News

Lalo Schifrin, the six-time Oscar-nominated composer, pianist and conductor renowned for his electric, jazz-infused themes and music for Mission: Impossible, Mannix, Starsky & Hutch and Bullitt, died Thursday. He was 93.

Schifrin, who received an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in November 2018, died of pneumonia at a hospital in Los Angeles, his son Ryan Schifrin told The Hollywood Reporter. He lived for the past few decades in a Beverly Hills home once owned by Groucho Marx.

A native of Argentina whose father was the Buenos Aires Philharmonic concert master for more than three decades, Schifrin was trained in the world of classical music before being hooked on American jazz when he was a teenager.

He artfully blended the two genres, and the combustible energy and rhythmic vitality of his compositions were especially well-suited for action-suspense movies and TV shows.

The workaholic Schifrin received Oscar nominations for his scores for Cool Hand Luke...

Lalo Schifrin, the legendary Argentinian composer behind the themes for “Mission Impossible” and “Starsky and Hutch” – along with feature film classics like “Dirty Harry” and “Cool Hand Luke” – has died, according to media reports. He was 93 years old.

The musical craftsman’s career spanned decades. He earned all six of his Academy Award nominations for Best Score in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s – for “Cool Hand Luke” (1968), “The Fox” (1969), “Voyage of the Damned” (1976), “The Amityville Horror (1979), “The Competition” (1980) and “The Sting II” (1983).

He finally earned an honorary Academy Award at the 2019 ceremony, becoming only the third composer to notch the honor.

Additionally, Schifflin won four Grammys and earned 19 nominations during his four decades-long career, several of which were for his work on the “Mission: Impossible” films.

The composer implemented a diverse range of musical genres into his film and TV scores, from jazz and rock to modern and complex orchestral writing techniques.

Lalo Schifrin, the legendary composer who penned the Mission: Impossible theme and did scores for more than 100 other films and TV shows ranging from The Cincinnati Kid, Cool Hand Luke and The Sting II to Dirty Harry and the Rush Hour trilogy, has died. He was 93.

His son, writer-director Ryan Schifrin, confirmed to Deadline that his father died “peacefully” on Thursday morning.

Also a pianist and conductor, Schifrin won four Grammys on 19 career nominations spanning 40 years and was six-time Academy Award nominee for The Sting II, The Competition, The Amityville Horror, Voyage of thye Damned, The Fox and Cool Hand Luke. He received an Honorary Oscar at the 2019 Governor Awards.

He earned three consecutive Grammy noms for the stirring, dramatic, 5/4-time Mission: Impossible theme from 1967-69, and variations of his composition have appeared in all of Tom Cruise’s M:i movies. Among those who worked on version of theme for those films are Hans Zimmer,...

Lalo Schifrin, the Grammy-winning composer of “Mission: Impossible” and film scores including “Cool Hand Luke,” “Dirty Harry” and “Bullitt,” died Thursday of complications from pneumonia. He was 93.

The Argentine musician was among the first to apply a broad range of musical ideas to film and TV scores, from jazz and rock to more modern and complex techniques of orchestral writing. His heyday was the 1960s and ’70s, when he produced several film and TV scores that are now regarded as classics.

In November 2018, Schifrin became only the third composer in the history of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences to receive an honorary Oscar. Clint Eastwood, for whom Schifrin composed eight scores, made the presentation “in recognition of his unique musical style, compositional integrity and influential contributions to the art of film scoring.”

Actress Kathy Bates said at the event: “His work cannot be easily labeled. Is what he creates jazz?...

Billy Williams, the esteemed British cinematographer who shared an Oscar for shooting Gandhi and also was nominated for his work on the Glenda Jackson-starring Women in Love and Henry Fonda’s final film, On Golden Pond, has died. He was 96.

Williams’ death was announced in British Cinematographer magazine. No details on the cause of death were provided.

“With deep sorrow, we bid farewell to Billy Williams — an outstanding British cinematographer, laureate of the ‘Golden Frog’ for exceptional achievements in the art of cinematography at the Camerimage Festival in 2000,” tweeted the official X account of Camerimage, the Poland-based film festival dedicated to cinematography.

Williams also served as the director of photography on John Milius’ The Wind and the Lion (1975), Stuart Rosenberg’s Voyage of the Damned (1976), Martin Brest’s Going in Style (1979) and Peter Yates’ Suspect (1987).

The London native received an early career break when he was hired for Ken Russell...

Though it's been more divisive than ever as of late, Doctor Who fans that are still in love with the show will be eating good this year as not only is Ncuti Gatwa set to return in Season 2 on Disney+, but a new limited spinoff series titled The War Between the Land and the Sea is also set to debut at some point in 2025. Now, ahead of the premiere of both, star Russell Tovey says the big difference between the main show and the new series is that the spinoff feels more like an independent production than anything else.

Speaking with Collider at this year's Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Tovey called The War Between the Land and the Sea "its own special creation" while discussing the spinoff, which is set to bring back classic Doctor Who villains the Sea Devils for the limited affair. As someone who...

