Natasha wins Best Actor award

Natasha Watson, who starred alongside David Tennant in Single Father, scooped the award for Best Actor at Scottish Variety Awards [reported in the Scottish Sun] on 20th March

Jim Gellatly, Clyde 1 radio DJ, reported on Twitter that he presented the award to Natasha.

Torchwood: Miracle Day - poster, air date, and launch at Cannes

John Barrowman and Bill Pullman will be heading to Cannes to promote the new series of hit sci-fi drama Torchwood at MIPTV 2011. The fourth instalment, titled Torchwood: Miracle Day, is distributed by BBC Worldwide, and will be launched to buyers on Monday 4th April with the two stars attending the event alongside executive producer Julie Gardner.

Barrowman returns to lead the cast in his iconic role as Captain Jack Harkness, and is joined in the new series by film star Pullman, whose credits include Independence Day, While You Were Sleeping and Lost Highway. Julie Gardner, Senior Vice President, Scripted, BBC Worldwide Productions, has worked on all four series of Torchwood, and her other credits include Life on Mars, Doctor Who and Casanova. Her producing partner is Torchwood creator Russell T. Davies, who has scripted Miracle Day with an A-list team of writers including John Shiban (Breaking Bad, The X-Files), Doris Egan (House) and Jane Espenson (Game of Thrones, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer).

Torchwood: Miracle Day is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for Starz Entertainment, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide. Featuring locations in the US and around the world, the plot sees a C.I.A operative (played by ER’s Mekhi Phifer) join forces with the team to investigate a global conspiracy that has put an end to human death, causing a population boom and resource crisis. Pullman plays Oswald Danes, a convicted child killer who survives his own execution, and Eve Myles reprises her role as Gwen Cooper.

Read more at BBC Worldwide





Torchwood: Miracle Day Premiere Date and Poster Revealed!

TVLine exclusively revealed this week that Torchwood: Miracle Day will make its stateside debut on Starz on Friday, July 8. BBC have not yet announced a UK air date.

More info at TV Line

James McAvoy shortlisted for "Akira"

Sky Movies are reporting that Andrew Garfield, Robert Pattinson, and James McAvoy are on the shortlist for one of the lead roles, Tetsuo Shima, in the forthcoming live-action Akira movie, based on the Japanese manga of the same name.

The possibility of a live-action version of Akira, which was turned into the cult sensation animated film back in 1988, has existed for almost two decades, but was still to come close to development until recently, with a script written, and a director found in Albert Hughes (The Book of Eli, From Hell).

Read more at Heyuguys

Ewan McGregor is retiring from nude scenes

Ewan McGregor, who turns 40 on March 31, has decided to keep his clothes on in all his future roles because he thinks he is getting too old to strip off on screen.

He said: "I'm getting older and the actresses stay younger. I don't want to become Clint Eastwood, where his love interest is 50 years younger than him. You never want female co-stars to feel like you're taking advantage of the situation."

Read more at TVNZ

Douglas Henshall rumoured for West End production of Betrayal

Variety reports that Douglas Henshall is to star alongside Kristin Scott Thomas and Ben Miles in a new West End production of Harold Pinter's love triangle drama "Betrayal," according to sources close to the production.

Although producer Sonia Friedman would not comment on the story, it is believed the production, helmed by Ian Rickson, will open in early June at the Comedy Theater.
It would follow the finish of his already extended SRO production of "The Children's Hour," starring Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss.

Scott Thomas previously led Rickson's London and Gotham production of Chekhov's "The Seagull," for which she won the 2008 Olivier for best actress. Contracts have yet to be inked but Douglas Henshall and Ben Miles are believed to be playing the two men in the central character's life.

Source: Variety

Murder in Samarkand permanently available

David Tennant portrayed Human Rights activist and former ambassador Craig Murray in David Hare’s adaptation of Murder in Samarkand. The radio play is now permanently available on Murray's blog

Source: Craig Murray

Fright Night screening

On Thursday last week, there was a test screening in California of the Fright Night movie in which David Tennant plays Peter Vincent (the role which was made famous in the original movie by Roddy MacDowell).

Test screenings are held by production companies to get an idea of what members of the public think of a movie before it is released.

Among the tweets posted about the test screening were these comments about David Tennant:

Saw David Tennant in Fright Night & he rocked leather trousers like no one but he can! Great, fun film.

