Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Billie Piper is Rose Tyler
Well, after correctly predicting that the new "Doctor Who" companion would be announced this week, I suppose I should say what I think about the casting of Billie Piper as Rose Tyler.
To be honest, I'm not that impressed. Part of the reason is that I never say "Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Tale" (it starred James Nesbitt, so as far as I was concerned, that was more than enough reason to give it a miss) or "Bella and the Boys", her two most widely known and, to be fair, well-received acting roles.
However, I'm obviously not alone in having missed them. Most of the country won't have seen them, and a lot of these will be potential viewers of the new "Doctor Who" series. Consequently, like me, their current opinion of Billie Piper is an annoying singer of annoying pop songs (especially "Because We Want To") or someone usually photographed out on the piss with her husband, the Ginger Whinger himself, Chris Evans.
Of the previous companions, only Bonnie Langford has really been lumbered with this sort of baggage even before her first appearance. Rose (probably) has the advantage that her character is better thought-out than Melanie Bush (prime characteristic and reason for Langford's casting: a ginge), and the writing should be better as well.
But the BBC could still help her out. BBC1 Controller, Lorraine Heggessey, has talked about repeating classic "Who" stories as a lead-in to the new series, an idea which I've previously criticised on this blog. However, repeating "The Miller's Tale" and "Bella and the Boys" might be one way of breaking the public perception of Piper as an annoyingly brattish singer.
Most fans have more faith in the current production team that any previous one since the Hinchcliffe/Holmes one of seasons 12-14, so hopefully they really have got the casting right. Even so, I would still have preferred Rachael Stirling...
Well, after correctly predicting that the new "Doctor Who" companion would be announced this week, I suppose I should say what I think about the casting of Billie Piper as Rose Tyler.
To be honest, I'm not that impressed. Part of the reason is that I never say "Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Tale" (it starred James Nesbitt, so as far as I was concerned, that was more than enough reason to give it a miss) or "Bella and the Boys", her two most widely known and, to be fair, well-received acting roles.
However, I'm obviously not alone in having missed them. Most of the country won't have seen them, and a lot of these will be potential viewers of the new "Doctor Who" series. Consequently, like me, their current opinion of Billie Piper is an annoying singer of annoying pop songs (especially "Because We Want To") or someone usually photographed out on the piss with her husband, the Ginger Whinger himself, Chris Evans.
Of the previous companions, only Bonnie Langford has really been lumbered with this sort of baggage even before her first appearance. Rose (probably) has the advantage that her character is better thought-out than Melanie Bush (prime characteristic and reason for Langford's casting: a ginge), and the writing should be better as well.
But the BBC could still help her out. BBC1 Controller, Lorraine Heggessey, has talked about repeating classic "Who" stories as a lead-in to the new series, an idea which I've previously criticised on this blog. However, repeating "The Miller's Tale" and "Bella and the Boys" might be one way of breaking the public perception of Piper as an annoyingly brattish singer.
Most fans have more faith in the current production team that any previous one since the Hinchcliffe/Holmes one of seasons 12-14, so hopefully they really have got the casting right. Even so, I would still have preferred Rachael Stirling...
Sunday, May 23, 2004
New "Doctor Who" companion to be announced next week?
With issue 344 of "Doctor Who Magazine" hitting the shelves next week, we could finally learn who's going to play Rose Tyler in the new series of "Doctor Who". "DWM" missed being the first with the news of Christopher Eccleston's appointment, but it's quite possible that the new production team would want to give them the chance to be first with the news of who's going to play Rose.
Recent rumours and press speculation have narrowed the field down to three - Keeley Hawes, Anna Friel and Loo Brearly. If it has to be one of those, I'd rather have Hawes, but my ideal casting would be Rachael Stirling.
Whether or not the casting is announced next week, it's got to be in the next couple of weeks if production is to start in July...
With issue 344 of "Doctor Who Magazine" hitting the shelves next week, we could finally learn who's going to play Rose Tyler in the new series of "Doctor Who". "DWM" missed being the first with the news of Christopher Eccleston's appointment, but it's quite possible that the new production team would want to give them the chance to be first with the news of who's going to play Rose.
Recent rumours and press speculation have narrowed the field down to three - Keeley Hawes, Anna Friel and Loo Brearly. If it has to be one of those, I'd rather have Hawes, but my ideal casting would be Rachael Stirling.
Whether or not the casting is announced next week, it's got to be in the next couple of weeks if production is to start in July...
