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Doctor Who: The Only Good Dalek – book review

Posted on October 17, 2010
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With a slight change of pace from the usual crime fiction and horror-thriller reviews, actually not slight at all, this is a huge change of pace and style – I set about reading and gorging over “Doctor Who: The Only Good Dalek”, a sumptuous and beautiful graphic novel from Mike Collins (Artist) and Justin Richards (Author).

A little background on the men behind this project; Mike Collins is the main artist behind the highly successful Doctor Who Magazine comic strip stories. Collins has illustrated every Doctor Who from the seventh (Sylvester McCoy) to the current Eleventh (Matt Smith) and believe me, his talents know no bounds as this graphic novel testifies.

Justin Richards has written numerous Doctor Who stories including The Resurrection Casket, Martha and the mirror and The Deviant Strain to name but a few. Richards is also the creative director of the BBC Books range.

Doctor Who and Amy (played by Karen Gillan in the tv series) have arrived, un-detected, at Station 7. A secret storage facility that houses Varga Plants, Slyther, Robomen and a Solidified Magneton – oh and did I mention the multi coloured Daleks? No? How remiss of me! The deadly Daleks are back in all their colourful glory.

Not only is Station 7 a storage facility but it’s a research station where all captured technology and prisoners from the war between Earth and the Daleks are sent for analysis and interrogation.  Unfortunately for the Earth forces, the Daleks have somehow found out about Station 7 and there’s something they want back! The abomination!

Their only real defence was anonymity and now that that has gone, defending Station 7, an old Ore station, has become problematic. Without weapons they only have one option; convert the Daleks into friendly Daleks and attack their own …

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Sherlock “The Great Game” episode 3 summary / review

Posted on August 8, 2010
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Slick as you like, Sherlock’s third and final episode (of this series) called “The Great Game” was a triumph of detection and intrigue. Sherlock has 12 hours to solve a riddle or an innocent woman dies. But who is behind the bomb threats?

If you’ve missed any or all these magnificent episodes then you can catch up by ordering the DVD or Bluray discs out on the 30th August – pre order now

Sherlock Holmes is bored! Sitting in his flat at 221b Baker Street Sherlock and Watson have a heated discussion about Watson’s blog and his report of the taxi case. Watson dubbed the case “A study in Pink” and Sherlock took a dislike to how he was portrayed in the blog,

“Sherlock sees through everything and everyone in seconds, what’s incredible though is how spectacularly ignorant he is about some things”

Watson leaves the flat and we are introduced to Mrs Hudson (Una Stubbs) a little earlier in this episode when she comments on Watson’s walk out

“You too had a little domestic?”! Two minutes later an explosion rocks Baker Street and a new case is born. The bomber sends Sherlock a pink iPhone and verbal contact is made through the woman strapped to a bomb in a car park.

Molly’s attempt to forget Sherlock fails dismally when her new “office romance” turns out to be gay who leaves his telephone number for Holmes in the vain hope of the great detective calling him.

It turns out that the case is related to a cold case from twenty years ago, a case Holmes tried to get the police involved but they weren’t interested. A champion swimmer named Karl Powers drowned in a school pool; everyone thought it was a tragic accident. Everyone bar Sherlock Holmes. …

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Sherlock (BBC) on DVD and Bluray

Posted on August 8, 2010
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With a release date of August 30th, the Sherlock DVD or Sherlock HD (Bluray) is a must purchase for any Sherlock fan. Did you miss an episode? If so this is your chance to catch up on the best drama to hit the BBC for a number of years.

Update: Both DVD and Bluray are now available to buy

A contemporary take on the classic Arthur Conan Doyle stories, Sherlock is a thrilling, funny, fast-paced adventure series set in present-day London. Co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the new Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as his loyal friend, Doctor John Watson. Rupert Graves plays Inspector Lestrade.

John Watson: doctor, soldier, war hero, lost soul. Fresh from fighting the war in Afghanistan, a chance encounter brings him into the world of Sherlock Holmes: loner, detective, genius. A woman in pink lies murdered in an abandoned house.

