AJF News Archives

Here we have our "old news" from the home page

Thanks to the Internet Movie DatabAse and courtesy of CBS, you can access the full episode of CSI in which James Frain appears here:

SIN CITY BLUE

For those interested in seeing a condensed version of the episode - just James Frain's short but sweet scenes, here are the clips below, courtesy of Teri, Kate and You Tube:

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Season Three Bloopers

Third Season Tudors Bloopers Part 1

Third Season Tudors Bloopers Part 2

Red Carpet Interview with James Frain

Thanks to Carol, earlier this month we found out about this lovely brief interview with James Frain conducted at the premiere of "Everybody's Fine" in Los Angeles.

James Frain * Everybody's Fine * TRON * Robert De Niro - The most popular videos are a click away

The Frains - Out at a Gala

As pointed out to us by a few sources, including Carol at the Facebook Fans of James Frain - Here is a photo of the beautiful Mr & Mrs Frain at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center Anniversary Gala this past Saturday night, October 24, 2009:

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

James to appear in upcoming Law & Order: SVU Episode Law & Order SVU Users Air Date 11/04/2009 (9 PM ET/ 8C Wednesday NBC) Here is a synopsis of James Frains role as "Martin Gold" in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

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Thanks to Frain fan Katie, we have this preview of "Users" to tickle your Frain fancy:

Watch GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM Online

Click photo to link

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Well, it's happened again. The wonderfully busy Mr. Frain has chosen a role on a US television program which I swore I would never watch, definitely in the "never watched it, never will" category. Hospital soap opera sex romps just aren't your webmaster's cuppa. I really don't want to think that that much distraction is going on in a place where I'd rather believe the staff is completely focused on their jobs. However, you can't say no to a juicy part, and there's that mortgage, so I salute you dear Mister Frain. ((((sigh)))) I acquiesce and will be watching Grey's Anatomy on Thursday, October 1 at 9:00 PM (EST). He's playing a paranoid/schitzophrenic by the name of Tom.

from Coming Soon .com :

Source:Walt Disney Pictures
September 3, 2009

Walt Disney Pictures has set a December 17, 2010 release date for Tron Legacy. The move puts the highly-anticipated film up against Sony's The Green Hornet and The Smurfs, as well as Warner Bros.' Yogi Bear (We assume at least "Smurfs" will move, since that's two Sony releases on the same date.)

Tron Legacy is directed by Joseph Kosinski and stars Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett and Michael Sheen.

In the 3D adventure, Sam Flynn (Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Bridges), looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

Thanks to Carol for the update, and as she says -- Over a year away. That's quite a wait! With James Frain's involvement, it should be worth it.

This Wonderful trailer of the TRON sequel was discovered online by Carol at Canadian site "Scout Magazine." We have learned nothing new about James Frain's specific role, however, the sequel seems to have a new title - " TRON: LEGACY " instead of the before mentioned T2ON . I rather liked " T2ON ," but nevermind. The trailer looks awesome. We wonder what other news may come out of this weekend's Comic Con International held in San Diego? Thanks Carol you sleuth you!

July 27, 2009

Your webmaster has it on good authority that major filming for TRON: LEGACY has now wrapped in Vancouver. According to my Vancouver source -- "They just wrapped the filming for Tron Legacy - now they have a year of CGI to do! Jeff Bridges is all over town bragging about it." I'm sure he has a lot to brag about! And as our main Frain fan girl Teri says, This is the first time [James Frain] has ever been in a movie with tons of special effects...which probably means doing a lot of acting in front of blue screens, which has to be a challenge. A year to do the CGI--this thing is gonna be loaded with special stuff!

We look forward to seeing the results, which of course will require a good deal of patience on our part, seeing how it may be better than a year away from the projected release date of 2010 or 2011, depending on where you read. The IMDb page for TRON: LEGACY will be a good space to watch for updates, as well as AJF - of course!

We have been remiss in posting this sooner (bad webmaster!!,) but the lovely James Frain is appearing on USA Network's "In Plain Sight" in the US tonight, Sunday, August 2, 10:00 PM in the episode titled "Once A Ponzi Time." If you miss it then, or just want to see it more than once, here's the full schedule of airings for the week--

TV schedule for "In Plain Sight" Once a Ponzi Time (2009)

* Sun. Aug. 2 10:00 PM USA Once a Ponzi Time #2.14
* Mon. Aug. 3 1:00 AM USA Once a Ponzi Time #2.14
* Wed. Aug. 5 12:00 AM USA Once a Ponzi Time #2.14
* Thur. Aug. 6 11:00 PM USA Once a Ponzi Time #2.14
* Sat. Aug. 8 5:00 PM USA Once a Ponzi Time #2.14
* Sun. Aug. 9 9:00 AM USA Once a Ponzi Time #2.14

Then of course, for the real slackers, or wonderful crazed fanatics, you can watch Full Episodes Online ! Programs become available a week after they first air on the network. James gets to play with US Marshall Mary and US Marshall Marshall on the USA network in the U.S. of A! Fun fun fun!

Your webmaster took the liberty of writing to Crusades writer Andy Briggs asking for a synopsis of the film, it's intended audience (since he writes children's material,) and (of course) what James Frain's role is and I received a lovely reply. Here is the plotline from Mr. Briggs:

CRUSADES is a Sci-Fi Channel (or now, SyFy Channel) movie, intended for a saturday night audience. Although there will be scary and "gruesome" elements, it is intended to entertain older family members - but is not "18" rated horror.

James plays Sir Gregory, a Knight of the First Crusade who is fighting an internal battle over his ebbing faith. We begin the story as the war finishes, and the Knights are searching for a suitable gift from the Holy Land to give to the Holy Father in praise of their victory. Sir Gregory and his Knights discover a piece of the true cross and set off to Rome to present it to the Holy See.

Along their journey, Gregory saves Rebecca, a young serf and an atheist - with whom he grows close to. They befriend a brave Muslim warrior, who joins the Christian Knights on their adventure, and slowly rekindles their faith - especially as their journey is hampered by a serious of terrible "biblical" events, that build in magnitude until they finally realize their "prize" has a darker secret... and something terrible is hunting them down...

Well, we are thrilled that this seems to be a starring role for James, and a fun one at that!

A HUGE thank you to Andy Briggs for satisfying our Sy-Fy curiosity!!