Tech screening of the remake of Fright Night in 3D was amazing! Chris Mintz was hilarious & Colin Ferrell was a convincing vampire.

Just saw David Tennant in 3D and it was amazing.... Go see Fright Night in 3D when it comes out!

Just saw the 1st screening of Fright Night w/ David Tennant!! The movie was great & DT gets a lot more screen time than I was expecting.

Just saw the Fright Night remake with David Tennant in the Roddy McDowall role in a test screening. UNEXPECTEDLY AWESOME.

He looked amazing in leather pants. He walks around without a shirt 4 quite a bit.
The story was updated well for today's audience & the story was true to the original, yet still fresh enough for new fans.
The character of Peter Vincent so much more fun with the whole Criss Angel vibe & nobody works it like DT. His character was fun & interesting!
Peter Vincent seems shallow at first, but of course isn't really which is what makes him so great. I couldn't get enough of him on screen!I was not disappointed.
The audience cheered at the end. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it. I'm definitely seeing this again when it opens. Anton Yelchin & Colin Ferrall also were great. Any scene w/David Tennant & those to were fantastic!!
You get a bit of David in the first 5 mins on a tv screen & then you don't see him until about maybe half way in, but it's worth the wait!

Very memorable character & frankly Peter Vincent really stands out. He is unpredictable which makes you riveted.

Tennant makes what could easily be a campy character into a memorable, believable character. He becomes a good mentor to Yelchin's Charlie.

He had some excellent subtle & poignant moments.

Off stage he's still the rock star, but without all the bling. The big hair is only for the stage. Towards the end he's got the matrix-esque look

Trust and believe me when I say, David Tennant is the new Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant easy!But you see, that's the HOOK! Understated, unconcerned, charming, humble, generous, humorous... damn, just plain sex on a stick!

Oh yeah and he wears the leather pants for quite a bit. He makes clothes look good. Costume Designers must love him.He keeps the eyeliner the whole movie if memory serves me. His character has an English accent not too unlike The Doctor.

Just came back from the screening in Orange County. LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT. And David Tennant was absolutely the highlight for most of the audience, even those who weren't familiar with him.
Also, he absolutely went into Doctor Explanation mode a few times. Talking about specific tribes of vampires in that Doctory ramble. I wibbled.

David Tennant is an incredible actor, and just as in original it plays on his past roles.
Expert pacing, great performances all around. David Tennant played kind of a mix of Ten and Russell Brand.

I'm still so thrilled that I saw David Tennant in all his cinema Fright Night glory. How will I ever get over this?

My hubby seems to think DT gets fourth billing. At least on the questionnaire sheet.

Even my hubby agrees DT was hot. Now that means something.

I can't wait to see it again. Hope it doesn't change too much between now & opening.

I honestly think if anyone else had played Vincent it wouldn't have been as believable.

One person tweeted a negative review of Fright Night but she also posted:
It did def have its funny part though and the only person worth seeing was the actor who played Peter Vincent! He was awesome!

Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Star Cumming back to Scotland for Filth

He's played a Bond villain, starred on Broadway and been nominated for an Emmy. Now the Scots-born Hollywood actor Alan Cumming is hoping to star in the screen adaptation of the Irvine Welsh novel Filth. The film, which is in the process of securing financing, is expected to go into pre-production later this year.

In an exclusive interview with Scotland on Sunday, Cumming, 46, also revealed that he had been approached by Glasgow City Council about performing his successful cabaret act, I Bought A Blue Car Today, in the city next year, and had decided to rewrite it to turn the show into a retrospective of his entire career.

Read more Scotland on Sunday

Alan Cumming headlines benefit for the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force

Multitalented Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cumming, currently starring on TV's "The Good Wife," entertained during the 25th annual benefit for the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force at the Pittsburgh Public Theater last Wednesday night. VIPs had a chance to meet him during a pre-show cocktail reception at Bossa Nova.

