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Recasting the Second and Third Doctors in Doctor Who could potentially ruin the nostalgia and legacy associated with the characters and their original actors. It would also confuse new fans and irritate longtime fans who are accustomed to specific actors in those roles. The series' track record of changing writers, budgets, and showrunners already causes inconsistency in Doctor Who. Recasting the actors would only exacerbate this turmoil and potentially dismantle the infrastructure that has made the series beloved for decades. The logical and respectful way to recast Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee would be to have their sons play the roles, as Michael Troughton has already done in "Big Finish" and Sean Pertwee bears a striking resemblance to his father. This approach would appeal to die-hard fans and prevent confusion for new fans.

With the possibility of introducing more multi-doctor storylines, Doctor Who should only recast the second and third...

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

“People often ask me, ‘what makes a good Doctor?'” Matt Smith once said. “My answer is simply, ‘Patrick Troughton.'” There’s something very special about the Second Doctor, and that’s down to Patrick Troughton who infuses every sentence with a unique joyous, contemplative quality. If you’ve watched anything from his tenure as the Time Lord, you’ll...

The post Review: Smile on Your Face by Michael Troughton appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

It’s the 50th anniversary of Patrick Troughton’s first appearance in Doctor Who this year, and a new book celebrates the brilliant man who quickly carved a place in the heart of many Whovians. Smile on Your Face is a collection of photographs from Patrick’s varied career, compiled by his son, Michael Troughton. Michael of course played...

The post See Previously-Unseen Patrick Troughton Photos in Smile On Your Face appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

This day has been an emotional rollercoaster.

The facts and details of the Christmas episode have been kept strictly secret, and for good reason. Rumors flew that Jenna Coleman was leaving the series just as the new season was a-borning, and her go-to answer for the events of the special was “If you know if I’m staying with the series, it’ll ruin the ending”. A spectacularly surprising cameo, a hilarious guest star, and a plot that keeps unfolding like a fried onion makes for a ripping yarn for the holiday. But for most of the year, we were never sure or not if this was to be Clara’s…

Last Christmas

By Steven Moffat

Directed by Paul Wilmshurst

Clara and The Doctor team up again after Santa crashes on her roof. You heard me – Sweet Papa Chrimbo himself appears atop Clara’s home, and before any sense can be made of that,...

Doctor Who: BBC One,6.15pm

Peter Capaldi is back as the time-travelling adventurer in this festive special in which he must fend off terrifying creatures attacking an Arctic base.

Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) and Michael Troughton (son of second Doctor Patrick Troughton) co-star in this year's Christmas special.

Miranda: BBC One, 7.15pm

Miranda is back on screens in the first of this two-part Christmas special, which sadly marks the end of the series forever.

The first episode picks up where the last one left off, with the unlucky-in-love shop owner having received two proposals of marriage - one from dreamboat chef Gary and the other from new boyfriend Mike. Who will she choose, if anyone?

Call the Midwife: BBC One, 7.50pm

It's a Miranda Hart double bill on this BBC Christmas, as the comedy actress appears in this special Christmas edition of Call the Midwife.

It's Christmas...

Peter Capaldi's first Christmas special in the Doctor Who lead role came laden with tangerines. But was it any good?

This review contains spoilers. Our spoiler-free review is here.

Last Christmas

"A skeleton man, and a girl in her nightie"

It's one heck of a gamble to go for an hour long Doctor Who Christmas special, where all but a few minutes at the end turn out to be a dream. Yet that's just what Steven Moffat pulled off with his far improved Yuletide episode, Last Christmas.

As he confirmed at the Q&A after the press screening, everything you see in the episode, from the first scene onwards, is strictly a dream, up until the finale, and the placing of Last Christmas' final tangerine. A poignant tangerine, that also seems to suggest that Santa is real. That's a mystery solved, then.

Last year's oft-criticised The Time Of...

Santa Claus (Nick Frost) makes a grand entrance in a new trailer and clip from Doctor Who's highly-anticipated Christmas Special, airing Christmas Day on BBC One and BBC America. This obviously isn't your typical Kris Kringle, as he's seen riding a bucking Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer before his first meeting with the Time Lord (Peter Capaldi). As we can see in the clip, Santa's elves come packing some serious artillery, and Rudolph even has his own unique security system.

