Doctor Who: Into The Vortex

Monday, 30 September 2024 - Reported by Marcus
Vortex 1 (Credit: Panini)

The makers of Doctor Who Magazine present a lavish, 224-page bookazine in an exclusive slipcase.

Into the Vortex covers the entire history of the world’s longest-running science-fiction series, with details and highlights of all 311 television stories, plus sections dedicated to the series’ best-known monsters, villains and other characters. 

Newcomers to the show will find this the perfect way to navigate the huge archive of episodes on the BBC’s iPlayer, while longtime fans will find new and surprising insights into the television adventures of all 15 Doctors.

Editor Marcus Hearn says

It’s been many years since DWM published a guide to every television story. Into the Vortex brings us right up to date and approaches this vast subject from a new angle. I’ve reserved a place for it on the shelf where I keep my DVDs and Blu-rays!”

Doctor Who: Into the Vortex is available now  from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £19.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £18.99.

 
 
 
 
Vortex 2 (Credit: Panini)Vortex 3 (Credit: Panini)Vortex 4 (Credit: Panini)Vortex 5 (Credit: Panini)




FILTER: - DWM

David Graham 1925-2024

Friday, 20 September 2024 - Reported by Marcus
David Graham (Credit: David Graham)

The actor David Graham, one of the original voices of the Daleks, has died at the age of 99. Graham was also the voice of Parker in Thunderbirds and Grandpa Pig in the TV series Peppa Pig.

David Graham was one of two actors who provided the distinctive staccato tones of the Daleks in their first story screened in 1963. Along with Peter Hawkins, the sound of the metal monsters was a great part of their success, easily imitated by children in playgrounds across the nation. He told the Daily Mirror 

We adopted this staccato style then they fed it through a synthesiser to make it more sinister

Graham later provided the Dalek voices in The Dalek Invasion of Earth in 1964 and The Chase and The Daleks' Master Plan in 1965.  In 2023 he recorded new Dalek voices for the 60th Anniversary special project The Daleks in Colour. 

Producer Benjamin Cook said

At 98, his performance was as sharp and commanding as it was in those '60s stories. 

As well as providing his vocal talents to Doctor Who David Graham also appeared on screen in several roles. His most noteworthy appearance was as Kerensky the mad scientist working for  Count Scarlioni in 1979's City of Death.  Other roles included the bartender Charlie in The Gunfighters in 1966

 

David Graham was born in London on 11 July 1925. After service in the Royal Air Force as a radar mechanic he trained as an actor in New York City. 

His break into TV came in 1958 when he met writer and producer Gerry Anderson, who was planning his first puppet productions. His first voiceover role was as Grandpa Twink in Four Feather Falls. Many roles followed and in 1965, Graham became the voice of Gordon Tracy, Brains, Aloysius Parker and Kyrano in Thunderbirds. He reprised the role of Parker for an ITV remake of the show in 2015, called Thunderbirds Are Go! and was the only original cast member to return.

 Gerry Anderson wrote:

We’re incredibly sad to confirm the passing of the legendary David Graham. The voice Parker, Gordon Tracy, Brains and so many more. David was always a wonderful friend to us here at Anderson Entertainment. We will miss you dearly, David. Our thoughts are with David’s friends and family.

Graham appeared in Callan, Timeslip, So Haunt Me, Danger Man, The Saint, Howards' Way, Softly, Softly, Armchair Thriller, Ace of Wands, Justice, The Regiment, The Bill, The Fixer, The Sentimental Agent,Timeslip and The Avengers, in the 1963 episode Man in the Mirror. In the 1984 commercial introducing the Apple Macintosh, he played the role of Big Brother. 

In 2004, Graham became the voice of Grandpa Pig in Peppa Pig, introducing his voice talents to a new generation. 





FILTER: -

Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 608

Thursday, 12 September 2024 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 608 (Credit: Panini)Issue 608 of Doctor Who Magazine is released today

Inside this issue

  • Join DWM at rehearsals for the Doctor Who Prom! We talk to host Catherine Tate, composers Murray Gold and Segun Akinola and exec producer Julie Gardner.

  • Voice of the Daleks, and Big Finish boss, Nicholas Briggs talks about the challenges presented by the live performance of audio drama The Stuff of Legend, and his experiences on the TV show itself.

