News

Eddie Redmayne is returning to Peacock. The award-winning star will officially return for Season 2 of “The Day of the Jackal” to reprise his role as the titular sniper in the Peacock and Sky series.

The drama was recently nominated for two Golden Globes, including Best Television Series and Best Performance by an Actor in Television Series in the drama category. The show also secured two Critics Choice Awards nominations, Best Drama Series and Best Actor in a Drama Series.

“The Day of the Jackal” was the biggest new series to ever launch on Sky. Its first episode reached an audience of 4.6 million over a 28-day period. Additionally, the final episode of Season 1, which aired on Dec. 12, saw the biggest overnights for a Sky Original drama ever.

In the United States, the series ranked No. 1 on Peacock’s Top 10 TV list. It also ranked in the Top 5 streaming shows during its opening weekend,...

Eddie Redmayne will be back as the Jackal.

Peacock and Sky renewed hit man drama The Day of the Jackal for a second season earlier this month and the streamer and British broadcaster confirmed that Redmayne will return.

It comes as little surprise given that Redmayne is the main character of the drama series and [Spoiler Alert] seemingly emerges relatively unscathed at the end of the first season in the dramatic and twist-heavy finale.

The splashy 10-part adaptation starred Redmayne and Lashana Lynch and has been rating well on both sides of the pond.

Adapted by Ronan Bennett from the hit Frederick Forsyth novel, Season 1 follows an unrivaled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal (Redmayne), who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer (Lynch) who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe,...

Eddie Redmayne as the Jackal in ‘The Day of the Jackal’ episode 1 (Photo by: Marcell Piti/Carnival Film and Television Limited)

Peacock and Sky have given the thriller The Day of the Jackal an early season two renewal. Starring Eddie Redmayne as the titular character, the series hit the top spot on Peacock’s Top 10 TV Shows list over its first weekend. The 10-episode first season premiered on November 14, 2024 and will wrap up on December 19th.

In addition to Eddie Redmayne, season one stars Lashana Lynch, Úrsula Corberó, Charles Dance, Richard Dormer, and Chukwudi Iwuji. Lia Williams, Khalid Abdalla, Eleanor Matsuura, Jonjo O’Neill, and Sule Rimi also stars.

“An unrivaled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal (Redmayne), makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee,” reads Peacock’s synopsis. “But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer (Lynch) who starts...

NBCUniversal's Peacock and U.K. broadcaster Sky have renewed The Day of the Jackal for a second season. The series, starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, will soon wrap up its first season.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the renewal follows the successful launch of The Day of the Jackal stateside and in the U.K. The series attracted three million viewers in its first week on Sky Atlantic, its best series debut in two years. Based on preliminary Nielsen data, the show ranked among the top five original streaming series in the U.S. for its opening weekend on Peacock. It remains unclear whether Redmayne and Lynch will return following the conclusion of the ten-episode first season.

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Ben Stiller addresses the 'responsibility' of giving fans answers to some of season 1's biggest questions.

Created and...

The Day of the Jackal will go on for more days at Peacock and Sky.

The NBCUniversal-owned streamer and U.K. broadcaster Sky have renewed The Day of the Jackal, a thriller starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, for a second season. The pickup comes on the heels of a successful launch both in the U.K. and the United States. The series drew 3 million viewers in its first week on Sky Atlantic, the best series debut there in two years. On Peacock, the show ranked among the top five original streaming series in the U.S. for its opening weekend, based on preliminary Nielsen data.

The series is based on a 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth, which was previously adapted into a 1973 feature film. The series follows a cat-and-mouse game between a chameleonic assassin (Eddie Redmayne) and an MI6 agent (Lashana Lynch) who’s determined to catch him.

There...

Peacock and Sky have a second season of The Day of the Jackal in their crosshairs.

The splashy 10-part adaptation starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch has been rating well on both sides of the pond, and the renewal comes just over a week after its premiere.

Adapted by Ronan Bennett from the hit Frederick Forsyth novel, Season 1 follows an unrivaled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal (Redmayne), who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer (Lynch) who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake. Cast also includes Úrsula Corberó, Charles Dance, Richard Dormer, Chukwudi Iwuji, Lia Williams, Khalid Abdalla, Eleanor Matsuura, Jonjo O’Neill and Sule Rimi.

The Day of the Jackal has been No. 1 in Peacock’s top 10 most...

Are you looking for the next engrossing drama to binge? Peacock’s new 10-episode thriller The Day of the Jackal, premiering on November 14, 2024, stars Eddie Redmayne as a master assassin with ice water in his veins and the skill to take out what should be untouchable targets.

The first five episodes will stream on November 14th, with new episodes arriving on Thursdays leading up to its epic finale on December 12th.