Doctor Who is famous for featuring one or more companions that travel alongside the Doctor, but there are also instances in which a one-off companion steals the show. Typically, the best Doctor Who companions stick around for one or more seasons. However, some of the greatest Doctor Who stories introduce a companion who only appears in one episode, or a two-part adventure.

Despite this, these one-off characters are so fantastic that audiences fall in love with them. Unfortunately, the fates of these personalities aren’t always positive. Some suffer a terrible fate before they are able to board the Tardis, although this isn’t an exclusive rule, and others only stay as a one-off companion for other reasons. Doctor Who’s companions come and go in different ways, but to make such an impact in one story is an impressive feat.

Sally Sparrow Season 3, Episode 10 - "Blink"

Sally Sparrow is...

Doctor Who's "Joy to the World" belongs to a specific group of Christmas specials for an unfortunate reason, but the festive installment in 2025 can easily break away from the predictable trend. All the Doctor Who Christmas specials (and New Year specials under Chris Chibnall's reign) hold an interesting place in the show's timeline. Because they're one-off installments, they need to include high-paced action while also maintaining the spirit of the holidays. However, there's often a behind-the-scenes hurdle that needs to be overcome at the same time.

Although Doctor Who's classic era rarely acknowledged Christmas, the festival specials have been a big hallmark of the show since its 2005 revival. Doctor Who's modern era has taken the Doctor through several holiday tropes to varying degrees of success, but the person by his side can often be an unfamiliar face. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it does...

Warning: spoilers ahead for Doctor Who's "Joy to the World"

While Nicola Coughlan's character was expected to serve as the stand-in companion for Doctor Who's 2024 Christmas special, a totally different figure takes that role instead. With Doctor Who's Christmas specials typically falling between seasons, the Doctor has more than once found himself mourning the loss of a companion over the festive period. Following Ruby Sunday's exit in Doctor Who season 14, 2024 is again one of those years when the Doctor is left to rue his nomadic existence over a plate of roast potatoes and Brussels sprouts.

Traditionally, Doctor Who will introduce a temporary companion for these lonely Christmas specials - Catherine Tate's Donna in "The Runaway Bride" and Kylie Minogue's Astrid in "Voyage of the Damned" being two such characters. With Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan announced as the big new addition to feature alongside Ncuti Gatwa...

The following contains major spoilers for the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special, "Joy to the World," now streaming on Disney+.

The Doctor Who Christmas special "Joy to the World" establishes two things: Steven Moffat is a genius, and it's really hard to write a Doctor Who Christmas special. The annual December episodes have become their own tradition in pop culture. Some people watch classic holiday programming, and some others are waiting all year for the festive adventure that awaits the Doctor -- and the audience. It's a little bit of magic at the most magical time.

"Joy to the World" is named after Joy, an anxious but good-hearted young woman who checks into the Sandringham Hotel to get away from a personal tragedy. Unbeknownst to her, she winds up on an adventure with the Doctor that helps her realize her full potential, because it's not Christmas without some kind of feel-good story.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed how excited Christmas guest star Nicola Coughlan was about joining the show. Coughlan appears as a special guest in Doctor Who's 2024 festive special "Joy to the World."

The Bridgerton actress reunites with Barbie co-star Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who’s upcoming seasonal episode, which sees The Fifteenth Doctor and his new friend Joy (Coughlan) teaming up to stop the nefarious Villengard Corporation’s time travel plot. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Davies confirmed that Coughlan’s busy film and TV career weren’t an obstacle in getting her to join Doctor Who. “She was free and she loved it! She’s an old friend of Ncuti’s. I kind of knew her to say hello to and, to be honest, she bit our hands off,” the showrunner joked.

Doctor Who's Latest Christmas Special Reunites Barbie Co-Stars

This Doctor Who Christmas...

The upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special is set to reveal a side of the Doctor that it rarely features. After Ruby Sunday left the Tardis in the season 14 finale, the Doctor is preparing to celebrate another Christmas before season 15's May 2025 premiere. It will be his last appearance in 2024 and will leave a months-long hiatus before his next adventure. The special has been titled "Joy to the World" and will premiere on December 25.

While the holiday should be a delightful time for many of its viewers, it will be a lonely period for the Doctor. In an interview with GamesRadar+, writer and former showrunner Steven Moffat offered early insight into the episode. While acknowledging that the show is largely about the companions, Moffat admitted that this special will see the Doctor alone. The episode will explore who he actually is without having to put on a show for his companions.

It’s been almost been 20 years since Doctor Who was revived for a new audience, and the show has brought us lots of Christmas and New Years specials since then. Although Christopher Eccleston rang in this new era with his Ningth Doctor in 2005, David Tennant's Tenth Doctor was the first to star in a holiday special.

We're going to rank every holiday special of the New Who era, including the New Years specials produced during Jodie Whittaker's run as the Thirteenth Doctor. Let's begin!

