor to portray a doctor, following Jo Martin, who played ‘Fugitive Doctor’ Ruth Clayton in a 2020 episode. In a statement, Gatwa told the BBC that he was “deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared.””This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care,” said Gatwa.”I will endeavor my upmost to do the same.” Fans began to guess on Sunday that ‘Doctor Who’ news was imminent after a cryptic equation of two hearts, a plus sign and a blue square popped up on the Instagram pages of Gatwa and showrunner Russell T. Davies, who takes over from Chris Chibnall for the next season. Davies commented “The future is here” under Gatwa’s post.The ‘It’s a Sin’ and ‘Queer as Folk’ writer told the BBC that Gatwa had “dazzled” the creative team in his audition.”Sometimes talent walks through the door and it’s so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand back in awe and thank my lucky stars,” said Davies. Production on the new season of ‘Doctor Who’ will begin later this year.

  • Jodie Whittaker leaving ‘Doctor Who’ after three seasons

    By PTI
    LONDON: Actor Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to play the Time Lord in BBC’s “Doctor Who”, will exit the sci-fi series in 2022.

    Whittaker, who has been playing the 13th doctor since 2017, will leave after her third season.

    The actor will appear in a six-part event serial as well as three specials before departing the series, BBC said in a statement on Friday.

    Besides Whittaker, showrunner Chris Chibnall is also leaving the long-running series.

    “In 2017 I opened my glorious gift box of size 13 shoes. I could not have guessed the brilliant adventures, worlds and wonders I was to see in them,” said Whittaker.

    “My heart is so full of love for this show, for the team who make it, for the fans who watch it and for what it has brought to my life. And I cannot thank Chris enough for entrusting me with his incredible stories,” she added.

    The 39-year-old actor said Chibnall and she made the decision to leave the show together.

    “We knew that we wanted to ride this wave side by side, and pass on the baton together. So here we are, weeks away from wrapping on the best job I have ever had.”

    “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express what this role has given me. I will carry the Doctor and the lessons I’ve learnt forever,” Whittaker added.

    Chibnall concurred with the actor and said that they had made a ‘three series and out’ pact with each other at the start of “this once-in-a-lifetime blast”.

    “So now our shift is done, and we’re handing back the TARDIS keys. Jodie’s magnificent, iconic Doctor has exceeded all our high expectations. She’s been the gold standard leading actor, shouldering the responsibility of being the first female Doctor with style, strength, warmth, generosity and humour.

    “She captured the public imagination and continues to inspire adoration around the world, as well as from everyone on the production. I can’t imagine working with a more inspiring Doctor – so I’m not going to,” he added.

    The 13th series of “Doctor Who” will air towards the end of 2021.

    The three specials will follow in 2022 starting on January 1 with a spring and fall special also in the works.

  • ‘Doctor Who’ star Noel Clarke accused of sexual misconduct

    By PTI
    LONDON: Actor-writer-producer Noel Clarke, best known for his work on “Doctor Who”, has been accused by 20 women of sexual harassment.

    Clarke, who recently won a BAFTA award, has an established history of sexual harassment, bullying, unwanted groping and touching dating back to 2004, according to a report by The Guardian.

    The actor has also been accused of secretly filming the nude auditions of female actors.

    The women, who have come forward with the allegations, say he preyed on them at the beginning of their career and they were afraid of speaking the truth for the power he wields in the British film-and-television industry.

    Clarke would harass female colleagues with repeated sexual advances, sometimes physically, and if they refused, he would intimidate them into staying silent about his actions.

    “It was just constant, inappropriate comments,” one woman alleged.

    “He was always trying to steer the conversation towards sex.”

    “Crazy Rich Asians” star Jing Lusi, who worked with Clarke on the 2020 film “SAS: Red Notice”, alleged that he had propositioned her for sex during a business dinner.

    When she shot down his advances, Lusi said, Clarke reacted in a “disturbing” way.

    “(He was) really laying it on thick and grossly and quite explicitly,” she recalled.

    Clarke, who is married and has three children, has denied every allegation but admitted to once making “inappropriate comments” to a woman and apologized for them at the time.

    “In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me. If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologize,” Clarke said.

    “I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations,” the 45-year-old actor said.

    Earlier this month, BAFTA gave Clarke an Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award even though, The Guardian claims, BAFTA was aware of the allegations against him prior to the ceremony.

    BAFTA has now suspended the award and the actor’s membership “in light of the allegations of serious misconduct” in the Guardian.