  • Script to Screen! Discover how Dot and Bubble’s monstrous Mantraps were brought to life!

  • Ahead of the release of Season 25 on Blu-ray, we interview Kandy Man actor David John Pope.

  • The concluding part of our in-depth chat with 80s designer John Asbridge, covering his work on Silver Nemesis and The Happiness Patrol…

  • Cyber Leader David Bank face the Memory Worm – will he remember the highlights of his Doctor Who career?

  • DWM presents an indispensable guide to Doctor Who-related activities around the UK…

  • …and checks in with the Worlds of Wonder exhibition as it reaches New Zealand.

  • Doctor Who fan Danny Howroyd shares his experiences of working on 73 Yards as a supporting artist.

  • Back to 1964 – viewers left bereft as Doctor Who goes off air for the first time!

  • The Fact of Fiction – we examine the Twelfth Doctor’s encounter with Davros in The Witch’s Familiar…

  • A brand-new comic strip adventure with the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby.

PLUS!

  • Gallifrey Guardian – the latest news from the Whoniverse – including details about new books and audio releases!

  • Shelf Life – including reviews of the latest action figure exclusives.

  • Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.

  • Prizes to be won including the new comic collection Black Sun Rising.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 608 is on sale Thursday 12 September from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.

 




FILTER: -

Richard Morris

Thursday, 5 September 2024 - Reported by Marcus
Richard Morris (Credit: Richard Morris)

The designer and producer Richard Morris has died. 

Richard Morris designed the 1974 Third Doctor story Invasion of the Dinosaurs.  

His work on the six-part story included offices and meeting rooms in a deserted London and a mocked-up spaceship under the city. He spoke about his experiences with Doctor Who on the DVD Extra People, Power and Puppetry released with the story. 

After training at the Hammersmith School of Art and Building, Morris had a long career with the BBC, joining as an Assistant Designer in 1964, recruited to help service the new channel BBC Two. 

Over the next 40 years, his drama credits included, Dr. Finlay’s Casebook, Middlemarch, The Onedin Line, Secret Army, Angels, The Survivors, Wings, The Venturers, Artists and Models, The Women in White and Noel Coward’s Bon voyage,  He was BAFTA nominated for the designs for When the Boat Comes In.

He worked on many light entertainment shows such as The Royal Variety Performance(1988) at the London Palladium, five series of Bruce Forsyth’s Generation Game, shows for The Two Ronnies (The worm that Turned & By The Sea, Kenny Everett, Terry Wogan, Michael Parkinson, Ken Dodd, Dave Allen, Paul Daniels,

One of his best-loved creations was the set for Acorn Antiques for Victoria Wood, As Seen on TV

Moris also designed Call Up the Stars, Going for Gold, Take Your Pick, Raise the Roof, Beyond Belief with David Frost and Some Mothers Do Have ‘Em 

In 2003 he set up Richard Douglas Productions a joint venture with his friend, Marketing Executive, Doug Pinchin. Together they produced several shows for London's West End including Hey, Old Friends, an 85th Birthday tribute to Stephen Sondheim, performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. 





FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Production Begins on The War Between The Land And The Sea

Friday, 23 August 2024 - Reported by Marcus

The War Between the Land and the Sea (Credit: BBC Studios)

The BBC has released an image showing the cast of the new Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, which entered production today. 

In the series, Ruth Madeley and Colin McFarlane reprise their roles as UNIT’s Shirley Anne Bingham and Torchwood’s General Pierce, alongside the previously announced Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jemma Redgrave, and Alexander Devrient.

The first Doctor Who spin-off series between the BBC and Disney+, is created by Doctor Who Showrunner and Executive Producer Russell T Davies, who has written the series with Executive Producer Pete McTighe (A Discovery of Witches, The Pact, Doctor Who).

When a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity, an international crisis is triggered. With the entire population at risk, UNIT step into action as the land and sea wage war.

The five-part series will be directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, director of two Doctor Who Season One episodes – ‘73 Yards’ and ‘Dot and Bubble’.

 





FILTER: - War

Catherine Tate to host the Doctor Who Prom

Wednesday, 21 August 2024 - Reported by Marcus
Catherine Tait (Credit: BBC)

Tenth Doctor Companion Catherine Tate will host the Doctor Who Proms next Monday. 