Bradley Walsh as Graham, Mandip Gill as Yaz, Tosin Cole as Ryan - Doctor Who Special 2020: Revolution Of The Daleks - Photo Credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bbca 17. "Resolution" — 2019

The Doctor: Jodie Whitaker, the Thirteenth Doctor

Director: Chris Chibnall

While “Resolution” is certainly a visually impressive episode, it's dragged down by a lack of urgency and imagination. This is the first time we see Thirteen meet Daleks.

The BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who spin-off The War Between The Land and the Sea will begin filming later this year. Here are the details.

When Russell T Davies came back to Doctor Who, one of the first things he mentioned was the idea of building a Whoniverse, where Doctor Who and associated spin-offs would all come under one banner.

The Whoniverse launched on iPlayer last year, and it included all surviving episodes of Classic Who and every episode of New Who, plus all the spin-offs like Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures and even K-9 and Company. Every episode of Confidential is available to watch, along with a wealth of material from the BBC archive. Tales of the Tardis was a lovely treat too.

But what Doctor Who fans have been wondering ever since Davies returned was when he would launch a new spin-off. Rumours have been rife for months,...

Russell T Davies expands the Whoniverse with a long-awaited spin-off focusing on the Sea Devils at San Diego Comic-Con. The series reunites familiar faces like Kate Stewart and introduces new characters played by Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The Sea Devil's emergence triggers an international crisis that involves Unit in The War Between The Land and The Sea.

Terrifying old foes and familiar faces collide, as the first spin-off of Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who era is confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con with The War Between The Land And The Sea. Gatwa took on the role of the Time Lord following David Tennant's brief return for 2023's 60th-anniversary specials. Despite representing a whole new era of the show, returning showrunner Russell T Davies has long wanted to see the Whoniverse grow, revisiting familiar companions on their own journeys and taking advantage of the full scope of the universe.

Jonathan Groff shines as Rogue in Doctor Who Series 14, Episode 7, captivating viewers with his charisma and wit. Rogue's character draws striking parallels to fan-favorite Captain Jack Harkness, as both are handsome, charming adventurers with hidden depth. Groff's portrayal of Rogue leaves the door open for potential future appearances, similar to Jack's recurring presence in the Doctor's life.

The following contains major spoilers for Doctor Who Series 14, Episode 7, "Rogue," now streaming on Disney+.

Doctor Who Series 14, Episode 7, "Rogue" marks the arrival of Jonathan Groff into the Whoniverse. Groff plays the titular character -- a bounty hunter who's charismatic, a little bit dangerous and comes with a tragic backstory. He starts out making things more complicated for the Doctor, but the relationship quickly transitions into flirting, and then they go their separate ways... with the possibility of finding each other again. Sound familiar? It should.

The character of Rogue and the important...

Warning: contains spoilers for Doctor Who episode “73 Yards”.

Doctor-Lite stories have so far been very good, which raises the possibility that the thing that′s really holding back Doctor Who is Doctor Who.

As you may know, Ncuti Gatwa was finishing filming his last series of Sex Education for Netflix while “73 Yards” was being filmed, and so the episode was pushed onto the array of ′Doctor-Lite′ stories (put simply: ones in which the Doctor doesn′t appear very much). The idea of doubling up the filming of episodes and balancing the cast accordingly has been in place since the show returned in 2005, with it formally being named as a budget-saving strategy in 2007 with “Blink”. They may also be referred to as “double-banking” episodes where two episodes are filmed simultaneously and so the regular cast can’t substantially appear in both.

Doctor Who often gave its leads a holiday in the 1960s,...

Tom Priestley, the son of British playwright and novelist J.B. Priestley who established his own show business career as an Oscar-nominated film editor on such major projects as John Boorman’s Deliverance (1972), Blake Edwards’ The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) and Roman Polanski‘s Tess (1979), died December 25. He was 91.

His death was only later announced by the J.B. Priestley Society.

“It with the utmost sadness we announce the death of out President Tom Priestley,” the J.B. Priestley Society said in a statement. “Tom who was J. B. Priestley’s only son became one of this country’s finest film editors. Perhaps his most famous film was Deliverance for which he was Oscar Nominated. He was a most charming man.”

Born Tom Holland Priestley on April 22, 1932, in London, he was educated at Bryanston School and King’s College, Cambridge, before beginning his professional career at Shepperton Studios in various capacities,...

Tom Priestley, the British film editor whose work assembling the dueling-banjos sequence and hellish “squeal like a pig” attack in John Boorman’s Deliverance landed him an Oscar nomination, has died. He was 91.

His death on Christmas Day was only recently revealed.

Priestley also cut two other movies helmed by Boorman: Leo the Last (1970), which won the best director award at the Cannes Film Festival, and Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977).

He also edited The Great Gatsby (1974); Blake Edwards’ The Return of the Pink Panther (1975); That Lucky Touch (1975), starring Roger Moore; Voyage of the Damned (1976), featuring an all-star cast; and Roman Polanski’s Tess (1979).