In Doctor Who, the Doctor and Clara face their Last Christmas. Trapped on an Arctic base, under attack from terrifying creatures, who are you going to call? Santa Claus! Will this really be the Last Christmas for the Doctor and Clara? And what exactly are these terrifying creatures? It's not the first time the Doctor has visited the Arctic of course. It's previously been home to an Ice Warrior in...

A brand new trailer for Doctor Who's upcoming Christmas special has been unveiled.

The BBC's latest teaser for 'Last Christmas' sees The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) reunited with Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) for the holidays, following their parting in 'Death in Heaven'.

Doctor Who's dynamic duo soon find themselves facing off with grotesque aliens on a military base filled with ammunition.

Just when it appears that all hope is lost, Father Christmas himself shows up in the form of comedian Nick Frost.

Steven Moffat on Doctor Who new series: "We can stop shocking the audience"

Doctor Who: BBC posts new images from 'Last Christmas' special

The Steven Moffat-penned episode will also feature Michael Troughton and Natalie Gumede, in addition to Strax actor Dan Starkey playing new character Ian.

Capaldi has hinted to Digital Spy that 'Last Christmas' will be both festive and terrifying.

We’ve scanned the UK Christmas TV and radio schedules for the festive fortnight and circled a few programmes you may enjoy…

We’ve taken our glittery pen to the pages of this year’s festive TV Listings guide to circle a selection of shows that might tickle your Christmas fancy.

Supplement your festive box-set viewing with appearances from the Doctor and Clara, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Dame Judi Dench, Professor Danielle George, the work of Roald Dahl, Charlie Brooker, David Attenborough, the much-missed Rik Mayall, and many more...

Drama Doctor Who: Last Christmas

The tenth annual Doctor Who Christmas Special since the show’s 2005 return, and Peter Capaldi’s first real festive Tardis adventure. Nick Frost, Michael Troughton, Dan Starkey and Nathan McMullen all co-star in this Father Christmas North Pole caper, alongside Capaldi and Jenna Coleman. Watch the latest trailer, here.

When’s it on? 6.15pm on Christmas Day,...

Mr Steven Moffat has been chatting about Doctor Who's upcoming festive episode, as well as Missy's future...

As a festive treat, Steven Moffat has given out a lot of Doctor Who press quotes in the last few days, even by his own standards, in a big preview for Radio Times. We'll get started then...

On Michael Troughton's role in Last Christmas, he said "He doesn't play the son of Doctor Who or anything, he plays a scientist."

With more enthusiasm, he also discussed the episode itself: "scary, tense and claustrophobic... It's The Thing meets Miracle on 34th Street. It's certainly the strangest bloody thing I've ever written." Quite a statement there.

On his decision to include Santa, the Grand Moff said that "Santa is written in properly, in a science-fiction way, into Doctor Who. Nick is ideal. He's what Santa should be in Doctor Who land."

And finally,...

Doctor Who's Christmas special will air on December 25 on BBC America in the Us.

The sci-fi drama's 2014 festive episode, written by showrunner Steven Moffat, will be titled 'Last Christmas'.

Watch a BBC America teaser for the special below:

Doctor Who: 9 things that series 9 must deliver

Doctor Who: See new picture from festive special 'Last Christmas'

Peter Capaldi will star alongside Nick Frost and Jenna Coleman in the special, which is also expected to air on Christmas Day in the UK on BBC One.

Frost stars as a man claiming to be Santa Claus, while Natalie Gumede, Nathan McMullen, Michael Troughton and Faye Marsay will appear in supporting roles.

Meanwhile, comedian Jack Whitehall has told Digital Spy that he would love to play a "Gruber-esque" villain in the series.

Watch a clip from 'Last Christmas' below:...

Doctor Who has debuted a new promotional picture for its upcoming Christmas special.

The sci-fi drama's 2014 festive episode, written by showrunner Steven Moffat, will be titled 'Last Christmas'.

