Karen Gillan burst onto TV screens last year as feisty companion, Amy Pond, and immediately secured her place in Doctor Who broadcasting history which has been an integral part of British culture since the Sixties. Returning for her second series aboard the TARDIS, Karen reveals what lies in store for Amy, the naughty tricks her co-stars play on her and why she has a newfound passion for fencing.

“There were clues planted in the last series that are going to become major storylines in this one,” divulges a conspiratorial Karen Gillan; a revelation which is bound to have all “Whovians” avidly watching Series Five to spot what the Inverness-born actress is referring to.

“There’s a really interesting arc in this series that involves all of the major characters and it’s evident from the first episode that everyone on the TARDIS is withholding secrets from one another,” continues Karen. “It makes for a fascinating dynamic between the characters and it’s incredibly important to the overall series.”

Karen also believes that Amy has more respect for her new husband Rory after his recent adventures. “I think Rory has perhaps developed the most out of all the characters,” explains Karen. “By the end of last series he became a Roman Centurion hero and he had changed a lot; it felt like he had earned his place in the TARDIS. In fact, it’s hard for me to imagine the TARDIS without him now!”

But has married life changed Amy Pond? Karen quickly sweeps that concern out of the way exclaiming: “if anything she is even more Amy Pondish! I don’t think it would work for Amy to completely change now that she’s a married woman and I certainly don’t think she should become a subdued version of herself. However, I do think being married has helped to define the Doctor and Amy’s relationship and I can reveal that something takes place this series which makes Amy see Rory in a new light…” teases the actress.

While the majority of filming for Doctor Who usually takes place in Cardiff, the cast found themselves in the middle of the desert in Utah last November to film scenes for the opening two-parter. “The new series starts with a real bang,” exclaims Karen. “Filming in Utah was so much fun and I spent a lot of time running around the desert; the scenery was amazing and simply wouldn’t have looked the same if we had filmed it in Cardiff against a green screen. The desert backdrop really gives the opening two episodes an epic feel.”

However, it wasn’t all fun for the actors as temperatures plunged below freezing at night and then they had to battle searing temperatures during the day. “We were all ‘thermaled’ up and I had on two pairs of trousers and four tops! Then the sun would come up making it blistering hot and we’d all peel off the layers,” laughs Karen.

But despite the elements, Karen enjoyed being reunited with Alex Kingston who plays enigma River Song. “Alex is so much fun to have around,” reveals Karen. “She makes the TARDIS team feel complete.”

But the question on viewers’ lips is: “will we find out who River Song actually is?”

“The ending of this first set of episodes has been hidden from everyone!” laughs Karen. “Even I got given a dummy ending to episode seven and it was only at the read-through that Steven Moffat took me, Matt and Arthur into the corridor to read the proper version on his laptop. We then all paced around going, ‘oh my God!’. It’s brilliant and viewers will just have to tune in to find out more. It certainly provides a fantastic cliff-hanger to see us through until the autumn.”

Karen also reveals that this series is set to be the scariest yet with the debut of a number of new monsters. “Ooh, in particular I think The Silence, which are the new monsters in the opening two episodes, actually rival the Weeping Angels in terms of scariness and they look disgusting!” says Karen, screwing up her face in revulsion. “The concept behind them is ingenious because it feels like they are undefeatable, and this series also sees the return of some of the Doctor’s oldest foes, but with an interesting twist…”

A new series of Doctor Who wouldn’t be complete without a number of well known guest stars; Hugh Bonneville, Lily Cole, Suranne Jones and Marshall Lancaster are all billed in upcoming episodes.

“The great thing about this show is that it attracts big names and everyone who comes on set is so excited to be part of the Doctor Who experience,” explains Karen. “These actors could all be off doing other things but they choose to come on the show because they are either fans or their kids are, so it makes the whole experience enjoyable. For me, it’s also a wonderful experience to watch these people at work – it’s like an acting masterclass every episode.”

With each story set at different points in time and occasionally on alien planets, Amy Pond has certainly experienced a lot in her relatively short time on the TARDIS. But for Karen the episode that really stands out for her this series features Hugh Bonneville as a Pirate Captain in the 1600s. “I had a brilliant time filming this episode,” reveals Karen. “Swinging across a pirate ship was a particular highlight and I loved doing the sword fight. I’d never done anything like that before so I literally picked up the sword and started learning moves with a stunt guy – in fact I loved it so much that I actually want to take it up as a hobby! Luckily I caused no major injuries on set, although I did collide with Arthur at one point but that was his fault.”

It is clear that Karen has become firm friends with her co stars Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill and their chemistry certainly translates on screen. “We genuinely mess around all day,” confesses Karen, “but I think that works because as a viewer I’d like to see the Doctor, Amy and Rory having fun. Of course we are serious when we need to be, but in general we clown around between takes and I think that helps to create chemistry on screen.

“Matt has also taken to hiding in my trailer and I’ll go in, humming to myself, and then he’ll just jump out at me and shout”, giggles Karen. “The first time he did it was hilarious because he scared me so much that I fell backwards against the wall and slid down it! He also has an annoying habit of filming me when I fall asleep, while in make-up in the mornings, and it’s a hideous sight – I’m not going to lie!” continues Karen. “Arthur eggs him on and the pair of them gang up but don’t worry, I give as good as I get. Although it’s brilliant when Alex Kingston is around because she knows how to handle them!”

So with two mischievous lads and a number of monsters to deal with, both Karen and Amy Pond have a lot to contend with, but where would Karen go if she had sole control of the TARDIS? “The tundra,” she says, “no reason why! Just go with it!”

Karen Gillan and Matt Smith host Doctor Who extravaganzas this weekend: Saturday 24 July, 7.30pm-c9.30pm and Sunday 25 July, 11am-c1pm.