The riveting drama is based on Frederick Forsyth’s acclaimed novel, previously adapted into an Oscar-nominated film starring Edward Fox in 1973. Redmayne stars as The Jackal, Lashana Lynch is Bianca, and Úrsula Corberó is Nuria. The supporting cast includes Charles Dance, Richard Dormer, Chukwudi Iwuji, Lia Williams, Khalid Abdalla, Eleanor Matsuura, Jonjo O’Neill, and Sule Rimi.

“An unrivaled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal (Eddie Redmayne), makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee,” reads Peacock’s synopsis.

Plot: An unrivaled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake.

Review: The Day of the Jackal is a title that resonates even if you have not seen the 1973 film or the novel it was based on. Loosely remade in 1997 as The Jackal, starring Bruce Willis and Richard Gere, the core plot of the Frederick Forsyth novel followed a master assassin attempting to kill the President of France and the investigation to stop him. While the original film was a critical and box office success, the dated subject matter has been ripe for a contemporary update. The new Sky/Peacock limited series The Day of the Jackal...

The new original limited series "Belgravia: The Next Chapter", from the production teams behind "Downton Abbey" and "The Gilded Age", is directed by John Alexander, Paul Wilmshurst, Marisol Adler and Roger Goldby, now streaming on MGM+:

"...the series tells the love story of 'Frederick Trenchard' (Benjamin Wainwright), the third 'Lord Trenchard', and his new love interest, 'Clara Dunn' (Harriet Slater)...

"...who is a newcomer to London society. Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother 'Susan' (Alice Eve) and the scoundrel 'John Bellasis' (Adam James)...

"...a troubled childhood has left Frederick deeply insecure, which challenges his courtship of, and marriage to, 'Clara'..."

Click the images to enlarge...

The new original limited series "Belgravia: The Next Chapter", from the production teams behind "Downton Abbey" and "The Gilded Age", picks up in 1871, three decades after the events depicted in the original 2020 series, directed by John Alexander, Paul Wilmshurst, Marisol Adler and Roger Goldby, streaming January 14, 2024 on MGM+:

"...the series tells the love story of 'Frederick Trenchard' (Benjamin Wainwright), the third 'Lord Trenchard', and his new love interest, 'Clara Dunn' (Harriet Slater)...

"...who is a newcomer to London society. Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother 'Susan' (Alice Eve) and the scoundrel 'John Bellasis' (Adam James)...

"...a troubled childhood has left Frederick deeply insecure, which challenges his courtship of, and marriage to, 'Clara'..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Exclusive: MGM+ has set cast for Belgravia: The Next Chapter, Julian Fellowes’ sequel series to the hit historical drama. Harriet Slater, Ben Wainwright, Edward Bluemel, Claude Perron and Elaine Cassidy are set as series regulars in the drama series executive produced by Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant. Additionally, Toby Regbo, Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson and Sophie Winkleman will recur in the eight-part series. Filming is underway in the UK with premiere set for winter 2023.

The Next Chapter is a continuation of Belgravia, named for and set in the affluent London district that became synonymous with the upper echelons of London society in the 19th century.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter picks up in 1871, three decades after the events depicted in the 2020 limited series, which was written by Fellowes and based on his novel of the same name. Developed and written by playwright and screenwriter Helen Edmundson, the series tells the love story of Frederick Trenchard (Wainwright), who has grown up as the third Lord Trenchard, and his new love interest, Clara Dunn (Slater), who is a newcomer to London society. Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother Susan and the scoundrel John Bellasis, a troubled childhood has left Frederick deeply insecure, which challenges his courtship of and marriage to Clara.

Slater’s Clara Trenchard (née Dunn) is a young, smart, and striking woman, and a fresh face amongst the society of Belgravia, Clara is thrilled by her marriage to the enigmatic Frederick … but as she comes to learn more of her husband and the trauma he carries, Clara finds her marriage will not be as smooth as she first thought and is something she must fight for.

Wainwright’s Frederick Trenchard, the young and handsome third Lord Trenchard, Frederick takes after his grandfather with a ferocious work ethic, having built a large business empire. Immediately smitten with Clara, he marries her after a whirlwind romance, but brings with him traumas from his past that threatens his newfound happiness.

Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson, Sophie Winkleman and Toby Regbo

Bluemel plays Dr. Stephen Ellerby. An idealistic, charming, and attractive young doctor, Stephen is brought into the society of Belgravia as he cares for Peter, son of the Duke of Rochester—a far cry from his life amongst the bohemians of Bloomsbury. He is quickly captivated by Clara after meeting her and starts to gain her trust as their lives interweave.

Regbo plays Rev. James Trenchard, Frederick’s estranged brother. A gentle, kind and religious man, James is haunted by both the separation from his brother and a private battle he is determined to keep hidden.

Onslow portrays Emily Dunn, Clara’s older sister. Emily responds to her sister’s swift marriage with a hint of jealousy as she is desperate to make her own match. But when she throws herself into charity work at her new church, she is instantly attracted to the Reverend James Trenchard.

