Doctor Who Extra: The Husbands of River Song 2

The BBC has released two more behind the scenes videos from the Doctor Who special.

The Husbands of River Song BTS Photos

The BBC has released 34 behind the scenes photos from the Doctor Who holiday special, including storyboards and production artwork. Check them out after the jump.

Doctor Who Extra: The Husbands of River Song

The BBC has released some behind the scenes videos from today's Doctor Who.

Introduction to The Husbands of River Song

The BBC has released the introduction to this year's Doctor Who holiday special.

The Husbands of River Song Interview Pack

The BBC has released interviews with Peter Capaldi, Alex Kingston, and Steven Moffat for the upcoming Christmas Special.

Peter Capaldi

What can you tell us about the Doctor Who Christmas special this year?
Well the Christmas special is very Christmassy, which I’m sure everyone will be relieved to hear. It finds the Doctor in a Dickensian kind of world, in a Christmas card sort of world which he’s been brought to in order to do a favour for a king. So there’s quite a festive spirit to the episode. But the favour is more complex and isn’t exclusively for the benefit of the king, but more for the benefit of the king’s consort.

What is your favourite scene from this episode?
I have lots of favourite scenes from the Christmas episode, but I think being met by Matt Lucas on a wonderful wintery Dickensian street with the TARDIS covered in snow was delightful, because it was like a Doctor Who Christmas card. Matt is such a fabulously funny person to have around, so I loved that!

Do you like filming Christmas episodes?
Yes I do like them - last year’s was a bit scarier than this one, this is more openly festive. I like the idea of ghost stories at Christmas and frightening things seem to work rather well in the festive environment.

Would you like to see River Song return?
Yes of course, because Alex is fabulous and it’s always lovely to work with her.

Who is Nardole?
The character of Nardole is played by Matt Lucas so you can expect a lot of laughs and pathos. He is, as ever, a hugely loveable personality, a little naïve, a little out of his depth and quite cosmic.

Alex Kingston

What was it like to come back?
I was quite surprised when I was asked to come back, but I was happy to because I just thought it would be great fun. It’s such a great character, she’s become so beloved by lots of fans and I’ve had them saying it would be so great for her to come back and to see her interacting with Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. I was actually thrilled when Steven decided he wanted to explore that too.

What did you think of the script?
It’s a wonderful slapstick caper. There’s a lot of great laughs, there’s a lot of fabulous River one-liners. The fans are going to love the things she says and there’s a lot of play. They’re also fighting a very interesting alien played by Greg Davies. It’s a really great episode and Steven has done my character proud.

Has this episode been challenging?
I’ve been really lucky in this episode as River gets to do an awful lot. She gets to run around in snow, I’ve been flying and have done harness work against a green screen. She’s got quite a few husbands in this episode and there’s a lot of fabulous quick-fire dialogue between her and the Doctor. She gets to snog the most handsome man in the work, his character name is Ramone. It’s all going on!

What were your favourite moments during filming?
The favourite moment so far for me was stepping back on to the TARDIS, because the interior of it has changed yet again. I’ve been on two different TARDIS incarnations, and to walk into this one and know it’s a familiar space but at the same time it’s different, was great. I love this one - everything works which is really fun, I stand there pressing all the buttons, it’s great!

Steven Moffat

Can you give us an introduction to the episode you’ve written this year?
The Doctor is an all new man and has been for a while. It may have slipped his mind that out there, in a very tangled and complicated way, is his wife that has never seen this face before and doesn’t even know about this incarnation. We’re about to stand with the Doctor and see what River is like when she doesn’t know he’s looking. We’re about to see what River thinks of Matt Smith turning into Peter Capaldi.

What made you want to write this episode?
River Song meets the Capaldi Doctor, that’s got to be fun - I’d like to write that. That’s what made me want to write. I knew it had to be a big romp for Christmas day and there’s nothing like River Song to make that evident - River brings a whole storm of camp glamour to it.

Is it any different writing a Christmas episode of Doctor Who?
Yes, you need to have a bit of Christmas in it, but that’s never felt to me like a tremendous impediment, it’s a hook to hang it on. Sometimes we go very Christmassy - ‘A Christmas Carol’ was incredibly Christmassy, so was ‘The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe’ and ‘The Snowmen’ had the appearance of Christmas without being very Christmassy. Last Christmas is actually the least Christmassy episode we’ve ever done, except for the fact it actually had Santa Claus in it - I rather loved last Christmas. This year’s episode starts Christmassy and has a comedy romp!

Do you enjoy writing a Christmas episode?
I like Christmas specials - I know some people don’t. Some friends of mine don’t like Christmas specials very much and they’re always complaining about all the tinsel, the goodwill and the twinkly stars, and the lovely snow on the rooftops. I love all that, I love Christmas as a day and as a festival. I love that it’s dark, twinkly and rich red, all those things I adore so it’s no hardship for me at all.

