Newsround: A night out at Dr Who

Normally, it's a night in with Dr Who! But evenings like this don't come around very often - I remember being in Edinburgh two summers ago, waiting for midnight and the chance to get my hands on the sixth Harry Potter book.

And today - well yesterday now, but I haven't gone to sleep yet, so it counts as the same day - was much the same feeling. Knowing that I was going to see the first two episodes of Dr Who.

So as soon as Newsround was off air on BBC One, I was straight out of the set and into a car. Half an hour later and I was in place ready to interview the stars before the episodes were screened.

Chatting to David Tennant was fantastic as ever. The new girl Freema Agyeman was absolutely lovely. And Head Writer Russell T. Davies was, as always, full of enthusiasm and energy.

Then it was into the screening. Episodes 1 and 2. I love events like this - people were cheering as David, Freema and Russell's name came up on the credits. And then we were into the story.

My review of Episode 1 will go up later - but I will say this here. Overall, it's good! Fast and funny. And the new girl Martha shows herself to be just as resourceful as the Doctor in many ways.

As for Episode 2, again great fun. And special effects that have moved up a notch from last year. Anyway, this isn't the place to talk too much about the episodes - as I said I'll do that later in my reviews.

The rest of the evening was good fun. The thing about the Dr Who team is that they're a bit like a big family. The kind of family who it's a good laugh to chat with. And because the programme is a such a group effort, it's always interesting talking to people who do all sorts of different jobs.

I had fascinating conversations with writers. Gareth Roberts who wrote Episode 2 - The Shakespeare Code - and who I embarrassingly told several times how much I loved his story. Steven Moffatt, who's had to put up with this from me for years - he wrote the Madame de Pompadour story last year, and the kid in the gas mask episodes before that.

There were directors - the people who stand around on set deciding things like camera angles to use (yes I know it's far more complicated than that, but I'm writing this at 1 in the morning). 2nd AD's who work a lot with actors and extras on the set (yes I know, but please see previous explanation). And one of the script editors, they work a lot with the different writers.

Along with lots of other behind the scenes type people, and other media types from magazines, newspapers and websites.

And only one of the people I met asked me if I was the man from the Halifax advert. Normally it's more than half a dozen.

On tomorrow's Newsround (I suppose that should be today's, now) we'll have a full report on the new series. And you'll get your chance to see what you think of the first epsiode in ten days time on BBC One.

Now, I've got to be up in five hours time. If only I had a Tardis...

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1.
At 10:16 AM on 22 Mar 2007,
Clara wrote:

What a fantastic night that sounds Lizo! Lucky you, getting to see them!! I really cant wait for the series to return and Im so looking forward to finding out all about Martha-I think Freema will be brilliant! Hope you had a good nights sleep-cant wait for NR this evening to see this report! Bye, Clara

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A night out at Dr Who

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