Welcome to the News section here at Doctor Who Online! This is where you will find all the latest Doctor Who related news and information.
The news is split up into easy to use sections - each section is colour coded for your convenience. The latest news can be found at the top, and older news follows down the page.
Archived news can be accessed by clicking on the
relevant area on the Archived News panel to the right.
News Contributors:
Lorna Mitchell, Justin Thomas, Chris Morgan, Harry Hayfield, Nathan Baron,
Simon R. Mills, Paul Morries, Steven Morrisson, Matthew Pilkington, Simon
Watkins, Simon Bromley, Ian Hall, Carl Foster, Ian Peterson, Graham Challis,
Andy Parish, Stephen Day, Nathan Lloyd, Steve Freestone, Richard D. Rhodes,
Mark Quinn, Neil Marsh, Mark Campbell, David Bickerstaff, Andy Hawbury,
Nathan McLachlan, Peter May, James Cluskey, David Callinicos, Wendy Appleby,
Steve Hatcher, Simon Brew, James Cluskey, Jeff Anders, Poly Gianniba,
OliviaWhoFan, Chris Mapely.
Series 6 to be split into two blocks
News Dated: 29/8/2010
TheBBC and
Steven Moffat have announced today that the transmission of the
next series of Doctor Who, in 2011, will be split into two blocks, transmitting
in spring and autumn.
The split transmission is the result of a request from Steven Moffat
to write a new Doctor Who story arc which involves a big plot twist in the
middle of the series. By splitting the series Moffat plans to give viewers one
of the most exciting Doctor Who cliffhangers and plot twists ever, leaving them
waiting, on the edge of their seats, until the autumn to find out what happens.
Steven Moffat said: "The split series is hugely exciting
because viewers will be treated to two premieres, two finales and more event
episodes. For the kids it will never be more than a few months to the next
Doctor Who! Easter, Autumn, Christmas!!"
UPDATE
- The Guardian
website, has just uploaded a
short interview with Steven Moffat, discussing the scheduling
change in more detail.
A selection of the scariest and most iconic monsters from the smash hit
television show Doctor Who will be visiting Tesco stores to celebrate the
forthcoming Doctor Who Live tour. The Doctor’s famed arch-enemies Monsters will
visit certain Tesco stores to meet and terrify their fans! Spectators will be
able to see the Cybermen, Ood, Silurian and Clockwork Robot in action – so make
sure you get down there early!
The Monsters will be appearing in the Doctor Who Live show
which will be touring UK arenas from 7th October to the
8th November. This spectacular show will feature special FX, optical
illusions and spectacular pyrotechnics building to an epic finale. Exclusive
scenes with Matt Smith as the Doctor will appear on a big screen during the
show. This monster spectacular will be accompanied by the phenomenal music of
Doctor Who composer Murray Gold, played
live by an onstage band. Doctor Who Live promises the same excitement, adventure
and suspense that viewers have come to expect from the TV programme. Please note
that actors from the TV series will not be appearing live on stage.
Revenge of the Cybermen Toy
Exclusive News Dated: 27/8/2010 Character Options and
Forbidden Planet
have announced another exclusive Action Figure set.
Revenge of the Cybermen Set
Join the inimitable Tom Baker and encounter 'The Revenge of the Cybermen' with
this outstanding gift set from Forbidden Planet. Bring back fond Doctor Who
memories onboard Space Station Nerva as bodies abound, Sarah Jane gets
terrorized by Cybermats and the Fourth Doctor ends up turned into a Cyberbomb!
These exclusive figures of the the Cyber Leader and his two Cybermen Mark V
buddies stand approximately 5" tall and arrive complete with a little Cybermat
so you can get any Sarah Jane's screaming!
Buy Now
at
Forbidden Planet
for just
£29.99.
Revisitations Box 1 DVD Artwork News Dated: 27/8/2010 2|Entertain have sent DWO
the DVD box art for the Revisitations Box 1, as well as the
exclusive reveal of the cover for The Talons of Weng-Chiang, which, together with
The Caves of Androzani and Doctor Who: The Movie,
completes the set.
The Talons of Weng-Chiang - Special Edition Contains 3 discs
Special Features:
• The Last Hurrah - Producer, Philip Hinchcliffe pays a visit on Tom
Baker at his home where the two reflect on this, their final story together,
with contributions from Louise Jameson (Leela), Trevor Baxter (Professor
Litefoot), Christopher Benjamin (Henry Jago), director David Maloney, designer
Roger Murray-Leach and costume designer John Bloomfield.
• Moving On - Philip Hinchcliffe recalls what he would have done the
following season, had he remained as producer.
• The Foe from the Future - Philip Hinchcliffe is joined by writer Robert Banks
Stewart to look at the original story that eventually became The Talons of
Weng-Chiang.
• Now and Then - A tour of the locations used during the filming of the serial
and comparing how they looked at the time and how they appear now.
• Look East - An excerpt from a local news programme in which Tom Baker was
interviewed.
• Limehouse - A Victorian Chinatown; Victoriana and Chinoiserie.
• Photo Gallery.
• Radio Times Listings.
The Caves of Androzani - Special Edition Contains 2 discs
Special Features:
• Chain Reaction - Cast and Crew look back at the making of the story,
with contributions from Peter Davison, Nicola Bryant, Maurice Roeves, Robert
Glennister, Martin Cochrane, director Graeme Harper, script editor Eric Saward,
production designer John Hurst and composer Roger Limb.
• Directing Who: Then and Now - Graeme Harper talks about the difference
in TV production techniques since the 1980's.
• Russell Harty Show - Archive footage featuring an interview with
outgoing Doctor, Peter Davison and his successor, Colin Baker.
• Photo Gallery.
Doctor Who: The Movie - Special Edition Contains 2 discs
Special Features:
• Commentary - Featuring Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann.
• Commentary - Original 2001 commentary by director, Geoffrey Sax.
• The Seven Year Hitch - An in-depth documentary that tracks producer Philip
Segal's seven-year quest to return Doctor who to television, including
contributions from Philip Segal and writer Matthew Jacobs; Paul McGann's
audition for the part of The Doctor; footage of two visual effects test shots,
including a clip of the now infamous 'Spider Dalek'.
• The Wilderness Years - A feature which chronicles how Doctor Who was kept
alive between the end of the original run of the series and the TV Movie.
• Who Peter - 1989-2009 - A look at the special relationship between Doctor Who
and the long-running children's magazine show Blue Peter.
• Stripped for Action: The Eighth Doctor - The final part of the series that
looks at the Doctor's comic-strip adventures, including his appearances in DWM.
• Tomorrow's Times: The Eighth Doctor - A look at the contemporary newspaper
coverage of the TV Movie.
The Revisitations Box 1 is released on
4th October 2010, priced £39.99.
Compare Prices
for this DVD on CompareTheDalek.com.
Doctor Who Live - More
Details News Dated:
26/8/2010 *STAGE & SCREEN STAR NIGEL PLANER JOINS CAST TO PLAY EXCLUSIVE CHARACTER
VORGENSON – THE ‘GREATEST SHOWMAN IN THE GALAXY’
*VOICE OF DALEKS AND CYBERMEN, NICK BRIGGS CONFIRMED TO PLAY WINSTON CHURCHILL
*MASTER ILLUSIONISTS ‘THE TWINS’ TO OVERSEE A SERIES OF INCREDIBLE ILLUSIONS
*STORYLINE DETAILS REVEALED
BBC Worldwide has today announced that Nigel Planer (The Young Ones, We Will
Rock You, Evita, Chicago) will be joining the cast for the forthcoming
audio/visual spectacular – Doctor Who Live.
Planer will play the part of Vorgenson, a character exclusively adapted for the
tour by the television programme’s Executive Producer and Lead Writer Steven
Moffat. The new character is described as an ‘inter-galactic showman’ who is the
Doctor’s biggest fan.
Nigel Planer comments: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Doctor Who Live and
this role is something of a boyhood dream come true. My character Vorgenson, who
has been developed specially for the show by Steven Moffat, is the Greatest
Showman in the Galaxy and using his incredible invention, ‘The Minimiser’, he
can make any Doctor Who character appear on stage as part of his traveling show
dedicated to his hero. This live tour brings all the magic of the TV show
together with a host of incredible effects. I hope that I can survive visiting
nine cities in October sharing a stage with eleven Doctor Who Monsters and a
flying Dalek in tow!”
The stage show will follow Vorgenson on an inter-galactic journey as he summons
monsters in his Minimiser for the audience to see. Matt Smith will appear as the
Doctor in specially filmed sequences to be shown on a giant screen on stage.
Craig Stanley, Doctor Who Live’s Producer says: “This show has something for
everyone - Doctor Who fans, of course - but also anyone with a love of
incredible illusions, immersive storytelling, magical music, scary monsters, and
intergalactic heroes.”
In a further announcement, the producers have revealed that Nick Briggs, famous
for voicing some of the scariest Doctor Who monsters including the Daleks and
Cybermen, is onboard to replicate his voice talents live on stage every night.
Briggs will also portray Winston Churchill, who is summoned by Vorgenson through
his Minimiser.
Doctor Who Live will also feature a spectacular array of stunts and illusions
designed by Britain’s premiere illusionists, The Twins. Audiences will be in for
a treat as they witness a flying Dalek. The Twins have come to prominence in the
last few years by designing the illusion of flying without wires, and they have
a reputation for large scale stunts including making an elephant disappear live
on stage. They have taught magic tricks to the likes of Brad Pitt and Gwyneth
Paltrow.
The new stage show, based upon the BBC’s smash-hit, award-winning series Doctor
Who, promises to deliver a spectacular audio/visual experience featuring live
music, special effects and appearances from the show’s most popular monsters
including Daleks, Cybermen, Scarecrows, Oods and Silurian.
Taking in nine cities and 25 dates, Doctor Who Live kicks off in London at
Wembley Arena on 8th October, and will visit Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham,
Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff and Liverpool, culminating in Belfast on the 7th
November.
With an out-of-this-world set, Doctor Who Live will feature special FX, optical
illusions and spectacular pyrotechnics building to an epic finale. Specially
edited video clips, drawn from the TV Programme will be shown on a massive
screen and accompanied by the music of longtime Doctor Who composer Murray Gold.
These iconic scores will be brought to life by a live band on stage.
Doctor Who Live has been conceived as a fully immersive music and monsters
spectacular and promises the same excitement, adventure and suspense that
viewers have come to expect from the TV programme. Please note that actors from
the TV series will not be appearing live on stage.
DOCTOR WHO LIVE TOUR DATES 2010:
8th, 9th and 10th October - London - Wembley Arena
12th and 13th October - Sheffield - Sheffield Arena
14th, 15th, 16th and 17th October - Glasgow - Glasgow SECC
18th, 19th and 20th October - Birmingham - Birmingham NIA
22nd, 23rd and 24th October - Manchester - Manchester Evening News Arena
25th and 26th October - Nottingham - Nottingham Trent FM Arena
28th, 29th, 30th, 31st October - Cardiff - Cardiff International Arena
2nd, 3rd November - Liverpool - Liverpool Echo Arena
6th and 7th November - Belfast - Belfast Odyssey Arena
Tickets are on sale now.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are priced at £38.50, £34.50 and £25.00 subject to booking fees
Belfast Odyssey Arena only
Tickets are priced at £42.50, £37.50 & £27.50 and may be subject to service
charges
Please note that for Belfast Odyssey Arena, the ticket prices are higher as
booking fees and agency commissions are included in the ticket price - this is
standard practice for shows in Northern Ireland.