Priestley was the only son of renowned British novelist and playwright J.B. Priestley, who wrote the classic 1945 drama An Inspector Calls for the theater and served as a BBC Radio broadcaster during the Dunkirk evacuation of World War II.

Upon its release in 1972, Deliverance became the...

Maris Crane, the wife of Niles on Frasier, never appeared on-screen but could be briefly glimpsed twice in the show. The decision not to show Maris was a deliberate choice by the showrunners and added to the comedic value of the character. Keeping Maris off-screen allowed for Niles' storyline with Daphne to develop more easily and maintained the lighthearted atmosphere of the show.

Maris was famously kept off-screen for the entire run of Frasier — but she technically still "appeared" on the show twice. Maris was the wife of Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce), but despite the Crane men making jokes about her aloof nature and appearance, the show also made it clear that Niles genuinely loved her too. In later seasons, Maris and Niles had a rather messy divorce, which finally paved the way for Niles and Daphne (Jane Leeves) to start a relationship.

Despite Maris never being seen on Frasier,...

Quick Links "Labor Camps. That’s What They Called Them Last Time…" "I Thought It'd Be Cleaner!" "One Day, 100 Years' Time…" "Now You Go With Him. That Wonderful Doctor..." "I Said So, Didn’t I? Aliens! I Said They Were Real..." "Them Dalek Things, They’ve Only Got One Eye..." "...What Do You Want This Time, You Green Swine?" "Now You Take This, That's An Order, Doctor..." "...I’ll Look Up At The Sky. And Think Of You." "I Never Thought I'd See You Again…"

Doctor Who's original Russell T Davies era introduced one of the series' most beloved characters. Wilfred Mott's kindhearted nature melted fans' hearts since his debut in "Voyage Of The Damned." He was brought to life by the late Bernard Cribbins, who gave an undeniable charm to the role. Wilf returned one last time following "Wild Blue Yonder's" conclusion, reminding audiences of some of his best quotes.

Nothing defined New Hollywood quite like "The Graduate," and for very good reason. The film was chock full of innovation, from the salacious script to the ground-breaking cinematography, but the movie might be best remembered for its incredible cast. The coming-of-age classic features career-defining performances from Anne Bancroft, already a huge star at the time, and Dustin Hoffman, the best actor ever, in one of the first major roles of his long and storied career.

The 1967 film follows Ben, a recent college graduate (as the film's title implies) with an uncertain future and a community of expectant WASPs to answer to. In his summertime languor, he finds his way into the waiting arms of Mrs. Robinson, a middle-aged family friend who persistently pursues our passive hero into his sexual awakening.

Quite a lot of time has passed since 1967. The world is almost unrecognizable now, and yet, today's 20-somethings can still...

Bernard Cribbins' performance as Wilf in Doctor Who was beloved by fans, making the character memorable over a decade later. Wilf's best episodes showcased his heartwarming interactions with Donna and his comedic chemistry with the Doctor. Cribbins' final performance in the 60th anniversary special demonstrated his excellence in acting and conveyed the same spark for adventure that defined Wilf.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Doctor Who's 60th anniversary special, episode 2, "Wilf Blue Yonder."

Across nine episodes of Doctor Who, Bernard Cribbins offered spectacular performances as Wilfred "Wilf" Mott, making the character a beloved companion and grandfather. Doctor Who's 60th anniversary special, episode 2, "Wild Blue Yonder," is a bittersweet occasion for Whovians everywhere. 14 years after David Tennant's Tenth Doctor's heartbreaking regeneration episode, former companion Wilf returns to the series for a cameo. Additionally, it marks the last time that he'll ever appear on Doctor Who. Sadly, actor...

David Tennant and Catherine Tate express their delight at Bernard Cribbins' posthumous return for Doctor Who's 60th anniversary special. Cribbins had a significant impact on the show and his character meant a lot to many people. Cribbins had a long and impressive career, and his portrayal of Wilfred Mott was a beloved part of Doctor Who's legacy.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate pay tribute to Bernard Cribbins after his posthumous appearance in Doctor Who's 60th anniversary special, "Wild Blue Yonder." In the special, Cribbins briefly reprises his role as Wilfred Mott, the grandfather of Donna Noble (Tate) and longtime friend of the Doctor (Tennant). Sadly, Cribbins passed away on July 27, 2022, making his return as Mott his final TV appearance. He first began portraying the character in 2007 alongside Tennant's Doctor, which adds an emotional layer to their 60th anniversary reunion.

While appearing on Doctor Who: Unleashed, Tennant and...

Doctor Who says goodbye to Bernard Cribbins after his final episode, with a touching Instagram post from showrunner Russell T. Davies. Cribbins' character Wilf, Donna's grandfather, left a lasting legacy on the show and was always proud to work with the Doctor. With Cribbins' death, Wilf's role will have to be played by another actor if he's to return to the show, but his enduring legacy will be remembered.

