Billy Week

Television
A short article on Taggart in News of the World mentions Billy's work in the 1996 episode "Dead Man's Chest"; there is also a photo.

Video
It's a bit of a tangent, but you might find this clip interesting to watch - Graeme Obree is talking about the film The Flying Scotsman, which was based on his life and achievements. The clip is bookended by the film's trailer, narrated by Billy.

Images
mata090680 has posted a series of LOTR Christmas icons, including some of Billy, here.

vinyamar started a wonderful picspam in her journal here. Her entry has only two photos (both featuring Billy) but there are many many more photos and videos in the 500+ comments.

Also, we haven't mentioned this journal before, but lotrboys_daily often features Billy and is definitely worth watching.

Concerts
New York's Radio City Music Hall has started selling tickets for next year's live concert: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, to be held on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th October. Obviously there is no guarantee that Billy or any of the cast will be there, but it would be a fabulous experience.

TORn had a short announcement about the concerts here.

Images
mata090680 featured the LOTR cast (including Billy) in her icon set here.

For Purchase
"Jusqu'à toi" will be available on DVD in France from 10th February 2010. The cost from Amazon France will be 19.99 euros (plus P&P). Obviously this will be region 2 and PAL/SECAM format.

It's been a very quiet few weeks for our favourite hobbit.

Charity
In October, there was a charity auction for a small bear, signed by Billy Boyd, with the proceeds going to breast cancer awareness. TORn had the story here; while a photo was posted here.

Images
mata090680 featured LOTR cast in several of her entries over the last month. You can see Billy icons here and here, and pics here and here.

Appearances
The "Lord of the Rings" concerts on 9th and 10th October went very well. Reviews from Entertainment weekly and The Examiner were very positive.

A very short video clip showing Billy (among others) taking a bow can be found here.

Doug Adams wrote an account of the last few weeks leading up to the concert in his blog here. ( Extracts under the cut )

Television
Moby Dick: Billy was mentioned briefly in an interview with James Gilbert, a fellow graduate of RSAMD, who is playing Steelkilt in the adaptation.

Adrenaline Junkie: Billy's episode of AJ was broadcast on 13th October. You can view it through four YouTube links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

Images
green_queen posted a mega-picspam in honour of the tenth anniversary of the start of LOTR filming in October 1999. You can see all the photos here.

Appearances
There were a couple articles on the upcoming LOTR concerts and associated events:

1. Billy was mentioned briefly in a short MTV article on the panel at the Paley Center on 1st October. I haven't seen any reports on how the panel went, though.

2. Billy was interviewed as part of a New York University News piece on 6th October. ( Relevant extract under the cut )

Television

TORn picked up on the Billy's apearance on "Cuide ri Cathy" and ran a short piece here, with the YouTube links we gave last week.

Two articles appeared this week on Billy's new project "Moby Dick", which is apparently a two-part TV mini-series, not a film:

1. The Chronicle Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia) had an interview with Billy while he was shooting his role in Nova Scotia. The link also has a photo of him in the make-up room.( Text under the cut )

2. Variety ran an extended version of the TMG announcement from last week: ( Text under the cut )

Appearances
1. On 1st October Billy will be appearing at the Paley Center for Media, participating in the panel entitled "Shore on the Score: The Music of Lord of the Rings" with Howard Shore and Doug Adams. This is part of the Radio City LOTR program (the full schedule of events can be found here). The panel is also mentioned at Doug Adam's blog, TORn and Blu-Ray Journal.
( TORn article under the cut )

2. On 9th and 10th October, as previously noted, Billy will be appearing at the two Radio City LOTR:FOTR concerts. According to the Radio city website, there are still tickets available ($54 - $150).

Film
Billy has a role in an upcoming film production of Moby Dick, according to World Screen. ( Text under the cut )

Television
1. Billy was featured in the BBC Alba programme "Cuide ri Cathy" on Monday 28th September. Viewers in the UK can watch the programme on the BBC iPlayer until Monday 5th October. Those outside the UK can view it in three segments on YouTube: Part 1; Part 2; part 3.