The fifth victim of a seemingly motiveless killer. Inspector Lestrade is the best Scotland Yard has got. But he knows he’s nothing compared to a young man called Sherlock. Sherlock can tell a software designer by his tie, an airline pilot by his thumb. He has a unique analytical brain unlike anyone else in the world, who earns his living and staves off boredom by solving crimes. The weirder and more baffling the better…Sherlock on Bluray

The two men couldn’t be more different, but Sherlock’s inspired leaps of intellect coupled with John’s pragmatism soon forge an unbreakable alliance. Across three, 90 minute, thrilling, scary, action-packed and highly entertaining television movies, Sherlock and John navigate a maze of cryptic clues and lethal killers to get at the truth.

The world’s favourite detective has come out of the fog. With sparkling scripts and unforgettable performances from the two leads, …

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Sherlock – The Great Game Episode 3

Posted on August 3, 2010
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Sunday sees the third (The Great Game) and final episode in the current Sherlock series, brought to you by the BBC. The Sherlock DVD which features all three episodes is out later this month.

Episode 3 Summary Here

Very little information regarding the final episode is currently available but I’ll be bringing you another episodic review following its transmission on Sunday night (BBC One and BBC HD) at 21:00. The one and only repeat planned this week is on the HD channel at 0035 in the early hours of Monday morning so don’t forget to set SKY+!

A strange clue in an empty room, a blood-soaked car, a priceless Old Master, a deranged bomber. With the clock ticking, the curtain rises on a battle of wits between Sherlock, John and the shadowy stranger who seems to know all the answers…

Will Sherlock prevail? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

Episode Reviews Available:-

A Study in Pink          Review

The Blind Banker        Review

Full Cast Listing for “The Great Game”

Benedict Cumberbatch … Sherlock Holmes

Martin Freeman…       Doctor John Watson

Rupert Graves …         DI Lestrade

Una Stubbs     …         Mrs Hudson

Loo Brealey    …         Molly Hooper (as Louise Brealey)

Zoe Telford     …         Sarah

Vinette Robinson…     Sgt Sally Donovan

Jeany Spark     …         Homeless Girl

Doug Allen     …         Joe

Haydn Gwynne…       Miss Wenceslas

John Sessions  …         Kenny Prince

David Ryall     …         Lord Huxley

Deborah Moore…        Crying Woman

Lynn Farleigh  …         Professor Cairns

Lauren Crace   …         Lucy

Rita Davies     …         Blind Lady

San Shella       …         Alan West

Caroline Trowbridge…Mrs Monkford

Di Botcher      …         Connie Prince

Matthew Needham… Bezza

Alison Lintott …         Julie

Kemal Sylvester…       Tube Guard

Stefano Braschi…        Raoul

John Lebar      …         Golem…

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Sherlock’s “The Blind Banker” Episode 2 review

Posted on August 2, 2010
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It’s all about the Orient! From the very beginning, you could tell “The Blind Banker” was going to be another slick episode of Sherlock Holmes from the Oriental tea making to Watson’s troubles with the self-shopping aisle hurling abuse at the machine when faced with an annoying automated voice. The Sherlock DVD is going to be unmissable.

“Item not scanned, item not scanned, please scan item again”, Watson slightly embarrassed at his lack of shopping experience replies “can you please keep your voice down?” and to top it off when he finally manages to scan his last item of shopping  the machine has another go….

”Card not authorised please use an alternative payment method, card not authorised please use an alternative payment method” to which he quips “alright I get it” and storms out without his shopping! All the while Sherlock is back at Baker Street fending off a masked swordsman hell bent on killing the detective!

Ratings for episode 2 follow this review.

If you missed tonight’s episode then catch it while you can on the BBC iPlayer in HD.

On his return to the flat he informs Sherlock he failed to get the shopping telling him he had a row with a chip and pin machine! Haven’t we all Watson, haven’t we all!

The real story begins when Sherlock and Watson visit a high end bank in the heart of London. One of their offices has been broken into overnight and the intruder has left a calling card of yellow graffiti. Nothing appears to have been stolen. Sherlock investigates in a way only he can. Following on from “A study in Pink” Benedict Cumberbatch gives a stellar performance with his amazingly quick dialogue. How this …

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BBC’s Sherlock, episode 2 “The Blind Banker”

Posted on July 28, 2010
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Following a highly successful opening with “A Study in Pink” Sherlock Holmes returns to the BBC this Sunday with the second of three episodes, this one called “The Blind Banker”.