This year's Kerry Stoner Awardee, Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares, joined party chairs Linda and Tony Bucci, creative chair Richard Parsakian and PATF executive director Kathi Boyle at the Downtown nightspot before heading over to the general reception and Mr. Cumming's one-man show and a dessert reception.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Martina Cole's "The Runaway": New Drama on Sky One

In her first professional acting role, Joanna Vanderham stars in the title role as runaway Cathy Conor in Martina Cole’s "The Runaway", a six-part drama due to start on Sky One on Thursday 31 March 2011. Cathy Conor is the daughter of a prostitute who has been imprisoned for murder, and so she is separated from her boyfriend Eamonn Docherty (played by Jack O’Connell) and put into care. She runs away to Soho where she meets Desrae (played by Alan Cumming), a transvestite who adopts Cathy.

Read more at Suite 101

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 3/28: Bob Geldof, Far East Movement
Tu 3/29: Larry King, Dr. Sanjay Gupta
We 3/30: Jerry O'Connell
Th 3/31: Julie Chen
Fr 4/1: Paul Giamatti, Casey Wilson

Mo 4/4: D.L. Hughley
Tu 4/5: Steven Wright, Sophia Bush
We 4/6: Ellen Page, Marc Maron
Th 4/7: Helen Hunt, Billy Gardell
Fr 4/8: Zooey Deschanel

New book raises funds for charity

David Tennant 2009 and 2010 looks at the career during those years of one of Britain's most well-known actors. It covers David Tennant's final week of playing Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company, filming four Doctor Who Specials and then going straight on to film Hamlet, St Trinian's 2: The Legend Of Fritton's Gold, the pilot Rex Is Not Your Lawyer and, in 2010 filming Single Father, The Decoy Bride, Fright Night and United, as well as all his radio and television interviews, the press articles about him and all the numerous awards he won.

The book is written by the author of David Tennant A Year In The Spotlight which analysed in depth his career during 2008 and, with 130,000 words over 311 pages, David Tennant 2009 and 2010 contains as much information.

100% of the profit from both books is donated to the cancer research charity AICR, which David supports.

You can either buy 'David Tennant 2009 & 2010' direct from the author's website, or you can order it from Amazon

'Brave' to be released in June 2012

Disney-Pixar’s Brave, starring Kevin McKidd and Billy Connolly, has had its release date pushed back, but only by a week: it is now due for release in June 2012
Source, and more information: Cinema Blend

Pixar's Facebook page confirms the June release date.

John Barrowman UK tour dates and new CD announced

In September, John Barrowman releases his CD, The Best of John Barrowman, featuring songs from his previous albums, Another Side, Music Music Music and John Barrowman.

He will then launch this year's tour in Northampton on 19 October, closing it in his home town of Glasgow on 24 November.

Source, and more information: John Barrowman: the official site

David Tennant supports Comic Relief

David Tennant's emotional video diaries from Uganda helped raise the Comic Relief donations to more than £74 million on Friday.







Videos provided by David Tennant on Twitter


According to the Daily Mail, David Tennant’s video diaries for Comic Relief “left the phonelines in meltdown as people tried to donate.”
Source, and more information: Daily Mail

Billy Boyd is new Patron of National Youth Choir of Scotland National Boys Choir

Billy Boyd is now the Patron of the National Youth Choir of Scotland National Boys Choir.

Says Billy: “Singing has always been a huge part of my life. These days I still sing as well as act, and sometimes manage to do both together (as in Lord of the Rings). I’d have loved to have had the opportunity that the talented young singers in the NYCoS National Boys Choir currently have, and so am delighted to be able to support them as patron.”

Source, and more information: NYCoS

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 3/21: Denis Leary, Kathleen Madigan (R 1/13/11)
Tu 3/22: Helena Bonham Carter, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers (R 1/28/11)
We 3/23: Jim Parsons (R 2/2/11)
Th 3/24: Jason Biggs, Jennifer Ouellette (R 2/11/11)
Fr 3/25: Topher Grace, Catherine Deneuve (R 3/8/11)

Mo 3/28: Bob Geldof, Far East Movement
Tu 3/29: Dr. Sanjay Gupta
We 3/30: Jerry O'Connell
Th 3/31: TBA
Fr 4/1: Paul Giamatti, Casey Wilson

David Tennant supports campaign to save the arts

Some of the biggest names in British film, television and theatre are warning that government cuts pose a serious threat to the arts in the UK.

In a letter to the Observer, Dame Helen Mirren, David Tennant and others say public investment in the arts brings in a "staggering" return for the country.