TV Movie to get USA DVD release News Dated: 25/8/2010
Doctor Who DVD manufacturer, 2|Entertain
has confirmed the USA release of the Doctor Who TV Movie.
Speaking exclusively to the Hoo on Who Doctor Who podcast,
2|Entertain's commissioning editor, Dan Hall, confirmed that
after negotiations with Universal, the movie will get a USA
release within the next year.
This comes as huge news to international fans of the show, who have been looking
forward to such an announcement owing to rights issues dating back to 1996.
Listen
to the
Hoo on Who
interview with
Dan Hall.
New Doctor Who Computer Games News Dated: 24/8/2010 Matt Smith and Karen Gillan
will feature in Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth on
Nintendo DS and Doctor Who: Return to Earth on Nintendo Wii.
The world’s longest running science fiction TV series Doctor Who will be brought
to life on Nintendo DS™ and Wii™ this winter by game developer Asylum
Entertainment and global distributor Koch Media Ltd.
Licensed by BBC Worldwide and based on the top-rated television
series starring the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, and his
Companion Amy Pond played by Karen Gillan - Doctor Who:
Evacuation Earth for Nintendo DS and Doctor Who: Return to
Earth for Wii will hit retailers in the UK, Australia and selected
territories across Europe.
Inspired by the Doctor’s adventures across time and space, Doctor Who:
Evacuation Earth and Doctor Who: Return to Earth have
been carefully developed to capture the imagination of Doctor Who fans and will
enable the entire family to become the Doctor and Companion Amy in stories
written with the Doctor Who production team.
Simon Bailey, Managing Director of Asylum Entertainment
comments: “We are incredibly excited to be collaborating with BBC Worldwide on
these two new games. It is our firm belief that the franchise has massive
potential on the Nintendo DS and Wii formats and it’s an honour to be bringing
Doctor Who video games to the show’s huge fan base.”
Both computer games will be available to buy from 19th November 2010.
Compare Prices
for the games at
CompareTheDalek.com.
The title of the next Adventure Game has
been confirmed as TARDIS and it's released on the BBC Doctor
Who website on Friday 27th August.
It will feature monsters, terrifying new dangers for the Doctor and Amy and
offers an amazing insight into the world's most famous blue box. It's also been
announced that the game will give players the opportunity to pilot the Doctor's
iconic time machine.
Lead Writer and Executive Producer, Steven Moffat, confirmed,
'Since 1963, kids have wondered what it would be like to control the TARDIS. Now
we're handing complete control of the most powerful ship in all of space and
time to a generation of children. Everybody duck!' He also told us, 'TARDIS is a
brilliant, brilliant adventure. It's funny, touching, terrifying, amazing -
everything a Doctor Who episode should be.'
The official press release promised, 'the game allows players to explore the
Doctor's wondrous drawing room, featuring treasures and artefacts from his many
adventures - a location specially created for the game, which will go on to form
part of the Doctor Who canon'.
Matt Smith and Karen Gillan return as the
Doctor and Amy and once again the game is executive produced by Steven
Moffat, Piers Wenger, Beth Willis and Anwen Aspden
(BBC Wales Interactive), alongside Charles Cecil. Music is by
Murray Gold and TARDIS is written by James Moran
whose previous credits include Torchwood, Spooks and the Tenth Doctor
story, The Fires of Pompeii.
It's the third Adventure Game and will be available at no extra cost to UK
households, simultaneously on PC and Mac from the BBC Doctor Who site. Users
outside the UK will be able to purchase and download it on its UK release date,
27th August.
4th Doctor with K9 Toy
Exclusive News Dated: 19/8/2010 Character Options and
Forbidden Planet
have announced yet another exclusive Action Figure.
The 4th Doctor with K9
In this exclusive release you get the Fourth Doctor in his famous season 18
burgundy outfit and featuring a stunning new head sculpt. He is accompanied by
the trusty K-9.
Buy Now
at
Forbidden Planet
for just
£19.99.
Kangazang with Colin Baker News Dated: 19/8/2010 Colin Baker, famous for his role as
the Sixth Doctor in BBC’s Doctor Who, has lent his vocal talents to “Kangazang”
– a new audiobook release from Candy Jar Books.
The actor, well known for creating the most flamboyant and colourful of all the
Doctors, portrays the zany Kangazang universe perfectly. Colin Baker uses a
multitude of voices to tell the story of Earthling Jeff Spooner and his alien
barber, Ray Scump, as they search for the fabled Universal Remote Control –
avoiding danger, doom and embarrassing situations as they go.
Aided by two badly programmed robots and an army of warrior Space Hoppers, our
heroes dive and try to dodge the biggest threats in the galaxy: Supreme Overlord
Kelvin (emperor of Skragg), the terminally depressed Emo people and Queen
Shelley (a bald, cannibalistic Amazon who has a score to settle from way
back)...
Joining Colin Baker is up-and-coming Welsh actress
Claire Cage, who utilises her considerable vocal talents to play three
different character roles. Claire’s previous credits include the Torchwood
episode, Sleeper, as well as Sherlock, Wire in the Blood and Casualty. Claire
also deputised for Zoe Wanamaker during The End of the World studio recordings.
Terry Cooper was also excited to provide some voices for
release. Speaking of Colin Baker, he said: “For a guy to perform for 9 to 10
hours in the studio, and keep his energy going is something I could never do. I
asked Colin if I could do some voices as well and he was totally up for that,
which proves that he doesn’t have an ego and is just a great person.”
Kangazang! – a triple CD disc set, with a bonus DVD – was actually produced in
the same building where the Doctor Who episode Blink was filmed. It contains
dramatic music and sound effects making it a richer and more immersive
experience than traditional narration-only audiobooks.
With the book attracting a drove of avid followers including the celebrity
Doctor, Colin was an obvious choice to front the audio version. In an exclusive
interview, Colin discusses his time on Doctor Who, his love of sci-fi and, of
course, Kangazang! He said: “Kangazang! coincides with my type of humour. It’s a
bit undergrad in parts – but it made me laugh and it’s got heart. I like all
that”.
The audiobook is based on the novel written by Terry Cooper,
who in the early 1990s Terry toured the UK, supporting East 17, as a member of
the rap group, Best Shot, said: “I knew straight away that I wanted Colin. With
a long career in both science fiction and audiobooks, he is a real professional
who totally understands the genre. He exceeded my expectations and really
brought the script to life.”
Shaun Russell, director of Candy Jar Books,
believes that Kangazang! has the potential to go all the way. He said: “It’s a
laugh-a-minute intergalactic road trip with a large dose of 1980s nostalgia. It
taps into the current thirst for British sci-fi like Doctor Who but, in doing
so, pushes the boundaries forward. Terry’s writing style really captures the
unique humour that has made Douglas Adams or Terry
Pratchett’s books so popular.”
To watch and listen to trailers recorded by Colin Baker, visit
www.kangazang.co.uk.
Forbidden Planet Exclusive Toys News Dated: 18/8/2010 Character Options and
Forbidden Planet
have teamed up for some more Exclusive Doctor Who Toys.
The 11th Doctor with Dalek Scientist
In this exclusive set presented is the Eleventh Doctor in burgundy shirt and
braces, and an Orange Dalek Scientist, the Doctor comes with a Sonic Screwdriver
accessory.
** Note - this toy set is in limited supplies,
order while stocks last!
Buy Now
at
Forbidden Planet
for just
£26.99.The
Master with Axon
In this exclusive action figure set comes the Master, the arch enemy of the
Doctor, as first played by Roger Delgado and the Axon creature. This set
comprises of both the Master in his iconic suit with his Tissue Compression
Eliminator weapon accessory and an Axon creature as they appeared together in
the adventure 'The Claws of Axos'.
Buy Now
at
Forbidden Planet
for just
£24.99.The
3rd Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver
In this exclusive release is an electronic version of the Third Doctor's Sonic
Screwdriver with 2 sounds and spring loaded sound activation.
Buy Now
at
Forbidden Planet
for just
£19.99.
Karen Gillan Toy Signing Event News Dated: 18/8/2010 Doctor Who Star Karen Gillan visits
Glasgow for her first in-store signing event!
Hamleys, St Enoch Shopping Centre, Glasgow
28th August 2010
12 noon - 2pm
On Saturday 28th August Doctor Who fans north of the border
will be able to meet Doctor Who star Karen Gillan as she visits
Hamleys flagship store in Glasgow, St Enoch Shopping Centre for her first
in-store signing event.
Talking about the visit Karen said “I’m so excited to be travelling up to
Scotland to introduce fans to my new Amy Pond action figure, I can’t wait to
meet everyone”
Karen who plays Amy Pond, companion to the Eleventh Doctor will be signing
copies of her action figure from 12 noon to 2pm at Hamleys flagship store in
Glasgow. From 9am fans will be able to collect a wrist band from the store to
ensure their place in the queue.
Compare Prices
for the Amy Pond Action Figure on CompareTheDalek.com.
Series 4 Specials Soundtrack -
Full Details News Dated: 10/8/2010 Silva Screen Records have sent DWO
the full details, including cover and tracklisting for Doctor Who:
Series Four - The Specials Soundtrack, due out in September.
The opening track, Vale is a cue from the larger work Vale
Decem (loosely translated as Farewell Ten), which the music builds towards as
the departure of the Tenth Doctor becomes imminent. The full version of Vale
Decem is at the end of Disc 2.
Tracklisting:
DISC 1
1. Vale
The Next Doctor
2. A Victorian Christmas
3. Not the Doctor
4. A Bit of a Drag
5. In the Sea of Memory
6. Hidden in the Closet
7. The Wonder of Balloons
8. A Forceful Intelligence
9. The Greats of Past Time
10. The March of the Cybermen
11. Goodbyes
Planet of the Dead
12. A Disturbance in the Night
13. The Cat Burglar
14. Alone in the Desert
15. A Special Sort of Bus
16. Stirring in the Sands
17. Lithuania
The Waters of Mars
18. Letter to Earth
19. By Water Borne ...
20. The Fate of Little Adelaide
21. Altering Lives
DISC 2
The End of Time
1. We Shall Fare Well
2. A Frosty Ood
3. A Dream of Catastrophe
4. All in the Balance
5. A Ruined Gaol
6. Wilf’s Wiggle
7. Minnie Hooper
8. The End Draws Near
9. Gallifrey
10. Final Days
11. The Council of the Time Lords
12. The Master Suite
13. The Ruined Childhood
14. A Chaotic Escape
15. The World Waits
16. A Longing to Leave
17. A Lot of Life Behind Us
18. Dealing with the Menace
19. Speeding to Earth
20. The Time Lords’ Last Stand
21. The Clouds Pass
22. Four Knocks
23. Song for Ten (Reprise)
24. Vale Decem
25. Vale
26. The New Doctor
DWO can also confirm that a soundtrack for Series Five will be
available in November.
Doctor Who: Series 4 - The Specials
Soundtrack is released on
20th September 2010, priced £11.99.
Compare Prices
for this CD on CompareTheDalek.com.
Time and the Rani - DVD
Cover and Details News Dated: 10/8/2010 2|Entertain have sent DWO
the DVD covers and details for Time and the Rani.
After being attacked by the Rani, the TARDIS crash-lands on the planet Lakertya.
On the floor of the console room, the Doctor begins his sixth regeneration...
