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Devious News - for earlier see yearly archives
21 August 2008
Hugh Lloyd - a friend remembered
Hugh Lloyd
It was with sadness that the Devious team learnt about the death of legend and cameo cast member Hugh Lloyd, who died on the 14th July 2008.
Hugh and his wife Shan had been long term friends of (Devious team member) Stephen, having been introduced via JNT in the early 90's. As well as being regular attendees to social functions at Cranford Towers, we were delighted when Hugh agreed to appear alongside Peter Tuddenham to play one of the Timelords in the dramatic finale to Devious. Stephen recalls the filming of that sequence....
"Hugh was amazing... Despite the fact that we made cue cards for both of them, Hugh made a point of learning his script, and was witty and sharp as a button during the recording. He and Peter were a fabulous double act.. and some of the improvised comedy Hugh came out with still makes me smile even though I must have seen it countless times.
We shall remember you for all time Hugh, and I still think of you every time I hear the word 'scenario'. "
Hugh Lloyd - photo taken during filming of 'Devious'
22 July 2008
Hugh Lloyd
Hugh Lloyd
With sadness and affection we mourn the passing of our friend Hugh Lloyd, who died last week. He was of course well known for his trademark comedy characterisation which evolved from his association with Tony Hancock and then Terry Scott. His many television, stage and film roles made him a firm favourite of the nation. His most recent television appearance was in a repeat of ITV's Doc Martin only the day after he died. We are proud to have known him; Stephen will be adding a few words soon in tribute.
A great man.
21 July 2008
Starburst OUT 15 AUGUST & Nilan info
Starburst Dr Who Special no 87 - UPDATED
... is now due out on July 23rd AUGUST 15th we are told. We were interviewed earlier in the year and didn't think anything would come of it so if there is something in the magazine then 'eek' and 'ohmigod' etc etc. There should be a photo or two although Ashley can't remember which ones were sent so we're all in the dark on this one. Still it will provide some interest and a few laughs we think (should be tongue in cheek) and it's all good publicity for Doctor Who in general! We'll let you know if we see it!
Cast Info - Nilan
We've also added some long overdue info about Richard Kingshott's character Nilan. Richard also has a website well worth a visit - link here soon.
25 June 2008
Stephen interviews Nick Briggs and Starburst (?)
Nick Briggs: Season Finale interview and Devious in Starburst???
Hi there peeps
Stephen rang me (Ashley) just a short while ago and said he'd just interviewed a certain Nick Briggs about the forthcoming Dr Who series 4 finale. The interview was between Neil Pringle (who's show it was), Stephen and Nick and was recorded earlier today for radio broadcast tomorrow (Thursday) between 8.30 and 9am. Set your dials, warm up the valve set, that's Southern Counties Radio broadcasting for Sussex and Surrey. The interview was conducted with the aid of two Ring Modulators - one was Nick's (obviously) and the other was Devious's's's's one brought in specially by Stephen. Sounds fun - can't wait to hear it! And thanks Nick for reaffirming the settings for Stephen!!! We have to say we (collectively) can't wait for the final episodes!!
Stephen Cranford is brought to you by BBC Southern Counties Radio. (And into work by Sedan Chair)
And in other news - we've been told that a recent interview we did (well, several months ago) is to appear in the Starburst Doctor Who Special (no 87) - due out on June 23rd. We haven't got a copy in yet so we don't know if we've made it to the issue. If we see a copy we'll let you know. Or if you see it you can let us know?? (we can't get a copy here in deepest Sussex) Should be fun - quite a tongue in cheek approach - and all serves to promote Doctor Who!
We've just heard that the issue will be a couple of weeks late, so look out for it the beginning of July????
And in other other news, the Tardis console now has a new home! After being stored outside (albeit wrapped in 4 layers of plastic) and in disparate locations the whole console is now on long term loan to a friend of ours who lives in Worthing no less. We'll have some pics soon to show you how it is being well looked after (at last).
cheers more soon
16 May 2008
lighting tests
sets and lights
We've been having some fun with some of Ashley's sets. Here's a couple of images of the lighting rig which sits above the Main Control Room. It seems the lights can flash in sequence or randomly. An ability to dim is also predicted but Ashley forgot to wire that up before we took these shots. Combined with some smoke (stage smoke/dry-ice equivalent and not Chris puffing away down a tube) it doesn't look too bad and should be right for the short time it is seen. Ashley is still working on other bits and pieces but we thought you'd like these few images to prove we haven't all died (again). There are (obviously) no daleks or the silver panel backdrops in the shots as we just wanted to check how the smoke looked.
A bit of fun. Well we enjoyed it. But then we don't get out much.