The two concerts take place on Monday 26 August at 2.30 pm and 7 pm at the Royal Albert Hall and will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 at 7 pm, and will be shown on BBC TV later in the year

Tate is known for playing the role of Donna Noble in the 2006 Doctor Who Christmas special, 2008’s fourth series, the subsequent 2009-2010 Christmas and New Year's specials, and the 60th-anniversary specials in 2023, and previously appeared as a surprise guest at the 2008 Doctor Who Prom.

Catherine Tate says

I’m delighted to be hosting this spectacular BBC Prom celebrating all things Doctor Who at the iconic Royal Albert Hall. I am so looking forward to immersing myself  in the music of the brilliantly enduring, shape-shifting Whoniverse, and celebrating the Doctors' adventures (and maybe a few monsters) with you all.

The Doctor Who Prom will be conducted by Alastair King and performed by the orchestra that records the Doctor Who soundtrack: the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW), who will be joined by international star soprano Aida Garifullina and singers Shahid Abbas Khan, Hollie Buhagiar, Lucie Jones and Tobias Turley, and the London Philharmonic Choir.

With previous Doctor Who Prom events held in 2008, 2010 and 2013, this year’s Prom will be a brand-new show celebrating the latest adventures of the Doctor and showcasing Murray Gold’s music for the series. The Prom will feature specially arranged pieces from the most recent series starring Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday and will also include music from the 60th-anniversary specials, as well as favourites from Murray Gold’s long association composing for the series. Alongside Murray Gold, the Prom will also be featuring Segun Akinola’s music which was specially created for Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor.

Complete with specially edited sequences from the series shown on big screens around the Royal Albert Hall, audiences can expect appearances from monsters old and new and at least a surprise or two!  

The Doctor Who Prom will be available on BBC Sounds for 30 days. It will be audio-described by Timna Fibert and British Sign Language-interpreted. 

The BBC Proms 2024, currently in the fifth week of its eight-week season, continues to see a record-breaking number of ticket sales so far, with tickets still available to purchase. Returns are often available via the Royal Albert Hall website and Box Office and up to 1,000 Promming tickets are released each day for every single Prom, priced at £8 inclusive of booking fees.





FILTER: - Music

Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 607

Thursday, 15 August 2024 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who Magazine:  Issue 607 (Credit: Panini)

Doctor Who Magazine, Issue 607 is out today.

Inside this issue

  • The concluding part of our access-all-areas coverage of this year’s apocalyptic season finale. We speak to NCUTI GATWA, MILLLIE GIBSON, RUSSELL T DAVIES, director JAMIE DONOUGHUE, plus Mrs Flood herself – ANITA DOBSON.

  • Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill talk to DWM about a new series of audio adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz.

  • Behind the scenes at San Diego Comic-Con with executive producer Julie Gardner.

  • Find out all about the making of Madame Tussauds’ stunning Fifteenth Doctor wax figure, with sculptor Stephen Mansfield and set designer Amanda So.

  • Russell T Davies shares his experiences of visiting the Madame Tussauds exhibit.

  • June Hudson on becoming the victim of the devilish Maestro.

  • Bonnie Langford talks to Jacqueline Rayner about Mel’s continuing adventures in print.

  • A previously unpublished interview with eighties producer John Nathan-Turner.

  • The first of a two-part interview with Seventh Doctor set designer John Asbridge.This issue he talks about his work on Delta and the Bannermen and Dragonfire.

  • Find out all about the new mobile game Worlds Apart.

  • Discover the links between Pertwee radio drama Paradise of Death and Dennis Potter!

  • Join us for a night out at the Gallifrey Cabaret.

  • The Fact of Fiction – we examine the Twelfth Doctor’s encounter with Davros in The Magician’s Apprentice…

  • Comic strip adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby.

PLUS!

  • Gallifrey Guardian – find out all about the new spin-off series: The War Between the Land and the Sea.PLUS – casting for this year’s Christmas Special, a Star Trek crossover, and forthcoming audio releases!

  • Shelf Life: We take a look at the latest audio dramas and the new Fifteenth Doctor Target Books.

  • Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.