2. Billy will be featured in an upcoming episode of Jack Osbourne's "Adrenaline Junkie", currently screening in the UK. There are two screencaps from the introduction to the first episode here.

Articles
1. Billy was mentioned briefly in an interview with Elijah Wood, posted at H Monthly on 9th September.
( Extract under the cut )

2. TheOneRing.net published an interview with Billy on 28th September. ( Edited text under the cut )

3. Billy was mentioned in an interview with Jack Osbourne posted on The Daily Mail's website here: "Earlier this year he travelled to Canada with fellow celebrities Konnie Huq, Natalie Imbruglia and Lord of the Rings actor Billy Boyd to attempt several challenges in the country's Rockies."

Images
mata090680 posted pics of Billy here and here.

Appearances
Billy will be appearing (and performing) at the two LOTR:FOTR concerts at Radio City Music Hall on 9th and 10th October. TORn picked up the announcement and ran an article here.
( Relevant extracts under the cut )
Film
"Pimp" has moved into post-production, according to its IMDB page.

For Purchase
As previously noted, "Save Angel Hope" will be available for retail purchase in Australia on 29th September. In spite of my best efforts, I can't find any evidence that the big DVD shops will be offering it online, though with luck they'll have a copy or two in-store. I did find it at EzyDVD though, price $19.97 (plus P&P).

Billy turned 41 last week - we hope that he had a great day and that the coming year is good for him.

Images
sassywitch posted a picspam to celebrate Billy's birthday:
here.

mata090680 posted some pics from the 2003 ROTK premieres here.

There may have been others that I missed.

Film
1. Via last Friday's middleearthnews round-up, it appears that Billy is back in London working on a film called Pimp - " A week in the life of a Soho pimp, as seen through the eyes of concealed documentary cameras: A week which spirals brutally out of control."

The information, and two behind-the-scenes photos, are from Royd Tolkien's Twitter entries here and here.

2. "Jusqu'à toi" was released in France on 29th July. Reviews (all in French, so far) are middling at best, and none of them mention Billy at all. I did find one image of Billy and Justin here though (scroll down).

For Purchase
"Save Angel Hope" will be made available for purchase in Australia on 29th September via Gryphon Entertainment, and will cost $19.95 plus P&P. Note that this is a Region 4, PAL format DVD. Also note that Gryphon is a wholesaler, not a retailer - I will supply retail information as I get it.

Appearances
Not quite an appearance, but Billy was sighted in LA this week - according to the Official Beecake feed, he's filming there at the moment, though the project isn't named.

Film
The Dominion Post in NZ had a review of "Stone of Destiny" on 31st July: ( Details under the cut )

Television
From kleini comes news of a twitter snippet saying that Billy (and the band) will be appearing on a Scottish TV programme called "Cuide ri Cathy" later in the year. Link.

Film
On 18th July, the Otago Daily Times in New Zealand had a postive review of "Stone of Destiny". ( Text under the cut )

Articles
On 12th July, Billy was featured in a round-table discussion with four young acting students as part of The Guardian's "Class of 2009" series. ( Text under the cut )

Film
The Edmonton Sun ran a good review of "Stone of Destiny" on 3rd July: ( Text under the cut )

Television
Many news sites ran stories on the possible/probable/almost certain demise of the long-standing Glasgow police series "Taggart", after ITV failed to commission any episodes for next year. Billy was mentioned in The Scotsman's piece here.

Appearances
Billy was a guest at a dinner hosted by Scotland's First Minister on 23rd June to celebrate the Edinburgh International Film festival. The story, from the Press and Journal is here.

Film
"Stone of Destiny" is now available on DVD in Canada, and a very good review was published in the Sudbury Star on 30th June. ( Text under the cut )

Television
According to The SunBilly has signed up to appear in Jack Osborne's "Celebrity Adrenaline Junkie" TV programme later this year. The story is here.

