Bedford Who Charity Con

Friday, 3 March 2017 - Reported by Marcus
The third Bedford Who Charity Con takes place on Saturday 8th April – and readers of Doctor Who News can get 10% off their tickets.

Bedford Who Charity Con is supporting Bedford Foodbank; every month, they provide emergency food to some 500 local adults and children in crisis. Doctor Who fans in the area have managed to raise £8000 in the last twelve months. The Foodbank will receive everything made at the convention, once costs have been covered.

Bedford Who Charity Cons have established a strong reputation as fun, relaxed, friendly and informal events, with audiences and guests equally effusive in their praise. This year, Maureen O’Brien will be making a rare convention appearance alongside Peter Purves, Geoffrey Beevers, Neve McIntosh, Anneke Wills and Mike Tucker.

Tickets for Bedford Who Charity Con 3 cost £42.50 for adults, £22.50 for 14-18 year olds and full time students, and £15 for under-14s. Family tickets are also available.

To secure your 10% discount, you need to email Simon Danes on info@bedfordwhocharitycon.co.uk and mention that you saw the event advertised on Doctor Who News. Tickets are also available direct from the venue, The Quarry Theatre in Bedford, but you need to contact Simon to activate the discount.

Further convention details are on the website and Facebook page




FILTER: - Charities - Conventions

Win tickets to TV Utopia

Friday, 6 January 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
We have a pair of tickets up for grabs for the TV Utopia convention which takes place on the weekend 20th-22nd January, courtesy of organisers Fantom Films. To be in with a chance to win the tickets, simply answer the following question:

Name the autobiography of TV Utopia guest Derek Fowlds, recently released by Fantom Publishing.

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-fantom@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Tuning In". The competition is open to UK readers only, closing date 13th January 2017. Only one entry per household will be accepted.


TV Utopia

Come and enjoy a weekend in the gorgeous Eynsham Hall in Oxfordshire with likeminded fans, for what is set to be an unmissable weekend looking at the best in drama, light entertainment, children's television, science fiction and fantasy!

Over the weekend you will be able to watch interviews, collect autographs, pose for photos and meet some of your television favourites.

Friday night entertainment will include on stage activities and a classic TV pub quiz, plus rarely seen television treats courtesy of Talking Pictures, whilst on the Saturday evening teams led by two celebrity captains will be taking to the stage in Fantom's version of Telly Addicts! Plus vintage TV treats courtesy of Kaleidoscope.

TV Utopia promises to be a very special celebration of British Television and the actors and creatives who have made their mark on the television landscape.

Guests include: Louise Jameson, Lalla Ward, Derek Fowlds, Patricia Brake, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran, Ann Mitchell, Richard Dempsey, Sophie Cook, Lisa Geoghan, Cindy Shelley, Eric Richard, Sarah Phelps, Chris Perry (Kaleidoscope), and Sarah Cronin-Stanley / Neill Stanley (Talking Pictures).




FILTER: - Competitions - Conventions - Fantom

The Sarah Jane Adventures - Ten Years On

Sunday, 1 January 2017 - Reported by Marcus
Today marks the Tenth anniversary of the transmission of the first episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The Doctor Who spin-off, starring the late Elisabeth Sladen, made its debut on BBC One at 4.51pm on New Year's Day 2007, with a special 60 minute special written by Russell T Davies and Gareth Roberts called Invasion of the Bane.

Also starring Samantha Bond, Yasmin Paige, Tommy Knight, Porsha Lawrence-Mavour and the voices of John Leeson and Alexander Armstrong, the episode led to a full series being comissioned, which was screened later that year. The Sarah Jane Adventures would run for five series, only ending after the death of star Elisabeth Sladen during the making of series five.

To mark the Anniversary a special Celebration video has been released on YouTube by The Attic, the group organising a reunion event for the series in Cardiff this summer.

Guests will include Tommy Knight, Daniel Anthony, Yasmin Paige, Anjli Mohindra as well as Elisabeth Sladen's husband and daughter, Brian Miller and Sadie Miller.

The day will raising money for Ty Hafan, a children's hospice based in Cardiff.

Full details on The Attic Website.

Celebration Video.




FILTER: - Conventions - Sarah Jane

Germany News

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 - Reported by Pascal Salzmann
TV Movie German Blu-Ray Collector's Edition (Credit: http://wvg.com/ceemes/article/show/214836) There have been a few recent developments on the German market that are of interest.