Doctor Who showrunner has put together a fond farewell for Bernard Cribbins after his final episode on the show. Cribbins first appeared in 2007's "Voyage of the Damned" as an excitable man named Wilf who immediately gets attached to David Tennant's Doctor. Wilf would continue his bond with the Doctor for years, until Cribbin's posthumous appearance on the show in the second of three recent specials, "Wild Blue Yonder". Cribbins himself died July 27, 2022 at 93 years old.

The 60th Anniversary specials...

Protesters are demanding answers about alien incursions in Doctor Who, as set videos hint at the show addressing this common plot hole. Ncuti Gatwa's second season of Doctor Who may explore the issue of intergalactic threats being hidden, as shown in the video of protesters outside Unit's headquarters. While Gatwa's first season has yet to air, his second season's stories may already be hinted at in set videos, offering audiences a glimpse into what's to come.

Protesters demand the truth about alien incursions in the world of Doctor Who in set videos from Ncuti Gatwa's second season. While Gatwa's first adventure in 2023's seasonal special "The Church at Ruby Road" has yet to air, filming for his second seasonal special and full season is currently ongoing. Gatwa is expected to be rejoined by Millie Gibson as companion Ruby Sunday for the season expected to air in 2025.

Though Doctor Who season 14 has yet to air,...

Kylie Minogue expresses openness to returning to Doctor Who and reprising her role as Astrid Peth, despite her busy music career. The return of Astrid Peth would not be out of the question, considering the upcoming 60th-anniversary specials and the nostalgic tone of the latest Doctor Who era. Kylie Minogue's willingness to return, along with the potential returns of other former Doctor Who talents, expands the possibilities for season 14 and future specials.

David Tennant’s one-time Doctor Who companion, Kylie Minogue, addresses whether she would return to Doctor Who. Sixteen years ago, Minogue appeared in Doctor Who's 2007 Christmas special, “Voyage of the Damned.” Playing a waitress named Astrid Peth, Minogue’s character helps Tennant on an interstellar journey after the Tardis collides with a spaceship version of the Titanic. Her one-episode stint as Astrid was her only appearance, while Tennant will reprise his role as the Time Lord in...

Russell T Davies' reboot of Doctor Who in 2005 introduced memorable and in-depth character arcs, resonating with audiences. The return of David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor in the upcoming 60th anniversary special has sparked speculation about how it will impact the Doctor's characterization and timeline. Characters like Adam Mitchell, Alonso Frame, Harriet Jones, Mickey Smith, and Wilfred Mott have all played significant roles in the Doctor's adventures, showcasing their own personal growth and loyalty.

With Russell T Davies entering his second Doctor Who era, audiences will be aware of some of the phenomenal character arcs previously introduced. Davies' rebooted Doctor Who in 2005, introducing Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose Tyler and the classic show regained its prominent position on British television screens. Throughout time and space, Davies' characters have left an impression with their in-depth journeys, both physically and emotionally.

November 2023 will see the airing...

Doctor Who has featured a lot of memorable one-off characters over the years, and most of them are always looking to come back to the show in one form or another -- Kylie Minogue has just revealed that she would return to her iconic role of Astrid Peth in a heartbeat, should she be asked.

Back in 2007, the universally beloved Princess of Pop landed the role of perky space waitress Astrid Peth in the Doctor Who Christmas episode "Voyage of the Damned," and it was a historic moment for the series to have such a big name join the cast, albeit as a guest star. The episode has since gone off the mainstream radar, but now, 16 years later, in an interview with Hits Radio, the actress has broken the silence on her feelings about returning to the legendary show.

Related: Doctor Who's Chris Chibnall Broke Fans' Hearts on Purpose,...

Russell T. Davies is returning for his third stint as a writer for Doctor Who, coinciding with the show's 60th anniversary. Prior to his role as Showrunner, Davies wrote a short TV episode featuring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor, which aired in 1989. Minisodes have become an important part of Doctor Who, allowing for character development and interactions between different Doctors across different eras.

With the upcoming 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, Russell T. Davies will be returning for what is actually his third stint as a writer. Audiences will know Davies for rebooting the British sci-fi classic in 2005, introducing the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) to the BBC. Davies departed his role as Showrunner alongside David Tennant on New Year's Day 2010, and the role was taken over by Steven Moffat until 2017, and then Chris Chibnall until 2022.

Davies will now return for his second time as...

Ah, Ready Steady Cook – you were a product of simpler times. The BBC’s teatime TV cooking show saw two contestants bring along a bag of ingredients, team up with a celebrity chef, (becoming Team Green Pepper and Team Red Tomato) and spend 20 minutes transforming what they’d brought into a tasty dinner.

They only had a maximum budget of £5 (which these days would probably only stretch to half a cucumber and a pot noodle) so the dishes weren’t fancy – none of this nonsense about serving some daft gravy-with-notions and calling it a ‘jus’. No, the likes of Ainsley Harriott or Anthony Worrall Thompson usually just hastily assembled a lasagne, and then the audience voted for a winner – and by ‘vote’, we mean they lifted up a picture of a green pepper or a red tomato.

