The gymnastics of playing ball Doctor Who style Behind the Scenes of The Giggle with David Tennant as the fourteenth Doctor

Bonus: Ncuti's impressive one-handed cartwheel:

Behind the Scenes of The Giggle - Part Three

From Entertainment Weekly (Dec 2023 by Clark Collis):

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies tells EW that the American actor was completely unfamiliar with the beloved science fiction series when the executive producer approached Harris about playing a villain called The Toymaker on this Saturday's final 60th anniversary special episode, "The Giggle." "He’d never heard of it in his life, bless him," Davies says with a laugh. "I was lucky enough to work with the great man on a show called It’s a Sin, about the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, and working with him was such a joy. The Toymaker, he's kind of the god of games, so he shuffles cards, he does magic tricks, and all of that fits Neil Patrick Harris. If you go through agents, they often tell you to go away. I was able to send just a text saying, 'Do you fancy reading this?' He read it and literally phoned me up going, 'Let me get this right, so the Doctor’s an alien, right?' I was like, 'Oh my god, you really have never heard of Doctor Who!' But he couldn’t resist it, and he came to Cardiff, and we had the most spectacular time." Davies explains that, "it's very hard to find the villain who can match David Tennant and Catherine Tate. To have a character who can be in danger of defeating those two is very hard to find. Sometimes on Doctor Who, you need armies of a thousand robots who could do that. This is just one person, so casting them was absolutely crucial and this becomes a pivotal event in the Doctor’s life. We needed that man, and, god, we had a glorious time. It’s so lovely working with Neil. When I text him now, [we ask], what’s our third project together? We’ve got to keep going!"

With huge thanks to all who shared set photos (including @TomWrenPhoto on Twitter)

For other posts in this set, please see the #whoBtsGiggle tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

Behind the Scenes of The Giggle - Part Two

Excerpt from Benjamin Cook's article in DWM 599:

On a studio backlot somewhere in Cardiff, Ncuti Gatwa is stepping on to the Doctor Who set for the very first time. He’s arm in arm with Catherine Tate, and they’re laughing about something. There’s a round of applause from Ncuti’s co-stars as he arrives. David Tennant – whose shoes Ncuti is, literally, about to fill – wraps the new Doctor in a warm embrace. “A hug from David? Now we’re in the Whoniverse,” says Ncuti, rejoicing. “THE WHONIVERSE!” cheers Bonnie Langford, who’s hugging Ncuti herself now. It’s hugs all round. They’re lining up. A hug from Jemma Redgrave. A hug from Ruth Madeley. A hug from Neil Patrick Harris, who also gives a theatrical: “Hello, hello! Willkommen!” They’re all here. All the stars. “It’s like Celebrity Squares,” quips the showrunner, Russell T Davies, who’s hugging the new Doctor too. “How exciting.”

For other posts in this set, please see the #whoBtsGiggle tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

Behind the Scenes of The Giggle - Part One

Excerpt from DWM 599 - Benjamin Cook's interview with David Tennant and Ncuti Gatwa:

Typical. You wait ages for a Doctor to come along, then two turn up at once. It’s 22 June 2022 – so many twos! – and I’m seeing double. I’m in the captivating company of not one, but two Time Lords: Ncuti Gatwa and David Tennant. (It’s really, really them! Completely them.) We’re sat in the shadow of the enormous UNIT helipad set at Wolf Studios, on which the Doctors have been busy bi-generating. I’ve nabbed them during a recording break – on The Giggle, the third and most extravagant of Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary Specials. But reports of a bigger budget might have been exaggerated. Money must be tight, because David and Ncuti appear to be… sharing a costume?! It’s a twist worthy of one of the Toymaker’s games. Who got the better deal, do you think? Ncuti got the shirt and tie, socks and Converse, and underpants, but no trousers. (DWM has never interviewed a Doctor in his pants before. Wish us luck.) David is wearing the trousers and – who knew? – the Doctor’s under-shirt. He also got the waistcoat, but he’s shoeless. (DWM has never interviewed a barefooted Doctor before either. WikiFeet will lose its mind.) Before we know it, the two Doctors will be called back to the helipad. So let’s ask them some questions – quick! – before they finish bi-generating. Right now, they’re still cooking. They’re fizzing with residual bi-generation energy. (Try saying that when you’re drunk.) DWM has got ’em while they’re hot. Well, relaxing on canvas chairs in the Cardiff sunshine. Now, someone tell me what the hell is going on here… DWM: Hi Ncuti, hi David. You’re members of a very exclusive club – only 14 actors have played the lead in this show. But a surprising number of you are Scottish. What makes Scots such great Doctors? Ncuti: “The madness.” David: “The chippiness.” Ncuti: “Chippiness, ha. And we’re always up for an adventure. Heh heh. Why is it, though? It’s true, there’s been a lot of Scottish Doctors.” David: “What is the ratio?” Ncuti: “Four. There’s four. Mm. Four out of fourteen. Fifteen?” David: “Yeah, how many Doctors are we now saying there are, ’cos some extra ones have joined the gang. John Hurt. Jo [Martin].” Ncuti: “Which are the Scottish ones? Sylvester McCoy. Peter Capaldi. David and me. Lots of Scots. Yeah, we’re doing pretty well.” David: “We’re punching above our weight.” Ncuti: “We’re just trying to hold down the fort, for the Scots.”

I'll post additional parts in the coming months with the  #whoBtsGiggle tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

Behind the Scenes of The Giggle - Part Four

Excerpt from the In-Vision commentary with David Tennant, Russell T. Davies, and Phil Collinson

[ discussing UNIT's new headquarters ] Russell: How much do you love this set? David: Oh, I love it Phil: Well I don't love it. It's the most expensive set in the world [ David & RTD laugh ] Russell: How much use are we getting out of it? Phil: ...and operate. The bills we get for footage and screen hire. Oh my word. David: Oh, right. Russell: I'm sorry, faithful viewer Phil: But it's amazing. I'm joking. I love it Russell: We are getting our use out of it. "Should we go to UNIT HQ?" they say. At the drop of a hat. David: Shall we do 30 pages in UNIT HQ? Phil: Literally. It is literally. 30 pages a series, please. Pay for itself.

With a huge "Thank you!" to everyone who shared set photos!

For other posts in this set, please see the #whoBtsGiggle tag. The full episode list is [ here ]