In his post-regenerative confusion the Doctor is separated from his young
companion Mel and tricked into assisting the Rani in her megalomaniac scheme to
construct a giant time manipulator.
Lost on the barren surface of the planet, Mel has to avoid the Rani's ingenious
traps and her monstrous, bat-like servants, the Tetraps. She joins forces with a
rebel faction among the Lakertyans, desperate to end the Rani's control of their
planet.
The Doctor must recover his wits in time to avoid becoming a permanent part of
the Rani's plan to collect the genius of the greatest scientific minds in the
Universe...
Special Features:
• 4 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio.
• Commentary - stereo. With actors Sylvester McCoy and Bonnie Langford, writers
Pip and Jane Baker.
• The Last Chance Saloon– by 1987, senior executives at the BBC were on the
point of killing-off Doctor Who in the face of stiff fan opposition. Instead,
they decided to give the show one last chance… With actors Sylvester McCoy and
Kate O’Mara, producer John Nathan-Turner, director Andrew Morgan, script editor
Andrew Cartmel, writers Pip and Jane Baker, BBC Head of Series & Serials
Jonathan Powell and graphic designer Oliver Elmes. Written by Nev Fountain and
narrated by Richard Heffer.
• 7D FX – a look behind-the-scenes at the creation of the story’s impressive
visual effects. With visual effects designer Colin Mapson, visual effects
assistant Mike Tucker and video effects designer Dave Chapman.
• Helter-Skelter– Graphic designer Oliver Elmes and animator Gareth Edwards talk
about how they created the first CGI title sequence in Doctor Who’s history.
• Lakertya – writers Pip and Jane Baker talk about their original vision for the
lush forest planet Lakertya and director Andrew Morgan explains why he ended up
shooting it in a desolate quarry instead…
• Hot Gossip – Kate O’Mara recalls the fun of working with gossiping friends.
With Sylvester McCoy and Andrew Morgan.
• On Location– BBC Breakfast Time’s reporter Guy Michelmore visits the
production during location filming for the story’s exterior scenes and talks to
John Nathan-Turner, Sylvester McCoy, Bonnie Langford and Kate O’Mara.
• Blue Peter – Janet Ellis welcomes newly appointed Doctor Who Sylvester McCoy
to the Blue Peter studio.
• Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.
Time and the Rani is released on
13th September 2010, priced £19.99.
Compare Prices
for this DVD on CompareTheDalek.com.
The Hollywood Reporter
and
USA Today
have lifted the lid on the title for Torchwood Series Four (Torchwood:
The New World), as well as a few juicy bits of information, courtesy of
your friendly neighbourhood Russell T. Davies
and Julie Gardner.
The Hollywoord Reporter:
The new story will follow a CIA agent (Rex) and analyst (Ester) who tackle an
alien-related global issue.
Torchwood, having been destroyed and disbanded, is "like a legend now ...
it's like something that's ceased to exist and is now spoken of only in
whispers." Soon, Rex and Ester are on the run and are seeking out the help of
Captain Jack and Gwen.
"The two teams coming together is a big part of the story -- are they friends or
enemies? There's a lot of sparks and excitement."
"We definitely have a really big story to tell," added executive producer
Julie Gardner. "It's absolutely rebooted to welcome in a new
audience."
The ten episodes will be very fast paced, telling a self-contained story with
the miniseries "Children of Earth" being used as a template.
Being on Starz, the show could potentially take advantage of
looser standards for nudity and violence.
"I've always had loose standards and practices," Davies said. "If the story
demands intimacy or savagery, we will go there absolutely ... [but] there's
nothing better than a great big global thriller that stops for a sex scene --
it's probably hard to make that happen in a thriller."
USA Today:
"New" is the operative word. The team has left Wales for America, as creator
Russell T. Davies has left Britain for Los Angeles. The case will tie
the two remaining Torchwood members (Jack and Eve Myles's Gwen) to the CIA, and
will expand into a world-wide threat. And yet, says Davies, it "will be
faithful" to the BBC original.
Davies says this story, which "had been ticking away in my mind for a long
while," had not been planned as a Torchwood story at all. "And suddenly I
thought, there's a popular show, there's a great story, let's put them
together...It felt like it definitely could move forward and become new again."
Though it will be newer and bigger, the tone won't change, says Davies.
Barrowman's Jack will still be TV's only bi-sexual hero, character will still be
stressed, and humor will still play a large part in the show's make-up.
"I sit there in the editing room saying 'Don't cut that joke! Cut the plot, cut
the murder, cut the story, but don't cut the joke.'...It will always be a cheeky
show."
In the meantime, two new posters have surfaced online, produced by Starz, and
featuring images of both Captain Jack and Gwen, touting the new title and Summer
2011 airdate. [see right]
Torchwood: The New World will air
Summer 2011 on BBC One and Starz.
The Seeds of Doom - DVD
Details News Dated: 3/8/2010 2|Entertain have confirmed to DWO
that the 4th Doctor adventure, The Seeds of Doom, will be released on DVD, on
25th October 2010.
As we previously reported, Tom Baker has recorded the commentary for the
adventure.
The Seeds of Doom is released
on
25th October 2010, priced £19.99.
Compare Prices
for this DVD on CompareTheDalek.com.
The History Hunt - Due Next Week
News Dated: 31/7/2010
The History Hunt stars Karen Gillan
as Amy in a series of
exclusive, specially shot videos. Your challenge is to help Amy unlock the
Doctor's safe and you can find out how and what's at stake on Monday. But if
you're successful you'll release a special short story by Paul Cornell, writer
of Father's Day, Human Nature and The Family of Blood.
Throughout the quest you'll find out more about the Doctor's friends and places
he's visited. Plus, you'll get Amy's unique point of view about some of the
amazing people she's met during her adventures with the Time Lord.
The History Hunt is not one of The Adventure Games and does not need to be
downloaded. You can get a sneak peek of it in the video link below.
Click Here
to watch
The History Hunt
preview video.
Moffat writes 5 Episodes for Series 6
News Dated: 30/7/2010
Our friends over at Den of Geek have just
uploaded an interview with Doctor Who and Sherlock Writer / Showrunner,
Steven Moffat, who confirms he will be writing five
episodes of Doctor Who for Series Six.
Click Here
to read
Den of Geek's
interview with
Steven Moffat.
Moffat on Tom Harris MP Podcast
News Dated: 27/7/2010
Doctor Who and Sherlock Writer / Showrunner, Steven
Moffat, recently appeared on the Tom Harris MP
Podcast, to discuss the success of the shows, as well as his career as a Writer.
TARDIS Playset - Details News Dated: 27/7/2010 Character Options have released
details on the forthcoming TARDIS Playset:
Make any adventure with your 5" Doctor Who action figures come to life with this
TARDIS playset - a great reproduction of the console room from the new Eleventh
Doctor's time machine!
The TARDIS Playset is released
in
September 2010, priced £39.99.
Order Now
from
Forbidden Planet International,
for just £38.99.
Moffat's Sherlock is a huge
success News Dated:
26/7/2010
It seems that whatever Steven Moffat touches, turns to gold,
and the same can be said for his latest masterpiece, in the form of
Sherlock - a 21st century, modern-day reworking of Arthur Conan
Doyle's famed detective series.
The 90-minute episode, titled A Study in Pink, is the first of three
adventures that sees Benedict Cumberbatch (Holmes) and
Martin Freeman (Watson) team up to battle villainy in the 21st Century.
Both actors are a sheer joy to watch, and bounce off each other with an instant
chemistry that, on first glance, shouldn't work.
The filming techniques, lighting, and musical score - provided by the marvellous
David Arnold, help bridge the gap from the classic Victorian
setting, to that of modern day.
Moffat has done here, what Russell T. Davies did for Doctor Who
- he's taken a prized brand, breathed new life into it, thus enabling audiences
of (almost) all ages accessibilty, whilst creating a touchstone for the future.
It has been a long, long time since Sunday nights on BBC One were this
entertaining, and with writers like Steven Moffat and
Mark Gatiss on board, the future of the channel, and indeed the
Sherlock Holmes brand, is in safe hands.
On perusing the national tabloids and online media, it has become clear, just
how well received the episode was. In fact, we've yet to find anyone with
anything negative to say about it. The stakes have been set high for next weeks
adventure, The Blind Banker, which airs on Sunday 1st
August at
8:30pm,
on BBC One.
In writing this, DWO have just received the overnight ratings
for last night's episode of Sherlock, which achieved a fantastic 7.5m
viewers, gaining a 28.5% audience share. This makes it the third biggest
Sunday night drama in the past year for the channel.
[Source: Doctor Who Online]
Adventure Games available worldwide
News Dated: 26/7/2010
BBC Worldwide and IGN
announced today that The Adventure Games, based on the hit
series, Doctor Who, will be globally available exclusively by
Direct2Drive.com, IGN's digital retail game store. The Doctor, his
companion Amy Pond and some of the show's most iconic monsters, are making a
journey from TV to PC with the first release of Doctor Who: The
Adventure Games available from July 22nd 2010 at
www.direct2drive.com.
Doctor Who fans will be able to purchase both City of the Daleks and Blood of
the Cybermen, the first two games, from Direct2Drive for a special bundle price
of $6.99.
The games are being launched to coincide with both the season finale of the new
series which airs July 24 9/8c on BBC America, and this year’s Comic-Con
festival. The Adventure Games will be showcased at the BBC America booth in San
Diego from July 22nd.
"Doctor Who is transformative entertainment. The show has redefined the sci-fi
genre several times and now it's expanding beyond TV to become an entirely
interactive experience," says Sutton Trout, Vice President of Digital Content,
Direct2Drive. "The BBC is taking Doctor Who in a new direction yet again, moving
from the television screen to the digital world, just as Direct2Drive has helped
move games into the online realm. With the diversity of content offered at
Direct2Drive, we think we’ll make the perfect online home for the good Doctor."
"IGN is the number one destination for game enthusiasts and pop culture fans,
and Direct2Drive is one of the biggest and longest-running digital retailers of
video games," comments Robert Nashak, Executive VP of Digital Entertainment at
BBC Worldwide. "Doctor Who fans will undoubtedly enjoy the series of interactive
adventures as much as they enjoy the TV show."
"Doctor Who: The Adventure Games will offer fans a unique opportunity to enter
his world, face his challenges and grapple with his deadliest foes," says Steven
Moffat, Head Writer and Executive Producer, Doctor Who. "Now they can be the
Doctor."
The adventures take the form of downloadable computer games available for PCs,
in which players assume control of the Doctor and Amy Pond as they embark on new
journeys. For more information on the series and the game, please go to
www.bbcamerica.com/drwho.
RTD Talks Torchwood Series Four
News Dated: 26/7/2010
Speaking to SFX Magazine, Russell T. Davies
discusses Series Four of Torchwood:
So, did you always know you’d be doing more
Torchwood?
“Well it was always possible. I remember when Children Of Earth launched, you
always get asked, ‘Is this is the end or will it continue?’ and there’s no true
answer to that because you’re always in a state of suspension – if it ends, it
ends and if it carries on, it carries on. It’s too soon to give away the story,
but I’ve always had this story in mind, and the whole existence of season four
will make sense once you know what the story is. I’d already moved out here, and
it’d sort of been half in development, and then once those viewing figures came
in it went into proper development. Actually, Jane Tranter [head of BBC
Worldwide's American arm] planned this more than I ever did. For many years she
was going to move out here and do this job, and she’s always wanted dramas that
could move onto that sort of scale and be funded in this way, so it all fitted
with her plan really – it all just sort of naturally fell into place. And if
no-one had ever bought it I’d now be telling you it was naturally dead!”
