Fourth Wizards Vs Aliens Adventure Title Revealed

Thursday, 1 November 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
Episodes 7 and 8 of the CBBC action adventure drama Wizards vs Aliens will together form the adventure Friend Or Foe.

In part one, Lexi adopts human form and transports to Earth, with one aim – to capture Tom Clarke. But both are unaware that a greater enemy is watching – scheming billionaire Stephanie Gaunt is determined to prove the existence of magic, and nothing can stand in her way.

In part two, with Tom and Lexi held prisoner by Gaunt, the wizards and aliens must learn to work together, but is the alliance doomed to fail? As Benny faces the terror of the Brain Scrape, Gaunt's plans begin to escalate – with magic and Nekross technology combined, she can rule the world!

Part one of the series' fourth adventure will air on Monday 19th November and part two on Tuesday 20th November, both at 5.15pm.





FILTER: - CBBC - Wizards Vs Aliens

Wizards Vs Aliens: Grazlax Attacks

Tuesday, 30 October 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
Pictures from Grazlax Attacks - the second adventure in the new CBBC series Wizards vs Aliens - have been released by the BBC today.



The two-part adventure, written by Phil Ford, will air on Monday 5th November and Tuesday 6th November at 5.15pm.

In part one, Tom's quiet Saturday at Benny's house becomes a thrilling fight for their lives when the vicious alien Grazlax hunts them down. The two boys must learn to fight together, combining Tom's magic with Benny's science, or the Nekross's savage pet will succeed – and devour them.

In part two, the Grazlax is out of control. But Tom has used up all of his magic, and Benny's scientific genius is useless against a creature from beyond the stars. It's a race against time for both humans and Nekross as the Grazlax menace grows – but will stopping the rampage leave any survivors at all?

Episodes 5 and 6 - which together form the adventure Rebel Magic, written by Joseph Lidster - are scheduled to air on Monday 12th November and Tuesday 13th November, again at 5.15pm.

In part one, when Tom meets another wizard called Jackson Hawke he can't resist dabbling in dangerous magic. Benny tries to warn him, to no avail, but all three lads are unaware of the Nekross getting closer and closer – and this time, alien Prince Varg is determined to make it personal.

In part two, Tom and Jackson take the fight to the Nekross, but their forbidden Grim Magic is taking its toll on Tom. Only Benny can help his best friend – but he's been enchanted. Tom's dad Michael and gran Ursula fight to reach Tom in time, but dawn is rising, and the final confrontation is about to begin . . .

The series comprises 12 episodes.




FILTER: - CBBC - Wizards Vs Aliens

Wizards Vs Aliens: Dawn Of The Nekross

Thursday, 25 October 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
Pictures from Dawn Of The Nekross - the first adventure in the forthcoming new CBBC series Wizards vs Aliens - have been released by the BBC.



The two-parter will air on Monday 29th October and Tuesday 30th October at 5.15pm, with the series comprising 12 episodes.




FILTER: - CBBC - Wizards Vs Aliens

Wizards Vs Aliens Gets Two Series At Least

Tuesday, 23 October 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
Two series of the new CBBC show Wizards vs Aliens have been made, according to the new edition of Radio Times.

The action adventure drama, created by Russell T Davies and Phil Ford, starts on Monday 29th October at 5.15pm. Two episodes will air each week, on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the new Radio Times, out today, which has a colour feature promoting the show, says a total of 26 episodes have been filmed, with 12 of them comprising the first series and the remaining 14 making up a second one. Just when the second series will be broadcast is unknown as yet.

The show sees the alien Nekross intent on devouring all the magic on Earth and 16-year-old wizard Tom Clarke (Scott Haran), helped by his friend Benny Sherwood (Percelle Ascott), determined to defeat them.

Also appearing in the series are Annette Badland as Tom's grandmother Ursula Crowe, Michael Higgs as Tom's dad Michael Clarke, Jefferson Hall as Varg, Gwendoline Christie as Lexi, Brian Blessed as the Nekross King, Dan Starkey as Randal Moon, Manpreet Bambra as Katie Lord, Connor Scarlett as Quinn Christopher, Brian Miller (Elisabeth Sladen's husband) as Old Mark, and Sara Stewart as Miss Webster, with Don Gilet and Nina Sosanya making guest appearances as Benny's parents. The writers include Clayton Hickman, Joseph Lidster, and Gareth Roberts.

In Radio Times, Davies talks about the genesis of the show, which aims to fill the void left by The Sarah Jane Adventures following the death of Elisabeth Sladen in April 2011.

This show came out of the oddest circumstances, which we'd never been in before - our lead actor died . . . and it was just the most bizarre, tragic thing. It's still strange and sad that she's gone, but the brutal truth is that there were also a lot of people out of work - writers, designers, crew and everyone - in that brand-new studio in Cardiff, so we had to come up with something. We could have got another old Who companion and put them on that set, but it would have been so fake.

He added:
I love spaceships and robots and Phil loves the supernatural and everything magic, so it just made perfect sense to bring those worlds together, precisely because it doesn't happen. If you suggested that a spaceship should land in Merlin, they'd chuck you out of the room and tell you that it's the wrong mythology. Similarly, you could never cast actual spells in Doctor Who. Wizards vs Aliens is a genre-shock of two genres that never usually meet - there are stories spilling out because of that.

