David Tennant Review Of 2013: July - August



We continue with our review of David Tennant's projects in 2013 as the year moves into the summer months. Shooting wraps on What We Did On Our Holiday and Broadchurch starts to reach an international audience. David starts rehearsals for Richard II and we have the first look at The Escape Artist.

July

TV

Chris Chibnall revealed that he had written the opening and closing scenes for Broadchurch 2. Although no official casting announcements were made, Olivia Colman hinted that she had signed on for the new series and Holby City actress Tina Hobley said that she had tried out for a role. 



Broadchurch and the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special both featured on panels at the TV Critics Association Summer Press Tour in Los Angeles.
There was more praise for David from his co-stars: Olivia Colman called him "An angel and an absolute sweetheart" while Simone McAulley said that people would watch him read the phone book. The series won the Best Of British award at the Freesat Awards and was shortlisted, along with David and Olivia, for the TV Choice Awards. Broadchurch premiered on ABC1 on July 11th and it was announced that it would be shown in New Zealand, France, Sweden and Brazil. BBC America posted a clip of the cast attending the first read though in London in 2012


Steven Moffat said that David Tennant and Matt Smith were 'gorgeous together' in the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special and that the show definitely revolved around the two of them. Matt Smith talked about his love for David and the great time they's had shooting the special. He also said that his first scene with David was on the TARDIS.
Steven Moffat, Matt Smith and Jenna Colman attended the Doctor Who panel at San Diego Comic Con. Controversy raged when fans attending the panel were shown a rough-cut preview clip of the 50th Anniversary special while the rest of the world still awaited a trailer or official pictures. The BBC were forced to release a press statement to the effect that a trailer had not been released to American TV audiences and that BBC viewers could expect exciting and exclusive content over the coming months. They also issued photos and a press release that confirmed the return of the Daleks and began speculation that the Anniversary special would cover the Time War. 



Although the attendees at Comic Con had been sworn to secrecy about the content of the trailer, the Daily Star went ahead and published some spoilers:
"Eleven whips out his impressive sonic screwdriver and boasts to Ten ‘Mine's bigger than yours!’
Ten hits back with a snipe about the new TARDIS design ‘You've redecorated ... I don't like it.’"
It was also announced by BBC Worldwide that the 50th Anniversary episode would be simulcast worldwide.
The BFI announced that they would be screening The Stolen Earth and Journey's End for their Tenth Doctor Doctor Who at 50 event on Sunday 29th September.
Twenty Twelve picked up the Best TV Sitcom prize at the Freesat Awards
Shakespeare Uncovered was released on DVD in Australia

Theatre



The  iPad App version of the Royal Shakespeare Winter 2013 programme release featured exclusive behind the scenes photos of David's Richard II photoshoot.

Film
Shooting on What We Did On Our Holiday wrapped towards the end of the month. Annette Crosbie was added to the cast list and Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling revealed that she and Billy Connolly had shot scenes for the film there. The film's producer Dan Winch spoke to the Clydebank Post about theplot and shooting locations.
There was another release date change for Postman Pat: The Movie, this time moving to Christmas Day 2013.

Audiobooks
David's audiobook for children, Wolf Won't Bite was made available for download via iTunes

Misc
The Very Best Of The Proclaimers was released today featuring sleevenotes by David
David was interviewed for the New York Times and revealed that he is taking piano lessons.


August

TV
Broadchurch premiered on TV in the USA, Canada, Brazil and Sweden. It was also announced that the series would be coming to Russia, France, Norway, Finland, Latin America and Germany. The series was released on DVD in Australia
BBC America released an exclusive look at the series featuring Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker and David Bradley


They also released a series of Behind The Scenes videos: view them here
Chris Chibnall and the cast spoke about Broadchurch ahead of the US premiere:
Olivia Colman on Buzzfeed
David Tennant and Chris Chibnall in Entertainment Weekly
David Tennant and Chris Chibnall talk to Zap2It
USA Today went as far as calling Broadchurch the best new show of the summer.
More series 2 rumours grew as Arthur Darvill and Simone McAullay both suggested that their characters would return. There was further award success when both Broadchurch and Chris Chibnall were honoured at the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival. There were also nominations for the cast and series in the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards.
David visited the USA in August and was interviewed on NPR Weekend Edition about Broadchurch

Listen to his interview here


Fox TV announced that they would be producing a US version of Broadchurch. The series would be executive produced by Chris Chibnall along with Carolyn Bernstein of Shine America and Jane Featherstone of Kudos.
Jenna Coleman described shooting the Doctor Who Anniversary Special as being like 'a big family'. David said that working with Matt Smith proved to be a real joy.
UKTV in Australia announced that they would be screening BBC America's The Doctors Revisited to which David had contributed.
The BFI confirmed that David would be attending their Tenth Doctor screening on 29th September
Peter Capaldi was announced as the Twelfth Doctor in a live BBC One TV special that was simulcast to the USA, Canada and Australia.



David Tennant and The Escape Artist started to feature in the press as one of the shows of the autumn season:
Total TV Guide & TV Choice
Daily Mail
YLE in Finland announced that it would be screening The Politician's Husband
A clip of one of David's first TV roles in The Bill featured in new ITV retrospective show You Saw Them Here First

Film



A new photo emerged of David and his What We Did On Our Holiday brother Ben Miller fishing in Scotland

Theatre
Full Casting For Richard II was announced by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Rehearsals for Richard II started in London on 27th August
John Wyver of Illuminations would be blogging weekly about the preparations for the live screening of Richard II in cinemas worldwide and UK schools. There would also be weekly video production diaries; the first was introduced by Greg Doran




Misc
David was interviewed about Broadchurch and other projects for the New York Times



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