We'll have some more pictures soon with luck. (Sorry the one below is a bit dodgy - forgot to take the video effect off)
speak soon
31 March 2008
modelwork
Modelwork is progressing!
Well we know you all think we're not doing anything at the moment. Well, we're trying to get some footage together and hope to be test filming next week. Some of Ashley's modelwork is nearly ready for the test shots. The models will be filmed to see how accurate they are in relation to the full sized sets so that they may be intercut when necessary. Various cgi elements will be added to the models just like the full sized footage. We just felt that models had to be added to the mix - we couldn't just rely on the normal footage plus cgi - just like the real series in fact! Anyway we are eagerly awaiting the results of the tests. Of course if we show too many pics on the site you'll all know which is modelwork and which is real - and we're trying to merge the two. Still - here's a few low res images with dummy (incomplete and very old) model daleks in situ.
On the left you can see the emperor and it's surround which is exactly the same as the full sized props although not lit on this occasion. A couple of dozen lightbulbs ordered online from Jersey (of all places) means that this rig can be tested again soon (the original lighting was too bright to look real and so Ashley trawled the net for some more acceptable bulbs). Of course the emperor in these shots does not have the cabling attached as we did with the full-sized one; getting the right sized tubing with the right weight is proving tricky!
Here we have another view (right) albeit very very small as Ashley doesn't want to show the detail just yet we imagine! At least he's taken some photos at last!
And here is a lovely picture of a Doctor Who fan.
The photo was taken with a measure so that the scale version could be built - and here it is on the set - again a blurred and small image...
When this particular model is finished we're sure we can persuade Ashley to part with a few images. At least you know we're all still busy!
05 February 2008
What does the future hold?
What does the future hold?
A good question indeed. Well obviously we'd like to finish Devious. Another year has started and it's not yet done. Doubtless there's a news item like this each year. Still, Ashley has started his next lot of modelwork now (ie he's worked out what he's doing and he's sized up the materials) and David is looking at the edits trying to look for the main effects areas and Stephen has the audio work in hand.
So we move forward with a goal to complete this year or at least to have some sizeable watchable material up and ready. And we start this year with hope and belief that this year is the year.
But what of the props and sets? Storage is becoming an increasingly difficult thing for us - the daleks are always a problem to house and we're always eternally grateful for our current and projected future temporary 'hosts'. Ashley has ever more grandious schemes for storage of part daleks in kit form around his sheds and ways of keeping them ever ready for... well, what? We've had the plays these last two years and so we've kept a core number of 5 daleks close to hand but it'll be a while before that happens again we imagine. We're grateful and proud to have been a part of all that and will always support our friends in Portsmouth in future schemes whether we lend them props or not. So the daleks go back into storage with occasional periods in shop windows or in school libraries. And we're happy with that -as always our daleks are lent out only to people we know and trust and for no money exchange. If they can help in aiding childrens' reading or promote the cause of Doctor Who (the official one) then we're happy.
The TARDIS external prop has recently been refurbished (a new roof and internal strengthening) and seems likely to lead a useful life for the foreseeable future. As always it is well looked after by Stephen. We are however a bit worried that dure to storage limitations in the near future the internal TARDIS console may become a problem for us. Despite all the time and trouble in the build it may become too awkward to store. The console base already has animpending storage problem and we may have to look for a new home - already Ashley has been been made an offer of a new home (for the console base, not Ashley himself!) and so this will be discussed no doubt. It would be a shame to wave goodbye to the console that travelled to Pinewood and appeared with Jon Pertwee but we have to tell ourselves we had the best of it - maybe a new owner could be found who would let us visit it or film with it!!!!
Anyway, all these future prop considerations are just discussions at the moment with the Devious Trio - we'd be interested to know your opinions (you can make some suggestions at "info AT doctorwho-devious.com" (change this to an email address obviously!) and also depending on whether Ashley has hooked up the email address properly).
Jokingly we always say we need the props for the sequel - but then we really should edit the first one.
06 December 2007
December will be magic...
"December will be magic" (isn't that a Kate Bush track?)
...well it will be magic if Ashley manages to get the new version of this website live at last! He's been promising it for weeks, and still has to put live the images from the recent Masterplan play. Well, he has a lot on - like we all do in Devious, which is why the news often takes a back seat! In fact the whole project is, as you know, a hobby project and necessarily sits behind our normal activities.
To atone for this delay here's a few new images to show we have been (slightly) active!
Above we can see the new TARDIS roof that's been built by Ashley and Stephen. It was made out of necessity as the old one was falling into such a state, and besides, the TARDIS prop was needed for the play. In the event only the front panel was used as a flat in the production, as the elaborate mechanism to make the roof appear along with the flashing light proved too tricky for a number of reasons. We hope you'll agree that even the flat looked great on stage! And besides, we've got a new roof now - and the old one is now in Worthing awaiting a friend of ours to build his own new TARDIS prop underneath!
