Tag Archives: BBC3

Dr Who Review: The God Complex

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Hotels. Let’s face it, they’re creepy at the best of times. Pop one into Doctor Who, however, and you’re in a whole world of trouble.

As indeed are Rory, Amy and the Doctor when they check in to The God Complex, the 11th episode of series 6.

The complex of the title turns out to be a floating intergalactic prison that has, bizarrely, camouflaged itself to look like a 1980’s hotel. Inside lives a single alien prisoner resembling a Minotaur who feeds off of the faith of other races. In an effort to feed the prisoner, the complex abducts people from passing civilisations and challenges them with their greatest fears, forcing them to fall back on their core beliefs so that the Minotaur can gobble them up.
Riiiiiiiight.

Okay, as a premise this one barely hangs together… but then again, when has that ever stopped Doctor Who? Baby creatures made from excess body fat, flying sharks, 100ft tall steam-powered Cybermen; it’s all in a day’s work for the Timelord and his chums.

And in this case, it doesn’t matter a jot that the logic of this episode is a light breeze away from falling apart completely. Toby Whithouse’s script is a joyous combination of touching characterisation, creepy imagery, pithy dialogue and genuine emotional clout. It’s a great piece of work and everything I’ve come to expect from the creator of the sublime BBC3 series ‘Being Human’.

Rita and Gibbs are especially well-written and realised. Rita (played by the lovely Amara Karan) conveyed more humanity, sweetness and character in one episode than Amy managed in the whole of Series 5… so you knew she was going to get the chop. Which she did.
Drat.

And Gibbs was another great addition to the Whoniverse – a creature whose main aim in life is to be enslaved by the next passing alien race. “Our national Anthem is ‘Glory to Insert Name Here‘,” he explains. A fabulous idea brought to life by the ever-dependable David Walliams.

But it was the final denouement that really lifted this episode up with the best this season has had to offer. The Doctor finally letting Amy and Rory go after – lets face it – royally screwing with their lives. It was a poignant finale to a rather fabulous episode of Who and I challenge anyone not to have a lump in their throat after seeing Matt Smith all alone in the cavernous TARDIS – the “Lonely God” once more. Sob.

So who does he turn to? Why, Craig from ‘The Lodger’ of course! Next week sees the return of my favourite character from Season 5 (hurrah!) and Cybermen. Let the good times continue to roll…

BECOMING HUMAN MOVES FROM ONLINE TO BBC THREE

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Being Human’s exclusive online extension drama “Becoming Human” will transmit on BBC Three, simultaneously revealing the final part of the mystery to online fans and BBC Three viewers.

A unique 50-minute special of the eight part online series will be shown the week after the Being Human finale, on Sunday 20th March at 9pm.

Becoming Human is BBC Three’s most successful multiplatform commission with over 1.5 million views on the red button and online to date.

Sarah Clay, BBC Multiplatform Drama Commissioner, says: “The reaction from the fans has been brilliant. We commissioned it as a treat for the online fans and they’ve totally got into the spirit of it – analysing daily clues, coming up with theories… One of the biggest pieces of feedback we’ve had is that they can’t get enough of it and want longer episodes. So we hope they’ll be excited to hear that the whole of Becoming Human will be shown as one long episode on BBC Three. With the added twist that the final part of the puzzle showing how Matt died will be revealed on TV and online at the same time.”

Toby Whithouse, series creator says: “We were delighted when Becoming Human found such a loyal and enthusiastic audience online. The reaction was beyond our most optimistic dreams. And so for the BBC to give us this opportunity to share the show with a wider audience is fantastic news.”

Becoming Human was created by Toby Whithouse (Being Human) and written by Brian Dooley (Being Human, The Smoking Room), Jamie Mathieson (Being Human) and John Jackson (Being Human). Following events that unfold in episode two of Being Human, the character of Adam (Craig Roberts; Young Dracula), a Vampire, takes us into a fictional college where he is trying to get himself back on the straight and narrow and it’s here he meets the beautiful, cool Christa (Leila Mimmack; Married, Single, Other) – who just happens to be a werewolf. They strike up a friendship with Matt (Josh Brown; Grange Hill), and the three of them become embroiled in a mystery that leads to more than they bargained for…

Rob Pursey and Phil Trethowan are the Executive Producers for Touchpaper Television (part of Zodiak Media Group), Toby Whithouse is Creator and Executive Producer, Eleanor Moran is Executive Producer for the BBC and Hannah Thomas is producing. The online content and interactivity was produced and managed by Barry Pilling and Garret Keogh at Zodiak Active. The series was shot on location in Wales.

The series was commissioned by Sarah Clay, BBC Multiplatform Drama Commissioner.
Becoming Human will TX ‘Sunday 20th March’ at ‘9pm’ on BBC Three .

Follow the mystery online at www.bbc.co.uk/becominghuman
is the highest performing BBC Three website, offering fans a regularly updated behind-the-scenes glimpse into the show.

Being Human 3 officially an awesome foursome {TV}

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As you can tell, we here at Frost can’t wait to watch the new series of Being Human. We’ve scoured the net to find behind the scenes clips and brought you the views of the actors and creators.

Like all re-commissioned supernatural series, it’s expanded from the original premise and everyone seemingly has a supernatural element to them. It’s no longer ‘a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost share a house in Bristol’ as Nina, the new werewolf, will be going with the original three to the new residence in Wales.