So tell us about the co-production deal – this is a very different way
of doing things.
“It’s a new model for the future, of BBC Worldwide actually becoming a
production partner and making stuff for themselves. Their big thing in America
is Dancing With The Stars, which is the American Strictly Come Dancing. They
sell that format all over the world, but they actually make that for American
television and it’s hugely successful, more successful than Strictly is – this
year it overtook American Idol for the first time ever. So that’s part of
building up a production base here, of taking British ideas – and new ideas –
and making them on a worldwide scale. It’s a really good ambition, I think, and
it’s going to have to be the case more and more. If you look at things like
Dickens adaptations and Cranford, they haven’t been able to afford themselves
for decades – they’re all made with money from Boston and stuff like that.
Co-partner funding has been the future for decades now.”
I seem to remember the first series of Doctor Who was a co-production
with Canada...
“That was different – there are different levels of it. There was no
collaboration whatsoever with Canada – if they hadn’t liked a plot or some
casting it wouldn’t have mattered at all. This is the next stage, which is just
another partner, where they do have a say and they’re providing a lot of money
and a lot of input. So it’s interesting. I think it”ll happen a lot more,
especially when you’re looking at a licence fee that’s not going up with
inflation now – and it’s bound to get frozen any day now with those stupid
bastards in charge of the country! So this is the way forward! We are the
future!”
Of course, as soon as it was announced that Starz was involved, everyone on the
net started talking about Torchwood turning into Spartacus: Blood And Sand!
“Have you stuck with Spartacus? Because I was a bit off-put by the first two
episodes, and then it turns into one of the most marvellous dramas you’ve ever
seen.”
To be honest, all I saw was Charlie Brooker slagging it off on telly..
“I know, but he’s just another white middle-aged man on the internet – bless
him, but he is! Stick with that show, you’ll be really surprised. It takes three
episodes to find its feet and then it becomes amazing. ”
You’re working with a “writers’ room” for the first time with this.
That’s a very different way of working isn’t it, the American system?
“Well, it’s all writers sitting at a keyboard in the end. When everyone talks
about the British system and the American system, no-one ever factors in the
evening soap operas that we have in Britain, which are run in exactly that way,
with a writers’ room and a commissioning process. We’ve been doing it since
1960, so it’s really nothing new. And I’ve worked in that, so to sit in a room
with people doing this is nothing new to me. It’s just we can’t normally afford
to do it in Britain, whereas here because they’re in constant production,
there’s constant money paying for that system to keep people permanently on
board. We’ve some great names coming along - though I can’t say them yet – so
it’s very exciting.”
You’ve written the first episode. Will you be writing more?
“That’s still TBC, to be honest. I’d love to write more, but we’ve got a lot of
interest from other writers, and I’m happy showrunning the whole thing, so…
depends how it pans out, really! Plenty of time to decide.”
Children Of Earth went some very dark places…
“Do you think?! Actually, this story is also very dark. I think with that,
Torchwood found its feet. People found something very compelling and very
chilling about it. I love the way people got on their high horse saying, ‘Oh, he
killed his grandson!’ Hello! He saved every single child in the world! If you
would fail to do that then you’re the monster, frankly. It’s this extraordinary
treatment that only science fiction heroes get You find that. If ever a word is
said out of place by the Doctor or Captain Jack, or even by Sarah Jane
sometimes, people throw their hands up in horror, whereas in any other drama any
character is capable of any thing at any time. That’s the only way to write, and
it’s the same for these people as well. I thought it was fascinating and
challenging what he did there, but hard – it was so hard. I do think with the
whole of Children Of Earth we found a new heartland for Torchwood.
So this new series will feel consistent with that?
“It does. For faithful viewers you’ll see the same people in the same world,
following on. Though it also starts from scratch, because there’s a brand new
Starz audience there sitting waiting to be scooped up, new viewers coming to it.
But I restarted Doctor Who in 2005 from scratch, so I know what I’m doing. I did
it with Children Of Earth, actually – that practically tripled Torchwood’s
audience, and noone said to me that they were lost. So it’s a new starting point
and yet… as a faithful viewer you do get that awful feeling when something
reboots or revamps that you’re not comfortable anymore, and there’s none of
that. It’s still Gwen, it’s still Jack, and hopefully more. You’ll feel very
comfortable with it. And there’s great new American characters coming into it.
Bear in mind, of course, Captain Jack, he’s American as well, so it doesn’t seem
quite as alien, I think, as if you suddenly introduced American characters into
Emmerdale or something!”
Issue #199 of SFX Magazine
is out on 28th July 2010, priced £3.99.
Forbidden Planet Exclusive
August Toys News Dated: 26/7/2010 Forbidden Planet are releasing two
more exclusive Doctor Who figure packs this August:
The 5th Doctor & The Master (Planet of Fire) Forbidden Planet Exclusive
The 5th Doctor
His youthful appearance belied his wisdom and experience, but this Doctor still
found it frustrating that so many people questioned his judgement, especially
his companions. While on an alien planet he and his companion Peri contracted a
disease and the Doctor gave Peri the only cure, necessitating another
regeneration…
The Master from Planet of Fire
The Fifth Doctor and Turlough are on the island of Lanzarote because the TARDIS
has detected a mysterious signal being transmitted from an unknown, recently
salvaged artefact. They meet a young American botany student named Peri Brown,
whose stepfather has been replaced with a shape changing robot as part of a plot
by the Master. He plans to bring the TARDIS to the planet Sarn, so he can use
that world's revitalising Numismaton gas to restore his body, accidentally
shrunken in an accident. The Master (Anthony Ainley) is apparently defeated when
the stream of gas turns to a normal hot flame. The Doctor destroys the shape
changing robot, Kamelion, at the robot's own bidding as it has become completely
unstable. Turlough leaves to return home, while Peri leaves with the Doctor.
The 5th Doctor & The Master is released
in
August 2010, priced £24.99.
Order Now
Exclusively from
Forbidden Planet International. The 5th Doctor in Regeneration Outfit (Logopolis
/ Castrovalva) Forbidden Planet Exclusive
Following the events at the Pharos Project which caused his
regeneration, the Fifth Doctor escapes with his companions back to the TARDIS.
Suffering from post-regeneration trauma, he only narrowly manages to save the
ship from destruction as it plunges back through time to Event One, the hydrogen
in-rush that preceded the creation of the universe.
The Doctor then seeks sanctuary, with companions Tegan and Nyssa, in the
peaceful domain of Castrovalva, only to discover that it is an illusory,
dimensionally paradoxical trap set for the him by the Master, unwillingly aided
by Adric, whom he has kidnapped. The Doctor eventually wins the day by enlisting
the help of the Castrovalvan people who, although also part of the Master's
creation, are nevertheless able to exercise free will.
The 5th Doctor in Regeneration Outfit is released
in
August 2010, priced £14.99.
Order Now
Exclusively from
Forbidden Planet International.
Cumberbatch hints at Doctor Who role
News Dated: 22/7/2010
Sherlock star, Benedict Cumberbatch has
hinted (albeit subtly) at a possible role in Doctor Who in the future.
Speaking exclusively to Cult website, Digital Spy, Cumberbatch
discussed the idea:
Now that you've worked with Steven Moffat on this, do you think we'll be seeing
you on an episode of Doctor Who in the future? Not an episode of Doctor Who, no.
You don't want to do that? Not an episode of Doctor Who, no.
Do you want to be The Doctor? Maybe...We'll see, I mean, it's something that hasn't really crossed my
radar much but I think having played Sherlock Holmes it's a bit of a strange thing
to then play a small role in Doctor Who - without sounding too pompous. To hell
with it if it does sound pompous, it probably does.
I'm a huge fan of the series, and amazing people do amazing work in it, in all
parts of all episodes, but no. I'm going to keep my powder dry for this, for now
- as I said before...not an episode!
Benedict Cumberbatch can be seen
in Sherlock on Sunday 25th July, at
9:00pm on BBC One.
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 sound-track
for the series, present a selection of intergalactic music – including
Murray 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’.
Over 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, as well as learning about the series from the behind-the-scenes staff.
The concert (Dalek-inspired!) programme can be viewed at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/notes/prom10/
and provides full details of the concert, the performer’s 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 24th July is broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and
recorded for broadcast in early September on BBC Three and BBC HD. It is
audio-streamed live via the BBC Proms website at bbc.co.uk/proms and available
via the BBC iPlayer for on-demand listening for seven days after broadcast.
The Complete Fifth Series - DVD
Cover and Details News Dated: 21/7/2010 2|Entertain have sent DWO
the DVD covers and details for The Complete Fifth Series
box-set.
Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series, will be available in
stunning lenticular packaging, as well as a numbered limited edition Box-set
making it the perfect gift for Christmas.
The DVD also features some fantastic extras including exclusively filmed scenes
giving you an insight to what has happened in the TARDIS between episodes, as
well as a Matt Smith video diary, and Doctor Who Confidentials
for each episode and the Monster Diaries from each volume.
The two, specially-filmed sequences are written by showrunner, Steven Moffat,
and will be titled 'Meanwhile, in the Tardis...'.
Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series is released
in
November 2010, priced £69.99.
Compare Prices
for this DVD on CompareTheDalek.com.
Doctor Who Radio Times
Interviews News Dated: 21/7/2010 In a ‘School Holidays’ special issue of
Radio Times, Matt Smith is interviewed by Jack, 13:
What makes you different from previous Doctors?
I’m younger, so my skin is a bit smoother. What would you say makes me
different? Bigger ears? You’re crazier.
There you go, I’m crazier.
How many marks out of ten would you give yourself so far?
That’s a tough one. Let’s say eight. I’ve two episodes left, so I can still get
to ten. I don’t want to undersell myself.
We don’t often see the Doctor eat anything. My favourite food is sausage
and mash. What’s yours?
Spaghetti bolognese, banana sandwiches. I love biscuits with tea and am partial
to a chocolate muffin or two.
And also in the magazine, Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat
writes about his new project Sherlock:
"When I was a little Beano-reading Doctor Who fan – about nine or ten – I was
desperate to know more about Sherlock Holmes. It was a name I’d heard. I knew he
was some kind of policeman, I knew he had a funny hat, and I knew he was in a
film called The Hound of the Baskervilles, which once came on the telly and got
me sent to bed because it was “too frightening”. I remember lying upstairs that
night, too excited to sleep – because I could hear the baying of a terrible
hound, and the rapid-fire voice of a policeman who fought monsters. I needed to
find out more, because I knew already this was my kind of hero: if Doctor Who
had been a detective, clearly he’d have been Sherlock Holmes."
Terry Nation Biography - Book
Details News Dated: 21/7/2010
Sam Harrison of
Aurum has acquired The Man Who Invented the Daleks: The Strange Worlds of Terry
Nation by Alwyn W. Turner.
Cardiff-born Terry Nation was one of the most successful, prolific and
celebrated writers for popular television that Britain has ever produced. His
science fiction series Survivors and Blake’s 7, from the late-1970s, have been
durable cult and critical hits, one being re-made thirty years on and the other
constantly rumoured for return, while his villainous creations the Daleks
ensured, and at times eclipsed, the success of Doctor Who.
Scheduled for Spring 2011, The Man Who Invented the Daleks
will focus on
Nation’s work in the 1960s and 1970s, charting a career that also saw him join
the legendary Associated London Scripts, become chief writer for a troubled
Tony
Hancock and play a key role in hit international adventures series such as The
Avengers, The Saint and The Persuaders!.
