The Daleks Return: Deal Worked Out for New Series - Updated!
Wednesday, 4 August 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Great news this morning: the BBC and the Terry Nation Estate have achieved an agreement that allows the Daleks to return to Doctor Who in the new TV series, despite word to the contrary earlier in the year. Tim Hancock of the Terry Nation estate told BBC News, "I am absolutely delighted that the Terry Nation estate and the BBC have been able to reach agreement on terms for the use of the Daleks in the new Doctor Who series. We look forward to working closely with the production team in the forthcoming months." The Nation estate, said BBC News, had accused the BBC of trying to "ruin the brand of the Daleks" by trying to wrestle control of the image. "We are absolutely delighted that the Daleks will be back," publicist Antony Wainer of the DWAS told BBC News. "Doctor Who without Daleks would be like Morecambe without Wise or Wimbledon without strawberries." By the way, for those wondering: this was NOT a publicity stunt. According to several sources, this went straight down to the wire, a desire by both sides to reach an equitable agreement. There was never any attempt to use the "will they/won't they" as a publicity tactic for the new series (and we get that straight from the source). The Sun newspaper, naturally, is claiming "victory" in their "campaign" to bring back the Daleks (obviously unaware that they likely had nothing whatsoever to do with it) and the Media Guardian has an amusing quote in their August 4 edition: "Oh Lordy. Stand by for a gloating 'It was the Sun wot won it' style headline in tomorrow's current bun, after the BBC today announced that the Daleks would, indeed, be returning to give Chris Eccleston the willies in the new Doctor Who series. The Sun will no doubt be claiming its Save The Daleks campaign - launched last month after the BBC said negotiations with the estate of Doctor Who writer Terry Nation to bring the croaky-voiced baddies back had broken down - made all the difference. Maybe they have a point. After all, the impact of plastering a Dalek with Sun stickers, a Sun hat and a cross of St George flag and wheeling it through New York's Times Square, accompanied by reporter Bryan Flynn, should not be underestimated."
We're keeping track of the various news reports that come in as this story breaks (thank you Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Chuck Foster, Richard Kirkpatrick); the following is the running list of news reports as we get them.
Also covered in the Associated Press, the Daily Mail, Belfast Telegraph, South Wales Echo, the Times, the Journal, the Birmingham Post and various other publications and online sources.
The following is a press release issued by the BBC a short while ago (with thanks to the BBC website).
We're keeping track of the various news reports that come in as this story breaks (thank you Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Chuck Foster, Richard Kirkpatrick); the following is the running list of news reports as we get them.
Also covered in the Associated Press, the Daily Mail, Belfast Telegraph, South Wales Echo, the Times, the Journal, the Birmingham Post and various other publications and online sources.
The following is a press release issued by the BBC a short while ago (with thanks to the BBC website).
Mal Young, BBC Controller of Continuing Drama Series and Tim Hancock, agent for the Terry Nation Estate announced today (Wednesday, August 4) that the Daleks will return in the new series of Doctor Who which is currently in production for transmission on BBC One in 2005.
Hancock says: "I am absolutely delighted that the Terry Nation Estate and the BBC have been able to reach agreement on terms for the use of the Daleks in the new Doctor Who series. We look forward to working closely with the production team in the forthcoming months."
Young added: "As well as coming face-to-face with a number of new and exciting monsters, its good news that the Doctor will also do battle with his arch enemy, the Daleks in a series which promises to surprise and entertain a new generation."
Starring Christopher Eccleston as Doctor Who and Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, the Doctor's companion, the new 13-part series is currently filming in Cardiff and London for transmission in 2005. Casting also includes Penelope Wilton (Calendar Girls), Noel Clarke (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet), Annette Badland (Cutting It), Camille Coduri (England Expects) and John Barrowman (who is currently in the West End production of Anything Goes).
Doctor Who is produced by Phil Collinson. The writers are Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Paul Cornell and Robert Shearman. Executive producers are BBC Controller of Continuing Drama Series, Mal Young; Head of Drama, BBC Wales, Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies.
Hancock says: "I am absolutely delighted that the Terry Nation Estate and the BBC have been able to reach agreement on terms for the use of the Daleks in the new Doctor Who series. We look forward to working closely with the production team in the forthcoming months."
Young added: "As well as coming face-to-face with a number of new and exciting monsters, its good news that the Doctor will also do battle with his arch enemy, the Daleks in a series which promises to surprise and entertain a new generation."
Starring Christopher Eccleston as Doctor Who and Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, the Doctor's companion, the new 13-part series is currently filming in Cardiff and London for transmission in 2005. Casting also includes Penelope Wilton (Calendar Girls), Noel Clarke (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet), Annette Badland (Cutting It), Camille Coduri (England Expects) and John Barrowman (who is currently in the West End production of Anything Goes).
Doctor Who is produced by Phil Collinson. The writers are Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Paul Cornell and Robert Shearman. Executive producers are BBC Controller of Continuing Drama Series, Mal Young; Head of Drama, BBC Wales, Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies.
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