Doctor Who returns to the BBC Proms for two family spectaculars, bursting with Daleks, Weeping Angels and of course, the famous Tardis. The concerts will be hosted by stars from the current series – Karen Gillan (Amy Pond), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams) and special guest Matt Smith (The Doctor).

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, who record the soundtrack for the series, present a selection of intergalactic music – includingMurray Gold’s music from the TV show, plus a selection of classical favourites including Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, Mars from Holst’s The Planets and Orff’s Carmina Burnana.

Matt Smith says of the Doctor Who Proms: “Utterly nerve-wracking… I think that Murray Gold is incredible, totally incredibly – a genius – and to hear all that in the Royal Albert Hall will just be one of the most soaring experiences.”

More than 1,000 standing tickets are released on the day and families are encouraged to come along and Prom for £5. Seated tickets are now returns only.

Doctor Who first came to the Proms in 2008 and the concert dedicated to the hit series proved to be one of the hottest tickets that season. This year the concert returns not once, but twice, as part of the BBC Proms rich programme of family-friendly events throughout the 2010 season. The Proms Plus events on Saturday 24 July give families the opportunity to learn to play the Doctor Who music, and also to learn about the series from the behind-the-scenes staff.

The concert programme can be viewed on the Proms website, providing full details of the concert, the performers’ biographies and an interview with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan.

Live pictures will be available on the day.

Doctor Who Prom – Programme to include:

Murray Gold
Music from the Doctor Who series*

John Adams
Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Holst
The Planets – Mars

Orff
Carmina Burana – O Fortuna

Wagner
The Ride of the Valkyries

Karen Gillan – host
Matt Smith – host
London Philharmonic Choir
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
*Ben Foster – conductor
Grant Llewellyn – conductor

The Doctor Who Prom on Saturday 24 July is broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and recorded for broadcast in early September on BBC Threeand BBC HD. It is audio-streamed live via the BBC Proms website atbbc.co.uk/proms and available via the BBC iPlayer for on-demand listening for seven days after broadcast.

The BBC Proms is the world’s largest classical music festival, with more than 90 concerts – featuring many of the world’s greatest artists and orchestras – as well as a host of extra events including talks, workshops, free performances and family events.

The Proms runs until Saturday 11 September 2010, and full information on the season is available at bbc.co.uk/proms.

Doctor Who

Production starts today (Monday 12 July) on the 2010 Doctor Who BBC One Christmas Special in which the thrilling adventures of the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) and newlyweds Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) will continue in a fun-filled and heartfelt festive story.

In the grand tradition of Doctor Who Christmas specials, this year the show has once again attracted stellar guest stars as veteran actor Michael Gambon (Harry Potter, The Singing Detective) and opera diva Katherine Jenkins, in her first acting role, join the Time Lord for what might be his most Christmassy adventure yet!

Arriving on set for her first day of filming, Katherine Jenkins said: “I’m over the moon to be involved in the Doctor Who Christmas Special – I can’t quite believe it as it’s a part of the family tradition at the Jenkins household. I heard the news that I got the role on my 30th birthday and it was the best birthday present ever!”

About the series, lead writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat, commented: “Oh, we’re going for broke with this one. It’s all your favourite Christmas movies at once, in an hour, with monsters and the Doctor and a honeymoon and – oh, you’ll see. I’ve honestly never been so excited about writing anything. I was laughing madly as I typed along to Christmas songs in April. My neighbours loved it so much they all moved away and set up a website demanding my execution. But I’m fairly sure they did it ironically.”

The Christmas special follows on from Matt Smith’s first series as The Doctor, which attracted huge critical acclaim for Smith, his companion, Gillan, and lead writer Moffat, from press and legions of fans alike.

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, said: “Matt Smith and Karen Gillan captivated audiences in their debut series and Doctor Who’s clever twist on the much loved A Christmas Carol will thrill BBC One viewers this year with special guest stars Sir Michael Gambon and singing sensation Katherine Jenkins joining Amy and the Doctor for an unforgettable present!”

The series was co-commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning for BBC One, and Jay Hunt, Controller of BBC One. Steven Moffat is lead writer and executive producer with Piers Wenger and Beth Willis also executive producing.

The Doctor has gone and the Tardis has been

destroyed as Karen Gillan and Matt Smith star in The Big Bang

The Doctor is gone, the Tardis has been destroyed, and the universe is collapsing. The only hope for all reality is a little girl who still believes in stars, as this series of Doctor Who concludes with an episode written by Steven Moffat.

The Doctor is played by Matt Smith and Amy Pond by Karen Gillan.

Doctor Who is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s High Definition channel, available through Freesat 108, Freeview 50, Sky 143 and Virgin 108.

There’s a house on Aickman road, and a staircase that people go up, but never down, as the time-travelling drama continues.

To solve the mystery of the man upstairs, the Doctor faces his greatest challenge yet – he must pass himself off as a perfectly normal human being, and share a flat with Craig Owens.

The Doctor is played by Matt Smith, Amy Pond by Karen Gillan and Craig Owens by James Corden. This episode is written by Gareth Roberts.

Doctor Who is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s high definition channel, available through Freesat 108, Freeview 50, Sky 143 and Virgin 108.

Terror lurks in the cornfields of Provence, but only a sad and lonely painter can see it, as the time-travelling drama continues with an episode written by Richard Curtis.

Amy Pond finds herself shoulder to shoulder with Vincent Van Gogh, in a battle with a deadly alien.

The Doctor is played by Matt Smith and Amy by Karen Gillan.

Doctor Who is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s high definition channel, available through Freesat 108, Freeview 50, Sky 143 and Virgin 108.