Everyone’s newest favorite hobbit, Martin Freeman, is set to appear on the Graham Norton Show in the UK this Friday and BBC America on Saturday.

Freeman is currently making audiences very happy with his role as Dr. John Watson on BBC One’s “Sherlock.” For all of you “Doctor Who” fans, Karen Gillan will also be a guest — and Noel Gallagher, to round things out.  “Sherlock” will return to the US on PBS this spring,

“The Hobbit” is … well, you know when that one’s coming out.  [Graham Norton schedule: UK | US]

Bret McKenzie, who unofficially played “Figwit” the Elf in The Lord of the Rings, spoke with ComingSoon.net about his role as Lindir in The Hobbit.

“I’ve got a cameo as an elf. Or another cameo. My character is called Lindir. I hang out with Elrond… I’ve got a few lines in Elvish.”

In answer to the question about whether Figwit and Lindir are one and the same, here’s what Bret had to say:

“You’ll probably see, I’ve got slightly different ears. That’s how I differentiate my elf characters. The big difference for this character is that he’s in 3D. He’s a character that’s a lot more three dimensional.”

ComingSoon.net promises the full interview will be available soon.

Thanks to Ringer spy Daniel J. for the heads-up.

Join us today for another fun broadcast of TORn TUESDAYS Live with Quickbeam!  In the exciting New Year our guest commentator Eowymilia (the Swedish Girl with the Horse Tattoo) is on the air with host Clifford Broadway on this very special edition of our streaming video show — we toast to the 120th birthday of J.R.R. Tolkien and discuss the amazing reveals from The Hobbit preview trailer that has caused waves of fan reaction across the Web!  You can also join the show via our BARLIMAN’S CHAT built right into our Live Event Area — showtime today at 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time!
[LIVE Event Area] (See All Times)

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”  — J.R.R. Tolkien

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, S.A., on January 3, 1892.  He would eventually move to England, become an accomplished linguist and scholar, an Oxford professor and a beloved husband and father. While in his twenties, he began developing a series of stories that went on to become the rich, complex history of a place called Middle-earth: a world that millions would eventually visit, both on the written page and on the big screen, and come to love. TheOneRing.net raises a glass to “The Professor!” today, in honor of all the enjoyment and camaradarie his birth, and life, has lead to. Thank you, professor Tolkien!

And don’t forget, today is the annual Tolkien Society’s Birthday Toast to Professor Tolkien. For complete details on the toast, jump on over to the Tolkien Society’s website. [Tolkien Toast]

On a recent interview with ‘The Genre Traveler’ podcast: a discussion about the upcoming Hobbit production, Tolkien’s Birthday celebration on January 3, Tolkien activities in LA and many other Tolkien and Fantasty tidbits were discussed. This podcast does a regular show on all things fantasy and sci-fi related, typically interviewing authors, so you might consider subscribing to the blog.

Follow the link for the Podcast and supporting material for all topics discussed.

The Genre Traveler Podcast 67