This is Mr. Briggs third film for the SyFy Channel, the first two being "Rise of the Gargoyles" and "Ghost Town." He has a 4th film for the Sy-Fy Channel underway, as well as a Disney TV show in the works and more serious material. We welcome you to take a look at his agents resume for him - ANDY BRIGGS for an idea of the great range of work that he's done.

For those of you with kids who are into fantasy and superheroes, Andy has a wonderful parallel series of books published under the headings of either Hero.com or Villian.net. There are some very good reviews you can find online and they can be found for sale on with synopses and reader reviews. There are six books out now with two more coming in 2010.

Andy sounds as busy as James!

Earlier post:

We have gotten the news that James has just completed filming in a project called " Crusades ." The listing at his IMDb says that his role is " Gregory " and that the project is for television. It is written by Andy Briggs and directed by Lorenzo Senatore. The genre is listed as being Fantasy/Horror/Sci-Fi. What fun! The IMDb site for the project is here - " Crusades ." The project status was updated on July 6, 2009 and the USA release date is planned for December 31, 2009. An interesting choice for a New Year's Eve.

It seems to be a film and not a mini-series as it's listed runtime is 88 minutes. The director seems to be a first time director, however Mr. Senatore has dozens of films to his credit dating back to 1998 as both a cameraman and a cinematographer. Writer Andy Briggs has worked on projects with brother and fellow writer Peter Briggs, such as "Judge Dredd" and "Freddy vs Jason" and "Foreverman" for Spiderman creator Stan Lee and legendary producer Robert Evans. Many of his books and comics have been for a young reader audience, but we don't know if that is the intended audience for this "Crusades" project. Which makes this "old" reader pleased that this is a TV film. Your webmaster won't need to rope some young relative into a trip to the theater! If James Frain is in it, we'll be watching.

We will keep you informed as details present themselves.

That's right, another year has FLOWN by in the James Frain Admiration Society which is known as "About James Frain!" As usual, he hasn't dissappointed. He's managed to slip into his 40's with grace and continues to pop up all over the globe with one amazing project after another. There's no moss growing under this Essex lad!

All of us here wish to thank our many worldwide visitors who have popped in for a peek at what news and chatter we've humbly gathered on our favorite Frain. We hope that you've been informed and have enjoyed our cyber scrapbook. The updates have been a bit slower this year, but then Mr. Frain is not the only one aging! He's just doing it more gracefully than some of us. A-hem!

Your webmaster wants to take this opportunity to warmly thank the many fans who continue to contribute to the site. Carol, Teri, Jan, Lisa, at least a couple of Jens and a Katie spring to mind! It's grand company and always inspirational to find fellow Frain fans.

To everyone, please enjoy and do come again.

Carol, bless her found the following article about the Pinnacle reading on the Writers Guild site :

News Release: June 16, 2009

Writers Guild, West's Latest Seasoned Readings Series Launches with Larry Gelbart Pinnacle Premiere LOS ANGELES -- The Writers Guild of America, West launched its latest Seasoned Readings series to spotlight the work of veteran writers on June 15 with the premiere staged reading of Pinnacle , a dark comedy TV pilot which is the latest project from Writers Guild and Emmy Award-winning writer Larry Gelbart ( M*A*S*H, Tootsie, And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself ).

Drawing an SRO crowd, cast members appearing in Tuesday night's special staged reading included actors Bradley Whitford ( The West Wing ), Cary Elwes ( Saw ), James Frain ( The Tudors ), Carl Reiner ( Ocean's Thirteen ), David Paymer ( Drag Me to Hell ), Steve Sandvoss ( Latter Days ), and Erin Mathews ( Hannah Montana ), among others in attendance.

A pitch-black comedy set in UFA, the fabled German motion picture studio, as the Nazis came to power, limited-run series Pinnacle is "meant to demonstrate how a film director with a myopic, misguided ambition barely notices the suffering all about him in his pursuit of a successful career," according to Gelbart.

"This series is a godsend in an age of one 'ism' after another that today's writers are faced with," commented Gelbart on the value of Seasoned Readings and the Guild's continuing efforts to address ageism in the entertainment industry.

Presented by the WGAW Career Longevity Committee and part of the WGAW's ongoing diversity initiative, the Guild's Seasoned Readings program continues to promote, celebrate, and provide a forum for the work of older writers. The CLC's mission aims to assist writers of all ages in planning for long and successful careers by giving them the tools and knowledge to adapt to changes in the entertainment industry marketplace.

Upcoming Seasoned Readings special events are slated through Fall 2009.

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) is a labor union representing writers of motion pictures, television, radio and Internet programming, including news and documentaries. Founded in 1933, the Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members. It is involved in a wide range of programs that advance the interests of writers, and is active in public policy and legislative matters on the local, national and international levels. For more information on the WGAW, please visit: www.wga.org.

It looks as though the afore promised Evan Handler did not make an appearence in the cast reading, plus there were a few more than mentioned. We are well impressed! Also impressive is James' new 'do.' I'm guessing it has everything to do with his current role in TR2N which he's filming in Canada. The Tudors got his head, but TR2N only took his hair! As Frain fan Jennifer says, it's definitely "low mantainence."

June 14, 2009

It seems that the busy James Frain is at it again. He's either wrapped his "TR2N" role in Canada or merely slipped away to be involved in this reading of another project in which he's involved. And in such good company too! Could the talented Mr. Frain be dipping his toes into dark edge comedy? Read on...

WHAT:
The Writers Guild of America, West's latest Seasoned Readings series kicks off with the world premiere staged reading of Pinnacle , a dark comedy television pilot that's the latest project from award-winning writer Larry Gelbart ( M*A*S*H, Tootsie ).

"This series is a godsend in an age of one 'ism' after another today's writers are faced with," commented Gelbart on the value of Seasoned Readings and the Guild's continuing efforts to address ageism in the entertainment industry.

Presented by the WGAW Career Longevity Committee and part of the WGAW's ongoing diversity initiative, the Guild's Seasoned Readings program continues to promote, celebrate, and provide a forum for the work of older writers. The CLC's mission aims to assist writers of all ages in planning for long and successful careers by giving them the tools and knowledge to adapt to changes in the entertainment industry marketplace. Upcoming Seasoned Readings are slated throughout summer/fall through 2009.