Blogs
There is a new LOTR cast community at Dreamwidth - http://lotr-cast-fandom.dreamwidth.org/ - for all news-related items concerning members of the LOTR cast and crew. (LOTR-related fanfic can be found at http://lotrip-all-fic.dreamwidth.org/)

Charity
The Sapphires Agency is offering ultra-limited-edition signed photographs of Billy and other actors on eBay to benefit The Prince's Trust, a UK charity. Six prints of each actor are available, with a "Buy it now" option (of £250.00 plus P&P). The bids are open until approximately 12 noon on 11th June (GMT) for the first lot and approximately 10pm on 12th June for the second lot.

eBay disclaimer: "We have no control over and do not guarantee the quality, safety or legality of items advertised, the truth or accuracy of listings, the ability of sellers to sell items, the ability of buyers to pay for items, or that a buyer or seller will actually complete a transaction".

Charity
The Sapphires Agency is offering ultra-limited-edition signed photographs of Billy and other actors on eBay to benefit The Prince's Trust, a UK charity. Six prints of each actor are available, with a "Buy it now" option. The bids are open until approximately 12 noon on 10th June (GMT).

eBay disclaimer: "We have no control over and do not guarantee the quality, safety or legality of items advertised, the truth or accuracy of listings, the ability of sellers to sell items, the ability of buyers to pay for items, or that a buyer or seller will actually complete a transaction".

LiveJournal
monaboyd_month featured Billy in video, images and stories during the month of May. Check out the community for more details.

For Purchase
"Stone of Destiny" will be available on DVD from Amazon Canada from 30th June. The price is CDN $29.99 plus P&P.

Appearances
Not really an appearance as such, but Tom Harris, MP, blogged that he met Billy coming out of the BBC building in Glasgow last week. Let's hope that his visit means more work for us to see, hear and enjoy.
( Text under the cut )

Appearances
1. As previously noted, Billy participated in the charity event "The Rescue" on 25th April. Another story describing his involvement was posted at The Carnoustie Guide and Gazette.
( Extract under the cut )
2. On 18th May, a message from Billy was presented at the "Only Boys Allowed" event at the Perth Concert Hall. The BBC reported the event here (with embedded video) and in their blogs section here.
( Billy's message to the boys )

Film
Stealth Media Group, a new UK film distribution company, has acquired the rights to "Stone of Destiny" and is looking sell it to overseas buyers.

"Save Angel Hope" will be available for DVD rental (not purchase) in Australia on 24th June. Bigpond Movies already has it listed and the major stores should have at least one copy. The press release from Gryphon Entertainment is here.

"Jusqu'à Toi" (formerly known as "C'est toujours mieux quand on sourit sur la photo") will be released in France on 29 July, according to IMDB.

Blogs
On 11th May, nerwende posted a Where Are They Now? feature in the ONTD community. It includes two embedded videos - one from the LOTR:EE interviews, and the trailer for "Stone of Destiny".

Appearances
On 25th April, Billy participated in the charity awareness event "The Rescue" in Edinburgh. TheOneRing.net reported the event here and a video of his speech can be found here.

Film
"Stone of Destiny" was screened twice at the Ancaster Film Festival on 20th April and was received very favourably. There is a short but positive review here.

Video
On 26th April, The OneRing.net celebrated its 10th birthday. Among the celebrations was a video compiled from some of the thousands of images from the TORn photo library, several of which featured Billy. You can view the video here.

Film
The Palm Beach Film Festival opens on 23rd April. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Florida, ran a story on 15th April, and mentioned that "Stone of Destiny" will open the festival. ( extract under the cut )
Articles
On 12th April, Billy was mentioned as a shining example of Scottish talent from RSAMD, in an article from Scotland on Sunday concerning Piers Morgan's comments on the auditions for "Britan's Got Talent" (presumably this was before he heard Susan Boyle singing).

For Purchase
The DVD of "Stone of Destiny" is now available from Amazon UK for £9.98 (plus P&P, less VAT if ordering from outside the UK). The other listing is now marked as "unavailable".