Broadchurch series 2 casts Torchwood's Eve Myles, Marianne Jean-Baptiste

ITV has announced new castings for Broadchurch's second series.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, James D'Arcy, Eve Myles and Phoebe Waller-Bridge have joined the cast of the crime drama.

orchwood and Frankie star Eve Myles will play a central role in the new series, along with Bad Education's Waller-Bridge. Details of the characters are currently being kept under wraps.

Creator and writer Chris Chibnall said: "As if we didn't have enough fabulous actresses, it's a thrill to be joined by Wales's finest, Eve Myles. Having worked together on Torchwood, it's a joy to be able to welcome her to Broadchurch.

"And anyone who's seen Phoebe Waller-Bridge perform knows she's already on the way to being a superstar. We're lucky to have them both on board".

Oscar and BAFTA-nominated Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies, Without a Trace) will play a leading role in the series.

"We're over the moon to have wooed Marianne back from Los Angeles to join us in Broadchurch," said Chibnall.

"Marianne is one of Britain's finest actresses, so it's an honour and a coup for us. It's a role written specifically for her and I would've wept for months if she'd turned us down. Luckily she didn't and her character is going to make an indelible impact on the world of Broadchurch."

Producer Jane Featherstone said of D'Arcy: "James's extraordinary recent work in movies such as Cloud Atlas and opposite Anthony Hopkins in Hitchcock makes him another thrilling and important addition to the Broadchurch cast."

David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Arthur Darvill and Charlotte Rampling will also star in the second series.

Chris Chibnall has also confirmed that filming will return to Dorset and North Somerset.

"We're finally able to talk a little about preparations for the next series of Broadchurch and confirm we're coming back to film around West Bay and Clevedon," he said.

"We're all thrilled about returning, especially given how supportive the whole community was last time. And if the community are able to keep our secrets as well as they did last time, we'll be ever so grateful."

Broadchurch won three BAFTA TV Awards on Sunday (May 18) for Best Drama, Leading Actress for Olivia Colman and Supporting Actor for David Bradley.

Source: Digital Spy

Read more...

Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan to star in new ABC comedy pilot Selfie

Karen Gillan is to star in a new ABC comedy pilot.

The ex-Doctor Who actress has joined Selfie, which is about a self-obsessed 20-something who enlists the help of a marketing expert after an embarrassing video goes viral.

Gillan will play the lead role of Eliza Dooley. Suburgatory creator Emily Kapnek is behind the half-hour single-camera comedy.

The former Amy Pond star also has roles in two upcoming films, Oculus and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Horror movie Oculus sees Gillan star alongside Brenton Thwaites, as the pair find themselves tormented by supernatural forces coming through a mirror in their childhood home.

Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy, which had Gillan go bald for her role as alien supervillain Nebula, is released on August 1.

Source: Digital Spy

Read more...

BBC Release the start date for 'The Musketeers'

The BBC have released the start date for the new drama 'The Musketeers.'

The New Series which also stars Peter Capaldi, will air the first episode on Sunday 19th January.

Capaldi is starring as Cardinal Richelieu, along side former Heroes and Merlin star Santiago Cabrera who will star as Aramis.

Episode One: Sunday 19th Januray, 9pm on BBC One 

Source: BBC

Read more...

Russell Tovey confirms 'Doctor Who' audition: It would've terrified me

Russell Tovey has revealed that he auditioned for the lead role in Doctor Who.

 The Being Human actor was briefly tipped to replace David Tennant on the BBC sci-fi drama, after appearing in two episodes as the character Midshipman Frame.

The 31-year-old did screen-test for the part of the Eleventh Doctor, according to The Independent, but ultimately lost out to current Who lead Matt Smith.

"It would have terrified me," Tovey is quoted as saying. "I don't know what I would have done with all the attention."

The actor can currently be seen in ITV's new sitcom The Job Lot, which airs on Monday nights at 9.30pm.

Source: Digital Spy

Read more...

Broadchurch to return for 2nd Series!

For those of you who have been watching Broadchurch, starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman. You will be happy to know it is to return for a 2nd Series. The show also starred Jodie Whittaker and Doctor Who's Arthur Darvill to name but a few.

ITV released the following press release:

Broadchurch will return for a second series, ITV confirmed tonight (Monday 22 April). The successful series, produced by Kudos Film and Television and Imaginary Friends Productions, written and created by Chris Chibnall, starring a strong ensemble cast lead by David Tennant and Olivia Colman has gripped the nation with viewers intrigued by the circumstances surrounding the death of young Danny Latimer.