Peter Capaldi will star alongside Nick Frost and Jenna Coleman in the special, which is expected to air on BBC One on Christmas Day.

Frost stars as a man claiming to be Santa Claus, while Natalie Gumede, Nathan McMullen, Michael Troughton and Faye Marsay will also appear in supporting roles.

The BBC recently announced that Doctor Who's latest series averaged 7.4 million viewers across its 12 episodes.

Meanwhile, Coleman spoke to Digital Spy about her future on the long-running series, saying that Clara "can't go back to a normal life".

Watch a clip from 'Last Christmas' below:...

The BBC has screened an extended preview of this year's Doctor Who Christmas special. And you can see it here...

It's an annual tradition that as part of the BBC's Children In Need appeal, we get an extended look at what lies ahead in the Doctor Who Christmas special. That tradition has been kept again this year.

This year's special has been penned again by Steven Moffat, with Paul Wilmhurst directing. Guest stars? They would be Nick Frost, Michael Troughton, Nathan McMullen, Natalie Gumede and Faye Marsay. Peter Capaldi, of course will be reprising the role of the Doctor. And as this clip confirms, Clara - played by Jenna Coleman - is back as well.

To donate to Children In Need, please follow this link here.

And here's the preview clip from the next episode of Doctor Who...

Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here.

Doctor Who's Christmas special has released its first clip.

BBC One aired the preview on its Children in Need fundraiser this evening (November 14).

Doctor Who: Moffat talks The Master's return, leaked episodes and more

The footage features Clara (Jenna Coleman) coming face-to-face with what appears to be Santa Claus (played by Nick Frost).

Peter Capaldi's Doctor then arrives to cast doubt on the red-suited one's motives and whisk Clara away.

Guest stars for the special include Natalie Gumede, Nathan McMullen, Michael Troughton and Faye Marsay.

Doctor Who's series eight finale aired on BBC One last Saturday (November 8) to an overnight audience of 5.45 million.

Watch Digital Spy's video review of 'Death in Heaven' below:...

I’m not really a fan of Doctor Who, but I always tune in for the annual Christmas special. The brief teaser – which aired after the dramatic series eight finale – was released online. The short clip features no sign of companion Jenna Coleman, last seen bidding farewell to the Doctor, although she is confirmed to appear in the festive special. Instead, this first footage shows Peter Capaldi who asks, “It’s Christmas at the North Pole. Who are you going to call?” The Doctor Who Christmas Special is written by Steven Moffat and directed by Paul Wilmshurst and will also star Natalie Gumede, Michael Troughton, Faye Marsay and Nathan McMullen.

The 2014 Doctor Who Christmas Special will air December 25, 2014 on BBC and BBC America.

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The post Teaser trailer for 2014 ‘Doctor Who’ Christmas special appeared first on Sound On Sight.

The first image from Doctor Who's Christmas special has been revealed.

Peter Capaldi and Nick Frost star as The Doctor and Santa Claus in the episode, which will air on BBC One over the Christmas period.

A preview of the Christmas episode will be broadcast on the BBC Children in Need appeal show this Friday (November 14) from 7.30pm on BBC One.

In the festive episode, Capaldi will be joined by companion Clara (Jenna Coleman), as well as guest stars Natalie Gumede, Nathan McMullen, Michael Troughton and Faye Marsay.

The series finale of Doctor Who aired on BBC One last Saturday (November 8) to an overnight audience of 5.45m.

Watch Digital Spy's video review of 'Death in Heaven' below:...

Jenna Coleman has been chatting about the Doctor Who Christmas special, but does that mean she’s 100% confirmed?

This article contains a spoiler for Doctor Who: Death In Heaven, and mild teases for the Doctor Who Christmas special

Here’s one we’re not quite sure what to make of – Doctor Who's Clara, Jenna Coleman, has been discussing the 2014 Doctor Who Christmas special.

“It’s written in sections and it’s about dreaming – what is real and what is not”, she explained while chatting to In Style. As we already know, she also mentioned that “Father Christmas is there – played by Nick Frost!”. He popped up in the trailer, here.

Now, certain sections of the web have taken this to mean she’s definitely appearing in the episode, though she doesn’t expressly say that. However, her knowledge of the episode coupled with the ending of Death In Heaven...

Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace on earth and goodwill to all men. Unless you're  a certain Tardis-dwelling Time Lord, in which case the forthcoming festive season is going to be a time of terrifying, slavering beasties. That is one of the apparent takeaways from a teaser trailer for this year's special Christmas episode of Doctor Who, which the BBC has released ahead of tonight's season finale of the long-running British time travel show. In 2014's Yuletide show, regular Doctor Who cast members Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman are joined by guest stars Michael Troughton (son of...

Santa Claus isn't looking too jolly in the first promo for Doctor Who's forthcoming Christmas special.  The trailer features Nick Frost as St. Nick, although he definitely doesn't have a smile on his face. Maybe that's because the clip also includes some creatures that are far more frightening than elves. Read more BBC Responds After 'Doctor Who' Episode Receives More Than 100 Complaints "It's Christmas, the North Pole," the Time Lord (Peter Capaldi) exclaims. "Who you gonna call?" Michael Troughton, Natalie Gumede, Faye Marsay and Nathan McMullen guest star. The episode was written by Emmy-winning Doctor Who showrunner Steven

read more...

Santa Claus is coming to BBC for its annual “Doctor Who” Christmas special, and “Shaun of the Dead” star Nick Frost will be playing the iconic holiday figure. The first trailer (above) for the science fiction show's 2014 Christmas special gives viewers the first glimpse of Frost as jolly old St. Nicholas, who will be helping Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) and his companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) face off against some kind of beast terrorizing the North Pole. See all Robin Williams: ‘A Merry Friggin’ Christmas’ Review: Robin Williams Stars in Dysfunctional-Family Holiday Comedy Previously announced guest stars on the special include Michael Troughton.

It’s almost the holiday season, and you know what that means -- a new "Doctor Who" Christmas special. Last year's special introduced viewers to the twelfth doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, so who knows what gift the BBC and wrier Stephen Moffat ("Sherlock") will be giving to fans. A new trailer shows the Doctor and Clara (Jenna Coleman) spending Christmas in the North Pole where they appear to run into a nasty, "Alien"-like creature and Santa Claus himself, played by "The World's End" and "Shaun of the Dead" Nick Frost. Watch it here: Other guest stars include Michael Troughton (the real-life son of the Second Doctor Patrick Troughton), Natalie Gumede ("Strictly Come Dancing"), Faye Marsay ("Pride"), and Nathan McMullen ("Misfits"). The 2014 Christmas Special will air on BBC America.

The first trailer for the Doctor Who Christmas special has been released.

The 30-second trailer shows Peter Capaldi's doctor face a sinister evil, and features an appearance from a jolly Santa Claus.

Capaldi will be joined by companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) in the special episode, as well as guest stars Nick Frost and Natalie Gumede.

Misfits star Nathan McMullen will also appear, as well as Michael Troughton and Faye Marsay.

The series finale of Doctor Who aired on BBC One tonight (November 8), and you can watch Digital Spy's video review here.

The Doctor Who special will air on BBC One over the Christmas period.

The eighth series of Doctor Who is set to run until November 8, but beyond that lies the BBC sci-fi's 2014 Christmas special.

The Week in Geek has rounded up everything we know so far about this year's festive adventure - to be updated regularly as more details are revealed.

Doctor Who 2014 Christmas Special

Written by: Steven Moffat

Directed by: Paul Wilmshurst ('Kill the Moon', 'Mummy on the Orient Express')

Starring: Peter Capaldi (The Doctor), Jenna Coleman (Clara)

Guest-starring: Nick Frost, Natalie Gumede, Nathan McMullen, Michael Troughton, Faye Marsay

Soundbites:

Nick Frost: "I'm so thrilled to have been asked to guest in the Doctor Who Christmas Special, I'm such a fan of the show. The read-through was very difficult for me; I wanted to keep stuffing my fingers into my ears and scream 'No spoilers!' Every day on set I've had to silence my internal fan-boy squeals!"

Steven Moffat...

"Shaun of the Dead" and "The World's End" star Nick Frost will appear in this year's "Doctor Who" Christmas special.

