Were very excited about that…
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I know, Im more excited than I thought I would be.
And then I went up to Vancouver and I just adored it.
I really got into it.
So its going to be all sci-fi all the time from you now then?
I read that, it was wonderful.
Wasnt it a beautiful piece?
To have a young mind fantasize about what if we could teleport ourselves off to a different planet?.
Youre a recent convert to sci-fi then?
What did you make of the 50ththen, in your pyjamas with a cup of tea?
I thought it was lovely.
Peter Capaldis eyes was a very good moment.
We know him already, do you know what Im saying?
Theres an old Doctor feel to him isnt there?
Previous Doctor you mean?
Yes, previous Doctor, not old!
A Hartnell-y, Pertwee-y sense.
I have a huge vested interest in not saying old, because were practically the same age!
It seemed completely inevitable, rather than just an interesting casting choice.
Where were you when you learned it was going to be Capaldi?
and it was the announcement show.
So I saw him walk out and thought, Oh, very good.
When were you made the offer for the Christmas episode?
That was ages later.
The announcement was in the summer wasnt it?
I had spoken to a friend of mine, Sarah Parish, who played a big red spider…
The Empress of the Racnoss!
ItsDoctor Who, and I love it.
That was a reference actually.
That was the directors idea, Jamie [Payne].
You were in safe hands?
For someone then, who presumably hadnt watched every single episode ofDoctor Whoever…
I feel like I have now!
Because there was mythology that I didnt understand, because its not something I watched.
So how did you go about getting up to speed?
Those would be the Trenzalore story strands?
Were not after any spoilers here.
You could tell us about that, actually.
Whats the secret-keeping like onDoctor Who?
Have you had a sniper trained on you from the minute you received the script?
I believe I do.
You have to be cagey.
To be honest with you, I really understand why theyre doing it.
With other things I think, oh who cares?
A) Theyve made the film before, and B) Its a book!
Come on lads, wake up!
With this though, it really would be a shame for there to be spoilers.
You had the honour of filming on Matt Smiths very last episode, what was the atmosphere like?
It was their last couple of weeks together and theyre doing little fist-bumps before scenes and having chats.
I know what its like to end a series and think aw, thats a shame.
Matts one of the most focussed people Ive ever worked with.
Theres no sitting back or feeling of yeah, I know what Im doing here.
Hes still exploring, still trying to find the Doctor.
Hell be greatly missed, even though were all so eager to welcome Peter Capaldi.
Hell just be a different Doctor.
Can you talk a little bit about Jamie Paynes approach to the episode as the director?
We were really impressed with Hide, his previous Who episode.
Did you see that?
Yes I did, I did.
What kind of approach did he have?
How did he work with you?
Was there much chance for rehearsal?
There wasnt a lot of rehearsal.
Its a rare luxury that you get rehearsal time in TV, because of the budgets and the pace.
I like things being private with directors.
How he worked with me was that he was very trusting of what I was doing.
He didnt look and say thats not quite it and start panicking and giving you notes.
He loves being a director.
Hes good at his job in that he loves it.
Did you feel completely lost or did it make sense?
It all has to be present.
It was Matts interaction with a certain other character who Im trying not to name [laughing].
There were other conversation strands that the Doctor and somebody else have that made me laugh out loud.
There are some wonderful villains recurring in the episode that presumably you worked with?
The Silence, the Daleks, the Cybermen weve seen pictures of…
Am I allowed to say this?
Its not spoilers to say that the number are these three?
Its in the public realm from promo pictures andthe trailerreleased this afternoon.
it’s possible for you to see those three monsters?
Yes, and the Weeping Angels [question redacted to avoid potential spoilers Ed].
But Im not saying which one.
Weve only two weeks to wait and we can find out for ourselves.
Im sure everybody says this butDoctor Whois part of the little humming background of our lives and our childhoods.
There are things we all understand.
Have you seen the episode in full yet?
Its driving me crazy, I havent.
Truthfully, I havent asked.
Yes, the funny thing is, and this is what I admire very much in the writing.
Orla Brady, thank you very much!
The Time Of The Doctor airs on Christmas Day at 7.30pm on BBC One.