Thompson plays Mrs. Dunn, Emily and Clara’s devoted mother. Mrs Dunn is a nervous, giddy, and chatty widow who has moved to Belgravia with her daughters and is thrilled by Clara’s new marriage and the security in social standing it brings.

Perron plays The Marquise D’Étagnac, a glamorous and highly unconventional French businesswoman, who is introduced to Belgravia by the Duke and Duchess of Rochester. Offering a wealth of business opportunities, Frederick sees a chance to expand into new areas of industry.

Winkleman portrays Duchess of Rochester. The queen of Belgravia, the Duchess and her husband stand at the top of Belgravia’s social hierarchy – but privately, she struggles to reconcile the Duke’s feelings towards their unwell, eldest son Peter with her own wishes for his care.

Cassidy plays Davison. Clara’s newly appointed lady’s maid, Davison grows to protect her mistress with a fierce devotion, recognizing Clara’s youth and need for love. Davison has experienced hard times in her own past and is intent on supporting Clara through her struggles.

Led by Neame, the series reunites Carnival’s award-winning creative team behind the original series. Neame and Marchant will serve as executive producers with Fellowes and Joanna Strevens. Helen Edmundson serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series will be directed by John Alexander, Paul Wilmshurst and Marisol Adler. Colin Wratten (Killing Eve) who produced the original series, will return as producer.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter is a Carnival Films co-production with MGMPlus Studios and will be distributed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution. Carnival Films is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Slater, best known as Sandra Onslow in the HBO Max DC origin series Pennyworth, she recently wrapped filming the lead role in Sony Screen Gems’ Horrorscope as well as True Haunting, alongside Jamie Campbell Bower and Erin Moriarty. Slater is repped by The Artists Partnership in the UK and Untitled Entertainment in the U.S.

Wainwright’s recent credits include great roles on Sky Atlantic’s Gangs of London, and a guest lead on BBC One’s The Split. He also has a multi-episode arc on the BBC One series World on Fire, starring opposite Sean Bean and Lesley Manville. Wainwright is represented by Insight Management & Production.

Bluemel is currently filming a leading role in Amazon’s My Lady Jane, starring Emily Bader. He’ll next be seen in Hulu miniseries Washington Black, set for premiere this year. Bluemel is repped by Epilogue.

Regbo is known for his leading roles in CW’s Reign and The Last Kingdom. He also starred in Netflix’s Medici and his film work includes Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and One Day. Regbo can most recently be seen in Series Three of A Discovery of Witches and Channel 4’s Chivalry. Regbo is repped by Independent Talent Group and Authentic Talent and Literary Management.

Onslow recently finished shooting Sally El Hosaini’s feature film Unicorn and The Doll Factory for Paramount+. Her other credits include Ridley Road for Red Productions, Sister/BBC’s in This Is Going To Hurt and director Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light. She’s repped by Gordon and French.

A six-time Olivier Award nominee and winner of the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Thompson most recently starred in Present Laughter at The Old Vic. Her television credits include Everything I Know About Love, Sandylands and a recurring role in BBC’s The Detectorists. Thompson is represented by Independent Talent Group.

Perron was most recently seen in the play Tartuffe at the Royal Haymarket of London. She’ll next appear in the anticipated Spanish Balenciaga series biopic produced by Disney+. She’ll also be seen on screen in a French comedy that will be released in Christmas 2023. Perron is represented by As Talents.

Winkleman’s TV credits include regular roles in Peep Show and Two and a Half Men; her most recent work includes leading roles in ITV’s Sanditon and Strike for the BBC. For film, Sophie’s credits include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Suzie Gold and the leading role in Mike Figgis’s Love Live Long. She’ll next be seen on the big screen in Wonka, directed by Paul King. Winkleman is repped by Hamilton Hodell.

Cassidy stars in the new Sebastián Lelio film The Wonder, which premiered at Telluride Film Festival in September. Her television work includes CBS’ Harper’s Island, BBC miniseries Fingersmith, BAFTA-nominated police procedural No Offence and BBC’s Emmy nominated The Paradise and A Room with A View, adapted by Andrew Davies. She’s repped by Arg.

The final 10 episodes have begun filming in Hungary

“The Last Kingdom” is officially headed into the last season. After six years, split between two different networks, Season 5 will be the final season for the show, according to Deadline and Variety.

Originally debuting on BBC Two in 2015, “The Last Kingdom” found a home at Netflix in 2018. The series is an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling The Saxon Stories novels, following the adventures of Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon), a Saxon-born warrior who was raised a Dane, in ninth and tenth-century England.

The final season of “The Last Kingdom” will be based on the ninth and 10th books in the 13-part series, and consist of 10 episodes, currently filming in Hungary. In these final episode Uhtred will be tasked with training King Edward’s first-born son Aethelstan as a warrior, working to achieve his own destiny. In the process, Uhtred will have...

