comic-con 2012

Did the Doctor Who Cast Play ‘Uncomfortable Touch’ With Dumbledore?

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 12: Actors Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and Matt Smith attend WIRED Cafe at Comic-Con held at Palm Terrace at the Omni Hotel on July 12, 2012 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for WIRED)
SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 12: Actors Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and Matt Smith attend WIRED Cafe at Comic-Con held at Palm Terrace at the Omni Hotel on July 12, 2012 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for WIRED) Photo: Jerod Harris/2012 Getty Images

Would the Doctor Who cast have dared to feel up Michael Gambon? Or Bill Nighy? While not traveling through space and time, the Doctor and his companions said they enjoy being really creepy with their guest stars. “We play ‘uncomfortable touch’ with all the new actors who come to set,†Matt Smith told the audience Sunday at Comic-Con. To demonstrate, he swung his arm around Karen Gillan’s neck while Arthur Darvill patted her shoulder. “The worst part about that is the gentle squeeze,†Darvill said. “Basically, there’s a lot of down time on a film set,†Smith said.  

The eleventh Doctor didn’t like it so much when a crazy fan played her own game of uncomfortable touch with him. It happened one night when the gang was shooting scenes in Wales and discovered someone had broken into their car. “When we got in, there was a lady there who told me I was an exact replica of her hedgehog, and then she kissed me.†Smith said. “Like that’s going to flatter me, a hedgehog?â€

Alas, Smith will soon have to start feeling up the guests on his own. Gillan and Darvill will exit the show after the fifth episode of the upcoming season, set to premiere on BBC America later this year. Who executive producer Steven Moffat revealed he’s also planned an episode set in the Old West, and another with dinosaurs on a spaceship that includes the introduction of Rory’s dad, played by Mark Williams. But first, there will be Daleks. “There’ll be more Daleks than you’ve ever seen in one place,†Moffat said, “which, if you’re a fan, and I’m guessing you probably all are, is the most exciting thing. Just lots and lots and lots of Daleks, exactly what we all see when we close our eyes every night in our Tardis-wallpapered bedrooms.â€

The Ponds’ last episode will feature the return of the Weeping Angels, and so help us, if Amy and Rory wind up frozen in time forever, there will be hell to pay, Moffat.

Doctor Who Cast Plays ‘Uncomfortable Touch’