  • Pandastorm Pictures are going to release the TV Movie on DVD and Blu-Ray early 2017. There will be three different editions. First of all on 17th February there will be a limited "Collecter's Edition Mediabook", which will contain two DVD's and one Blu-Ray. The regular editions of the DVD (2 discs) and Blu-Ray (one disc) will be released on 31st March 2017 and feature a different cover. All three editions will contain the German and English language soundtracks, as well as all bonus features of the UK releases. Also included will be exclusive material for the German market. Details to follow.
  • German books publisher Cross Cult are going to release the novelisation of The Pirate Planet ("Der Piratenplanet") by James Goss on 27th February 2017. This will be Cross Cult's last confirmed Doctor Who novel.
    One of Germany's biggest publishers, Bastei Lübbe, will take up the reign and release the novelisation of Remembrance of the Daleks ("Die Hand des Omega") on 21st July 2017. It will also be available in the audio book format.
  • Adding to their German editions of the popular Titan Doctor Who comic books, Panini Comics Germany just released the first volume of the IDW story Prisoners of Time ("Gefangene der Zeit"). There was also a limited to 200 copies variant cover, drawn by popular 80's/90's comic book artist John Ridgway, only available on the German Doctor Who convention TimeLash II last October. Volume 2 will be released on 28th February 2017.
  • Germany's only Doctor Who convention TimeLash will take place for a third time on 28th to 29th October 2017 in Kassel. Guests announced so far are Daphne Ashbrook (Grace Holloway) , Philip Hinchliffe (70's producer and writer) and Annette Badland (Margaret Slitheen). More guest announcements to follow on the official TimeLash Facebook page in the coming weeks. Tickets will be available in early January on the TimeLash Homepage.





FILTER: - Blu-ray/DVD - Comics - Conventions - Cross Cult - Germany - Pandastorm

DWAS: Polarity Day update

Wednesday, 5 October 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Doctor Who Appreciation Society have updated us with the following changes to their forthcoming event to celebrate former Doctor Jon Pertwee:

Polarity Day (Credit: DWAS)Following discussions with the venue we are moving to a larger auditorium at Wimbledon Theatre, meaning that there are now plenty more free tickets available for our event on 23rd October 2016. with the maximum number available per application going up from 2 tickets to 4. The increased venue size has also allowed us to add to the guest list with John Levene (Benton) and Bernard Holley (Axon leader) also joining us. The Society’s honorary president, Colin Baker will also be attending to talk about working with Jon and more.

This weekend we will be holding an eBay auction at our site to help raise money for our Heritage Plaque and for The Grand Order of Water Rats, which Jon was a big supporter of during his life.

More details on the event can be found in our previous news article and on the DWAS website.




FILTER: - Conventions - Jon Pertwee - Special Events

DWAS: Polarity Day

Tuesday, 27 September 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Polarity Day (Credit: DWAS)The Doctor Who Appreciation Society have announced details of their forthcoming special event dedicated to the third Doctor, Jon Pertwee.

Taking place on the 23rd October 2016 between 1:00pm and 5:30pm, Polarity Day will celebrate his time as the Doctor, with guests including Katy Manning, Richard Franklin, Bob Baker and Terrance Dicks. The day will also feature a special showing of The Claws Of Axos. Tickets to the main event is free, and may be applied for via post - see the website for further details. There will also be opportunities for photos and autographs at an additional charge.

Members of the Society will also be able to apply for separate tickets to attend the unveiling of the new Heritage Plaque in honour of Pertwee by his widow Ingeborg and daughter Dariel, with an invited audience of his friends and colleagues.

It is still possible to purchase a set of TARDIS Roundel badges from the Society, the proceeds of which go towards raising funds for the plaque, and for Pertwee's favourite charity, the Water Rats. For full details see the DWAS website.





FILTER: - Conventions - Jon Pertwee - Special Events

Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie to attend New York Comic-Con

Thursday, 18 August 2016 - Reported by Marcus
Credit: BBCThe BBC has announced that the stars of Doctor Who will be attending this year's Comic Con in New York.

Both Peter Capaldi and new companion Pearl Mackie, will be at the event as well as show-runner Steven Moffat and executive producer Brian Minchin. They will be joined by the cast of Class, the new Doctor Who spin-off due to be released this Autumn. The Class panel includes stars Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins and Vivian Oparah, as well as writer, creator and executive producer Patrick Ness.

Current Doctor Peter Capaldi will be making his New York Comic Con debut alongside the first ever appearance at a convention by new co-star Pearl Mackie, who plays Bill, the Doctor’s companion.

Previous Doctor Matt Smith and companion Karen Gillan will also be attanding the event, which takes palce at the Javits Center in New York, between October 6 - 9.