  • Prizes to be won including the Eighth Doctor’s clash with the Daleks in audio drama The Stuff of Legend.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 607 is on sale Thursday 15 August  from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.

 




FILTER: - DWM - Fifteenth Doctor

Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition: The Missing Doctor Who

Saturday, 3 August 2024 - Reported by Marcus
The Missing Doctor Who (Credit: Panini)

Doctor Who Magazine has released a new Special Edition: The Missing Doctor Who

This issue reveals the results of the ‘League of Legends’ poll, which asked readers to name the ‘lost ’ episodes they’d most like to watch.

But that’s just the beginning of a journey into the most mysterious corners of the Whoniverse.

Editor Marcus Hearn says

We’ve extended the definition of ‘missing Doctor Who’ wider than ever before. Within these pages you’ll find articles about filming locations that have disappeared,merchandise that never made it to shops and a remarkable Tenth Doctor story that was never produced.

Other highlights include CG reconstructions of sets from The Daleks’ Master Plan and The Space Pirates, and a new insight into the making of The Smugglers.

There are exclusive interviews with Carole AnnFord, Wendy Padbury, Anneke Wills, Macra Terror director John Davies and others. Ths issue is packed with exclusive features and rare photos

Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition: The Missing Doctor Who is on sale Thursday 1 Augus from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £9.99 (UK).

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £8.99.

The Missing Doctor Who (Credit: Panini)The Missing Doctor Who (Credit: Panini)The Missing Doctor Who (Credit: Panini)The Missing Doctor Who (Credit: Panini)




FILTER: - DWM

Ken Ledsham

Sunday, 28 July 2024 - Reported by Marcus
Ken Ledsham (Credit: BBC Studios)

The designer Ken Ledsham has died. 

Ken Ledsham designed three stories for Doctor Who. 

In 1978 he worked on the first story of the Key to Time series, The Ribos Operation creating the ice world where the first segment of the key was hidden. He returned the following year to design the return of the Daleks after a five-year gap in Destiny of the Daleks. His final commission for Doctor Who was on The King's Demons in 1983 designing the court of King John and introducing the robot Kamelion.

Earlier in his career, he had been a design assistant on the Third Doctor story The Time Monster.

Ledsham had a long career with BBC Television working on stories such as Tenko, Blake's 7, When the Boat Comes In, Diana, The House of Elliot, Campion, Bergerac, Secret Army and several episodes of Blake's 7.

He was nominated for a BAFTA for his work on House of Cards, the political series directed by Paul Seed, who had played the Graff Vynda-K in The Ribos Operation





FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Star Trek and Doctor Who Unite for Intergalactic Friendship Day

Sunday, 28 July 2024 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who V Star Trek

The universe of Doctor Who will synchronise with the universe of Star Trek in a new game developed by East Side Games Group, specially designed to mark International Friendship Day.

The meeting between the two beloved sci-fi franchises occurs in a new story specially made that spans galaxies and time in the two mobile games Star Trek: Lower Decks Mobile and Doctor Who: Lost in Time

This crossover will be brought to life in a limited-time event in both games starting on August 1st. Fans will be treated to the same thrilling story, experienced from two unique perspectives.

Kevin Jorge, Head of Games at BBC says

We are beyond excited to bring together these iconic franchises for a crossover event that fans have only dreamed about. This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to explore a brand-new storyline where The Doctor and Star Trek characters can work together!

The player will experience the story of a mysterious space-time ripple that throws the Doctor onboard Star Trek: Lower Deck’s U.S.S. Cerritos, while Lieutenant Brad Boimler and Ensign Beckett Mariner find themselves thrust into the enigmatic Doctor Who universe. With the ripple disrupting the very fabric of reality, the Doctor must join forces with the resourceful crew of the Cerritos, while Boimler and Mariner team up with the legendary River Song. Together, they race against time to repair the ripple and set things right.

Doug Rosen, SVP, Games and Emerging Media at Paramount says

It’s been thrilling to bring together an iconic sci-fi franchise like Star Trek with another timeless franchise like Doctor Who in an unprecedented mobile game event,. We can't wait for fans of both of these series to experience the magic that happens when these two worlds collide.   

Download the games today and prepare for the ultimate sci-fi crossover event of the summer!

 




FILTER: - Games