#meeting catherine tate

[expelliarmus]

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of The Star Beast - Part Four

Excerpt from Digital Spy's interview with Ruth Madeley:

This past weekend saw the return of Doctor Who, with the first of its 60th anniversary specials 'The Star Beast'. In the episode, we were introduced to UNIT Scientific Advisor Number 56, Shirley Anne Bingham. Like Ruth Madeley, Shirley is a disabled woman who uses a wheelchair, however, as Ruth told Digital Spy in our exclusive interview: "Her being in a wheelchair is the least interesting thing about her – and that's what you want." Shirley is straight-talking, no-nonsense and not afraid to put the doctor in his place. "She knows exactly who she is, she's ballsy, she's northern and she's not frightened to take the lead. And I think she's a great addition to the whoniverse," Ruth said. She also laughed here, at her use of the word "whoniverse", and explained that she wasn't a huge fan before appearing on the show, despite "having a great respect" for it. However, this didn't stop her from being in awe of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, who she said, it was incredible to watch working. "I love that Shirley isn't a gusher when she meets The Doctor because I'm so not like that," she laughed. "I found myself sat next to David at the read through, and realised I was just staring at him. I'm really uncool!" Very early on in 'The Star Beast', a fellow UNIT officer started to act awkwardly when he realised that Shirley can't get up the stairs to access the rocket, to which she cut him down with: "Don't make me the problem." It's a sentiment many disabled people have felt in an inaccessible world, and Ruth points out that "it was so important to show that the problem isn't us, it's actually all the stuff around us". "I'm having 'Don't make me the problem' put on t-shirts," she joked.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who posted set photos!

Additional parts of this set are in the #whoBtsBeast tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

[pastafossa]

I GOT TICKETS TO SEE CHARLIE AT COMIC CON!!!!! ᗡ:

I'm gonna get to get an autographed photo with him and go to panels and I'm so excited asdgdhd :>

Do you have any tips on how not to freak out during the photo op?

OH MY GOD I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU YESSSSSS! Like LOOK, I've met celebs before, big names and small, at cons and signings and stuff. Most of them are really cool about it. But Charlie was by far the nicest, most genuine celeb I've had the pleasure of meeting. So you're in good hands here.

Sexy... sexy hands *heavy breathing*

Some tips that helped, some of which I got from other Daredevil fans here who'd met him before me!

The biggest one is try to prepare for the photo op to go FAST and for that sudden moment you're right up there with him, cause you'll easily get flustered otherwise. When they were taking me and @wonderlandmind4 through the op, we had maybe twenty seconds. It went: come in, say hi and introduce yourself (he asks your name quite frequently which is lovely), you set up the photo real quick if it's anything other than arms around shoulders (this is when I was like, 'can you hold the other end of this up to your chest?' with the red thread I'd made, and others quickly explained all the poses for their pics), they take the photo, then he shakes your hand (this is where I said, 'thank you SO much Charlie), he usually thanks you for coming by name (I got lucky and got a, 'and you as well my dear, have a lovely day' after I thanked him, FUCKING. SWOON.) , and you're out. So basically the speed can absolutely throw you, because you basically come around the corner and BOOM, he's right there, shaking your hand, smiling at you, and holy shit does he make genuine eye contact which is absolutely capable of stunning you up close. Like, I'd been warned and I still had to fight a momentary burst of white noise in my brain.

If you're going to say something here about loving his work or what Daredevil means to you (other than just, 'oh my god this is awesome' or something), I'd try to pick something short and impactful, but fast. A sentence, maybe two when you're introducing yourself is all you'll have time for, so make it count. Don't be afraid to write it out and then edit it down until it's just right. "Hi, I'm *insert name*, I'm so happy I finally get to meet you." Or "Hi, I'm *insert name*, your work has meant a lot to me, thank you for doing this." Something like that. Quicky funny lines would also probably go down just fine. The important part to know is while he does the best he can, the con itself is running this and they're usually trying to move you through like cattle, so he's limited in how much time he can spend with each person before he's gotta run off to a panel. So if what you've got is short, that'll help you be ready.