“The Last Kingdom” will end with its upcoming Season 5 on Netflix.

The announcement comes as the show begins production on its fifth season in Budapest, Hungary.

“I love this job,” series star Alexander Dreymon said. “Playing Uhtred for 5 seasons has been a wonderful journey. And I’m truly grateful to have been given the opportunity to direct. In doing so, I came to fully appreciate the spectacular talent and skill of our cast and crew even more. I can’t wait to share it with our fans, without whom none of this would be possible.”

Based on the ninth and tenth books of Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling novel series “The Saxon Stories,” the fifth season will see Uhtred (Dreymon) realize his destiny is more than just Bebbanburg: it is tied to the future of England itself. Charged with training King Edward’s first-born son Aethelstan as a warrior, Uhtred’s...

Exclusive: The Last Kingdom is to ride out for a final time, as Netflix brings the curtain down on the beloved adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling The Saxon Stories novels.

The streaming giant and producer Carnival Films confirmed that Season 5 of The Last Kingdom will be the last, bringing an end to a historical drama that originally started life on the BBC six years ago.

Filming is underway in Hungary on the final 10-part season, which will continue to follow the adventures of Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon), a warrior born a Saxon but raised as a Dane, in ninth and tenth-century England.

Charged with training King Edward’s first-born son Aethelstan as a warrior, Uhtred’s ambition will have an even higher purpose. But to achieve this destiny, Uhtred will have to face down his greatest enemy and suffer his greatest loss. The season is based on the...

Sherlock series 4, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, will be themed around "consequences" says Steven Moffat...

This is a round-up of news relating to Sherlock's fourth series. (We say news. We're being a tad optimistic there.)

To read about on the one-off Victorian-set Sherlock special, due to air at an as-yet-undisclosed-date-but-probably-Christmas this year, please see here.

Latest news

This Entertainment Weekly interview with Steven Moffat provided a few characteristic teases from the Sherlock showrunner, including the promise that series four would contain answers "to questions which nobody has asked" (Sherlock's Gcse results? Mycroft's shoe size? We're just spitballing here). Moffat continued, "we're very exultant about a little thing we've set up that no one is talking about". Fingers at the ready, people, and let the chin-stroking commence...

Asked what the theme of series four would be, Moffat said "It's consequences. Chickens come home to roost. It's dark in...

Christian Cawley 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.

Ever wondered how the Doctor Who Experience’s new footage starring Peter Capaldi in a variety of Tardis console rooms was made? Yes you have, don’t be silly. In the video above, see director Paul Wilmshurst (Mummy on the Orient Express), designer Michael Bennet and writer Joseph Lidster talking about the development and production of these scenes, and watch...

The post Watch: The Making of The Doctor Who Experience appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Get an inside look at how the revamped Doctor Who Experience came together on Digital Spy.

The Cardiff attraction re-opened to the public in October with a renovated exhibition and new interactive experience for fans.

In the clip above, director Paul Wilmshurst ('Last Christmas', 'Mummy on the Orient Express') talks shooting new scenes with Peter Capaldi especially for the Experience.

Writer Joseph Lidster and designer Michael Bennett also reveal how the adventure, which has fans assist the Doctor on a space-faring quest, came together.

Doctor Who will return to BBC One for its ninth series later this year.

The revamped Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay is open now with tickets on sale at doctorwhoexperience.com.

Christian Cawley 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.

The new Doctor Who Magazine is out on Thursday, and along with all of the stuff you’re about to read concerning Paul Wilmshurst, Steven Moffat’s monthly Q&A with the readers, a chat with Waris Hussein about Marco Polo, Toby Hadoke’s tribute to Bernard Kay and the second part of the Peter Purves interview, look out...

The post Exclusive Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart Short Story in Dwm 483! 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,...

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...

This year's Doctor Who Christmas Special is a surprisingly scary festive tale with an exemplary cast. Here's our spoiler-free review...

Tradition once upon a time apparently suggested that the Doctor Who Christmas special was a slightly softer beast than usual. That it was put together fully in the knowledge that it'd be watched by people who had consumed no small amount of food, and in many cases also enjoyed a beverage or two. A beverage with a percentage figure on the side of the bottle. As such, with one or two notable exceptions, the specials have had a slightly different feel.

Last Christmas, though, could effectively be classed as episode 13 of the series just gone. That's what it pretty much is of course, but specifically it's a lot less standalone than we've had in recent years. That's not to say it doesn't work as a one-off episode, but it's also...

BBC

With exactly one month to go until the Doctor’s tenth (can you Adam and Eve it?!) annual festive adventure, the BBC has set tongues wagging today by revealing its intriguing title, and we’ve even been treated to a sparkling new poster image – above – too!

