It’s been a bloody busy old weekend, which is perhaps not in the least bit surprising given our current proximity to the new series.  So, let’s have a bit of a summary of what we’ve seen turn up on Jonathan Ross and the BBC’s Doctor Who website.  It’s all quite good.

Oooh, it’s all go.  As we approach the final week before the broadcast, shit’s really gonna start to get real, starting with the obligatory appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross by The New Guy, tonight.  If you think you can sit through Ross constantly mentioning his penis then this will be well worth a look, especially since Matt Smith seems to be an excellent interviewee, and we’ll be getting a clip from Whithouse’s Vampires of Venice!

In other news, the BBC’s Doctor Who site has had a very sexy redesign, to bring it more into line with the BBC’s standard (and excellent) layout.  It’s now much easier to browse around and you will no longer find yourself getting so frustrated you want to smash the designer to pieces with a clay replica of Tim Berners-Lee’s cock.  I really must do an article about all the various iterations of that site over the years.

In other other news, that 1 minute clip of The Eleventh Hour is going to show up on TEH RED BUTTONS from 18:25.  Seb will be abstaining but I’ll probably give it a good watch and post up about it over the weekend, along with every other two-bit Doctor Who blogger in the entire Universe.  Have a nice weekend, everyone, and try not to have bad dreams about cocks, clay-replica or otherwise.

Well, if talking about two different things actually classes as a ’roundup’, that is.

First, let’s mop up the last bit of big news that came out of of last Thursday’s press launch that we’ve not mentioned yet, which is the commissioning of a 2010 Christmas Special and series 6 in 2011.  I remember back in 2005 when series 2, 3 and two Christmas specials were commissioned just a few weeks into the airing of series 1.  It was massive, massive news.  Now, however, we’ve fallen into this cosy and slightly dangerous mode of simply assuming, and I think this is why this confirmation hasn’t been met with similar enthusiasm as back in 2005.  This is still a new Doctor with a new team, so it’s lovely to know the absolute minimum we’ve got to look forward to Quite A Lot, because Christ knows what’s going to happen to big budget drama when the Tories get their slimy claws into the BBC’s pocket.

Oooooh, I love me a good press launch, and last night’s didn’t disappoint despite the fact I was several miles away from it at the time.  So, let’s look over all The Good Stuff, shall we.

Blogtor Who, diligent as ever, have spotted that the first volume in 2|entertain’s protracted war against sensible pricing and single dipping is now listed on Play.com.  Because DVD covers give us the horn, here are a few thoughts on the matter after the jump:

No, don’t worry, Peter Kay isn’t returning, but this isn’t much better.  Guests stars are all fine and well, but… James Corden?  Really?

Going on the fact the episode 7 and 11 block started filming today, it’s safe to assume he’ll be in one of those which seem to be Amy and Doctor-lites.  You won’t have to delve too far into the fiery pits of Gallifrey Base to see which of those episode he’s likely to be in and in what capacity, but it’s an episode I actually really like the sound of, which is a bit of a miracle given that its writer, Gareth Roberts, is even shitter than James shitting Corden.

Still, good to see The Sun’s resident Photoshop ‘artist’ at the very top of their game.

TV site Digital Spy has taken time out from reporting on every last fucking detail of every single American drama ever to give this tasty little exclusive:
The new Doctor Who trailer will premiere this Saturday on BBC One, it has been announced.

The promo for the new series, which stars Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, will also simulcast on the official Who website.
Yay! During my recent expeditions into the dangerous cave system that is the spoiler section on Gallifrey Base, I’d been reading rumours that the next trailer wouldn’t come until late March, suggesting an early April première for series 5. I don’t think it will be unreasonable to assume this trailer will include confirmation of that date, which will hopefully be somewhere in the middle of March.

Despite this being something that “BBC One have announced” Digital Spy fails to link to a source for this news, so it looks like this remains a DS ‘exclusive’ until the BBC catch up and make it all official like.  And if that isn’t enough excitement for one day, DS have also posted a new promo shot (again, I can’t find this anywhere on any BBC site at the moment), which we have faithfully reproduced after this jump…

Vigilant Doctor Who news site Blogtor Who have been posting pictures of a forthcoming range of Who Easter Eggs over the last few days, and something instantly struck me about them.  Yes, they’re using the old (pre-resurrection if you want, which you probably don’t) branding.

I realise Easter Eggs are produced and sold well in advance of Easter but excited children gathering around the TV on Easter weekend to (probably) watch the brand new New Who while tucking into eggs plastered with a logo that will be well out of date by then is an odd image.  I know, I know, having Davros and the Daleks next to the New Blue would make no sense but they’re both just as out of date at that horrific taxi logo, anyway.  Why not use The Weeping Angels? Or Stephen Moffat’s beaming face?  Anything to stop those poor confused tykes having something to remind them of the show as it once was when they should be casting off the shackles and getting to know the show all over again.

Join us tomorrow when I’ll probably get unduly upset about something else that doesn’t actually matter.  Unless that rumoured RTD movie starring Tennant is confirmed and then you’ll see me really upset, for much the same reasons only without the delicious chocolate for comfort.

Yesterday, The Daily Telegraph revealed the shocking lefty campaign to ‘infiltrate’ Doctor Who (that most conservative of all British institutions) with vile swipes at our good lady Thatcher.  Of course, the anti-Thatcher themes were well known to almost every single disgusting Doctor Who fan prior to Sunday, but it was about time middle England learned of this chilling plot.

Today, The Telegraph’s resident foetus, Will Heaven, has waded in with his own razor sharp analysis of the situation, making the bold claim that Doctor Who is actually shit, anyway.  Will goes on to boldly challenge Doctor Who‘s status as the BBC’s flagship program, claiming consistently high ratings and critical acclaim don’t count because he’s decided the rest of British TV is shit.  Poor old Will Heaven just doesn’t understand why all these freaky fantasists continue to watch a show which is clearly cheap tat with no appeal to the all mighty WILL HEAVEN.

Just so you’re aware, though, Will Heaven is a cultured man and not a clueless prick.  Oh no.  Tennant is definitely a fantastic actor because Will Heaven has cast his discerning eye over Hamlet and declared it so.  Will Heaven also likes The West Wing and apparently believes its existence (among other “US DVDs” probably including The Wire, the trendy shitbag) completely negates the need to watch Doctor Who.

So, I hope you’ve all had a good long look at yourselves, because Will Heaven thinks you’re a cunt.

Getting a peek ‘behind the curtain’ is something a very specific kind of person enjoys.  DVD commentaries and documentaries are created specifically for the sort of person that loves a certain thing so much they want to gather as much information about said thing as possible, even if that were to mean the illusion of fiction is forever ruined. In some cases this can be fascinating or even exciting (I challenge you to find one Red Dwarf fan sans stiffy whenever a DVD release day rolled round) but in most cases it feels more like Derren Brown describing how he predicted the Lottery numbers; disappointing and full of lies.  Getting into the mind of Russell T Davies is the ultimate act of peeking behind the curtain for any Who fan, and effect this book had on me was a curious one.  I was never bored, never disillusioned and never disappointed.  I was, however, terrified.