Who is King Hydroflax?
King Hydroflax is a very bad King, who as it turns out is mostly cyborg - in fact only his head has remained. He’s a vicious, terrible and deeply stupid man and a dreadful tyrant.

River Song Returns for Christmas Special

The BBC has revealed that River Song will appear in the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special. They also revealed that filming on the episode starts sometime this week and that the episode is directed by Douglas Mackinnon. Alex Kingston commented,

To be honest, I did not know whether River would ever return to the show, but here she is, back with the Doctor for the Christmas special. Steven Moffat is on glittering form, giving us an episode filled with humour and surprise guest castings. I met Peter for the first time at Monday’s read through, we had a laugh, and I am now excited and ready to start filming with him and the Doctor Who team. Christmas in September? Why not!

Steven Moffat said,

Another Christmas, another special for Doctor Who - and what could be more special than the return of Alex Kingston as Professor River Song? The last time the Doctor saw her she was a ghost. The first time he met her, she died. So how can he be seeing her again? As ever, with the most complicated relationship in the universe, it’s a matter of time...

Matt Smith on Kingston and Capaldi

Matt attended New Orleans Comic Con recently and had some thoughts on Alex and Peter working together.

Don’t ask. I’m really possessive over Alex. I said this to Steven. I was like, ‘Listen, just don’t! Just not Alex. Anyone else, but don’t give [Capaldi] River.’ But Peter is the Doctor now so hey, what can I do?

I think that Steven will be planning things that are going to unfold over years and I think he’ll reinvent the folklore, and it will become Peter’s folklore. But I am really proud of the fact that Alex was part of number Eleven’s life. My wife!

The Name of the Doctor

At long last, the name of the finale has been revealed: The Name of the Doctor. We've also got the episode artwork, but not much else has been revealed. There's a short synopsis from BBC South Africa, but that's about it.

Someone is kidnapping the Doctor’s friends, leading him towards the one place in all of time and space that he should never go.

UPDATE: There is one thing, the poster does confirm that Alex Kingston is back. She was already rumored to appear, but now it's confirmed.

UPDATE 2: Doctor Who Magazine has revealed Trenzalore is involved (see second picture)

Gigantemundo Doctor Who Marathon on BBC America This Weekend

Starting at 8am Eastern time on Friday, BBC America is showing a ginormous, 38-hour Doctor Who marathon. It includes the Best of Specials, Series 5, and Series 6. It concludes with Asylum of the Daleks at 9pm Saturday.

http://www.bbcamerica.com/schedule/?week=1&tz=EST

Be sure to check your local listings for the time in your area. For instance, my cable company is going to start it at 5am instead of 9am.

More Complete Info on Series 7

2012 Episodes 

• Episode 1: "Asylum of the Daleks"
• Written by Steven Moffatt, directed by Nick Hurran
• Features every type of Dalek ever
• The Doctor will be given a task to complete by the Dalek High Council and the episode will take place partially on an alien planet
• Will be screened at the BFI film festival on August 14th and at the Edinburgh International TV festival sometime between August 23rd and 25th
• The Ponds and the Doctor are kidnapped by the Daleks
• There's a prison planet for Daleks who are insane or battle-damaged or otherwise bad
• Guest Starring: David Gyasi (Harvey)

• Episode 2: "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"
• Written by Chris Chibnall, directed by Saul Metzstein
• Features robots, an Edwardian hunter, Rory's dad, and Nefertiti
• Starts out in Ancient Egypt
• Involves a spaceship full of dinosaurs that's going to crash into the Earth in the 24th century
• The Doctor is summoned by the Earth Defense Commander
• Guest Starring: Mark Williams (Rory's dad Brian), David Bradley (Solomon), Rupert Graves (British explorer Riddell), & Riann Steele (Nefertiti)

•  Episode 3: "A Town Called Mercy"
• Written by Toby Whithouse, directed by Saul Mezstein
• The Doctor, Amy, and Rory travel to the American Wild West and battle a cyborg called the Gunslinger
• There's a second alien called Kahler-Jex who is being hunted by the Gunslinger
• The villagers apparently don't like aliens
• The Doctor gets another Stetson and is now 1,200 years old
• Guest Starring: Ben Browder (the local Sheriff), Adrian Scarborough (Kahler Jax), Dominic Kemp (Kahler–Mas), Rob Cavazos (Walter), Andrew Brooke (the Reckoner), Joanne McQuinn (Sadie), & Garric Hagon

• Episode 4: "The Power of Three"
• Written by Chris Chibnall, directed by Douglas Mackinnon
• Will feature UNIT dealing with a bunch of black cubes that have fallen to Earth
• Amy and Rory are celebrating their anniversary at a party
• Takes place over the course of a year
• Guest Starring: Mark Williams (Rory's dad, Brian), Jemma Redgrave (the Brigadier's daughter Kate Stewart), Steven Berkoff (Mr. Shanks), Selva Rasalingam (Ranjit), & Barnaby Edwards (mysterious hooded figure)