We now know that the Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald will return to our screens in Last Christmas, written by Steven Moffat and directed by Paul Wilmshurst, which is set to air in the show’s traditional Christmas Day time slot as the centrepiece of BBC One’s yuletide festivities.

Confirmed guest stars for the special include Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz’s very own Nick Frost, who was introduced in the closing credits of the Series 8 finale, Death in Heaven, as Father Christmas (no, seriously), as well as Dan Starkey and Nathan McMullen, who will seemingly be playing two of Santa’s devoted elves,...

The Doctor Who series 8 disc release features a wealth of bonus material including the terrific Earth Conquest doc. Here's Pete's verdict...

If you’re reading this review, then there’s a good chance that you’ve both seen the twelve episodes that make up Peter Capaldi’s debut series and know exactly what we’re going to say about them. Series 8 of Doctor Who has been hailed by many as the best in several years, and one of the best since the show’s revival in 2005. It’s a verdict that we here at Den of Geek find it hard to argue with, frankly. From the light-hearted opener Deep Breath to the action-packed and slightly bonkers finale Death In Heaven, with thought-provoking episodes like Listen and Kill The Moon along the way, Series 8 has been a confident start to a brand new era for the world’s longest-running sci-fi programme.

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 directors of Doctor Who's latest series brought back the scares in a big way. Well, fear is a superpower...

Warning: contains spoilers for every episode of the eighth series of Doctor Who.

We were promised back in August that the Peter Capaldi era of Doctor Who would mark a departure from the adventurous fairy tale approach of Matt Smith's run.

“Darker” and “edgier” are buzz words that have been applied to countless Hollywood sequels, but the eighth series actually lived up to that promise and by September, the tabloid press were dispensing think-pieces about whether or not it had become too scary for children (“scary” here standing in for “complicated” in Smith's era and “heretical” when David Tennant got a lift off a couple of angel robots in Voyage Of The Damned.)

All moral panics aside, this series brought back the scares in a big, bad way.

The Doctor Who Experience has regenerated.

The Cardiff attraction temporarily closed its doors last month and re-opened to the public on Friday (October 24) - just in time for half term.

In the near two-month hiatus, the Experience team have been hard at work, not only updating the Exhibition Hall but installing a revamped interactive walkthrough.

The exhibition alone is worth the price of admission. Split across two levels, it offers an abundance of original Doctor Who props and costumes - the largest such collection in the world - with replicas surprisingly scarce.

Here you'll find prized items dating all the way back to the early '60s, with original scripts, props (including several full-size Daleks) and vintage costumes. Reproductions stand in for the first two Doctor's costumes, but there's a restored Jon Pertwee outfit on display - all the way from 1970.

The latest update also means that fans can get...

The writer of Mummy On The Orient Express and Flatline, Jamie Mathieson, talks us through his Doctor Who experience....

Even before the credits had rolled on his second Doctor Who episode, Flatline, people were asking if writer Jamie Mathieson would be back for series 9 of the show. But Mathieson's path to Doctor Who goes right the way back to his original pitch in 2004, via a feature film screenplay (Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel, his writing on Being Human and a further, unsuccessful Who pitch.

We caught up with Mathieson, once Mummy On The Orient Express and Flatline - his first two Doctor Who adventures - had screened. And he took us through his Doctor Who experience...

You've said before that you arrived at your Doctor Who pitch meeting with four episodes outlined. First thing then: what's a Doctor Who pitch meeting actually like?

A Doctor Who pitch meeting is fairly banal really.

Doctor Who, Season 8, Episode 8, “Mummy on the Orient Express”

Written by Jamie Mathieson

Directed by Paul Wilmshurst

Doctor Who, Season 8, Episode 9, “Flatline”

Written by Jamie Mathieson

Directed by Douglas Mackinnon

Airs Saturdays at 9pm Et on BBC America

These weeks, on Doctor Who: Clara gets comfortable lying, the Doctor enjoys not knowing, and it’s a bad time to be a red shirt

In their reviews of “The Caretaker” and “Mummy on the Orient Express”, the fantastic Tom and Lorenzo postulated that Clara has become addicted to traveling with the Doctor, showing many of the signs of addiction. While this is absolutely the case, and could certainly be part of where showrunner Steven Moffat is planning to take the rest of the season, with “Flatline”, another aspect of Clara and the Doctor’s arcs this season finally becomes clear—Clara is becoming more like the shifty, callous late Eleventh and now Twelfth Doctors,...

There’s one of two things you can be almost guaranteed of when you see a story that takes place on a train – romance, or a murder.

