Planet of the Facts #7: A Half-Human Doctor

FACT No.7: A Half-Human Doctor

The original concept for the 1996 TV movie’s plot was to not only introduce the idea that The Doctor was apparently human, but also involved the newly-regenerated Eighth Doctor (played by Paul McGann) to go searching for his true father, who was to have appeared and been an integral part of the plot.

Through the filtering of the various TV companies’ wants and many script drafts later, this plotline was reduced to a couple of lines – one said by The Master (Eric Roberts) and the other by The Doctor himself – mentioning he is “half-human”; these lines remain as it was the one idea that producer Philip Segal was very adamant to retain of the initial script.

The Doctor’s human-Gallifreyan parentage idea was inspired by Mr Spock’s half-human parentage in Star Trek.

With thanks to Niall Boyce.

Planet of the Facts #6: The Nation’s Dalek Naming

FACT No.6: The Nation’s Dalek Naming

The word “Dalek” actually translates as “a far and distant place” in Serbo-Croatian, although this was, in fact, a complete coincidence on Terry Nation’s part (the creator of the Daleks, if you didn’t know… somehow).

Nation originally told a Daily Mirror journalist in 1964, the name of the Dalek came from a dictionary or encyclopaedia volume, the spine of which apparently read "…dal – Lek…". Years later, however, he admitted this story was entirely fictitious. In reality, the word had randomly rolled from his typewriter as a typographical mistake.

According to director Kevin Davies – in his 1993 book ‘More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS’, Terry Nation was later pleasantly surprised when informed of his creation’s Serbo-Croatian meaning.

Madame Vastra returns in Gatiss episode

On-set reporter and photographer Ryan Farrell has confirmed many fans’ hopes that samurai-sword-wielding Silurian ally to The Doctor – Madame Vastra – will return to our screens in the second episode of Series 7 to be written by Mark Gatiss.

Last night, Farrell tweeted: “For people who are asking, Madame Vastra is back as well, but she wasn't [on set] today.”

The episode – title rumoured as ‘The Crimson Horror’ – is set in a small village in Yorkshire, during the Industrial Age of Queen Victoria’s reign; the home-time of Vastra and her lover/fighter Jenny.

‘The Crimson Horror’ (title subject to change) also stars mother and daughter actresses Dame Diana Rigg (as Mrs Gillyflower – above, right) and Rachael Stirling, as well as Catrin Stewart as Jenny (above, left).

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See also…

1. DWF - Catrin Stewart returns as Jenny? (2nd July 2012, 6:35PM)
2. DWF - Diana Rigg & Rachael Stirling in Series 7 (2nd July 2012, 12:34PM)

With thanks to Ryan Farrell.

What do you think of this news?

Catrin Stewart returns as Jenny?

Reports are coming in from those watching the filming of the current block of Series 7, that say that (right now, as this is written and posted) Catrin Stewart has arrived on set.

Catrin Stewart was first and last seen in Series 6’s ‘A Good Man Goes To War’ as Jenny, the Victorian-era maid, as well as lover and half-of-a-fighting-duo with Siluran sword-slinger Madame Vastra; both close allies of The Doctor.

Ryan Farrell – regular photographer of Doctor Who filming – subsequently went on to say Diana Rigg had just arrived on set (see DWF – ‘Diana Rigg and Rachael Stirling in Series 7’'), which sets Stewart’s appearance in the Gatiss-written episode 8, title so far unknown.

With the extremely unlikely prospect that Stewart would return as a separate character to Jenny, this no doubt will provoke the question among fandom as to whether this will also mark the return of Vastra (played by Neve McIntosh).

DWF will bring you more news on this as we get it…

Diana Rigg & Rachael Stirling in Series 7

The official Doctor Who Twitter feed has just announced the casting of Dame Diana Rigg, and her daughter Rachael Stirling, in the upcoming new series, in an episode penned by Mark Gatiss – episode 8, which features Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara. The duo will star opposite each other as a mother and daughter with a “dark secret”.

Diana Rigg is best known for her work as swingin’-sixties sex-symbol spy Emma Peel in The Avengers, as well as her role as Tracy Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – 007’s one and only wife.

Dame Diana Rigg, who will play a Yorkshire local, said: “The first time Rachie and I will be working together is on an episode of Doctor Who specially written for us by Mark Gatiss. How lucky is that?”

Rachael Stirling is a two-time Olivier Award nominee, who has starred in many a television drama, including Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Marple, Lewis, and more recently the films Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, and Snow White and the Huntsman.

She said, “What joy. I am looking forward to the madness of Doctor Who enormously. Mark Gatiss has written a gift of a script and an on-screen relationship between Ma and I that is truly delicious. We have never before worked together because the offers have not been tempting, but when such a funny and original script comes through you know the time has come.”

Steven Moffat commented on the news, saying, “Dame Diana Rigg, Rachael Stirling and a Mark Gatiss script - a combination of talents you could only get in Doctor Who! Frankly, I'm terrified already!”

The episode is directed by Douglas Mackinnon and will guest star actor David Warner and Liam Cunningham. Part of this episode is set of a submarine, while Gatiss has teased that its script contains the words, “meat”, “klaxon” and “Vienna”.

Planet of the Facts #5: Felicity Kendal

FACT No.5: Felicity Kendal

Just like her character in the 2008 Series Four episode ‘The Unicorn and the Wasp’ (Lady Eddington of Eddington Hall, in the story written by Gareth Roberts), Felicity Kendal was born the UK, but moved with her parents to India at a very young age. As a result, again like Lady Eddington, Kendal grew up in India and moved back to the UK when in her twenties.

Planet of the Facts #4: The Dalek Timelash

FACT No.4: The Dalek Timelash

The 1985 Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) two-part serial ‘Timelash’ was originally submitted by writer Glen McCoy to script editor Eric Saward as a Dalek story. However, the script was rejected as Saward didn’t think it a suitable plot for The Doctor’s ultimate foe.

The script editor then invited McCoy to re-submit a thoroughly re-drafted version, not including the Skaro-born aliens, which resulted in the ‘Timelash’ story we know today.