Sam Harrison said: ‘In his acclaimed histories Crisis? What Crisis? and Rejoice!
Rejoice! Alwyn has proven himself one of the most stylish and authoritative
writers on British popular culture working today. By drawing together the
various strands of Terry Nation’s life and career, this book will offer a
captivating window onto the creative melting pot without which British
television today would look very different.’
Production starts today (Monday 12th 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!"
Filming on the Christmas special will continue until August 2010.
The Brilliant Book of Doctor
Who - Details News Dated: 12/7/2010 BBC Books have sent DWO
the details and image for the The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2011.
Celebrate the rebirth of the UK's number one family drama series
with this lavish hardback, containing everything you need to know about the
Eleventh Doctor’s first year.
Explore Amy Pond’s home village, Leadworth, read a lost section from
Churchill's memoirs that covers his adventures with the Doctor, and learn all
about the legend of the Weeping Angels. See how the Doctor's costume evolved,
how the monsters are made and discover the trade secrets of writing a thrilling
Doctor Who script. Plus exclusive interviews with all of the key players and a
few secret celebrity guests, and new fiction by Brian Aldiss…
Including contributions from executive producer Steven Moffat,
stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, and
scriptwriters Mark Gatiss and Gareth Roberts,
among others, and packed with beautiful original illustrations and
never-before-seen pictures, The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who is
the ultimate companion to the world's most successful science fiction series.
The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2011
is released on 30th September 2010, priced £12.99.
Compare Prices
for this Book on CompareTheDalek.com.
The Only Good Dalek - Details News Dated: 12/7/2010 BBC Books have sent DWO
the details and image for the The Only Good Dalek.
‘Station 7 is the most secret establishment in the whole of
Earth-Space. Even our own people don’t know it exists. It’s beyond top secret.
There’s no way the Daleks can ever find it.’
Station 7 is where the Earth Forces send all the equipment captured in
their unceasing war against the Daleks. It’s where Dalek technology is analysed
and examined. It’s where the Doctor and Amy have just arrived. But somehow the
Daleks have found out about Station 7 – and there’s something there that they
want back.
With the Doctor increasingly worried about the direction the Station’s
research is taking, the commander of Station 7 knows he has only one possible,
desperate, defence. Because the last terrible secret of Station 7 is that they
don’t only store captured Dalek technology. It’s also a prison. And the only
thing that might stop a Dalek is another Dalek…
An epic, full-colour graphic novel featuring the Doctor and Amy, as
played by Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in the spectacular hit series from BBC
Television.
The Only Good Dalek
is released on 16th September 2010, priced £16.99.
Compare Prices
for this Book on CompareTheDalek.com.
Cybermen Box set - DVD
Covers and Details News Dated: 6/7/2010 2|Entertain have sent DWO
the DVD covers and details for the Cybermen Box set.
Revenge of the Cybermen
The Doctor, Sarah and Harry arrives on the Nerva Beacon, hoping to find the
TARDIS waiting for them, instead the intrepid trio find a space station in the
grip of a deadly plague that has wiped out most of its crew. But the Doctor soon
comes to suspect that the 'plague' is no natural illness – and that some of his
oldest and most fearsome foes are behind it...
The beacon has been set up to warn space traffic of a new satellite orbiting
Jupiter, but one craft is taking no notice of the order to stay clear – a
Cybership. The satellite is Voga, Planet of Gold, home to the seemingly harmless
Vogans – but why are the Cybermen so determined to destroy it?
Without the TARDIS, the Doctor is unable to return Sarah and Harry to the 20th
Century. But then Sarah falls victim to the mystery virus, and unless the Doctor
can find a cure – quickly – she will never make it home at all...
Special Features:
• Commentary with actors Elisabeth Sladen and David Collings, producer Philip
Hinchcliffe.
• The Tin Man and the Witch - a look back at the making of the story, with
director Michael E. Briant, incoming producer Philip Hinchcliffe and outgoing
producer Barry Letts.
• Location Report - New Doctor Tom Baker is interviewed by BBC News on location
at Wookey Hole during the location shoot for the story.
• Cheques, Lies and Videotape - in the days before official VHS and DVD
releases, Doctor Who fans had no option but to swap and trade episodes with
other fans, often for extortionate sums of money. Featuring interviews with fans
Jamie Wells, Paul Jones, Dave Hankinson, David Palfreyman, Alison Lawson and
Damian Shanahan.
• Photo Gallery.
Silver Nemesis
Silver Nemesis begins in 1988 on 23rd November. Lady Peinforte and her loyal
servant Richard have travelled from the year 1638 for this moment. Herr de
Flores' dreams of establishing the Fourth Reich rest on this point in time. The
Cybermen's planned invasion of Earth is scheduled for the same time.
The link between the three? The statue Nemesis, fashioned from validium - the
living metal first made by Rassilon on Gallifrey and capable of bestowing the
power of life and death on any individual. Can the Doctor and Ace prevent its
awesome power from falling into any of their evil hands?
Special Features:
• Commentary with actors Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred, director Chris
Clough and script editor Andrew Cartmel.
• Industrial Action - cast and crew look back at the making of this story. With
actors Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Gerard Murphy, director Chris Clough,
writer Kevin Clarke, script editor Andrew Cartmel, stunt arranger Nick Gillard
and musician Courtney Pine.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes.
• Trails and Continuity - BBC1 trails and continuity announcements from the
story's original transmission.
• Photo Gallery
The Cybermen Box set is released on
9th August 2010, priced £29.99.
Compare Prices
for this DVD on CompareTheDalek.com.
Matt Smith at Glastonbury News Dated:
28/6/2010
Doctor Who actor, Matt Smith, took to the stage at this year's Glastonbury music
festival, to support Orbital, who played their rendition of the Doctor Who theme
tune.
Orbital returned 16 years after playing one of Glastonbury's most memorable
sets, which is credited with turning the festival on to dance music.
This year's festival will be remembered for the unusually sunny weather and the
number of surprise guests.
Big Finish Day News Dated: 25/6/2010 A massive one-day sale event, plus a Free audio
episode of Doctor Who to Download.
Big Finish Productions is delighted to announce that we will be
hosting a one-day internet-based event on Saturday 3rd July 2010,
beginning at 00:00 hours until midnight at www.bigfinish.com.
The centerpiece of the day is an exclusive, one-off massive sale during which
the first 50 Doctor Who main range titles will be available to buy for just £5
each, on CD or download. This price is valid for the stated 24 hours only. So,
if you’re missing anything from The Sirens of Time up until Zagreus, this is a
unique opportunity to catch up.
“We’re aware that some Doctor Who fans have never tried Big Finish,” says
executive producer Jason Haigh-Ellery. “And we’re also aware that some people
have the more recent titles but have never dipped into the back catalogue. This
is a chance for them to do so.”
For anyone who already has those 50 titles, there’s still plenty to enjoy on Big
Finish Day. We’ll be releasing – for free, and for one day only – episode one of
Cobwebs, the start of the new trilogy that reunites the Fifth Doctor with Tegan,
Turlough and Nyssa for the first time in 26 years.
“We were thrilled that Janet has elected to join the Big Finish fold,” says
executive producer Nicholas Briggs, “and I can promise that this trilogy of
Cobwebs, The Whispering Forest and The Cradle of the Snake will delight all fans
of that era. On Big Finish Day, you’ll get a chance to hear an early preview of
that brilliant TARDIS crew in action.”
As well as additional sale items, the Big Finish website will be offering a
selection of wallpapers for download, featuring some of Alex Mallinson’s most
inspired artwork.
Big Finish Day is only at www.bigfinish.com on Saturday 3rd July 2010.
The Sarah Jane Adventures:
Series Four Titles Confirmed
News Dated: 23/6/2010
The titles for the episodes in Series Four of The Sarah
Jane Adventures
have been revealed.
4.1 / 4.2: The Nightmare Man
by Joseph Lidster
4.3 / 4.4: The Vault of Secrets
by Phil Ford
4.5 / 4.6: Death of the Doctor
by Russell T. Davies
4.7 / 4.8: The Empty Planet
by Gareth Roberts
4.9 / 4.10: Lost in Time
by Rupert Laight
4.11 / 4.12: Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith
by Gareth Roberts & Clayton Hickman
The series is expected to be the biggest and best yet, due to the support from
CBBC, and hosts some brand new villains including, The
Nightmare Man, The Dark Horde, Men in Black, Tudors and Nazis!
Julian Bleach who appeared in Doctor Who as Davros and as The
Ghost Master in Torchwood, completes the set by appearing as The Nightmare Man,
in what is set to be his scariest vilain yet.
Series Four of The Sarah Jane
Adventuresis scheduled to air this
Autumn on CBBC.
The Runaway Train - CD cover
and
details News Dated: 23/3/2010 BBC Audio have sent DWO
the cover & details for The Runaway Train CD release.
The Runaway Train Featuring: The 11th Doctor
Arriving on Earth in the midst of the
American Civil War, the Doctor and Amy must get a posse together to help them
retrieve an alien artefact that has fallen into the clutches of the Confederate
Army.
The terraforming device belongs to the Cei, a race of invaders who plan to use
it to turn the planet into a new home world.
But neither the Army nor the aliens are keen to let the Doctor and his gang
interfere with their plans, and give chase across the Wild West. The only hope
of escape for the Doctor and friends is to catch the 3.25 to Arizona and race
along the newly-built transcontinental railroad...
Written specially for audio by Oli Smith, and read by Matt Smith, The
Runaway Train features the Doctor as played by Matt Smith in the acclaimed hit
series from BBC Television.
The Runaway Trainis released on
6th October 2010,
priced £8.99.
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for this product on
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The Ring of Steel - CD cover
and
details News Dated: 23/3/2010 BBC Audio have sent DWO
the cover & details for The Ring of Steel CD release.
The Ring of Steel Featuring: The 11th Doctor
When the TARDIS lands on Orkney in the near
future, the Doctor and Amy arrive to find a large demonstration in progress over
the construction of new electricity pylons. The Doctor tries to break things up
peacefully – but suddenly the road splits open without warning and swallows
police, security guards and protestors alike.
Separated from the Doctor, Amy takes charge of transporting the wounded to
hospital – but the rescue mission becomes a terrifying ride as the pylons come
to life and begin to walk and the road rears up, erupting with boiling tarmac...
The Doctor, meanwhile, has even more than metal monsters and rebellious roads to
deal with. Who is sucking the life out of the power company’s employees - and
just what is lurking inside the Astra-Gen headquarters?
Written specially for audio by Stephen Cole and read by Arthur Darvill (Rory in
the TV series), ‘The Ring of Steel’ features the Doctor as played by Matt Smith
in the acclaimed hit series from BBC Television.
The Ring of Steelis released on
5th August 2010,
priced £8.99.
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for this product on
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The Lost TV Episodes:
Collection 1 - CD cover and
details News Dated: 23/3/2010 BBC Audio have sent DWO
the cover & details for The Lost TV Episodes: Collection 1 CD release.
The Lost TV Episodes:
Collection 1 Featuring: The 1st Doctor
Dozens of Doctor Who TV episodes are lost
as visual film recordings - but they survive as audio soundtracks, digitally
remastered with additional linking narration by members of the original cast.
This handsome box set collects together five adventures which are either wholly
or partially lost from the TV archives, but which can be enjoyed in their
entirety on audio.