Mummy On The Orient Express

By Jamie Mathieson

Directed by Paul Wilmshurst

As a farewell fling, The Doctor takes Clara on a trip aboard the Orient Express in space, exactingly copied from the original, except for the bit about being spaceworthy. It becomes quickly apparent that all is not well on the craft – a mysterious unseen beast is killing people exactly 66 seconds after the victim sees it – and no one else does. It turns out this particular journey is a massive two-fold trap – the ship is filled with scientists versed in areas of research that pertain to the beast, and are pressed into service to capture it, by any means necessary.

The Doctor quickly joins the press gang, understanding that the only way...

Christian Cawley 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.

Well I don’t know about you, but that episode came along at just about the right time! Mummy on the Orient Express has just concluded on BBC One, but how did you find the eighth episode of Doctor Who Series 8? Written by newcomer to Who Jamie Mathieson and directed by Paul Wilmshurst – who did such a...

The post Mummy on the Orient Express Poll: Tell Us Your Thoughts! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

This week's Doctor Who may not be the strongest episode of the current run, but it leaves us with plenty to mull over...

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

8.8 Kill The Moon

"Do you come round to peoples' houses for dinner?"

It seems a shame to start with something a little downbeat, given that Mummy On The Orient Express was really quite good fun. But after that ending to Kill The Moon, we can't have been the only ones hoping for things to be picked up more directly than they were here. Just seven days ago, Clara sent the Doctor away and was bellowing at him, fed up with his patronising ways and treating her as a regular human, who just makes the same choices as everyone else. Internet fire was certainly lit.

Clearly things have happened by the time Mummy On The Orient Express starts, but...

Fancy some pointing, singing and mummified remains on your Thursday morning? Look no further than our Doctor Who news update…

Yes, it’s that time of the week again where we pore through promotional images for this Saturday’s Doctor Who episode.

The BBC are always happy to keep those hype wheels a-spinning, so there’s plenty of snaps, and a brief trailer, to get us prepared.

This Saturday we have Mummy On The Orient Express, written by Who newcomer Jamie Mathieson (Being Human) and directed by Paul Wilmshurst. Check out the pictures here…

And here's a very brief look at the episode, in the form of the BBC's TV trailer...

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TV News Rob Leane Doctor Who 9 Oct 2014 - 08:18 Doctor Who series 8Peter CapaldiFrank SkinnerJamie MathiesonPaul Wilmshurst...

A classic monster. A classic train. The clock is ticking. Here's our spoiler-free look at Mummy On The Orient Express...

You'd hardly say that the horror theme running through this series of Doctor Who has been an undercurrent, but in Mummy On The Orient Express, it bubbles right to the fore. As the Doctor tells us early on, there are many trains that have taken the name the Orient Express, but there's only one in space. And that's where we find ourselves for the vast bulk of the episode. It just happens to be the one where a Mummy is wreaking havoc.

Penned by Jamie Mathieson, making his Doctor Who debut, Mummy On The Orient Express thus mixes in solid ingredients. There's an Agatha Christie-esque mystery, with a bunch of passengers who get drawn into what's going on. It also has a play with the Universal horror movies of...

The Doctor Who Experience has released images from its brand new adventure starring the Twelfth Doctor.

The pictures show Peter Capaldi behind the scenes while filming the mini-episode for the Cardiff Bay attraction.

8 new pictures from Doctor Who's 'Mummy on the Orient Express'

Doctor Who series 8 'Kill the Moon' recap: Peter Capaldi's best yet?

Torchwood writer Joseph Lidster has penned the script and Doctor Who's Paul Wilmshurst has directed the episode, which allows fans to star in their very own Doctor Who story.

The action begins in the Gallifrey Museum before moving into the Tardis, and it sees the Doctor and visitors grappling with a threat which could destroy the universe.

The updated exhibition space will also be given new props from Peter Capaldi's debut series, as well as sets and monsters from throughout the Doctor Who world.

The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay will re-open on Friday,...

Peter Capaldi's Doctor takes a trip on an Orient Express train with a difference in this week's episode of Doctor Who.

'Mummy on the Orient Express' will see the Doctor face off with an undead creature, and features guest appearances from Foxes, John Sessions and Frank Skinner.

Episode eight of the Peter Capaldi era is written by Jamie Mathieson (Dirk Gently, Being Human) and directed by Paul Wilmshurst.

1. Popstar Foxes will make a cameo

2. Frank Skinner makes his debut as Perkins

3. Capaldi's Doctor will square up to a mummy

4. Daisy Beaumont looks like she might have just seen the mummy

5. David Bamber is cast as Captain Quell

6. Skinner is such a fan of the show he has a cardboard cut-out Dalek in his bedroom

7. Capaldi looks like he's channelling Pertwee with this week's outfit

8. A first look at Christopher Villiers as Professor Moorhouse

Mummy on the Orient Express...

Frank Skinner is such a big fan of Doctor Who that he even has his own five-foot cardboard Dalek in his bedroom, so it must be a dream come true for the comedian to find himself joining the show for this week's episode 'Mummy on the Orient Express'.