Read more at
BBC News

Robert Carlyle joins ABC fairytale pilot

Robert Carlyle has landed a role in ABC's pilot Once Upon A Time.

The drama focuses on a woman with a difficult past who moves to a small town in Maine, where the magic of fairytales appears to be real.

Deadline reports that Carlyle has signed up to play Rumpelstiltskin in the project.

The character is said to be an expert in dark magic who agrees to help Snow White and Prince Charming fight the Evil Queen's spells.

Once Upon A Time has been penned by Tron: Legacy and Lost writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

Source: Digital Spy



More info at GateWorld and Deadline

PJ Barnard - Breakdown

PJ Barnard is currently filming a short film called Breakdown, playing the lead role of Chris.

The story of a middle aged man who loves his family very much and witnesses a brutal attack and is haunted by the victim; the film shows Chris slowly having a mental breakdown.

Filmed on a low budget and directed by Alan McLaughlin, Breakdown also stars Laura Blackmore (pictured above with PJ)

PJ now also has his own blog page on his official site www.pjbarnard.co.uk

Source: Asset Management, Glasgow

Dougray Scott backing campaign to save RAF Leuchars

Hollywood actor Dougray Scott is backing the campaign to save RAF Leuchars from closure.

The Mission Impossible II and Desperate Housewives star, who was born in Glenrothes in Fife, is one of a band of "Famous Fifers" lending their support to the campaign.

Writer Ian Rankin, music stars The Proclaimers and film director and producer Richard Jobson are also among those backing the bid to save the airbase.

Read more at STV News

Billy Connolly unwell

Billy Connolly was forced to end his Sydney show early last Monday evening (March 7), suffering from a virus.

The 68-year-old is touring down under until the end of the month, performing a number of Sydney shows at the Opera House.

But his show last night ended abruptly, with the funnyman telling the audience he was "feeling extremely ill" and apologising for not being able to continue.

An ambulance was called to the entertainment venue just minutes after Connolly's show ended, with many fans worried the Big Yin needed to be rushed to hospital.

But a NSW Ambulance spokesman said paramedics were responding to reports a 60-year-old male patron tripped and sustained injuries to his head.

Fans who attended last night's show were sympathetic to Connolly's illness, posting on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook immediately after the show prematurely finished about 10pm.

Read more at Adelaide Now

Alan Cumming voices Gutsy Smurf

A new trailer for The Smurfs Movie 3D has been released and shows us our best glimpse yet at the movie which finds our leads transferred to contemporary New York from their home in the middle ages. The characters originally created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo and subsequently immortalised by the Hannah Barbara series are now rendered in 3D and interacting with live action characters.



As ever their nemesis Gargamel (Hank Azaria) provides the sinister antagonist in a film which sees the big screen debut of pop star Katy Perry as the voice of Smurfette as well as featuring charismatic Scottish thespian Alan Cumming as Gutsy Smurf.

The film is directed by Raja Gosnell who has experience with CGI/live-action cross-overs at the helm of the Scooby Doo movies. The worldwide release is set to take place in the week of August 3rd and will be distributed through Columbia pictures

Source: Obsessed With Film

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 3/14: Lewis Black, Stackridge
Tu 3/15: Martha Stewart
We 3/16: Seth Rogen, Brie Larson
Th 3/17: Mila Kunis, Geechy Guy (R 1/7/11)
Fr 3/18: David Duchovny, Jo Frost (R 1/12/11)

Mo 3/21: Denis Leary, Kathleen Madigan (R 1/13/11)
Tu 3/22: Helena Bonham Carter, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers (R 1/28/11)
We 3/23: Jim Parsons (R 2/2/11)
Th 3/24: Jason Biggs, Jennifer Ouellette (R 2/11/11)
Fr 3/25: Topher Grace, Catherine Deneuve (R 3/8/11)

Robert Carlyle To Star In London Cop Thriller ‘Dogs Of Law’

Rising star Luke Evans will appear alongside Robert Carlyle in “Dogs of Law,” an action-thriller set in London about an undercover cop (Evans) investigating a corrupt colleague (Carlyle). The script is from newcomers Matthew Cooke and Vincent Lund, and will be directed by TV veteran Declan O’Dwyer, who was behind the pilot for the cult British series “Being Human.” Producer Michael Ford is currently in talks with sales agents and financiers, calling the film “very international in its vision” and the $3.7 million project is heading for a summer shoot.