WHO:
Cast members scheduled to appear in this special Pinnacle staged reading include: Cary Elwes ( Saw ), James Frain ( The Tudors ), Evan Handler ( Sex and the City ), David Paymer ( Drag Me to Hell ), Carl Reiner ( Ocean's Thirteen ), and Bradley Whitford ( The West Wing ).

WHEN:
Monday, June 15, 2009 7:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Writers Guild of America, West
7000 W. 3rd Street, 2nd Floor Multi-Purpose Room
Los Angeles, CA 90048

*Parking available in WGAW's underground lot; enter off Blackburn Avenue.

Above article from WGAW

So, if you happen to be in LA tonight with press credentials and a spare hour or three, this could be a fun time, eh? If you find that you can't make it, here is a pdf file of the pilot script as uploaded in March of this year at WGA - PINNACLE pilot script .

A big thank you! to Carol for this news. We here at AJF certainly look forward to seeing where "Pinnacle" will lead. With Larry Gelbart at the helm, dare we say - it could be good!

Thanks to our Carol, we have a link below to TV Fanatic of the complete list of submissions being put forth for the 2009 Emmy Awards. We are happy to see that James Frain's remarkable performance as Thomas Cromwell in The Tudors has earned him a place on this list. Awards are lovely and this performance certainly deserves one! We shall see if the powers that be agree! Keep a good thought.

From the official Academy of Television Arts and Sciences website, a press release from June 1, 2009:

North Hollywood, CA – CBS's broadcast of the 61st Primetime Emmy® Awards has been rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT), one week earlier than the previously announced date.

"The new date moves the Emmys away from a weekend where CBS has an NFL doubleheader, which can delay the start of prime time on Sunday." said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS. "This is better for the live event, the broadcast and our audience at home."

The original date for the broadcast was set prior to the NFL releasing their 2009 television schedule.

The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards is being produced by Don Mischer Productions.

Nominations Ceremony Coming July 16

Nominations for the 61st Primetime Emmys will be announced July 16 at 5:40 a.m. (PT) from the Academy's Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood.

The intro to the list:

2009 Emmy Awards: Full List of Submissions For Nomination

Posted on June 4th, 2009 1:26 PM by Dr. Shepherd
Filed under: Emmy Awards

Below is a list of the drama and comedy shows, stars, and guest stars who have been submitted for consideration in the 2009 Prime Time Emmy Awards, coming this fall.

Some submissions, obviously, are more likely to receive voter love than others. Who do you think stands the best chance of being nominated in each of these categories?

Follow the jump for the list of nominees, and share your thoughts ...

Thanks again to Carol! To read the complete list, which includes Max Von Sydow and Henry Cavill in the Supporting Actor category along with James, please go to TV Fanatic.

To see more clips from this mini-series, go here - Pilot Season. Thanks again Tilly!

The following is a brief look into the passionate and gripping Season Three finale of The Tudors. Henry is onto new women and being talked into lies about Cromwell, his Lord Great Chamberlain. In this video provided by Showtime, Thomas Cromwell is condemned as a traitor and thrown behind bars in the Tower of London.

With the final scenes still seared into our Cromwell lovin' heads, we find that the whole of Season 3 is being offered for pre-order at Amazon in the United States. Word is that it will be released sometime in the winter of 2009. So, before Cromwell fades in our memories {as if!} along with the (many) previously beheaded, we have the chance to make a spot on a shelf for this season's DVD and await it's arrival!

From Amazon.com:

The Tudors: Season 3

Series: The Tudors Format: DVD
List Price: $42.99
Price: $27.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. You Save: $15.00 (35%) Pre-order Price Guarantee.
This title has not yet been released. You may pre-order it now and we will deliver it to you when it arrives. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

from Creators .com:
Thursday May 14, 2009

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW: "The Tudors" star James Frain says although he loves stepping in the shoes of King Henry VIII's advisor, Thomas Cromwell, on the Showtime series, he's excited about getting the opportunity to work on a project his kids can enjoy.

"I'm about to go off to shoot this Disney movie 'Tron.' It's lots of effects and cool stuff like that, so I'm looking forward to that. The only thing is, I'm not allowed to really talk about it. They're all so super secretive now," he notes. "I also have a De Niro movie coming out, though I was only on it for a few days," he says of the movie "Everybody's Fine." "That was like working with the king. That's the real king."

From what Carol has been able to find out on the Internet Movie Database, "Tron" is a sequel to the 1982 Jeff Bridges film of the same name. It's currently filming in Vancouver and a 2011 release is planned. Jeff Bridges stars once again, and Michael Sheen is rumored to be involved. Although, as James Frain says, Disney is being very secretive, there are lots of articles (57 so far!) to read about the project on the News page for the original film on the Internet Movie Database. The IMDb page for the film is here - TRON 2.0

A teaser trailer was shown at the LA Comic Con in October last year and there are some less than stellar quality versions uploaded on You Tube, for those interested in going there. With the film trend these days in sequels becoming franchises, would it be too much to hope that TR2N could become TR3N, TR4N and even TR5N? Of course, with James Frain's penchant for dying on screen, he most likely won't make it past the first sequel! At any rate, what a treat this should be! Something fun for all of us kiddies! Here's hoping that he has a bit more screentime than it seems he'll have on "Everybody's Fine."

Thanks to Carol and Teri for the sleuthing!

Our biggest enjoyment at the moment is the playing out of this third season of "The Tudors." Though the show is now confirmed to run a fourth season, we know this will be Cromwell's last. His portrayal of Thomas Cromwell, Lord Great Chamberlain and Earl of Essex, right hand man to King Henry has no doubt consumed his professional attention. In this season of the series we will see Cromwell rise to his highest, followed soon after by a very dramatic fall. With everything we've seen thus far, we expect to see a truly outstanding performance from James Frain in a programme that has had no shortage of amazing performances.

Thanks to Teri we have some insight into Cromwell's last days from a Tudors extra (with photos) which has appeared on the wonderful website Tudors Wiki. (Click on the link and scroll down towards the bottom of the gallery.) This photo is one of a number taken by an extra on the day of Cromwell's demise. She said of the experience, "...two day's work resulted in possibly the greatest piece of acting I have ever had the pleasure to not only witness, but be a part off, James Frain (Cromwell) was given a standing ovation for his work over the last few days...for those who enjoy the history, you will understand...his end was historically correct...I am so very proud to have been a tiny part of it...." This certainly has us on the edge of our collective seats at AJF!!