Skinner is cast as Perkins in the exciting new episode, which also guest stars David Bamber, singer-songwriter Foxes, John Sessions and Christopher Villiers.

Speaking about landing the role, Skinner said: "I love this show. I subscribe to Doctor Who Magazine, I've got a Tardis ringtone, a five-foot cardboard Dalek in my bedroom and when I got the call saying they wanted me to read for the part, I was in the back of my tour bus watching episode three of 'The Sensorites'. I am beyond excited."

Showrunner Steven Moffat joked that he gave Skinner the part to stop him camping out in his garden.

Sneak Peek footage from BBC's Season 8 of "Doctor Who" and the eighth episode titled "Mummy On The Orient Express", written by Jamie Mathieson and directed by Paul Wilmshurst, airing October 11, 2014:

"...the 'Doctor' and 'Clara' are on the most beautiful train in history, speeding among the stars of the future. However, a deadly mummy monster terrorizes the passengers. Once they see the horrifying 'Mummy', they only have 66 seconds to live. No exceptions, no reprieve. The Doctor is going to end up, racing against time, and Clara will see him at his deadliest and most ruthless..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Doctor Who: Mummy On The Orient Express"...

Last night, BBC released the new promo/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "Doctor Who" episode 8 of season 8, and it appears to be extremely intense and drama-filled as a vicious and deadly mummy monster attacks a lot of people on a beautiful train, and more! The episode is titled, "Mummy On The Orient Express." In the new, 8th episode: "The Doctor and Clara will be on the most beautiful train in history ,speeding among the stars of the future. However, a deadly mummy monster will be terrorizing the passengers. Once they see the horrifying Mummy, they'll only have 66 seconds to live. No exceptions, no reprieve. The Doctor is going to end up, racing against the time, and Clara will see him at his deadliest and most ruthless. The episode was written by Jamie Mathieson and it was directed by Paul Wilmshurst. Episode 8 is scheduled to air on Saturday night, October...

Doctor Who, Season 8, Episode 7, “Kill the Moon”

Written by Peter Harness

Directed by Paul Wilmshurst

Airs Saturdays at 9pm Et on BBC America

This week, on Doctor Who: The Doctor and Clara discuss respect and choice. Also, space spiders.

In “The Caretaker”, the Doctor expressed a level of ownership over Clara, demanding an explanation for her relationship with Danny. In “Kill the Moon”, any ounce of paternalism is removed, as a fun and scary adventure on the moon gives way to an exploration of choice, responsibility, and respect.

The episode starts out fairly typically, with the Doctor heading off on an adventure with Clara and Courtney (who he’s accidentally traumatized). There’s a lot to like right off the bat, with the episode switching nimbly from comedy (nice to know there’s an official Tardis anti-hanky-panky rule, though that might be a post-River addition) to suspense. Writer Peter Harness...

Recently, BBC released the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Doctor Who" episode 8 of season 8. The episode is entitled, "Mummy On The Orient Express," and it sounds like things will get pretty dramatic and intense as the Doctor and Clara take on a vicious Mummy on a beautiful train, and more! In the new, 6th episode press release: "The Doctor and Clara will be on the most beautiful train in history ,speeding among the stars of the future. However, a deadly creature will be stalking the passengers. Once you see the horrifying Mummy, you only have 66 seconds to live. No exceptions, no reprieve. As the Doctor races against the clock, Clara is going to see him at his deadliest and most ruthless. Will he work out how to defeat the Mummy? Start the clock! The episode was written by Jamie Mathieson and it was directed by Paul Wilmshurst. Guest stars will feature: Frank Skinner,...

Spoilers: Doctor Who hits top form with Kill The Moon. And Jenna Coleman has never been better...

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

8.7 Kill The Moon

"If you think we should kill the creature, turn your lights off"

Now that's been a long time coming.

For weeks now, Peter Capaldi's Doctor hasn't been very nice to Clara. That would be some understatement. We've had the uncomfortable digs about her appearance most prominently, but there's been a dismissive undercurrent too in the curtness of the Doctor towards Clara. On the one hand, this has established Capaldi's Doctor as a little more alien than he was in Matt Smith's era (offering varying gradations of coldness, depending on the story). But then it's also created a divide between the Doctor and Clara, one that was talked about extensively in Deep Breath, but ultimately far from resolved.

This week?...

The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay will re-open on Friday, October 24.

The award-winning attraction - closed since September 1 - will now feature a newly scripted storyline starring the Twelfth Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi.

The special storyline - written by Joseph Lidster (Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures) and directed by Paul Wilmshurst (Doctor Who, Da Vinci's Demons) - begins in the Gallifrey Museum and will lead fans to the heart of the Tardis.

The exhibition space will also be given a refresh, with new props from Capaldi's debut series as well as sets and monsters from throughout Doctor Who's history.