 The new series will go into production next year. As with the first series, details of the story, and which characters will return, are currently being kept tightly under wraps. Since launching on 4 March, the drama has never been far from everyday conversation, becoming compelling viewing as the audience have dissected and analysed the cleverly crafted scripts, which implicated many of the locals living in the small picturesque seaside Dorset community of Broadchurch, home to the Latimer family.

The first episode rating of 9.1 million (31% audience share) saw Broadchurch achieve the highest weekday launch of a new drama across all broadcasters since ITV’s Whitechapel in January 2009. More than 9 million viewers have watched the popular drama unfold. Only two other dramas on television launching during weekday have rated higher since 2002, both from ITV, Life Begins and Doc Martin. The compelling series, produced by Kudos Film and Television, which also starred, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Vicky McClure, Arthur Darvill, David Bradley, Pauline Quirke, Jonathan Bailey, Carolyn Pickles and Will Mellor, had bookmakers running odds on who they thought was responsible for Danny’s death.

Commissioned for ITV by Acting Director of Drama Commissioning, Steve November, Broadchurch is executive produced by Chris Chibnall, and Kudos Film and Television’s Jane Featherstone. The series was produced by Richard Stokes and the lead director was James Strong. Euros Lyn also directed three episodes of the series. “We’re delighted to be commissioning a second series of Broadchurch,” said ITV’s Director of Television, Peter Fincham. “From the moment the murder scene was discovered, viewers became gripped by the series, and we’ve been genuinely thrilled by the audience response.

 David and Olivia’s performances and Chris’s cleverly crafted scripts have created a truly compelling drama.” Creator and writer Chris Chibnall said: "The whole Broadchurch team has been delighted and properly gobsmacked by the response from ITV viewers. When I first talked to Peter Fincham and Laura Mackie, ITV’s Director of Drama about Broadchurch, I mentioned that if people liked it, there was another very different story we could tell afterwards. I'm really thrilled we're going to tell that story too." 

 Executive producer, Jane Featherstone for Kudos Film and Television commented: “It’s such a privilege for Kudos to be able to work with Chris and ITV to bring the next chapter of Broadchurch to our screens. And although we’re giving nothing away right now, I can tell you it’s going to keep on delivering surprises and scale.”

Read more...

"Doctor Who" Star Arthur Darvill and Joanna Christie Will Make Music in Broadway's Once

"Doctor Who" star Arthur Darvill and Joanna Christie will take on the soulful leading roles in the Broadway production of the Tony Award-winning musical Once beginning April 23 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

Inspired by the indie film of the same name, the musical about a Dublin street singer and the woman who comes to inspire him opened on Broadway to acclaim March 18, 2012. It has a book by playwright Enda Walsh and utilizes songs from the film by songwriters Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.

Darvill is best known for portraying Rory Williams on the BBC series "Doctor Who." He has also appeared on stage in Our Boys, Dr. Faustus, Swimming with Sharks, Marine Parade, Stacy and Terre Haute. He will take on the role of Guy.

Christie, who steps into the role of Girl, co-starred with Daniel Radcliffe in the West End revival of Equus. She has appeared in "Mr. Selfridge" as well as The Ramshackle Heart and One Night In November.

The roles were originated on Broadway by Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti, respectively. Ben Hope and Laura Dreyfuss most recently played the roles in the Broadway production. Once is directed by John Tiffany (Black Watch), with movement by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch, American Idiot) and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!). It won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.

The cast also features David Abeles, David Patrick Kelly, Jillian Lebling, Eliza Holland Madore, Anne L. Nathan, Lucas Papaelias, Andy Taylor, Carlos Valdes, Erikka Walsh, Claire Wellin, Paul Whitty and J. Michael Zygo.

The production has set and costume design by Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (The Coast of Utopia, Mary Poppins). Lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz (Aida, The Coast of Utopia), and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.

Visit oncemusical.com for more information.

Source: Playbill.com

Read more...

Freema Agyeman Amazed at USA Doctor Who Popularity!

Freema Agyeman has expressed pride at her place in Doctor Who history.

The actress played The Doctor's companion Martha Jones in Doctor Who and Torchwood, but is now working in the US on The Carrie Diaries.

 Speaking to Assignment X, Agyeman admitted that she has been amazed by how popular Doctor Who has become in the US.

 "I am so overwhelmed and so honoured and pleased," Agyeman said of the show's popularity. "I walk down the street here and there are Doctor Who fans coming up to me, and I can't believe it."

 She went on to say: "I can't believe how it has just exploded over here. When I was doing the show, we didn't get to come over to America and do any of the promotion.