FULL EPISODE REVIEW HERE

The second episode is written by Stephen Thompson and produced by Sue Vertue; Steven Moffat’s wife. Once again Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the enigmatic Sherlock Holmes with The Office star Martin Freeman. If you missed the first episode you can still catch it on the BBC iPlayer but hurry,  it won’t be there forever!

A mysterious cipher is being scrawled on the walls around London. The first person to see the cipher is dead within hours of reading it. Sherlock plunges into a world of codes and symbols, consulting with London’s best graffiti artists. He soon learns that the city is in the grip a gang of international smugglers, a secret society called the Black Lotus.

So what are we expecting this time around? More slick dialogue, great acting and a decent storyline? If the first episode is anything to go by then the answer to all of the above is a “hell yeah”! Sherlock has received wide acclaim and is fast becoming one of the biggest hits the BBC has had on its hands for quite some time.

As estimated 7.5 million viewers watched A study in pink which closely followed Conan Doyle’s A study in scarlet and to be frank I’m expecting an increase in viewers this time round now that word is out.…

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BBC’s Sherlock a huge ratings winner

Posted on July 27, 2010
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A claim by tabloid newspaper “The Sun” has given the latest indication on the popularity of the new Sherlock series to hit UK scenes. BBC one’s (and HD) modern take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes pulled in a reported 7.5 million viewers on Sunday for the first episode “A Study in Pink”.

Sherlock represents a huge ratings improvement for a Sunday night and the BBC are unlikely to lose a winning formula with the viewers who are still keen, after his invention by Doyle, to soak up anything Sherlockian!

Taking the following quote with a pinch of salt, we are talking “The Sun” here

“To say the top brass are made up by the Holmes ratings is an understatement,” a source told The Sun.

They really want to do more so the question is not really if, but how and when can we do them.”

Robert Downey Jr begins shooting Sherlock Holmes “2″ this October.

Episode 2, “The Blind Banker” airs this Sunday at the earlier time of 2030 (BBC One) and 2130 (BBC HD) witha HD repeat at 0100 Monday.

Credits

Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Dr John Watson (Martin Freeman)
Mrs Hudson (Una Stubbs)
Molly Hooper (Louise Brealey)
Sarah (Zoe Telford)
DI Dimmock (Paul Chequer)
Soo Lin Yao (Gemma Chan)
Director (Euros Lyn)
Producer (Sue Vertue)
Executive Producer (Steven Moffat)
Executive Producer (Mark Gatiss)
Writer (Stephen Thompson)

…

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Sherlock’s back and means business “A Study in Pink” review

Posted on July 25, 2010
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Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.

Sherlock Holmes is back on tv, slicker, quicker and better than ever – well he doesn’t match Basil Rathbone but Benedict Cumberbatch certainly held up the Holmes tradition in brilliance.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the series but what a brilliant 90 minutes of BBC drama. Slick, full of one liners and amazing delivery the cast fronted by Cumberbatch didn’t disappoint. The BBC have a hit on their hands and I can definitely see another series emanating from this tri factor.

As I mentioned yesterday, the first episode is loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A study in Scarlet” (if by the way you get chance to read the book, I would advise it, only one of four full length novels it is, like Holmes a masterpiece!

Watson has returned from Afghanistan and is looking for new digs. A friend of Holmes introduces the pair and the detective immediately figures out Watson’s past from a 30 second introduction – the rest as they say is history. The pair meet the following day at 221B Baker Street and we, the viewers, are introduced to “Housekeeper” Mrs Hudson played by Una Stubbs.

Tonight’s episode, A study in Pink, sees Holmes and Watson chasing a serial killer hell bent on playing a dangerous game of kamikaze suicide which has DI Lestrade (Rupert Graves) in a quandary, unsure of which direction the suicides are taking him.

Holmes has a problem with Anderson (the on-site forensic guy) – in fact I’d go as far to say that Anderson annoys the hell out of Holmes and as we see on more than one occasion the “amateur” detective has no time for the policeman! While raiding 221B Baker Street on a trumped up drugs raid …

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A study in Pink – Sherlock on the BBC

Posted on July 24, 2010
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The waiting is nearly over, the long awaited Sherlock mini-series will  hit our screens tomorrow on BBC One and BBC HD at 21:00. (Repeated 0030 on Monday on BBC HD) – A study in Pink Review – Did you like it ? Let me know

With the pilot scrapped and turned into a mini-series, fans of the illustrious detective are in for a treat on Sunday when Sherlock and Watson meet and strike up a partnership. Check out the trailer.