FILTER: - Conventions - Karen Gillan - Matt Smith - Pearl Mackie - Peter Capaldi

Doctor Who Comics at San Diego Comic-Con

Sunday, 10 July 2016 - Reported by Marcus
2016 Convention Special Cover B (Credit: Titan)2016 Convention Special Cover A (Credit: Titan)Doctor Who comics will be arriving in force at San Diego Comic-Con, taking place later this month.

Titan are releasing a Doctor Who convention special comic, which features an all-new never before released Doctor Who story, “The Long Con”, starring the Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors. With art by Leandro Casco (Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor), Simon Fraser (The Eleventh Doctor), and Walter Geovani (Red Sonja), this convention special comic comes with two covers to collect by Alice X. Zhang (Doctor Who, The Blacklist) and Simon Fraser.

This special also features all nine ‘Supremacy of the Cybermen’ back-up strips by George Mann (The Eighth Doctor, Supremacy of the Cybermen), Cavan Scott (The Ninth Doctor, Supremacy of the Cybermen) and a cavalcade of creators, including Blair Shedd (The Ninth Doctor), Lee Sullivan (Rivers of London), Mike Collins (Uncanny X-Men), Dan Boultwood (The Eleventh Doctor, It Came), Andrew Pepoy (The Fourth Doctor), Simon Myers (Dark Souls), and many more.

Doctor Who fans attending this year’s San Diego Comic-Con can purchase this special comic at the Titan booth #5537, alongside Titan’s range of Doctor Who comics and collections.

Titan also has a panel packed with exclusive reveals, never-before-seen artwork previews, and Doctor Who guests: writers Paul Cornell (Four Doctors, The Third Doctor), George Mann, Cavan Scott, Rob Williams (The Eleventh Doctor), and Doctor Who editor Andrew James will reveal upcoming plans for Titan’s Doctor Who comics and take you behind the scenes of Titan’s convention special Doctor Who comic – created especially for the show. This panel will take place on Saturday at 3:30PM in room 5AB.

Titan’s top talent will be signing Doctor Who comics over the weekend at Titan’s booth #5537 with the opportunity for fans to meet their favorite Doctor Who creators including; Rob Williams, Cavan Scott, Si Spurrier (The Eleventh Doctor), Simon Fraser, Paul Cornell, Alice X. Zhang, and George Mann.

To keep up to date with Titan Comics at San Diego Comic-Con, follow Titan Comics on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.




FILTER: - Comics - Conventions - Eleventh Doctor - Tenth Doctor - Twelfth Doctor

Bedford Who Charity Con

Saturday, 13 February 2016 - Reported by Marcus
The second Bedford Who Charity Con takes place in April, and the organisers are offering a discount to anyone who reads about the convention on Doctor Who News.

The event raises money for Bedford Foodbank, a local charity providing emergency food for people in crisis. Each month, some 500 children and adults are fed who would otherwise go hungry.

This year's event takes place on Saturday 23rd April 2016, with confirmed guests including Katy Manning, Deborah Watling, Sophie Aldred and John Leeson.

Tickets are £40 for adults; £20 for 14 - 18 year olds and full-time students; and £15 for under-14s. Concessions and family tickets are also available. However if you mention that you read about the event on Doctor Who News, you’ll receive a 10% discount on the price. Further details on the convention’s website and Facebook Page.




FILTER: - Conventions

Germany News Update

Sunday, 24 January 2016 - Reported by Pascal Salzmann
There have been new developments for Doctor Who fans in Germany recently.
  • German free-to-air digital channel Einsfestival, part of the ARD group of channels, will start broadcasting Doctor Who on 29th February. The channel will begin with Series 5, airing two episodes each day from Monday to Wednesday, with one additional episode on Thursday. The broadcast time will be 8.15 pm, which is the standart prime time for German channels. Series 6 and 7 will air Wednesdays in March.

    The last time Doctor Who aired on a free-to-air channel was in 2008 when commercial channel Pro 7 aired Series 1 and 2 on Sunday afternoons but then cancelled the show because of poor ratings. The show later found its home on the payed-for-channel FOX Germany, which currently airs Series 9. For detailed listings of Germany's and other international broadcasts, visit our This Week in Doctor Who section.

  • After the success of the first German unofficial Doctor Who convention TimeLash last October, the organisers announced that there will be a second event on 15th - 16th October 2016, once again in Kassel, Germany. Tickets went on sale early January on the TimeLash Homepage.

    Guests announced so far are Sophie Aldred, Frazer Hines, comedian Toby Hadoke, New Series producer Phil Collinson, writers Robert Shearman, Gareth Roberts and Peter Harness. More guests from the classic and new series are to be announced in the coming weeks.

    Today the TimeLash YouTube channel put up a trailer for TimeLash II, featuring clips from the first event.





FILTER: - Conventions - Germany - International Broadcasting