Another snippet from a Wiki thread asking for behind-the-scenes stories had one extra telling tales on James Frain - "...the actor who plays Thomas Cromwell is a wired one (once was mimicking what the executive producer said to us: 'You arent paying him enough respect. You must give him more respect by bowing more...' Cromwell (actor): (in a screeching womens voice, even though the producer wasn't a woman) 'Yes! you arent giving me enough respect!' )." Hey, those are long days those folks put in.

Teri and Lucy have pointed out another small tribute to James Frain's portrayal of Cromwell in Season Two of The Tudors from a very sensible online journal - Gerri Leen, A Writer Gets Connected. In an entry entitled Upcoming TV Shows, DVD Reviews she writes, "The most fascinating character to me is James Frain's Cromwell. So often Cromwell's played merely as an ambitious slug, and Frain brings so much dimension to the man; even when the script doesn't give him room, he finds a way to show something more in his eyes." Hear, hear! Well said Gerri Leen!

Scroll on down for more Tudors news (also added to our Tudors page) about Season Three of Showtime's best guilty pleasure.

from The National Ledger - An Ecclectic Mix:

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith
May 6, 2009

James Frain, who stars alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers in "The Tudors," believes the show may be about historical figures from the 1500s, but it's a lot more relatable to modern day people than some would assume. Then of course when you add the cable TV twists, it becomes a lot spicier on screen than in our history books.

"What they're doing with this show is shaking up history a bit and adding this pop angle to it in a way that we can relate to these people being like us. They're finding the connections between their world and our world," notes Frain, who portrays the controversial Thomas Cromwell. "We were looking for parallels as a way of recreating the feeling of the court rather than portray the exact look of it. Sometimes if you try and do it completely accurately to the actual look and the flavor of the history, it distances you because there are lots of things about our world that are very different."

One thing that won't keep audiences away is the hunky Meyers, who certainly knows how to heat things up as the powerful, promiscuous king. "Henry VII was the rock star of his time. That's part of what Johnny's performance is all about -- creating what an equivalent character would be like today," says Frain. "These people are driven by the same things we are driven by. Like we are sexual, they were driven by passion and were confused about ideas of the world and religion and how the world should be run, what they are prepared to die for and kill for. It just goes to show human nature hasn't changed that much."

We're not entirely sure why this wee interview is refered to as " The Videoland View" but never mind, we are always happy to hear from James Frain!

From Monsters & Critics.com:

Smallscreen News

By April MacIntyre
Apr 14, 2009, 5:17 GMT

Fans of period drama "The Tudors" can revel in season three, with the knowledge that a guaranteed season four in the wings.

Showtime will bring the series back for a fourth and final season.

Season two of "The Tudors" exceeded the first with more compelling storylines and building court drama. Season three sees a less vital and increasingly impatient King Henry grow tired of Anne Boleyn's replacement, Lady Jane.

The second season was defined by the unraveling of the Catholic Church and rise of Thomas Cromwell's (James Frain) power and influence; it was Cromwell, a cunning self-educated man, who was an architect of the Reformation movement in England with the introduction of religious leader Thomas Cranmer to King Henry VIII's (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) court.

These actions are the frame for Henry's courtside politics and affairs of love in season two, like season one, are a clever blend of actual history and creative commissioned entertainment at the hand of show creator and writer, Michael Hirst.

The cast and crew worked their magic at Ardmore Studios, near Dublin. The crew remains the same - and this season you will again truly appreciate the outstanding achievements of Emmy award winning costume designer Joan Bergin, who took the honor in 2007 for her exemplary work on "The Tudors."

Her craftsmanship abounds in the gowns and adornments for Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer) which are breathtaking. Boleyn had 17 major costumes along with jewels, shoes and headpieces and all these were handmade from scratch.

Bergin's eye captured the smallest details of the commoners and various court denizens. "I did a lot of research into Spanish and Italian fashion from the period. I've amalgamated Tudor style with more European influences, so overall the look is softer. ..This season we've created in the region of 1500 costume pieces," revealed Bergin. Cromwell's construction of a new religious order with Henry as ordained King and leader of the Church has drained all the once powerful Bishops and Cardinals dry, even the Pope's (Peter O'Toole) terse edicts of excommunication are to no avail.

OToole's callous and smug portrayal of Pope Paul III, a historically noted morally challenged leader, gives insight to the brewing resentments over the Catholic Church's critical mass of corruption thus bearing the rise of Protestant leaders and the Reformation itself.

It was the polarizing character of Anne Boleyn that unites the sub-plots and overall driving action of season two. Henry's lust gives way to his will, the Church is broken. Boleyn is now the wife and the scorn of the people who still regard Katherine of Aragon as the rightful Queen.

Boleyn's seductress charms and well-played arsenal of feminine wiles come back to haunt her; the court beauties still seduced her willing King of enormous appetites. Anne has come full circle, bears the scars and pays an ultimate price. "She's on the knife's edge through the season," explained Natalie Dormer of her character. "The stakes just get higher and higher, there is no Plan B for Anne. ..it's like 'be careful what you wish for."

There was so much to savor for season two of "The Tudors"; the performances were all keenly delivered and nearly upstage the immensely talented Irish star of the series, Rhys Meyers, with their well-written and enacted ensemble work. Notable moments were made by Natalie Dormer, Nick Dunning, Jeremy Northam, James Frain and Peter O'Toole in pivotal scenes.

The series also features stunning camera work by cinematographer Ousama Rawi and production design by Tom Conroy, who opened up the sets in this season and updated the interiors to reflect the ten years that supposedly passes between the seasons.

"There is more of a Renaissance feel to the decor and, of course, more shields and war mementos on the wall," shared Conroy. "I've also been over to England looking at the details of various National Trust Houses. For instance, I saw a basement window in Devon which I used as a tower dungeon window."

In one of the more visually arresting scenes, Conroy had to recreate a giant copper boiling pot where one unlucky cast member meets his fate. "We were looking for a large pot, but there wasn't any of a sufficient size around so we had to commission it," revealed Conroy.