Stephen Davies - Director of Live Events and Entertainment at BBC Worldwide - says: "As with all of the best Doctor Who adventures, we've undergone our very own regeneration down at the Doctor Who Experience and we're sure Doctor Who fans will be thrilled to take part in a...

A brilliantly unnerving Who episode featuring stand-out performances. Here's our spoiler-free look at Kill The Moon...

Brilliant. We may as well get to the point quickly. Kill The Moon is brilliant.

It's the first Doctor Who story to be penned by Peter Harness and the first Doctor Who story to be directed by Paul Wilmshurst. Both leave an indelible mark on Kill The Moon, that makes you wish that Steven Moffat had them on instant speed dial.

The setup is established in a Blink-esque message to Earth from Clara pre-credits. There's a big decision to make. There are 45 minutes to make it. If you make the wrong choice, basically everybody dies. So no pressure.

As you might guess, it involves the moon - although in an episode that would be tremendously easy to spoil, we're playing safer than ever in this spoiler-free piece. Furthermore, we get young Courtney in the...

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...

Sneak Peek images from the next "Doctor Who" episode, "Kill the Moon", the seventh episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction TV series airing October 4, 2014, written by Peter Harness and directed by Paul Wilmshurst, starring Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, with guest star Hermione Norris:

"...in the near future, the 'Doctor' (Peter Capaldi) and 'Clara' (Jenna Coleman) find themselves on a space shuttle making a suicide mission to the Moon.

"Crash-landing on the lunar surface, they find a mining base full of corpses, vicious spider-like creatures poised to attack, and a terrible dilemma.

"Then when 'Clara' turns to the Doctor for help, she gets the shock of her life..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Doctor Who: Kill The Moon"... ...

New pictures from Doctor Who's next episode 'Kill the Moon' have debuted online.

The BBC sci-fi's latest episode has been written by Peter Harness (Wallander) and directed by Paul Wilmshurst (Da Vinci's Demons).

The official synopsis for 'Kill the Moon' reads: "In the near future, the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara (Jenna Coleman) find themselves on a space shuttle making a suicide mission to the Moon.

"Crash-landing on the lunar surface, they find a mining base full of corpses, vicious spider-like creatures poised to attack, and a terrible dilemma. When Clara turns to the Doctor for help, she gets the shock of her life."

Hermione Norris (Spooks, The Crimson Field) makes a guest appearance in the episode, playing the character Lundvik.

Ellis George also reprises her role of outspoken schoolgirl Courtney Woods, introduced to viewers in last week's 'The Caretaker'.

'Kill the Moon' was partly shot on location in Lanzarote,...

Prepared to be scared? Doctor Who’s Kill The Moon trailer features a ruddy huge spider…

After the gleeful fun of The Caretaker, Doctor Who series 8 is set to take a more serious turn next weekend. Kill The Moon is the next episode hitting our screens, and it certainly seems to be swaying towards the darker side of Who.

This is also a chance for some new creative talent to take a crack at Doctor Who – with newcomers to Who Peter Harness and Paul Wilmshurst writing and directing, respectively.

Check out the brief trailer for the episode here…

The episode airs this Saturday on BBC One.

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TV News Rob Leane Doctor Who 30 Sep 2014 - 07:51 Doctor Who series 8kill the moon...

"Hello, Earth! We have a terrible decision to make: An innocent life versus the future of all mankind..." Clara and the Time Lord head to the moon in a new trailer for next week's episode of Doctor Who, "Kill the Moon", airing Saturday, October 4 at 9 Pm Et on BBC America.

In the near future, the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara (Jenna Coleman) find themselves on a space shuttle making a suicide mission to the moon. Crash-landing on the lunar surface, they find a mining base full of corpses, vicious spider-like creatures poised to attack, and a terrible dilemma. But when Clara turns to the Doctor for help, she gets the shock of her life. With special guest star Hermione Norris (Mi-5, Wire in the Blood).

Will the life of one innocent person be spared to ensure the future of all humanity? Will the Time Lord and Clara actually "kill the...

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...

Paul Wilmshurst, the director of this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special, announced on Twitter that filming starts today...

News on this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special is currently thin on the ground, but expect that to change imminently as filming begins on the extended-length festive episode today. 

We do know, thanks to Twitter, that Paul Wilmshurst (who was behind the camera on two more of series eight's Who episodes, Kill The Moon and Mummy On The Orient Express) will be directing the Special, but, er, that's about it. Rumours that artificial snow and tinsel are also due to appear remain unconfirmed. 

(Of course, a very spoiler-y casting rumour popped up in the tabloid press some weeks ago regarding the episode, about which those concerned have kept understandably schtum.) 

Wilmshurst announced yesterday, "Start shooting Dr Who Xmas Special tomorrow. Will surface again in four weeks. Fingers crossed all goes according to plan.