The daleks have now returned from the play, and the famous five await dispersal to their storage homes. Here they are a week or so after the play had finished.
Stuart's excellent Black Dalek has also gone back into hiding no doubt - we'll have to ask him what's become of Mr Sec!
On other matters we are hoping to watch the newly-edited episodes 1 2 and 3 next week so we don't comment and chat all over it when they are shown again next month when we are in conversations over the music score. More on that later we hope. David has been working feverishly on these edits and we're looking forward to some surprises we think...
In the meantime please bear with Ashley as he gets his new web templates ready... cheers.
31 October 2007
Dalek Masterplan Success!
what a week!
A great success all round as far as we hear. Ashley would just like to take this very public opportunity to thank everyone involved with the play who made it such a wonderful experience. The masterplan part of this Devious website will now be used to mount a weighty retrospective of the play. There'll be behind-the-scenes features such as the dalek builds, the in-theatre preparations and some dress rehearsal on-stage puictures, such as the one below...(Now those of you who couldn't get along to the play can now finally see the colour schemes we chose!)...
The most fantastic experience (if Evil wasn't fantastic enough!). Please check again over the next week or so for the launch of the new part of the site - and with any luck the new web design for Devious too!
23 October 2007
Masterplan - the show is on!
News items will necessarily be dominated by Devious' involvement in the Dalek Masterplan play in Portsmouth England! (Earth, Solar System etc) The dress rehearsal was the 23rd and the SELLOUT play is from the 24th to the 27th of October. We do have some news-y things for Devious to impart but they can wait until the fuss and excitement of Masterplan dies down a little - and there's not much chance of that, for sure! We're delighted to be involved in this production, and so we're sure you'll forgive us this divertisement, whilst we all go and celebrate the Doctor Who phenomenon in a unique way this Autumn!
12 October 2007
Final prop builds
Good Grief it's nearly time!
It's got to the scary stage now! Ashley is rushing round like a blue-*****-fly trying to get the last bits of prop completed for the play. With collection of more daleks and bits etc next weekend there's only one more weekend to go, so naturally he's hoping for good weather - he hates working indoors. OK so it's not a major news item in itself but as we said before there's not a lot we can show at this stage. After the play has started the final setbuild and rehearsal stage he'll see if he can sneak some photos out for the website. They'll be pics without showing daleks or stage elements of course so we can really look forward to those! Still, we mean well.
So in the meantime here's a lovely shot of Alex and Dave who are our gallant dalek transport technicians for the play. If you see them on the last night wish them well for they've got to transport the Skaro army back to base when all is said and done. When you're all tucked up in bed dreaming dreams of daleks and Mavic Chen these two stalwarts will be travelling with Ashley back to the Dalek Homeworld (which is just off the A27).
14 September 2007
Masterplan Read throughs
It's all started at last! A week or two ago Ashley popped down and met everyone for the first read-through of Dalek Masterplan. This actually took place on the stage of the Theatre Royal Portsmouth and was great fun. A few photos were taken and here's a couple for you to take a gander at. The eagle eyed amongst you will spot the Doctor Nick Scovell and near him were seated Rob and the dalekmeister Nick Briggs.
The readthrough was not without incident; only when the story was read aloud did Nick realise his adaptation may need the odd tweak due to the amount of innuendo the mischievous cast managed to work out of it. Nevertheless it's better to get the laughs out of the way early and any serious misinterpretations will be ironed out in time rest assured.
And so on to this week, when this Monday (the 10th of September) three daleks made their way down to the highly secret rehearsal rooms in XTown. (You know XTown, it's just off the AXX on the way to Shhville). A great reaction from the cast on seeing the new colour scheme and the kind comments duly noted and thanked by Ashley. There are some more daleks in the show so don't start thinking there's only the three and if you recall last years then let us say there's a different number this time round - or is there????
Ashley in fact stood in for Lorna as a dalek during this first rehearsal although "sat in for" is perhaps a better phrase. So easy to sit there and chip in with suggestions for moves that we're sure the team are glad Ashley isn't going to every rehearsal. Actually he was quite good and made just the one suggestion which was rubbish anyway! Stick to the building work matey.
meanwhile in Deviousland David has been advancing the edits and is ready to hand over episode five to Stephen who is going to do the soundtrack. Later than we thought we've all three of us had a lot on this summer; both Ashley and David are having work done on their bungalows (rooms in roof etc etc) and of course Stephen is again to be found building a house somewhere or other in the Worthing area - amongst his many roles.