"It's copper, but cleverly done to reduce the weight. We lit a fire under it and set up an elaborate pulley system for the actor to be lowered into the boiling oil, which of course was water with starch in it to create air bubbles. It was very effective."

Now, season three of The Tudors is in full-swing on Showtime.

Showtime has announced it will renew historical drama series "The Tudors" for a fourth and final season, according to Variety.

The 10-episode season will debut in the spring of 2010.

Series creator and executive producer Michael Hirst will also be back to write each episode, which will conclude the saga of King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and chronicle his final two marriages and subsequent mental instability.

The Tudors is one of the network's top-rated series, with the third season's April 5 premiere netting a cumulative total of 1.3 million viewers.

So, a fourth (and Frain-less) season of The Tudors is now confirmed. I have been assured by a number of James Frain fans that this final season holds no interest for them. To each their own!

I for one wouldn't mind seeing how the Tudor Hirst-ory plays out. After all, there are more heads to lop off, more wives to marry. All of this to see knowing the delicious irony that this male-heir obsessed monarch will be followed in line by his three legitimate children, Edward, Mary and his youngest Elizabeth, Anne Bolelyn's solitary contribution to the royal lineage. A mere girl, disregarded most of her young life - to follow her father in the longest royal reign until modern times. Talk about Tudor Girl Power!

We found this charming and interesting press release dated 24 March, 2009 from up and coming media studio . There may be something lost in the translation, but it seems Mr. Frain did some recent work at Graffitti Studio in Bulgaria. The following is the press release as it appears on their website:

The synopsis of the film as reported on FILM SCHOOL REJECTS.com

For those out of the know, the story is one of a widower who decides to visit each of his five children. Each of their lives turns out to be dramatically different from what he'd envisioned, and it reflects in his own life and in his marriage. It's about a man gaining true perspective late in life.

from Dark Horizons news:

Everybody's Fine

The Miramax comedy starring Robert DeNiro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore, and Sam Rockwell will come out November 20th 2009.

As Teri says, "The producers must have faith in the film if it's getting a holiday release." Thanks Teri for passing on this info! James Frain has a small role in the film as a character named "Tom."

Love that title! A wee find from our Carol:

Here's a tiny bit from The Stamford (CT) Advocate online regarding "Everybody's Fine," the film that James Frain appears in with Robert DeNiro. Glad to read that it's still targeted for release this year!

The Dish: De Niro returns for one more scene

Susie Costaregni

Posted: 03/14/2009 11:06:11 PM EDT
Updated: 03/15/2009 12:57:25 AM EDT

Scene . . . Robert De Niro was back in Stamford recently, filming a scene in front of Nobu Florist of Stamford on Main Street for his new flick "Everybody's Fine," which also stars Drew Barrymore and Kate Beckinsale. Most of the filming took place in Stamford last summer. Owner Margaret Cluceru chatted with De Niro. The movie is scheduled to be released this year.

That's right, a free Online peek of the seasons first episode! We have it embedded on our TUDORS page, or better yet, (for fullscreen possibilities) you can go to The TUDORS VIP. You may need to register to become a "VIP insider," and when prompted, the password for viewing is "king"

The finds just keep on coming! Carol found this spoiler alert of Season Three at - where else? - SPOILER TV.com:

The Tudors - Season 3 - Production Notes

THE TUDORS returns for Season 3 on SHOWTIME April 5, 2009 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT). THE TUDORS covers a short but turbulent period in the life of Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), the most notorious sovereign England has ever had.

As we start the third season, Henry is 27 years into his reign. He is at the height of his political power, but he's beset by difficulties – both personal and professional. On the political front, the ever-vulnerable Tudor Dynasty comes under threat from within. In the north of England, a make-shift army of 'Pilgrims of Grace' rise in revolt at the severity of the Reformation. In suppressing the revolution, Henry displays all his complexity as a ruler -- willing to listen but fearless to ruthlessly extinguish dissent. This period also sees the rise and dramatic fall of Sir Thomas Cromwell (James Frain), Architect of the Reformation....

...To read more, we invite you to go to the source - Spoiler TV - The Tudors - Season 3 - Production Notes Posted by DarkUFO at Wednesday, March 18, 2009

source - Showtime

This preview of Season 3 is from the excellent blog of one of our favorite Tudors fans -

Friday, March 13, 2009

The Tudors returns for its third season on Showtime early next month. I've seen the first two episodes - thanks to a preview copy from Showtime - and the series looks to be as wonderful as ever, just the mix of hard history and sweet flesh we've come to expect from this drama about one of the most important eras in our past, a time when our British ancestors clawed and fought and loved their way into the modern age.

What's most new about this season is Jane Seymour, now Queen, and now played by Annabelle Wallis (Jane was played last year by Anita Briem). I like Annabelle's performance much more than Anita's, whose Jane was bland. Annabelle has a soft, engaging power, and reminds me, in terms of accent and looks, of Princess Diana.

There are other powerful performances. James Frain returns with a superb rendition of Thomas Cromwell, Alan Van Sprang is new in the court as the feisty, piratical Sir Francis Bryan, and Max Von Sydow and his expressive face is in Rome as Cardinal von Waldberg. Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII and Henry Cavill as Charles Brandon are as good as they've been, too - which is to say, quite good.

And there are some fine ladies in court. Look for Charlotte Salt as Lady Ursula Misselden, and an outstanding nude scene, which made me glad that the FCC has not yet expanded its repressive rule to cable.

Censorship and the struggle for democracy is also very much in the air on The Tudors, where rebellion and religious intolerance serve as midwives to our ways of life. I'll be back with more after the season gets under way in April.

As Carol says - "Powerful"...."superb" -- nice words for James Frain's performance! And thank you Carol for the find!

Every so often it pays to roam around the superhighway looking for new Frain stops. We've just found this terrific video highlighting the troubled Julius Folyat from BBC's min-series "The Buccaneers" set appropriately to Coldplay's song "Clocks." For anyone having seen James Frain in this outstanding early role, his character was obsessed with clocks and trying to keep the Victorian order of the day. The video maker has made the video sympathetic to Julius's character's point of view. I know Teri will be pleased.

The following two videos are from What Rats Won't Do, the first is the trailer, the second features Bill Thomas in a very funny cricket scene, with James in it briefly. Someday, it would be glorious if this adorable film would show up on DVD, dontcha think??