Presented in chronological order of transmission, the stories in this collection
are 'Marco Polo', 'The Reign of Terror', 'The Crusade', 'Galaxy 4' and 'The Myth
Makers', all starring William Hartnell as the original Doctor. Plus bonus
material.
The Lost TV Episodes: Collection 1is released on
5th August 2010,
priced £69.99.
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for this product on
CompareTheDalek.com.
The Yeti to return for Christmas?
News Dated: 18/6/2010
New Series concept designer, Peter McKinstry
has added what appears to be a redesign for classic series monster, The Yeti, to
his popular
website.
Online fan circles are already discussing the possibility of their return for
this years Christmas special.
The appearance would mark the first return of the 2nd Doctor era villian for 43
years.
Although this image has appeared online, and clearly resembles a Yeti, it is by
no means confirmation that they will return, and could just be a personal piece
of artwork that Peter has produced. As always, it is usually best to wait until
the BBC can confirm or deny the story.
Regardless of the outcome of this story, the fact remains that this is a
fantastic piece of concept art, and one that would do the furry menace justice
if and when they return.
Would you like to see The Yeti return in the New Series?
Discussin the
DWO Forums.
2005 TARDIS to be sold at
auction News Dated:
17/6/2010
A number of props from Doctor Who will go on sale next week.
The items available to buy at the Bonhams Entertainment Auction
include the Tardis used in 2005 by Christopher Eccleston. It is
expected to sell for between £8,000 and £12,000.
The oldest surviving Dalek, which appeared in a 1964 episode, is also among the
lots and has an estimate of £2,000 to £3,000.
Elsewhere, a 5ft model of the Tardis is expected to reach between £300 and £400,
while a Cyberman helmet from 1967 has a price tag of between £3,000 to £4,000.
The items will go on sale in London on June 23rd.
[Source: Digital Spy]
The Adventure Games gets 500k downloads
News Dated: 17/6/2010
The BBC has announced that the first episode
of its Doctor Who game has been downloaded over 500,000 times, with the next
episode on the way.
Episode one of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games, which features
the voices of Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, has
received 524,299 download requests in its first 12 days of availability.
The Doctor Who website hosting the online game has also seen a 67% week-on-week
increase in its unique visitor numbers in the UK.
Simon Nelson, head of the BBC's multiplatform in vision team,
said that he is "thrilled" to gain over half a million downloads for the episode
in such a short time.
Nelson said that the project has been a "real labour of love" and so he is glad
to receive "universal praise" from the Doctor Who fans.
"It's clear we've got people playing these interactive episodes who wouldn't
ordinarily play through a computer game - and the opportunity to actually be the
Doctor is hugely appealing," he said.
"Whilst the 67% increase in UK visitors to the Doctor Who website is a
combination of factors - not least the excellent Vincent Van Gogh section which
complements episode 10 - the adventure games page was a significant
destination."
On June 22, Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat will unveil the
game's second episode at a BBC Learning evening in Scotland. The new episode
will apparently feature "some of the Doctor's most fearsome enemies".
Moffat said that the way the game has captured the look and feel of the science
fiction television series is "amazing".
"Matt Smith walks like a drunken giraffe on-screen and also in-game - it's a
virtuoso virtual performance, and one I'm delighted is proving to be so popular.
Just worried I won't get any writing done, what with playing the game all the
time," he said.
"Karen is a staggering companion - literally, have you seen her when the Tardis
shakes? - and her personality is perfectly captured in these episodes. There are
some genuinely funny lines between the two, so we've really brought the TV
series into the control of families up and down the country. Half a million
download requests in 12 days - amazing."
Why Christopher Eccleston Quit
News Dated: 15/6/2010
Actor Christopher Eccleston quit Doctor Who
after one series because he "didn't enjoy the environment and the culture" of
the show.
Eccleston, who is about to star in BBC Four biopic
Lennon Naked, took on the role of the Time Lord when Russell T.
Davies revamped Doctor Who in 2005.
He told the Radio Times he was proud of the show but "wasn't
comfortable" working on it.
"I think it's more important to be your own man than be successful, so I left."
"I was open-minded but I decided after my experience on the first series that I
didn't want to do any more," he said.
"I didn't enjoy the environment and the culture that we, the cast and crew, had
to work in. I thought if I stay in this job, I'm going to have to blind myself
to certain things that I thought were wrong."
But the 46-year-old said the fact that he played the Doctor - and not that he
had quit - was "the most important thing".
"I really feel that because it kind of broke the mould and it helped to reinvent
it. I'm very proud of it."
In an initial statement announcing his exit in March 2005, the BBC said the
actor was afraid of being typecast and had found the series gruelling.
The corporation later accepted the statement was incorrect and that it had not
spoken to Eccleston before releasing it.
"They handled it very badly but they issued an apology and I dropped it," he
added.
Doctor Who Radio Times News Dated: 15/6/2010 In this weeks issue of Radio Times,
Karen Gillan talks about acting with Matt Smith
and playing Amy Pond:
“We just kind of bounce off each other. The banter that you see on screen –
that’s what we’re like all day on set. I sometimes wonder if it’s our way of
keeping our energy up between scenes, but it’s all subconscious. And I think we
might have been like that if we’d met in any other situation.”
“The one thing I never wanted to do with Amy,” she goes on, “was to base her on
any kind of formula, to conform to what works – or what has worked – in a
companion; you know, the whole, likeable, girl-next-door business. Amy is
likeable, I hope, but she’s not ordinary. She’s quite complicated and there are
layers to explore. So I was taking a few risks with her and I think it works.”
Radio Times is Out Now, priced £1.10.
BUYthis magazine from CompareTheDalek.com.
The Coming of the Terraphiles News Dated: 13/6/2010 BBC Books have sent DWO
the details and image for the The Coming of the Terraphiles.
'There are dark tides running through the universe...'
Miggea - a star on the very edge of reality. The cusp bewtween this
universe and the next. A point where space-time has worn thin, and is in danger
of collapsing... And the venue for the grand finals of the competition to win
the fabled arrow of Law.
The Doctor and Amy have joined the Terraphiles - a group obsessed with
all aspects of Earth's history, and dedicated to re-enacting ancient sporting
events. They are determined to win the Arrow. But just getting to Miggea proves
tricky. Reality is collapsing, ships are disappearing, and Captain Cornelius and
his pirates are looking for easy pickings.
Even when they arrive, the Doctor and Amy's troubles won't be over. They
have to find out who is so desperate to get the Arrow of Law that they will kill
for it. And uncover the traitor on their own team. And win the contect fair and
square. And, of course, they need to save the universe from total destruction.
A thrilling, all-new adventure featuring the Doctor and Amy, as played by
Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.
The Coming of the Terraphiles
is released on 28th October 2010, priced £16.99.
Compare Prices
for this Book on CompareTheDalek.com.
5.13: The Big Bang - Synopsis
News Dated: 11/6/2010
The BBC Press Office
website
has released the synopsis for 5.13: 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.
5.13: The Big Bang,
airs on Saturday 26th June, at TBCpm on BBC One.
Eleven Doctors Figure Set News Dated: 11/6/2010 Character Options have sent DWO
the details and image for the Eleven Doctors Figure Set.
The ultimate Doctor Who collectors set! Features all eleven
incarnations of the Doctor presented in an impressive TARDIS display box. For
ages 5 years and over.
Includes:
The First Doctor (William Hartnell)
The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton)
The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee)
The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker)
The Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison)
The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker)
The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy)
The Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann)
The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston)
The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant)
The Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith)
The Eleven Doctors Figure Set
is released in July 2010, priced £49.99.
Compare Prices
for this Toy on CompareTheDalek.com.
Tennant to star in Fright
Night remake News Dated:
9/6/2010
Former Doctor Who actor David Tennant is to star in Hollywood remake
Fright
Night, according to a US report.
The Scotsman will play a character originally portrayed by Roddy McDowall
in the 1985 movie, says industry publication The Hollywood Reporter.
The actor, who was replaced by Matt Smith as the Time Lord, will be making his
first major foray into US film.
He previously appeared in the pilot of TV show Rex Is Not Your Lawyer, which was
not made into a full series.
Fright Night, which is being made by Dreamworks, will also star
Toni Collette as
the mother of a teenager who harbours suspicions that his new neighbour - played
by Colin Farrell - is a vampire.
Russian-born actor Anton Yelchin, who appeared in Star Trek
and Terminator
Salvation, has been cast as the boy Charley Brewster.
Tennant will play Peter Vincent, a Las Vegas magician who claims to possess
expert knowledge of vampires.
The film will be directed by Craig Gillespie, whose other credits include cult
hit Lars and The Real Girl.
Work on the movie is due to start next month.
[Source: BBC News]
Infrared Battle RC Dalek
Ironside - Toy News Dated: 9/6/2010 Character Options have sent DWO
the details and image for the Infrared Battle RC Dalek Ironside
Toy.
This fully functional radio controlled Dalek Ironside has full 360
degree movement control, a built in infrared combat system which allows you to
use two Daleks to battle against each other, flashing lights and speech.
Features also include a poseable gun and arm.
Infrared battle with two Daleks requires two Daleks of different control
frequencies (27Mhz & 40Mhz). One supplied. Requires 6 x AAA batteries.
The Infrared Battle RC Dalek Ironside
is released in June 2010, priced £19.99.
Compare Prices
for this Toy on CompareTheDalek.com.
DWO Tom Baker Interview on
YouTube News Dated: 8/6/2010 DWO have now uploaded our full
audio interview with Tom Baker (The 4th Doctor) to our popular
YouTube Channel.
In the 93-Minute interview, which was recorded earlier this year, and featured
on the DWO WhoCast
Podcast, Tom discusses his time before, during and after Doctor Who, as well as
the possibility of doing a Big Finish, what it's like to be immortalised in
plastic, and why he wants to rewrite the book of Genesis!
The interview has been enhanced specially for our YouTube
Channel, together with visual slides throughout.
View the DWO (Audio) Interview with Tom Baker below, or in
HD on the DWO YouTube Channel:
Series 4 of Torchwood Confirmed
News Dated: 7/6/2010
International partnership secures new series of Torchwood.
BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Worldwide and US premium
entertainment network Starz Entertainment have today announced
a three-way co-production partnership that will develop a new series of the hit
BBC sci-fi drama Torchwood. BBC Worldwide will also distribute
the series to broadcasters globally.
The 10-episode instalment will be written by a team led by Torchwood creator
Russell T Davies and produced by BBC Worldwide
productions.
Davies and BBC Worldwide Productions' SVP Scripted,
Julie Gardner, return as executive producers with BBC Worldwide
Productions EVP Jane Tranter. The series has been commissioned
by Controller BBC One, Jay Hunt, Controller BBC Drama,
Ben Stephenson and Starz President and CEO,
Chris Albrecht.
While previous series were based on location in Cardiff, Wales, this new
instalment will see storylines widen to include locations in the US and around
the world.
John Barrowman and Eve Myles will return in their roles as
Captain Jack and Gwen respectively, along with new faces.
Announcing the commission, Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC
Drama Commissioning, said: "We have a long history of working with many US
networks, but it is incredibly exciting to be working with Starz for the first
time, as well as to be reunited with the best of British in Russell, Jane and
Julie.
"Torchwood will burst back onto the screen with a shocking and moving story with
global stakes and locations that will make it feel bigger and bolder than ever."