It was sweet, harmless daytime TV, so when they decided to introduce a celebrity version,...

Russell T. Davies decided to focus more on human stories after he relaunched Doctor Who in 2005. Due to consistently poor viewership ratings, the BBC's Head of Series, Peter Cregeen, decided to cancel Doctor Who after its 26th season in 1989, leaving the fate of the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) up to interpretation. Though the BBC and Fox tried to revive the series with a 1996 TV movie featuring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, it wasn't until 2005 that Doctor Who came back with a vengeance, introducing Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor and his now-iconic companion, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper).

While the classic run of Doctor Who often saw the Doctor travel to spectacular alien worlds and focused on extraterrestrial characters, Davies' initial era of the show, which ran between 2005 and 2010 featuring two different Doctors over four seasons, centered on human stories. In a 2005 interview with TV Zone #187, Russell T.

Doctor Who star David Tennant has confirmed that the late British acting legend Bernard Cribbins will return in the show's 60th-anniversary specials later this year. Cribbins was spotted on set during filming last year, but no official confirmation had been made that he would feature in the special episodes as a result of his unfortunate passing last July at the age of 93. His illustrious career spanned seven decades, appearing in the Carry On series of films and portraying the beloved Wilfred Mott during Tennant's first tenure as the Doctor.

Tennant, who is also returning to Doctor Who, was at Galaxycon in a video posted by GODOCTORWHO1 on Twitter. He addressed the status of Cribbins' return and noted that while he didn't feature in the episodes as much as they would have liked, he will still reprise Donna Noble's grandfather once more in what will be his final TV role.

David...

Star Wars actor John Boyega has stated a desire to cameo in Doctor Who alongside Ncuti Gatwa, which highlights a problem with the show's big-name guest stars. The British actor, who previously worked with Thirteenth Doctor actor Jodie Whittaker on the movie Attack the Block, would be an incredible addition to Doctor Who. While plenty of big names have appeared in Doctor Who over the decades, a Hollywood star of Boyega's renown would be among the biggest.

Discussing the iconic British sci-fi franchise, Boyega stated his Doctor Who wish to star as either an alternative incarnation of the Doctor or as Ncuti Gatwa's one-off companion. The Doctor Who Christmas specials regularly paired up the Doctor with one-off companions, most notably Kylie Minogue in the 2007 special "Voyage of the Damned," so there is a precedent for this. It is unsurprising that the actor does not want another long-term role in a...

The music of Doctor Who has brought chills, caused tears and inspired original works – not to mention raised a few eyebrows over the years. From the on-screen work of the show’s composers to novelty pop singles, trance epics, live proms, a surprising Glastonbury cameo, and the Master’s recent taste for dance-floor fillers, we track the music moments it’s hard to forget.

Across the Universe

There’s no denying that The Beatles’ Doctor Who cameo is a strange and somewhat gratuitous moment – but one that came very close to being so much more than that. The First Doctor has just acquired a “Time-Space Visualiser”, meaning that he can view what’s going on anywhere in all of time and space as if they’re watching the telly.

As far as the Doctor’s gadgets go, this is just a teensy bit overpowered, but anyway: after channel-hopping and spying...

Chris Chibnall has revealed the real reason that Jodie Whittaker never had a Doctor Who Christmas special during her era. With the Chiball/Whittaker era coming to an end in 2022, the former showrunner has revealed more about the motivations behind decisions made during his time on the show. One of the decisions that upset fans the most was the lack of a Doctor Who Christmas special, something which had been a regular fixture since 2005. The Christmas specials regularly got strong ratings, with "Voyage of the Damned," guest starring Kylie Minogue being the highest-rated Doctor Who Christmas special of all time.

Breaking this Doctor Who tradition was seen by many as a sacrilegious move, despite the fact that the Christmas specials rarely represent the very best that Doctor Who has to offer. Where the Christmas specials of the Rtd era were often colorful festive adventures, and those of the Steven Moffat...

As we approach O-Day and the 95th Academy Awards on March 12, it’s always fun to go back and look at the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories and revel in some of the trivia and shockers that have gone down on the awards season’s biggest stage. This is the rare year when Meryl Streep isn’t in the running, as her 21 overall nominations in the acting categories are nearly double the number of her closest female pursuer, Katherine Hepburn, who has 12. However, Hepburn still holds the all-time Oscar record with four acting wins. Streep has a mere three.

Here are some other actress category factoids to chew on:

Should Cate Blanchett win Best Actress this year for her role in “Tar,” she would tie Streep, Ingrid Bergman and Frances McDormand for second place behind Hepburn among actresses with three triumphs apiece. All four of Hepburn’s wins...

Nine. That’s the number of Doctor Who episodes that Wilfred Mott has appeared in so far. Just nine. And he was nearly in none.