This video is dedicated to the twisted tale of poor Paul Raines, man-done-wrong by Jack and Audrey on season 4 of "24." It was a roller coaster ride and a great role for Mr. Frain. It's set to Rhianna's song "Unfaithful."

This last video is a montage of the television mini-series "Spartacus" from 2004 in which James plays the slave/gladiator David. There is only a glance of him, but it's still worth a peek. The video is set to music by the beautiful English group "Mediaeval Baebes" with the song "Salva Nos."

Hi all. Thanks to a number of emails, we have belatedly learned that James has popped up on the new Sci-Fi series in the States on the Fox channel. The new series stars Joshua Jackson and is called "Fringe." The synopsis of the episode according to the YouTube clip below including Mr. Frain is as follows:

The team is called in to investigate a bank robbery when one of the thieves is found embedded in a solid wall. Walter believes they're after something of his, but things take a turn for the worse when the thieves ambush one of them.

After a series of mysterious bank robberies, a suspect is found embedded into a wall, causing Walter to realize that they have not only found a way to literally walk through walls, but are looking for something he's made in the past.

While investigating a string of bank robberies, Olivia, Walter and Peter find one of the suspects trapped inside a vault as if the wall had solidified around him, leading them to believe that a group of thieves has found a way to defy the laws of physics.

The episode recap below includes James' appearance, but WARNING - some of this is a bit gruesome.

To watch the whole video of this episode, you can go to either of these pages:

FOX CHANNEL - FRINGE home.

IMDb - FRINGE, SEASON 1, EPISODE 10 - SAFE.

By the way, the episode title is "Safe." Guess who's not? We do think it's safe to say that this is only a guest performance for James. Of course, this is science fiction...

Fun stuff. Gruesome, but fun. Thanks to all for the info, emails and links - Carol, Lucy, Theresa, Snippet, Google, etc. Cheers.

This article appears in various Canadian news sites, published July 22, 2008

The Tudors will not last as long as Henry VIII had wives - six seasons, or one season for each wife - but it will come close.

The Tudors will likely last four seasons, Robert Greenblatt, entertainment president of the U.S. pay-TV channel Showtime said over the weekend.

The Tudors' second season concluded on Showtime last month, and will air on CBC-TV in the fall. Last week, the sprawling historical saga that stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the 16th century King of England earned a pair of Emmy nominations, for its casting and costumes. CBC is one of The Tudors international co-producers.

Henry VIII had six wives. They were, in order, Catherine of Aragon (annulled), Anne Boleyn (executed), Jane Seymour (died after giving birth to Henry's son), Anne of Cleves (annulled), Katherine Howard (executed), and Catherine Parr (outlived Henry).

"As we know, the wives are limited," Greenblatt said. "The first two seasons we did featured a wife per season, but the story will accelerate a little bit after that. The third season will be the next two, Anne of Cleves and Jane Seymour."

That would be Jane Seymour, the historical figure, and not Jane Seymour the actress.

"I love meeting people who think Jane Seymour, the actress, is in the show," Greenblatt said. "They know nothing about history." The final season, Greenblatt said, "will be the final two wives."

from TV Shows On DVD.com:

Posted by David Lambert
9/22/2008

The Tudors presents the rarely dramatized, tumultuous early years of King Henry VIII's nearly 40 year, omnipotent reign (1509-1547). In addition to his famous female consorts and 20+ year marriage to Catherine of Aragon to the infamous dalliance with Anne Boleyn, the series delves in to Henry's most notable political relationship, and the deconstruction of the Roman Catholic Church in England. Several weeks ago we reported that The Tudors - The Complete 2nd Season is coming to DVD on December 30th; our information came from an early pre-order listing at Amazon.

This morning Showtime and Paramount Home Entertainment officially announced the release, confirming the provided date. The set, running 542 minutes long for 10 episodes, will come with Widescreen video, and audio available in English 5.1, English 2.0 and Spanish Mono (the same as the first season set). Package art and extras, if any, aren't available yet, but stay tuned and we'll update you when more is available.

Thanks Carol for bringing this to our attention!

Posted: Tue., Aug. 5, 2008, 6:42pm PT
from Variety:

By DANIEL FRANKEL

Max von Sydow joins 'The Tudors'

Actor to appear in four episodes of third season

Max von Sydow has been added to the cast of "The Tudors" for the Showtime series' third season.

Von Sydow will play Cardinal Von Waldburg, a German-born clergyman who tries to organize the defeat of Henry VIII (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers).

Von Sydow will be seen in four of the eight season-three episodes of "The Tudors," a Canadian-Irish co-production that's filming in Dublin. The third season of the series will bow next year on Showtime.

Other recent additions to the skein include British singer Joss Stone, who will play Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.

Thanks to "Snippet," we have learned that for fans in the United States, this episode (and all others) of Law & Order: CI is available to download through Amazon.com for the nominal price of $1.99. The link to the Season 7 download purchase page is here - Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Season 7. Here are the details and link to the episode with the lovely James Frain:

17. Vanishing Act, Jul 20, 2008

When celebrity illusionist Miles Stone disappears from his own stunt, Goren and Eames must explore the exclusive and very secretive world of magic and magicians in order to unravel the mystery. Christopher Lloyd (& James Frain) guest star.

Original Air Date July 20, 2008, Runtime 43 minutes.

Great news for Frain fans, we enjoyed some fresh Frain fare this month! It seems that just before heading off to Ardmore Studio in Dublin to become Thomas Cromwell again, James Frain fit in a guest appearance on the 7th season of the television series "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." Thanks to the sluethful Teri, we discovered that he could be seen on July 20, 2008 in the U.S. in episode # 17 which is entitled "Vanishing Act."

James played magican Dean Holiday. His character description reads:

"Internationally known magican. Charming and charismatic. Threatened by the popularity and style of Miles Stone, a young magican who has turned his back on traditional tricks in favor of extreme tests of his own endurance. When Stone's latest spectacle goes horribly awry, he is questioned by Goren and Eames (Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe) about his familiarity with Stone and his work."
(source - Fansite - The Reel Vincent D'Onofrio.com)

So, goody goody. We didn't have to wait until the next Tudors or (heaven help us) another cable showing of "Into the Blue" to get our newest Frain fix.  Dean Holiday, charming and charismatic.  Sounds good to us.