Jane Tranter, EVP, BBC Worldwide Productions,
added: "Torchwood has attracted remarkable attention and loyalty in both the UK
and US, and in this new partnership with Starz, the next chapter will not only
reward our current fans, but also introduce new viewers to the most impressive
instalment yet.
"We're committed to programming exceptional television that is entertaining,
imaginative and provides a premium TV experience, and by any measure the new
concept for Torchwood fits that mandate."
Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht, said: "I've been
part of successful partnerships with Jane Tranter and the BBC previously, and
I'm very much looking forward to working with them again."
Torchwood is a drama that puts extraterrestrial threats into a very real world,
and asks how humanity deals with the danger – while fighting mankind's darkest
instincts. The series was originally commissioned and produced in 2006 by
BBC Cymru Wales, with the latest high octane series capturing
UK audiences of more than 6million.
BBC Worldwide has distributed previous Torchwood series around the world to
territories such as Korea, Japan, Italy, Spain, Israel, Russia and across Latin
America.
Series 5: Volume 2 - DVD
Cover and Details News Dated: 4/6/2010 2|Entertain have sent DWO
the DVD cover and details for Series 5: Volume 2.
The Doctor’s amazing adventures continue on DVD and Blu-ray with
the second volume of the hugely popular fifth series, featuring the next three
episodes; the thrilling two-part story, written by Steven Moffat, - The Time of
Angels and Flesh and Stone - as well as The Vampires of Venice. Full of new
characters and some familiar monsters, Volume 2 is released on July 5th, priced
at £15.99.
Get ready for the re-appearance of some recognisable faces in the
two-part story of this time-travelling drama. A crashed spaceship, a shattered
temple and a terrifying climb through the maze of the dead - River Song is back
in the Doctor's life, and she's brought more trouble than even he can handle.
The last of the Weeping Angels is loose in the ruins of Alfava Metraxis, and the
Doctor is recruited to track it down. "Don't blink!" everyone tells Amy - but as
Amy is about to discover, not blinking might just be the worst thing you can do…
In the final episode on this fantastical volume, journey to Venice where
even danger is beautiful. The House of Calvierri has the whole city under its
protection, but something is very wrong. There are blood-drained corpses in the
street, something lurks in the canal, and the Calvierri girls are the loveliest
in town, except when you glance in the mirror…
Starring Matt Smith as the eleventh Doctor and Karen Gillan as Amy Pond,
this exciting new series also guest stars a wealth of British acting talent
including Alex Kingston (Doctor Who, ER), Iain Glen (Law and Order UK) and Helen
McCrory (Harry Potter).
Special Features:
• The Monster Files, a behind the scenes look at the monsters from the
collection including an up close look at the terrifying Weeping Angels -
whatever you do don’t blink!
Series 5: Volume 2 is released on
5th July 2010, priced £15.99.
Compare Prices
for this DVD on CompareTheDalek.com.
HMV Doctor Who Bag News Dated: 4/6/2010
To celebrate Monday's release of 'Doctor Who: Series 5, Volume 1'
on DVD and Blu-ray - the first to feature Matt Smith as the new
Doctor, HMV and 2|Entertain have joined forces
to produce a limited edition paper carrier bag, which will be available
exclusively to HMV customers at selected stores around the country next week
commencing 7th June 2010.
The full-colour carrier features Doctor Matt Smith and his
assistant Amy Pond played by Karen Gillan on one side and a
Dalek on the reverse, and is likely to prove a real hit with collectors and fans
of the cult TV show.
HMV stores are preparing for a rush from Monday morning, and the
special loop-handled and reinforced bags measuring 43cm x 32cm will be given out
with purchases of the new Dr Who DVD and Blu-ray as well as other titles on a
first-come-first-served basis, whilst stocks last. As per standard HMV
policy, customers can decline use of a bag if they do not require one.
HMV Marketing Planner for DVD & Blu-ray, Ben Grunbaum,
comments: "We love getting our customers closer to the music, film and games
that they themselves love, and in recent years we've produced a number of
limited edition papers bags featuring designs and images from the icons of
today's popular culture - everyone from the likes of Madonna to Avatar. These
have all proved a great hit and tend to get snapped up pretty quickly, but I
imagine the Dr Who carriers will be our most popular ever design and won't be
instore for too long. If you're not quick off the mark, you'll probably have to
rely on time travel to bag one!"
Series 5: Volume 1 is released on
7th June 2010, priced £15.99.
Compare Prices
for this DVD / Blu-ray on CompareTheDalek.com.
5.10: Vincent And The Doctor - DWO (Spoiler-Free) Preview
News Dated: 3/6/2010
Below is the DWO (Spoiler-Free) Preview for 5.10:
Vincent And The Doctor:
What
do you get when you cross the fantastic world of Doctor Who, the utterly
brilliant mind of Richard Curtis, and the world famous artist,
Vincent Van Gogh? The answer...Vincent And The Doctor
- a 45 minute televisual masterpiece worthy of the famed painter himself.
Sure the episode's
title doesn't have the bells and whistles that the words 'Dalek' or 'Cybermen'
could conjure up, but what we have here, to draw on an analogy, is a story that
paints itself throughout. With every brush stroke (nay pen stroke) that Curtis'
script delivers, we are given more colour, depth and layering that build to a
well rounded, and thoroughly appeasing story.
Ok..enough of the
painting metaphors!
In a
nutshell...The Doctor and Amy visit an art gallery to see Van Gogh's work, only
to notice a hidden menace lurking in the window of a church, in one of the
artist's famed pieces. Cue a travel back in time to get to the bottom of things.
The production team have recreated Southern France beautifully, and many of the
sets used in the story have been given the benefit of attention to detail,
the likes that a BBC period costume drama would be proud of.
Speaking of sets,
two in particular that we see used in this story, are brought to life straight
out of Van Gogh's painting. We defy you to be bowled over by the Cafe Terrace
scene, which is as accurate as is imaginely possible!
Vincent And The Doctor
is a prime example of why historical Doctor Who stories can work so well, whilst
teaching us something along the way. It's an ingredient that peppered itself
throughout William Hartnell's time on the show, and it's great
to see the winning formula back.
Like
with some of the other adventures this series, the main action actually ties
itself up sooner, allowing time at the end for a change in tone, pace and in
this story's case, the emotional deliverance that Richard Curtis
is famed for.
This story sits
comfortably in a handful of Doctor Who episodes that you could quite happily
watch over and over again, and each time you will notice something new.
Get
ready for a new favourite New Series Doctor Who episode, this is it, and it's a
stroke of genius!
(see what we did there...)
5 Things to look out for...
- More Past Doctor appearaces.
- Fantastic new gadgetry.
- A clever little nod to Indiana Jones.
- Ketchup..and Mustard...in the TARDIS?
- Buckbeak's long-lost cousin!
Commenton this preview on the DWO Blog.
5.10: Vincent And The Doctor,
airs on
Saturday 5th June, at
6:40pm
on
BBC One.
The Adventure Games - Now Online!
News Dated: 3/6/2010
The BBC have uploaded the first part of
their Doctor Who: The Adventure Games, computer game series.
The first installment, City of the Daleks, can be downloaded
for free from the BBC Doctor Who
website
and weighs in at 330MB.
Have you ever wanted to take on the Cybermen or Daleks? This is your chance to
play as the Doctor for the very first time, but don't worry, Amy's coming too.
Travel across time and space in these brand new online adventures - available
free in the UK, only on this site. Can you do battle with the Daleks, survive
Skaro and save the Earth?
Rate / Discuss
Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: City of the Daleks,
in the
DWO Forums.
5.12: The Pandorica Opens - Synopsis
News Dated: 3/6/2010
The BBC Press Office
website
has released the synopsis for 5.12: The Pandorica Opens:
The Doctor's friends unite to send him a terrible warning; the Pandorica – which
is said to contain the most feared being in all the cosmos – is opening. But
what's inside, and can the Doctor stop it?
5.12: The Pandorica Opens,
airs on Saturday 19th June, at Time T.B.C on BBC One.
Big Finish - License Renewed News Dated: 3/6/2010 Doctor Who audio procuers, Big Finish
have had their license renewed until 2012!
Big Finish is delighted to announce that its licence with
BBC Audiobooks to make Doctor Who on audio has been extended
for another year, up to December 2012.
“This is wonderful news,” says executive producer Jason Haigh-Ellery.
“All of us at Big Finish love making the Audio Adventures of Doctor Who, and
after a decade it remains both a thrill and an honour to continue doing so.”
“We have a great and fruitful relationship with both BBC Wales and BBC
Audiobooks,” adds executive producer Nick Briggs. “And long may
it continue. Big Finish and BBC Audiobooks work alongside each other to provide
the best possible range of audio productions for fans of the series. I never
forget what a great privilege it is for us to be in this position.”
“We have many plans for the future,” adds line producer David Richardson.
“The main range starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker,
Sylvester McCoy
and Paul McGann continues on a monthly basis, as do The
Companion Chronicles. You’ll be hearing more from The Lost Stories and Jago and
Litefoot. Plus... we’ve been in talks with Tom Baker, who is
eager to join the audio range for a series of full cast plays.”
“Everything was planned up until the end of 2011, so now we can forge ahead with
our plans for 2012,” says Nick. “These are exciting times indeed!”
Below is the DWO (Spoiler-Free) Preview for 5.9: Cold
Blood:
Having left Amy Pond about to be imminently dissected, and The Doctor standing
on the precipice of a Silurian Empire, this week's episode was set to be full of
promise. Thankfully it lived up to expectations, and turned out to be a
rollercoaster ride of action, action and...yep, you've guessed it...action!
The Human and Silurian races are once again given the same decision to co-habit
Earth as they were in the 3rd Doctor adventure; The Silurians.
Whether they can take the step is something that lies at the heart of the story,
and as with its predecessor, there are forces on both sides that are keen to see
things succeed and fail.
Cold Blood is a story that lives up to its title in more ways
than one. At times it is predictable, but don't let this fool you into a false
sense of security of thinking you know where it will end up. For there are
things at work in this episode that will surely come into play in the adventures
to come, and a couple of particularly important events that will have you
shouting at the screen in disbelief!
There are some truly breathtaking sets and special effects littered throughout
the episode, that help build depth and believability to the underground world.
You can't help thinking how far the show has come over the years, and just how
different it is to anything else the BBC currently has to offer.
It's hard to find fault with Cold Blood, but there's a
narrative in parts of the story, however, that feels a little unnecessary, and
sets it at odds with the fluidity of The Hungry Earth.
Like previous episodes, there are some great one-liners here. One in particular
that springs to mind is: "We're not monsters, and neither are they" - It's up to
you to guess which race utters those words...
The last five minutes feel a little rushed but the content of those said minutes
are a little jaw-dropping to say the least.
5 Things to look out for...
- A Red Handkerchief.
- Lots of running down alien corridors.
- The crack is back!
- ____ still _____ in your mind.
- Something important that Amy must remember.
Commenton this preview on the DWO Blog.
5.9: Cold Blood,
airs on
Saturday 29th May, at
7:00pm
on
BBC One.
Doctor Who 2010 Wave 1 Action
Figures News Dated: 27/5/2010 Character Options have sent DWO
the images for the forthcoming Doctor Who 2010 Wave 1 Action
Figures.
Doctor Who 2010 Wave 1 is
released in
Late June 2010, priced £8.99 each.
Compare Prices
for these Toys on CompareTheDalek.com.
The Dominators - DVD
Cover and Details News Dated: 26/5/2010 2|Entertain have sent DWO
the DVD cover and details for The Dominators.