Practice, practice, practice. Practice what you're going to say if you need to. Make sure you can run through it on instinct to minimize chances of forgetting what to say or do. And if you have a certain way you want to look, practice that, too. My picture is fucking hilarious to me and fam because while I got through my practiced line about asking him to hold the red thread, I completely forgot how I was going to pose or how I'd planned to smile, and my entire fam knew what had happened the second they saw my absolutely over the moon goofy smile and the way I clearly forgot what to do with the hand I didn't have over his shoulder. Which I wound up liking cause it's a very genuine photo, but some people want something a bit more controlled LOL.

And lastly, because it's worth a repeat: just know that he really does try to make this go well. He's incredibly genuine and nice, and I honestly think he works to make himself very approachable, likely because he knows a lot of us are nervous as hell. One of my friends at the con (who, hilariously, I didn't know was there and who didn't know I was there until he saw me in Charlie's autograph line - I didn't see his message asking if that was me until later) where I met Charlie, was in a REALLY long line for one of the other actors who wound up staying late to sign. He said Charlie stayed just as late to make sure absolutely everyone who'd bought an autograph ticket got their autograph since the con had been kinda disorganized and there were a lot of people still in line. And nobody I've talked to who's met him has ever had a bad experience with him. So just keep reminding yourself of that. <3

So basically yeah, that's what I've got, and he's now my favorite celeb I've ever met, and it was an incredibly positive experience both in the photo op and at the autograph table. You've got nothing to worry about. Just practice, be ready for the speed, and take a deep breath.

[ineffablehubbys]

Okay but who is stood behind the doctor in this clip??? Not ruby behind him to the left but to the right of him with the red/ black top.

Donna noble maybeeeee?!?!

[henley-reeves]

What I love about watching Catherine Tate's convention panels is that she is making it into her own show, she is doing stand-up comedy with audience interaction and participation possibility for everyone who wants to. She basically does what she loves most - comedy entertainment. And she does it so brilliantly! She doesn't even need a moderator, she can work with audience so effortlessly! Like people can tell her jokes, come up to the stage and do bits with her, and everyone gets to ask a question or take a photo with her if they wish, and she is so sweet and kind to everyone and everybody gets a hug. Her panels are worth every penny people pay for it because they get to have a blast and they get a full Catherine Tate experience and the best time ever!

[micahdotgov]

im going to a convention where charlie cox is one of the guests and i honestly don't know if i'll be able to be in the same building as him and not feel wracked with guilt from the way i behaved about matt murdock on this blog in 2022

[seventeeneightyfine]

if the people i work for don't pay me stat so i can make an ill-advised audio drama purchase i might as well change careers to become a barley defenestrator

[secretlyhuntokar]

Actually sobbing I couldn't go to mcm London this time and now I found out ANUSIA FUCKIN BATTERSBY WAS THERE SOBS

[dampfoxes]

[tongren1]

I do not dig the Isaac Newton scene...

Because if you are going to make Doctor and Donna both find a person hot, he/she/they should be really hot. (Like Casanova hot, or hotter than him)

And I don't find Newton hot at all.

[blackbird-brewster]

Highlights from Catherine Tate's Q&A Panel at Armageddon Expo 2024 (NZ) :

[I took notes best I could during the panel but some may be paraphrased]

Q: What's your favourite Doctor Who alien?

CT: The wonderful Ood!

Q: Who's your favourite Doctor? (Crowd gasps in anticipation)

CT: Well, I get asked this a lot, and obviously it's David (Tennant). I don't know what number he is, he keeps coming back. But definitely, David. Although, someone recently pointed out that I was technically the first ever female Doctor. So you know what? Me, I'm my favourite Doctor.

Q: What's your favourite episode you were in of Doctor Who?

CT:The Runaway Bride, because that's where it all began.

Q: What's a favourite memory of working with David Tennant on Doctor Who?

CT: The scene in 'Partners in Crime', the one with the Adipose, there's the scene where Donna and the Doctor see each other from across a room. But they're both behind glass and they have the whole mime scene with the windows. Well, I remember it was about 3am when we were filming that - - Russel really likes to film at night if the story is taking place at night - so it was 3am, and I said to the director 'Uh, right here it just says Donna Mimes' and he said 'Yeah do whatever'.

So that whole scene was ad-lib during shooting and David and I were so in sync with it, we did that first take and the director said cut and print!

Q: How emotional were you filming your final scene in Journey's End?

