#whobtsutopia

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of Utopia - Part Seven

Excerpt from the DWM #519 interview with Derek Jacobi:

When we meet Sir Derek Jacobi in a London recording studio it’s almost a decade since Utopia, his single-episode reign as the Master.

“Is it really?” he marvels. “Of course, a part like that came out of left field for me. I never expected to be asked to be in Doctor Who, and it was a great thrill for me.”

It was a great thrill for the audience, too. For long-term fans, it was the triumphant return of one of the show’s greatest villains, while for a new generation of viewers it was a terrifying introduction to the existence of other Time Lords. Was Derek aware of the excitement at the time?

“People were surprised that I was playing the Master,” he says, nodding. “I had several friends who, when I told them - and I didn’t know they were Doctor Who aficionados - practically screamed in ecstatic excitement, and asked me things like, 'Do you actually say “I am the Master”?’  I said, ‘Yeah, I think that’s what I’m doing,’ and oh, they went berserk! They were all very thrilled.

“It was lovely to play,” he reflects. “I got on very well with David Tennant [who played the Tenth Doctor], and I thought he was wonderful. It was exciting.”

Other parts of this photoset:  [ one ] [ two ] [ three ] [ four ] [ five ] [ six ]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of Utopia - Part Six  

Excerpts from the Doctor Who Adventures interview with John Bell (age 9, who plays Creet)

DWA: Tell us about Creet

John Bell:  Creet is an orphan. He is very organized and polite but not laid back at all as he wants to get so much done. Did I mention that he is very handsome and charming too?

DWA: How long did you spend filming?

John Bell: I had one day for a read through of the episode with the rest of the cast and later on spent two days filming on the set in Cardiff!

DWA: What was it like on set?

John Bell:  An average day was crazy, lots of people helping you to get ready, costume, make-up, rehearsing lines and then silence while the action was being filmed. There was a lot of sitting around waiting but this gave me a chance to play my Nintendo DS with Freema.

John Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack, kept thinking it was his name being called by the director when they were calling for me!  So he nicknamed me Little John!

I was showing how to spin while dancing when I fell over and was caught by David Tennant. Phew! Saved by the Doctor!

David Tennant and I are both Scottish and John Barrowman was born in Scotland so it was a bit of a Scottish invasion! John kept slipping into a Scottish accent and ask if I’d like a 'Wee cup of tea?’

Other parts of this photoset:  [ one ] [ two ] [ three ] [ four ] [ five ]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of Utopia - Part Five

Excerpt from TV and Satellite Week’s interview with John Barrowman:

“Jack latches onto the Tardis, only it doesn’t recognize him because it thinks he’s dead,” Barrowman explains. “We’re whisked off to the end of the universe, where the human race is struggling to survive.”

Having appeared in the first series, Barrowman is well placed to rate David Tennant’s incarnation of the Doctor. “I’ve never worked with David before, but I know him because we live in the same building when we’re filming in Cardiff,” he says. “He’s more relaxed and fun than Christopher Eccleston. Chris was very quiet, very serious. David and I tend to laugh a lot. David Tennant’s silly and I’m nuts - we’re a good combination.”

Other parts of this photoset:  [ one ] [ two ] [ three ] [ four ]