Things to Come...

Marsha.. Marsha.. Marsha..

Or should it be Rose.. Rose.. Rose..

There is no denying that Martha Jones has put up with a lot over the course of the current season. Constantly having to walk in the shadow of "The Ex" has not been an easy task, as well as seeing the Doctor fall in love with a human other than her. While I agree that the Unrequited Love storyline is very interesting from a character point of view, there are times that I long for the Waifs and Strays from the Classic Series.

The new series has a new approach to storytelling. There is much more of an emotional depth and profile to the characters than ever before. I can say that the road that the Doctor has taken Martha down has been a slippery slope indeed. The truth is that she loves him but he doesn't feel the same way. One can only wonder how long she can put up with constantly being reminded that she is walking in Rose's shadow. But the winds of change are blowing and the answer is not long.

There is a new companion coming to Doctor Who next season. Male or Female is not known. Martha won't be in every episode, but will appear in the occasional episode for both Doctor Who and Torchwood.

What will Martha bring to the Torchwood team? Could it be that there will be a need for medical personnel?? If that is the case where would the lovely Dr. Owen Harper be?? And WHO will be the new addition to the Doctor Who Cast?? Winds of change are blowing, lets all hope Martha can weather out the storm.

December Novel Releases

Peacemaker by James Swallow
The peace and quiet of a remote homestead in the 1880s American West is shattered by the arrival of two shadowy outriders searching for 'the healer'. When the farmer refuses to help them, they raze the house to the ground using guns that shoot bolts of energy instead of bullets... In the town of Redwater, the Doctor and Martha learn of a snake-oil salesman who's patent medicines actually cure his patient. But when the Doctor and Martha investigate they discover the truth is stranger, and far more dangerous. Caught between the law of the gun and the deadly plans of intergalactic mercenaries, the Doctor and Martha are about to discover just how wild the West can become... This title features the Doctor and Martha as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the hit series from BBC Television.

The Pirate Loop by Simon GuerrierThe Doctor's been everywhere and everywhen in the whole of the universe and seems to know all the answers. But ask him what happened to the Starship Brilliant and he hasn't the first idea. Did it fall into a sun or black hole? Was it shot down in the first moments of the galactic war? And what's this about a secret experimental drive? The Doctor is skittish. But if Martha is so keen to find out he'll land the TARDIS on the Brilliant, a few days before it vanishes. Then they can see for themselves... Soon the Doctor learns the awful truth. And Martha learns that you need to be careful what you wish for. She certainly wasn't hoping for mayhem, death, and badger-faced space pirates. This title features the Doctor and Martha as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the hit series from BBC Television.

Wishing Well by Trevor Baxendale
The old village well is just a curiosity - something to attract tourists intrigued by stories of lost treasure, or visitors just making a wish. Unless something alien and terrifying could be lurking inside the well. Something utterly monstrous that causes nothing but death and destruction. But who knows the real truth about the well? Who wishes to unleash the hideous force it contains? What terrible consequences will follow the search for a legendary treasure hidden at the bottom? No one wants to believe the Doctor's warnings about the deadly horror lying in wait - but soon they'll wish they had... This title features the Doctor and Martha as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the hit series from BBC Television.

The Last of the Time Lords

From the BBC Press Release:

Earth has been conquered and the Master rules supreme, with the Doctor a helpless prisoner, in the final episode of Russell T Davies's Doctor Who.The entire human race has been reduced to slavery, as the mighty warships of a new Time Lord Empire rise from the ashes. Only Martha Jones can save the world...

Journal to come

John Smith's A JOURNAL OF IMPOSSIBLE THINGS will be released as part of the DOCTOR WHO merchandise range later this year - as a limited edition hardback book.

A Closer Look: Ben Jackson

Ben first appears in the First Doctor serial, The War Machines, when he meets Polly and Dodo in a London nightclub called the Inferno. Ben is feeling depressed and angry because he has a six-month shore posting while his ship is going to the West Indies, but Polly and Dodo try to cheer him up. When Polly is accosted by another patron in the Inferno, Ben comes to her rescue. Eventually, Ben and Polly aid the Doctor in his fight against the rogue artificial intelligence known as WOTAN. They are bearers of the news of Dodo's decision to stay in 1966 to the Doctor, and accidentally get carried away in the TARDIS when they try to return Dodo's key to the time machine.