• Episode 5: "The Angels Take Manhattan"
• Written by Steven Moffatt, directed by Nick Hurran
• Features the Weeping Angels, and Amy & Rory's departure (something to do with an unspecified scene in The Eleventh Hour)
• The Doctor, Amy, and Rory visit New York
• Will feature some sort of funeral for someone
• River Song makes an appearance
• Guest Starring: Michael McShane (Dr. Grayle), & Rob David (Sam Garner)

• Episode 6 (Christmas Special) "The Snowmen"
• Written by Steven Moffatt, directed by Saul Metzstein
• Modified version of Raymond Briggs' "The Snowman"
• Introduces the new companion, played by Jenna–Louise Coleman (named Clara)
• The Doctor meets his new companion in the last place he'd ever expect
• Features Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax from A Good Man Goes to War
• Features alien snow that assembles itself into roughly humanoid form
• Takes place in Victorian times
• Guest Starring: Richard E. Grant, Tom Ward, 

2013 Episodes

• Episode 7: "The Bells of Saint John"
• Written by Steven Moffat, directed by Colm McCarthy
• There's something living in the Wi-Fi that's controlling people
• The Wi-Fi also appears to be able to switch people off
•  Introduces the new companion Clara Oswin Oswald for the third time
• Not the same Clara as in the previous episode 
• Features an enemy called the Spoonheads
• The Doctor has to stop an airplane from crashing 
• Guest Starring: Celia Imrie (Ms. Kizlet), Robert Whitelock (Mahler)

• Episode 8: "The Rings of Akhaten"
• Written by Neil Cross, directed by Farren Blackburn 
• Great big glowing alien planet with a face in it and rings
• Festival of Sacrifice happening on alien planet 
• Features the Queen of Years (a young girl)
• Alien mummy thing 
• Possible connection to Ancient Egypt and Nefertiti 
• Guest Starring: Zoe Alexander 

• Episode 9: "The Cold War"
• Written by Mark Gatiss, directed by Douglas Mackinnon
• Filmed entirely on indoor sets
• Takes place onboard a Russian missile submarine
• Contains the words "meat", "klaxon", & "Vienna" (might refer to episode 12)
• Ice Warrior has gotten onboard after melting out of an iceberg
• The Doctor and Clara are on their way to Las Vegas
• Guest Starring: Josh O'Connor (Piotr), James Norton (Onejin), David Warner, & Liam Cunningham

• Episode 10 "Hide"
• Written by Neil Cross, directed by Jamie Payne
• Takes place an at old mansion at a moor that's haunted by the ghost of the Witch of the Well
• A professor and a psychic are trying to find the ghost
• The ghost isn't all the Doctor is there for (he wants the psychic's help with you-know-who)
• Eye of Harmony
• The Doctor has apparently taken up an interest in photography
• Guest Starring: Dougray Scott (Professor), Kemi–Bo Jacobs (Hila Tacorian), & Jessica Raine (Emma Grayling)

• Episode 11 "Journey to the Center of the TARDIS"
• Written by Steve Thompson, directed by Mat King
• Set inside the TARDIS
• Features three brothers who form an intergalactic salvage crew
• We get to see the Eye of Harmony, along with "Gallifreyan eggs" (?)
• The brothers want to sell the TARDIS for scrap
• Clara is trapped deep inside the TARDIS, and the Doctor activates its self-destruct in order to get the brothers to help him find her
• Guest Starring: Ashley Walters (Van Baalen), Mark Oliver (Bram Van Baalen), Jahvel Hall (Tricky Van Baalen)

• Episode 12: "The Crimson Horror"
• Written by Mark Gatiss, directed by Saul Metzstein
• Takes place in a mysterious 19th Century village
• The Doctor gets a bowler hat
• Features a strange factory called Sweetville run by Winifred Gillyflower
• People are going missing at the factory and later turn up red and waxy in a river
• Jenny will be there (the human one, not the Doctor's daughter) as well as Madame Vastra and Strax from A Good Man Goes to War
• Guest Starring: Diana Rigg (Winifred Gillyflower) & Brendan Patricks (twins Edmund and Jeremiah)

• Episode 13: "Nightmare in Silver"
• Written by Neil Gaiman, directed by Stephen Wolfenden
• New Cybermen
• Takes place in the future at an abandoned theme park named Hedgewick's World
• Band of fighters are battling the Cybermen there
• Features a Cyber-"something else" 
• Guest Starring: Tamzin Outhwaite (Captain Alice), Calvin Dean, Jason Watkins, Warwick Davis

• Episode 14: "The Name of the Doctor"
• Written by Steven Moffat
• Possibly set in Victorian Scotland
• The aliens are known as the Whispermen
• The Doctor's greatest secret is revealed
• Possibility of River's gravestone  
• Possible return of River Song, Strax, Vastra, Jenny, and Dr. Simeon

• Other things
• New title sequence 
• New TARDIS interior

This post will be updated periodically and replaces all previous Series 7 spoilers posts.