Episodes 1 and 2 make up the adventure Dawn Of The Nekross, and episodes 3 and 4 have been revealed to be collectively called Grazlax Attacks.

In part one, Tom Clarke is hiding a secret – he's a schoolboy wizard! But when the magic-eating alien Nekross arrive on Earth, a battle for survival begins. Tom must use his magical powers to protect his family – but only the school geek, Benny, can help him against the plans of the terrifying Nekross King.

In part two, with his gran trapped in outer space, Tom and Benny must dare to go inside the mystical Chamber to ask the mysterious Randal Moon for help. But with time running out for Ursula and Tom's dad joining the fight, can even a magical hobgoblin fight an enemy from beyond Earth?

In part one, Tom's quiet Saturday at Benny's house becomes a thrilling fight for their lives when the vicious alien Grazlax hunts them down. The two boys must learn to fight together, combining Tom's magic with Benny's science, or the Nekross's savage pet will succeed – and devour them.

In part two, the Grazlax is out of control. But Tom has used up all of his magic, and Benny's scientific genius is useless against a creature from beyond the stars. It's a race against time for both humans and Nekross as the Grazlax menace grows – but will stopping the rampage leave any survivors at all?

Promotional images from the show were released by the BBC today, as seen above and here:









FILTER: - CBBC - Wizards Vs Aliens

Wizards Vs Aliens Start Date Nears

Friday, 12 October 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
The new CBBC action adventure drama Wizard Vs Aliens is now scheduled to start during the week beginning Saturday 27th October with an adventure called Dawn Of The Nekross.

Two episodes will be shown each week in the 12-part series, which sees the alien Nekross bent on devouring all the magic on Earth and 16-year-old wizard Tom Clarke (Scott Haran), helped by his friend Benny Sherwood (Percelle Ascott), pictured right, standing in their way.

Also in the series - created by Russell T Davies and Phil Ford - are Annette Badland as Tom's grandmother Ursula Crowe, Michael Higgs as Tom's dad Michael Clarke, Jefferson Hall as Varg, Gwendoline Christie as Lexi, Brian Blessed as the Nekross King, Dan Starkey as Randal Moon, Manpreet Bambra as Katie Lord, Connor Scarlett as Quinn Christopher, and Brian Miller as Old Mark, with Don Gilet and Nina Sosanya making guest appearances as Benny's parents. The writers include Clayton Hickman, Joseph Lidster, and Gareth Roberts.

The ultimate battle of magic versus science is about to commence. The Nekross are a race of aliens who feed on magic, and having travelled from planet to planet draining every drop they're now orbiting Earth to do battle with its wizards for the last remaining magic in the universe. And there's just one 16-year-old boy who can stop them.

Tom is a wizard. His family are wizards on his mum's side. He lives with his unenchanted dad Michael and his very enchanted grandma Ursula. Their magical powers are a secret of the highest order - as is the entrance to the family Chamber of Mysteries, helpfully disguised as the downstairs loo.

A secret, that is, until a school trip goes horribly wrong and Tom is forced to reveal his magic to Benny, the school science geek. Benny doesn't believe in magic. Tom doesn't believe in aliens. They are both wrong! They soon realise that together they make the perfect team and learn to combine their skills in magic and science in each battle against the Nekross.

Tom and Benny become best friends as they fight side by side to protect Tom's family and all of Earth's magic, with Tom also learning about his magic, his family, and the secrets of the universe.

In the newly-released BBC video below, Davies, Haran, and Ascott talk about the series.



In part one, Tom Clarke is hiding a secret – he's a schoolboy wizard! But when the magic-eating alien Nekross arrive on Earth, a battle for survival begins. Tom must use his magical powers to protect his family – but only the school geek, Benny, can help him against the plans of the terrifying Nekross King.

In part two, with his gran trapped in outer space, Tom and Benny must dare to go inside the mystical Chamber to ask the mysterious Randal Moon for help. But with time running out for Ursula and Tom's dad joining the fight, can even a magical hobgoblin fight an enemy from beyond Earth?

The dates and times of broadcast for the two episodes are yet to be confirmed.

Wizards Vs Aliens
is produced by BBC Cymru Wales in association with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and was filmed at BBC's Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff. The show is executive-produced by Russell T Davies, Bethan Jones, Gina Cronk, and Sue Nott for the BBC and Bob Higgins and Sander Schwartz for FME. The producer is Brian Minchin and co-producer Phil Ford.





FILTER: - CBBC - Wizards Vs Aliens

Wizards Vs Aliens' Nekross Are Revealed

Friday, 28 September 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
The BBC today released pictures showing what the Nekross in the forthcoming CBBC action adventure drama Wizards Vs Aliens look like.

In the 12-part show, the Nekross are an alien race bent on devouring all the magic on Earth, with 16-year-old wizard Tom Clarke (Scott Haran), helped by his friend Benny Sherwood (Percelle Ascott), standing in their way.

A start date for the series, created by Russell T Davies and Phil Ford, is yet to be announced, although a preview screening of the first two episodes takes place at the BFI in London next Friday.



Guest stars will include Annette Badland, Brian Blessed, Michael Higgs, Jefferson Hall, Gwendoline Christie, and Ruthie Henshall, with Don Gilet and Nina Sosanya making guest appearances as Benny's parents. The series' writers include Clayton Hickman, Joseph Lidster, and Gareth Roberts.




FILTER: - BBC - CBBC - Wizards Vs Aliens