Thanks Teri!!

The premiere of this second series/season of the programme is upon us on BBC 2 Friday, 1 August at either 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM depending on where you read! By the way, we've heard that CBC in Canada is currently replaying season one of The Tudors while Canadian viewers await season two in the fall.

The 9:00 PM UK time is suggested by television listings for The Tudors at Digi-Guide.com. Everyone seems agreed on BBC 2 being the channel, and we have in fact confirmed the time online at the BBC @ TV listings page -BBC TWO, WHAT'S ON. So, 9 PM it is. At 8:00, you can enjoy a lovely hour of Gardeners' World.

The 8:00 PM time we read online at the UK-TV Guide site along with the following article:

Divorce Tudor-style

The Tudors
BBC 2 at 8:00pm

The lavish historical drama - which takes a fresh look at the life of Henry VIII - returns for a second series. In the opener, divorce Tudor-style is imminent.

As the Catholic Church struggles in vain to control the demands for an annulment by Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), the King appoints himself head of the Church of England. A cook is blackmailed into poisoning a high-ranking bishop; then boiled alive for his crime.

When Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer) insists Henry break all contacts with Katherine of Aragon (Maria Doyle-Kennedy), the noble Queen is banished from court.

The Reformation has begun...

With the third installment of Michael Hirst's vision of Henry VIII's days of infamy being filmed just outside of Dublin this summer, it's no surprise that a few court characters should pop up on the streets. Pictured here on June 19, 2008, are Henry Cavill and James Frain, Tudors veterans flanking actress Charlotte Salt -- who was rumoured to be playing wife #4, Anne of Cleves, but we now hear a whisper that she will be Lady Ursula Misseldon, merely another Henry conquest.

We know that James Frain's Cromwell is safe from our overwrought Henry's overworked chopping block until she shows up, so yes, Cromwell's days are now numbered. Could that be why Mr. Frain isn't beaming his usual lovely smile? Then again, this Anne's days as Queen are also numbered. I guess only Mr. Cavill is owning that somewhat smug smile well.

We wish them all a happy shoot and are keeping fingers crossed hoping that filming won't need to be compromised by a SAG strike.

*note from webmaster: Our "news" here at AJF is fast becoming the next Doctor Who rumour digest - or "WHO's CLUES" (thanks Carol!), with James Frain being thrown into the mix. Thanks to all from our crack AJF research team who keep finding these bits all over the web!

We have no idea what to make of this current Web rumour, but it's an intriguing idea and this first is a lovely article from the Herts and Essex Observer. The graphic tease is our own creation.

November 13, 2008
By Web Reporter

A BOOKMAKER is taking bets on a Hollywood star from Bishop's Stortford becoming the next Doctor Who - and the Observer is backing him all the way!

James Frain's odds have shortened from 40-1 to 20-1 amid internet speculation that he has been approached to become the next Time Lord.

Intriguingly, an addition to the 40-year-old dark and brooding actor's Wikipedia page - made just after David Tennant's shock decision to quit the hit BBC show - indicated the star, who stole the show in a 1970s nativity play at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Great Hadham Road, Bishop's Stortford, had already accepted the part - but the entry has since been removed.

Former classmate and James's first leading lady, Observer chief reporter Sinead Holland, said: "James was so clever he skipped a school year and was still the smartest kid in the form.

"In our last year at St Joseph's we performed an alternative nativity called The Shepherd's Story and James was the lead. I played his nagging wife and at one point I had to chase him around the stage, threatening to beat him with a shillelagh, a traditional Irish club. I'd like to think the Cybermen and Daleks would hold no fears for him after that."

Mary Jackson, his A-level English teacher at Newport Free Grammar School, hoped a plum role and prime-time exposure in the UK would confirm the fame he has already secured in the United States.

She remembered the talented and artistic student, who was the eldest of eight children born to stockbroker dad Paul and teacher mum Geraldine, and has followed his career with interest.

The former Miss Muncie had just started teaching when she tutored James, who had been brought up in Stansted before the family moved briefly to Leeds and then back to Bishop's Stortford. She said: "James was a very good student, very intelligent and hard-working."

Mrs. Jackson said James, who is now married to American dancer and writer Marta Cunningham, was greatly influenced by drama and English teacher Richard Kitchen and worked with him, researching, writing and performing a play about a Thaxted vicar.

He went on to study English and drama at the Univer-sity of East Anglia in Norwich before graduating from London's Central School of Speech and Drama, where he was discovered by Sir Richard Attenborough, who cast him in the film Shadowlands in 1993.

He has since starred in movies such as Elizabeth, Hilary and Jackie and Where the Heart Is, where he played opposite Natalie Portman, and secured roles in high-profile TV series 24, The Tudors and Law and Order: Criminal Intent, as well as giving acclaimed stage performances - including most recently The Homecoming on Broadway.

Mrs. Jackson was intrigued by the idea that he could be the next Doctor: "I think it would be great. Although he has had a lot of very good parts, he has not yet had such a big role over here. It would be lovely to see him do something so much in the public eye - and have all his hard work rewarded."

Bookmaker Paddy Power has David Morrissey as 2-1 favourite for the role. An announcement is expected next year.

So, even with his odds improving James is currently a long shot, but it's lovely to see him amidst the gossip! We here at AJF, along with his old hometown newspaper think he would be a brilliant Doctor Who, of course. It's also wonderful to read about his early forays into acting, a thing which seems to have come naturally to him. And it's somehow little surprise to hear that he was a good, hard working student. Could there be a Frain Time Lord in our future? Only time will tell.

And now for something not completely different:

from kaster borous.com:

Is this the 11th Doctor?

November 14, 2008
Christian Cawley

(UPDATED) Not well-known, a rising star, accomplished stage and TV character actor - sounds like David Tennant in 2005, doesn't it?

It is in fact a description of James Frain, the British actor who bears a passing resemblance to new showrunner Steven Moffat - and Frain has seen his odds slashed from 40-1 to 20-1 in the past week.

Of particular interest is James Frain's Wikipedia entry - now amended - is the statement that indicated the star had already accepted the role.

This of course goes against the accepted schedule and shortlisting process, but nevertheless Frain makes an interesting candidate, far more than say Colin Salmon or Marc Warren.

He's appeared in shows on both sides of the Atlantic, including 24 and The Tudors in which he played historical figure Thomas Cromwell.