Bernard Cribbins, a legend who spent seven decades acting and entertaining after joining a theatre club in Oldham as Assistant Stage Manager aged 14, was cast in “Voyage of the Damned” as Stan, selling newspapers from a kiosk as the aliens of the starship Titanic beam down and away again. It was intended as a cameo appearance only, but Howard Attfield was ill. Due to return as Donna Noble’s dad Geoff, Attfield filmed some scenes for Series 4 opener “Partners in Crime” before retiring from the role. He died shortly afterwards.

Behind the scenes, there had been hope that Attfield would have been able to act in the Sontaran two-parter, but his condition deteriorated and his wife said he could not carry on. It was at this point,...

Retro-active: The Best From The Cinema Retro Archives

In honor of the esteemed actor Nehemiah Persoff, who recently passed away at age 102, we are running this interview originally conducted with Mr. Persoff in 2010 by the late writer Herb Shadrak.

Nehemiah Persoff: From Jerusalem to Hollywood and Beyond

By Herb Shadrak

Born in Jerusalem in 1919, Nehemiah Persoff went on to become one of the busiest character actors in Hollywood. His face is familiar to millions of boomers across North America from his numerous guest appearances on just about every TV series that aired from the 1950s through the 1990s. Persoff’s name may have been unfamiliar to many of these TV viewers, but his face was instantly recognizable. Filmspot.com describes Persoff as a short, dark and stocky-framed actor who specialized in playing ethnic-type villains, although he frequently essayed sympathetic roles as well.. (Witness his heartbreaking moments with Maria Schell in Voyage of the Damned.

Nehemiah Persoff, who appeared as Barbra Streisand’s rabbi father in “Yentl” and had roles in hundreds of films and TV series including “Some Like It Hot” and “Twins,” died Tuesday in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He was 102.

His death was confirmed by his daughter, Dahlia Reano. Beyond prolific, Persoff racked up almost 200 credits in film and TV in a career that began in the very earliest days of television.

Persoff broke through in the 1959 movie “Some Like It Hot,” in which he played mobster boss Little Bonaparte. (The actor had been the last surviving member of the cast.) Early in his career, he was known for playing villainous tough guys, such as in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Wrong Man,” starring Henry Fonda, and “Al Capone,” starring Rod Steiger, in which he had a substantial role as Johnny Torrio, the mobster who mentored Capone only to be replaced by him.

Michael Constantine, whose long career produced an Emmy award and many memorable turns as a character actor, died Aug. 31 at his home in Reading, Pa. He was 94 and died from natural causes, his agent, Julia Buchwald, confirmed.

Constantine was best known as the fruit and Windex-obsessed father Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, an indie film that rose out of nowhere to become a smash hit. It spawned a sequel and a third version was in the planning stages, this time set in Greece.,

The original film from 2002 scored more than $360 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies of all-time.

But Constantine had a long career before that breakout hit. He was the school principal on the popular TV series Room 222. The role of Seymour Kaufman was a key to the show, which ran on ABC-tv from 1969 to 1974. He won an Emmy for the role in 1970.

Beyond that role,...

Michael Constantine, who played Gus, the father of Nia Vardalos’ Toula Portokalos in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” by far the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time, died on Aug. 31. He was 94.

Constantine’s agent confirmed the news of his death to Variety. He died of natural causes.

“My Big Fat Greek Wedding” scored a domestic gross of $241 million in 2002; No. 2 on the list is “What Women Want” with $183 million. The film drew a SAG Awards nomination for outstanding performance by the cast of a theatrical motion picture.

As Roger Ebert recounted, Constantine’s Gus “specializes in finding the Greek root for any word (even ‘kimono’), and delivers a toast in which he explains that ‘Miller’ goes back to the Greek word for apple, and ‘Portokalos’ is based on the Greek word for oranges, and so, he concludes triumphantly, ‘In the end, we’re all fruits.’ ”

Variety said: “Constantine fares...

As recently as September 2020 David Tennant topped a Radio Times poll of favourite Doctors. He beat Tom Baker in a 2006 Doctor Who Magazine poll, and was voted the best TV character of the 21st Century by the readers of Digital Spy. He was the Doctor during one of Doctor Who‘s critical and commercial peaks, bringing in consistently high ratings and a Christmas day audience of 13.31 million for ‘Voyage of the Damned’, and 12.27 million for his final episode, ‘The End of Time – Part Two’. He is the only other Doctor who challenges Tom Baker in terms of associated iconography, even being part of the Christmas idents on BBC One as his final episodes were broadcast. Put simply, the Tenth Doctor is ‘My Doctor’ for a huge swathe of people and David Tennant in a brown coat will be the image they think of when Doctor Who is mentioned.

In articles to accompany these fan polls,...

All of time, all of space, at your fingertips. That’s the promise of the Tardis. And despite a strong predilection for London, Earth, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Doctor has certainly gotten about a bit.

But the thing about the universe is, there’s a lot of it, and there are still key historical events, massive epochs of history and places in the universe that the Doctor has never been to on screen.