 "The new lot [of Doctor Who actors] did, but my agent said, 'Don't worry, whatever happens with them, it kind of ripples outwards and the whole family reaps the benefit of that', so it's been great for my career."

 Agyeman recently ruled out playing Martha Jones again in Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, but said she might take part in promotional events.

 The BBC also recently announced that 9th Doctor actor Christopher Eccleston will also not appear in the anniversary episode.

 Doctor Who's anniversary celebration will include current Doctor Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman, past stars David Tennant and Billie Piper and classic villains the Zygons.

Source: Digital Spy

Read more...

What's next for Freema?

Well Freema Agyeman ruled out a return in Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary special. So now is the question, what is next for the woman we have come to know as 'Martha Jones'.

After leaving Doctor Who, Freema went on to star in Law & Order: UK. She starred in the show for 6 series before deciding not to return for the 7th.

This decision was partially made as she is currently trying to crack the US by starring in The Carrie Diaries.

The Carrie Diaries is an american prequel series to Sex & The City, (based on the book series The Carrie Diaries and Summer & The City), in which Freema plays Larissa Laughlin. It airs on the CW channel in the US and has not yet began to air in the UK as we know. The first series is coming to a close in America tonight, so fans of Freema and the show will have to wait and see whether it is picked up for a second season.The shows executive producer seems hopeful all the same. As for when the series arrives here, a date is not yet known.

Freema is also starring in a CBeebies show called Old Jacks Boat, she play a character called Shelley. It just so happens that she stars alongside fellow Doctor Who star Bernard Cribbins.

So thats what is in store for Freema this year.But we whovians should keep our fingers crossed that she will return in the future!

Read more...

Karen Gillan Nominated For Scottish Fashion Icon 2012!

The Scottish Fashion Awards, sponsored by InStyle and hosted by Alexa Chung, have announced the nominees for Scottish Fashion Icon 2012!
The Scottish Fashion Awards, sponsored by InStyle, have announced this year’s nominees for Scottish Fashion Icon 2012, and the list includes Dr Who actress Karen Gillan, model Tali Lennox and Hollywood stars Tilda Swinton and Gerard Butler.

Nominee and model Tali Lennox, who also scooped a nomination for Scottish Model of the Year, said “I am so excited to be attending the awards this year, and to be nominated for two is so overwhelming and flattering. I am really proud of my Scottish roots, and can’t wait to spend some time in Glasgow”.

The Scottish Fashion Fashion Icon 2012 nominees:

Barrie James O’Neil
Karen Gillan
Tali Lennox
Emeli Sandé
Tammy Kane
Amy MacDonald
Louise Linton
Gerard Butler
Tilda Swinton
Calvin Harris
Iain De Caestecker
Emun Elliott

Source: Instyle.co.uk

Read more...

Karen Gillan On Set 30/5/2011

Here is a picture of Karen Gillan On Set filming We'll Take Manhattan on 30th May.

Below is the extract from the Daily Mail:

Playing one of the world’s most celebrated models must have been a daunting prospect.

But Doctor Who star Karen Gillan appears to have stepped into character as glamorous Sixties star Jean Shrimpton with ease.

The 23-year-old actress is pictured on set for the forthcoming BBC4 drama We’ll Take Manhattan, a film about Miss Shrimpton’s rise to fame.

It focuses on the iconic star’s four-year love affair with photographer David Bailey, played by 24-year-old British actor Aneurin Barnard.

The part is Miss Gillan’s first leading role since her debut in the 2010 series of Doctor Who as the Time Lord’s companion Amy Pond.

The film, to be screened later this year, follows the success of BBC4’s previous dramatisations of the lives of celebrity subjects including Enid Blyton, Gracie Fields, Hattie Jacques, Frankie Howerd and Tony Hancock.

BBC4 controller Richard Klein said the channel was committed to ‘dramatising moments that have changed the course of cultural life’.

The Shrimpton film will centre on a famous Vogue photo shoot which took place in 1962 in New York which helped propel the model, nicknamed The Shrimp, to worldwide stardom.

Speaking about playing the model, now 68, Miss Gillan said: ‘Jean Shrimpton is an icon of the Sixties and I am so excited to be playing somebody who had such a lasting impact on the fashion world.

‘I can’t wait to take on the challenge of bringing Jean and Bailey’s fascinating love story to life.’

Executive producer Claire Parker, of production company Kudos, said: ‘In Jean, Bailey found someone that he and his camera fell in love with.

‘We’ll Take Manhattan captures the essence of their dynamic affair and how they unwittingly changed the face of a decade.’

Sources: Daily Mail & Who is Karen Gillan

Read more...