The Dominators
The Dominators, self-acclaimed masters of the ten galaxies,
and their robot servants, the Quarks, arrive on the planet Dulkis with evil
intentions as the Doctor and his friends touch down for a peaceful holiday. Life
is about to change dramatically for the pacifist Dulcians who, with no weapons
on their planet, soon become enslaved to the Dominators.
The Dulcian Councillors, refuse to retaliate, however Cully, the rebellious son
of their leader Senex, has already joined forces with the time travellers. The
fight is on! The Doctor, Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury) join a
handful of determined Dulcians bent on outwitting the Quarks and struggling to
escape the violent brutality of the Dominators.
But the whole planet is doomed to become a mass of radioactive material - fuel
for the enemy's invasion fleet whose war mission will even spread to Earth
unless the Doctor can devise an infallible plan...
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary with actors Wendy Padbury, Frazer Hines, Giles Block and
Arthur Cox and make-up designer Sylvia James.
• Recharge and Equalise – cast and crew look back on the making of the story
with actors Frazer Hines, Felicity Gibson, Giles Block and Arthur Cox, script
editor Derrick Sherwin, co-writer Mervyn Haisman, designer Barry Newbery,
make-up designer Sylvia James and Radiophonic Workshop designer Brian Hodgson.
• Tomorrow’s Times – The Second Doctor – a looks at Doctor Who’s contemporary
media coverage in daily newspapers and other publications.
• Photo Gallery.
• Coming Soon.
• Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.
• Programme subtitles.
• Subtitle Production Notes.
The Dominators is released on
12th July 2010, priced £19.99.
Compare Prices
for this DVD on CompareTheDalek.com.
New Doctor Who Price Comparison
Site News Dated: 25/5/2010 DWO are proud to unveil our brand
new Doctor Who Price Comparison Site; CompareTheDalek.com.
CompareTheDalek.com, offers fans the ability to compare prices on thousands of
Doctor Who, Torchwood and Sarah Jane products, including; DVDs, Books, Audio,
Toys, Clothing, Magazines, Autographs, Trading Cards and more.
The site connects to Amazon.co.uk,Play.com,
The Hut, Forbidden Planet, iSubscribe
(to name a few), to make sure all the latest prices are up to date, as well as
offering direct product links to the corresponding eBay search
page.
Neil Gaiman on writing for Doctor Who
News Dated: 24/5/2010
In an article published on the BBC News
website,
Neil Gaiman discusses writing for Doctor Who.
The fantasy author Neil Gaiman has spoken of the divine power
he felt while writing his TV episode of Doctor Who.
The author of Stardust and Coraline has already submitted his story, which is
due to air in 2011.
"I don't know what it's like to be God - obviously," Gaiman told the BBC.
"Until that very first moment when you get to sit down and type the words in
your script: INTERIOR. TARDIS."
He said: "Suddenly I got a very good idea of what it must feel like. I went:
'I'm writing it now this scene in the Tardis. I'm writing it!' And that was
amazing, it was wonderful."
Gaiman met Doctor Who show-runner Steven Moffat for a script
read-through last week.
He posted a
picture
of himself on Twitter - with Moffat and writer Richard
Curtis - holding up a copy of the script. His fingers obscured the
episode title.
Gaiman said: "It's going to be shooting in August and we were going through it
and figuring out ways that money could be saved and ways we could have some
things happen faster.
The author also commented on Terry Pratchett's recent comments
in SFX Magazine that Doctor Who shouldn't be "classified as science fiction".
"Doctor Who has never pretended to be hard science fiction," Gaiman said.
"At best Doctor Who is a fairytale, with fairytale logic about this wonderful
man in this big blue box who at the beginning of every story lands somewhere
where there is a problem..."
Gaiman, whose Neverwhere TV series was shown on the BBC in 1996, said he'd had
to spend a long time "being coy" before it was revealed he was writing a Doctor
Who story.
"Now I know what I can tell people: It will be on television - and it's in
colour!"
5.8: The Hungry Earth - Overnight Ratings
News Dated: 23/5/2010
The overnight ratings are in for 5.8: The Hungry
Earth.
The episode achieved an overnight figure of
4.5m
viewers, with a 32.2% audience share.
Although this is the lowest overnight figure since the show returned in 2005,
the Audeince Share was still respectable. The drop in figures is purely to do
with the good weather in the UK, and is not a reflection of depreciating
audiences.
** This figure includes both the
BBC
One and BBC HD channels as the episode was simulcast.
Final BARB ratings will be
available in the next 10 days.
Series Five Viewing Figures so far:
5.1: The Eleventh Hour - Overnight:
8.3m (38.4%) - Final: 10.08m
5.2: The Beast Below - Overnight: 6.7m (34.0%) -
Final: 8.42m
5.3: Victory of the Daleks - Overnight: 6.2m
(32.7%) - Final: 7.82m
5.4: The Time of Angels - Overnight: 6.8m (36.7%) -
Final: 8.59m
5.5: Flesh And Stone - Overnight: 6.9m (34.5%) -
Final: 8.50m
5.6: The Vampires of Venice - Overnight: 6.2m
(30.6%) - Final: 7.68m
5.7: Amy's Choice - Overnight: 6.2m (33.0%) -
Final: Coming Soon 5.8: The Hungry Earth - Overnight: 4.5m (32.2%)
- Final: Coming Soon
Below is the DWO (Spoiler-Free) Preview for 5.8:
The Hungry Earth:
The Hungry Earth kicks off the first part of this season's
second two-parter in glorious fashion. We are yet again given a strong story
that's executed to its full potential, with some great characters that you
instantly connect with.
Meera Syal puts in a great performance as Dr Nasreen Chaudhry,
who gets a little taster of what it's like to be a companion. Similarly, young
Samuel Davies puts in a choice performance as the show's first
dyslexic character, Elliot, who shares a poignant scene with The Doctor
regarding his past.
Amy Pond is given very little to do in the episode, and without giving too much
away, Rory is given a little more to do than usual as a result. We see
Arthur Darvill's character much more comfortable as a member of the
TARDIS team by now, and one can't help hoping he stays.
It is no secret that the story sees the long-awaited return of The Silurians
(minus the Myrka...so far). In fact, we don't actually see a Silurian until a
fair way into the episode, after a rather suspenseful 25 minutes. The
lizard-like monster has been beautifully redesigned with a clever little
accessory that bridges the old look, with the new.
Once more the line between the Classic Series and the New Series has been
blurred, and it is definitely something that will please the traditionalists. In
what feels a bit like an updated retelling of Jon Pertwee's
The Silurians, writer; Chris Chibnall has clearly done his homework
and produced a thrilling script that has been completed with relish.
As a comparative, The Hungry Earth is Series Two's The
Impossible Planet meets Avatar - and one scene at the
end, in particular, is as visually stunning and breath-taking as the latter.
As for the cliff-hanger, we are given more than just one situation that needs to
be resolved, and there's a sense of urgency that will have you screaming at the
TV as the credits roll.
Truly, wonderful stuff here. The Hungry Earth is another set
piece that raises the stakes in a series that is getting better and better, and
leaving the viewer wondering how on earth it can be excelled.
5 Things to look out for:
- The Silurians have a new deadly way of attacking you!
- The Doctor's coolest sunglasses ever!
- 2 x Amy & Rory's?
- A church refuge a la Father's Day.
- Blue Grass
Commenton this preview on the DWO Blog.
5.8: The Hungry Earth,
airs on
Saturday 22nd May, at 6:15pm
on
BBC One.
Series Five Finale Titles Announced
News Dated: 19/5/2010
The BBC Doctor Who website has confirmed the
titles for the final two episodes of Series Five.
5.1: The Eleventh Hour
5.2: The Beast Below
5.3: Victory of the Daleks
5.4: The Time of Angels
5.5: Flesh And Stone
5.6: The Vampires of Venice
5.7: Amy's Choice
5.8: The Hungry Earth
5.9: Cold Blood
5.10: Vincent and The Doctor
5.11: The Lodger 5.12: The Pandorica Opens
5.13: The Big Bang
DWA Magazine Shortlisted for Maggies News Dated: 18/5/2010 Doctor Who Adventures Magazine has
been shortlisted in the top 40 for cover of the year in this year's
Maggies Awards.
Issue #131 of the popular Doctor Who kids magazine, just managed to edge its way into the
shortlist at position #39, for the best cover of 2009.
Members of the public can vote for their favourite cover by visiting the
Maggies
website.
Doctor Who Live News Dated:
17/5/2010 BBC Worldwide has announced a series of arena dates for the
very first production of Doctor Who Live.
The new stage show, based upon the BBC’s smash-hit, award-winning series Doctor
Who, promises to deliver a spectacular audio/visual experience featuring live
music, special effects and appearances from the show’s most popular monsters.
Taking in nine cities and 25 dates, Doctor Who Live kicks off in London at
Wembley Arena on 8th October, and will visit Sheffield,
Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff and Liverpool, culminating
in Belfast on the 7th November.
Developed in association with Doctor Who’s Executive Producer and show runner,
Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Live promises the same excitement,
adventure and suspense that viewers have come to expect from the TV programme
and will feature specially filmed new video scenes.
Steven Moffat said: "This is everything I ever wanted since I
was eleven. A live show, with all the coolest Doctor Who monsters, a proper
story, and brand new screen material for Matt Smith's Doctor!
I'll be writing scenes for it, and probably attending every single night!"
Opening in wartime London and concluding in an epic onstage battle, audiences
should expect the unexpected as the The Doctor’s arch-enemies the Daleks are
joined by some of the best-loved and most terrifying monsters from the TV series
including the Cybermen, Weeping Angels, Judoon and Oods to name but a few.
With an out-of-this-world set, Doctor Who Live will feature special FX, optical
illusions and spectacular pyrotechnics building to an epic finale. Specially
edited video clips, drawn from the TV Programme will be shown on a massive
screen and accompanied by the music of longtime Doctor Who composer Murray Gold.
These iconic scores will be brought to life by a 16 piece orchestra live on
stage.
Murray Gold said: "The live element always adds something extra, but these will
also be brand new arrangements for a new band of very talented musicians. It's
very exciting."
Doctor Who Live has been conceived as a fully immersive music and monsters
spectacular. Please note that actors from the TV series will not be appearing
live on stage.
Tour Dates: 8th, 9th and 10th October - London - Wembley Arena 12th and 13th October - Sheffield - Sheffield Arena 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th October - Glasgow - Glasgow SECC 18th, 19th and 20th October - Birmingham - Birmingham NIA 22nd, 23rd and 24th October - Manchester - Manchester Evening News Arena 25th and 26th October - Nottingham - Nottingham Trent FM Arena 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st October - Cardiff - Cardiff International Arena 2nd, 3rd November - Liverpool - Liverpool Echo Arena 6th and 7th November - Belfast - Belfast Odyssey Arena
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 21st May 2010.
Ticket Information:
Tickets are priced at £38.50, £34.50 and £25.00 subject to booking fees.
Belfast Odyssey Arena only:
Tickets are priced at £42.50, £37.50 & £27.50 and may be subject to service
charges.
Please note that for Belfast Odyssey Arena, the ticket prices are higher as
booking fees and agency commissions are included in the ticket price - this is
standard practice for shows in Northern Ireland.
Ticketmaster 24 hour ticket hotline 0844 847 1963
Click Hereto visit the
Doctor Who Live
website.
[Source: Taylor Herring]