Meanwhile, proponents of a black Doctor have been getting behind rumours of Chiwetel Ejiofor being shortlisted for the part. The Stage have given that particular concept some publicity this week, noting that:

Ejiofor's stunning, Oliver Award-winning turn as Othello at the Donmar last year also displays what I would call the necessary classical gravitas that playing the Doctor requires. I'm not saying I want an actor who will orate to the back of the Tardis, but somebody with.. presence. Tennant has shown this quality is necessary to be successful (and most of the other Doctors had it) in the role. You cast somebody in this role without presence at your peril (I refer my learned friends once more to Tom Ellis - being married to Tamzin Outhwaite just isn't enough I'm afraid…)

You just cannot argue with logic like that.

~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~

Aside from the "not well-known" comment [we think he's well-known], we are just loving this web chitter chatter on our favorite actor! As our good friend Jan comments,

We can but hope that the 'Powers That Be' persuade themselves that the new Doctor can be a man with dark curly hair, a killer walk and a voice that's chocolate to the soul. Would that I could be his Assistant.

Indeed.

And if you'd like to keep abreast of the ongoing new Dr. Who speculations, we suggest you visit the comment board at one of the fastest growing Doctor Who fansites Who vianNet.co.uk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

from the Online edition of the Norwich Evening News, another "local" paper of James Frain's past:

Could former city man be next Dr Who?

Former Norwich student James Frain has been tipped to become the next Doctor Who.

DAN GRIMMER
15 November 2008 07:00

James who you might well ask, but former Norwich student James Frain has been tipped to become the next Doctor Who.

The ex-University of East Anglia student's odds have shortened from 40-1 to 20-1 amid internet speculation that he has been approached to become the next Time Lord.

An addition to the 40-year-old actor's Wikipedia page - made just after David Tennant's shock decision to quit the hit BBC show - indicated the star, had already accepted the part - but the entry has since been removed.

Frain, who has starred in films such as Elizabeth, Hilary and Jackie and Where The Heart Is, along with television shows 24, The Tudors and Law and Order: Criminal Intent, studied English and drama at the UEA from 1987-1990.

He graduated with a first class degree honour in Drama Studies and went on to study at the Central School of Drama in London.

His tutor at the university, Jon Hyde, said James had always stood out in the class and was the perfect character to take over the role of the doctor.

He said: "He was a very rare combination of person, we always knew he was going to do well, he had a lot of talent as an actor, a very vivid imagination but was also very good academically as well as with the practical side of things.

"He was in a very good year of pupils, many of whom graduated with first class degrees. Lots of the people he worked with have gone on to be producers and directors in London."

He also revealed James had been one of the first students to perform at the Waterfront Venue when it was first opened in the late 1980s as a new a music venue.

He said one of James's key dramatic roles had been as starring in the film, Shadowlands alongside Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, playing a student who was taken under Hopkins' wing.

Mr Hyde said: "I think James would make a brilliant Doctor Who. The character is funny, witty, intelligent and handsome, all of which James is as well. We would be really pleased to see him up there in such a key role."

Bookmaker Paddy Power has David Morrissey as 2-1 favourite for the role. An announcement is expected next year.

Others in line for the role include James McAvoy 6/1, John Simm or Rhys Ifans 8/1, Anthony Head 12/1, Alan Davies, Jason Statham at 14/1 and even Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, 25/1. The odds are 20/1 the next doctor will be female.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

from the blog - Studio Living:

Yes, yes. After the not-particularly-surprising announcement that David Tennant's leaving Doctor Who after the 2009 specials the speculation about who'll replace him is getting ridiculous. All you have to do is mention a name and "Doctor Who" in the same sentence and some idiot will write an article about it (see: Billie Piper, the guy who played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter, Colin Salmon, the inevitable James Nesbitt rumour, Paul McGann). Apparently having already been in the series playing another major character, playing an earlier incarnation of the Doctor, or just saying 'Not interested thanks' is enough to get an article written. It's as though there isn't enough to fill papers, what with the economic crisis, Congo, social security procedures, a new American president...

(By the way, if you're interested in keeping a bemused eye on the latest frantic guesses then Medium Rob's blog is the place for you.)

However, amongst the more outlandish claims are a few that sound intriguing. The sight of David Morrissey in the trailer for the Christmas special had me making squeaky noises of pleasure back in the summer. I have loved that man ever since The Deal, and the prospect of him actually being the 11th Doctor was genuinely exciting. See, the Christmas special is called "The Next Doctor", and we knew Morrissey was playing a character called The Doctor and claiming to be a Time Lord...

So balls to the two minute sneak-preview on Children in Need last night, which made utterly certain to spoil any kind of suspense for Christmas. Morrissey isn't Eleven; he doesn't recognise David Tennant's Doctor and is clearly basing his performance on David Tennant so we can presume he's playing a con artist pretending to be Ten. Probably along the lines of Captain Jack's original appearance, the con artist who gets redeemed through contact with the Doctor and turns out to be a thoroughly decent chap deep down. And if that weren't unoriginal enough, the fans who buy the audio plays say there seems to be a big similarity to an audio Colin Baker story. Ho hum. When's Steven Moffat taking over again?

If anyone hasn't seen it yet (and watch at the end, where David Morrissey and David Tennant glance at each other out of the corner of their eyes in perfect unison. I love these guys), here's the clip:

If I can just be hypocritical for a moment though... I want to indulge my own wee gossip mongering. While Liz thinks Andrew Buchan would make an excellent Doctor - nobody's mentioned him, she just thinks he'd be good - I saw some speculation about James Frain. Clearly, we know that papers are filling space by printing any name that happens to pop into journos' brains, but I think James Frain would be bloody marvellous. He's been playing Thomas Cromwell in The Tudors (my idea of trash TV) and I reckon he has just the right mix of gravitas and levity to be an excellent Doctor. He's old enough to be a change from Tennant's baby facedness but young enough to be able to handle the running and jumping. He's got a low enough profile to be accepted as the Doctor by young fans. And, he's not in the Tennant heartthrob mould so we might be able to move away from all those tedious 'assistant falls in love with the Doctor' stories. Since The Tudors is currently shooting the Jane Seymour / Anne of Cleves periods, any history buff can tell you he's about to become commitment-free...