Some of these have made appearances in the books, comics, of Big Finish audios, but as ‘The Haunting of Villa Diodati‘ shows, Doctor Who isn’t afraid of double dipping when the destination is tempting enough.

The Sinking of the Titanic

A big obvious one that the show has flirted with before with ‘Voyage of the Damned‘, and which the Ninth Doctor hinted at being present at in ‘The End of the World...

Jodie Foster is the new Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The two-time Oscar winner pulled off a Golden Globe upset in Best Supporting Actress for “The Mauritanian” last month, but she was Mia from Monday’s Oscar lineup, becoming the fifth Globe winner not to earn a corresponding supporting actress Oscar nomination and first in 44 years.

The last Globe champ and Oscar snubbee was Katharine Ross for 1976’s “Voyage of the Damned.” Before that, Katy Jurado of “High Noon” (1952), Hermione Gingold of “Gigi” (1958) and Karen Black of “The Great Gatsby” (1974) all failed to convert their Globe gold into an Oscar bid.

In terms of the men, eight supporting actor Globe champs have been overlooked by the academy, mostly in the ’50s and ’60s. Taylor-Johnson was the most recent one to be blanked. Like Foster, he won the Globe in a shocker, for 2016’s “Nocturnal Animals,” but the academy opted to nominate his co-star Michael Shannon instead.

The members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association mostly used a rubber stamp to fill out the TV portion of their Golden Globe ballots this year, saving most of the organization’s traditional chaotic energy for the film categories instead. In one of the most surprising but also welcome moments of the evening, Jodie Foster took home the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “The Mauritanian.”

Foster was in fourth place in Gold Derby’s odds heading into the Globes, behind Amanda Seyfried (“Mank”), Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”) and Olivia Colman (“The Father”), and leading Helena Zengel (“News of the World”). So what does this win mean for Foster’s chances at the Oscars? Well, let’s put it this way: The last actress who won the Golden Globe for supporting actress and was then snubbed by the academy was Katharine Ross, for “Voyage of the Damned...

Although Ned Beatty’s six-minute performance in “Network” is the shortest to ever be nominated for Best Supporting Actor, eight Best Supporting Actress nominees have boasted even lower screen times. While only 17 performances under 10 minutes have been recognized in the male category, there have been 36 on the female side, from the first ceremony to Laura Dern’s first supporting bid for “Wild” in 2015. Here is a list of the 10 shortest, which has remained unchanged since 1999 (and here are the 10 shortest winners):

10. Geraldine Page (“The Pope of Greenwich Village”)

6 minutes, 6 seconds (5.06% of the film)

Page’s seventh acting nomination and fourth in the supporting category came for her small role as Mrs. Ritter, the mother of a slain police officer. Though she created a memorable character, she lost to first-time nominee Peggy Ashcroft, whose performance in 1984’s “A Passage to India” clocks in at 32 minutes and 16 seconds. The loss made...

“Hi, Chris, any chance you could pen us a spoiler-free review of the Doctor Who special?”

Well… Not really, no. Not that we’d ever risk giving the game away ahead of the upcoming New Year’s Day adventure but the thing is, this is a very story-driven episode with lots we’d rather not spoil. To be able to examine its quality in any meaningful way means diving into the details – in particular, decisions certain characters make and how well the episode delivers on its premise, all of which we’ll obviously be saving for the full-fat review next year. Or Friday, as it’s otherwise known.

Instead, consider this as very much a taster – a broader appraisal of the tone of the episode, how seriously you should be planning your New Year’s Day around watching it, and obviously which nibbles are best to accompany your viewing – a...

In a perfect world, TV streaming services would offer a playlist feature – imagine the joyful nerdery of shareable Top 10 episode lists. When it came time for a Christmas binge-watch while you’re wrapping gifts, or spraying pine cones silver, or gently weeping and glugging Advocaat from the bottle, you could fire up hours of comedy specials without having to expend a single calorie of energy on touching the remote.

Until that glorious day comes, this is your next best thing. It’s a directory of the major US and UK 1990s-2010s sitcoms’ Christmas episodes, and where they’re available to stream. If you feel like grabbing your Frasier box set and going from Christmas 1993 to Christmas 2002, stopping at every feel-good Outlaw Laser Robo-Geek moment along the way, here’s the info you need.

Episodes are listed in chronological order, and we’ve tried to stick to Christmas-set stories only,...

British actor Geoffrey Palmer, known for appearing in a large variety of stage, movie, and television roles over the past several decades, has sadly passed away. Having appeared in several episodes of Doctor Who, the official Twitter account posted that they were "sad to report the death" of the veteran performer, listing the episodes he had starred in. It was also confirmed by his agent that Palmer died peacefully at his home following a short illness. He was 93 years old.

Palmer was born on the 4th of June in 1927 in London, England. After serving as a corporal instructor in small arms and field training in the Royal Marines, Palmer had turned his attention to performing. In the 1950s, he was appearing in stage productions at the Royal Court and for the National Theatre Company, including productions of Weest of Suez and Sabrina Fair.

He'd also begin appearing on television around...