More information at Indie Wire and Screen Daily

Kevin McKidd set to reprise 'Percy Jackson' role

The LA Times’ 24 Frames has an insider claiming that Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters is going into “active development,” and could even start shooting as soon as this summer.

The primary cast is expected to return for this next installment, and that list would presumably include Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Katherine Keener and Kevin McKidd.

Full article at ScreenRant

Ewan McGregor fuels further speculation about "Trainspotting: The Sequel"

In an interview with Radio 5Live’s entertainment reporter Colin Paterson at last weekend’s Independent Spirit Awards, Ewan McGregor – who was standing three metres away from director Danny Boyle at the time – said “Come on, Danny. Where’s the script?”, before adding “I suppose [it’s possible] in the same way that anything’s a possibility.”

Full article at Caledonian Mercury

Ewan McGregor considering bank robbery movie

Ewan McGregor is interested in playing real-life robber Eddie Dodson, who held up banks with charm rather than guns, in Electric Slide, a project he has been linked to for some time

Source, and more information: Total Film

Further details can be found via Los Angeles Times

David Tennant up for Royal Television Society award

Actors David Tennant and Jim Broadbent have been nominated for best actor at this year's Royal Television Society Programme Awards.

Tennant, up for his role in Single Father, and Broadbent, recognised for Any Human Heart, will go against Johnny Harris, star of This Is England '86.

Read more at BBC News

David Tennant tells of moving mission for Comic Relief

Actor David Tennant brought Comic Relief to the kids who most need the charity's help on a moving trip to Africa.

The former Doctor Who joked around with youngsters in Uganda. But in moving diaries, he tells of the serious side of his trip - to track how the money raised by the charity helps to fight illness and disease.

In the diaries, written for the Radio Times, the star writes how he felt compelled to make the journey.

He said: "I don't have any particular expertise in telling other people's stories to the world but then Comic Relief asked me to travel to Uganda to see how the money you raise is used where it is needed most.

"I suppose the idea is that someone new to it all will be easier to identify with. I feel woefully under-qualified and ill-equipped, but I figure I can't keep reading out the phone number and telling everyone how necessary it is without seeing it up close."

The films made by the 39-year-old Scots actor will be shown as part of Red Nose Day 2011 on March 18. Presenters and performers include a host of TV favourites.

Read more: Daily Record



Also for Comic Relief, David took part in 'Blankety Blank' and 'Through the Keyhole' as part of David Walliams' 24 hour live panel show

Brian Cox reveals team of all-star actors behind Broadway hit

Brian Cox is currently appearing on Broadway in a revival of the award-winning play That Championship Season, leading a stellar cast including Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric and Chris Noth.

At cinemas this weekend, he can also be seen in Ironclad - a bloody Medieval siege movie in which he plays the leader of a ragtag band of 13th-century Knights Templar who take on tyrannical King John.

Read more at Daily Record

Billy Connolly to narrate "The Ballad of Nessie"

Walt Disney Studios has confirmed that the Walt Disney Animation Studios short, The Ballad of Nessie will be the lead-in to Winnie the Pooh when it opens in theatres in July.

Narrated by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly and directed by the Emmy® Award-winning team of Stevie Wermers-Skelton and Kevin Deters, The Ballad of Nessie is animated in classic Disney hand-drawn style

Read more at Stitch Kingdom

Alan Cumming in salute to Terrence McNally

Alan Cumming is scheduled to be part of Angela Lansbury and Friends, an all-star salute to Terrence McNally that will benefit The Acting Company on March 28.

Source, and more information: Playbill.com

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 3/7: Aaron Eckhart, Paula Poundstone
Tu 3/8: Topher Grace, Catherine Deneuve
We 3/9: Trace Adkins, Windell Middlebrooks
Th 3/10: Wanda Sykes, Kevin McKidd
Fr 3/11: Amanda Peet, Phil Hanley

Mo 3/14: Lewis Black, Stackridge
Tu 3/15: Martha Stewart
We 3/16: Seth Rogen, Brie Larson
Th 3/17: Mila Kunis, Geechy Guy (R 1/7/11)
Fr 3/18: David Duchovny, Jo Frost (R 1/12/11)