A war hero (Watson), invalided home from Afghanistan, meets a strange but charismatic genius who is looking for a flatmate; it is London, 2010, and Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes are meeting for the first time. A string of impossible suicides has Scotland Yard baffled – and only one man can help.

The first episode in the series is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet, first published in 1887. Holmes and Watson meet when When Dr John Watson takes rooms in Baker Street with the amateur detective, he has no idea that he is about to enter a shadowy world of criminality and violence.

‘A Study in Scarlet‘ is a book in two halves. The first works out who the murderer is (and told by Watson in the first person), the second takes us to foreign shores and looks at how the case ended up where it did and the aftermath. Both halves have a different feel and it will be interesting to see how Moffat has managed to re-tell this story.

Did you know that Conan Doyle wrote the novel at the age of 27 in less than three weeks?

Cast and Crew for Sherlock 2010

Sherlock Holmes ……… Benedict Cumberbatch
Dr John Watson ………..Martin Freeman
DI Lestrade ………………Rupert Graves

…

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Stars to be paid per dance in Strictly

Posted on July 19, 2010
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Interesting news coming from The Mirror newspaper today: Strictly Come Dancing stars will be paid per dance and not for the entire series. Kind of like an insentive to do well I guess?

If this turns out to be true then I like it, about time some of these Z list celebrities actually put some effort into the competition. I’m fed up of seeing celebrities like Andrew Castle and Fiona Phillips turn up for a few dances and take home huge appearance fees for very little work. This is a positive move BBC, positive.

The Mirror states that the stars competing could pocket as much as £100,000 if they reach the final and as little (I’d accept £10k any day!) as £10,000 if they bow out early.

Martina Hingis apparently received £50,000 for her one dance appearance last year, great things were expected from her but her lack of popularity with the British public culled any chances of a long run.

A show source said:

“This is a way of rewarding those who do well rather than paying one big lump sum. It makes sense and will act as a healthy ­incentive.”

Ali Bastian has backed the decision to reduce the number of celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing.

“Everyone was on their knees by the end last time. It’s a lot of stress to take if your body isn’t used to it,” she told The Sun

“Knocking a couple of weeks off will be good for everyone’s sanity.”

BBC chiefs are keen to recreate the success of last year’s series, which attracted up to 13 million viewers. They will raise the weekly budget from last year’s £400,000 to attract more stars.

Contestants signed up so far include Felicity Kendal (63), the Good Life actress, and former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe. …

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Bruce Forsyth set to return to Strictly?

Posted on July 14, 2010
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Bruce Forsyth struggled last year, he struggled the year before that and will if he returns struggle again this season. He’s 82 and let’s face it, past his prime! Don’t get me wrong,  he’s an ambassador for the BBC who, with the departure of Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley need all the stars they can afford to pay.  “I won’t be doing a Christine and leave the BBC“.

There have been numerous rumours since the last finale that big changes were afoot, talks of stars being axed, format changes and a change of presenters. We are still awaiting news on the later two but we do know for a fact that some of the stalwarts of Strictly Come Dancing have been axed from the main line-up.

Brian Fortuna has announced he is leaving the show following the decision to ask Ian Waite, Matthew Cutler, Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova to move aside and dance only professional routines leaving the way clear for new dancers to partner celebrities. It’s a kick in the teeth for the dancers and looks like popularity has nothing to do with the decision. The BBC are keen to make changes and changes they will make. Fortuna does have a gig so fans do not fear, you can see him partner Ali Bastian in the West End production of “Burn The Floor”.

Fortuna said:

“I really enjoyed working on Strictly over the years – loved the fans and loved all the people I got work with – but there are changes planned for the next season so I’ve decided not to return to the show,” he said.

“Both Ali and I are looking forward to seeing all our fans at the Shaftesbury Theatre.”

The three new male dancers have been named as Artem Chigvintsev, Jared …

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