CT: So, we didn't always film in order. And I'm not really a sentimental person, but I will say I thought Donna's ending was absolutely perfect. When she meets the Doctor she was always yelling at the world, and she was so different than what she was by the end, she had so much growth with the Doctor and she changed so much in her time with him, but then, she forgets the him and all those memories. And that final scene, what really got me was how he says 'Donna, I'm off' and she's just, I think she's on the phone, and she just waves dismissively. She doesn't know him anymore. Russell, the way he ties things together, he's brilliant, that man.

Q: What was it like working with Bernard (Cribbins)?

CT: Oh, Bernard. God, I love him. He was so funny and talented. He always had stories and voices and sound effects. He loved making people laugh. But we had a gag where every single time I called him I'd say (Donna Voice) 'GRANDAD!'

He'd say, "Who is this?"

"It's Catherine."

"Catherine who?"

"Catherine Tate"

"Never heard of her."

We did this every time I called him and I loved it.

Q: Is there anything annoying about working with David Tennant?

CT: No, absolutely not. He's perfect. He's the best person to work with. I will say though, I was annoying him a lot. When we did the 60th Anniversary specials, our trailers looked exactly the same and I never knew where my trailer was. I'd walk into his all the time!

Sometimes I'd walk in and see his shoes in the trailer and instead of thinking 'Oops, wrong trailer', my brain went 'What's he gone and left his shoes in my trailer for?'

It got so bad, sometimes I'd walk up the stairs and from inside I'd hear 'NO.'

Q: Was it weird coming back to play Donna after all these years? Especially when it was along side David Tennant?

CT: It was a bit weird, more in the 'Oh I hope i still know how to do this' way than anything. But I did think it would be hilarious if David and I arrived on set and every take we just did completely wrong voices. Just thought it'd be hilarious for him to go (in an airy upper-crust British accent) 'Ohhhh, hellloooo. I'm the Doctor'

Q: If you could take any prop from set, what would you take?

CT: Ohhhh, I'd have very large pockets and see what I could fit. But mostly I think it'd be a sonic screwdriver. It's gotta be a sonic screwdriver, doesn't it? It's small and mobile... Easy to steal. Plus, it'd fetch a great price on Ebay!

Q: Best show you've ever worked on?

CT: The Office, they paid me tons of money.

Q: My mum loves David Tennant, is there something you can say to dissuade her?

CT: Hm, something to convince her he's not.... Oh, he doesn't believe in astrology! I'll say 'It's Mercury Retrograde' and he'll say 'NO, NO, NO I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT'.

Other Highlights:

As soon as she came out, she saw the stage had no steps to the audience, so she stayed on mic and went the long way round to go into the audience and interview people, trying to find who had traveled the furthest to be here. She was sorely disappointed everyone was just from Aotearoa 🤣

Donna Lines She Performed:

"Oi Spaceman! You're not mating with me sunshine!" (Crowd went wild for that)

"Binary. Binary. Binary." (🥺)

She did some of her characters: Lauren Cooper mostly, but also wished someone Happy birthday as Nan

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of The Star Beast - Part Three

Excerpt from Benjamin Cook’s Star Beast Set Visit in DWM 597:

Meanwhile on set, Catherine Tate is struggling to carry a stack of cardboard boxes through the market. To be fair, it’s a lofty stack. Her vision is impaired. She cannot see. “I think this is the reason I don’t drive,” she says. “I’ve got no brain for spacial awareness. How do I look?” “Amazing,” says Yasmin Finney (known as Yaz), who plays Donna’s daughter, Rose. “This is certainly a moment,” she adds. “Yes, it is, thank you,” says Catherine, dropping the boxes. None of this is in the script. “How can I make it look like I know what I’m doing?” Here’s what’s scripted: “Hold on. Hold on! Let me help,” says the Doctor, running over. He takes the top box and sees who it is – oh no! “Thank you very much,” says Donna. Very calmly, the Doctor puts the box back. “Oi! Do you mind?!” she says. “If you’re finished playing games, mister.”