Werewolf couple George (Russell Tovey) and Nina (Sinead Keenan), and reformed vampire Mitchell (Aidan Turner) have fled their beloved shared house in Bristol and are looking for a new house to rent in Barry, Wales. They are also without ghost Annie (Lenora Crichlow), who is stuck in purgatory and desperately trying to escape.

The BBC have released a George & Nina trailer and some new artwork of the four in the world’s tidiest supermarket to keep us all excited…and it’s working. Click on the image below for a larger version. Wait… chicken, steak and tea in the same aisle?

Series three boasts an impressive array of guest-stars, including Lacey Turner in her first role after EastEnders as Lia, who Mitchell meets in purgatory; Robson Green (Wire In The Blood) as primitive werewolf McNair; Michael Socha (This Is England ’86) as McNair’s son Tom; Paul Kaye (It’s All Gone Pete Tong) as twisted vampire Vincent; Craig Roberts (Young Dracula) as teenage vampire Adam; Nicola Walker (Spooks) as social worker Wendy; James Fleet (Vicar Of Dibley) as George’s father George Snr; and Jason Watkins making an eventful return as vampire leader Herrick.

An online extension to Being Human will also launch online mid-way through the third series. Created by Toby Whithouse, and written by Brian Dooley, Jamie Mathieson and John Jackson, Becoming Human is set in a fictional college and will follow a new group of characters over nine episodes.

Being Human returns to BBC Three on Sunday 23rd January 2011

Being Human Series 3 Trailer {TV}

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That award winning BBC3 show Being Human’s back for a 3rd series and we’ve found the teaser trailer and sneak peek videos for you. The housemates will be relocating from their Bristol abode to a new residence in Wales. Russell Tovey, Aidan Turner and Lenora Critchlow will all be back and the eight episode series will also see a guest appearance from Lacey Turner fresh from her dramatic exit from Eastenders.

Teaser Trailer

Director Colin Teague

Sneak peek at the read through

Interview with the Make Up Artist

Director Phil on his view of the new series and the special guest star

Being Human returns to BBC Three on Sunday 23rd January 2011

Touch – A new supernatural drama series for BBC3 {TV}

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Some super exciting news….. BBC Three have a new drama series, Touch, from acclaimed theatre, film and TV writer Jack Thorne (Skins, The Scouting Book For Boys, Cast Offs)

Described as an edge-of-the-seat supernatural thriller, Touch is about the vengeful dead who walk on Earth and only uber-geek Paul can save the living from a fiery Armageddon.

Paul is an ordinary young man from an ordinary town who discovers an extraordinary ability – he can see the dead. As he comes to terms with a nightmare reality he meets others who share his powers and share a horrifying secret – the spirits are waging war on the living. Mankind will be destroyed.

But the most terrifying twist is yet to come – Paul discovers that only he holds the key to the world’s salvation.

Ben Stephenson says: “Touch started life as one of our drama pilots but quickly showed such imagination and energy that we asked the hugely talented Jack Thorne to write five more episodes and Touch the series was born.”

Jack Thorne says he’s “Both scared and excited about it, hope it turns out OK.”

The series will comprise of six one hour episodes made by BBC Drama. The cast is still to be confirmed and filming will start next year.

BBC Three drama has won critical acclaim with Being Human and looks forward to Lip Service which is coming soon to the channel this autumn.

Dappers "Bristolicious" [TV Preview]

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I do like BBC3’s approach to experimental comedy drama, so when I was offered a sneaky preview at their latest offering I jumped at the chance.
Dappers is about a couple of single mothers living in Bristol surviving on benefits. Constantly trying to come up with get rich quick schemes; Ashley and Faye; played by Lenora Crichlow (Being Human) and Ty Glaser (Emmerdale) live in council owned properties in a well-to-do part of town.
Despite the fact that the pair are “like Del Boy and Rodders in thongs”; a phrase that could depress the very soul of happiness personified; the show is being billed as “a cheerful poke in the eye to all the negativity that surrounds single-mums.”


Jealous of their smug neighbours; Ben (Darren Boyd, Smack the Pony) and Anna (Olivia Poulet, The Thick of It); who seemingly have it all; the mothers struggle to cope with their looser love interests; the Marco (Tom Ellis, Miranda) a wannabe nightclub impresario and Ryan (newcomer, Jack Ashton) who’s half a step from a stretch; trying to make ends meet with crack pot schemes whilst looking after toddlers Angel and Daisy. Not able to afford even a can of WD40, Faye has to suffer a creaky jacket throughout.

The writer and exec producer Catherine Johnson (the writer of Mamma Mia!) says “I wanted to write about living in a housing association flat and being a single parent, but I wanted to do it in a way that wasn’t grim and all about poverty.  The idea of doing it as a comedy drama, very much in the mould of Gavin and Stacey, really appealed to me.” The show’s squarely aimed at the audience of nice-comedy appreciators that Gavin and Stacey left behind. The pilot episode features something that even the most cynical of viewers will be pursuaded by. Pugs. Poor pugs, they’re the butt of every joke.

This pilot looks like it has real potential for development. The female led writing and makes it a welcome change and the strong cast and the unique storyline can only work in it’s favour.

Watch Dappers on BBC3 on the 10th June at 9:30pm