Ben is a salt-of-the-Earth kind of fellow, dependable, faithful, but prone to be suspicious when kept in the dark or not understanding what was going on. He is very attached to Polly, considering her posh, giving her the nickname of "Duchess" and appointing himself as both her protector and that of the Doctor's. He is present with Polly when the First Doctor regenerates into the Second, and continues to travel with the Second Doctor.

Eventually, the TARDIS finds its way back to 1966 London in The Faceless Ones on the very day Ben and Polly had left (although about a year had passed for them). They decide to remain behind to resume their lives without disruption as the Doctor and Jamie travel on.

In the spin-off short story "Mondas Passing" by Paul Grice (in the anthology Short Trips) which takes place in 1986, it is revealed that Ben and Polly have gone their separate ways and married other people. Ben meets a divorced Polly again with the help of the Second Doctor in 1999 ("That Time I Nearly Destroyed The World Whilst Looking For a Dress" by Joseph Lidster, published in Short Trips: Past Tense), where the two admit their love for each other.

Hunting Them Weevils

Thanks to Braxiatel Caerdydd over at the OutpostGallifrey forums we have a neat little set report all about last night's filming in some mystery Cardiff street. It's not known which episode these scenes come from, but they sure as hell contain SPOILERS - so don't read on if you want to remain clean! If not, then read on...

"Just got back from this evening's filming which was great fun. Just two scenes were filmed the 90 minutes or so that I was there but there was also plenty of other entertainment.John Barrowman was very friendly coming over to say hello to the masses on a couple of ocassions while people were also invited to have photos taken with him and autographs.Before rehearsals, people were also able to have their photo taken with the impressive SUV (is that the correct initials?), black car anyway!!!

The first scene was done in one take. It involved Jack and Ianto looking at a young girl who was standing by a lamppost. Didn't hear the dialogue if there was any.The second scene involved Jack and Ianto hunting a weevil. The rough script is as follows...

Ianto: Weevil sighted in the sewers of _____ street.

Ianto then throws Jack the car keys which Jack catches (in every one of the dozen takes). Jack then looks like he's been startled and looks around.

Jack: Did you SEE that?

They both look for a second before Jack says: "Get in, I'll give you a lift." and they drive off.

Filming was interupted a few times, at one point by some young drunks who starting shouting "I love you Jack Barrowman" before asking him for oral sex. Well it is Torchwood after all!"

Torchwood Update

Ashley Way is to return to Torchwood in its second year - according to the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine. Way is to direct the third block of Torchwood episodes, with Colin Teague ("Ghost Machine", "Last of the Time Lords") set to helm block two.

There's been a shake-up in the line up of season two writers. We can now expect to see scripts from Chris Chibnall, Helen Raynor, Catherine Tregenna, James Moran, Matt Jones ("The Satan Pit"), JC Wilsher and PJ Hammond. Both Chibnall and Tregenna are down for mulitple episodes. There's no word yet on whether Russell T Davies will still script an episode.

The magazine also reports on Torchwood's BAFTA Cymru wins. Executive producer Julie Gardner says, "It was such an exiting night, and such a boost for the Doctor Who and Torchwood teams." There's a lovely snap of David Tennant and Eve Myles stood next to one another, comparing awards. Together they were named "Best Actor" and "Best Actress".

Apparently John Barrowman's audio book signing at Oxford Street's Borders went very well. Says the magazine "...it was one of the most successful signings they'd hosted, and it could have gone on for much longer, had John not had to dash off to that evening's round of Any Dream Will Do!" Why, oh why, couldn't I have attended...?

The review section finally (!) gets round to revieiwng the three Torchwood novels that were published on New Years Day, and generally has kind words to say of all three. Andy Lane's "Slow Decay" is clearly the reviewer's favourite book of the series though.