Despite “the incredible scope” – Rachel’s words [Rachel Talalay, director] – of this Camden shoot, it’s characterful moments like this one, the Doctor and Donna meeting again after all these years, that make The Star Beast’s hearts beat. “Actors of this calibre don’t lose sight of that,” says Rachel, “and neither must I. Russell has written it so brilliantly – I adore Russell – so I have to make sure these moments work. They’re the emotional core of this episode, and this is the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the Doctor and Donna, back together! Setting eyes on each other again…” “Would I keep hold of the box?” wonders David. “I suppose I’ve got to be polite somehow.” “I think it’s that or he runs away,” agrees Rachel. “Yeah, sure. No, absolutely.” “Still looking good,” Yaz whispers to Catherine, encouragingly, as the boxes are re-stacked. “I know,” Catherine whispers back, “I’m feeling damn fine. I think it’s the shoes.” She has a question for Rachel: “When I say, ‘This stuff’s not mine, it’s hers. Oh, where’s she gone? Rose! ROSE!’, am I looking at him” – this is David – “or at the boxes, or looking around for Yaz?” “Well…” replies Rachel (this is the director’s lot: fielding dozens of question every minute), “I think you’d be looking at David, but what feels more natural? And when you do the very loud ‘ROSE!’, is that working for you both?” “It’s working for me,” says David. “It’s quite weird, she’s shouting it in my face –” “Donna’s in her own world, isn’t she?” says Catherine. “I like that.” “I like that too,” says David. So does Rachel. “I totally trust you guys’ instincts.” “Oh, I wouldn’t do that,” says Catherine, with a chortle.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who posted set photos

Additional parts of this set are in the #whoBtsBeast tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

[davidtennantgenderenvy]

Things That Have Happened At Dallas Fan Expo (so far)

I’ve been so overstimulated the whole time but luckily I have my beautiful boyfriend to cling to while I shake like a leaf from fangirling

At least 7 Crowley and Aziraphales (and a LOT of Thirteens)

I was in line for Colleen Clinkenbeard when I saw a guy in Roy mustang cosplay and ran like 20 feet to him and my wig came completely undone so by the time I got to Colleen I was an absolute mess

She was LOVELY oh my gosh I showed her the lyrics of shadows and she really appreciated them, she gave such a great answer to my question (the things she admires most about Riza is her patience) and she really seemed to appreciate that someone admires her as much as I do. I got to hug her and she was so warm 🥺

Lots of people have complimented my Riza cosplay and asked for pictures, my poor boyfriend who is DT!Macbeth has yet to get his flowers

my boyfriend’s mom is King Duncan (Donuts)

Catherine Tate gave me a free selfie bc I’m “so kind” and got really excited that I love much ado about nothing (she thought it was hilarious that I am now the cover photo for the album)

we sat in on the panel with Alex, Jodie and Mandip which was lovely and at the end they all sang the Doctor who theme and it was absolutely iconic (Jodie is precious currently in line to meet her)

David Tennant’s head poked out from behind all the people and I went “OH MY GOD” and recoiled like I’d just been shot

he was like 20 feet from me and I meet him in less than an hour. I’m never going to recover from this macbeth

[trashboatprince]

At that con going on right now, someone asked David about astronomy and astrology (or something like that), and he said astrology is bullshit but Catherine Tate is into it.

Which has me thinking about Donna and the Doctor, and how she very much is the type to be into it. She'd pester the Doctor about it, constantly commenting about people they meeting being such and such sign, and trying to figure out what his would be.

It probably gets worse when she has Fourteen living with her, trying to figure out the Doctor's birthday in Earth dates cause what she got outta them was for Gallifrey dates, and that won't do!

The Doctor thinks it's a load of crap, but let's her have her fun.

[henley-reeves]

I just love Catherine Tate saying that of all the other Doctors she knows, she would like Donna to meet Chris Eccleston's Doctor (of course she didn't know the Doctor's number in the good Catherine Tate fashion) because they would work well together. Even without knowing much about DW history, she still managed to make the most iconic choice for Donna. Give it up for Catherine Tate👑

[mndvx]

bbcdoctorwho Welcome to the #DoctorWho family, Rose Noble 🌹➕🔷 Wishing a very happy birthday to Yasmin Finney, whose character Rose is the daughter of companion Donna Noble (played by Catherine Tate) and Shaun Temple (Karl Collins). So the question is, what happens when Rose meets one of her mum’s oldest friends? It is a mystery for now, but what we do know is that just like her mother, Rose stumbles across something alien - and from that point her seemingly ordinary family is never quite the same... ✨