In a statement, Frost says: "I'm so thrilled to have been asked to guest in the Doctor Who Christmas special, I'm such a fan of the show. The read-through was very difficult for me; I wanted to keep stuffing my fingers into my ears and scream 'No spoilers!' - every day on set I've had to silence my internal fan boy squeals."

Showrunner Steven Moffat adds: "Frost at Christmas - it just makes sense! I worked with Nick on the Tintin movie many years ago and it's a real pleasure to lure him back to television for a ride on the Tardis."

The BBC has not yet confirmed whom Frost will play in the hour-long episode. Other guest cast includes Natalie Gumede, Faye Marsay, Nathan McMullen and Michael Troughton,...

Confirming recently circulating rumors, the BBC announced today that Nick Frost will guest-star in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special.

Nick comments: “I’m so thrilled to have been asked to guest in the Doctor Who Christmas special, I’m such a fan of the show. The read-through was very difficult for me; I wanted to keep stuffing my fingers into my ears and scream “No spoilers!” Every day on set I’ve had to silence my internal fan boy squeals!”

Nick’s frequent partner in crime Simon Pegg appeared in the Eccleston adventure The Long Game as the Editor of Satellite Five, and servant of the Mighty Jagrafess of the Editor-in-Chief, the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe (And yes, I used cut and paste, there’s none of us perfect). Other members of the Pegg / Frost / Edgar Wright repertory company who have appeared on the series include Michael Smiley in...

Nick Frost is one of three guest stars that will be appearing in the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special. Frost is best known for his work with Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright on films such as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World's End. The guy is a very funny and talented individual, and it's going to be so cool to see him enter the world of Doctor Who. The other two actors joining the special are Nathan McMullen (Misfits) and Michael Troughton, who played the second Doctor in the 1960s.

The news was revealed on Doctor Who's official Twitter feed with the following photo that came with the caption: "#DoctorWho Christmas Special guest stars #HoHoHo."

I can't wait to see what they have in store for the Christmas special this year! ...

How’s this for a slice of fried gold? The BBC announced today that actor Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, The World’s End) will guest star in this year’s special Christmas episode of Doctor Who, the production of which has now begun.

“I’m so thrilled to have been asked to guest in the Doctor Who Christmas special, I’m such a fan of the show,” Frost said in a statement. “The read-through was very difficult for me; I wanted to keep stuffing my fingers into my ears and scream ‘No spoilers!’ Every day on set I...

Nick Frost, Michael Troughton and Nathan McMullen are all joining this year's Doctor Who Christmas special.

We're not even at the half-way stage of Doctor Who series 8 yet, but already, we're looking ahead to the Christmas special. It's been filming over the past couple of weeks, albeit mainly behind closed doors. As such, details of the guest stars this year has been thin on the ground.

Until now, at least.

Three names have now been confirmed. Firstly, there's Nick Frost, who needs little introduction. Nor, to fans of Misfits, will Nathan McMullen. And in a lovely touch, Michael Troughton, the son of second Doctor Patrick Troughton, has also been added to the cast. Troughton's book on his father's life is well worth picking up.

Steven Moffat has penned the script for this one. It will screen, as you might have guessed, on December 25th. Here's the picture that the BBC Tweeted,...

Fargo: Channel 4, 9pm

It's the last in the season of the critically acclaimed Us drama, and Lester (Martin Freeman) is once again trying to manipulate everyone around him, having already framed his own brother for the murders of his wife and Chief Thurman.

Meanwhile, dogged deputy Molly (Allison Tolman) takes the lead, Gus (Colin Hanks) pursues a hunch and killer Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) finds a new target. Whose life will he turn upside down now?

The New Statesman: ITV, 10.30pm

Just in case you missed the first episode of the Rik Mayall classic, ITV is repeating it tonight.

Newly elected MP Alan B'Stard (Mayall) has won the largest majority in parliament after sabotaging his rivals. However, the police chief constable has evidence of the scheming politician's misdeeds and starts blackmailing him. Also starring Michael Troughton, Marsha Fitzalan and John Woodvine.

Educating Joey Essex: Football Fever:...